GB2284905A

GB2284905A - Food trolley

Info

Publication number: GB2284905A
Application number: GB9325695A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Angelo Speranza
Original assignee: Burlodge Ltd
Current assignee: Burlodge Ltd
Priority date: 1993-12-15
Filing date: 1993-12-15
Publication date: 1995-06-21
Anticipated expiration: 2013-12-15
Also published as: GB2284905B; GB9325695D0

Abstract

The temperature of a portion of food 17 to be dispensed from a mobile trolley 11 is controlled by heating or cooling the portion from an initial value to a target value in accordance with the output of a temperature probe 20 inserted into the portion. The rate of change of temperature of the portion may be controlled eg so as to prevent degradation of the portion resulting from it being heated too quickly. <IMAGE>

Description

FOOD REGENERATION This invention relates to a method and a unit for food dispensing. It is particularly concerned with dispensing food stored at a relatively low temperature which is restored to a temperature at which it can be consumed. Such a process is termed 'regeneration' and is used for hospital and other organisations where a range of foods need to be provided to a range of dispersed locations from a central preparation and/or storage unit. To ensure that food is effectively transferred a number of conditions need to be met. The prepared food needs to be moved from a kitchen or other food preparation area to the area where it is to be consumed.

While this occurs the food needs to be protected from contamination and deterioration while being maintained within a predetermined temperature range and ensuring that it will eventually be in a condition which is not unattractive to the potential consumer. The process of regeneration usually involves a heating process but the rate at which heat should be provided depends on a number of factors. In some cases the supply of heat at too rapid a rate can result in the deterioration of the product involved either visually or dietetically.

Any dispensing system should provided for food and utensils to be readily dispensed and recovered without the exercise of extensive and time consuming manual or technical skills. Typically nursing staff who frequently have to deal with the provision of meals should be able to operate the dispensing system readily without significant intrusion into more critical or specialised functions.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of of dispensing food from a mobile trolley wherein a portion of food at a first temperature is to be subjected to a temperature change to a second temperature prior to the food being dispensed characterised by: 1 locating a temperature probe in the portion at a representative location, the probe serving to generate an operating signal representative of temperature in the vicinity of the probe; 2 processing the operating signal by way of the signal controller and thereafter; 3 supplying heat to or removing heat from the portion as required to cause the operating signal or a function thereof to change from a value representative of a first temperature towards a value representative of a second temperature; the rate of change being related to a predetermined value.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a unit for dispensing food comprising: 1 a mobile trolley; 2 a containment on the trolley; 3 heat transfer means for supplying heat to, or removing heat from, material located in the containment; 4 a probe for location in the containment to detect and to provide an output signal an output temperature of material in the vicinity of the probe; 5 a signal processor on the trolley; 6 first transmission means linking the probe to the signal processor; and 7 second transmission means linking the signal processor to the heat transfer means; the signal processor being enabled to govern operation of the hear transfer means as a function of the output signal.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of a regenerative trolley of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view; Figure 2 is a detail of an item shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a block diagram showing operational linkages between items referred to in connection with Figures 1 and 2.

Trolley II has compartmentalised interior with two compartments 12,13 each having a set of rails, respectively rails 14, 15 to support trays, typically tray 16 in compartment 12, bearing covered dishes, typically dish 17. Compartments 12, 13 are sealed closed by means of doors, respectively doors 12A, 13A. Since the compartments 12, 13 and the trays in them are identical in form and function only compartment 12 and tray 16 is referred to hereafter. Dish 17 (Figure 2) contains a portion 18 of food which in this case is a substantially homogenous mixture of cooked rice. The dish 17 is provided with a lid 19 through which extends a temperature probe 20 with a temperature probe tip 21. The locating collar 19A for the probe 20 in the lid 19 enable the probe tip 21 to be located at or near the centre of the portion 18 of food.The probe 20 is connected by a floating lead 22 to a controller 23 to provide for any signal generated by way of the probe tip 21 to be transmitted to the controller 23. In operation the controller 23 receives a signal representing the current temperature of the probe tip 21. The controller 23 is also connected by output lead 24 to a heating element 25 located in good exchange relationship with the dish 17.

The trolley 11 when loaded with the required number of food portions is wheeled to a location where floating power supply lead 26 is used to connect electrical systems of the trolley to a mains power supply socket 27. Power from the mains socket 27 serves to provide energising power for heating element 25 when programmed to do so by controller 23.

The controller 23 is programmed to provide for the heating of the food portion 18 by the heating element 25 to a predetermined temperature and at a rate to ensure that the portion is at an optimum temperature and condition at a specified serving time.

In use the trolley 11 is loaded at a supply location with the required food portions and the doors 12A, 13A are closed before moving the trolley to a consumer location where the food is to be served at some specified time. The trolley 11 is plugged into power socket 17 and the controller 23 switched on and if necessary programmed so that the necessary steps occur in time for the food to be correctly regenerated for serving at a given meal time.

In the exemplary embodiment reference is made to a heating program. If desired a mobile refrigerator unit can be incorporated in the trolley to provide for a food portion to be kept at or cooled down to a particular sub-ambient temperature at which the food is to be served. In yet another embodiment both a heating and cooling means is provided for operational regulation by the controller.

Claims

Claims 1A method of of dispensing food from a mobile trolley wherein a portion of food at a first temperature is to be subjected to a temperature change to a second temperature prior to the food being dispensed characterised by: 1 locating a temperature probe in the portion at a representative location, the probe serving to generate an operating signal representative of temperature in the vicinity of the probe; 2 processing the operating signal by way of the signal controller and thereafter; 3 supplying heat to or removing heat from the portion as required to cause the operating signal or a function thereof to change from a value representative of a first temperature towards a value representative of a second temperature; the rate of change being related to a predetermined value. 2 A method as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the first temperature is lower than the second temperature and heat is supplied to the portion in dependence on the output signal. 3 A method as described in Claim 1 wherein the first temperature is higher than the second temperature and heat is removed from the portion in dependence on the output signal. 4 A unit for dispensing food comprising:

1 a mobile trolley;

2 a containment on the trolley;

3 heat transfer means for supplying heat to, or removing heat from, material located in the containment;

4 a probe for location in the containment to detect and to provide an output signal representing a temperature of material in the vicinity of the probe;

5 a signal processor on the trolley;

6 A unit for dispensing food as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6 a first transmission means linking the probe to the signal processor; and

7 a second transmission means linking the signal processor to the heat transfer means; the signal processor being enabled to govern operation of the heat transfer means as a function of the output signal.

5 A method of dispensing food from a mobile trolley as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.