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Title:
PAN FOR FOODS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2018/193348
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A pan (1) for foods comprising a bottom (2) and a side wall (3) connected to the bottom (2) and defining, together with the bottom (2) itself, a containment volume (4) for at least one food; the pan (1) comprises at least one identification element (9), provided on at least one outer surface portion of the bottom (2), and incised in the thickness of the bottom (2) or of the side wall (3) for a certain depth. The identification element (9) is constituted by any sign or set of signs suitable to be recognised in a unique way by an electronic reading device. The bottom (2) comprises at least one raised portion that lies on a different plane than the one on which the remaining portions of the bottom (2) lie so as to define a recess (6a); the identification element (9) is realised in the lower face (2b) of the bottom (2), inside the recess (6a).

Inventors:
GALLON FEDERICO (IT)
PETTENELLO CATERINA (IT)
GALLON GIORGIA (IT)
GALLON GIACOMO (IT)
Application Number:
PCT/IB2018/052588
Publication Date:
October 25, 2018
Filing Date:
April 13, 2018
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
MY G PIZZA S R L (IT)
International Classes:
A21B3/13
Domestic Patent References:
WO2004036999A12004-05-06
WO2016053932A12016-04-07
WO2007042248A12007-04-19
Foreign References:
US20110155607A12011-06-30
US4176591A1979-12-04
US20040149142A12004-08-05
DE102010008420A12011-08-18
US20150230657A12015-08-20
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
MINGHETTI, Mauro (IT)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAIMS

1. Pan (1) for foods, comprising a bottom (2), at least a side wall (3), connected to said bottom (2) and defining, together with said bottom (2), a containment volume (4) for at least one food, and at least one identification element (9), provided in at least an external surface portion of said bottom (2), and incised in the thickness of said bottom (2) for a certain depth, said identification element (9) being constituted by any sign or set of signs suitable to be uniquely recognized by an electronic reading device, said bottom (2) comprising at least a raised portion (6) which lies on a different plane from that on which the remaining portions of said bottom (6) lie, so as to define a recess (6a) in said bottom (2), characterized in that said identification element (9) is made in the lower face (2b) of said bottom (2), within said recess (6a).

2. Pan according to claim 1 , made of aluminum sheet, or of an aluminum alloy, of thickness comprised between 0.5 mm and 2 mm.

3. Pan according to claim 2, wherein said sheet has 1 mm thickness.

4. Pan according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said side wall (3) comprises an edge (5), constituted by the end portion (3a) of said side wall (3) bent on itself in the direction of said bottom (2). so as to define a kind of circumferential channel (3b).

5. Pan according to claim 4, wherein said bottom (2) comprises a plurality of through holes (8), which do not affect at least the central region of said raised portion (6).

6. Pan according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said identification element (9) comprises at least one linear or two-dimensional barcode (9a), incised in the thickness of said bottom (2) for a certain depth.

7. Pan according to claim 6, wherein said identification element (9) comprises at least one number (9b), expressed in digits, corresponding to said barcode (9a).

8. Method for manufacturing a pan (1 ) for foods, comprising the steps of: providing an aluminum sheet, of thickness comprised between 0.5 mm and 2mm; cutting the sheet so as to obtain a semifinished product of the desired form; deforming the semifinished product so as to obtain a bottom (2), at least one side wall (3) and at least one edge (5) of said side wall (3);

deforming said bottom (2) so as to obtain a raised portion (6), and a corresponding recess (6a),

incising, for a certain depth, an identification element (9), constituted by any sign or set of signs suitable to be uniquely recognized by an electronic reading device, in the lower face (2b) of said bottom (2), within said recess (6a).

9. Process according to claim 8, wherein said step of incising an identification element (9) is executed by means of a laser incision device, or by means of a machine comprising a tool operating via chip removal.

10. Process according to one of claims 8-9, wherein said identification element (9) comprises a linear or two-dimensional barcode (9a).

1 1. Process according to claim 10, wherein said identification element (9) comprises at least one number (9b), expressed in digits, corresponding to said barcode (9a).

Description:
"PAN FOR FOODS"

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a pan for foods.

More specifically, the present invention concerns a pan for transporting foods such as pizzas and the like through a production plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

There are various known types of plants for the automated production of prepared foods such as pizzas and the like, but not only.

The most well-known and widely used plants are those that produce packaged foods for sales through large-scale distribution, for example in supermarkets and the like.

Typically, in the exemplary case of pizza, the food is prepared, cooked, packaged and preferably sold frozen, in specific counters or refrigerator display cases: the purchaser then has to defrost the food with his own means and consume it at will. The plants which are usually used to produce these foods have rather rigid requirements in terms of product characteristics; in fact, in this case these plants are designed to produce large quantities of the same single food.

Some producers are also able to modify the plant to obtain foods with different characteristics: still using the example of pizzas, with specific modifications, the same plant can be rendered suitable for producing pizzas with different toppings (always in the context of a very limited number of variants).

Still in reference to the sector of the production of foods such as pizza and the like, innovative plants have recently also been developed which operate on decidedly more reduced scales than the previously described industrial plants, which instead make it possible to obtain a fully customised food on the basis of the purchaser's request.

A plant of this type is described, for example, in patent application n. of publication WO 2016/079610 Al , in the name of the same applicant. As described in that document, the production plant is able to potentially produce as many different foods as there are different users, based on their specific requests.

This means that each food must be managed through the plant as a single product, and as such must be identifiable and recognisable through the various processing stations of the plant itself.

For this puipose, the above-mentioned document describes the possibility of equipping the food containers (consisting for example of pans or the like), through which the latter move among the various processing stations, with respective identification elements, readable and identifiable by suitable reading means provided through the plant.

More specifically, barcodes are cited as an example of an identification element that can be used for this specific application: in fact, they make it possible to uniquely distinguish each container with respect to the other present through the plant, so that each user can fully customise their own food without the risk of confusion.

Currently there are two main methods for applying barcodes to objects.

The first method is to print the barcode on a label - for example a paper label - which is then fixed to the object: this label can be fixed to the surface of the object by means of an adhesive, or with another similar technique.

The second method is to print the barcode directly on the surface of the object, if the latter so permits; in this case, the barcode must be printed with an ink of a colour that contrasts that of the object (for example, in white if the object is a dark colour).

The above conventional techniques for affixing barcodes are not effective in this case, namely in the case of an object consisting of a container for the transport of a food through a production plant.

In fact, each container in a production plant is cyclically subjected to various types of stresses which can rapidly cause the barcode to become unreadable by the reading devices placed through the plant itself. Firstly, the containers are subjected to high thermal stresses, as within one cycle they certainly pass through a food-cooking oven at least once.

These stresses can clearly quickly compromise the integrity of a barcode applied conventionally, thereby forcing the user to replace it or to reproduce it very frequently.

Secondly, at the end of the production cycle of a given food the same containers must be subjected to a suitable washing and subsequent drying; these operations, which are often earned out with chemically aggressive detergents in order to maximise the yield of the process, can also lead to rapid deterioration of the barcode such that it soon becomes unreadable by suitable devices.

It is just as obvious that these potentially adverse effects are increasingly more harmful the more frequently the same container is used.

In fact, it must be considered that these custom production plants are preferably installed inside of pizzerias or similar venues, which sell freshly prepared products directly to customers: accordingly, the operators do not normally possess the means to manage a large number of food transport containers through the various processing stations.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The technical aim of the present invention is to improve the state of the art.

Within such technical aim, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pan for foods that makes it possible to overcome the drawbacks described above.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pan for foods that can be uniquely identified in a stable manner over time.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a pan for foods able to remain intact over time, even if subjected to thermal, mechanical, chemical or another type of stress.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pan for foods which can also be easily handled by operators, also between various production stages.

This aim and these objects are all achieved by a pan for foods according to the attached claim 1. The pan comprises at least a bottom and a side wall, connected to the bottom and defining, together with the bottom itself, a containment volume for preparing and/or cooking at least one food.

The pan comprises at least an identification element, provided on at least one outer surface portion of the bottom, and engraved in the thickness of the bottom itself for a certain depth; the identification element consists of any sign or set of signs adapted to be recognised in a unique way by an electronic reading device.

The bottom comprises a raised portion that lies on a different plane than the one on which the remaining portions of the same bottom lie, so as to define a recess.

According to one aspect of the invention, the identification element is made in the lower face of the bottom, inside said recess.

The identification element can be constituted by a linear or two-dimensional barcode, engraved in the bottom of the pan for a certain depth.

Dependent claims refer to advantageous embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.

These and additional advantages will be better understood by any man skilled in the art from the following description and accompanying drawings, provided by way of non-limiting example, in which:

figure 1 is a bottom perspective view of the pan according to the invention;

figure 2 is a top view of the pan;

figure 3 is a bottom view of the pan;

figure 4 is a section of the pan, taken along the plane IV-IV of figure 3;

figure 5 is a central detail of figure 4;

figure 6 is a detailed side view of figure 4.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION.

With reference to figure 1 , a pan for foods according to the present invention is generally designated with the reference number 1, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes only.

According to the present invention, the pan 1 can preferably, but not exclusively, be used to contain foods that are transferred through the various processing stations of a production plant that is at least partially automated.

In addition, the pan 1 can preferably, but not exclusively, be used to contain foods that, within the context of the above-mentioned production plant, undergo at least one stage of baking, i.e. it is subjected to high thermal stresses in at least one stage of the production cycle.

The pan 1 comprises a bottom 2.

The bottom 2 comprises an upper face 2a and a lower face 2b, opposite one another.

The lower face 2b of the bottom 2 is designed to make contact with support means, or transporting means, provided in the production plant (for example a conveyor belt, transport belts or chains or the like).

In addition, the pan 1 comprises at least one side wall 3.

The side wall 3 is connected to the bottom 2, and together they define a containment volume 4 for at least one food.

The containment volume 4 is therefore delimited, more specifically by the upper face 2a of the bottom 2 and by the inner surface of the side wall 3.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the pan 1 has a circular shape, or a substantially circular shape, when viewed from the top.

However, in other embodiments of the invention, the pan 1 could have a different shape, for example square or rectangular, polygonal or other still, without any limitations to the scopes of the present invention.

The pan 1 can be made of any material suitable for this application.

Preferably, but not exclusively, the pan 1 is made of a metal material with high thermal conductivity.

According to one aspect of the invention, the pan 1 is made of aluminium or an aluminium alloy.

More specifically, and in one embodiment of the invention of particularly practical interest, the pan 1 is made of an aluminium sheet or aluminium alloy sheet.

The thickness of this sheet can be, for example, comprised between 0.5 mm and 2 mm. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the thickness of the sheet is 1 mm. The choice of a material with high thermal conductivity (precisely as is aluminium or in any case any aluminium alloy) is particularly suitable and appropriate in that, as stated, the pan 1 is preferably designed to carry one or more foods through at least one stage of baking.

Consequently, an optimum and uniform distribution of the heat over the foods to be cooked is firstly favoured.

Secondly, the rapid dispersion of heat after the cooking stage, and therefore the cooling of the pan 1 , are also facilitated.

This is very important, as in some production plants, substantially of the semi- automated type, the pan 1 containing the cooked food is very often handled by operators (which may also be the same consumer/purchaser) as soon as they exit the oven: the rapid heat dispersion thus avoids or limits any possible bum risks to those who must handle the pan 1.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the pan 1 of circular shape comprises a single cylindrical or substantially cylindrical side wall 3.

In the case in which the pan 1 is made of sheet metal (i.e. in a single piece), the side wall 3 is connected to the bottom 2, with a suitable curvature radius (see for example figure 6).

According to another aspect of the invention, the side wall 3 of the pan 1 comprises an edge 5.

The edge 5 has the main function of constituting a grip area of the pan 1 ; it can be gripped both with the hands and with mechanical/robotic means, for example in the context of a highly automated plant.

More specifically, the edge 5 can be constituted by the end portion 3a of the side wall 3 folded on itself in the direction of the bottom 2, so as to obtain a sort of circumferential channel 3b.

The circumferential channel 3b favours the rapid dissipation of heat precisely at the edge 5 of the pan 1 , and therefore in the portion that is normally gripped by the operator. The bottom 2 of the pan 1 is flat or substantially flat, in at least one portion thereof. According to one aspect of the invention, the bottom 2 of the pan 1 comprises at least one raised portion 6; more specifically, and as can be seen in figure 5, the raised portion 6 lies on a different plane than the one on which the remaining portions of the bottom 2 lie.

The raised portion 6 lies on a plane which is parallel or substantially parallel to the one on which the remaining portions of the bottom 2 lie.

In the usage configuration, and therefore with the bottom 2 of the pan 1 facing downwards, the raised portion 6 lies on a plane located at a greater height with respect to the height of the plane on which the remaining portions of the bottom 2 itself instead lie.

Therefore, a recess 6a is defined in the bottom 2, precisely at the raised portion 6.

Between the raised portion 6 and the remaining portions of the bottom 2 (see figure

5), connection areas 7 are provided.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the raised portion 6 is provided at the centre, or substantially at the centre, of the bottom 2, mainly for reasons of axial symmetry of the pan 1 ; moreover, the raised portion 6 has a circular shape.

However, in other embodiments of the invention the raised portion 6 can be in a different position inside the perimeter of the bottom 2, and/or can have a different shape.

With particular reference to the section of the pan 1 represented in figures 4 and 5, the distance between the respective resting planes of the raised portion 6 and the remaining portions of the bottom 2 can be a few millimetres.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the distance between the resting planes of the raised portion 6 and the remaining portions of the bottom 2 is between 0.5 mm and 2 mm, and is preferably 1 mm.

According to another aspect of the invention, the bottom 2 of the pan 1 comprises a plurality of through holes 8.

The through holes 8 are not present at least in the central region of the raised portion 6; in other words, at least the central region of the raised portion 6 has no through holes 8.

The through holes 8 favour better and more uniform air circulation around the food contained in the pan 1 , especially in the baking stages, and therefore a better distribution of the heat around the food itself.

Moreover, thanks to the presence of the through holes 8, the pan 1 cools down more quickly upon exiting the oven; in addition, the through holes 8 make the pan 1 lightweight and easy to handle.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the through holes 8 have their respective axes arranged along circles which are concentric to the axis of symmetry of the pan 1 , as shown for example in figures 2 and 3; however, the through holes 8 can have any arrangement in relation to the specific requirements of the application.

The diameter of each of the through holes 8 can be, for example, a few millimetres: for example, the diameter could be between 8 mm and 25 mm, extremes included. In addition, the through holes 8 can all have the same diameter, or they can have different diameters.

For example, the through holes 8 can have a larger diameter in the areas of the bottom 2 where obtaining higher air circulation is desired.

According to another aspect of the invention, the pan 1 comprises at least one identification element 9.

The identification element 9 serves to identify each pan 1 with respect to the others in a unique manner within the same plant or production system.

In other words, the identification element 9 is unique for each pan belonging to the same system/plant.

The identification element 9 is provided on at least one surface portion of the pan 1 , i.e. on at least an outer surface portion of the bottom 2 or of the side wall 3.

Preferably, but not exclusively, the identification element 9 is provided on the lower face 2b of the bottom 2 of the pan 1.

More specifically, the identification element 9 is provided on the lower face 2b of the bottom 2 at the raised portion 6 thereof, i.e. inside the recess 6a. In this way, the identification element 9 is not directly in contact with, or resting on, the support or transport means of the pan 1 provided in the production plant, but is in fact raised to a certain height, i.e. spaced far enough from the resting surface not to risk being damaged, for example, by contact with high temperature, potentially abrasive or chemically aggressive surfaces.

In other words, the identification element 9 is located in a position on the bottom 2 which is substantially protected and covered during normal use within the plant. This characteristic mainly makes it possible to better preserve the integrity of the identification element 9 when the pan 1 moves inside the production plant (and therefore rests on the bottom 2), transporting a respective food or multiple foods. The identification element 9 can be constituted by any sign or set of signs which can be recognised, preferably, by an electronic reading device.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the identification element 9 is engraved in the thickness of the bottom 2 of the pan 1 for a certain depth, as schematically shown in the detail of figure 5.

In other words, each portion or component of the identification element 9 is engraved in the thickness of the bottom 2 of the pan 1 , and more specifically in the thickness of the raised portion 6 of the bottom 2, inside the recess 6a.

The engraving of the identification element 9 affects the thickness of the bottom 2, for example, for a depth of a few tenths of a millimetre.

More in detail, the portions of the identification element 9 can be engraved in the bottom 2 with a depth of about 0.5 mm.

Alternatively, the identification element 9 can also be engraved in the thickness of the side wall 3 of the pan 1 , for a certain depth, where this proves to be of greater convenience in use.

The pan 1 could also comprise multiple identification elements 9 (also identical between them) in different positions on the pan 1 itself, for convenience in use. Thanks to the solution described above, the identification element 9 is not affected by any type of stress to which the pan 1 may be subjected during its normal use. More specifically, the thermal stresses cannot damage the identification element 9 of the pan 1 according to the present invention, as it is not made with ink or pigments which could be damaged by the high temperatures, as is currently the case.

Nor can mechanical stresses and/or chemical aggressions (both during production and during washing) alter/damage the identification element 9 of the pan 1 according to the present invention, as it is indelibly engraved in the thickness of the bottom 2.

The engraving of the identification element 9 in the bottom 2 of the pan 1 can be carried out, for example, by means of a laser engraving technique.

Alternatively, the engraving of the identification element 9 on the bottom 2 can be carried out using chip removal techniques, for example with a tool such as a micro- cutter or the like.

Any other suitable technique for engraving the identification element 9 in the thickness of the bottom 2 of the pan 1 can be effectively used for the purposes of the present invention, without any limitations.

The identification element 9 can comprise, for example, at least one string of alphanumeric characters, or any combination of diagrams, drawings or other graphic signs, also variously arranged.

In one embodiment of the invention of particularly practical interest, the identification element 9 comprises (or is constituted by) a barcode 9a.

Moreover, the identification element 9 may comprise a number 9b, expressed in digits, corresponding to said barcode 9a.

The barcode 9a is engraved in the bottom 2 of the pan 1 , at the raised portion 6, i.e. on the inside of the recess 6a.

The choice of an identification element 9 consisting of a barcode 9a is particularly advantageous also from an economic point of view, as it makes it possible to take advantage of the reading and recognition devices easily available on the market.

The barcode 9a can be linear (as in the embodiment illustrated in the figures) or two-dimensional (matrix).

It is also an object of the present invention a method for the manufacture of a pan 1 for foods.

In one embodiment of the invention, the pan 1 made with this method has the features described above.

The manufacturing method comprises a phase of providing a sheet of aluminium; this sheet can have a thickness between 0.5 mm and 2 mm, and preferably of 1 mm. The method comprises a subsequent phase of cutting the sheet so as to obtain a semi-finished product of a desired shape.

For example, the semi-finished product can have a circular shape.

The method then comprises a phase of deforming said semi-finished product so as to obtain a bottom 2, at least one side wall 3 and at least one edge 5 of the side wall 3, and so on in order to define a containment volume 4.

The phase of deforming said semi-finished product also comprises a phase of deforming, in particular, its bottom 2 so as to obtain a raised portion 6 and a corresponding recess 6a.

This raised portion 6 can be provided, for example, at the centre, or substantially at the centre, of the bottom 2.

The method then comprises a phase of engraving an identification element 9 in the thickness of the bottom 2 or the side wall 3 of the semi-finished product, for a certain depth.

In one embodiment of the invention of particularly practical interest, this engraving phase of the identification element 9 can also be performed simultaneously with said cutting phase of the sheet metal.

More specifically, the identification element 9 is engraved on the lower face 2b of the bottom 2 at said raised portion 6, i.e. on the inside of the recess 6a, so that it penetrates to a certain depth of the thickness of the bottom 2 itself.

The identification element 9 can comprise (or be constituted by) a barcode 9a; the barcode 9a can be linear or two-dimensional.

The phase of engraving an identification element 9 in the bottom 2 of the semifinished product can be performed with a laser engraving device, or with a machine comprising a tool for removing chips, or with another suitable device. The method can also comprise a phase of creating a plurality of through holes 8 in the bottom 2 of the semi-finished product.

The through holes 8 can all have the same diameter, or they can have different diameters in different areas of the bottom 2.

Said phase of deforming said semi-finished product also comprises a phase of deforming, in particular, the end portion 3a of the side wall 3 of the semi-finished product so as to fold it back on itself toward the bottom 2, so as to obtain a sort of circumferential channel 3a; the latter constitutes, in turn, the edge 5 for gripping the pan 1.

The usage method of the pan 1 according to the invention is, in the light of what has been described, entirely intuitive.

One or more foods - for example in an initial or preparatory phase of production - are positioned on the upper face 2a of the bottom 2 of the pan 1 , so as to make its subsequent cooking more rapid and uniform.

The pan 1 can then be transported through the various production stations, at least one of which can be constituted precisely by a baking phase of the food.

The shape of the pan 1 according to the present invention - in particular for the presence of the through holes 8 formed in the bottom 2 - makes it especially suitable for the preparation and cooking of food with sufficiently dense textures, in other words of a consistency such as to clearly not risk the accidental pouring of the food through the through holes 8 themselves during the production phases. As previously mentioned, the pan 1 according to the present invention has been developed particularly - but not exclusively - for the preparation of variously customisable foods such as pizzas, cakes, breads, and the like.

In fact, for this purpose the identification element 9 provided on each pan 1 makes it possible to recognise and identify the food associated therewith in a unique way, as it corresponds - for example - to a specific request of a certain consumer/purchaser.

In the case, for example, of the production of pizzas to sell directly to customers (typically take-away pizzas), the pan 1 can substantially be used in all phases of the production process to hold the food and make it uniquely identifiable, and even up to reaching the final packaging or boxing phase.

At the end of the cycle the pan 1, if necessary, can be subjected to cleaning/washing, or can be reintroduced into the production plant to meet a subsequent request.

It has thus been seen how the invention achieves the intended purposes.

The pan 1 according to the present invention makes it possible to effectively identify, in a unique way, the food associated therewith, as the identification element 9 engraved in the thickness of its bottom 2 is always clearly recognisable and readable by a suitable reading device, and does not alter over time, even after numerous productive cycles.

It should also be noted that the engraving of the identification element 9 - i.e. preferably but not exclusively a barcode 9a - makes it possible to obtain an effective and reliable reading even in the case in which there is not a clear chromatic contrast between the portions of the identification element 9 - for example the bars of the barcode 9a - and the surface of the bottom 2, a chromatic contrast that is instead a fundamental requirement for the usual devices to obtain a correct reading.

This effect is guaranteed by the three-dimensional shape of the engravings of the identification element 9, which makes the portions of the same always and in any way clearly recognisable with respect to the non-engraved surface of the bottom 2.

More specifically, the characteristics of the light beam reflection emitted by the reading device (for example a laser beam) are markedly different in the case of engravings and in the case of a non-engraved surface on the bottom 2, and this is independent of the actual chromatic characteristics of these distinct portions.

This makes it possible to maintain the readability of the identification element 9, even in cases in which it may accidentally be dirty.

The proposed solution is simple and inexpensive, but at the same time extremely advantageous and effective. The present invention has been described according to preferred embodiments, but equivalent variants are still possible without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

In the event that the technical characteristics mentioned in the attached claims are followed by reference numbers, such reference numbers are introduced for the sole purpose of further clarifying the claims, and consequently the above-mentioned reference numbers do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified as an example by such reference numbers.