DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TESTING PACKAGED FOODSTUFFS FOR THE PRESENCE OF MICROORGANISMS

Abstract

A device and method for testing foodstuffs for the presence of microorganisms including an infeed unit for a package containing a foodstuff, a sample analysis device configured to take a sample of the foodstuff and test for the presence of microorganisms, a discharge unit for discharging the package, and a display for displaying the results of testing by the sample analysis device.

Claims

1. A device for testing packaged foodstuffs for the presence of microorganisms, the device comprising: an infeed unit for a package containing a foodstuff; a sample analysis device disposed downstream of the infeed unit configured for taking a sample of the foodstuff in the package and testing the sample for the presence of microorganisms; and a discharge unit disposed downstream of the sample analysis device for discharging the package from the device; wherein the device comprises a storage unit for the package disposed between the sample analysis device and the discharge unit; the device further comprises a display for displaying a result of the testing of the sample from the package at a location of the discharge unit; and the device is configured such that the storage unit delivers the package at the discharge unit substantially at the same time as the results of the package are displayed by the display.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit comprises a conveyor.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the conveyor is configured to carry a multitude of packages into and out of the storage unit in the same order.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the conveyor is configured such that, in use, the time during which a package stays in the conveyor is substantially equal to the duration of the analysis of the sample from the package.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the length of the conveyor divided by the average speed of a package in the conveyor in use is substantially equal to the duration of the analysis of the sample from the package.

6. The device according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the length of the conveyor and the speed of the conveyor is selected or set so that the package arrives at the discharge unit substantially at the same time as the result for the package is displayed by the display.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the device comprises a control unit for controlling conveyor speed.

8. The device according to claim 2, wherein the conveyor comprises a multitude of parallel conveyor tracks.

9. The device according to claim 6, wherein the parallel conveyor tracks are arranged substantially near each other and above or beside each other, and wherein directions of movement of the conveyor tracks alternate.

10. The device according to claim 7, wherein the parallel conveyor tracks are a pair of conveyor tracks, wherein a first conveyor track of each pair of conveyor tracks conveys a package in a first direction and a second conveyor track of the respective pair of conveyor tracks conveys the package in a second direction opposite the first direction.

11. The device according to claim 8, wherein the conveyor further comprises a multitude of conveying means for transferring respective packages from one conveyor belt to a conveyor belt disposed therebeside of thereabove.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the conveying means convey a package in a direction substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveyor belts.

13. The device according to claim 8, wherein the conveying directions of the multitude of conveyor tracks lie substantially in one plane of transport.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein a proportion between the length of the path of a package over the conveyor tracks and the surface area of the plane of transport defined by the conveying directions of the conveyor tracks is substantially maximal.

15. The device according to claim 13, wherein the conveyor further comprises additional conveyor tracks and additional conveying means, which lie at least substantially in one plane different from the plane of transport.

16. The device according to claim 2, wherein the conveyor is configured to be accessible for removal of a package from the conveyor at substantially any position within the conveyor.

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein the display is configured to display information regarding consumability of the foodstuff in the package based on the result from the sample analysis device.

18. The device according to claim 1, wherein the display comprises at least one rejection indicator for displaying a result that corresponds to a tested amount of microorganisms in the sample above a specified upper limit value as well as an acceptance indicator for displaying a result that corresponds to a tested amount of microorganisms in the sample below a specified lower limit value.

19. (canceled)

20. A sea container comprising a device according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor tracks extend above each other within the sea container, at least partially in the longitudinal direction of the sea container, such that the joint length of the multitude of conveyor tracks divided by the speed of the package over the multitude of conveyor tracks in use corresponds to the duration of the analysis of the sample.

21. A method for testing packaged foodstuffs for the presence of microorganisms, the method comprising the steps of: providing a package containing a foodstuff; taking a sample of the foodstuff in the package; testing the sample for the presence of microorganisms; displaying the result of the sample analysis; and storing the package during the testing and a step of subsequently releasing the package, wherein the package is released substantially at the same time as the results of the package are displayed at the location of the package.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the package is discharged from the device after being released.

Description

[0033] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to a few embodiments as shown in the following figures. In the figures:

[0034] FIG. 1a is a side view of a sea container comprising a device according to the present invention;

[0035] FIG. 1b is a side view of the sea container of FIG. 1a, from the opposite side, with the device according to the present invention present therein;

[0036] FIG. 2 is a cutaway top view of the device according to the present invention installed in a sea container as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b;

[0037] FIGS. 3a and 3b are a side view and a front view, respectively, of a storage unit for a device according to the present invention;

[0038] FIGS. 4a and 4b are schematic views of a discharge unit for a device according to the present invention.

[0039] In the first place it is noted that the invention will be explained hereinafter essentially with reference to an embodiment in which the device according to the present invention is installed in a sea container. The skilled person will appreciate, however, that the invention is not limited to placement of the device in a sea container. Other placements and uses are conceivable.

[0040] FIGS. 1a and 1b show a left-hand side view and a right-hand side view, respectively, of a sea container 101 comprising a container wall 103 and an access door 105, in which container a device according to the present invention for testing for the presence of microorganisms in packaged foodstuffs is provided. Provided in the side wall 103 of the container 101 are facilities and/or connections for the device, which are schematically shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b. A water connection 111, an air outlet and/or inlet 113, a current connection 119 and an air conditioning connection 115, 107 are for example provided. Different connections may be provided, of course, depending on what is needed.

[0041] According to one aspect, the sea container is connected to a compressor unit 201. During use of the device, the compressor unit 201 is located outside the interior of the sea container 101, but the sea container 101 is arranged so that the compressor unit 201 can be accommodated in the interior of the sea container 101 during transport thereof. The device can thus be transported as an independent unit in a sea container and be set up locally without additional, or only minimal, means being required.

[0042] FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of a sea container 101 provided with a device 1 according to the present invention. In particular the layout of the device 1 is schematically shown in this figure. In the illustrated embodiment, the interior of the sea container is divided into two parts A, B by means of a partition wall W. The two parts comprise an operator part A and a maintenance part B. During use, in particular the operator part A is in use and the maintenance part B is preferably closed for the sake of user safety. When the device 1 is not in use, the maintenance part is accessible, so that the equipment present therein can be cleaned, checked, repaired and/or maintained. Furthermore, a storage space (not shown) may be provided in the maintenance part B, for example for temporary storage of clothes, implements, reagents and/or samples. In one embodiment, the storage space comprises refrigerating means, so that reagents and/or samples can be safely stored.

[0043] The device 1 according to the present invention as shown in FIG. 2 is configured to test for the presence of microorganisms in packaged foodstuffs, in particular packages that have been selected or obtained as samples from a series of produced products. The device comprises an infeed unit 31 for a package containing a foodstuff that is to be analysed. In particular, a vibration device in the form of a shaker may be provided at the infeed unit 31, which device homogenises the foodstuff to be tested through vibration during a period of time and at a rate laid down in a predetermined protocol (assay). Provided downstream of the infeed unit 31 is a sample analysis device 4. The sample analysis device 4 is configured to take a sample from the foodstuff present in the package and also to test the sample for the presence of microorganisms therein. The device 1 further comprises a discharge unit 32, which is disposed downstream of the sample analysis device and which is configured to discharge the package from the device 1.

[0044] The operation of this sample analysis device 4 is known to the skilled person. For the sake of completeness the operation will be briefly explained. The sample analysis device 4 for example takes a sample from the package and transfers this to a well of so-called microtitre plate (for example 96-well plate). One or more reagents are added according to a predetermined protocol (assay) and subsequently, when all of the wells or a number of the wells are filled, the microtitre plate is placed on a vibrator (shaker) for a predetermined period of time that is needed for allowing said one or more reagents to act on the sample (exposure time). In the meantime, the package in question has already been carried forward and been stored, as will be explained in more detail yet. After the exposure time, a measurement can be carried out on the sample in the microtitre plate, and a result regarding the presence of microorganisms in the package in question can be provided.

[0045] In practice, several packages will be tested for the presence of microorganisms. These packages are successively supplied to the sample analysis device and a sample from each one of the packages is placed in the microtitre plate. The packages are transported further and stored.

[0046] When the microtitre plate is full, the sample analysis device will provide a new, empty microtitre plate, so that samples from further packages can be analysed.

[0047] According to the present invention, the device comprises a storage unit 5 for the package, which storage unit is disposed between the sample analysis device 4 and the discharge unit 32. That is, the storage unit is disposed downstream of the sample analysis device 4 and upstream of the discharge unit 32. The storage unit 5 is used for temporary storage of the package to be analysed, in particular for as long as the analysis takes, i.e. at least as long as the exposure time plus the time needed for the measurement. In the illustrated embodiment, the storage unit 5 is provided in the maintenance part B, such that the user does not have access to the package being analysed.

[0048] The device 1 according to the present invention comprises display means 22, which form part of an operator unit 2. Said display means 22 are configured to display a result of the testing of the sample from the package. The results are displayed in such a manner that they are perceptible, preferably visible or audible, at the location of the discharge unit. In one embodiment, the display means comprise a display screen. Additionally it is conceivable that an alternative signal is delivered in the case of a positive test result of the package.

[0049] In order to prevent any mix-up between results and packages, the device according to the present invention is configured so that the package is delivered at the end of the discharge unit 32 substantially at the same time as the results of the package in question are being displayed by the display means 22. As already mentioned before, a package will thus reach the end of the discharge unit 32 at the same time as its respective result (which is displayed by the display means), so that the result is linked to the associated package in an effective manner.

[0050] Further details of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 will be explained hereinafter.

[0051] The operator unit 2 comprises a work table 21 and the aforesaid display means 22. The operator unit 2 is located in the operator part A. The infeed unit 31 and the discharge unit 32 connect to the operator unit and are in part located in the operator part, in such a manner that the operator can feed the package to be analysed into the device 1 and remove it therefrom. A package containing a foodstuff to be analysed can be placed on the infeed unit 31. Preferably, the package is placed in a container 9a suitable for that purpose, which is subsequently placed on the infeed unit 31.

[0052] The infeed unit 3 is configured to feed the package 9b to be analysed to the sample analysis device 4. In the illustrated embodiment, the sample analysis device 4 comprises a robot arm 42, which is configured to take a sample from a package 9b present at the sample analysis device 4, for example by taking a sample from the interior of the package, using a probe, and subsequently transferring it to an analysis device 41 for analysis thereof. The sample can for example be transferred in a microtitre plate 45, after which the samples present in the microtitre plate 45 are analysed in the analysis device 41, for example a luminometer (e.g. Promilite III made by Promicol B.V.). It is noted in that regard that the skilled person will in principle be familiar with the possible analyses to which samples can be subjected, in particular samples from the contents of a package, for example samples of milk or fruit juices. The invention is not limited to the type of analysis that is carried out; the sample analysis device 4 can in principle be used for carrying out any analysis that may be required.

[0053] Provided downstream of the sample analysis device 4 is the storage unit 5. After a sample has been taken, the package is carried to the storage unit 5. The storage unit 5 comprises four towers (in the illustrated embodiment) of a number of conveyors 52 arranged above each other. The conveyors 52 extend in the longitudinal direction of the sea container 101 and are placed substantially horizontally for transporting the containers 9d, 9f essentially forward and backward. Conveying means 51 are provided at both ends of the conveyors 52 for moving the containers 9e between the various conveyors 52. The conveying means may be configured to transfer respective packages from one conveyor belt 52 to a conveyor belt 52 disposed therebeside or thereabove.

[0054] The storage unit 5 is shown in more detail in FIGS. 3a and 3b, which schematically show a side view and a front view, respectively, of said storage unit 5. As shown in FIG. 3a, the storage unit 5 comprises nine conveyors 52a, 52b arranged above each other, which are alternately configured to move to the left (52a) or to the right (52b). Thus, parallel conveyor tracks 52a, 52b with alternate directions of movement are provided. Provided at the ends of the conveyor are the conveying means 51, 51 for moving the containers 9h, 9i, 9j between the conveyors 52a, 52b. Because the conveying means 51, 51 are embodied as rotating wheels (see FIG. 3b), the container 9m can also be moved between adjacent towers of conveyors (see also FIG. 2).

[0055] As a result of the configuration with the conveyors 52 and the aforesaid conveying means 51, the containers with packages can be stored for a long or a short period of time in the device, as desired, and that on a FIFO (first in first out) basis, such that when an analysis of a package is (nearly) done, this package can be transported to the discharge unit 32 again by means of the conveyor 52 in the storage unit 5, such that the result of the analysis can be transmitted to the display means 22, wherein the analysed package exits the discharge unit 32 substantially simultaneously therewith. By using a total of four towers of conveyors, it becomes possible to store an enormous amount of packages temporarily, which is advantageous in the case of tests that take relatively long. If desired, for example in the case of short tests, some of the towers need not be used. Alternatively, the speed of the conveyors can be increased or decreased, and that geared to the duration of the tests in such a manner that the analysed package will arrive at the end of the discharge unit 32 substantially simultaneously with the displayed result. The device is to that end preferably provided with a control unit 118 (see FIG. 2).

[0056] Because of the arrangement with four conveyor towers, the conveyor is accessible from the maintenance part B for removing a package from the conveyor at substantially any position within the conveyor. The conveyor will be readily accessible in case of a malfunction or if this is otherwise necessary, such that a desired container with a package (or a multitude of containers) can be removed from the conveyor.

[0057] Referring to FIGS. 4a and 4b, to conclude, the operator unit 2 with the work table 21 and the display means 22 is shown. The display means 22 are preferably configured to display information 25, 25 regarding the consumability of the foodstuff in the package 9h on the basis of the result from the analysis device 4. The information may comprise a rejection indicator 25 (FIG. 4b) for displaying a result that corresponds to a tested amount of microorganisms in the sample above a specified upper limit value, as well as an acceptance indicator 25 (FIG. 4a) for displaying a result that corresponds to a tested amount of microorganisms in the sample below a specified lower limit value. As already mentioned before, other information may be displayed. Furthermore, an audited signal may also be used in providing an acceptance indicator and/or a rejection indicator.

[0058] In the foregoing, the device 1 has been described on the basis of a situation in which the device is built into a sea container, in particular a sea container of the 2 TEU type. Although such an embodiment is advantageous, the invention is not limited thereto.

[0059] Using the device according to the present invention, testing packaged foodstuffs for the presence of microorganisms is very easy. According to the invention, a package containing a foodstuff is provided, for example near the infeed unit, a sample of the foodstuff in the package is taken, which sample is tested for the presence of microorganisms, for example using the sample analysis device, and the results of the analysis of the sample are displayed. According to the invention, the method comprises the step of storing the package during said testing and the step of subsequently releasing the package, wherein the package is released substantially at the same time as the results of the package in question are being displayed at the location of the package. The package can be stored in the storage unit. The package can be carried out of the device subsequent to being released.

[0060] In the foregoing, the invention has been explained with reference to a preferred embodiment, in which the device is provided in a sea container. The skilled person will appreciate, however, that although placement in a sea container is very advantageous, the device according to the present invention is not limited to placement in a sea container, but that a conventional setup, for example in a factory space or a laboratory space, is also conceivable. Many equivalent embodiments are conceivable within the scope of the invention. The protection sought is determined by the appended claims.