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(11) | EP 2 799 360 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | A method for protecting the content of a tray and use of a removable flexible lid therefor |
| (57) A method for protecting the contents of a box, tray or similar packing that is used
for temporary storage of meat pieces from completely or partially cut up carcasses
in a slaughterhouse against contamination coming from above which by dripping or dropping
can contaminate and/or infect the contents of the packing, and which includes mounting
of a removable lid over the opening of the packing, the removable lid including a
flexible sheet (1), wherein the lid along its periphery is provided with an elastic
band which e.g. is drawn in a drawstring hem formed along the periphery of the flexible
sheet (1) or which is welded or sewn on along the periphery of the flexible sheet.
The flexible lid (A) will automatically be adapted to the container (B) when put on
and may easily be removed entirely or partially again as the rubber band along the
outer free edge of the lid holds the lid (A) onto the container (B). The lid (B) is
particularly suited for disposable applications and inexpensive in use. Moreover,
it is possible to be safeguarded against contamination of the content coming from
above into the boxes transported around in the facility, e.g. on a conveyor belt.
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Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention concerns a method for protecting the contents of a box, tray or similar packing that is used for temporary storage of meat pieces from completely or partially cut up carcasses in a slaughterhouse against contamination coming from above, and a use of a removable flexible lid.
Background of the Invention
[0002] When carcasses are cut up in a slaughterhouse, the cut meat pieces are usually put into open containers, preferably plastic boxes, trays or buckets. These meat boxes are conveyed around in the slaughterhouse on conveyor belts in empty or partial or entirely filled condition between various stations in the slaughterhouse, e.g. from a cutting station to the final packaging, for further cutting up meat pieces in the meat boxes, or for temporary storage, e.g. in a high bay storeroom.
[0003] During storage of clean, empty boxes or during conveying on conveyor belts in slaughterhouses the meat boxes are normally open upwards, implying the risk of foreign bodies, particles or liquid falling or dripping down into the boxes. Moreover, there is a risk that various foreign bodies can fall down on the meat in the meat boxes, e.g. from other conveyor belts located above or crossing the conveyor belt conveying the meat box or the position at which the meat box is stored. This may contaminate or infect the meat in the boxes or which comes into the boxes later. This means that the quality of the meat is depreciated to a greater or lesser degree or in the worst case that the meat has to be completely discarded.
[0004] On some markets it is required that slaughterhouses reduce this risk of contamination or infection of the meat by material coming from above, and the slaughterhouses can possibly attain a higher price for the meat if they can prove that they are taking effective precautionary measures against contamination sources coming from above.
[0005] In order to reduce the risk of this contamination from above there may be mounted screens or gutters under conveyor belts or similar installations disposed above a lower-lying conveyor belt or which run across other lower positioned conveyor belts. These screens or gutters are typically of stainless steel or plastic and may to some degree collect dropping material or drips from the above lying installation. These screens or gutters are additionally to be adapted to the underside of the installation, e.g. conveyor belt, that is to have the screen or gutter mounted, which is costly as it may mean that each screen or gutter is to be adapted individually to the installation to be fitted with the screen, and to be adapted such that an efficient screening against falling material into the containers on the conveyor belt mounted below is achieved. These screens or gutters may, however, be difficult to clean since there is limited space for mounting these under e.g. a conveyor belt. These screens cannot exclude entirely either that dropping will occur into the meat containers as there may be places where it is impossible to install such screens.
[0006] It is prior art to apply a "lid" to such slaughter boxes in the form of a film of shrinking plastic where the lid covers the entire opening of the meat box and possibly extends a length down along vertical sides of the meat box. These lids are shrunk and/or sealed to the meat box by means of heat. This solution is very effective against the above mentioned droppings but has other drawbacks. The heat radiation impacting the meat in the meat box when the lid is shrunk or is sealed to the meat box depreciates the meat quality. Moreover, the sealed lid can only be used when the meat box is completely full and ready for further transport around in the slaughterhouse as no more meat can be filled into the box when the shrink plastic has been mounted.
Object of the Invention
[0007] It is the object of the invention to provide a solution preventing contamination from above and which makes superfluous the mounting of screens, gutters etc. in connection with conveyor belts for internal transport of articles in the food industry, in particular perishable foodstuffs.
[0008] It is also an object of the invention to provide a lid for containers that prevent contamination from above from falling or dripping down into the container, and which can be removed entirely or partially and put on again repeatedly during the internal handling of the container, such as during storage of clean boxes and during internal transport of empty or completely or partially filled containers and/or by storage of e.g. foodstuffs in a food processing plant, including e.g. a slaughterhouse.
[0009] It is also an object of the invention to provide a solution providing an inexpensive lid for containers where heat is not used for adapting the shape of the lid to the container.
Description of the Invention
[0010] These objects are fulfilled by a method according to the invention for protecting the contents of a box, tray or similar packing that is used for temporary storage of meat pieces from completely or partially cut up carcasses in a slaughterhouse against contamination coming from above which by dripping or dropping can contaminate and/or infect the contents of the packing, and which includes mounting of a removable lid over the opening of the packing, the removable lid including a flexible sheet which is provided with an elastic edge along it periphery.
[0011] Hereby it is possible for e.g. slaughterhouses to be safeguarded against contamination of the content coming from above into the boxes that are completely or partially filled with meat and transported around in slaughterhouses, e.g. on conveyor belts. Expensive adaptations of conveyor belts etc. are thereby made superfluous by mounting of screens, gutters etc. that are to collect drips or meat pieces falling out of a box.
[0012] The method has surprisingly solved this problem of droppings by simply mounting a removable flexible lid on each transport box. The slaughterhouse can thereby also avoid accidental contamination from falling particles, dripping etc. into full boxes as well as into clean transport boxes ready for use. A more uniform high quality of meat can thereby be ensured. The slaughterhouse can thereby attain higher prices for their meat products, and it is not necessary to put up screens or gutters on conveyor belts etc. in order to safeguard against dripping or droppings.
[0013] Furthermore, it is possible to remove the lid automatically from the box, e.g. in that the lid can simply be sucked off by a suction hose with mouthpiece as the elastic edge only has sufficient force to retain the lid on the box during normal handling of the box, but not to hold the lid on the box during the suction action.
[0014] The removable lid can be mounted manually or automatically on the packing and be removed again without leaving any remains of the lid or glue residue on the packing. This is particularly important by transport boxes in slaughterhouses as these boxes can be reused and need thorough cleaning between each use. If any remains of the lid are left, e.g. of a lid of so-called shrink plastic, or glue residue from a glued lid, this will impede the cleaning of the box after use since such remains are to be removed in order to avoid deposition of bacteria, fungi, viruses or similar microbial contamination in such remains on the box. Moreover, such glue residue or remains of the lid not removed during the cleaning of the box entail a risk of transmission of microbial contamination to the contents of the box next time it is used. This is due to the fact that such uneven surfaces and possible cavities in and/or under glue residue or remains of the lid may protect bacteria, fungi, viruses or similar microbial organisms during the cleaning of packing, thus causing a risk of microbial contamination to be transmitted from a content of the slaughterhouse box to the content filled into the slaughterhouse box next time it is used. This is avoided in a surprisingly simple way by applying the removable lid as this lid is not fastened to the box by glue or the like, and thereby does not leave any remains of the lid.
[0015] The removable lid may in the same way be removed from the packing manually or automatically, such as by suction, or the lid can manually be removed in part, e.g. in connection with taking meat pieces up from the box or laying meat pieces down into the meat box at a cutting station in the slaughterhouse.
[0016] In a variant of the method according to the invention, the elastic edge on the flexible lid is an elastic band which is drawn in a drawstring hem formed along the periphery of the flexible sheet or which is welded or sewn on along the periphery of the flexible sheet, whereby the flexible lid becomes inexpensive in production costs and is automatically adapted to the container and may easily be removed completely or partially again as the rubber band along the outer free edge of the lid holds the lid firmly on the container.
[0017] In a further variant of the method the flexible sheet is provided along its periphery with a band, preferably of the same material as the flexible sheet. It is ensured thereby that the flexible lid has optimal fit relative to the container on which it is used while at the same time it is easy to remove the lid completely or partially and to put it on again. By adapting the lid to the shape of the container it is also achieved that the flexible lid is kept stretched across the opening of the container such that it will not, or to a limited degree, touch the contents of the container. This entails a further reduction in the risk of possible contamination of the contents in the container, e.g. completely or partially cut up meat when the contents are not touched by the flexible lid. The risk of contamination of the contents of the box is further minimised thereby.
[0018] The flexible lid which is made of a flexible sheet comprising a plastic film, a laminate, e.g. containing a layer of a homo- or copolymer of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyester or polyamide, or combinations thereof, a woven or non-woven fabric or paper material or combinations thereof, which are inexpensive and suited for disposable application and at the same time ensure an effective screening against contamination from above, including also against liquids dripping from above and down against the opening of the container.
[0019] The invention also concerns a use of a removable flexible lid, wherein the layer includes a flexible sheet and where the lid is provided along its periphery with an elastic edge on a container or box used in slaughterhouses for temporary storage of meat pieces in the form of completely or partially cut up carcasses in connection with transport and/or storage of the container or box with or without contents.
Description of the Drawing
[0020] The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing in the following, wherein:
- Fig. 1
- is a perspective view of a sheet that may be used for making a flexible lid for a slaughterhouse box in its simplest form;
- Fig. 2
- is a perspective view of an alternative version of a flexible lid for a slaughterhouse box;
- Fig. 3
- is a perspective view of a conventional slaughterhouse box;
- Fig. 4
- is a perspective view of the slaughterhouse box shown in Fig. 3 which has been applied the flexible lid shown in Fig. 2; and
- Figs. 5-6
- show obliquely from above and from the side a conventional slaughterhouse box with content of meat, applied the flexible lid.
Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention
[0021] The invention concerns a method for protecting the contents of a box, tray or similar packing B (in the following also mentioned as a transport box and/or a meat box) that is used for temporary storage of meat pieces from completely or partially cut up carcasses in a slaughterhouse against contamination coming from above which by dripping or dropping can contaminate and/or infect the contents of the packing. This may be prevented in a simple and smart way by mounting a removable lid A as described below over the opening of the transport box.
[0022] The flexible removable lid A is easy to mount manually on the transport box B, or it can be mounted automatically by a facility adapted for the purpose.
[0023] Also, it is easy to remove the flexible removable lid from the packing manually or automatically, such as by suction with a suction hose, possibly with a suction mouthpiece, as the suction action can be operated automatically and/or manually at the positions in the slaughterhouse where it is desirable to remove the flexible lid B permanently from the box A.
[0024] The flexible lid A is used for protecting the contents of a container. The flexible lid A can be removed from a container and put on again and is thus well suited for easy mounting on containers like buckets, drums, trays or boxes B used for storage and transport of articles, including particularly articles to which there are requirements to hygiene during processing, handling and storage of the articles, in particular on so-called transport boxes that are kept for temporary storage of completely or partially cut up meat in slaughterhouses.
[0025] The lid A is therefore particularly suited for use as temporary lid A on meat boxes B used for transporting completely or partially cut meat pieces in slaughterhouses where the use of the flexible lid A reduces the risk of infecting the meat with foreign bodies, particles and/or liquid that may fall or drip down into the boxes B and infect the meat located in the boxes or meat which is subsequently placed in the boxes B. The removable flexible lid can, however, also be used as a flexible lid A on containers B used for storing other articles to which there are requirements to hygiene during the processing, handling and storage of the articles, and why a lid therefore can be necessary on the container B. This lid B can thus be removed entirely or partially and put on again if the container is filled or emptied partially, or e.g. in steps with a time interval between each step if there is a need for covering the opening of the container between each step in the filling or emptying process.
[0026] This flexible lid A is thus very well suited for use on a container B such as a box or tray used for storing foodstuff. By using the flexible lid B on containers, trays or boxes B used in food processing plants, including particularly slaughterhouses, there is thus achieved an effective screening against contamination of the meat located in or subsequently placed in the container. A safeguard against contaminating droppings from above is thereby provided, both during transport of boxes on conveyor belts and also when the container or box B is placed freely in a room where it is not possible to set up a screening against droppings in other ways. The slaughterhouse can thereby avoid accidental contaminations from this type of falling particles, drips, etc., and thereby a more uniform high quality of meat can be ensured, and the slaughterhouse can thereby attain higher prices for their meat products, and it will not be necessary to put up screens or gutters on conveyor belts etc. in order to safeguard against drips or droppings.
[0027] In its simplest embodiment, the lid A is formed of a sheet 1 of a flexible material which along its periphery is provided with an elastic edge 2. Suitable materials for the flexible sheet 1 and the elastic edge 2 are described below.
[0028] The flexible sheet 1 has substantially the same shape as the opening of the container that is to be covered by the lid A as the sheet 1 is cut to dimensions that are greater than the opening itself in the container B to be covered. The flexible lid will thereby cover the opening 5 of the container B and cover a length down along the sides 6 of the container B.
[0029] The elastic edge 2 is e.g. a conventional rubber band. The total length of the rubber band in its stretched condition corresponds preferably largely to the circumference of the flexible sheet 1. The flexible sheet 1 can thus be pulled together in folds along its circumference due to the contraction of the elastic edge 2.
[0030] In an embodiment there is formed a drawstring hem along the circumference of the flexible sheet 1 as the edges of the flexible sheet 1 is bent around and fastened to the flexible sheet 1, e.g. by heat sealing, e.g. welding, gluing or sewing. The rubber band 2 is drawn through the drawstring hem and is freely movable in the drawstring hem relative to the flexible sheet 1.
[0031] The rubber band 2 is alternatively fastened directly to the flexible sheet 1, preferably along the entire circumference of the flexible sheet 1, e.g. by heat sealing, e.g. welding, gluing or sewing. There may e.g. be used spotwise heat sealing such that the flexible sheet 1 is capable of folding between the fastening points when the elastic edge 2 in completely or partially contracted condition draws the flexible sheet 1 together along the circumference thereof.
[0032] In another variant of the flexible lid A there is thus mounted several pieces of rubber band 2, e.g. in the area around each corner of the sheet 1 such that the rubber band edge 2 retains the lid A around the corners of the box B, which will be sufficient for keeping the flexible lid A in the desired position on the box B.
[0033] The sheet 1 of flexible material is preferably made of a plastic film or a film laminate, including a material suited for contact with foodstuff as described in detail below.
[0034] The sheet 1 is preferably adapted with the same basic shape as the container B to be covered by the lid A in that the dimensions of the sheet 1 are greater than the opening of the container B such that the mounted flexible lid covers the entire opening 5 of the box and part of the sides 6 of the box. Therefore it is preferred that the flexible lid B also covers up to half, e.g. up to a third or a fourth of the side edges 5 of the container. By sheets 1 with polygonal shape, including e.g. rectangular or square sheets, it is preferred that the corners 7 are rounded such that it would be easier to mount the elastic edge 2 and/or to form the above mentioned drawstring hem.
[0035] For example, the opening on a rectangular slaughterhouse box is e.g. 40 x 60 cm, and for a suitable lid B for this slaughterhouse box there is advantageously used a rectangular sheet 1 which is greater than the opening in length as well as in width, e.g. up to 60 x 80 cm. The flexible lid A will thereby cover the opening 5 in the box B and at the same time extend a length down along the sides 6 of the box B such that the opening in the box B is covered entirely by the flexible lid B.
[0036] Figs. 2 and 3 show an alternative embodiment of the flexible lid A. By this embodiment, the sheet 1 is adapted to a size and shape substantially corresponding to the shape of the opening of the container B to be covered by the flexible lid A, and which has a size substantially corresponding to or slightly larger than the opening 5 and the upper edge. Along the circumference of the sheet 1 there is fitted an edge 4 thereon of the same material as the sheet 1 itself. The edge 4 is fastened to the sheet 1, e.g. by welding, gluing or sewing or corresponding means, depending on the material of which the sheet 1 and the edge 4 are formed, see below. Thereby is formed a joint 8 substantially following the outer dimensions of the box B around the opening 5. The edge 4 has a width d allowing the edge 4 to extend at least a length down along the side edge 6 of the box B as described above. The edge 4 is e.g. cut as a rectangular band with width d which is assembled into a ring, e.g. in connection with mounting on the sheet 1 which is particularly advantageous if the sheet 1 is greater than the opening 5 in the box B. Alternatively, the edge 4 is formed such that the free side 9 of the edge 4 has a total circumference which is larger than the circumference of the sheet 1. In this case elastic edge 2 is mounted along the entire or a part of the free side 9 of the edge 4 as described above, or alternatively along the part of the free side 9 of the edge 4 following the sides 6 of the box B when the lid is mounted on the box B. The flexible lid A can hereby be mounted such that it is kept slightly stretched across the opening 5 of the container B. The flexible lid will not hang down into the container thereby with the risk of touching the content with consequent risk of contamination, see also Figs. 5-6.
[0037] Suitable materials for the flexible sheet 1 and the edge 4 are preferably flexible material approved for use in connection with foodstuffs, such as conventional plastic types used for food packings, including e.g. homo- or co-polymers of polyethylene (PE) and/or polypropylene (PP), such as linear or branched low or medium density polyethylene types, including medium density polyethylene (MDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), very low density polyethylene (VLDPE), or polypropylene (PP) or polyester (PET) or combinations thereof. These materials are well suited for use in packings for foodstuffs and can be formed into thin films and/or laminates that are liquid- and dust-proof and therefore suited as well as efficient and cheap materials for making the lid A according to the invention.
[0038] The flexible material is alternatively made of a piece of fabric, e.g. a woven, knitted or non-woven fabric material. The fabric is e.g. of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester or polyamide, or a natural product such as e.g. cotton. Alternatively, the flexible material is made of paper. In order to ensure that these materials are also liquid-proof, the material can be laminated by one or more layers of a liquid-proof material, e.g. of one or more of the above-mentioned plastic materials.
[0039] It is also possible to make the flexible material 1 in the form of a laminate of one or more of the above mentioned layers and/or combinations thereof.
[0040] As the lid A is primarily intended for disposable applications it is preferred that a thin and flexible sheet 1 is used by the making of the lid A. It is preferred therefore that the flexible sheet 1 has a thickness of 10µm-250µm, including preferably 10µm-100µm or in particular 20µm-60µm.
[0041] When the lid A is made of a thin material such as described above a lid A with suitable strength for use as cover or flexible lid across openings on containers B is achieved.
[0042] At the same time, besides being inexpensive in use, it is also possible to remove the lid A automatically from the box, e.g. in that the lid can simply be sucked away by a suction hose with mouthpiece, in that the elastic edge 2 only has sufficient force to retain the lid A on the box B during normal handling of the box B as the elastic edge 2 bears under upper edge of the transport box B, see Figs. 5-6, but cannot hold the lid on the box when the suction mouthpiece is pulling the flexible material.
1. A method for protecting the contents of a box, tray or similar packing that is used
for temporary storage of meat pieces from completely or partially cut up carcasses
in a slaughterhouse against contamination coming from above which by dripping or dropping
can contaminate and/or infect the contents of the packing, and which includes mounting
of a removable lid over the opening of the packing, the removable lid including a
flexible sheet which is provided with an elastic edge along it periphery.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the lid is mounted manually or automatically on the packing.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the lid is removed from the packing manually or automatically, such as by suction.
4. Method according to any of claims 1-3, characterised in the elastic edge includes an elastic band which is drawn in a drawstring hem formed
along the periphery of the flexible sheet or which is welded or sewn on along the
periphery of the flexible sheet.
5. Method according to any of claims 1-4, characterised in that the flexible sheet along its periphery is provided with a band, preferably of the
same material as the flexible sheet.
6. Method according to any of claims 1-5, characterised in that the flexible sheet includes a plastic film, a laminate, a woven or non-woven fabric
or paper material or combinations thereof.
7. Method according to any of claims 1-6, characterised in that the flexible sheet comprises a layer of plastic, preferably a homo- or copolymer
of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyester or polyamide, or combinations
thereof.
8. Use of a removable flexible lid, wherein the layer includes a flexible sheet and where
the lid is provided along its periphery with an elastic edge on a container or box
used in slaughterhouses for temporary storage of meat pieces in the form of completely
or partially cut up carcasses in connection with transport and/or storage of the container
or box with or without contents.