WO2008019805A2 - Serving device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a serving device for perishable goods, comprising a serving plate (2) having at least one serving surface for the goods, and a heating and/or cooling device which is or can be brought in thermal contact with the serving plate (2), which has at least one Peltier element and which can be connected to an electrical power source. The invention is characterized in that the at least one Peltier element (3) is mounted on the side of the serving plate (2) facing away from the serving surface and is in indirect or direct physical contact therewith. The device has at least one heat exchange element (5) which is in thermal contact with the at least one Peltier element (3) and which is thermally insulated from the serving plate (2) in such a manner that the heat exchange element (5) has a contact zone in which at least one thermal insulation layer (4) is provided on which the serving plate (2) rests, the at least one Peltier element (3) being provided between the serving plate and the contact zone of the heat exchange element (5).

Description

 Serviervorrichtung

Technical area

The invention relates to a serving device for perishable foods. By means of the serving device, the food can be displayed for the purpose of presentation for consumption or sale.

State of the art

Commercially available serving devices for the display of perishable foods, such as cheese, sausage, fish, fresh fruit or vegetables, are mostly board-like documents in the form of simple trays or Auflegerbrettchen on which the food is usually arranged for a piecewise removal. In order to avoid that in particular temperature-sensitive foods, such as sausage, meat, fish or cheese goods during the display of a perishability-promoting warming are exposed is either made sure that the surrounding atmosphere is cooled, this is done for example by means of elaborate shading and / or air conditioning equipment, such as freezers, or the served serving devices are only briefly brought for purposes of presentation to display under room temperature conditions.

In particular, in commercial restaurants and hotels, however, it is unavoidable to stockpile over several hours extending mealtimes prepared foods and foods on appropriate serving equipment.

From US Pat. No. 6,279,470 B2, a heating and also coolable tray arrangement can be seen, the cooling and heating capacity of which is based on a Peltier module. In this case, the respective tray to be tempered can be inserted into a lateral receiving frame, in which a corresponding Peltier element arrangement is accommodated. If it is appropriate to temper the tray accordingly, it requires an intimate contact of the tray with the lateral receiving frame.

In addition, a large number of different serving devices are known which provide electrically-heated resistance heating elements for keeping food warm, as can be seen, for example, from the following publications: DE 196 27 522 A1, DE 298 10 262 111, EP 0 002 563 A1.

Presentation of the invention

The invention has for its object to provide a serving device, with which it is possible to store perishable food preferably over several hours to a desired temperature, the apparatus required and also cost-relevant effort should be kept as low as possible. The solution according to serving should be as easy to use and versatile as a portable unit. The solution of the problem underlying the invention is specified in claim 1. An alternative solution proposal is described in claim 14. The concept of the invention advantageously further features are the subject of the claims, which are all content of the description.

The solution according serving device for perishable food, such as meat, sausage, fish and / or cheese goods and vegetables or fruits, has a support plate, which has at least one support surface for the food. With the support plate is a, at least one Peltier element having heating and / or cooling device in thermal contact or can be brought into thermal contact with this, wherein the at least one Peltier element with an electrical energy source is connectable. Furthermore, at least one heat exchanger body is provided, which is in thermal contact with the heating and / or cooling device and which is thermally insulated from the support plate. In order to make the serving device as compact as possible and as a portable unitary unit, the at least one Peltier element is arranged on the side facing away from the support surface of the support plate and stands with this directly or indirectly in physical contact. The at least one heat exchanger body, with which the at least one Peltier element is in thermal contact, is thermally insulated from the support plate such that the heat exchanger body provides a support region on which at least one thermal insulation layer is provided on which the support plate rests. Between the support plate and the support region of the heat exchanger body, the at least one Peltier element is ultimately provided.

The advantage of the serving device according to the invention can be seen in the fact that exclusively the so-called semiconductor-based Peltier effect is used for targeted cooling or for heating the platen on which the food can be placed, in which a controllable heat flow while avoiding any moving components, environmentally harmful gases and liquids can be initiated. This is an arrangement of electrically interconnected, each opposite pole to each other doped semiconductor segments whose electrical Connecting bridges at the same time represent thermal contact surfaces, which are arranged on two opposite sides of the semiconductor segment arrangement. Depending on the flow strength and in particular the direction of flow, one of the two contact surfaces cools while the other heats up. The electric current thus pumps heat from one side to the other side of such a Peltier element and generates a temperature difference between the two contact surfaces.

Depending on the size and shape of the support plate, the heating and / or cooling device provides one or preferably a plurality of Peltier elements, each of which is in thermal contact with the support plate with one of its contact surfaces. Each of a Peltier element to the support plate lying opposite contact surfaces are connected to the heat exchanger body, wherein all Peltier elements are electrically interconnected such that they are rectified flowed through with electric current. If the current flow direction directed by the Peltier elements is such that their contact areas thermally contacted with the support plate cool, then heat is formally pumped from the support plate via the Peltier elements to the heat exchanger body. With the aid of a provided between the Peltier elements and the Peltier elements with power supply energy source switch unit, it is possible to reverse the direction of current flow and thus reverse the heat transfer, so that the support plate is heated and the heat exchanger body is cooled.

Due to the low power consumption of the Peltier elements, it is possible, alternatively to the power supply via a power cable, to provide a battery or accumulator assembly, which may be arranged as an integral unit in the serving device at a suitable location to be in this way a portable and fully autonomous to form a functioning unit. If shape, size and, as a result, the weight of the structural unit are designed in the light of manually transportable handling, then the serving device designed in accordance with the invention permits use at any location, in particular also in areas in which no power supply exists, such as in open terrain, for example. For example, for picnics. In order to optimize the cooling or heating effect of the Peltier elements on the desired temperature plate to be tempered, this is compared to the heat exchanger body completely thermally isolated store. Only at those areas where the Peltier elements are provided, it is important to ensure good thermal contact between the support plate and the heat exchanger body. For geometry and Praktikabilitätsgründen it has been found to be advantageous to approximate the heat exchanger body to the shape and geometry of the support plate, ie the heat exchanger body provides a support area before, on each of which separated by a thermally well insulating separating layer rests the support plate. Preferably suitable as a thermal insulating layer selected plastics or the provision of a trapped by two plate bodies volume, which is preferably evacuated in order to avoid a heat dissipation between the support plate and the heat exchanger body as possible. Moreover, the heat exchanger body also serves as a base for the solution according trained serving device and provides in particular for the purpose of effective cooling effect of the support plate web-like heat radiation surfaces through which the heat exchanger body can transfer the heat emitted via the Peltier elements at this heat to the ambient air. The heat output from the heat exchanger body to the ambient air can be increased in a preferred embodiment by a fan assembly is provided in the form of a fan that generates a directed onto the heat exchanger body air flow through which the heat can be discharged into the free atmosphere or ambient air ,

In a further preferred embodiment, the support area of the heat exchanger body projects beyond the otherwise flat support plate peripherally at its peripheral edge web-like and forms a kind Abstützkragen on which a support plate peripherally completely surrounding domhaft formed cover is placed. As a result, the temperature level predetermined via the placement plate in a spatial proximity above the contact surface of the Support plate energy-saving to be obtained. Thus, it is not necessarily necessary to provide the Peltier elements continuously with energy, but by providing a thermal switch, the at least one Peltier element to maintain a desired surface temperature along the platen are only temporarily activated.

The dom-formed cover is preferably made of UV-light filtemdem plexiglass, to provide in this way, a light protection for the mostly light-sensitive food. Of course, it is possible to colorize the cover in a suitable manner to present the food placed on the platen also visually in a suitable manner.

The abovementioned domically formed covering hood can additionally provide a surface cooling and / or surface heating unit in connection with the serving device described by means of which the volume enclosed by the covering hood can be heated or cooled in addition to the heating or cooling effect of the serving device. Here is located on the support surface of the platen facing side of the cover, this corresponds to the concave side of the cover, a surface cooling and / or -heizeinheit, as quasi described above in connection with the support plate heating and / or cooling device on the heating or Cooling effect of at least one Peltier elementes based. However, the cover described below with reference to the figures can also be used alone, d. H. without the above-described, formed in accordance with the support plate by the domhaft trained cover is only as flush as possible placed on a flat surface, and, for example. Includes a plate with perishable food.

Thus, the integrated in the cover surface cooling and / or surface heating unit has a concave side attached to the cover surface element, the front surface of the surface of the support surface of the pad is oriented facing, to which the cover is placed. The back of the Surface element is thermally contacted directly or indirectly with at least one Peltier element, which in turn is in thermal contact with a heat exchanger unit, which is thermally insulated from the surface element and the convex side of the cover, that is arranged on the outside. Here, the at least one Peltier element is located in the region of an opening within the cover, wherein the Peltier element is surrounded in the region of the opening of thermally insulating material, on the one hand supports the convex side to the cover heat exchanger unit and on the other hand arranged concave side of the cover surface element relative to this.

The convex side mounted on the cover heat exchanger unit provides to improve the heat exchange with the surrounding air before several stapeiförmig superposed cooling plates and also has to further improve the heat exchange with the ambient air via a fan unit, which is able to direct an air flow in the direction of the heat exchanger unit. For the electrical power supply of both the at least one Peltier element and the fan unit, a corresponding energy source is provided on the cover as it were to perform the cover as completely autonomous to handle unit, thereby improving the ease of use and applicability of the cover in an advantageous manner. Typically, powerful compact batteries offer, as it is possible to provide for energy supply in combination or in isolation of the intended battery unit an array of photovoltaic cells on or in the cover. Only the good order, it should be mentioned that it is of course possible to make the power supply via a conventional power cord, but suffers in this measure the self-sufficient character and thus the ease of use and operation of the serving device including cover. Further details of this can be found in the embodiment described in more detail below.

The solution trained trained serving device can be found everywhere where it matters, such as perishable food such as Cold cuts, cheeses, delicacies, salads, fish specialties, sushi, sauces and much more, well visible and easy to serve. In addition, the plate offers, as mentioned above, also the possibility for heating or keeping warm dishes, pastries etc .. Preferred areas of use are the household, restaurants, especially in the breakfast buffet area, food stalls, grocery stores, kiosks, bars, canteens etc ..

Brief description of the invention

The invention will now be described by way of example without limitation of the general inventive idea by means of embodiments with reference to the drawings. Show it:

1 longitudinal section through a serving device,

Fig. 2 cover for a serving device with heating or

Cooling unit and

Fig. 3 longitudinal sectional view of an alternative serving device with integrated vacuum unit.

Ways to carry out the invention, industrial usability

Fig. 1 shows a serving device in longitudinal section and has a flat and horizontally mounted support plate 2, which provides a support surface on which perishable food can be placed. The support plate 2 is spaced over a thermal insulating layer 4 on the support area of a heat exchanger body 5, which is preferably made in one piece and has a base 7, over which the entire serving device is mounted on a base 8. The support plate 2 and the heat exchanger body 5 are made of a thermally highly conductive material, such as metal, in particular aluminum, and largely thermally decoupled from each other via the existing mostly plastic thermal insulation layer 4. As an alternative to the plastic insulating thermal insulation layer 4, the gap between the support plate 2 and the support area of the heat exchanger body 5 may also be formed by an evacuated, gas-tight enclosed volume.

In the exemplary embodiment, two Peltier elements 3 shown in longitudinal section are provided, which form a thermally well conductive connection between the support plate 2 and the heat exchanger body 5. The Peltier elements 3 are connected to a power source, not further shown, and connected to one another in such a way that the upper sides of the Peltier elements facing the support plate 2 can be tempered in the same way. If, for example, the support plate 2 is to be effectively cooled, a directed heat flow takes place on the support plate 2 in the direction of the heat exchanger body 5, in each case at the regions of the Peltier elements 3, whereby the support plate 2 is cooled rapidly and effectively. With a suitable size choice of the support plate 2 and dimensioning of the Peltier elements 3 surface temperatures at the support plate 2 can be achieved near 0 ⁰ C. On the other hand, it is possible to operate the Peltier elements 3 with a corresponding polarity reversal such that a heat flow takes place on the part of the heat exchanger body 5 in the direction of the support plate 2, whereby the latter is effectively heated. Surface temperatures of at least 4O ⁰ C are thus readily feasible.

In order to improve the cooling effect of the Peltier elements 3 with respect to a lowering of the temperature of the support plate 2, a fan assembly 6 is provided in the foot region of the heat exchanger body 5, through which the waste heat at the heat exchanger body 5 can be effectively transferred to the ambient air (see the arrows indicated and initiated by the fan assembly 6 airflow L). For example, exceeds the Temperature at the heat exchanger body 5, for example, 36 °, the fan 6 is activated, whereby the heat exchange between the heat exchanger body 5 and ambient air is accelerated.

In principle, it is possible to design the shape and geometry of the support plate 2 as desired, but are preferably circular or square plate shapes. In the embodiment shown, it is assumed that the support plate 2 is surrounded by a circular peripheral edge, so that the support plate 2 can be covered by a standardized cover 1. For this purpose, the support region of the heat exchanger body 5 provides a support collar 9 which surrounds the support plate 2 peripherally completely, onto which the dom-formed cover 1 preferably rests in airtight manner. The preferably transparent formed cover 1 protects the resting on the support plate 2 refrigerated goods on the one hand against external influences and on the other hand prevents the flow of heat and condensation on the support surface of the cooling plate 2. order for the most effective isolation of an enclosed by the cover 1 inner volume to the surrounding atmosphere create, it is advantageous to put the cover 1 on a largely elastic thermal protection layer 4 at the edge region.

The solution designed in accordance with serving should be realized with materials as easy as possible, so that they can be offset by normal operators by hand.

FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section through a cover 1 which rests on a base 10 which does not necessarily have to be identical to the support plate 2 described in FIG. Rather, this may be a tabletop, on which a plate or tray 11 rests, on which in turn rest on perishable food that it is, for example. To protect by targeted cooling from aging too quickly. For this purpose, the cover 1 provides a surface cooling and / or Flächenheizeinheit 12, which is arranged in the upper region of the cover 1 and consists of the following components: Concave side of the cover 1 is a surface element 13, for example. Provided in the form of an aluminum or copper plate, which has a particularly good thermal conductivity. The surface element 13 is connected to its rear side via a heat-conducting, preferably likewise made of aluminum or copper heat transfer element 14, which directly thermally contacts a Peltier element 15. The Peltier element 15 in turn is connected at the back to a base cooling surface 16, preferably made of copper. Preferably, for purposes of simplified assembly, the base cooling surface 16, the Peltier element 15 and the heat-conducting member 14 has fixed to each other, preferably by means of a silver-containing adhesives, whereas the surface element 13 via screw 17 firmly and flush to the heat-conducting member 14 is compressible and thus a intimate and good thermal contact with the heat-conducting element 14 produces. The screw 17 are realized by means of polyamide screws to avoid thermal bridges. For fixed attachment of the above-described components relative to the cover 1, the Peltier element 15 and the heat-conducting element 14 extends through an opening 18 within the cover 1, wherein between the base cooling surface 16 and the cover 1 and the surface element 13 and the cover 1 thermally insulating material layers 19, 20 are provided, on the one hand thermally decouple the surface element 13 as completely as possible thermally from the base cooling surface 16, on the other hand provide a firm fit relative to the cover 1.

As already stated above, it is possible with the aid of the Peltier element 15 to realize a targeted heat transfer from the surface element 13 in the direction of the base cooling surface 16 and in this way to cool the surface element 13 so that a noticeable cooling within the enclosed by the cover 1 Volume is achievable. As a result, the base cooling surface 16 undergoes a noticeable heating, so that, to increase the efficiency of the Peltier element 15, it is possible to deliver as much heat energy as possible to the ambient air. In order to increase the thermally effective surface of the base cooling surface 16 and to improve the heat dissipation associated therewith, areally formed cooling convectors 22 are via heat conducting bridges 21, which are preferably made of copper intended. Furthermore, a fan unit 23 is provided centrally of the cooling device shown in Figure 2 outside the Abdeckgehäuses 1, through which an ambient air flow 24 is directed to the base cooling surface 16, the side by intermediate gaps 25, which are enclosed by the cooling convectors 22, emerge as a cooling air flow.

Not shown in detail, a preferably designed as a battery unit electrical energy source is provided, which is capable of supplying the fan unit 23 and the Peltier element 15 with electricity. Also not shown is a switch unit is provided, with which the direction of current flow through the Peltier element 15 can be selected and thereby the surface element 13 either as described above as a cooling surface, or as a heating surface can be operated.

It is also possible to provide parts of the surface of the cover 1 with photovoltaic cells to provide alone or in combination with an electrical energy source for the operation of the fan assembly 23 and the Peltier element 15 required electrical energy available.

In Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view is shown by a serving device, which is comparable to the representation shown in Figure 1, however, the alternative serving device is supplemented in the region of the support plate 2 with a vacuum source 26 which is fixed in the region of the base 7 and with at the Surface of the support plate 2 opening suction lines 27 is connected. The vacuum source 26, preferably designed as a diaphragm pump, is capable of evacuating, via the suction lines 27, at least partially the volume enclosed by the platen 2 and the cover 1, thus creating an atmosphere within the serving device in which perishable foodstuffs obtain a longer shelf life , This additional, very advantageous combination is very useful, for example, when stored overnight in the serving device for a long time, for example. The vacuum source 26 can be activated manually via a switch not shown, as it is possible, the vacuum source 26 via a Periodically activate control device, for example, every 5 to 10 minutes for about 10 seconds to put into operation.

The vacuum source 26, like the fan assembly 6, is powered by an electrical energy source present on the serving device to ensure manual and self-serviceability of the serving device. Likewise, the negative pressure source 26 as well as the fan assembly 6 can be supplied with electrical energy via an externally connectable mains cable.

In order to ensure that the negative pressure conditions produced by means of the negative pressure source 26 within the serving time remain as long as possible without the vacuum source 26 is permanently in operation, sits the edge of the cover 1 on a support collar 9 on the tray 2, in is advantageously rubberized, so that a largely gas-tight closure between the cover 1 and shelf 2 is created.

Likewise, it is also possible to integrate the negative pressure source 26 in the region of the covering hood 1, in particular into a covering hood, which is formed in an embodiment shown in FIG.

The remaining reference numerals shown in FIG. 3 are referred to the description in FIG.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

cover

platen

Peltier element

Thermal insulation layer

heat exchanger body

fan position

stand

document

support collar

document

Plate, tray

Area cooling and / or heating unit

surface element

Thermally conductive element

Peltier element

Based cooling surface

Polyamide screws, screw connection

opening

insulating material

heat conducting chilled beams

fan unit

cooling flow

flow channel

Vacuum source

suction

Claims

claims 1. Serving device for perishable foodstuffs, comprising a support plate providing at least one support surface for the food, a heating and / or cooling device having at least one Peltier element in thermal contact with the support plate and connectable to an electrical energy source, characterized in that the at least one Peltier element is disposed on the side facing away from the support surface of the support plate and is in physical contact with this directly or indirectly, that at least one heat exchanger body is provided, with which the at least one Peltier element is in thermal contact and the opposite Support plate is thermally insulated so that the heat exchanger body provides a support area on which at least one thermal insulating layer is provided, on which the support plate rests, and that between the support plate and the support area the heat exchanger body is provided at least one Peltier element. 2. Serving device according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating and / or cooling device works exclusively on a semiconductor basis according to the Peltier principle. 3. Serving device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in the region of the heat exchanger body, a blower arrangement is provided, with which an air flow can be generated, which is directed to a surface of the heat exchanger body, for the purpose of optimizing a heat exchange between the heat exchanger body and a Heat exchanger body surrounding atmosphere. 4. Serving device according to claim 3, characterized in that the fan assembly is a fan which is attached to the heat exchanger body. 5. Serving device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the heat exchanger body is designed as a base, via which the serving device can be placed on a base. 6. Serving device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the energy source is designed as a battery and is mounted in the region of the heat exchanger body, so that the serving device is designed as a portable, autonomously operating unit. 7. Serving device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a switch unit is provided, with which a current flow direction through the at least one Peltier element can be predetermined such that depending on the predetermined current flow direction, the Peltier element warms or cools the platen. 8. Serving device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the support surface of the support plate has a peripheral edge which is surrounded by a support collar, and that on the support collar a domhaft formed cover is placed, which dominates the support surface domhaft. 9. Serving device according to claim 8, characterized in that along the support collar thermal insulation material is provided, which forms a largely airtight seal with the seated cover. 10. Serving device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the support plate and the heat exchanger body made of metal, preferably aluminum. 11. Serving device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the at least one thermal insulating layer is formed as a plastic layer and / or as a hermetically enclosed volume, wherein the volume is preferably evacuated. 12. Serving device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the size choice of the support plate and the number and distribution of the Peltier elements is made such that the support plate in a temperature range of 0 ° to 40 ⁰ C is temperature controlled. 13. Serving device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the at least one insulating layer at least partially consists of a hard foam. 14. serving device for perishable food, with a support plate, which provides at least one support surface for the food and having a peripheral edge which is surrounded by a support collar on which a domhaft trained cover is placed, which dominates the support surface, characterized in that a surface cooling and / or heating unit is provided on the domed cover of the support surface facing the support plate. 15. Serving device according to one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that on the domisch formed cover the support surface of the platen facing a Flächenkühl- and / or -heizeinheit is provided. 16. Serving device according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the surface cooling and / or -heizeinheit provides a surface element which is concave side disposed on the cover and a front surface provides, which faces the support surface of the support plate, that the back of the surface element is thermally contacted directly or indirectly with at least one Perltierelement which is in thermal contact with a heat exchanger unit, which is thermally insulated from the surface element and arranged convexly on the cover. 17. Serving device according to claim 16, characterized in that the at least one Peltier element is seconded in the region of an opening within the cover, and that at least in the region of the opening, the at least one Peltier element is surrounded by thermally insulating material, on the one hand, the heat exchanger unit and the other Surface element supported relative to the cover. 18. Serving device according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the heat exchanger unit provides a flat heat sink, which is surrounded on the convex side to the cover of ambient air, that the heat exchanger unit is connected to a fan unit, can be directed by the air flow to at least one surface region of the sheet-like heat sink is. 19. Serving device according to one of claims 14 to 18, characterized in that the Flächenkühl- and / or -heizeinheit has a self-sufficient functional unit via an electrical energy source. 20. Serving device according to claim 19, characterized in that the electrical energy source is a battery unit. 21. Serving device according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that the electrical energy source has at least one photovoltaic cell. 22. Serving device according to one of claims 16 to 21, characterized in that a switch unit is provided, with which a current flow direction through the at least one Peltier element can be predetermined such that depending on the predetermined current flow direction, the Peltier element heats or cools the surface element. 23. Serving device according to one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that a vacuum source is provided in the region below the platen or in the region of the cover, which is connected to at least one suction line, which is open on one side in the enclosed by the platen and the cover Volume opens. 24. Serving device according to claim 23, characterized in that a switch unit and / or a control unit for actuating the vacuum source is provided.