Field of the invention

The present invention relates to portable freezer modules for displaying and dispensing frozen edible products. The invention more particularly relates to such modules that are configured to be used with a chill cabinet having a presentation space.

Background of the invention

Selling frozen edible products, such as ice creams, sorbets, water ices, frozen milkshakes, granitas and the like, in quick service restaurants, institutional catering facilities, petrol stations and other outlets has always presented problems. Firstly, frozen products must be stored in freezer cabinets which, owing to their size, frequently cannot be located at the point of sale where the customer makes his decision with regards to buying or not buying a product. Secondly, products must be visible and accessible to serving staff and/or customers. If frozen products are not visible, customers are likely to choose a more readily accessible alternative, for example a chilled dessert such as yoghurt which is normally displayed in an open-fronted chill cabinet or a chocolate bar from an ambient display stand.

Insulated containers with passive cooling means which can be situated inside a chill cabinet have been described. WO 2009/090162 A1 (Unilever PLC et al) discloses an apparatus for displaying and dispensing frozen edible products, comprising a chill cabinet inside which is situated an insulated container equipped with passive cooling means, and which contains one or more frozen edible products. Whilst such an apparatus represents a convenient means for displaying and dispensing frozen edible products in quick service restaurants, institutional catering facilities and other similar retail outlets, the passive cooling means can only keep products frozen for a finite amount of time. Thus the passive cooling means needs periodically “recharging”, e.g. by refreezing eutectic material. Such recharging requires access to a separate freezing means such as, for example, a freezer cabinet located back of house which could otherwise be used for storing stock. Refrigerating sales modules with thermoelectric refrigerating elements and that are arranged in the goods presentation space of a sales furniture have been described. EP 2 092 861 A1 (CARRIER CORP) discloses a sales furniture comprising a goods presentation space, and at least one refrigerating sales module arranged within the goods presentation space. The refrigerating sales module has a thermoelectric refrigerating element and a separate refrigerated goods presentation space providing a refrigerating temperature being lower than the temperature in the goods presentation space. In one embodiment the refrigerating sales module comprises a fan box which is arranged below the bottom of the refrigerating sales module.

The present inventors have now recognized that there is a need for improvements in freezer modules for displaying and dispensing frozen edible products. In particular the inventors have recognized a need for modules that provide flexibility in where the module can be safely sited in a chill cabinet and with the convenience provided by active cooling.

The present inventors have found that by providing a module configured with a specific case and duct arrangement, one or more drawbacks with prior modules can be overcome. Summary of the invention

In a first aspect, the present invention is directed to a portable freezer module for displaying and dispensing frozen edible products comprising:

• a case comprising:

an insulated container having an interior space for containing the frozen products, and

an active cooling system for cooling the interior space and having a hot end and a cold end; and

• a flexible duct extending from the hot end of the active cooling system of the case to a heat exhaust outlet;

wherein the module is configured such that the insulated case can be removeably sited in a presentation space of a chill cabinet with the heat exhaust of the duct positioned outside of the presentation space; and wherein the flexible duct is a hollow tube free from refrigerant conduits, electrical cables and other electrical equipment. The present inventors have recognized that by using a duct that is a hollow tube free from refrigerant conduits, electrical cables and other electrical equipment, the duct can be arranged in any number of positions, unlike, for example the fan box disclosed in EP 2 092 861 A1. This allows for freedom for the user to position the module in a wide range of places in a chill cabinet with the energy efficiency afforded by venting heat outside of the chill cabinet. If the heat is vented within the chill cabinet, then more energy would be required to keep the chilled products cool.

The duct is flexible as this allows for the greatest freedom in positioning the module in a cabinet. By“flexible” is meant that the duct can be moved between various positions in relation to the case. Preferably the duct can be moved between at least two of the following positions:

(i) the heat exhaust above the case;

(ii) the heat exhaust to one side of the case; and

(iii) the heat exhaust below the case.

The flexibility can be achieved in any convenient way including, for example by forming the duct from a flexible material and/or by employing a duct which is articulated. The freezer module preferably comprises a battery for powering the active cooling system as this removes the need for cables to connect the module with a mains electricity supply. Where the module does comprise a power cable for connecting to a mains supply, it is preferred that with the insulated case sited in the chill cabinet the cable extends from the case to a power source outside of the chill cabinet.

The active cooling system may be, for example, a vapour compression system or a thermoelectric system. Where a vapour compression system is employed the case preferably comprises a compartment separated from the interior space by a partition wall; the compressor is sited in the compartment; and at least part of the evaporator is sited in the interior space.

In a further aspect the present invention provides an apparatus for displaying and dispensing both chilled and frozen edible products comprising a chill cabinet having a presentation space and at least one of the freezer modules of any embodiment of the first aspect, wherein the insulated case of at least one freezer module is sited in the presentation space of the chill cabinet with the heat exhaust outlet of the said module positioned outside of the presentation space.

Preferably the heat exhaust outlet of the said module is positioned outside and to one side of the presentation space. Alternatively the heat exhaust outlet of the said module is positioned outside and above the presentation space. The range of products able to be displayed and dispensed by the apparatus can be increased if the temperature difference between the module and the cabinet is increased. Preferably the interior space of the module is maintained at a frozen temperature, the presentation space is maintained at a chill temperature and the frozen temperature is at least 16°C lower than the chill temperature, more preferably the frozen temperature is between 17°C and 30°C lower than the chill temperature. Additionally or alternatively the frozen temperature is in the range of -10°C to -27°C (more preferably -15°C to -25°C) and the chill temperature is in the range of 0°C to +8°C (more preferably +1 °C to +6°C).

Preferably the apparatus is located in a restaurant, cafe, institutional catering facility, petrol station or other retail outlet.

Preferably the frozen edible products are ice cream, sorbet, frozen yoghurt, frozen milkshake or granita, or the like. All numbers in this description indicating amounts of material, time periods, length scales, conditions of reaction, physical properties of materials and/or use may optionally be understood as modified by the word“about”.

It should be noted that in specifying any range of values, any particular upper value can be associated with any particular lower value. For the avoidance of doubt, the word“comprising” is intended to mean“including” but not necessarily“consisting of” or“composed of”. In other words, the listed steps or options need not be exhaustive. The disclosure of the invention as found herein is to be considered to cover all embodiments as found in the claims as being multiply dependent upon each other irrespective of the fact that claims may be found without multiple dependency or redundancy. Where a feature is disclosed with respect to a particular aspect of the invention such disclosure is also to be considered to apply to any other aspect of the invention mutatis mutandis.

Brief description of the drawings

The present invention will now be described with reference to the figures, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an apparatus according to the invention comprising a chill cabinet and two freezer modules.

Figure 2 shows a sectional view of one of the modules of the apparatus of Figure 1.

Detailed description

Figure 1 shows an apparatus (10) comprising a chill cabinet (20) and two portable freezer modules (30, 40) positioned within a presentation space (24) of the cabinet (20). The presentation space (24) of the chill cabinet (20) is shown surrounded by an outer casing (26) except for the front which is open. In some embodiments the front of the presentation space (24) may be closed by doors (not shown) being at least partly transparent. The presentation space (24) comprises a plurality of shelves (22) for storing and displaying chilled edible products such as, for example, cheese, milk, yoghurt, butter, meat, fresh vegetables and the like. In the embodiment shown, the presentation space (24) comprises three shelves (22) approximately equally spaced one above another. The presentation space (24) is kept at a chill temperature (for example 2°C) by cold air blown into the presentation space after passing over an evaporator of a vapour compression cooling system (not shown). A first freezer module (30) comprises a case (32) and a tubular duct (36). The first freezer module (30) is shown with its casing (32) located on the top-most shelf (22) of the presentation space (24) and with the duct (36) extending from the casing (32) outside and to one side of the presentation space (24). At the front of the casing (32) is a door (34) with a transparent window through which frozen products within the casing (32) can be seen and accessed.

A second freezer module (40) also comprises a case (42) and a duct (46). The second freezer module (40) is shown with its casing (42) located on the bottom shelf (22) of the presentation space (24) and with the duct (46) extending from the casing (42) outside and below the presentation space (24). At the upper side of the casing (42) is a door (44) with a transparent window through which frozen products within the casing (42) can be seen and accessed. Further details of the first freezer module (30) can be seen in Figure 2. The casing (32) comprises a cuboidal container having five walls formed with low thermal conductivity material (for example expanded polystyrene sandwiched between metal panels) and the front door (34) surrounding an interior space (33) for containing frozen products (not shown). The casing (32) further comprises a compartment (39) at the rear of the container and which houses the hot end (31 ) of an active cooling system. In the embodiment shown, the hot end (31 ) comprises a compressor and condenser of a vapour compression system. An evaporator plate (35) is sited within the interior space (33) and forms the cold end of the vapour compression system to keep the interior space (33) at a frozen temperature (for example -18°C). The cold end (35) and hot end (31 ) of the vapour compression system are in fluid communication via refrigerant conduit (31 a) that passes through the rear wall of the container.

Adjacent to the hot end (31 ) of the cooling system is a heat inlet that forms an entrance (37) of the duct (36). The duct (36) is a flexible tube extending from the entrance (37) to a heat exhaust outlet (38). The duct (36) conveys hot air from the hot end (31 ) of the active cooling system to the exhaust (38). To aid flow of air into the duct (36), the compartment (39) may comprise one or more fans (not shown) to direct air into the inlet