GB2202621A

GB2202621A - Food warming cupboard

Info

Publication number: GB2202621A
Application number: GB08705326A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leslie Reginald Graham
Original assignee: VICTOR Manufacturing Ltd
Current assignee: VICTOR Manufacturing Ltd
Priority date: 1987-03-06
Filing date: 1987-03-06
Publication date: 1988-09-28
Also published as: GB8705326D0

Abstract

A hot holding cupboard 10 for foodstuffs comprises a heater 16, air circulating means 18 and a thermostat. A temperature probe 24 releasably mounted on a suitable bracket 26 is held within the body 12 of the cupboard 10. As mounted the probe 24 senses the temperature within the cupboard but it may be removed from its mounting by the operator and placed in the foodstuff in order to accurately determine the temperature of the foodstuff. <IMAGE>

Description

HOT CUPBOARD This invention relates to improvements in hot food holding cupboards.

Hot holding cupboards for food are known and generally comprise a number of racks or trays for carrying the hot food, heating means, and a thermostat. Air circulation means, such as a fan is also often provided. However, particularly in the case of relatively short residence times of food within the cupboard, the temperature within the cupboard is not a reliable guide as to the temperature within the food itself. Often, indeed, the food can be below the statutory minimum holding temperature of 62.7"C despite the fact that the air circulating within the cupboard is at a considerably higher temperature.

Research has shown that the temperature at which hot food is maintained before serving can often be of critical importance if it is desired to prevent or minimise deterioration of the appearance, flavour or nutritional qualities of the food.

The invention seeks to provide a hot holding cupboard which allows the operator more accurately to select and control the temperature of foodstuff held within the cupboard.

According to the present invention there is provided a hot holding cupboard for foodstuffs comprising a heater, air circulating means, and a thermostat characterised in that a temperature probe is provided capable of being inserted in the foodstuff to determine the temperature thereof.

The probe will be connected to a suitable form of display means, for example a digital read-out. The probe readout is conveniently located on the front or top of the hot holding cupboard adjacent the controls thereof, for instance the thermostat setting control. The probe will normally be mounted within the hot cupboard and may be removed from its mounting by the operator and placed in the foodstuff whose temperature it is desired to discover. The probe enables the operator to know the exact temperature of the centre of the food product as well as at its surface. When in place in its mounting the probe will sense the temperature of the air circulating within the cupboard which should be, under norrnal conditions, within a few degrees of the temperature set on the thermostat.

The provision of the probe enables the operator to check on food interior temperatures and, if necessary, reset the cupboard thermostat to a higher or lower temperature. Once further checking ascertains that the food has reached its desired temperature, the thermostat can be reset to that temperature in order to maintain this state.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the sole figure is a diagramattic front elevational view, partly cut away, of a hot holding cupboard in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawing, a hot holding cupboard generally designated 10 comprises an insulated oven-like main body 12 having a front door (not shown) mounted thereon in order to close off the interior thereof. Within the interior means are provided for holding food containers 14. A thermostatically controlled heating element 16 is provided as well as a fan 18 for circulating air through the chamber past the element 16. A baffle arrangement 20 ensures that hot air diffuses evenly throughout the height of the cupboard 10 and is distributed evenly between the containers 14. If desired, a container 22 of water may be positioned within the cupboard to act as a humidifier.

The cupboard of the invention additional contains a temperature probe 24 releasably mounted in a suitable bracket 26 within the body 12. The probe is connected by means of a suitably heat resistant wire 28 to a digital read-out 30 located on the cupboard's control panel adjacent a thermostat heat control knob 32.

In use, food in the containers 14 is placed within the cupboard 10 and the thermostat stat set to the required holding temperature.

With the probe 24 within its bracket 26 it will sense the temperature of the hot air circulating through the chamber by means of the fan 18 and heating element 16. This will normally be within a few degrees of the temperature set on the thermostat. A greater variation would indicate that the trays 14 when placed in the cupboard are at a temperature considerably different from the desired holding temperature or that a malfunction has occurred in the thermostat.

The operator may now remove the probe 24 from its bracket 26 and place it within the food in one of the containers 14. A readout will be given on the indicator 30 of the temperature within the food. If this is considerably higher or lower than desired holding temperature the thermostat control 32 may be reset and a check kept on the food temperature from time to time by the operator by using the probe 24 until such time as the food has reached its correct holding temperature. After this the thermostat may be reset to the desired holding temperature.

The cupboard of the invention is therefore flexible in operation and allows the operator to set, and if necessary correct, the actual holding temperature of the food by direct measurement rather than merely rely on the air temperature within the cupboard being the same as that within the food.

Claims

1. A hot holding cupboard for foodstuffs which comprises a heater, air circulating means, and a thermostat.

characterised in that a temperature probe is provided capable of being inserted in the foodstuff to determine the temperature thereof.

2. A cupboard as claimed in claim 1 wherein the probe is connected to display means.

3. A cupboard as claimed in claim 2 in which the display means comprises a digital read-out.

4. A cupboard as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 in which the probe is mounted within the cupboard and may be removed from its mounting by the operator and placed in the foodstuff whose temperature it is desired to discover.

5. A hot holding cupboard substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.