DE202005000523U1 - Cooling device with air cleaning, especially for goods in food counters, on cooling shelves, has air flow added to circulated air flow before passing over goods so volumetric flow of air in induction opening is less than in blow-out opening - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has an insulated trough (1) with at least one support (6) for goods, at least one evaporator (4), at least one fan (2), at least one sterilization device (3) and a cooling unit outside the trough. The fan produces a circulated air flow through the evaporator, through the sterilization device and over at least one goods support. An additional air flow (15) is fed into the circulated air flow before it passes over the goods (8) so that the volumetric flow of air in the induction opening is less than in the blow-out opening.

Description

The The invention relates to a cooling device with Air purification.

such coolers be used for cooling of perishable foods, such as Snacks, bakery and Pastry, meat and dairy products, etc. used. The coolers are in sales counters and self service counters as well as in refrigerated shelves contain.

A such cooler consists of an insulated tub, over which at least one surface or a container for holding the to be cooled Goods is arranged. In the tub is a cooling arrangement, consisting of at least one evaporator, which with an outside the goods room arranged refrigeration unit connected as well as fans for air circulation.

These coolers are usually in refrigerated counters contain. To the goods opposite protect the surrounding area, is the goods support surface Upwards and towards the customer usually covered with a counter glazing.

There the cooling devices are open to the operating side completely or at least in the operating phase, The air also always partially mixes inside the cooling device with the ambient air. To the number of bacteria and germs, which from the ambient air into the cooling arrive, if possible To keep low, various methods are known.

From the DE 200 11 051 U1 , of the DE 201 01 627 U1 , of the DE 37 08 390 A1 , of the DE 101 34 545 B4 and the EP 0 835 623 A2 Cooling devices are known in which the evaporator is arranged below the goods support surface together with the fans and UVC sterilization emitters. Here, the air is filtered and sterilized before entering the evaporator room.

The Sterilization of the circulating air reduces the number of bacteria and germs in the field of goods. However, there is always a part of the sterilized cooling air out the cooling pan Escapes and replaced by a part of dirty ambient air is under consideration the necessary sterilization time still unwanted germs and bacteria present in the circulating air stream. The sucked dirty ambient air is not sterilized in a single pass through the sterilization area - rather is for this a corresponding dose of radiation necessary, which only after a multiple Pass through the sterilization area is achieved.

For refrigerated counters, which work with a static cooling, is from the DE 100 57 189 B4 a method is known in which additionally behind the evaporator, a gaseous, precooled medium is supplied. As a result, the cooling bed in the counter should be improved in terms of a more uniform temperature distribution.

In the counter is characterized by the gaseous, chilled Medium overpressure created, which the incidence of uncontrolled air from the Environment diminished. As gaseous Medium is there the possibility the use of sterilized, filtered and pre-cooled ambient air intended.

Certainly by this measure in the DE 100 57 189 B4 Improves the overall hygiene compared to a normal static cooling. However, since regularly taken in a counter pieces of goods and are put back into it, air is moved into the counter space by air movements in the control phase ambient air. In an embodiment according to the DE 100 57 189 B4 no sterilization of the cooling bed is possible. The germs and impurities from the ambient air remain in the counter space until they are eventually flushed out by the supply of purified air. The efficiency in terms of sterilization is so limited ultimately.

Also is disadvantageous that the supplied Air pre-cooled must become. Therefor Finally, a separate evaporator outside the counter is necessary which usually also has to be controlled separately. Around chilled To direct air into the counter it is necessary to heat the air duct thermally isolate. Otherwise would by dripping water on the outer surface certainly the counter construction, which is often made of wood, damaged.

Because in a solution after the DE 100 57 189 B4 As a rule, the evaporator hanging on the operating side is not optimal for cooling, in particular of lower counters, where the bottom surface is additionally provided with contact cooling. Together with the evaporator necessary for pre-cooling so up to three evaporators are necessary, all of which must be connected to the refrigeration unit and must be controlled by thermostats and suction pressure regulator accordingly. This will be an execution after the DE 100 57 189 B4 relatively expensive and prone to failure.

The invention has for its object to design a device for cooling meat and other foods, which avoids the disadvantages mentioned above, which produces an optimal germ-free storage climate for open foods and which overall cost herzu is.

According to the invention, in a recirculating air cooling device with insulated trough ( 1 ), with at least one order of goods ( 6 ), with at least one in the tub ( 1 ) arranged evaporator ( 4 ), with at least one fan and with at least one sterilizing device ( 3 ) the circulating air flow before the overflowing of the goods ( 8th ) an additional air flow ( 15 ) supplied so that the volume flow of the air in the suction port ( 9 ) is smaller than the volume flow of the air in the exhaust port.

hereby is achieved that is pushed out of the bar area air and to ensure that no contaminated in the open counter area airflows from the circulating air cooling be sucked in or

If according to claim 2, the additional air flow ( 15 ) is supplied before entering the evaporator, the additional air flow over the present in the circulating air evaporator can be cooled with. It is for cooling the additional air flow no further evaporator necessary - only the existing evaporator must be designed slightly larger. As a result, by eliminating the otherwise necessary lines and control valves to achieve a cost advantage.

If according to claim 3 of the additional Air flow before passing through a cleaning unit, can the additional one Airflow can be taken from the environment.

It is advantageous if the additional air flow ( 15 ) according to claim 4 the circulating air flow before the flow of the sterilization device ( 3 ) is added. Thus, a sterilization is performed even before entering the goods room.

adversely is, however, that the sterilization device in the tub in the Usually consists of arranged transversely to the air flow UVC lamps. This is located The air flow is only a short time in the range of UVC radiation and thus can not be complete be sterilized.

If, however, according to claim 5, the additional air stream prior to introduction into the circulating air stream, a further sterilization device ( 14 ), it can be ensured that bacteria and germs no longer enter the recirculating air stream from the outside. There is now enough space to pass along the air to be sterilized along the UVC radiator. Thus, the germs and bacteria are exposed to a high dose of radiation, whereby the rate of sterilization increases sharply.

Becomes according to claim 6 of the additional Airflow over a fan is guided in the circulating air flow, the volume can be of the additional Air flow and the circulating air flow relatively easy on the Set the rotational speed of the two fans to each other.

Especially with longer counter systems, it makes sense to use the additional air flow ( 15 ) is added over a plurality of openings distributed over the length of the circulating air cooling device. The additional air flow ( 15 ) can then filter and sterilize in a compact unit and is then a simple pipe system, for example, every 0.5-1 mtr. introduced into the circulating air stream.

Becomes the additional one Air stream according to claim 8 taken from the customer's counter area, This results in a significant advantage of the invention.

Hygienic questionable counter areas must usually by a positive pressure system be protected against hygienic air currents from the customer area. Therefor is usually a separate air treatment, which in the adjacent rooms or in a ventilation ceiling integrated, necessary. But if the air from the hygienic questionable customer area is removed and filtered and sterilized fed to the circulating air stream will, that is from the cooling forced out Airflow over pressed the counter top into the customer area. So there is an air flow in Direction of the customer. This will both the counter area as also the backward preparation zones protected.

The complex Installation of an additional overpressure system for the Preparation area behind the counter is therefore no longer necessary.

The Drawings illustrate a particularly suitable for installation in counters embodiments as well as the lineup Show:

1 : Cross section through the counter with the circulating air cooler

2 : Cross section through the counter set up in a salesroom

In the embodiment according to 1 is the circulating air cooling device, which comes from the tub ( 1 ), the fan ( 2 ), the degermination device ( 3 ) and the evaporator ( 4 ) is shown. On the customer side, the recirculating air cooling device with a glass top ( 7 ) fitted.

The goods to be cooled ( 8th ) are on the goods receipt ( 6 ). In the case ( 10 ) is located to the customer side, a suction port ( 11 ), a fan ( 12 ), a cleaning unit ( 13 ), which contains an air filter and a degermination device ( 14 ) with a longitudinal UVC radiation source.

From the fan ( 12 ) is removed from the customer area through the suction opening ( 11 ) Sucked in air. This air is in the cleaning unit ( 13 ) through an air filter and in the degermination device ( 14 ) cleaned and sterilized by a longitudinal UVC source and then into the tub ( 1 ). There, the additional air flow mixes with those through the fan ( 2 ) generated circulating air flow. This air flow is through the degermination device ( 3 ) sterilized in the evaporator ( 4 ) and then over the exhaust port ( 5 ) on the goods. Since the from the air outlet ( 5 ) exiting air flow is smaller than that of the fan ( 2 ) in the intake opening ( 9 ) sucked air flow, there is an overpressure flow out of the goods area addition. Because in the area of the air intake ( 11 ), the overpressure flow above the glass attachment ( 7 ) pressed into the customer room.

In 2 shows the cross-section of a counter set up in a salesroom.

The back area is defined by the side walls ( 32 ) of the installation room, through the floor ( 31 ) and the ceiling ( 33 ) of the installation room limited. A glass apron ( 30 ) above the counter limits the possible air exchange area of the rear preparation area with the customer area. On the basis of in 2 drawn air flows is easy to see that in the service-side bar area overpressure prevails over the customer's counter area.

hereby can no longer hygienically harmful ambient air from the customer's counter area in the to be protected Preparation area and pour into the goods area of the counter.

1

tub

2

fan

3

sterilizing

4

Evaporator

5

exhaust vent

6

merchandise support

7

Glasaufsatz

8th

To cooling Were

9

suction

10

casing

11

air intake opening

12

fan

13

cleaning unit

14

sterilizing

15

additional airflow

30

glass apron

31

ground of the installation room

32

Sidewalls of the boiler room

33

blanket of the installation room

Claims (8)

Recirculation cooling device for cooling goods ( 8th ), in particular in food counters and refrigerated shelves containing an insulated pan ( 1 ) with at least one goods order ( 6 ), at least one in the tub ( 1 ) arranged evaporator ( 4 ), at least one fan ( 2 ), at least one degermination device ( 3 ) and one outside the tub ( 1 ) arranged refrigeration unit, wherein via the fan ( 2 ) a circulating air flow through the evaporator ( 4 ), through the degermination device and at least one 6 ) is generated, characterized in that the circulating air stream before the overflow of goods ( 8th ) an additional air flow ( 15 ) is supplied so that the volume flow of the air in the suction port ( 9 ) is smaller than the volume flow of the air in the exhaust port. Recirculation cooling device according to claim 1, characterized in that the additional air flow ( 15 ) before entering the evaporator ( 4 ) is supplied. Recirculation cooling device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the additional air flow, a cleaning unit ( 13 ) flows through. Recirculation cooling device according to one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the additional air flow ( 15 ) is supplied to the circulating air flow before the flow of the sterilization device. Recirculation cooling device according to one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the additional air flow ( 15 ) before feeding another sterilization device ( 14 ) has flowed through. Recirculation cooling device according to one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the additional air flow ( 15 ) via another fan ( 12 ) is strengthened. Recirculation cooling device according to one of claims 1-6, characterized in that the additional air flow ( 15 ) is added over several distributed over the length of the circulating air cooling device openings. Recirculation cooling device according to one of the pre called claims, characterized in that the additional air flow ( 15 ) is taken from the customer's counter area.