U.S. patent application number 12/331103 was filed with the patent office on 2009-06-11 for cooling station.
This patent application is currently assigned to BLANCO CS GMBH + CO KG. Invention is credited to Ralf Boss, Claus Konrad, Peter Wirth.
Application Number | 20090145154 12/331103 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38988278 |
Filed Date | 2009-06-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090145154 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Konrad; Claus ; et
al. |
June 11, 2009 |
COOLING STATION
Abstract
In order to provide a cooling station for at least one container
to be cooled that is dockable with the cooling station and has a
housing that surrounds a receiving space for receiving a product to
be cooled, wherein the cooling station comprises at least one fan
for generating a circulating air flow through the container, at
least one cooler for cooling the circulating air flow and at least
one docking place having at least one first docking point for
removing the circulating air flow from the container to be cooled
and having at least one second docking point for feeding the
circulating air flow to the container to be cooled, that is of a
simple construction and easy to manufacture and yet allows
effective and energy-efficient cooling of the circulating air flow
through the container to be cooled, it is proposed that the cooler
takes the form of a heat exchanger that at the cold side contains a
multiphase, flowable coolant.
Inventors: |
Konrad; Claus; (Kampfelbach,
DE) ; Wirth; Peter; (Eppingen, DE) ; Boss;
Ralf; (Kraichtal, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HANLEY, FLIGHT & ZIMMERMAN, LLC
150 S. WACKER DRIVE, SUITE 2100
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Assignee: |
BLANCO CS GMBH + CO KG
Oberderdingen
DE
|
Family ID: |
38988278 |
Appl. No.: |
12/331103 |
Filed: |
December 9, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/EP2007/007933 |
Sep 12, 2007 |
|
|
|
12331103 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/298 ; 62/449;
62/455 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 2400/20 20130101;
F25D 17/02 20130101; F25D 15/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/298 ; 62/455;
62/449 |
International
Class: |
F25D 19/00 20060101
F25D019/00; F25D 23/02 20060101 F25D023/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 22, 2006 |
DE |
102006044846.4 |
Claims
1. Cooling station for at least one container to be cooled that is
dockable with the cooling station and has a housing that surrounds
a receiving space for receiving a product to be cooled, wherein the
cooling station comprises at least one fan for generating a
circulating air flow through the container, at least one cooler for
cooling the circulating air flow and at least one docking place
having at least one first docking point for removing the
circulating air flow from the container to be cooled and having at
least one second docking point for feeding the circulating air flow
to the container to be cooled, wherein the cooler takes the form of
a heat exchanger that at the cold side contains a multiphase,
flowable coolant.
2. Cooling station according to claim 1, wherein a device for
allowing the coolant to circulate through the cooler is associated
with the cooling station.
3. Cooling station according to claim 1, wherein the cooling
station is connectable to an external coolant source.
4. Cooling station according to claim 1, wherein the cooling
station comprises a plurality of docking places for the
simultaneous docking of a plurality of containers to be cooled.
5. Cooling station according to claim 1, wherein the cooling
station comprises at least one closure element for closing a
docking point of the cooling station in the absence of a container
to be cooled.
6. Cooling station according to claim 5, wherein the closure
element during undocking of a container to be cooled from the
cooling station is movable automatically from an open position, in
which the closure element frees the docking point, into a closed
position, in which the closure element closes the docking
point.
7. Cooling station according to claim 5, wherein the closure
element during docking of a container to be cooled with the cooling
station is movable automatically from a closed position, in which
the closure element closes the docking point, into an open
position, in which the closure element frees the docking point.
8. Cooling station according to claim 5, wherein the closure
element is mounted rotatably on the cooling station.
9. Cooling station according to claim 5, wherein the closure
element is movable under the effect of gravity into a closed
position, in which the closure element closes the docking
point.
10. Cooling station according to claim 1, wherein the cooling
station comprises a cover for closing an access opening to the
receiving space of a container to be cooled.
11. Cooling station according to claim 10, wherein the cover is
mounted pivotably on the cooling station.
12. Cooling station according to claim 1, wherein the multiphase,
flowable coolant is a binary ice.
13. Combination of a cooling station according to claim 1 and at
least one container to be cooled, which has a housing that
surrounds a receiving space for receiving a product to be
cooled.
14. Combination according to claim 13, wherein the container is
mobile.
15. Combination according to claim 14, wherein the container is
provided with castors.
16. Combination according to claim 13, wherein the container
comprises at least one first docking point for removing the
circulating air flow from the container and at least one second
docking point for feeding the circulating air flow to the
container.
17. Combination according to claim 13, wherein the container
comprises at least one closure element for closing a docking point
when the container is undocked from the cooling station.
18. Combination according to claim 17, wherein the closure element
during undocking of the container from the cooling station is
movable automatically from an open position, in which the closure
element frees the docking point, into a closed position, in which
the closure element closes the docking point of the container.
19. Combination according to claim 17, wherein the closure element
during docking of the container with the cooling station is movable
automatically from a closed position, in which the closure element
closes the docking point of the container, into an open position,
in which the closure element frees the docking point of the
container.
20. Combination according to claim 17, wherein the closure element
is mounted rotatably on the container.
21. Combination according to claim 17, wherein the closure element
is movable under the effect of gravity into a closed position, in
which the closure element closes the docking point of the
container.
22. Combination according to claim 13, wherein the container has an
access opening to the receiving space for the product to be cooled
and is provided with a cover for closing the access opening.
23. Combination according to claim 22, wherein the cover is formed
to be at least partially transparent.
24. Combination according to claim 13, wherein the container takes
the form of a dispenser having a vertically displaceable
platform.
25. Combination according to claim 24, wherein the platform is
guided displaceably on at least one guide rod.
26. Combination according to claim 13, wherein the product to be
cooled that is received in the receiving space of the container
comprises food and/or drinks and/or tableware.
27. Portioning system for a large-scale catering establishment,
comprising at least one cooling station according to claim 1 and/or
at least one combination of a cooling station according to claim 1
and at least one container to be cooled, which has a housing that
surrounds a receiving space for receiving a product to be cooled.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation application of
PCT/EP2007/007933 filed Sep. 12, 2007, the entire specification of
which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] The present invention relates to a cooling station for at
least one container to be cooled that is dockable with the cooling
station and has a housing that surrounds a receiving space for
receiving a product to be cooled, [0003] wherein the cooling
station comprises [0004] at least one fan for generating a
circulating air flow through the container, [0005] at least one
cooler for cooling the circulating air flow and [0006] at least one
docking place having at least one first docking point for removing
the circulating air flow from the container to be cooled and having
at least one second docking point for feeding the circulating air
flow to the container to be cooled.
BACKGROUND
[0007] Such a cooling station is known from FR 2 442 035 A1. This
cooling station comprises a refrigerating unit having an evaporator
disposed in a circulating air channel of the cooling station for
cooling the circulating air flow.
[0008] The drawback of this is that, because of the integrated
refrigerating unit, the cooling station is of a complicated
construction and is expensive to manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The underlying object of the present invention is to provide
a cooling station of the initially described type that is of a
simple construction and easy to manufacture and yet enables
effective and energy-efficient cooling of the circulating air flow
through the container to be cooled.
[0010] In a cooling station having the features of the preamble of
claim 1 this object is achieved according to the invention in that
the cooler takes the form of a heat exchanger that at the cold side
contains a multiphase, flowable coolant.
[0011] The multiphase coolant, which may in particular contain a
socover ice phase that is suspended in a liquid phase, is flowable,
in particular pumpable, and may therefore be fed from an external
coolant source to the cooling station, so that there is no need for
any refrigerating unit whatsoever inside the cooling station.
[0012] A multiphase coolant may absorb heat from the circulating
air flow and convert it to latent heat in that some of the socover
phase of the coolant is melted without this leading to a variation
of the temperature of the coolant, at any rate so long as the
socover phase of the coolant is not completely melted.
[0013] Such a latent coolant has a comparatively high specific
energy density.
[0014] In principle, the cold side of the heat exchanger might be
designed as a coolant storage tank, in which the coolant, once
introduced, remains until its heat absorption capacity is
exhausted.
[0015] In a preferred development of the invention it is however
provided that a device allowing the coolant to circulate through
the cooler is associated with the cooling station. The effect
thereby achieved is that the cold side of the heat exchanger always
has a particularly high heat absorption capacity.
[0016] It is further preferably provided that the cooling station
is connectable to an external coolant source, so that the
multiphase flowable coolant may be drawn from the external coolant
source and need not be produced or regenerated in the cooling
station itself.
[0017] In particular, it may be provided that there is associated
with the cooling station a consumer circuit of the coolant, in
which the coolant circulates through the cooler of the cooling
station, wherein the consumer circuit is connected to a coolant
supply system, from which fresh coolant may, when required, be fed
to the consumer circuit.
[0018] Such a coolant supply system may in particular comprise a
process tank for storing a large quantity of coolant as well as a
circulation line for feeding the stored coolant to at least one
consumer circuit.
[0019] In order to be able to cool a plurality of containers
simultaneously by means of a circulating air flow, it is
advantageous if the cooling station comprises a plurality of
docking places for the simultaneous docking of a plurality of
containers to be cooled. Such a cooling station having a plurality
of docking places may be used in particular as a central cooling
station for a portioning system of a large-scale catering
establishment.
[0020] In order to keep to a minimum the cold loss during a phase,
in which the container to be cooled is not docked with the cooling
station, it may be provided that the cooling station comprises at
least one closure element for closing a docking point of the
cooling station in the absence of a container to be cooled.
[0021] Such a cooling station is particularly easy to operate if
the closure element during undocking of a container to be cooled
from the cooling station is movable automatically from an open
position, in which the closure element frees the docking point,
into a closed position, in which the closure element closes the
docking point.
[0022] For the sake of user friendliness it is further advantageous
if the closure element during docking of a container to be cooled
with the cooling station is movable automatically from a closed
position, in which the closure element closes the docking point,
into an open position, in which the closure element frees the
docking point.
[0023] The closure element for closing the docking point may for
example take the form of a scovere.
[0024] In a preferred development of the invention it is however
provided that the closure element is mounted rotatably on the
cooling station.
[0025] It is further advantageous if the closure element is movable
under the effect of gravity into a closed position, in which the
closure element closes the docking point. This eliminates the need
for an external drive power for bringing the closure element into
the closed position.
[0026] If the receiving space of the container to be cooled is
accessible via an access opening, preferably at the top of the
container, for introducing a product to be cooled or for removing a
cooled product from the receiving space, then the cooling station
advantageously comprises a cover for closing this access opening
while the container to be cooled is docked with the cooling
station.
[0027] Such a cover may in particular be mounted pivotably on the
cooling station.
[0028] It is further preferably provided that the multiphase,
flowable coolant is a binary ice.
[0029] Binary ice (also known as flow ice or smart ice) is a
flowable and pumpable two-phase mixture of a socover ice phase and
a liquid/alcohol phase (which therefore contains water and an
alcohol as a substance lowering the freezing point), in which the
ice phase is suspended.
[0030] The melting temperature of the ice phase depends upon the
type of alcohol used (for example ethanol) and upon the alcohol
fraction selected.
[0031] If this binary ice is used to cool the circulating air flow,
then the binary ice absorbs heat from the circulating air flow and
converts it to latent heat of the binary ice in that some of the
ice phase of the binary ice is melted without this leading to a
variation of the temperature of the binary ice, at any rate so long
as the ice phase of the binary ice is not completely melted.
[0032] Binary ice by virtue of these properties and by virtue of
its pumpability is ideally suitable for use as a latent coolant in
the cooling station according to the invention.
[0033] By virtue of its ice fraction the binary ice moreover has a
comparatively high specific energy density.
[0034] Claim 13 is directed to a combination of a cooling station
according to the invention and at least one container to be cooled
with a housing that surrounds a receiving space for receiving a
product to be cooled.
[0035] Such a container is preferably mobile so that it may be
moved from the cooling station for example to a food conveyor
belt.
[0036] This mobility may be achieved in particular by providing the
container with castors.
[0037] In order to convey the cooling circulating air flow with
minimum loss from the cooling station to the container and back
into the cooling station, it is advantageously provided that the
container comprises at least one first docking point for removing
the circulating air flow from the container and at least one second
docking point for feeding the circulating air flow to the
container.
[0038] In order to reduce the cold losses from the receiving space
of the container during a phase, in which the container is not
docked with the cooling station, it is advantageous if the
container comprises at least one closure element for closing a
docking point while the container is undocked from the cooling
station.
[0039] In this case, it is particularly user-friendly if the
closure element during undocking of the container from the cooling
station is movable automatically from an open position, in which
the closure element frees the docking point of the container, into
a closed position, in which the closure element closes the docking
point of the container.
[0040] For the sake of user friendliness it is further advantageous
if the closure element during docking of the container with the
cooling station is movable automatically from a closed position, in
which the closure element closes the docking point of the
container, into an open position, in which the closure element
frees the docking point of the container.
[0041] The closure element closing the docking point may for
example take the form of a scovere.
[0042] In a preferred development of the invention it is however
provided that the closure element is mounted rotatably on the
container.
[0043] The container is operationally particularly reliable if the
closure element is movable under the effect of gravity into a
closed position, in which the closure element closes the docking
point of the container. Thus no external drive power is needed to
move the closure element into the closed position.
[0044] If the container has an access opening to the receiving
space for the product to be cooled, through which a product to be
cooled is introducible into the receiving space or a cooled product
is removable from the receiving space, then the container is
preferably provided with a cover for closing this access opening
while the container is docked with the cooling station in order to
convey the cooled circulating air flow with minimum loss through
the receiving space of the container.
[0045] Such an access opening is preferably disposed at the top of
the container.
[0046] If the cover is formed to be at least partially transparent,
this offers the advantage that by glancing through the cover it is
easy to determine which product to be cooled is contained in the
relevant container, thereby making it easy to select the correct
container that is to be moved for example up to a food conveyor
belt, particularly and precisely when a plurality of containers to
be cooled are docked with the cooling station.
[0047] The container to be cooled preferably takes the form of a
dispenser having a vertically movable platform that carries the
product to be cooled.
[0048] Such a platform may in particular be guided displaceably on
at least one guide rod.
[0049] The product to be cooled that is accommodated in the
receiving space of the container preferably comprises food and/or
drinks and/or tableware.
[0050] The cooling station according to the invention and the
combination according to the invention of a cooling station
according to the invention and a container to be cooled that has a
housing surrounding a receiving space for receiving a product to be
cooled are particularly suitable for use as components of a
portioning system for a large-scale catering establishment.
[0051] Besides the cooling station and the container dockable with
the cooling station, such a portioning system may in addition
comprise further components, in particular a food conveyor belt, at
least one rack trolley, and at least one cooling station adapted to
the rack trolley and having a receiving space for completely
receiving the rack trolley.
[0052] The concept according to the invention offers the advantage
that the container to be cooled may be moved up to a desired
location without any cooling device whatsoever having to be moved
along with the container.
[0053] The container to be cooled may therefore be of a small,
light and manoeuvrable design combined with a relatively high
capacity.
[0054] Because there is no need for a refrigerating unit in the
cooling station according to the invention, the cooling station
according to the invention does not generate waste heat. The area
surrounding the cooling station is therefore not loaded with waste
heat that has to be dissipated.
[0055] The cold from the multiphase, flowable coolant is supplied
by the circulating-air cooling system precisely to the product to
be cooled in the receiving space of the container to be cooled,
with the result that large areas of a portioning centre, in which
such a cooling station is disposed, may remain uncooled. This saves
energy and prevents the operating personnel of the portioning
centre from being exposed to the cold.
[0056] The use of a multiphase coolant having a defined melting
temperature at the cold side of the cooler of the cooling station
makes it possible to dispense with temperature control of the
circulating air flow.
[0057] Given correct layout of the cooler and an adequate ratio of
cooler capacity to cooling demand in the event of use of binary ice
and a binary ice temperature of ca. -3.degree. C., the temperature
arising in the receiving space of the container to be cooled is
always in the region of between 0.degree. C. and 10.degree. C.
[0058] Because of the high energy density of the binary ice
compared to conventional liquid coolants, when binary ice is used
only a considerably lower volumetric flow need be circulated
through the cooler, this having a positive effect on the energy
balance of the system.
[0059] By means of the cooling station according to the invention
the temperature of the product to be cooled in the receiving space
of the container to be cooled may be both maintained (for example
in the case of covered and already portioned cold food) as well as
lowered (for example in the case of tableware after a dishwashing
process).
[0060] Where necessary, the containers cooled by means of the
cooling station are undocked from the cooling station and brought
to their place of use, for example pushed up to a food conveyor
belt, where trays are loaded with the cooled product from the
receiving space of the cooled container.
[0061] It is particularly advantageous if the circulating-air
cooling of the container to be cooled is not started until it is
required, namely when the container is docked with the cooling
station.
[0062] The circulating air flows directly against the product to be
cooled in the receiving space of the container to be cooled, with
the result that the product to be cooled is cooled in a very
efficient manner and so short cooling cycles may be realized.
[0063] The containers to be cooled may be of a small and
manoeuvrable design because they themselves do not contain any
cooling equipment.
[0064] The containers to be cooled may function as a cold store
substitute.
[0065] When there is no cooling demand because no container to be
cooled is docked with a docking place of the cooling station, the
circulating-air cooling of the relevant docking place is turned off
by means of a switch.
[0066] The use of binary ice as a multiphase, flowable coolant
offers the advantage that this coolant absorbs heat from the
circulating air as latent heat and so in the cooler of the cooling
station at the cold side there is always an optimum temperature for
cooling food of ca. -3.degree. C. without any temperature control
being required for this purpose, thereby allowing a very simple
construction of the cooling station according to the invention.
[0067] It is only if a container docked with the cooling station is
to be permanently cooled that a cyclical defrosting operation has
to be activated.
[0068] The quantity of heat that may be absorbed by binary ice
without impairing the cooling action of the binary ice is markedly
higher than in the case of coolants without a phase change. The
volumetric flow of the coolant through the cooler of the cooling
station that is needed to cool the circulating air is therefore
markedly lower when binary ice is used.
[0069] The cooling station according to the invention is
particularly suitable for use in the portioning of food in
institutional catering, in particular in centralized kitchens,
large hospitals etc.
[0070] Further features and advantages of the invention are the
subject matter of the following description and the graphical
representation of embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0071] FIG. 1 a diagrammatic top view of a portioning system for a
large-scale catering establishment having a central cooling station
and a food conveyor belt, along which a tray-stacking trolley, a
serving trolley, a plurality of tableware--and food dispensers, a
low mobile cooling station with an inserted low rack trolley, a
high mobile cooling station with an inserted high rack trolley and
a tray-conveying trolley are disposed;
[0072] FIG. 2 a diagrammatic representation of a binary ice supply
system for the central cooling station, for a high mobile cooling
station and for a low mobile cooling station;
[0073] FIG. 3 a diagrammatic top view of a central cooling station
having six docking places for movable dispensers;
[0074] FIG. 4 a diagrammatic vertical section through a docking
place of a central cooling station;
[0075] FIG. 5 a diagrammatic vertical longitudinal section through
a mobile dispenser with a cover placed thereon;
[0076] FIG. 6 a diagrammatic vertical section through a docking
place of a central cooling station with a mobile dispenser docked
therewith;
[0077] FIG. 7 an enlarged representation of the region I of FIG.
6;
[0078] FIG. 8 a diagrammatic longitudinal section through a second
form of construction of a mobile dispenser, the docking points of
which are provided with closure flaps, the closure flaps being
situated in a closed position;
[0079] FIG. 9 an enlarged representation of the region II of FIG.
8, wherein the represented closure flap is situated in an open
position;
[0080] FIG. 10 a diagrammatic section through a third form of
construction of a mobile dispenser, onto which a cover made of
Plexiglas has been placed;
[0081] FIG. 11 a diagrammatic vertical section through a docking
place of a central cooling station and a mobile dispenser, which is
docked therewith and onto which no cover has been placed, wherein a
cover is mounted pivotably on the central cooling station and
situated in an open position, in which a top access opening of the
mobile dispenser is open;
[0082] FIG. 12 a diagrammatic vertical section corresponding to
FIG. 11 through a docking place of a central cooling station and a
mobile dispenser docked therewith, wherein the cover mounted
pivotably on the central cooling station has been pivoted into a
closed position, in which the cover closes a top access opening of
the mobile dispenser;
[0083] FIG. 13 a diagrammatic perspective representation of a high
mobile cooling station, into which a high rack trolley is
insertable;
[0084] FIG. 14 a diagrammatic front view of the high mobile cooling
station of FIG. 13, wherein part of the back wall of the cooling
station has been removed to reveal the cooling coils of a cooler of
the cooling station;
[0085] FIG. 15 a diagrammatic perspective representation of a high
rack trolley;
[0086] FIG. 16 a diagrammatic perspective representation of a
combination of a high mobile cooling station and a high rack
trolley inserted into the cooling station;
[0087] FIG. 17 a diagrammatic front view of the combination of the
high mobile cooling station and the high rack trolley inserted into
the cooling station;
[0088] FIG. 18 a diagrammatic, part-sectional bottom plan view of
the combination of the high mobile cooling station and the high
rack trolley inserted into the cooling station, in which a
circulating air flow passing through the cooling station and the
rack trolley is diagrammatically represented by arrows;
[0089] FIG. 19 a diagrammatic perspective representation of a low
mobile cooling station;
[0090] FIG. 20 a diagrammatic perspective representation of a low
rack trolley; and
[0091] FIG. 21 a diagrammatic perspective representation of the low
mobile cooling station of FIG. 19, in which the circulating air
flow passing through the low rack trolley in the inserted state
thereof is additionally represented by arrows.
[0092] In all of the figures identical or functionally equivalent
elements are denoted by the same reference characters.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0093] A portioning system 100 for portioning food and/or drinks in
a large-scale catering establishment is represented as a whole in
FIG. 1 and comprises a food conveyor belt 102, which is cooled by
circulating air and the running direction of which is indicated by
arrows 104.
[0094] In an initial region 106 (at the bottom in the
representation of FIG. 1) trays that are removed from a
tray-stacking trolley 110 by an operator standing at the point 108
are placed onto the food conveyor belt 102 and loaded with uncooled
food, drinks or tableware from a serving trolley 112.
[0095] From a mobile dispenser 116, which is positioned next to the
food conveyor belt 102 and the top access opening 118 of which is
freely accessible, cooled food, drinks and/or tableware are placed
by an operator standing at the point 114 onto the trays conveyed by
the food conveyor belt 102 in the running direction 104.
[0096] Portions of food from Gastronorm containers suspended from a
low rack trolley 122 are placed by an operator standing at the
point 120 onto the trays conveyed further in the running direction
104 of the food conveyor belt 102.
[0097] The low rack trolley 122 is inserted into a low mobile
cooling station 124 that generates a cooled circulating air flow
through the low rack trolley 122.
[0098] From a second mobile dispenser 116', the top access opening
118 of which is freely accessible, further food, drinks and/or
tableware items are placed by an operator standing at the point 126
onto the trays conveyed further in the running direction 104 of the
food conveyor belt 102.
[0099] From Gastronorm containers that are suspended from a high
rack trolley 130 portions of cooled food are placed by an operator
standing at the point 128 onto the trays conveyed further in the
running direction of the food conveyor belt 102.
[0100] The high rack trolley 130 is inserted into a high mobile
cooling station 132 that generates a cool circulating air flow
through the high rack trolley 130.
[0101] In an end region 134 of the food conveyor belt 102 the fully
loaded trays are removed from the food conveyor belt 102 and
introduced into the receiving chamber of a tray-conveying trolley
138, which is pre-cooled by means of binary ice, by an operator
situated at the point 136.
[0102] Disposed at a distance from the food conveyor belt 102 is a
central cooling station 140 that comprises a plurality of--for
example five--docking places 142 for the docking of mobile
dispensers 116, wherein the central cooling station 140 generates a
cool circulating air flow through each of the docked mobile
dispensers 116.
[0103] The cold needed for cooling items or keeping items cool is
supplied to all of the cooling elements of the portioning system
100 by means of a multiphase, flowable coolant, in particular in
the form of a binary ice.
[0104] The binary ice supply system 144 of the portioning system
100 is diagrammatically represented in FIG. 2 and comprises a
process tank 146, which is used as the main reservoir for the
binary ice and in which the binary ice is continuously circulated
by means of motor-driven rotors 148 in order to obtain as
homogeneous a binary ice mixture as possible in the process tank
146.
[0105] In a primary circuit 150 binary ice from the process tank
146 is fed by means of a primary pump 152 to an ice generator 154
having a motor-driven mixer 156, which simultaneously scrapes off
ice that has frozen on the inner wall of the ice generator 154, and
from there back into the process tank 146.
[0106] The ice generator 154 is cooled by means of a conventional
refrigeration device 158, which comprises a refrigerant circuit 160
having a refrigerant compressor 162, a condenser 164 and a flash
restrictor 166.
[0107] The binary ice, which is generated in the ice generator 154
by means of the cold supplied by the refrigeration device 158 and
is stored in the process tank 146, is circulated in a secondary
circuit 168 and discharged from there to local consumer circuits
174 of the low mobile cooling station 124, the high mobile cooling
station 132 and the central cooling station 140. Melted binary ice
from these local consumer circuits 174 is received by the secondary
circuit 168 and fed into the process tank 146.
[0108] The secondary circuit 168 comprises a circulation line 170
that leads from the process tank 146, past the standing positions
of the low mobile cooling station 124 and the high mobile cooling
station 132 along the food conveyor belt 102 and, from there, to
the central cooling station 140 and back into the process tank 146.
Disposed in the circulation line 170 is a secondary pump 172 that
circulates the binary ice from the process tank 146 through the
circulation line 170.
[0109] Each of the consumer circuits 174 is connected to the
circulation line 170 by a branch line 176, which branches off from
the circulation line 170 and is connected to a first input 178 of a
three-way valve 180.
[0110] In each case, a binary-ice inlet line 184 leads from an
output 182 of the three-way valve 180 to a binary-ice inlet
connection of the respective cold consumer, for example the low
mobile cooling station 124.
[0111] Inside the respective consumer a line system is provided,
which carries the binary ice from the binary-ice inlet connection
through a cold consumer, in particular a cooler, and back to a
binary-ice return connection of the respective consumer.
[0112] The binary-ice return connection is connected to a
binary-ice return line 186 that leads to a junction 188.
[0113] From the junction 188 a binary-ice return line 190 leads to
a second input of the three-way valve 180, thereby producing a
closed consumer circuit 174.
[0114] A binary-ice discharge line 192 further leads from the
junction 188 back to the circulation line 170 of the secondary
circuit 168.
[0115] In order to supply fresh binary ice from the secondary
circuit 168 to the respective consumer circuit 174, the respective
three-way valve 180 is switched into a state, in which the first
input of the three-way valve 180 is connected to the output
thereof, so that fresh binary ice passes through the branch line
176 into the binary-ice inlet line 184.
[0116] Disposed in the binary-ice inlet line 184 is a pump 194 that
feeds the binary ice from the binary-ice inlet line 184 into the
respective consumer, for example into the low mobile cooling
station 124.
[0117] As in this filling state of the consumer circuit 174 the
second input of the three-way valve 180, to which the binary-ice
return line 190 is connected, is closed, simultaneously with the
supply of fresh binary ice through the branch line 176 spent melted
binary ice is fed through the binary-ice discharge line 192 into
the circulation line 170 of the secondary circuit 168 and, from
there, back into the process tank 146.
[0118] Once the desired quantity of fresh binary ice has been fed
to the consumer circuit 174, the three-way valve 180 is switched
into a state, in which its second input is connected to the output
and the first input 178 of the three-way valve 180 is closed.
[0119] In this state, the binary ice is circulated by means of the
pump 194 in the closed consumer circuit 174 through the respective
consumer, for example the low mobile cooling station 124.
[0120] The switching of the three-way valve 180 between its two
states may be triggered for example because of the signal of a
temperature sensor that measures a temperature inside the cold
consumer or the temperature of the binary ice at one point of the
consumer circuit 174.
[0121] Since the junction 188 of the consumer circuit 174 is
situated lower than the circulation line 170 of the secondary
circuit 168, as a result of the effect of gravity substantially no
binary ice passes from the consumer circuit 174 into the
circulation line 170 of the secondary circuit 168 so long as the
consumer circuit 174 is closed by the three-way valve 180 and
binary ice may pass from the junction 188 through the binary-ice
return line 190 back into the binary-ice inlet line 184.
[0122] The consumer circuits 174 of the low mobile cooling station
124, the high mobile cooling station 132 and the central cooling
station 140 are all of a substantially identical construction and
operate in the previously described manner.
[0123] The binary-ice inlet lines 184 leading to the mobile cooling
stations 124 and 132 and the binary-ice return lines 186 are
preferably of a flexible design to allow the mobile cooling
stations 124 and 132 to be disposed in different positions relative
to the circulation line 170 of the secondary circuit 168.
[0124] Besides the previously described cold consumers, further
consumers 196, for example the food conveyor belt 102, another
cooled portioning--or conveyor belt, one or more cold stores, one
or more refrigerators etc., may additionally also be supplied by
means of a consumer circuit 174 with circulating binary ice and
connected by a respective branch line 176 and a binary-ice
discharge line 192 to the circulation line 170 of the secondary
circuit 168.
[0125] There now follows a detailed description of the construction
of the central cooling station 140 with reference to FIGS. 3 to
7.
[0126] The central cooling station 140 comprises a plurality of
docking places 142 for the docking of in each case one mobile
dispenser 116 of the type represented in FIGS. 5 and 6.
[0127] In this case, as is represented for example in FIGS. 1 and
2, a plurality of--for example five--docking places 142 may be
arranged linearly alongside one another.
[0128] In FIGS. 1 and 2 in each case three of the docking places
142 are occupied by docked dispensers 116, while two further
docking places 142 are vacant.
[0129] It is also possible to position two docking places 142 in
each case back to back so that they may each be approached by a
dispenser 116 from mutually opposite directions, as is represented
in FIG. 3 by way of example for a total of six docking places 142,
each two of which are positioned in a pair back to back in each
case.
[0130] As may best be seen from FIG. 4, each docking place 142 of
the central cooling station 140 comprises a supporting frame 198
having supports 200, by which the central cooling station 140 is
supported on a floor, and having cross-members 202 extending
substantially horizontally and transversely of a longitudinal
direction 230 of the central cooling station 140 and serving as
guide devices for a dispenser 116 that is to be moved up to the
docking place 142.
[0131] Two longitudinal members 204 extending substantially
horizontally and at right angles to the cross-members 202 carry a
substantially cuboidal housing 206, which comprises a bottom wall
208, a vertical back wall 210, a vertical front wall 212,
non-illustrated vertical side walls and a vertical top wall
214.
[0132] Each wall of the housing 206 is provided with an inner
lining 216 and an outer lining 218 made of sheet metal as well as
with thermal insulation 220 disposed between the inner lining 216
and the outer lining 218.
[0133] The front wall 212 facing the respective docked dispenser
116 has a first docking point 222 in the form of an air inlet 224
and, beneath this, a second docking point 226 in the form of an air
outlet 228.
[0134] Each of the two docking points 222, 226 comprises a
substantially rectangular air through-opening, which extends in the
longitudinal direction 230 of the central cooling station 140 and
is closable by means of a closure flap 232 when there is no
dispenser 116 at all docked with the relevant docking place
142.
[0135] Each of the closure flaps 232 is mounted on the housing 206
rotatably about an axis of rotation, which extends horizontally and
parallel to the longitudinal direction 230 of the central cooling
station 140, in such a way that the closure flap 232 is rotatable
from the closed position represented in FIG. 4, in which the
closure flap 232 closes the through-opening of the respective
docking point 222 and/or 226, inwards into the open position
represented in FIG. 7, in which the closure flap 232 frees the
through-opening of the respective docking point 222 and/or 226.
[0136] So that the closure flap 232 during docking of the dispenser
116 is rotated automatically from the closed position into the open
position, each closure flap 232 is provided with in each case two
actuating projections 234, which are mutually spaced apart in the
longitudinal direction of the closure flap 232 and which in the
closed state of the closure flap 232 project slightly out beyond
the opening cross section of the air through-opening and are
displaced by the dispenser 116 into the interior of the housing 206
when the dispenser 116 is moved against the front wall 212 of the
docking place 142 (see FIGS. 6 and 7).
[0137] By virtue of this displacement of the actuating projections
234 the respective closure flap 232 is rotated about its axis of
rotation from the closed position into the open position.
[0138] When the mobile dispenser 116 is removed from the docking
place 142, each closure flap 232 rotates under the effect of
gravity from the open position back into the closed position, in
which the closure flap 232 closes the through-opening of the
respective associated docking point 222 and/or 226.
[0139] As may best be seen from FIG. 4, in the interior of the
housing 206 of each docking place 142 an air baffle 236, a fan 238
and a cooler 240 are disposed between the upper first docking point
222 and the lower second docking point 226.
[0140] The cooler 240 takes the form of a heat exchanger and
contains heat exchanger coils, which at the cold side are filled
with binary ice that is circulated through the central cooling
station 140 in the consumer circuit 174 associated with the central
cooling station 140.
[0141] In this case, the coolers 240 of the various docking places
142 may be connected in series or in parallel to one another.
[0142] In order that water condensate formed at the cooler 240 may
be removed from the housing 206 of the docking place 142 and
collected, there is disposed at the bottom of the housing 206 a
collecting trough 242, the base of which is inclined towards a
mouth orifice of a collecting pipe 244, wherein the collecting pipe
244 extends through the bottom wall 208 of the housing 206 into a
condensate collecting tank, which is suspended from the supporting
frame 198 and may for example take the form of a Gastronorm food
container.
[0143] The dispenser 116 dockable with the docking place 142 of the
central cooling station 140 is individually represented in FIG. 5
and takes the form of a mobile container 247 comprising a
substantially cuboidal, thermally insulated housing 248 that is
provided at its underside with castors 250, by means of which the
dispenser 116 is movable over a floor.
[0144] The receiving space 252 surrounded by the housing 248 and
provided for receiving a product to be cooled is accessible via an
access opening 118 at the top of the dispenser 116 in order to
introduce product to be cooled into the receiving space or remove
cooled product from the receiving space 252.
[0145] This top access opening 118 is closable by means of a
thermally insulated cover 254 that may be placed onto the housing
248.
[0146] Disposed in the receiving space 252 is a platform 256 that
carries the product to be cooled and is guided in a vertically
displaceable manner on a plurality of vertical guide rods 258.
[0147] A front wall 260 of the housing 248 of the dispenser 116
that faces the docking place 142 of the central cooling station 140
in the docked state of the dispenser 116 is provided with a first
docking point 262 in the form of an air outlet 264 and, beneath
this, with a second docking point 266 in the form of an air inlet
268.
[0148] Each of the docking points 262, 266 of the dispenser 116
comprises an air through-channel, by which the receiving space 252
is connected to the exterior of the housing 248 of the dispenser
116.
[0149] In the form of construction represented in FIG. 5 these air
through-channels are permanently open.
[0150] The dispenser 116 is loaded with tableware, cold food or
cold drinks and then docked with a vacant docking place 142 of the
central cooling station 140 by being moved, front wall 260 of its
housing 248 first, against the front wall 212 of the housing 206 of
the docking place 142.
[0151] To push and steer the mobile dispenser 116 a push handle 270
is used, which is disposed on a back wall 272 of the housing 248 of
the dispenser 116 remote from the front wall 260.
[0152] When the dispenser 116 is moved into the docking place 142,
the first docking point 262 of the dispenser 116 comes into contact
with the first docking point 222 of the docking place 142 and the
second docking point 266 of the dispenser comes into contact with
the second docking point 226 of the docking place 142, thereby
producing air ducts, which are sealed off from the environment and
by which the interior of the housing 206 of the docking place 142
is connected to the receiving space 252 of the mobile dispenser
116.
[0153] During docking the actuating projections 234 on the closure
flaps 232 of the docking points 222 and 226 of the docking place
142 are displaced by the docking points 262 and 266 respectively of
the dispenser 116, so that the closure flaps 232 are moved from
their closed position into their open position and the air ducts
between the dispenser 116 and the docking place 142 are open.
[0154] Once the dispenser 116 is docked with the docking place 142,
a circulating air flow is generated by means of the fan 238 and
passes from the fan 238 through the cooler 240 and through the
second docking points 226 and 266 into a region between a bottom
wall 274 of the housing 248 of the dispenser 116 and a bottom sheet
276 disposed above it and, from there, into the back wall 272 of
the dispenser 116.
[0155] Through air through-openings 278, which are distributed over
the entire height of the back wall 272, the circulating air passes
over the entire height of the receiving space 252 into the
receiving space 252 in order to cool the product to be cooled that
is situated there.
[0156] Through air through-openings 280, which are distributed over
the entire height of the front wall 260 of the housing 248 of the
dispenser, the circulating air passes out of the receiving space
252 into the front wall 260 of the dispenser 116 and, from there,
through the first docking point 262 of the dispenser 116 and the
first docking point 222 of the docking place 142 back to the fan
238, with the result that the circuit is closed.
[0157] The circulating air flow is represented diagrammatically by
the arrows 282 in FIG. 6.
[0158] The cooling of the circulating air in this case is effected
by heat transfer in the cooler 240 in the form of a heat exchanger
to the binary ice flowing through the cooler 240 at the cold
side.
[0159] By virtue of the use of binary ice as a coolant no
temperature regulation of the circulating air cooling system is
necessary. The binary ice circulates permanently through the cooler
240 of the docking place 142.
[0160] The dispenser 116 remains docked with the docking place 142
of the central cooling station 140 and continues to be cooled by
circulating air until it is pushed up to the food conveyor belt 102
for removal of the cooled product it contains.
[0161] By virtue of the fact that the access opening 118 of the
dispenser 116 in the docked state is covered by the thermally
insulated cover 254, an energy-saving cooling operation is
guaranteed.
[0162] At the food conveyor belt 102 as a rule no further cooling
of the dispenser 116 is necessary because the cooled product, in
particular the cooled tableware, as a result of its high specific
heat capacity has stored enough cold to remain sufficiently cold,
i.e. at a temperature of less than 8.degree. C., during the
relatively short period of the portioning at the food conveyor belt
102.
[0163] For the portioning at the food conveyor belt 102 the cover
254 is removed in order to gain access through the access opening
118 to the cooled product in the receiving space 252.
[0164] A second form of construction of a mobile dispenser 116 that
is represented in FIGS. 8 and 9 differs from the previously
described form of construction represented in FIGS. 5 and 6 in that
the air through-channels of the first docking point 262 and the
second docking point 266 are not permanently open but are closed in
the undocked state in each case by means of a closure flap 284.
[0165] Each of the closure flaps is mounted on the housing 248
rotatably about an axis of rotation, which extends horizontally and
parallel to the front wall 260 of the housing 248 of the dispenser
116, in such a way that the closure flap 284 is rotatable out of
the closed position represented in FIG. 8, in which the closure
flap 284 closes the air through-channel of the respective
associated docking point 262 and/or 266, into the open position
represented in FIG. 9, in which the closure flap 284 frees the
relevant air through-channel.
[0166] To achieve the effect whereby the closure flaps 284 during
docking of the dispenser 116 with the central cooling station 140
each rotate automatically out of the closed position into the open
position, each of the closure flaps 284 is provided with one or
more actuating projections 286, which at least in the closed state
project slightly out beyond the opening cross-section of the
respective associated air through-channel and during docking of the
dispenser 116 with the central cooling station 140 are displaced by
the respective associated docking point 222 and/or 226 of the
docking place 142 of the central cooling station 140 into the
interior of the dispenser 116, with the result that the respective
closure flap 284 is automatically rotated out of the closed
position into the open position.
[0167] During undocking of the dispenser 116 from the docking place
142, the closure flaps 284 rotate under the effect of gravity out
of the open position back into the closed position, so that the air
through-channels of the docking points 262, 266 of the dispenser
116 are closed when the dispenser 116 is undocked from the central
cooling station 140.
[0168] Otherwise the second form of construction of a dispenser 116
represented in FIGS. 8 and 9 is identical in construction and
function to the first form of construction represented in FIGS. 5
and 6, to the previous description of which reference is made in
this respect.
[0169] This second form of construction of a dispenser 116 with
closure flaps 284 may be used together with a central cooling
station 140 that likewise has closure flaps 232 at its docking
points 222, 262 or with an alternative central cooling station 140
having air inlets 224 and air outlets 228 that are permanently
open.
[0170] A third form of construction of a mobile dispenser 116 that
is represented in FIG. 10 differs from the two previously described
forms of construction in that, instead of a non-transparent cover
254 made of a sheet-metal lining and thermal insulation disposed in
the interior of the lining, a cover 254' made of a transparent
material, for example of Plexiglas, is placed onto the housing 248
of the dispenser 116 in order to close the top access opening 118
of the dispenser 116 when the latter is docked with the central
cooling station 140.
[0171] The use of a transparent cover 254' offers the advantage
that by glancing through the cover 254' it is easy to determine
which product to be cooled is contained in the relevant dispenser
116, thereby making it simple to select the correct dispenser 116
that is to be moved up to the food conveyor belt 102, particularly
if a plurality of mobile dispensers 116 are docked with the central
cooling station 140.
[0172] Otherwise the form of construction of a mobile dispenser 116
represented in FIG. 10 is identical in construction and function to
the first form of construction represented in FIGS. 5 and 6, to the
previous description of which reference is made in this
respect.
[0173] A second form of construction of a central cooling station
140 that is represented in FIGS. 11 and 12 differs from the first
form of construction represented in FIGS. 3, 4, 6 and 7 in that it
additionally comprises a thermally insulated cover 288 that is
mounted on top of the housing 206 of a docking place 142 so as to
be pivotable about a pivot axis 290 oriented horizontally and
parallel to the longitudinal direction 230 of the central cooling
station 140.
[0174] This cover 288 is used to close the top access opening 118
of a dispenser 116 docked with the central cooling station 140 if
the relevant dispenser 116 does not have its own cover 254.
[0175] Prior to the docking of such a dispenser 116, the cover 288
is situated in the open position represented in FIG. 11, in which
the cover 288 frees the access to the docking place 142 for a
dispenser 116 that is to be inserted.
[0176] After docking of the dispenser 116, the cover 288 is pivoted
out of its open position into the closed position represented in
FIG. 12, in which the cover 288 rests on the housing 248 of the
dispenser 116 and closes the top access opening 118 of the
dispenser 116, thereby preventing the circulating air that is
conveyed through the receiving space 252 of the dispenser 116 from
escaping into the environment.
[0177] Otherwise the second form of construction of a central
cooling station 140 represented in FIGS. 11 and 12 is identical in
construction and function to the first form of construction
represented in FIGS. 3, 4 6 and 7, to the previous description of
which reference is made in this respect.
[0178] There now follows a description of the construction and
function of the high mobile cooling station 132 with reference to
FIGS. 13 to 18.
[0179] The high mobile cooling station 132 comprises a
substantially cuboidal housing 292 having a thermally insulated
vertical left side wall 294a, a thermally insulated vertical right
side wall 294b, a thermally insulated vertical back wall 296 that
connects the two side walls at their rear ends to one another, and
a thermally insulated horizontal top wall 298 that rests on the top
edges of the side walls 294a, 294b and the back wall 296.
[0180] The housing 292 therefore on four sides, namely on the left,
right, rear and top, surrounds a receiving space 300 for receiving
a mobile frame 302 in the form of a high rack trolley 130.
[0181] The housing 292 of the high mobile cooling station 132 has
neither a bottom wall nor a front wall, with the result that the
receiving space 300 is open in a downward and forward direction and
the high rack trolley may be introduced from the front into the
receiving space 300.
[0182] The housing 292 is provided at its underside with a
plurality of--for example four--castors 304, by means of which the
high mobile cooling station 132 may be moved over a floor.
[0183] The left side wall 294a of the housing 292 at its inner side
facing the receiving space 300 is provided with an outlet-side air
baffle 306, which comprises a plurality of--for example two--rows
of outlet openings 308 extending over substantially the entire
height of the side wall 294a.
[0184] In a corresponding manner, the right side wall 294b of the
housing 292 at its inner side facing the receiving space 300 is
provided with an intake-side air baffle 310, which comprises a
plurality of--for example two--rows of intake openings extending
over substantially the entire height of the right side wall
294b.
[0185] There is further disposed at the front end face of the right
side wall 294b a switch 312 for switching on and off the
circulating-air cooling device, yet to be described below, of the
high mobile cooling station 132.
[0186] As an alternative to such a manually actuable switch 312 it
may also be provided that the high mobile cooling station 132 has a
magnetically operated switch comprising a reed contact, which,
after a rack trolley 130 has been introduced, owing to the presence
of a magnet disposed on the rack trolley 130 closes an electrical
contact and hence activates the circulating-air cooling device of
the high mobile cooling station 132.
[0187] The circulating-air cooling device of the high mobile
cooling station 132 is disposed in the back wall 296 thereof and
comprises a plurality of--for example four--circulating-air fans
314 as well as, downstream thereof, a cooler 316 in the form of a
heat exchanger, which comprises a cooler pack of one or more
cooling coils 318, through which binary ice may flow and which are
connected by a binary-ice inlet pipe 320 to a binary-ice inlet
connection 322 and by a binary-ice return pipe 324 to a binary-ice
return connection 326.
[0188] The binary-ice inlet connection 322 is disposed on the
outside of the right side wall 294b, takes the form of a
quick-action stop valve and is connectable to the binary-ice inlet
line 184 of a consumer circuit 174 of the binary-ice supply system
144 that is associated with the high mobile cooling station
132.
[0189] The binary-ice return connection 326 is likewise disposed on
the outside of the right side wall 294b, takes the form of a
quick-action stop valve and is connectable to the binary-ice return
line 186 of the consumer circuit 174 of the binary-ice supply
system 144 that is associated with the high mobile cooling station
132.
[0190] As the high mobile cooling station 132 is movable on the
castors 304, the binary-ice inlet line 184 and the binary-ice
return line 186 of the consumer circuit 174 associated with the
high mobile cooling station 132 are preferably of a flexible design
to allow the high mobile cooling station 132 to be disposed in
different positions relative to the circulation line 170 of the
secondary circuit 168 of the binary-ice supply system 144.
[0191] Below the cooler 316 a water condensate collecting tank 328
is suspended from the back wall 296 of the housing 292 of the high
mobile cooling station 132 and receives water condensate, which has
condensed at the cooler 316, and may for example take the form of a
Gastronorm food container.
[0192] The high rack trolley 130 to be inserted into the receiving
space 300 of the high mobile cooling station 132 is represented
individually in FIG. 15.
[0193] The rack trolley 130 comprises a first frame 330a and a
second frame 330b, each of which is composed of two vertical
members 332 and three horizontal members 334 that connect the two
vertical members 332 to one another, as well as a number of
horizontal suspension rails 336, which connect in each case a
vertical member 332 of the first frame 330a and the second frame
330b to one another and lie opposite one another in pairs and from
which trays and/or food containers and/or drinks containers may be
suspended.
[0194] A castor 350 is disposed on the bottom end of each of the
vertical members 332 to allow the high rack trolley 130 to be moved
over a floor.
[0195] The high rack trolley 130 is loaded with product to be
cooled and stored temporarily in a refrigerator room or cold
store.
[0196] For portioning, the high rack trolley 130 with the product
to be cooled disposed thereon is moved from the refrigerator room
and/or cold store to the food conveyor belt 102 and introduced into
the receiving space 300 of the high mobile cooling station 132.
[0197] After activation of the circulating air cooling of the high
mobile cooling station 132 by means of the switch 312, the
circulating-air fans 314 generate a circulating air flow that is
cooled by means of the cooler 316.
[0198] As may be seen from FIGS. 17 and 18, in which the
circulating air flow is diagrammatically represented by the arrows
329, the cooled circulating air passes from the cooler 316 into the
left side wall 294a, from there through the outlet openings 308 in
the outlet-side air baffle 306 into the receiving space 300 and
hence to the product to be cooled, which is suspended from the high
rack trolley 130, from the receiving space 300 through the intake
openings in the intake-side air baffle 319 into the right side wall
294b of the housing 292 of the high mobile cooling station 132 and,
from there, back to the circulating-air fans 314, with the result
that the circulating air circuit is closed.
[0199] By means of the cold-air curtain thus generated in the
receiving space 300 the product to be cooled, which is suspended
from the high rack trolley 130, is screened off from the warm
environment.
[0200] The high rack trolley 130 inserted into the receiving space
300 is moreover screened off from the warmer surrounding area on
four sides, namely on the left, at the rear, on the right and at
the top, by means of the thermally insulated walls 294a, 294b, 296
and 298 of the housing 292 of the high mobile cooling station
132.
[0201] From the front of the high mobile cooling station 132,
however, the high rack trolley 130 is freely accessible for the
removal of cooled product by an operator, thereby allowing an
ergonomic operation.
[0202] The low mobile cooling station 124 represented in FIGS. 19
to 21 differs from the high mobile cooling station 132 represented
in FIGS. 13 to 18 in that it has no top wall, so that the low
mobile cooling station 124 surrounds the low rack trolley 122 to be
introduced into the receiving space 300 of the low mobile cooling
station 124 only on three sides, namely on the left, on the right
and at the rear, while the inserted rack trolley 122 is freely
accessible at the front and at the top for the removal of cooled
product by an operator.
[0203] In the low mobile cooling station 124, moreover, the cooled
circulating air is blown through outlet openings 338 in both side
walls 294a and 294b into the receiving space 300 and hence, when
the rack trolley 122 is inserted, onto the product to be cooled and
is extracted from the receiving space 300 through intake openings
340 at the inside of the back wall 296 (see FIG. 21, in which the
circulating air flow is diagrammatically represented by the arrows
329).
[0204] In the back wall 296 of the housing 292 of the low mobile
cooling station 124 there are accordingly two circulating-air
cooling devices each comprising circulating-air fans and a cooler,
namely one circulating-air cooling device between the intake
openings 340 and the outlet openings 338 of the left side wall 294a
and one circulating-air cooling device between the intake openings
340 and the outlet openings 338 in the right side wall 294b.
[0205] The low rack trolley 122 to be inserted into the low mobile
cooling station 124 is represented individually in FIG. 20 and
comprises a first frame 342a and a second frame 342b, which are
each composed of two horizontal members 344 and four vertical
members 346 connecting the horizontal members 344 to one another,
as well as a multiplicity of suspension rails 348, which connect
the first frame 342a and the second frame 342b to one another and
lie opposite one another in each case in pairs and are used to
suspend trays, food containers and/or drinks containers.
[0206] On its underside the rack trolley 122 is provided with four
castors 350, by means of which the rack trolley 122 is movable over
a floor.
[0207] On its upper side the rack trolley 122 carries a stand 352
comprising a lay-on frame 354 inclined relative to the horizontal
for supporting trays, food containers and/or drinks containers in a
position inclined relative to the horizontal, thereby facilitating
the removal of cooled food and/or drinks from the containers
supported on the lay-on frame 354.
[0208] Otherwise the low mobile cooling station 124 represented in
FIGS. 19 to 21 is identical in construction and function to the
high mobile cooling station 124 represented in FIGS. 13 to 18, to
the previous description of which reference is made in this
respect.
* * * * *