EP0777986B1 - Food service cart - Google Patents

Abstract

The trolley has two covers (18,20) moveable between closed and open positions to cover an adjacent bar grip (26). The bar grips upwardly pivot from the second of two guide rails (22,24). At least one guide rail device (22,24) is allocated to a locking arm (36) pivotable about a horizontal axis transverse to a lid sliding direction. A locking element (58) attached to the vehicle body is provided to work together with a second locking element (56) on the locking arm such that the locking device of both elements is releasable through upward swinging of the locking arm. Each grip bar (26) is rotationally mounted to its neighbouring second guide rail and that this is coupled with the grip bar to upwardly swing the neighbouring locking arm.

Description

The invention relates to a food trolley with a approximately cuboid, at least partially open at the top Car body for holding at least one accessible from above Food receptacle, two facing each other first body sides provided and parallel to these sides as well as horizontal handlebars for Pushing or pulling the car, two on the top of the Car body arranged lids, each in a horizontal Direction across the neighboring handle from a closed position is displaceable in an open position, in which Closed position of the two covers of the car body covered at the top and in the open position of the two lids of the food receptacles accessible from above, two each in the sliding direction of the cover extending guide rail devices for each lid, each one opposite the Carriage body fixed first guide rail and one in the longitudinal direction the latter and sliding direction of the cover can be moved guided, coupled with the associated cover has second guide rail, the two second Guide rails with the adjacent handle bar in the cover sliding direction are firmly connected, and with at least one releasable locking device for locking each lid the latter at least in its closed position.

Such food transport trolleys are known (see DE-U-91 00 235); for the food containers this food transport trolley is are usually so-called gastronorm containers, d. H. trough-shaped containers, several of which are juxtaposed inserted into the top of the car body and thereby made accessible be that the two lids, each half covering the top of the car body, in the horizontal direction pulled apart from each other. Most of the time Carriage body an outside formed by stainless steel sheet and is designed so that food transported in it kept warm, if necessary by means of a built-in Heater warmed or due to appropriate insulation measures can be kept cool. At the bottom of the The body of the car is usually arranged around four castors vertical pivot axes can pivot, so that the Food transport trolley with the help of one of the handlebars too can steer.

In the known food transport car, each of the two Cover by means of two telescopic guides in the horizontal direction slidably held on the car body, each telescopic guide either from two interlocking tubes as Guide rails exists or has two guide rails, which are slidably guided together by means of rolling elements. The two extendable associated with a lid, d. H. Guide rails that are not fixed to the body are on the one hand with the connected lid and on the other hand via the one Handlebar firmly connected to each other, so that this Open the lid by pulling or pushing the handle bar or closing the car body. In order to now the lid assigned to a handle bar is not pulled open when pulling on the handlebar the latter the carriage is to be moved is for each guide rail device a releasable locking device provided which by a spring in their locking or Locked position is held as well as by one of the car operating person can be unlocked and released, that this operated a release handle by hand and then pulls on the handle in question.

Due to the strong cost pressure with such food transport trolleys the invention was based on the object, carriage to simplify the type mentioned at the beginning, but in such a way that basically a way for an easier one Actuation of the locking devices is opened.

This object can be achieved according to the invention in that at least one of the two guide rail devices around a horizontal and transverse to the cover sliding direction Swiveling axis, extending approximately horizontally Locking arm is assigned and that a Car body-fixed first locking element for cooperation with a second arranged on the locking arm Locking element is provided, such that the of the two locking elements formed locking device can be released by swiveling the locking arm upwards is.

Since in a food transport trolley according to the invention Dead weight of the locking arm is striving for this to pivot below, the two locking elements arrive automatically engaged again when the locking arm is no longer raised and the lid in its Closed position has been pushed; the feathers of the above known food transport car described thus eliminated, so that consequently also the cost can be saved for their assembly.

For swiveling the locking arms up for a locking arm z. B. a push button can be provided, which are adjacent to the locking arm concerned Car side is located; are both assigned to a cover Guide rail devices with an actuator provided for lifting a locking arm, one will two actuators expediently one Arrange the wagon side next to each other the handle bar associated with this lid is located, and it would also be possible, the two actuators by one To connect rod, rail or the like, so that by lifting the latter both locking devices let solve. A much more user-friendly, but at the same time also simpler construction arises, however, when each handlebar on her adjacent second guide rails is rotatably attached and for swiveling up the neighboring handle bar Locking arm or that adjacent to the handle bar Locking arms of this or this with the handle bar in whose direction of rotation is or are coupled. Firstly, needed then no special controls for the Locking devices, and on the other hand enables them Construction one-hand operation, because with one of the Handlebars of the trolleys don't just have to be pushed and pulled can, but by turning the latter the associated one Lid unlocked and then pull in on the handlebar its open position can be postponed. Will the lid pushed back into its closed position, the locking arm falls or the locking arms fall under their Dead weight in its effective position.

For the technician, it is also obvious that a Food transport trolley according to the invention so easily design let the two lids by suitable means be coupled together so that when moving one cover the other synchronously, but in the opposite Direction and consequently one Locking device is sufficient, which with a or each of the two handle bars can be operated.

Furthermore, the construction according to the invention has the advantage that a locking arm, as in the following individual will be shown, easily in a guide rail device integrates so that with the Assembly of the latter also the locking device is attached to the food transport trolley.

If it is said above that the two lids in cover the top of the car body in its closed position this is not to be understood solely in such a way that the two Cover the entire top of the car body. It should also be noted that the second guide rail can be firmly connected to the associated cover, that the construction, for example, also designed so may be that the second guide rail with a support frame or the like is connected to which the lid is hung up so that it can also stand out easily and completely can be removed.

The locking arm provided according to the invention can be also so that it is not visible from the outside: Zu for this purpose the locking arm becomes at least essentially in a necessary swivel angle of the locking arm permitting longitudinal channel of the associated guide rail device arranged what the further advantage with brings that the locking arm together with the locking elements is protected.

For particularly easy-running guide rail devices received, however, the effort for rolling element storage saving is recommended, at least that of the other guide rail facing wall surfaces of a guide rail with to provide a sliding layer for which is a material especially tetrafluoroethylene or the like Plastic is suitable.

Appropriately, one becomes the food transport trolley according to the invention train so that a locking arm the associated Lid not only in its closed position, but can also lock in its open position to enable that the car with a handlebar too can slide without a previously opened lid is pushed into its closed position. In such embodiments are consequently two first locking elements provided one of which is the closed position and whose other associated with the open position of the associated lid is.

Lock devices designed according to the invention can easily be designed so that without any expense a significant additional benefit is achieved: Forming the first and the second locking element in this way from that in the longitudinal direction of the first guide rails this acting forces self-locking of the locking elements can cause each other, the locking of the associated lid or handle in its or their current position when pushing, pulling and Steering the car cannot be unlocked accidentally.

Finally, the invention also allows the car to be so make sure that the lids are easily removed for cleaning leave: For this purpose, the construction makes sense designed in such a way that the cover can be lifted off to the one assigned to it second guide rails or arranged on support frames are, each of which the two the cover in question associated second guide rails firmly connected.

Fig. 1

eine schaubildliche Darstellung eines die erfindungsgemäße Gestaltung enthaltenden Teils eines Speisentransportwagens;

Fig. 2

eine schaubildliche Darstellung nach Art einer Explosionszeichnung der wesentlichen Teile der erfindungsgemäß gestalteten Verriegelungsvorrichtung;

Fig. 3

eine weitere schaubildliche Darstellung gewisser Teile der Verriegelungsvorrichtung;

Fig. 4

einen Schnitt nach der Linie 4-4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5

einen Schnitt nach der Linie 5-5 in Fig. 1, und

Fig. 6

einen Schnitt nach der Linie 6-6 in Fig. 1.

Features of further advantageous developments of the invention result from the appended claims and / or from the following description and the attached drawing of a particularly preferred embodiment of the food transport trolley according to the invention; show in the drawing:

Fig. 1

a diagrammatic representation of a part of a food transport vehicle containing the design according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a perspective view in the manner of an exploded view of the essential parts of the locking device designed according to the invention;

Fig. 3

a further diagrammatic representation of certain parts of the locking device;

Fig. 4

a section along the line 4-4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5

a section along the line 5-5 in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 6

a section along the line 6-6 in Fig. 1st

The food transport trolley shown in Fig. 1 has one approximately cuboid car body 10 with two opposite one another first body side walls 12 and two for this right-angled and also opposite each other second body side walls 14. At the bottom of the car body 10 are four impellers, not shown, arranged around can pivot vertical axes so that the car steer leaves, and around the lower areas of the body side walls 12, 14 runs around an elastic forming a frame Bumper strip 16, through which to prevent that Driving the food trolley walls, doors, furniture and the like are damaged.

The top of the car body 10 is covered by two covers 18 and 20 covers, which form so-called sliding covers, both are of the same size and are shown in FIG. 1 Closed position in the direction of arrows F in an open position let it slide apart. Under covers 18 and 20 are known gastronorm containers, in which meals to be served can be accommodated; by moving one of the two lids or both Lid in the open position becomes part of this gastronorm container or all gastronorm containers are accessible from above made.

In the following, only the left half according to FIG. 1 will now be described of the food transport vehicle are further described, because of that right half is designed the same way, d. H. the food trolley is mirror-symmetrical to a vertical central plane designed by the gap between the two covers 18 and 20 runs.

For the cover 18 are two guide rail devices on the car body 10 22 and 24 are provided, which are horizontal, parallel to each other and parallel to the second body side walls 14 extend. Furthermore, one is horizontal and extending parallel to the first body side walls 12 Handlebar 26 provided, which is also in the closed position of the two covers 18 and 20 at a distance from the adjacent one Body side wall 12 runs and with the two neighboring ones Guide rail devices 22 and 24 a U-shaped structure results.

Thus also according to the above over the car body 10 1 left ends of the guide rail devices 22 and 24 building walls and the like are not damaged can, shock protection caps 28 can be attached to these ends and be snapped on, which is made of a soft plastic exist and only indicated by dash-dotted lines in Fig. 1 were.

Based on Figures 2 and 3, the structure of the guide rail device 24 are explained in more detail - the guide rail device 22 is mirror-symmetrical for this purpose and arranged, with respect to a vertical Longitudinal median plane of the food transport cart, which is rectangular runs to the median plane mentioned above.

The guide rail device 24 comprises a first guide rail 30, which is to be attached to the car body 10, and a second one, on the guide rail 30 in the longitudinal direction thereof Slidably guided guide rail 32. The guide rail 30 is a hollow profile rail with a rectangular Cross section formed by an internal one in the assembled state Wall 30a, an outer wall 30b, one lower wall 30c and an upper wall 30d, whereas the second guide rail 32 essentially from one C-profile rail is formed, to which an upward pointing support flange 32a connects, which however does not extend over the entire length of the guide rail 32 and the purpose of which will be explained later. The insides of the outer wall 32b in use, the lower wall 32c and the upper wall 32d of the C-profile of the Guide rail 32 are with a plastic sliding layer 32e provided to the sliding friction between the guide rails To reduce 30 and 32. The fastening of the guide rail 30 on the car body 10 serve fastening screws 34, of only one is shown in FIG. 3.

The guide rail device 24 takes a locking arm 36, whose left end according to FIG. 2 is fixed to the Handlebar 26 is connected and by rotating the Handle bar around its longitudinal axis through a small angle can pivot; to enable this pivoting movement of course the profile widths of the guide rails 30 and 32 to be chosen accordingly, since at its closed position engaging cover 18 of the locking arm 36 not only in the guide rail 32, but also within the guide rail 30th

The handle bar 26 comprises an outer circular cylindrical tube 26a and a square rod 26b which passes through the tube 26a, protrudes with both ends over the pipe and on the inside of the tube z. B. fixed by welding the pipe is connected. The diagonal of the cross section is preferred of the square bar 26b significantly smaller than that Inner diameter of the tube 26a and the square rod 26b attached eccentrically in the tube 26a, as shown in FIG. 5 in particular clearly shows. The left end region according to FIG. 2 of the square bar 26b engages in a square opening 36a in the wall of the locking arm facing the handle bar 26 36 fits, and with the tube 26a is Handlebar 26 in a circular opening 32f of the guide rail 32 rotatably mounted so that by turning the Handlebar 26 as shown in FIG. 5 in the clockwise direction of the locking arm 36 against the effect of gravity by one can swivel up a small angle. The opening 32f is in a profile piece 32g with a C-shaped cross section, that is blunt on the walls 32c and 32d of the guide rail 32 was welded on. The end region facing the handle bar 26 of the locking arm 36 thus engages in the cavity one of the profile piece 32g together with the walls 32b, 32c and 32d of the guide rail 32 is formed.

As shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6, is on the two Support flanges 32a of the guide rails 32 of the two Guide rail devices 22 and 24 one at the two Support flanges arranged welded tubular frame 50 on which the lid 18 is placed from above and which for As a result, the guide rails 32 of the two guide rail devices move synchronously. The lid 18 is shaped (like the lid 20) so that it faces the tubular frame 50 cannot slip (see FIGS. 4 until 6).

The first, body-fixed guide rail 30 has on her Handlebar-side end in its inner wall 30a an open-edge recess 52 in the form of a lying U, in which engages the handle bar 26 when the lid 18 is its Occupies the closed position.

On the underside of the locking arm 36, namely on its End region facing away from the handle bar 26 is a downwardly projecting locking pin 56 attached. This engages when the cover 18 is in its closed position, in a hole 58 in the bottom wall 30c of the guide rail 30 fits, with the locking arm 36 under its own weight rests on this wall 30c. In the wall 30c can at least one other, not shown, the Hole 58 corresponding hole are provided, in which the Pin 56 occurs when the cover 18 is in its open position was pulled.

It can be particularly advantageous for the locking pin 56 also in the lower wall 32c of the sliding Guide rail 32 to provide a hole 60 which, when the lid 18 is in its closed position, under which Hole 58 of the rail 30 is; if then the locking pin 56 is dimensioned so long that it is in the open position of the cover 18 passes through the hole 60 and after below over the lower wall 32c of the movable guide rail 32 survives, the food transport trolley can a fixed stop for the car body 10 for the Locking pin 56 are provided to prevent if you pull the lid 18 into its open position, the second guide rail 32 as shown in FIG. 1 as far to the left is pulled that it is no longer sufficient on the first Guide rail 30 is guided and supported or out the latter is pulled out completely.

5, a plastic end cap 70 is shown, which with a press fit in the left opening according to FIG. 2 the guide rail 32 can be used - this opening is from the actual guide rail 32 together with the attached to her attached profile piece 32g.

From the foregoing it follows that in the illustrated Embodiment which from the cover 18, the tubular frame 50, the two guide rails 32, the two locking arms 36 and the handlebar 26 existing unit from the food transport trolley 1 are completely subtracted to the left can, after by turning the handle bar 26 as shown in FIG. 1 in the counterclockwise direction (according to FIG. 5 clockwise) of the Locking arm 36 has been pivoted up so far that be Locking pin 56 from the open position of the cover 18 assigned, not shown and with respect to the car body 10 fixed stop is released.

In the embodiment with two holes 58, the locking arm 36 So by turning the handlebar 26 something be pivoted up when the lid 18 from its open position be pushed out into its closed position should. The need to handle the handle in this process Having to twist 26 could of course be eliminated by that that associated with the open position of the cover 18, second hole 58, not shown, is omitted, so that the locking pin 56 when closing the cover 18th simply slides on the lower wall 30c of the guide rail 30, until it is under the weight of the locking arm 36 enters hole 58.

In such a modified embodiment, the Handlebar 26 is only activated, d. H. slightly rotated be when the lid 18 from its closed position 1 to the left, namely the locking pin 56 from that shown in Fig. 3 Lift out hole 58.

Claims (16)

1. Food trolley having an approximately parallelepipedal trolley corpus (10) at least partially open at the top for receiving at least one food receptacle accessible from the top, two handlebars (26) provided on opposite first corpus sides (12) and extending parallel to these sides as well as horizontally for pushing and pulling the trolley, two lids (18, 20) arranged on the top side of the trolley corpus (10), each of the said lids being displaceable in a horizontal direction transversely to the adjacent handlebar (26) from a closed position to an open position, the trolley corpus (10) being covered at the top when the two lids (18, 20) are in the closed position, and the food receptacle being accessible from the top when the two lids (18, 20) are in the open position, two guide rail devices (22, 24) extending in the displacement direction of the lids (18, 20) for each lid, each guide rail device comprising a first guide rail (30) fixed relative to the trolley corpus (10) and a second guide rail (32) guided for displacement in the longitudinal direction of the first guide rail and in the displacement direction of the lids and coupled with the associated lid, the two second guide rails (32) being fixedly connected to the adjacent handlebar (26) in the displacement direction of the lid, and at least one releasable locking device (56, 58) for each lid for locking the lid at least in its closed position, characterized in that a locking arm (36) extending approximately horizontally and being pivotable about an axis extending horizontally and transversely to the displacement direction of the lid is associated with at least one of these two guide rail devices (22, 24), and in that a first locking element (58) fixed relative to the trolley corpus is provided for cooperation with a second locking element (56) arranged on the locking arm (36) such that the locking device formed by the two locking elements (56, 58) is releasable by upward pivoting of the locking arm (36).
2. Food trolley in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that each handlebar (26) is turnably mounted on the second guide rails (32) adjacent thereto, and in that for upward pivoting of the adjacent locking arm (36), the latter is coupled with the handlebar (26) in the turning direction thereof.
3. Food trolley in accordance with claim 1 or 2,
   characterized in that a locking arm (36) is associated with each guide rail device (22, 24).
4. Food trolley in accordance with any one or several of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the locking arm (36) is at least substantially arranged in a longitudinal channel of the associated guide rail device (22, 24) in which the locking arm is allowed to pivot.
5. Food trolley in accordance with claim 4, characterized in that the locking arm (36) is movable into its operative position under its own weight.
6. Food trolley in accordance with any one or several of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first locking element (58) is provided on the first guide rail (30).
7. Food trolley in accordance with any one or several of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking elements are formed by a peg (56) and an engagement aperture (58) for the latter.
8. Food trolley in accordance with any one or several of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the guide rails has a profile rail with at least three longitudinal walls, with the walls of the one rail being guided for displacement between those of the other rail, in order to achieve a vertical and a lateral guidance.
9. Food trolley in accordance with claim 8, characterized in that the second guide rail (32) has a profile covering the locking arm (36) outwardly - when looking in the direction of the handlebar axis at the trolley corpus.
10. Food trolley in accordance with claim 8 or 9, characterized in that at least the wall surfaces of the one profile rail facing the other profile rail are provided with a slide coating (32e).
11. Food trolley in accordance with any one or several of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first guide rail (30) is secured on the trolley corpus (10).
12. Food trolley in accordance with any one or several of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second guide rail (32) has in the area of the handlebar (26) a rectangular hollow profile with a bearing opening (32f) for the handlebar (26) in the profile wall (32g) facing the handlebar (26).
13. Food trolley in accordance with any one or several of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two first locking elements (58) are provided, one of which is associated with the closed position, and the other with the open position of the lid.
14. Food trolley in accordance with any one or several of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lids (18, 20) are arranged on the second guide rails (32) associated with them so that they can be lifted off.
15. Food trolley in accordance with any one or several of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two second guide rails (32) associated with a lid are fixedly connected to each other via a lid supporting frame (50), and in that the lid is positioned on this supporting frame (50).
16. Food trolley in accordance with any one or several of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and second locking elements are designed such that forces acting in the longitudinal direction of the first guide rails (30) on the latter bring about a self-locking of the locking elements (56, 58) on each other.

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