DEVICE FOR STORING FOOD PRODUCTS AT HOT TEMPERATURE

Abstract

A device for storing food products at hot temperature, having an outer housing, an inner housing that is at least partially contained inside the outer housing, and a fan chamber defined within the inner housing, the fan chamber (5) having at least one air inlet and outlet. A fan is located inside the fan chamber, and a heating element is installed in the fan chamber. At least one food tray defines a space for holding the food products therein. A first air flow path for guiding a first air flow is defined from outside of the outer housing to the air inlet of the fan chamber, the first flow path extending between the outer housing and the inner housing, and a second air flow path for guiding a second air flow is defined from the air outlet of the fan chamber to the space inside the at least one food tray, and the heating element is located in the second air flow path.

Claims

1. A device (1) for storing food products (2) at a hot temperature, comprising: an outer housing (3); an inner housing (4), said inner housing (4) is at least partially contained inside said outer housing (3); a fan chamber (5) defined within said inner housing (4), said fan chamber (5) having at least one air inlet (6) and one air outlet (7); a fan (5a) located inside said fan chamber (5); at least one heating element (9) installed in a vicinity of said fan chamber (5); and at least one food tray (10) defining a space (11) that is configured to hold the food products (2) inside said food tray (10); wherein a first air flow path (15) for guiding a first air flow (AF1) is defined from an outside of said outer housing (3) to the air inlet (6) of said fan chamber (5), said first flow path (15) extending between said outer housing (3) and said inner housing (4); and a second air flow path (16) for guiding a second air flow (AF2) is defined from the air outlet (7) of said fan chamber (5) to said space (11) inside said at least one food tray (10); and the at least one heating element (9) is located in said second air flow path (16).

2. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the food tray (10) has a length (L) and a width (W), said length (L) and said width (W) define an essentially rectangular opening for accessing said space (11).

3. The device (1) according to claim 2, wherein said heating element (9) has a length which essentially corresponds to the length (L) of the food tray (10), said heating element (9) being arranged parallel to a length direction of said food tray (10).

4. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the fan (5a) or the fan chamber (5) is adapted for to convey a major part of an air flow (AF5) generated by the fan (5a) toward the heating element (9).

5. The device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the fan chamber (5) comprises at least one deflecting element (18) for conveying at least part an air flow (AF5) generated by the fan (5a) toward the heating element (9).

6. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said fan (5a) is a centrifugal fan.

7. The device (1) according to claim 5, wherein said fan chamber (5) is rectangular in shape with corresponding side walls (9); and the deflecting element (18) has a shape and is located relative to said fan (5a) so as to deflect the air flow (AF5) generated by the fan (5a) toward said air outlet (7) of the fan chamber (5), and said air outlet (7) is located in a side wall (8) of said fan chamber (5).

8. The device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the air outlet (7) is located at a longer one of the side walls (8) of said fan chamber (5), and is formed of a plurality of air outlet openings extending over a major part of said longer side wall (8).

9. The device (1) according to claim 8, wherein the fan (5a) is located centered in said fan chamber (5).

10. The device (1) according to claim 7, wherein there are two of the deflecting elements (18), each one of said deflecting elements (18) having an apex (18a) situated in proximity to said fan and at least two deflectors (18b) extending from said apex (18a) toward a respective shorter side wall (5b) of said fan chamber (5) in a direction toward opposite longer ones of the side walls (8) of said fan chamber (5).

11. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the outer housing (3) and the inner housing (4) have parallel side walls (9) and parallel bottom walls (13a); and the air inlet (6) of said fan chamber (5) is located at a bottom wall (5c) of the fan chamber (5) and below an entry point for ambient air into the outer housing (3).

12. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein an entry point for air into said food tray (10) is located above the air outlet (7) of said fan chamber (5).

13. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said first air flow path (15) and said second air flow path (16) are substantially parallel, whereas respective first and second air flow directions (AF1, AF2) are substantially antiparallel.

14. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the fan chamber (5) is located below said food tray (10).

15. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the food tray (10) comprises a substantially leak-proof outer tray (12) and an inner tray (13), said inner tray (13) being suspended or suspendable within said outer tray (12) and having a number of openings (13b) at least in a bottom wall (13a) thereof.

16. The device (1) according to claim 15, further comprising a third air flow path for guiding a third air flow (AF4) is defined between at least one of a side wall or a bottom wall (13a) of said inner tray (13) and at least one of a side wall or a bottom wall (12c) of said outer tray (12), said third air flow (AF4) is a continuation in part of said second air flow (AF2), and said third air flow (AF4) is partly anti-parallel to said second air flow (AF2).

17. The device (1) according to claim 16, wherein the outer tray (12) comprises, at the bottom wall (12c) thereof a deflecting element (12b) for forcing said third air flow (AF4) upwards through said openings (13b).

18. The device (1) according to claim 17, wherein a first angle between the side walls and the bottom wall (13a) of the inner tray (13) differs from a second angle between the side walls and the bottom wall (12c) of the outer tray (12), said second angle being greater than said first angle.

19. The device (1) according to claim 18, wherein at least one plate-shaped divider element (14) is provided for partitioning said inner tray (13).

20. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the food tray (10) has series of openings (13c, 13d) along an upper edge thereof that are adapted to let one of the air flows (AF2, AF3) pass into said space (11), a first series of said openings (13c) being arranged below a second series of said openings (13d), and said openings (13c) in said first series of openings have a bigger dimension or opening surface than said openings (13d) in said second series of openings.

21. The device (1) according to claim 19, wherein at least the inner tray (13) is separated or separable into a plurality of individual tray units (13.1, 13.2).

22. The device (1) according to claim 21, wherein said second air flow path (16) opens to an environment of the device (1).

23. The device (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor (17) configured to control at least one of the heating element (9) or the fan (5a) depending on a temperature in or near said space (11).

24. The device (1) according to claim 23, wherein said temperature sensor (17) is located in a vicinity of the heating element within the second air flow.

25. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the heating element (9) is a ribbed heating element (9).

26. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least the inner housing (4), the outer housing (3), the food tray (10) and the fan chamber (5) are of symmetrical form relative to a median vertical plane (MP) of the device (1).

27. The device (1) according to claim 1, further comprising electronic or electric components (19) located outside at least one of said inner housing (4) or outside said outer housing (3).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] Further details and advantages will now be described by way of example with reference to the appended drawings.

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of the device according to the present invention;

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a prospective view of the bottom part of the device in FIG. 1, a particular a fan chamber thereof; and

[0045] FIG. 3 shows a prospective overall view of the device in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a device for a device for storing food products at hot temperature, which device is denoted in its totality by reference numeral 1. Reference numeral 2 denotes food products which are stored in the device 1. The device 1 comprises an outer housing 3 and an inner housing 4. The inner housing 4 is contained inside the outer housing 3. A fan chamber 5 is defined within the inner housing 4, the fan chamber 5 having an air inlet 6 and air outlets 7. Air inlet 6 is located in a bottom wall 5c of fan chamber 5, whereas the air outlets 7 are located in opposing side walls 8 of fan chamber 5. A fan 5a, which is devised as a centrifugal fan, is located inside fan chamber 5. In the vicinity of the fan chamber 5, i.e., on both sides thereof, there is installed a heating element 9, which heating element 9 is devised in the form of a ripped resistance heating element which heats up under the effect of an electrical current flowing there through. Heating element 9 is located, respectively, in front of said air outlets 7 of fan chamber 5.

[0047] Above fan chamber 5 device 1 comprises a food tray generally denoted by reference numeral 10. Food tray 10 defines a space 11 for holding said food products 2 inside food tray 10. Food tray 10 consists of two separate units, i.e. an outer crumb tray 12, which is essentially leak-proof and at least one inner salting tray 13 which is suspended within crumb tray 12 and which has openings in its bottom wall 13a, which openings are not visible in FIG. 1. Reference numeral 14 denotes a plate-like divider element which is used to partition salting tray 13 into several compartments. More than more divider element 14 can be used. This divider element 14 comprises a handle 14a for inserting and removing said divider element 14.

[0048] First air flow path 15 for guiding a first air flow (denoted by arrows AF1) is defined from the outside of outer housing 3 to the air inlet 6 of fan chamber 5, said first air flow path 15 extending between outer housing 3 and inner housing 4. A second air flow path 16 for guiding a second air flow AF2 is defined from the air outlets 7 of fan chamber 5 to the space 11 inside food tray 10. Heating elements 9 are located in second air flow path 16, i.e. are impinged on by second air flow AF2. This second air flow path 16 extends from outlet 7 of fan chamber 5 upwards be-tween inner housing 4 and food tray 10 (crumb tray 12) and then enters said space 11 from above after passing over a rim 12a of crumb tray 12. Having passed over said rim 12a of crumb tray 12, air flow AF2 is divided into two separate air flows, one of which (denoted AF3) directly enters space 11 while another one (denoted AF4) passes between crumb tray 12 and salting tray 13 and enters space 11 through said openings in bottom wall 13a of salting tray 13, as shown. Reference numeral 17 denotes a temperature sensor or thermostat which can be used to control fan 5a and heating elements 9 in a suitable control circuit, not shown. At reference numeral 12b crumb tray 12 has a protrusion in its bottom wall 12c which protrusion 12b serves as a deflector for deflecting air flow AF4 upwards toward space 11. Note that in the device 1 of FIG. 1, at least the inner housing 4, the outer housing 3, the food tray 10 and the fan chamber 5 are of symmetrical form relative to a median vertical plane MP of the device 1.

[0049] Arrows AF5 in FIG. 1 denote an air flow from fan 5a through fan chamber 5 outwardly in the direction of air outlets 7 and toward heating elements 9. Arrows AF6 denote an air flow leaving space 11 to the outside. While air flow AF1 is relatively cool, air flow AF2 is relatively hot due to the re-effect of heating elements 9. This has a cooling effect on outer housing 3, while air flow AF2 has a pre-heating effect on air flow AF1, thus enabling use of blow consumption heating elements 9. Air flow AF6 efficiently removes moisture from space 11, which can have a positive effect on tastes and/or quality of food products 2.

[0050] Food tray 10 has a length and a width, only the latter of which is visible in FIG. 1. Together, said length and said width define an essentially rectangular opening for accessing space 11 from above.

[0051] As can be further gather from FIG. 1, an angle between side walls (not denoted) and the bottom wall of salting tray 13 differs from an angle between the side walls (not denoted) and bottom wall 12c of the salting tray 12, wherein the latter angle is greater than said other angle. In the context of the present invention, the salting tray 12 can also be referred to as outer tray, whereas the crumb tray 13 can also be referred to as inner tray.

[0052] Referring now to FIG. 2, said figure shows the bottom part of the device 1 in FIG. 1, i.e., the bottom part of outer housing 3, inner housing 4 and fan chamber 5. In all appended drawings, the same reference numerals are used to define respective features of device 1.

[0053] As can be seen from FIG. 2, fan chamber 5 extends over an entire length L of the device, which length L corresponds to said length mentioned above in connection with FIG. 1. Fan chamber 5 is overall rectangular shape, and the air outlets 7 in side wall 8 mentioned earlier are devised in the form of a plurality of openings or slots which essentially extend over the entire length L. Heating elements 9 are de-vised in elongated form and also extend essentially over the entire length L of fan chamber 5. In this way, air flow AF2 can be heated continuously and can be used to heat space 11 (cf. FIG. 1) in homogenous fashion over the entire length. Fan 5a is located essentially in the center of fan chamber 5. Fan chamber 5 further com-prises two identical deflecting elements 18 which have an overall triangular form with an apex 18a situated in proximity to fan 5a. From said apex 18a two deflectors 18b extend toward a respective shorter side wall 5b of fan chamber 5 and in a direction toward opposite longer side walls 8 of fan chamber 5. Said longer side walls 8 of fan chamber 5 are identical with the side walls mentioned earlier in connection with air outlet 7. As would be noted by a person skilled in the art, the deflecting elements 18 are by no means limited to the special configuration shown in FIG. 2 as long as they are effective in deflecting air flow AF5 generated by fan 5a toward side walls 8 of fan chamber 5 so that the air flow may then pass through the air outlets 7 and homogenously impinge on heating elements 9, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0054] Reference numeral 19 in FIG. 2 denotes electronic equipment, e.g., a solid state relay (SSR), a high limit switch and a connector block. The SSR and connector block are preferably located on an aluminum plate 19 that can be located partially in said first air flow, thus providing a cooling effect for the SSR.

[0055] FIG. 3 shows an overall prospective view of device 1. In FIG. 3 both, width W and length L of food tray 10 are visible. Further visible are previously mentioned openings 13b in bottom wall 13a of salting tray (inner tray) 13, which openings are de-vised for letting pass air flow AF4 (cf. FIG. 1) there through. The openings 13b are distributed essentially evenly or homogenously throughout food tray 10.

[0056] As can be further gathered from FIG. 3, food tray 10, i.e., at least inner tray 13 is subdivided into two individual tray units 13.1, 13.2 as can be seen from separation line SL.

[0057] Inner tray 13 may have a structured upper rim (not shown) for fixing the divider elements 14. For example, said structure upper rim 13c could have a saw tooth pattern.

[0058] The salting tray (inner tray) 13 has openings 13c, 13d along its upper edge, as shown, which are arranged in parallel series for letting pass air flow AF3 (FIG. 1).

[0059] Lower openings 13c have a bigger dimension (opening surface) than upper openings 13d. Owing to this particular feature, applicant has achieved separation of (cold) ambient air above food tray 10 and (hot) air from air flow AF3. In fact, the ambient air effectively stays on top of the hot air inside food tray 10 without mixing. In the center of the device 1, i.e., in the vicinity of line MP in FIG. 1, air flow AF6 rises, thus lifting the cold air layer above food tray 10. Said openings 13c, 13d do overlap between the two series, meaning that an opening from a first series formed by the lower openings 13c is located where there is a gap between two adjacent openings from a second series formed by the upper openings 13d, and vice versa.

[0060] As can also be gathered from FIG. 3, outer housing 3 has a plurality of openings 3a in longer side walls thereof, which openings 3a are arranged over essentially the entire length of device 1 (i.e., food tray 10 or space 11). It is through these openings 3a that said first air flow (AF1, cf. FIG. 1) enters the device 1.

[0061] Finally, as can be gathered from FIG. 3, further electronic or electric components 19 of the device 1, i.e., a control unit, a user interface or the like, are located out-side inner housing 4 (cf. FIG. 1) and/or outside outer housing 3.