Dispensing of food and beverage products

Abstract

A cooler cabinet comprises: a storage compartment (130) for food or beverage products (130); a dispensing mechanism (143) for dispensing the food or beverage products (144) from the storage compartment without opening the storage compartment to ambient air; a water-retaining material (120) outside the storage compartment but in contact with it; an air channel (111) in contact with the water-retaining material; and means (114) for moving air through the air channel such that the air increases the rate of evaporation of water from the water-retaining material. It thereby withdraws heat from the water-retaining material and causes cooling of the interior of the cabinet, including the food or beverage products.

Claims

1. A cooler cabinet comprising: a storage compartment for a plurality of food or beverage products; a dispensing mechanism for dispensing the plurality of food or beverage products from the storage compartment without opening the storage compartment to ambient air; a water-retaining material outside the storage compartment but in contact with it; an air channel in contact with the water-retaining material; and means for moving air through the air channel such that the air withdraws heat from the water-retaining material by evaporation of water from the water-retaining material, the evaporation, in use, causing the water-retaining material to cool, which causes the storage compartment and air within the storage compartment to cool.

2. A cooler cabinet according to claim 1 wherein the storage compartment comprises a lid and wherein at least a part of the lid is transparent.

3. A cooler cabinet according to 2 wherein the transparent part of the lid is double glazed.

4. A cooler cabinet according to claim 1 wherein the dispensing mechanism is a rotary dispensing mechanism.

5. A cooler cabinet according to claim 1 comprising a mechanism for urging the food or beverage products into the dispensing mechanism.

6. A cooler cabinet according to claim 1 wherein the water-retaining material is a water-absorbent polymer.

7. A cooler cabinet according to claim 1 wherein the water-retaining material is in contact with substantially all of a lower face of the storage compartment and at least a part of at least one side face of the storage compartment.

8. A cooler cabinet according to claim 1 wherein the water-retaining material is held in contact with the storage compartment by a support structure.

9. A cooler cabinet according to claim 8 wherein the support structure comprises a mesh.

10. A cooler cabinet according to claim 8 wherein the air channel is enclosed by the support structure and an outer casing of the cooler cabinet.

11. A cooler cabinet according to claim 1 wherein the air channel comprises an air inlet and an air outlet.

12. A cooler cabinet according to claim 1 wherein the means for moving air through the air channel is a fan.

13. A cooler cabinet according to claim 1 wherein the cooler cabinet can be operated without a mains electricity supply.

14. A cooler cabinet according to claim 13 wherein the means for moving air through the air channel is powered by a photovoltaic cell and/or an electric battery.

15. A cooler cabinet according to claim 1 wherein: the cooler cabinet comprises an outer casing; the storage compartment, the water retaining material and the air channel are arranged inside the outer casing; and the air channel is arranged between the water-retaining material and the outer casing.

16. A cooler cabinet according to claim 15 wherein a portion of the air channel is bounded in part by both the water retaining material and the outside casing.

17. A method of storing, cooling and dispensing a food or beverage product comprising the steps of: (a) placing a plurality of food or beverage products in a storage compartment wherein the storage compartment is in contact with a water retaining material comprising water; (b) moving air across the water-retaining material such that water vapor may evaporate from the water-retaining material, the evaporation causing the water-retaining material to cool, which causes the storage compartment and air within the storage compartment to cool; and (c) dispensing at least one of the plurality of the food or beverage products from the storage compartment such that the interior of the storage compartment is not exposed to ambient air.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cooler cabinet according to the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a plan view of the cooler cabinet of FIG. 1; and

(4) FIG. 3 is a cross-section view of the cooler cabinet along line III of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) The cooler cabinet (100) shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 comprises an outer casing (110) and, within the outer casing (110), a storage compartment (130). There is a space between the outer casing (110) and the storage compartment (130) (evident in FIG. 3) and in this space a water retaining material (120) is provided. The outer casing (110) is constructed from a plastics material such as glass-reinforced plastic. and as shown in FIG. 3, comprises an air channel (111), air inlet (112) and air outlet (113) and a fan (114) mounted at the air inlet (112). The water-retaining material (120) is a water-absorbing acrylic fibre mass which is supported by a mesh support structure (121) suspended within the outer casing and holding the water-retaining material. Thus the water-retaining material (120) is located between the mesh and the storage compartment (130). The mesh is sufficiently porous to allow water vapour from the water-retaining material to pass through the mesh support structure into the air channel. The mesh is somewhat corrugated to promote heat exchange.

(6) At the end of the cabinet, external to the storage compartment, is a water chamber (131). The water chamber is of the same width as the cooler cabinet but is of lesser depth. It is of inverted U-shape or horseshoe-shape, being shaped so as not to obstruct the outlet (113). The top wall (132) is at the same level as the top wall of the cabinet but its bottom wall (133), which is bifurcated, and which is inclined towards two outlet pipes (134), one of which is in each bifurcation, are just above the level of the base of the mesh (121). One such pipe can be seen in FIG. 3. The two pipes supply water to respective side regions of the water-retaining material, at a low level thereof. The outlet end of each pipe (134) has a membrane (135) which allows water to pass only when the water-retaining material is not saturated. At the top of the tank is a filler cap (136). The top region (137) of the tank leads to both of the bifurcated regions, to each side of the outlet (113).

(7) In use the water-retaining material (120) is loaded with water. The fan (114) is actuated by a power source (not shown) such that air is drawn into the air channel (111), through air inlet (112) and out of the air channel at air outlet (113). The power source may for example comprise a photovoltaic (solar) cell and/or a rechargeable electric battery. The air moving through the air channel (represented in FIG. 3 by the arrows within the air channel (111)) causes water to evaporate from the surface of the water-retaining material through the mesh support structure (121) and this water vapour is carried out of the air channel through air outlet (113). The evaporation of water from the water-retaining material causes the water-retaining material to cool. Removing the vaporised water from the cabinet by moving air through the air channel induces more water to evaporate into the air channel and therefore provides a continuous cooling effect on the water-retaining material. As the water-retaining material is in contact with the storage compartment (130), the cooling of the water-retaining material causes a cooling of the storage compartment and any food or beverage products contained within it.

(8) The channel (111) is restricted specifically beneath the dispensing region (which will be described below). This is achieved by means of a ramp (138) which extends across the entire channel. The resulting restriction of the channel causes a higher air speed, and enhanced cooling, in that region.

(9) The storage compartment (130) comprises a main body (141), a transparent lid (142), a dispensing mechanism (143), a means for advancing the food or beverage products (144) and a seal (not visible) around the edge of the lid. The main body comprises an upwardly open, cuboid, void formed by four side walls (156) and a bottom wall (158). The void contains the advancing means (154, 155), the products to be dispensed and the dispensing mechanism (143) and is covered, when the cabinet is in its dispensing mode, by the lid (142). Each side wall has at its top edge an outwardly directed flange (160). These rest on inwardly directed flanges (162 extending from the side walls of the outer casing thereby suspending the storage compartment in the outer casing. The water-retaining material is covered by the flanges. The arrangement can be seen more clearly in FIG. 3.

(10) The lid is hinged (164) at its distal end. It is mainly flat, but at its proximal end (the dispensing end) has an arcuate region (106), around a region of the dispensing wheel. The dispensing hatch (151) is between the proximal end (168) of the lid and the front edge (170) of the storage compartment (130). The main body (141) is constructed from stainless steel. The transparent lid (142) is a double-glazed panel comprising a vacuum between two layers of glass or plastic material. The dispensing mechanism (143) is a rotary dispensing mechanism comprising a paddle-type dispensing wheel mounted for rotation about an axle (148), blades (149), recesses (150) between the blades for receiving food or beverage products and a dispensing hatch (151). It has on each side thumbwheels (152). The means for advancing the food or beverage products (144) comprises a plate (154) and spring (155).

(11) In preparation for the dispensing operation the lid (142) is opened by a store operative and food or beverage products (144) are loaded transversely into the storage compartment, between the dispensing mechanism (143) and the means for advancing the food or beverage products (144), as a stack. The lid is then closed to form a substantially air-tight seal. The dispensing mechanism (143) is then actuated by a customer, using one of the thumbwheels to rotate sufficiently to engage food or beverage products and advance them towards the dispensing hatch (151) until a recess (150) containing a food or beverage product (144) is adjacent to the dispensing hatch (151) and is separated from the exterior of the storage compartment by a blade (149). When the dispensing mechanism is actuated, the means for advancing the food or beverage products (144) moves the food or beverage products towards the dispensing mechanism through the agency of the force provided by the constant compression of the spring acting through the plate (154) which is in contact with the rearmost member of the stack of food or beverage products (144). Provided the storage compartment contains sufficient food or beverage products, this dispensing process will cause the dispensing mechanism to engage further food or beverage products and advance them towards the dispensing hatch, ready for dispensing.

(12) The products may be chocolate bars which would otherwise melt in the ambient temperature, but the apparatus is applicable to other food and beverage products.

(13) It is undesirable for the lid to be opened other than for loading with the food or beverage products because of the unwanted heat exchange (outflow of the cooled air inside the cabinet; inflow of warmer ambient air). In regular dispensing use the loss of cooled air from the storage chamber should be through the dispensing mechanism only. Measures may be taken to prevent or discourage purchasers from opening the lid and picking products out; for example a lock or catch or written notice.

(14) The cooler cabinet shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and described above can be used to cool, store and dispense food or beverage products in the following way. An operator loads the water-retaining material with water as previously described and activates the fan with power supplied by the power source. The storage compartment will then begin to cool. The operator then loads the storage compartment with food or beverage products. The food or beverage products may already be at a temperature lower than the ambient temperature. The continued running of the fan provides sufficient cooling to maintain the temperature of the contents of the storage compartment below the ambient temperature at the location of the cooler cabinet. The continued operation of the fan causes water to evaporate from the water-retaining material. The operator loads more water onto the water-retaining material when required, to provide the continued cooling of the storage compartment.