CN1642819A - Single-use one-way valve for food package that emits sound signal at sufficient heating - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention concerns a single-use valve (1) for mounting on a package (2), particularly food packages the contents of which are to be heated in a microwave oven (3). The valve (1) is arranged to open in response to an excess pressure generated inside the package (2) upon heating of said package (2). The valve comprises an opening (4) formed in the package (2), on top of which opening (4) an adhesive layer (5) is applied. The valve (1) is also arranged to emit a sound signal when subjected to said pressure load.

Description

Disposable non-return valve for food packaging with audible signal when heated sufficiently

technical field

The present invention relates to a disposable one-way valve for installation in a package, in particular a food package, the contents of which are to be heated in a microwave oven, said valve being arranged so that as the package is heated And generate excess pressure in the package to open.

Background technique

In a food package that is to be heated or cooked in a microwave oven to a ready-to-eat state, for example, a dish package that contains a serving of hot and ready-to-eat dishes that are stored separately in a refrigerator or a freezer, the food is usually placed in the In a heatproof tray lined with plastic wrap. When heating the package, either peel off the plastic film, or open the film to allow the entire tray to be placed in the microwave. Because different types of microwave ovens perform differently, and possibly because food absorbs energy in the microwave differently, depending on the composition and temperature of the food, the time it takes to heat food varies widely. Thereby will just be very difficult to recommend a just right heating time that makes food reach ready-to-eat state to consumer. Thus, the consumer may need to open/close the microwave oven door several times to determine whether the food is fully heated/cooked. However, it is difficult to judge whether the food is completely heated through or still partially cold, which is related to the inherent difficulty in heating food evenly in microwave ovens. Overheating of food is also not recommended, as in this case the tray or the plastic film still present on the tray may partially melt and spoil the food, or the food may lose its flavor due to overheating, be overcooked and become unpalatable. Therefore, the consumer has to stay by the microwave oven while heating to check whether the food is ready to eat.

Contents of the invention

The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems.

This object is achieved by means of a valve with the features specified in claim 1 specified in the introduction. The claims dependent on claim 1 present preferred embodiments.

The present invention relates to a disposable valve which is mounted on a package, especially a food package, the contents of which are to be heated in a microwave oven. This valve is designed to open in response to overpressure in the package due to heating. The valve of the present invention is designed to transmit an acoustic signal as soon as said pressure load is applied. According to the teachings of the present invention, the valve is configured to be placed on a package for holding the food product before the user cooks/heats the food product to a ready-to-eat state. This type of wrap is typically used to serve, for example, single serving dinner or lunch dishes. The valve will not open until the water vapor pressure inside the package reaches a predetermined value. Inside the valve, temperature equilibrium is achieved when hot water vapor condenses in the cold zone of the food (cold wall principle). Overpressure steam can be generated inside the package before reaching 100°C over the entire food surface. The valve opening pressure can be determined according to the elasticity of the valve material, the size of the valve opening or the melting point of the glue. When water vapor flows through the valve, an audible signal is emitted, which signals to the user that the food has reached a ready-to-eat state. This state not only successfully informs the user that the food has been evenly heated to the point where there are no longer any parts that are heated through, but also gives the user an audible audible signal that the dish is ready. Instead of opening the microwave door to check the heating status of the food in the tray, the user can take care of other things at the same time.

Alternatively, the valve is an indication of a crack, slit or opening on which the adhesive layer is placed. This adhesive layer is arranged in such a way that it is in such a way that it is forced to move when air or water vapor escapes through the valve and thus an audible signal ensues.

Preferably, the valve positioned on the package is formed as a slit on the package, and an adhesive layer is placed on the top of the slit.

At least a part of the adhesive layer is formed by an adhesive suitable for use with food materials, since the main purpose of the present invention is to make packaging for food.

Also suitably, the adhesive layer is an adhesive tape, preferably an elastic adhesive tape, which itself adapts to the action of handling the packaging material without detaching from its support.

Likewise, the adhesive layer can be a label, which reduces material consumption and saves the amount of labor required for marking at the consignment store.

It is advantageous if the packaging material on which the valve is located consists of non-oriented laminated sheet material. In oriented materials, a slit will create a slit across it.

Description of drawings

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show, for purposes of illustration, presently particularly preferred embodiments of the invention.

Figure 1 is a general view of a package with a valve according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows the process of heating a package with a valve according to the invention in two different stages; Figure 2a shows the package in a cold state, while Figure 2b shows the package in a heated state;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a microwave oven.

Implementation

The food package 2 of FIG. 1 consists of a tray 7 containing food products 8 . A non-directional (non-directional) packaging material 6 in the form of laminated sheets is positioned on top of a tray 7 to protect these foods from external handling during the production and distribution stages of the product, and the tray 7 is also made of the same packaging material 6 Made of thermally resistant material because its intended function is to surround the food to be heated. The laminated sheets 6 are welded to the tray 7 in order to produce a strong steam impermeable weld. The valve 1 according to the invention is formed in a non-oriented laminate. The valve 1 is an opening 4 through the lamination. A strip of elastic tape 5 whose glue is suitable for use with food is placed on top of the opening 4, the position of the elastic tape 5 being chosen so that the distance from the opening 4 to the longitudinal edge of the elastic tape 5 combines the glue of the elastic tape 5 together ensure that the overpressure of water vapor generated inside the package 2 when the food contained therein is heated is strong enough to force the water vapor to escape through the holes 4 while the water vapor passes through the elastic tape 5 and the laminated sheet Between, and at this time, a sound signal will be generated due to the vibration of the elastic tape. Alternatively, a slit would be formed in the adhesive/elastic tape 5 to prevent uncontrolled splaying of its longitudinal edges.

Figure 2a shows a food package 2 as shown in Figure 1 . Food products 8 are placed in a tray 7 covered with a stack 6 . Valves formed with openings 4 and elastic tape 5 are provided on laminated sheets 6 . This figure shows the food product 8 as it is sold to the consumer, i.e. deep frozen, stored in a refrigerator or stored in some other way, and figure 2b shows the food package 2 exposed to microwaves for heating purposes And the food product 8 has been sufficiently heated to the state that the excess pressure generated by the water vapor in the package 2 has been strong enough to open the valve 1 and generate an acoustic signal.

Finally, FIG. 3 shows a microwave oven 3 in which a food package 2 to be heated containing a food product 8 can be placed.

It will be appreciated that many modifications to the detailed description above are possible within the scope of protection defined by the appended claims. For example, instead of the tray 7 and the non-directional laminated sheet material 6, the food package 2 might be made entirely of plastic film or some other material suitable for storing the food 8, but, consistent with the invention, some portion of the package 2 should be made of A non-directional laminated sheet 6 suitable for forming the valve 1 is formed. The food package 2 may contain, for example, food in a refrigerated or frozen state. The size and shape of the elastic tape 5 or label is not limited to certain specific embodiments.

The function of the valve 1 can remain the same if the non-oriented laminate 6 is embossed with a slit mark or scored without creating an open passage in the material and leaving the package intact. The indication of cracking may indicate that the packaging material 6 provides a good security protection for the contents of the food package 2 without any contact with the adhesive layer before the package 2 is heated. During the heating process, water vapor is formed in the usual way. When a predetermined overpressure is reached in the package 2, the water vapor breaks through the crack mark and forms an opening 4, forcing the water vapor to escape outwards and emitting an acoustic signal together with the adhesive layer. . Even if no indication of cracking is provided, the strength of the packaging material 6 itself is sufficient to prevent a material from bursting. If for some reason the material still bursts, no audible signal will be emitted, since uncontrollable breaks in the material will most likely form shapes that do not produce sound.

Furthermore, a flute-type sound emitting element may be provided on top of the opening 4 in the package 2 . This sound emitting element can also be used to indicate that the food 8 in the packaging 2 has been heated. It is also possible to make the slit on the package have other shapes instead of a straight line, such as a V-shape.

Claims (8)

1. a disposable valve (1), be installed on the packing 2, particularly on the food Package, the content of food Package will be heated in micro-wave oven (3), described valve (1) is configured as and can correspondingly opens with the effect of the pressure that overflows that produces in this packing (2) when (2) are packed in heating, and the feature of this valve is:

It comprises an opening (4) that is formed on the packing (2), an adhesive-layer (5) that puts on described opening (4) top, and described valve (1) is set to can send a kind of aud. snl. when it is subjected to described compressive load.

2. valve as claimed in claim 1 (1), wherein said opening (4) is the form of slit (4).

3. the valve described in claim 2 (1), wherein said slit (4) is straight.

4. the valve described in claim 1 (1), wherein at least a portion adhesive-layer (5) comprises a kind of viscose glue of using simultaneously with foodstuff of being suitable for.

5. the valve described in claim 1 (1), wherein adhesive-layer (5) is an elastic rubber belt.

6. the valve described in claim 5 (1), wherein said elastic rubber belt (5) is a rubber-like.

7. the valve described in claim 1 (1), adhesive-layer wherein (5) is a label.

8. valve as claimed in claim 1 (1), wherein, the packing (6) that are provided with described valve (1) thereon are made of a kind of laminated sheet of astaticism.

Images