EP0721898A1 - Storage system and container therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

Samples of food preparation are retained, e.g, for testing for toxins, in containers with at least one cavity (2) formed on a container part (1a) and with its opening surrounded by a sealing face (6). A cover (7) can be pressed on the sealing face to provide a microbiologically and toxically-tight seal. The container includes at least two of three features: a label on which a date can be marked in an unalterable way; a detachment marking indicating at least partial removal of the cover; a temp. indicator associated with the container part or cover to detect heating over a prescribed limit temp..

Description

The invention relates to a receptacle according to claim 1 and to a return system according to claim 7.

There are always cases of food poisoning in which the food causing the poisoning or illness was prepared in a catering establishment or is a product of the food processing industry. Especially in banquets, party services, in restaurants and especially in hospital kitchens, the source of the poisoning must be found as quickly as possible in the event of a poisoning. Since it is to be expected in the longer term that in different countries of Europe, due to product liability, the burden of proof lies with the producer of the food, it is in their interest and will probably also become a duty to keep samples of the fresh food supplied in order to be able to prove, if necessary, that there could be no poisoning from them.

In Germany, for example, food samples with egg components already have to be taken from samples and stored for at least four days. These samples are filled, for example, into plastic containers with press-on lids that hold the upper edge of the container walls in grooves, labeled if necessary, and stored in the refrigerator or freezer. It has now been shown that, for example, after three days it is usually no longer possible to find all the components of a multi-course or various side dish that could have caused poisoning. The containers of different foods get mixed up, which makes it impossible to find a pattern you are looking for, especially if the labeling is poor.

Also, samples of all parts of a meal may not have been deferred. At the same time, the regular removal of samples that are no longer required, or checking the correct reset procedure is extremely time-consuming.

A test set is known from DE-U 93 11 574 which provides cavities covered by a film in a card. To mark the material present in the cavities, labels are provided on the sides of the card. These carriers lead to a doubling of the size of the test kit and thus to a much larger space requirement in a shelf or a cooler. In addition, the labels affixed to the carrier can be peeled off and affixed elsewhere. This could lead to the corresponding label being glued onto a carrier to a different pattern, which was only produced later and may be of perfect quality, before checking a sample.

There is still no resetting system, which guarantees that the correct and genuine sample will be checked if necessary. The control can be impaired, for example by producing a new pattern, or by reducing the number of bacteria in the original pattern by subsequent heating.

The object of the invention is now to find a space-saving solution that makes it possible, with little effort, to reset essentially all parts of the food produced in such a way that all parts of a reset food can be found quickly and an exchange of the pattern or any subsequent influence is prevented or verifiable. A reliable proof of quality should be guaranteed.

The solution according to the invention provides that in order to reset at least one food sample, a sample is taken and filled into a cavity of a vessel part, and in a subsequent step a cover is applied to the at least one cavity in such a way that the cover closes the cavity tightly. from a microbiological and toxic point of view - preventing the spread of contaminations from one cavity to the possibly adjacent cavity, on which the sealing surfaces surrounding the filling opening of the cavity lie. For this purpose, for example, the cover and / or the sealing surface is coated with an adhesive, for example an acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive. When the cover is detached from a sealing surface, the adhesive comprising the adhesive generates a detachment label which, after the original cover has been removed and, if appropriate, after the pattern has been replaced, cannot be removed by applying a new cover. The adhesive prevents an imperceptible opening of a closed cavity.

For example, a film, possibly a transparent cello-vinyl film, but preferably a security film, such as the commercially available "Scotch Mark Durascript" security film 7385, is used as a cover with little material. The security film is designed as a non-transferable and non-reusable film so that an attempt to remove the film leads to the appearance of a lettering - for example "VOID". The lettering remains visible on the sealing surfaces of the vessel part when it is removed from it. If the film should also be pressed on again, the lettering remains visible as a sign of the previous manipulation. The film thickness required for a desired strength depends on the film material, but is between 0.3 mm and 0.05 mm for various films, but in particular essentially 0.1 mm.

It goes without saying that fixed covers can also be used instead of cover foils, in particular also those which are made of the same material as the vessel part. Instead of the tight adhesive connection between the sealing surfaces and the cover, interlocking sealing elements, such as annular grooves and annular projections adapted to them, can also be provided. Snap-in connections which must be broken when the cover is detached, for example at predetermined breaking points, can also be provided as the adhesive which, when the cover is detached from a sealing surface, provides a detachable marking.

Since the meals, of which restoration patterns are created, usually consist of several separate components, a receptacle according to the invention comprises at least two cavities, each of which is completely surrounded by sealing surfaces around their filling openings and can be sealed tightly by a preferably film-like cover that can be pressed onto the sealing surfaces. (Of course, a receptacle with only one cavity is also conceivable in the same way).

Other designs include three, six, or nine cavities. Experience has shown that most menus do not require more than nine separate patterns to be reset. For commercial kitchens in which several simple menus are prepared, receptacles with six, or possibly only three, cavities are sufficient. Now that the samples taken from components of a menu can be stored in interconnected cavities, it is avoided that samples are not accidentally taken from all components and / or that the samples belonging to the same menu come separately into the cooling device and possibly no more or only all can be found with great effort.

The search for a desired sample is made possible by a container labeling field, to identify the sampling day or time, and / or the menu and by cavity labeling fields, to label each sample with information such as the date and time of sampling, sampling person, component name and / or labeling of the food, or the occasion or the menu, guaranteed. The cover is designed in such a way that the labeling of the samples can be attached directly to the cover and there is no need for labeling fields that protrude laterally from the receptacle. The labeling does not therefore increase the space required for the receptacles. The cover and the label may be chosen so that the label cannot be removed from the cover.

The cavity labeling fields provided for the identification of each sample are optionally arranged on the cover such that they do not lie above the cavities, but are assigned to the cavities via sealing surfaces and thus do not restrict the view of the samples or patterns and, if appropriate, also after Pressing the cover can be labeled.

Since the receptacle is placed in a first shelf, preferably in a freezer, it is useful to increase clarity and to achieve better security, for each receptacle, a form in a second shelf, preferably a folder, especially together with others, for the production of food important information to file. So that the information on the receptacle and on the form are essentially identical, the form lies on the cover when it is labeled and enables the writing to be copied onto the cover. After the inscription, the form is removed from the cover.

In this way, it is possible to trace this documentation back using forms that have been stored for several years and to provide evidence of the due diligence that has been fulfilled.

A possible circumvention would be that the cover with the original lettering is not glued to the part of the vessel, but rather is deposited along with the protective film protecting the adhesive layer. In the event of a check, a sample could then be made and covered with the original film. In order to rule out such a situation, date information can be provided by means of a sealed date application device, which can be applied to the form, the cover and the housing part at the same time, or can be applied as a punch. The date application device can be designed so that the date is only applied when the cover is properly attached to the vessel part.

In order to prevent the number of germs or pathogens from being reduced by raising the temperature of the sample above a limit temperature, without this being recognizable during the control, a temperature indicator is assigned to the vessel part or the cavity, but preferably the cover. which generates a temperature label at least when the receptacle is heated above a predetermined limit temperature. During the inspection, the temperature marking would show if the sample between the filling and the inspection was heated at least once over the limit temperature.

For example, a film with so-called temperature indicators is used as the temperature display means, which may be punctiform on the film and which discolor or show an envelope from cloudy to clear or vice versa, as soon as the film or the dots over a certain, preselectable one Limit temperature can be heated. The discoloration remains even after cooling, so that the discolored dots as temperature markings indicate that the samples covered with the film were heated after filling into the receptacle. The temperature points can be selected depending on the desired limit temperature, that is to say the discoloration is preferably brought to a temperature critical for the impairment of the pathogens or substances to be detected, to at least 45 ° C., in particular at least 55 ° C., but essentially about 65 ° C (Salmonella are killed at a temperature of 64 ° C, other bacteria at about 68 ° C). Since such temperature points will generally be arranged on the outside of the vessel provided for receiving the reset patterns, the exact temperature specification is not excessively critical since the vessel is generally stored in a refrigerator or even a freezer. A system that can be used for the temperature points is registered under the "THERMAX" brand.

The temperature points can also be provided on the part of the vessel or on a cover, in particular on a security film with an adhesive that leaves a detachment label when detached. In addition to the elements in which exceeding a limit temperature causes an irreversible change in recognizable or measurable properties, thermometer-like elements which record a maximum temperature may also be used. Such elements can, for example, be inserted into a cavity together with the pattern, which cavity is then closed with the cover.

If a producer of meals, of whole meals or parts of them, now wants to ensure that, after the occurrence of food poisoning, it can be checked whether this could be caused by the products supplied by the producer, this will preferably use a reset system, thereby proving compliance with the Due diligence can be performed. At the same time makes such a system Manipulations are recognizable or impossible. For example, the possibly foil-like cover can be labeled together with a copy form on it. After the cover has been applied - if appropriate together with the carbon copy form - an embossing stamp, which indicates the date of manufacture, can be used to emboss (or perforate) the same location on the vessel rim, the cap and the carbon copy form become. Additionally or alternatively, the cover can be fastened to the vessel in the manner described above by means of an adhesive that makes the detachment recognizable. The form and, if necessary, an additional copy of it can then be kept separate from the samples, possibly even from the customer of the food. In this way, subsequent manipulations become recognizable and difficult.

If it is necessary to check the contents of a container, this container can be easily found and identified due to the labeling and filing of the forms. A possible detachment of the cover could be determined via the detachment marking and / or checking the conformity of the date marking, the discoloration of the temperature marking would indicate an unauthorized heating of the reset pattern. The restoration pattern in the cavity can then be examined for the constituents and / or pathogens in question.

The vessel part is coated with food-safe material at least in the areas in which it comes into contact with the samples. It preferably consists essentially entirely of food-safe plastic, such as polypropylene or PPC Stamylon, and is produced in particular by deep drawing. It goes without saying that too other materials, such as metals, and other manufacturing processes can be provided.

The receptacles are optionally placed in an element at least partially enclosing them, preferably in a box, so that, in particular, an essentially stable cover comes to rest over a possibly thin cover that can possibly be pressed in in the area of the cavities, thus making stacking possible . At the same time, this also provides the sun protection that is particularly necessary for the storage of dairy products. Such light protection can also be provided by an opaque cover. So that not every receptacle has to be inserted individually into stackable elements, an embodiment is also provided in which a plurality of receptacles are inserted into a storage system accommodating them, preferably into essentially horizontal insertion areas.

Through the use of the receptacles described above, the need for cold storage and the effort for storing or creating new and the removal of replacement patterns that are no longer required are optimized, which is shown by minimizing the work involved, energy and cold storage capacity.

Fig.1

einen Schnitt durch einen Aufnahmebehälter mit konischen Vertiefungen;

Fig.2

eine Draufsicht auf einen Ausschnitt eines mit einer Abdeckung versehenen Aufnahmebehälters mit runden Vertiefungen;

Fig.3

einen Schnitt durch in einem Aufnahmeteil angeordnete Einzelbehälter;

Fig.4

eine Ansicht eines Ablagesystems mit in einem Kistenelement eingeschobenen Aufnahmebehältern und

Fig.5a bis 5e

eine schematische Darstellung des Ablaufs eines erfindungsgemäßen Rückstellvorgangs.

Further details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments schematically illustrated in the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a section through a receptacle with conical recesses;

Fig. 2

a plan view of a section of a receptacle provided with a cover with round recesses;

Fig. 3

a section through arranged in a receiving part individual container;

Fig. 4

a view of a storage system with inserted in a box element receptacles and

Fig.5a to 5e

a schematic representation of the sequence of a reset operation according to the invention.

1 shows a receptacle 1 with a stable vessel part 1a and a cover 7. In the receptacle 1, cavities 2 are bordered by depressions 4 extending from a common cover surface 3 and filling openings 5 located in the cover surface 3. The filling openings 5 are each completely surrounded by sealing surfaces 6, so that a film-like cover 7 seals the cavities 2 individually by pressing against the sealing surfaces 6.

The depressions 4 are conically tapered from the filling openings 5 to the closed ends and have round or rectangular cross sections. The depressions 4 have a holding volume of, for example, between 30 ml and 200 ml, depending on the type and amount of the pattern to be restored. The receptacle 1 is less than 5 cm high, for example about 3.5 cm. With preferred round or rectangular cross sections, diameters or lengths of less than 7 cm, in particular approximately 4.5 cm, are provided at half the depth. Receptacles 1 with, for example, nine cavities have a length of less than 35 cm, preferably about 30 cm and a width of less than 25 cm.

The receptacle 1 can be stacked in a space-saving manner in the empty, uncovered state due to the conical design of the cavities 2, an angle of at most 20 ° but preferably approximately 10 ° being provided between the cavity axis and at least one lateral boundary line.

In the embodiment shown with three cavities 2 arranged next to one another, guide regions 8 projecting downwards on both sides are provided, which, if necessary, enable the receptacles 1 to be inserted into a storage part of a storage system. On the back and on the front of the receptacle 1, end faces 9 are provided, if necessary, to increase the stability and, for example, to attach a labeling field.

2 shows a detail of a receptacle 1 provided with a cover sheet 7. The cavities 2 are distributed as conical depressions 4 with round cross sections in several rows over the receptacle and can be seen through, if necessary, transparent areas of the cover sheet 7. From the top view it is clear that the sealing areas 6 extend around all the cavities 2, so that the cover film 7 adheres well to the sealing surfaces and thus prevents the transfer of food reset patterns from one hollow body to another. A label field 10 is assigned to each cavity 2, but can also be arranged directly above the respective cavity. Temperature display means 27 in the form of point-dependent, temperature-dependent color materials are arranged on the top of the cover film 7.

3 shows an embodiment in which the cavities 2 are designed as individual containers 11, which can be inserted into a receiving part 12 with at least two, preferably three, six or nine, receiving points or receiving openings 13. Instead of being inserted into openings, the receiving part could also provide clamping or snap-in connections. The cover 7 may consist of cover parts assigned to the individual cavities 2.

Fig.4 shows a storage system with receptacles 1 and an open box element 14 to each other opposite walls comprises the guide areas 8 of the receptacles 1 adapted guide parts 15. The receptacle 1 can thus be inserted into the box elements 14. If necessary, a snap-in device is provided which retains fully inserted containers even when the box element 14 is inclined. A container labeling field 19 is attached to the front of the receptacle 1, which can be seen from the front.

In order to be able to simply put and remove the box elements 14 in a freezer, a holding device 16 is optionally arranged in the upper end region of the box element. In order not to take up unnecessary space, the holding device 16 is designed such that it can be pushed in and pushed out or folded in and out, for which purpose guide parts 17 and stops 18 are provided.

The box elements 14 can, however, also be designed only to receive a respective receiving container 1, which then lies in the box element in the manner of a tray. This enables the individual receptacles to be stacked in their box elements, these box elements, which may be made of cardboard, being inscribable on their front surfaces and thus easily identifiable.

5a to 5e schematically show the individual steps of a reset process. A sample is taken from a freshly prepared food 20 directly before consumption or filling by means of a clean instrument (not shown) and introduced into the cavity 2 of a receptacle 1a. If necessary, the temperature is measured. The necessary information, such as the occasion or the customer, the type of food from which the restitution sample was taken, is entered on a carbon copy form 21 into labeling fields 10a, each of which is to be assigned to the individual cavities 2 of the receptacle 1a (FIG. 5b) , Date, time and possibly the filling temperature and that Visa of the bottler. Then either the upper form sheet 22 can be pulled off and placed in a folder 23 (FIG. 5c), or it can first be applied and pressed together with the cover 7a onto the receptacle 1a so that a date identifier 24, possibly in the form of an embossing or Punching, can be attached through form sheet 22, cover 7a and edge area of the receptacle 1a. Only then would the upper form sheet 22 be removed and stored in the folder 23 (dashed arrow from Fig.5d to Fig.5c). As can be seen from FIG. 5d, the cover 7a is provided with the same information as the upper form sheet 22; if necessary, the correspondence can additionally be checked via the date identifier 24. The cover 7a is glued to the receptacle, so that each of the cavities 2 is sealed off, after which it is optionally placed in a box 25 and placed with the latter in a refrigerator or freezer 26.

In addition to the form sheets 22, the folder 23 should also have other checklists, such as those relating to the correct filling process or the cleanliness regulations. These, too, could possibly be made in duplicate - the customer receives a copy with delivery - and should be sighted.

Claims (11)

Receiving container for resetting patterns with at least one cavity (2) formed on a vessel part (1a) and a cover (7), the cavity (2) around its filling opening (5) being completely surrounded by a sealing surface (6) and with which on the sealing surface (6) press-on cover (7) can be sealed microbiologically and toxic, characterized in that at least two of the following features are provided: a) at least on the cover (7), but preferably also on the vessel part (1a) and, if appropriate, on a form sheet (22) to be assigned to the cover (7), date markings (24) to be attached, which are essentially forgery-proof; b) a - also partially - detachment of the cover (7) from the sealing surface (6) characterizing detachment marking; c) a temperature display means (27), assigned to the vessel part (1a) and / or the cover (7), for detecting a heating that has occurred above a predetermined limit temperature. Receptacle according to claim 1, characterized in that the date marking (24) in the form of a punching or perforation is arranged congruently on the vessel part (1a) and cover (7) and optionally - likewise congruently - on the form sheet (22). Receptacle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the temperature display means (27) is provided in the form of a temperature measuring color which changes its color irreversibly at a predetermined temperature - for example, applied in a dot shape. Receiving container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (7) comprises at least one, optionally transparent, film, preferably a security film with an adhesive layer, in particular with an acrylic adhesive layer. Receiving container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a) the cover (7) on the sealing surface (6) to be pressed, provided with an adhesive layer side is assigned a removable protective layer which protects the adhesive layer from the application of the cover (7) to the sealing surface (6) and / or that b) the form sheet (22) is removably arranged on an outside of the cover (7) facing away from the sealing surface (6) and is preferably provided with a punch, the cover (7) being inscribed when the form sheet (22) is labeled is labeled. Receptacle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the following features is provided, a) the receptacle (1) comprises a container labeling field (19), which is preferably arranged on a narrow side, or front side, of the vessel part (1a); b) in the state provided with the cover (7), the receptacle (1) can be stacked in a box-like manner directly or at least after insertion into a casing element; c) the vessel part (1a) can be stacked in a space-saving manner in the empty, uncovered state due to the conical design of the cavities (2), an angle of at most 20 °, but preferably about 10 °, being provided between the cavity axis and at least one lateral boundary line ; d) the receptacle (1) comprises, preferably along two parallel sides, guide or Fastening elements (8) which are adapted to a storage part (14); and e) the receptacle (1) has a thickness of less than 5 cm, preferably essentially 3.5 cm, a length of less than 35 cm, preferably approximately 30 cm and a width of less than 25 cm, preferably approximately 21.3 cm, the cavities (2) preferably have round or rectangular cross sections at half the depth with diameters or lengths of less than 7 cm, in particular about 4.5 cm. Receiving container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cavities (2) are designed as individual containers (11) which can be inserted into a receiving part (12) with at least two, preferably three, six or nine, receiving points (13), or can be clamped or latched, the cover (7) preferably consisting of the cover parts assigned to the individual cavities (2). Receptacle according to claim 1, characterized in that the vessel part (1a) consists of, in particular deep-drawn, food-safe plastic, such as polypropylene or PPC Stamylon, and preferably three, six or nine, for example from the filling openings (5) to the closed ends Tapered recesses (4) with round, but preferably rectangular, cross-sections, all recesses (4) being surrounded by sealing surfaces (6) lying in a common plane and the recesses (4) having a receiving volume of preferably between 30 ml and 200 ml . Resetting system for resetting at least one sample of a food consisting of at least one component in a first shelf with a receptacle (1) which has a vessel part (1a) with at least one cavity (2) and a cover (7) for sealing the comprises at least one cavity filling opening (5), characterized in that at least two of the following features are given: a) after attaching the cover (7) on the vessel part (1a) between the cover (7) and the vessel part (1a), an adhesive is arranged which, when the cover (7) is at least partially detached from the vessel part, indicates a detachment generated; b) the vessel part (1a) or the cavity (2), but preferably the cover (7), is assigned a temperature display means (27) which generates a temperature label when the receptacle (1) is heated above a predetermined limit temperature; c) a date marking (24) can be applied to the cover (7), the vessel part (1a) and, if appropriate, the form sheet (22) by means of a date application device, in particular sealed, preferably at the same time. Reset system according to claim 9, characterized in that on the outside of the cover (7) a form sheet (22) which can be insulated from the cover (7) is in contact with the cover (7), the cover (7) also being inscribed when the form sheet (22) is inscribed and wherein this form sheet (22) can be stored in a second storage, preferably a folder (23), in particular together with other information important for the production of the food, after separation from the cover (7). Reset system according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that at least one of the following features is provided, a) The label includes information such as the person taking the sample or a visa, the date and time of the sample and, if applicable, the temperature of the sample, as well as a component name and / or Identification of the meal or the occasion or the menu; b) the interconnected cavities (2) are placed in an element at least partially enclosing them, preferably in a box, so that an essentially stable cover comes to rest in particular over the cover (7) which can be pressed into the cavities (2); c) the mutually attached cavities (2) are inserted into a storage system (14) accommodating them, preferably into essentially horizontal insertion areas; d) a marking, such as a date, is attached to a marking area (19) which is common to all interconnected cavities (2) and which can also be seen in particular when a plurality of cavity connections are stacked; e) the first shelf is a cooling device, in particular a freezer device; and f) in order to check the content of at least one cavity (2), this cavity (2) is removed on the basis of the designation and the retained sample therein is examined for at least one ingredient and / or a pathogen.

Images