Tray Tag Mounting Assembly for Visible Food Tray Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current food storage systems face challenges in identifying and organizing food items, particularly in closely stacked storage units, where visibility is limited and there is no convenient system for tracking information such as rotation, storage temperature, and cooking instructions.
Innovation Solution
The development of tray-tags that can be securely attached to trays, featuring a face plate with indicia for displaying information and a mounting assembly with an engagement flap and support tabs for secure coupling, allowing easy identification and organization of food items, and can be reused or washed with the trays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If trays are stacked closely together in storage units, then storage capacity is maximized and contamination risk is reduced, but visibility of food items is blocked and identification becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces tray tags as intermediary objects that attach to trays and display food identification information. These tags serve as mediators between the stacked trays and the user, allowing identification without requiring visual access to the food items themselves. The tags can include barcodes, RFID tags, or color-coded indicators that provide information about food contents, storage requirements, and rotation status.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves the information display from the traditional two-dimensional visual field (looking at food directly) to a different dimension by attaching tags to the exterior surfaces of trays. This allows information to be accessed from outside the storage unit without withdrawing trays, effectively creating a new information layer that doesn't interfere with the compact stacking arrangement.
2Quantity of substance
If trays are stacked closely together in storage units, then storage capacity is maximized, but it becomes necessary to withdraw multiple trays to identify and retrieve specific food items
Solution Approach 1:
The tray tags act as intermediaries that provide immediate identification information on the exterior of trays. Users can scan barcodes, read RFID tags, or recognize color codes without withdrawing trays from the storage unit. This eliminates the time-consuming process of manually checking each tray by removing them, allowing rapid identification and retrieval of specific food items while maintaining compact stacking.
3Ease of operation
If food storage information is not systematically labeled, then storage simplicity is maintained, but food rotation tracking and storage condition monitoring become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The tray tags are designed as multi-functional elements that simultaneously provide multiple types of information: food identification, storage temperature requirements, rotation status, and expiration dates. This universal tagging system maintains storage simplicity while comprehensively tracking all necessary food information, eliminating the need for separate labeling systems for each type of information.
Solution Approach 2:
The tagging system enables self-service food management where the tags automatically provide all necessary information for proper food rotation and storage. The first-in-first-out (FIFO) system can be visually indicated through tag design, allowing users to quickly identify which trays need to be used first without requiring active memory or external tracking systems.
4Loss of information
If traditional labeling methods are used on trays, then information can be displayed, but the labeling system lacks secure attachment and rotation prevention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the labeling function with the attachment mechanism into a single integrated tray tag system. The tag includes both the information display elements (barcodes, text, colors) and the attachment components (adhesives, clips, or snap-fit mechanisms) as one unified object. This merging eliminates the need for separate labeling and attachment systems, reducing overall complexity while providing secure attachment and rotation prevention.
Data Source
AI summary
A tray-tag that can be mounted on a tray and display information about items on the tray is provided. A tray-tag of the present invention includes a face plate having front and back surfaces. The front surface of the face plate is adapted to have indicia thereon that display information about the items on the tray. The tray-tag also includes a mounting assembly capable of selectively and securely coupling the tray-tag to a tray. The mounting assembly includes an engagement flap and first and second support tabs. The engagement flap and the support tabs securely couple the tray-tag to the tray. The engagement flap extends over a rim of the tray, while the support tabs extend underneath the rim to couple the tray-tag to the tray. Additionally, the support tabs maintain the face plate in a generally vertical orientation.