Foods and beverages: apparatus – Subjecting food to an enclosed modified atmosphere – Vacuum-producing means
Patent
1994-11-25
1996-11-05
Simone, Timothy F.
Foods and beverages: apparatus
Subjecting food to an enclosed modified atmosphere
Vacuum-producing means
99467, 99646C, A47J 2700, B65D 5116, B65D 8120, B65B 3104
Patent
active
055706282
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an hermetically sealed fresh-keeping container for organic substances, in particular foodstuffs.
In prior art containers, the cover typically incorporates a valve through which air can be drawn out of the container by means of a hand pump.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the primary task of the present invention to create a freshkeeping container that is improved in comparison to the prior container. The present container is seen as an improvement, since an airproof foil is provided wherein the space in which the partial vacuum is generated, and in which partial vacuum has to be maintained, is confined to the volume that is determined by the goods to be kept fresh. This reduces the cost incurred in drawing off the air and for maintaining the partial vacuum. In addition, the walls of the container do not have to be able to withstand the relatively high pressure differential between vacuum and atmospheric. A further advantage is that cleaning the container is simplified by the foil, since this can be easily replaced.
In a preferred embodiment, the upper part of the container is in the form of a swingaway hood. This feature allows the food support surface to be easily accessible, so that no difficulties are created when goods are introduced into the container, or removed therefrom.
It is another object to utilize the entire interior space of the apparatus should this be necessary, by preferably deploying the foil in the form of a hood that is approximately matched to the swing-away hood itself.
In a preferred embodiment, the foil is adjoined to a continuous sealing strip which, when the container is closed, is clamped between the bottom portion and the upper portion of the container and is simultaneously held within a groove formed in one of the mating edge surfaces. An additional seal between the top part and the bottom part is unnecessary since this arrangement forms a hermetic seal. Since the foil has to be replaced from time to time, this also ensures that a fully functional seal is always maintained.
It is another object to provide an air evacuation system that is driven by an electric motor. This means that, in conjunction with a pressure sensor in the usable space, it is very simple to ensure keeping the contents fresh by continuously withdrawing air from the useable space, regardless of how large the volume of the useable space may be.
It is preferred that the air pump system be arranged beneath the food support surface and that a food particle separator be inserted between the outlet opening through which the air is drawn off, and the air pump.
It is still another object of the present invention to be able to remove the foil from the goods in order to easily retrieve the goods without destroying the foil. This is accomplished by drawing the air out from the intermediate space between the foil and the hood by means of the same air pump system. In a preferred embodiment, the air pump system incorporates a monostable two-way valve which has a first position that opens a first suction line connecting the pump with the usable space while closing a second suction line that connects the pump to the intermediate space. In a second valve position, the first suction line is closed and the second suction line is open.
It is also envisioned to provide a control device for the pump motor and a solenoid connected to the two-way valve, wherein a pressure switch activates the pump if the pressure in the useable space is too high, and which turns the pump off if the partial vacuum in the useable space reaches a specified value. The control device not only ensures that proper quantity of air is continuously drawn off from the useable space once the goods have been placed in the container, it is also ensures that in the case of a leak, the pump is temporarily activated so as to continuously maintain the partial vacuum in the useable space. Warning lights can also be used to indicate whether the container is operating properly or whether, as a res
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Kiener Waldemar
Schmidt Herbert
L+H Lemiteg Lebensmittel- und Freizeittechnik GmbH
Simone Timothy F.
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