JPH04327162A - Lid device for food container - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To maintain food heating temperature for a predetermined time by a method wherein shape memory alloy is formed into a thin plate-like or linear shape, this shaped alloy is so processed as to return to the predetermined original shape and attached to a lid for use on a precooked food container and, when hot water is poured into the container with a part of the lid fixed thereto, an open part of the lid is automatically closed due to the shape memory effect and the lid makes close contact with the peripheral edge of the container. CONSTITUTION:A shape memory alloy 10 is interposed between the layers of a lid 2 small in cross section and extended partially into a container to form a contact part 11 and a heat insulating layer 12 is formed on the surface of the contact part. The shape memory alloy controls the time elapsed from the contact with hot water to the transformation temperature due to the heat insulating effect of the heat insulated layer to retard the shape recovery and commences closing of the lid gently at about 5-15 seconds after pouring the hot water in a container.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lid device for a food container in which a shape memory member is attached to the lid of a container for instant food.

0002

[Prior Art] Conventionally, when cooking instant foods in containers, two methods have been used: one is to heat the entire container using a microwave oven, microwave oven, steamer, etc., and the other method is to heat the container by pouring boiling water directly into the container. Of course, these cooking methods are differentiated depending on the type of food, but in the case of the former, in order to prevent the food from expanding due to heating and the container from bursting due to the generation of steam, the cooking method must be opened with the lid partially open. Many methods are used to heat the product. In the latter case, there are two methods: one is to remove the entire lid, pour hot water in and put the lid back on, and the other is to peel off about half of the crimped part of the lid, pour in hot water, and then close the peeled part again to prevent the hot water from cooling down. The most commonly used method is to bend the tip of the lid and attach it to the edge of the container.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the former case, this method does not prevent boiling over from the container due to heating.
There have also been problems such as stains and seizing inside the cooker caused by debris caused by foaming, and deterioration of taste due to excessive evaporation of water. In the latter case, since boiling water is poured directly into the container and the heat is utilized for cooking, it is necessary to seal the lid to prevent the boiling water from cooling down for a certain period of time. Therefore,
It is important to fit the lid tightly to the edge of the container, but even if you put the thin lid back on after it has been peeled off, it will curl outward due to the heat and steam from pouring hot water, and if you just bend a part of the lid, it will not work. However, there were drawbacks such as the need to put a weight on the lid in some cases, and the bending part becoming soft during the process, causing the lid to open. In this invention, when cooking instant food in a container, heating it in a cooker with the lid of the container partially open, or pouring boiling water directly into the container.
The shape memory material attached to the lid is transformed by the cooking heat,
To provide a lid for a container that automatically closes the lid and tightly contacts the container to prevent boiling over or a drop in temperature during cooking, thereby making it possible to further enjoy the cooking method of instant food in a container.

0004

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10, which illustrate means, operations, and embodiments in which a shape memory alloy is used as a shape memory member. FIG. 1 shows an example of an instant food packaged in a container, in which a processed food 3 is placed in a container 1, a lid 2 is crimped onto the upper edge 4 of the container 1, and the container is sealed so that the food 3 can be stored for a certain period of time. Container 1 is
It is a lightweight cup made of styrofoam material that is lightweight and has excellent heat retention, or paper that has a heat-insulating structure, and a waterproof membrane 5 is processed on the inner surface. Food 3 is an instant food that is prepared mainly by steaming noodles, seasoning them, instant oil heat drying, or by adding a plurality of seasonings to sealed noodles, and then pouring boiling water into a container. As shown in FIG. 2, the lid 2 is a deformed circle having a circular flat surface and an opening 6 provided in a part of the surface, and a shape memory alloy 10 is inserted along the periphery of the surface. As shown in FIG. 3, the cross section of the lid 2 forms a thin layer made by bonding a plurality of materials, the shape memory alloy 10 is located between the layers of the thin heat insulating layer 9, and the top surface of the heat insulating layer 9 has a paper sheet 7, Aluminum foils 8 are individually bonded to the lower surface and are integrally formed. The shape memory alloy 10 is made by cutting out a thin plate-shaped alloy material, bending a part to form the tentacles 11, removing the tentacles, performing shape memory treatment (heat treatment), and then forming a thin heat insulating sheet 9. Pasting, tentacle 1
As shown in FIG. 4, the first part is formed by covering the entire surface with a heat insulating layer 12 so as not to come into direct contact with hot water. Shape memory alloys are not necessarily limited to the shape cut out into a ring shape as shown in Figure 2, but can be made by using the plate as is, or by forming a net with many holes formed in the plate, or by bending a wire. Alternatively, a method suitable for mass production may be selected from various molding processes, such as processing thin fiber materials into a thin sheet shape. In addition, the shape memory member is not limited to the above-mentioned alloy materials, but the functions of shape memory resin, superelastic thread, organic elastic fiber, etc. may be used in competition or in combination to form a lid structure, and in combination with a heat insulating material, etc. By controlling the transformation temperature, it is possible to realize a lid device with a further expanded range of applications. In any case, the shape memory member used in the lid device has a flat shape, so shape memory processing is extremely easy, and it is easy to mass-produce it by continuously processing it in the form of a band and cutting it continuously with automation. However, it is also more efficient if a shape memory alloy melt is continuously spray-formed onto a thin substrate, then a heat insulating melt is directly applied or welded to the rapidly cooled and shape memory treated alloy and inserted between the layers. Therefore, it is possible to configure and implement a simultaneous production line with the strip-shaped products.

[0005]

[Function] As shown in Figure 5, the lid of the instant food container constructed as described above is used by partially opening the lid 2 and pouring boiling water 20 into the container 1, so that the boiling water reaches a predetermined amount. When this happens, the shape memory alloy 10 attached to the lid 2 undergoes a transformation due to the shape memory effect of trying to return to its memorized shape by heating the hot water, and the stress automatically closes the lid to prevent the food inside from cooling down. Keep warm. This automatic closing of the open lid is due to the shape memory alloy's tendency to return to its memorized shape (martensitic transformation).
However, when the lid is opened, the alloy undergoes plastic deformation and does not return to its original state even if it is released in the open state. In practice, it is important to first set the transformation temperature of the shape memory alloy and the response timing. In other words, if the temperature of the hot water to be injected is 80°C to 100°C, if the transformation temperature is set to 80°C, the lid will not close even if the water is injected with hot water below 80°C. If the temperature is set too low, there will be problems such as the lid closing due to hot air before the hot water reaches the predetermined amount, or the lid closing even if hot water is accidentally poured on the lid. This invention provides a heat insulating layer 9 on the surface of the shape memory alloy 10 to temporarily cut off the temperature and prevent malfunction of transformation in response to the above-mentioned unexpected actions. Furthermore, the transformation temperature and response timing can be set using tentacles 1 in which a part of the shape memory alloy is protruded outside the lid layer.
1, and by forming a heat insulating layer 12 on the tentacle part, the time from contact with hot water until reaching the transformation temperature is controlled, and the initial operation and response time of transformation of the shape memory alloy is delayed. There is. For the above reasons, if the delay time of the shape memory alloy is set to at least 5 to 15 seconds and the transformation response speed is made gentle, the lid of the container will be closed for about 5 to 15 seconds after pouring hot water. Then, gently begin to close the lid until it is tightly attached to the rim of the container. The more flat the peripheral edge of the lid returns to its shape, the more effective the heat retention effect will be.

[0006]

[Example] Fig. 6 shows another example in which a hard lid is attached to the container.
A rim 33 is provided around the periphery of the container 2, the container is fitted into the container, a portion of the lid is bent, and hot water 20 is poured into the container for cooking. A plurality of folds 34 are formed in the plane of the lid 32, and a shape memory alloy 35 is attached to the plane of the lid, and the shape memory alloy has tentacles 36 with a portion thereof protruding into the interior of the container as shown in FIG. A heat insulating layer 37 is formed on the surface. The shape memory alloy 35 is formed by forming a thin plate material or bending a wire material, cutting it into a predetermined shape, attaching it to the surface of the lid, and having shape memory so as to return to a flat surface. As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the lid of this embodiment is made by injection molding a synthetic resin material or by simply hot-pressing a plastic film, etc. At the time of molding, a mounting recess 38 for attaching a shape memory alloy material is simultaneously molded. The shape memory treated alloy is fitted into the mounting recess and fixed, and a heat insulating sheet 39 or printed paper or the like is pasted thereon to cover it. In this embodiment, in the case of a lid having a hard flat surface, opening and closing is performed only by bending the folded portion, and the other portions are opened and closed in stages while remaining flat. Therefore, the shape memory alloy is attached to the circumference of the lid, and the softer the crease is, the more effectively the shape memory alloy is attached, and the closer the crease is to the center of the lid, the smoother the crease is. FIGS. 9 and 10 show another example in which the shape memory alloy is not formed with tentacles, but is instead made into tentacles by tilting the container and exposing it to hot water to heat a part of the former alloy. This shows an example of returning to the stored shape. In FIG. 9, a zone 47 is provided in which the heat insulating layer 44 is removed in a partial area of the lid 42 that extends from the fixed part 46 of the container to the inner surface of the container, so that the heat of the water is directly transmitted to a specific part of the shape memory alloy 43. However, aluminum foil 45 is bonded to the surface. To explain this effect with reference to FIG. 10, hot water 20 is poured into the container 40(a), and when the predetermined amount is reached, the hot water supply is stopped, and the container 40(a) is tilted diagonally as shown by the solid line. By advection to one side of the container 40 and directly contacting the zone 47 provided in the lid 42, the shape memory alloy 43 in a specific portion from which the heat insulating layer has been removed is rapidly heated and reaches a transformation temperature, where it is memorized. It returns to its shape and closes the lid automatically. This embodiment has a simple structure because it does not form tentacles in the shape memory alloy, is safe by keeping the container flat and stable, and pouring boiling water into it, and by forming a heat insulating layer outside the designated zone, it is possible to prevent the lid from being accidentally closed. Even if boiling water is poured over a part of the tank, the lid can be prevented from closing during hot water supply. For the above reasons, the structure of this lid is simple and most suitable for mass production.

[0007]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, this invention automatically attaches a shape memory alloy to the lid of an instant food container and utilizes the shape memory effect of the shape memory alloy to return to its memorized shape. The lid-closing device makes the cooking method of instant food easier, and adds another enjoyable element to the otherwise simple cooking method, which has the effect of further enhancing the simplicity and convenience of instant food. . In addition, while there have been advances in techniques for preparing, seasoning, and preserving instant foods, which have become increasingly diverse and become necessities of daily life, there has been little progress in containers since their release. This invention attaches a new material called shape memory alloy to the lid of the container and utilizes its function to add reliability and playfulness to instant food, which is otherwise simple and convenient, thereby making it more familiar and enjoyable. It has the effect of spreading the image of food and the material functions and applications of shape memory alloys.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the shape of the lid.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure of the lid.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the tentacle part.

FIG. 5 is a perspective sectional view illustrating the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective sectional view illustrating the configuration of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the shape of the lid of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the lid of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged sectional view of the lid of the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view illustrating an embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1... Container 2... Lid 3... Food 7...Lid paper sheet layer 8... Aluminum foil layer on the lid 9...Insulating sheet layer of lid 10...Shape memory alloy material 11...Shape memory alloy tentacles 12...Tentacle insulation layer 20・・・Boiling water

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A lid for an instant food container in which seasoned food is packed into a container, a lid is attached, and a portion of the lid is opened to heat or pour boiling water for cooking, wherein the lid of the container is provided with a shape memory member. A lid device for a food container, characterized in that the opened lid is automatically closed by the shape memory effect of the shape memory member. 2. The lid forms a plurality of thin layers, and the shape memory member is located basically along the periphery of the lid, and the cross section is formed intermittently between the layers, and the shape memory member is formed intermittently between the layers. 2. The lid device for a food container according to claim 1, wherein the two layers are joined to each other with a necessary area and are integrally molded together with the respective layers. 3. The shape memory member has a single surface with a continuous cross section, and forms at least one of the thin layers of the lid, and the cross section of the layer is parallel to each layer. 3. The lid device for a food container according to claim 2, wherein the lid device is joined by a screw. 4. The lid device for a food container according to claim 2, wherein the shape memory member has tentacles that extend beyond the layer of the lid and partially protrude outside the layer. 5. The shape memory member attached to the lid includes a tentacle portion that protrudes outside the layer, and has a heat insulating member whose cross section is parallel to the entire surface or other surface excluding a part of the main surface. A lid device for a food container characterized by forming a layer. 6. A lid for an instant food in a container in which the container and the lid are separated, a part of the lid is bent and fixed to the container, and boiling water is poured into the lid for cooking, wherein the lid communicates with either end of the plane. A shape memory member is attached to a surface of the lid having at least one crease and including the crease portion, and the crease portion is deformed by the shape memory effect of the shape memory member to automatically close the opened lid. Features food container lid device. 7. A lid device for a food container, wherein the shape memory member attached to the lid returns to its memorized shape by the heat of cooking the instant food.