Container for food products and method for transporting food products

Abstract

The invention relates to a container for food products, especially for sterile basic food substances, comprising a tank and an inliner interchangeably arranged in the tank for receiving the product. The invention also relates to a method for transporting food products in such a container. Moreover, the invention relates to a tank and an inliner for use in a container for food products. Such a container facilitates the transport, and the amounts of energy needed to clean the container are considerably reduced.

1 . A container suitable for storing sterile food products, the container comprising a tank and an inliner within the tank, the inliner suitable for receiving the food products.  
   
   
       2 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the inliner is selectively removable from the tank.  
   
   
       3 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the tank comprises a tapering in the lower portion of the tank, the tapering comprising an outlet opening.  
   
   
       4 . The container according to  claim 3 , wherein the tank comprises an upright tank and the outlet opening comprises a substantially vertical outlet opening is oriented substantially vertically.  
   
   
       5 . The container according to  claim 3 , wherein the outlet opening has a diameter of at least 10 cm.  
   
   
       6 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the tank comprises at least one observation window.  
   
   
       7 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the tank comprises a holding device for holding the inliner in the tank.  
   
   
       8 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the tank comprises a lid with a closable opening for passing an inliner therethrough.  
   
   
       9 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the tank comprises a bottom with a closable opening for passing an inliner therethrough.  
   
   
       10 . The container according to  1 , wherein the inliner comprises an outlet nozzle having a closing device comprising a membrane or a bursting disk, the closing device suitable for keeping the inner surface of the inliner sterile.  
   
   
       11 . The container according to  claim 10 , wherein the tank comprises an outlet opening and wherein the outlet nozzle has a smaller outer diameter than the outlet opening of the tank.  
   
   
       12 . The container to  claim 10 , wherein the tank comprises an outlet opening and wherein the container comprises a centering disk suitable for centering the outlet nozzle in the outlet opening of the tank.  
   
   
       13 . The container according to  claim 12 , wherein the centering disk is formed integrally with the outlet nozzle.  
   
   
       14 . The container according to  claim 12 , wherein the centering disk has an opening suitable for receiving the outlet nozzle.  
   
   
       15 . The container according to  claim 12 , wherein the outlet nozzle includes a projecting portion which projects from the tank outwardly from the centering disk.  
   
   
       16 . The container according to  claim 15 , comprising a valve device constructed and arranged to be mounted on the projecting portion of the outlet nozzle.  
   
   
       17 . The container according to  claim 16 , wherein the container comprises a mounted state wherein at least one seal is located between the outlet nozzle and the valve device.  
   
   
       18 . The container according to  claim 10 , wherein the tank comprises an outlet opening and wherein the container comprises a fixing element constructed and arranged to fix the outlet nozzle to the outlet opening.  
   
   
       19 . The container according to  claim 18 , wherein the fixing element fixes the outlet nozzle to the outlet opening to be torsion-resistant.  
   
   
       20 . The container according to  claim 18 , wherein the fixing element forms a seal between the valve device and the outlet nozzle.  
   
   
       21 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the inliner comprises an overpressure safety element.  
   
   
       22 . The container according to  claim 21 , wherein the overpressure safety element communicates with the outside of the tank.  
   
   
       23 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the inliner comprises a holding element constructed and arranged to fix the inliner to the upper half of the tank.  
   
   
       24 . The container according to claims  23 , wherein the holding element includes the overpressure safety element.  
   
   
       25 . An inliner for receiving food products, the inliner constructed and arranged to be placed within a container, the inliner comprising a food product compatible plastic foil, and a sterilized outlet nozzle.  
   
   
       26 . The inliner according to  claim 25 , wherein the outlet nozzle comprises a closing device, for keeping the inner surface of the inliner sterile.  
   
   
       27 . The inliner according to  claim 25 , wherein the outlet nozzle comprises a closing device comprising a membrane or bursting disk to break under a predetermined pressure load free of shreds.  
   
   
       28 . The inliner according to  claim 25 , comprising an overpressure safety element.  
   
   
       29 . The inliner according to  claim 25 , comprising a holding element constructed and arranged to fix the inliner inside the tank.  
   
   
       30 . The inliner according to  claim 29 , wherein the tank includes an outlet opening, and wherein the holding element comprises a marking for indicating the orientation under which the inliner is inserted into the tank of the container with respect to the orientation of the outlet opening, wherein the outlet nozzle is adjacent to the outlet opening after the inliner has been inserted.  
   
   
       31 . The inliner according to  claim 25 , wherein the inliner is folded when empty such that the inliner adapts to the inner wall of the tank in a crease-free manner when filled with the food product.  
   
   
       32 . The inliner according to  claim 25 , the inliner comprising one or more folds and further comprises a rubber band or an adhesive strip on the inliner to at least partially unfold the inliner depending on the filling level.  
   
   
       33 . The inliner according to  claim 25 , comprising an outlet nozzle comprising a weldable plastic, an overpressure safety element comprising a weldable plastic, and/or a holding means comprising a weldable plastic.  
   
   
       34 . A tank for use in a container for storing food products, the tank comprising a funneled outlet in the lower portion of the tank, the funneled outlet having an outlet opening which is arranged eccentrically.  
   
   
       35 . The tank according to  claim 34 , wherein the tank comprises at least one device for aeration and/or deaeration.  
   
   
       36 . A method for transporting food products in a container, the method comprising transporting the food products in an inliner in the interior of a tank.  
   
   
       37 . A method of filling or, evacuating the container having an inliner for storing sterile food products, the the method comprising: 
 disinfecting a region from a connecting piece to a closing device of an outlet nozzle of the inliner;    subsequently connecting the connecting piece to the outlet nozzle for connecting a filling or evacuation device.    
   
   
       38 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein the connecting piece comprises a valve device; the method further comprising introducing a disinfectant through the valve device, when the valve is in an opened position, and into a space between the valve device and the closing device, and closing the valve and maintaining the disinfectant in the space, then filling or evacuating the container.  
   
   
       39 . The method for filling the container having an inliner having an outlet nozzle, the container being suitable for storing sterile food products, the method comprising: 
 docking a filling device,    deaerating a space between the inliner and the tank, and    filling the inliner via the outlet.    
   
   
       40 . The method for evacuating a container having an inliner having an outlet nozzle, the container being suitable for storing sterile food products, the method comprising: 
 docking an evacuation device,    aerating the space between the inliner and the tank, and    evacuating the inliner via the outlet nozzle.    
   
   
       41 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the tank comprises a funneled outlet.  
   
   
       42 . The container according to  claim 3 , wherein the outlet opening is arranged eccentrically.  
   
   
       43 . The container according to  claim 3 , wherein the outlet opening is constructed to permit a human hand to grip therethrough.  
   
   
       44 . The container according to  claim 3 , wherein the outlet opening has a diameter of between about 12 cm and 16 cm.  
   
   
       45 . The container according to  claim 3 , wherein the outlet comprises an observation window.  
   
   
       46 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the tank comprises a lid having a holding device.  
   
   
       47 . The container according to  claim 14 , wherein the opening is located eccentrically.  
   
   
       48 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the inliner comprises an overpressure safety element comprising a pressure relief valve.  
   
   
       49 . The inliner according to  claim 25 , comprising an overpressure safety element comprising a bursting disk or a safety valve.  
   
   
       50 . The inliner according to  claim 28 , wherein the overpressure safety element includes a pressure relief valve.  
   
   
       51 . The inliner according to  claim 28 , wherein the tank includes an outlet opening, and wherein the overpressure safety element comprises a marking for indicating the orientation under which the inliner is inserted into the tank of the container with respect to the orientation of the outlet opening, wherein the outlet nozzle is adjacent to the outlet opening after the inliner has been inserted.  
   
   
       52 . The inliner according to  claim 25 , comprising Polyethylene and/or polypropylene.