COOLING AND HEATING TRAY FOR GASTRONOMY CONTAINERS

Abstract

The cooling and heating tray (11) for gastronomy containers has a base (12) and side walls (13, 14, 15), wherein a heating device and a cooling device are provided for optional operation as a heating tray or as a cooling tray, and wherein the heating device heats the base (12). According to the invention, both the base (12) and the side walls (13, 14, 15) consist of stainless steel, and the base (12) is fixed at a number of locations, preferably by means of threaded bolts (16) welded to the base (12), to a sandwich panel (20), preferably consisting of a layer of stainless steel (21), a layer of aluminium (22) and a further layer of stainless steel (23). The cooling device cools both the side walls (13, 14, 15) and the base (12).

Claims

1. A cooling and heating tray (11) for gastronomy containers, which has a base (12) and side walls (13, 14, 15), wherein a heating device and a cooling device are provided for option& operation as a heating tray or as a cooling tray, and wherein the heating device heats the base (12), characterized in that both the base (12) and the side walls (13, 14, 15) are composed of stainless steel, in that the base (12) is fixedly connected at a plurality of points to a sandwich panel (20), preferably consisting of a layer of stainless steel a layer of aluminum (22) and a layer of stainless steel (23), and in that the cooling device cools both the side walls (13, 14, 15) and the base (12).

2. The cooling and heating tray as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of screw bolts (16) are welded onto the base (12) and are used to screw the sandwich panel (20) to the base (12).

3. The cooling and heating tray as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cooling device consists of at least one cooling pipe (18, 19), which cooling pipe or which cooling pipes lies or lie fixedly against the lower side of the sandwich panel (20) and against the side walls (13, 14, 15).

4. The cooling and heating tray as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a cooling duct (24) is incorporated, or a cooling pipe (25) cast, into the middle layer (22) of the sandwich panel (20), and in that a cooling pipe (18) lies fixedly against the side walls.

5. The cooling and heating tray as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the heating device consists of at least one silicone surface heater (26) which lies against the lower side of the sandwich panel (20).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the attached drawing. The single FIGURE shows a cooling and heating tray according to the invention in section.

BEST WAY FOR IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION

[0016] The cooling and heating tray denoted overall by 11 has a base 12 and side walls 13, 14, 15. (The fourth side wall is located in front of the plane of the drawing.) As is seen, the base 12 and the side walls 13, 14 can be bent from a piece of chromium steel. The side wall 15 and the fourth, invisible side wall, likewise made from chromium steel, are welded on. This results overall in a tray which is watertight for many years.

[0017] Screw bolts 16 are welded to the base 12 and hold a sandwich panel 20 by means of nuts 17. The sandwich panel 20 consists of a layer of chromium steel 21, a layer of aluminum 22 and a further layer of chromium steel 23. The layers 21-23 are fixedly connected to one another by adhesive bonding or pressing. The sandwich panel 20 is highly flexurally rigid because of the two spaced-apart layers of chromium steel 21 and 23, but is nevertheless not too heavy because of the use of aluminum as intermediate layer. Overall, the flexurally rigid sandwich panel 20, which is connected to the base 12 by numerous screw bolts 16, protects the entire cooling and heating tray 11 from warping due to high heat.

[0018] Cooling pipes 18 are attached to the side walls 13, 14 (likewise to the two other side walls, but this is not visible in the FIGURE). Various cooling possibilities are possible for the base 12. Cooling pipes 19 can be attached at the bottom to the sandwich panel 20, but cooling ducts can also be milled into the layer of aluminum 22, as indicated by dashed lines at 24, or cooling pipes can be cast therein, as indicated by dashed lines at 25.

[0019] If cooling pipes 19 are present, silicone heating mats 26 are then attached therebetween; otherwise, an extensive silicone heating mat can be attached.

[0020] A refrigerant flows through the cooling pipes 18, 19, 25 or cooling ducts 24. The cooling of the refrigerant can take place centrally, but it is also possible to attach a cooling unit directly below the cooling and heating tray 11, as is known from patcit0004DE 202011050444 U - - - , such that isolated operation is possible.

[0021] The cooling pipes 18, 19 are composed of copper. They are fastened by sheet-metal parts to the side walls 13, 14 and are adhesively bonded by aluminum strips to the base 12. They are surrounded as customary by insulating material, the insulating material itself is protected by cover plates. The cooling pipes 18, 19 are thereby additionally fixed or pressed on.

[0022] Four functions are made possible by the cooling and heating tray according to the invention:

[0023] cooling (dry)

[0024] cooling by means of a water bath

[0025] heating by means of a water bath

[0026] heating with dry heat

[0027] Temperatures of 5 C. to +140 C. can be achieved.