SE538121C2 - A chilled food device - Google Patents

Abstract

18 ABSTRACT The invention relates to a food bar arrangement (100) comprising a canteen holding arrangement (10), a refrigerating arrangement (20') for food being of the food cooling the food products canteens, accessible for a user outer side sections (15A,15B) bar. The (20') comprises a cooling holding refrigerating arrangement(20)(10) arrangement arranged with respect to the arrangement so that it will be located close to a location where canteen back walls will be located, distant from the first(15A,15B) Holding means (13,14) are outer side section section. provided for holding the canteens in an inclined position suchthat their upper edges will be located adjacent the first outer(15A,15B), at a lower level than opposing inner, (10) side section upper edges. The holding arrangement comprises a bottom with. bottom. sections, and. the cooling arrangement (20) is so arranged with respect thereto that a distance (d) is providedbetween the bottom of the holding arrangement and the coolingarrangement (10). A. first portion (20A) of the cooling' arrangement is arranged above the location of the upper, (20B) inner edges of the canteens and a second lower section thereof extends downwards towards, but ending at said distance (d) from, the bottom of the holding arrangement (10), such. that when canteens are mounted. in the substantially their entire back walls will (20B) holding arrangement, be located adjacent said lower section of the cooling arrangement. (Fig.1)

Description

S359 P1SE AB/AB 2013-03-22Title:A REFRIGERATED FOOD BAR ARRANGEMENT TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a food bar arrangement according to the first part of claim 1.

BACKGROUNDIn recent times fresh food, it has become more and more popular to offer salads, fruit vegetables, chicken, but also cooked and prepared food, or so called healthy food, from what often is called a salad bar, where the customer can pick and compose a meal fron1 a number* of different products kept in canteens or pans. However, since the food products may remain for same time in the canteens, which may be accessed by quite a large number of persons, the requirements as to an appropriate and hygienic storage capability are high. The products have to be kept under conditions, and at. a temperature, preventing bacterial growth, keeping the products fresh, appetizing and not ruined in any way due to the storing.

To be able to upheld an accurate temperature, above O° (to e.g. avoid that the products be frozen), but below 8°C, several different arrangements have been proposed.Most known arrangements use cooling elements below the canteensbut it is difficult to obtain an even temperature distribution in the food stored in the canteens. lO Therefore some arrangements use fan blowers for blowing cold air onto the products e.g. from above, or from below or sideways onto the canteens.

This is however disadvantageous for several reasons. First, it is not good from a hygienic point of view, bearing in mind that several individuals serve themselves from the canteen which means that air contaminated with bacteria etc. may be blown onto the food. Also other particles, dust may be blown onto the food.

Second, due to the air flow, the food products may be dried out, and ruined, at least from an aesthetical point of view and it will not look fresh, which may reduce the willingness from buying and consuming the products. Some articles may even loose taste and undergo unwanted changes.

These factors contribute in shortening the time period the products can be kept in the canteens, and may have to be disposed of, even if they actually could have been stored for a longer time if stored under appropriate conditions.

Third, it is a waste of energy to have fan blowers active all the time. Moreover, the difficulties in maintaining an appropriate temperature throughout the entire contents in a canteen, may lead to production of ndcroorganisms, which even may give rise to health hazards.

S UMMARY It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide arefrigerated food bar arrangement as initially referred tothrough which one or more of the above mentioned problems can be solved. lO It is also a particular object of the invention to provide anarrangement through which high requirements as to hygiene can bemet, and. which. is capable of conferring' a stable temperaturedistribution throughout the food product kept in a canteen or apan (all canteens in the bar arrangement).

Still further it is a provide an particular object to arrangement which is easy to fabricate, which offers a stable,equal temperature throughout the bar, which is easy to regulateand which is easy to operate and also is easy to handle from maintenance and cleaning points of view.

Another particular object is to provide an arrangement which is flexible and provides an excellent access to the products for the customers. An object is to provide a high standardrefrigerated food bar arrangement, particularly of the typeintended for self-service, but also for other purposes, e.g. in canteens in schools or restaurants or imbiss stands when staff are serving the customers.

It is also a particularly an object to provide an arrangementwhich can be operated without, and does not necessitate the useof any fan blowers.

Therefore an which has the arrangement is provided characterizing features of claim l.

Advantageous embodiments are given by the appended sub claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will in the following be further described in a non-limiting manner, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a food bar arrangement according to the invention in a perspective view, Fig. 2 is a schematic, longitudinal cross-sectional view through the upper part of the arrangement in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a schematic longitudinal view of an arrangement according to the invention, Fig. 4 is cross-sectional view as seen in the direction of the arrows A-A in Fig. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Fig.1 shows a food bar arrangement 100, e.g. a salad bar, according to a first embodiment of the invention. It comprises a canteen. or pan holding' arrangement 10 adapted. to receive and hold a plurality of canteens or pans 1AUUq1A9' in which fresh food products will be placed. It further comprises a refrigerating arrangement 20 adapted to cool the canteens, andthe food products provided therein for keeping the food productsbut below 8° C, or at a desired. temperature, above 0° e.g. within a more specified temperature interval.

The holding arrangement 10 comprises a cupboard or a bench arrangement 15 comprising' a cold. well adapted. to receive thecanteens or pans in such a manner that openings of the canteensor pans make the food accessible for a user from a first and asecond outer side section 15A,15B of the holding arrangement 10allowing the user to choose and pick from the canteens or pans.

The arrangement 100 also comprises a cover arrangement 30 adapted. to cover* the upper, open sections of the canteens or pans so that they will be covered and protected in time periods when not access is required for serving a user, or for refilling the canteens or similar. The covering arrangement in some embodiments also serve the purpose of assisting in the desired even temperature distribution. In some embodiments, though, the covering arrangement may be dispensed with.

The refrigerating arrangement 20 comprises one or more cooling elements.

The cooling arrangement 20 comprising cooling elements is arranged with respect to, or in, the holding arrangement 10 such that, when the canteens are taken up therein, each canteen backwall distant from an opposite canteen front wall locatedadjacent an inner side of the holding arrangement 10 at the outer end sections of the holding arrangement 10 where customer access is provided, will be located close to, facing it, preferably throughout the entire area forming the back wall.

The holding' arrangement 10 comprises holding' means adapted. to hold the canteens or pans in an inclined position such that the outer, ends or side edges, of the canteens are arranged upper at a lower level than opposing inner, upper ends or side edges.

Bottom. sections of the holding arrangement are disposed. such that a distance is left between the bottom. surface of the holding arrangement forming a cold well and the bottom portions of the canteens, the distance d (see Fig. 4) being larger below the cooling arrangement 20 than at the outer end portions.The cooling element or cooling elements are thus arranged to be located adjacent the outer sides of the back walls of the canteens in a mounted position in the holding arrangement 10.

A first portion 20A of the cooling arrangement 20 protrudes soas to be arranged above the upper edges of the back walls of the canteens when they are placed in the holding arrangement 10.

A second section 20B of the cooling arrangement 20 extends downwards towards, but ending at a certain distance from, the bottom of the well or trough of the holding arrangement 10 suchthat it will be located adjacent substantially the entire back wall of each canteen.

Through the positioning of the canteens in an inclined manner, outwardly downwards away from the cooling arrangement 20, and the first portion 20A of the cooling arrangement extending upwardly above the inner upper side edges of the back walls, and the cooling arrangement 20 being divided into a (communicating) upper and lower portion, separated by means of a dividing plate 24 (see Fig. 4), flow the cooled air surrounding the inner part will downwards, outwards above the uppercanteens containing the food, flow, due to the dividing plate hencenot being allowed to pass, vertically to the cold well, but is prevented to do so by the dividing plate 24.

Through the second lower portion of the cooling arrangement 10 covering' the entire back walls of the canteens and. a largerbelow, will be the cooling arrangement 10, and flow space being formed adjacent, air with a lower temperature distributed towards the outer end sections, under the canteens, so that the canteens or pans, and food provided therein, will be efficiently and evenly cooled from below as well as from above.

In Fig 1 the arrangement 100 comprises a holding arrangement 10which is adapted to receive two parallel rows of canteens 1Ay-1A9,1A1'-1A9', the cooling arrangement 20 protruding in a centralportion of the bar arrangement above the inner, upper back edgesand the canteens in each row being held so 10°, of mounted canteens, as to form an inclination angle d of between 5° and preferably between 6° and 9°, most preferably around 7.5° with ahorizontal plane, see Fig. 4.The bottom sections of the holding arrangement 10 are preferablyalso inclined such that an angle B of about 165°-175° is formedat the intersection of the two bottom planes, the vertex being located below the lower end of the cooling arrangement 20.

In an advantageous embodiment about 30% of the coolingarrangement (the cooling elements), or an upper portion thereof providing about 30% of the cooling effect, is located above the upper edges of the back walls of the canteens when arranged inis located below the the holding arrangement, whereas about 70% upper edges, forming a lower portion, in the shown embodiment between opposite back walls of canteens in the two rows.

Fig' 2 is a section through. an arrangement as shown in Fig 1 which illustrates a refrigerating arrangement 20' comprising an inlet 22 at an upper end of the cooling arrangement which is the coolest part, and. which. is adapted. to be connected. to a throttle valve (not shown), the cooling arrangement comprising conduits through which a cooling fluid is circulating back and forth throughout the length of the holding arrangement in a number of turns until, at the lower part of the cooling arrangement 20 where it is connected to an outlet 23, which is adapted to be connected to a compressor (not shown).

In Fig. 2 also an upper and a lower portion 26,26' of an evaporator are shown, i.e. an evaporator is divided into a lower and an upper evaporation portion. A dividing plate 24 forms aninterface between the portions of the cooling arrangement beinglocated above the upper edges of canteens mounted in the holdingarrangement and the lower portion respectively as discussed morethoroughly with reference to Figs. 1,4. Preferably outer edgesof the dividing plate 24 form inner holding means 14 for holdinginner, upper edges of the canteens, which preferably rest on the dividing plate 24.

Fig 3 also is a longitudinal section through an arrangement as in Fig. 1, wherein the section shown to the left in the Figure illustrates the arrangement when the covering arrangement 30 (30A) is closed, and. the section. to the right in the Figureschematically illustrates the arrangement when the coveringarrangement 30, or an element thereof 30B, is closed. It should be clear that the covering arrangement may take different forms and. may' be split up into different sections; one for each a canteen, or one section for two or more canteens in a row etc.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view along the line indicated by A-AIt shows a holding arrangement 10 with holding means holding in Fig.3. means 13, here simply formed by which comprising outer abutting edges or flanges on outer edges or rims surrounding the upper edge of a canteen are intended to rest.also forming edges, Inner holding means 14, are formed by outer edges of the dividing' plate 24, thus here separate from. theactual holding arrangement, and. e.g. supported. by a separateholding arrangement provided such as to hold the cooling arrangement and optionally a covering arrangement as can be seen e.g. in Fig. 4. The inner holding means 14 are arranged above the outer holding means, edges 13, and when nwunted the e.g. upper back edge of a canteen will form an angle d of about, here between 7 and 8° with a horizontal plane/line.

In other words, the inner 13 and outer 14 holding means are so arranged. with. respect to another* that a canteen. held. by' them will be arranged such that its inclination angle is d. The holding means may take a number of different forms and operate in different manners as long as this condition is met; the angle d may also take other values, e.g. between 5.5° and 9.5°,, or preferably between 6.5° and 8.5°, or somewhat smaller and larger values as well.

The planes 17A,17A/ forming the botton1 planes of the holding arrangement preferably also are inclined in opposite directionsan angle +/-ß respectively with a towards one another, forming fictive horizontal plane connecting their outer edges.

The cooling arrangement 20 is arranged in a centralized mannerwith respect to the vertex V formed at the intersection of these planes with about 70% or two thirds of the cooling arrangement forming a lower portion 20B is disposed between the inner, one another facing' back walls of the canteens 1A,1A/, whereas an upper portion 20A, about 30% or one third of the cooling e.g. arrangement (above the dividing plate 24) protrudes above theupper edges of the canteen back walls.Through cooling medium conduits extending longitudinally as explained. with reference to Fig. 3, the cooling' medium. flows from the upper inlet towards the bottom outlet (not shown in this figure).

The dividing plate 24 passes longitudinally throughout the cooling arrangement 20, preventing on the upper side cooled air from passing or flowing vertically down to the cold well below the canteens, but urging it to flow across, above, the upper of the canteens.The covering arrangement 30 (30A,30B) is here only schematically illustrated, and is operated by, here two gas springs for eachcovering element such as to keep the cover closed and openrespectively. The functioning will not be further described since the covering' arrangement may take many' different forms,the main thing' being' that a covering' arrangement is arrangedleaving a space above the canteens allowing a circulation of theair in the arrangement due to the cooled air flowing outwards,downwards due to the inclination of the canteens over the food since cool air has a lower density. lO ll It should. be clear that the invention. is not limited. to the specifically illustrated embodiments, but that it can be variedin a number of ways within the scope of the appended claims.Particularly it is of not limited to course any particular number of canteens, sizes and shapes of canteens or holdingmeans or cover arrangements.

Also the holding arrangement may be adapted for taking up onerow of canteens, it may be square shaped to take up four rows ofcanteens arranged with za cooling arrangement i11 the center ofpair wise oppositely arranged canteen back walls, or it may evencomprise a circular or oval holding arrangement with surroundingcanteens with correspondingly adapted shapes of the canteens or the canteen back walls.

Claims (15)

1. A food bar arrangement (100), e.g. a salad bar, comprising acanteen or pan holding arrangement (10) adapted to hold a plurality of canteens or pans for holding fresh food products, a refrigerating arrangement (20') for cooling the arrangement, and keeping theholding i.e. food products held in the canteens or pans,food products at a wherein the (10) desired temperature, arrangement comprises a. cupboard or a. bench arrangement (15) comprising a cold well, and adapted to receive the canteens or pans in such a manner that openings of the canteens or pansmake the food accessible for a user at least from a first outer side section (15A,15B) of the food bar arrangement allowing the user to choose and pick from the canteens or pans, wherein the refrigerating arrangement (20') comprises a cooling arrangement (20) with one or more cooling elements, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i nthat the cooling arrangement is so arranged with respect to the holding arrangement (10) that it will be located. close to a location where canteen back walls will be located when held by(10), said location being distant from (15A,15B), the holding arrangement the first outer side section that holding or supporting means (13,14) are provided which are adapted to hold the canteens or pans in an inclined position such that upper which when placed in food bar arrangement (15A,15B), edges of the canteens,will be located adjacent the first outer side section will be located. at a lower level than opposing inner, upper edges, that the holding arrangement (10) comprises a bottom. with a bottom section or bottom sections, that the holding arrangement l0 l3 (l0) and the cooling arrangement (20) are so arranged with respect to one another that a distance (d) is provided betweenthe bottom of the holding arrangement forming a cold well andthe cooling arrangement (l0), that a first portion (20A) of the cooling arrangement protrudesand is arranged above the location where the upper, will be inner edgesof the the holding (20B) of canteens located when placed in arrangement (l0), and in that a second lower section the cooling arrangement extends downwards towards, but ending atsaid distance (d) from the bottom of the well or trough of the holding arrangement (l0), such that when canteens or pans aresubstantially their entire (20B) of mounted in the food bar arrangement,back walls will be located adjacent said lower section the cooling arrangement.

2. A food bar arrangement according to claim l,c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the cooling arrangement (20) is centrally arranged and in that the holding means are arranged on either sides thereof toof the allow holding canteens sides (20), in on at least two opposite respective outwardly inclined (20) cooling arrangement positions, so that the cooling arrangement peripherally or at least on two sides such may be surrounded by canteens.

3. A food bar arrangement according to claim 2,c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n the cooling arrangement (20) is separated into the upper and the lower portion (20A,20B) by means of a longitudinal dividing plate (24). 14

4. A food bar arrangement according to claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i nthat the dividing plate (24) is adapted to provide or comprisesaid inner holding means (14).

5. A food bar arrangement according to claim 4,c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n(14) that the inner holding means are formed by the longitudinal outer edge of the dividing plate (24) hence forming a supportingedge on which outwardly directed flanges or similar cooperating means of the canteens may rest.

6. A food bar arrangement according to any one of claims 2-5,c h a r a c t e r i z e d i nthat the holding arrangement (10) (13,13) is so disposed and comprises outer holding means so disposed that two parallel rowsof canteens may be taken up, (20), longitudinally along either side of the cooling arrangement the outer holding means (13,13) being located at a lower level vertically seen than the inner holding means (14,14).

7. A food bar arrangement according to any one of claims 2-6,c h a r a c t e r i z e d i nthat the botton1 sections are oppositely' inclined. such. that an angle between the bottom sections in a plane perpendicular thereto is less than 180°, the vertex (V) or intersection of the plane sections being located below the bottom of the longitudinal lower portion (2OB) of the cooling arrangement, a cold well being formed which is arranged to surround front, lateral and bottom walls of canteens or pans placed in the holding arrangement.

8. A food bar arrangement according to any one of the precedingclaims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n(20) that the cooling arrangement comprising one or more cooling elements is so disposed that about one third ,or about 30%, ofcorresponding to the portion (24) the cooling (20A) arrangement, upper is located above the dividing plate preferably also defining' a vertical position. where uppermost, back edges are allowed to be located when located in the bar arrangement, whereas approximately two thirds, or about 70%, corresponding to (20B) of the cooling arrangement is disposed (24). the lower portion below said dividing plate

9. A food bar arrangement according to any one of the precedingclaims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n (30),(3OA,3OB), is that it further comprises a covering arrangement comprising one or more cover elements arranged to automatically return to a closed position, by means of e.g. sensor controlled action, or by means of a nmnual interaction, e.g. assisted by næans of a gas spring or similar, optionally also oppositely' operating' second. gas springs or similar being provided to keep the cover temporarily in an open position when opened, so that unless the canteens are serviced, filled. with servicing' a user, a closed. systenl is formed allowing food food or cooled air to flow around the in the canteens, without requiring any assisted air flow by means of any fan blower. 16

10. A food bar arrangement at least according to claim 4,c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n the cooling arrangement (20) is supported. by means of upper holding means and extends freely downwards towards the cold well.

11. A food bar arrangement according to claim 9 and 10,c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the cooling' arrangement (20) and. the covering' arrangement (30) are commonly supported and comprise or form the upper holding arrangement.

12. A food bar arrangement according to any one of the precedingclaims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n the refrigerating arrangement (20') comprises a coolingarrangement (20) comprising a number of cooling elementsallowing a cooling medium to flow in longitudinal conduits located i11 the (20') adjacent and above the back walls of canteenswherein the refrigerating arrangement (22) holding arrangement,for connection (23) at an upper portion comprises an inlet e.g. to a throttle valve, and at a lower end comprises an outlet adapted to be connected to a compressor, such that an upper e.g. region will be the coolest region.

13. A food bar arrangement according to any one of the precedingclaims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n and 9.5°, that the angle d is between 5.5° preferably between 6.5° and 8.5°, or most preferably about 7.5° 17

14. A. food. arrangement according' to any' one of the precedingclaims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n (13,14) that the inner and/or the outer mounting means comprises abutting edges provided on the holding arrangement.

15. A food arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, or any one ofclaims 5-9 as appended on claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the holding means and the holding arrangement is adapted tosides, on three or more holding receive canteens or that the holding arrangement and inner means are disposed allowing canteens to be arranged surrounding the cooling arrangement onin a circular, one or more sides, or in a continuous manner, e.g. oval or rectangular or similar manner.