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The subject of the present document is a particular element comprehending thermic independent openings fit
to contain various foods, usable for the finishing of cold or hot foodstuffs, maintaining them at the different
suitable temperatures.
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It is common knowledge that in various fields of the distribution of different cold or hot foodstuffs, it is
often necessary to execute suitable finishing operations that need the adding to the base product of the
relative additional foodstuffs. The food products needing such finishing operations are the most different and
obviously they are included in several fields and distributing systems, more exactly, they could be of a sweet
kind like ice-cream, puddings, yoghurt, etc. or even of the savouries kind like rice, pasta, roast, etc.
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The foodstuffs used for this finishing, could be cold or hot or neutral, i.e. at room temperature.
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For example, in the ice cream sector and in the sector of other sweet products, additional cold substances
could be used such yoghurt, puddings, fruit creams, liquid fruit sauces, fruit salad etc. or hot like hot
chocolate, thick fruit sauces, various cremes, etc. or even at room temperature like nuts, walnut, pistachio,
etc..
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Still for example, in the field of the distribution of various foods of the hot kind, like there is in the so called
"self-service", catering of various kind, to the base foods forming first and second course as risotti, pasta,
lasagne, roast etc., additional cold substance could be used like row and cook vegetables, tomato sauce,
mustard etc., or tomato sauces, various kind of ragout, white sauce, etc. as well as even at room
temperature as grated cheese, dry aromatic herbs of different kind, spices, etc.
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In order to allow such finishing operations, different kind of appliances have been developed consisting of
suitable containers of various form and dimension, most of all parallelepiped, in which from their upper side
have been inserted, forming the related working top, suitable containers that are dislocated in the respective
zones, that by means of various ways are kept at different temperatures, suitable to the fixed aims.
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Some of these fittings, for obtaining the cold area, or better, the cold opening in which have to be inserted
the containers for the foodstuffs to be conserved at a low temperature, are supplied by a remote condensing
unit and are therefore in need of the related connecting systems more or less complicated and therefore
fittings that reduce anyway the positioning and removal possibilities. Others solutions foresee, instead a
cooling system called "passive", according to which the cold is obtained from a room already refrigerated in
an autonomous way, avoiding in this way the needing to be equipped with an own cooling unit. Obviously
even such a solution need the execution of connecting systems more or less complicated and therefore
always wasteful, that limit anyway the possibility of positioning and removal.
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A further known solution realised in the ice - cream shop field consists in the execution of a particular
opening that could be built-in in refrigerated display cases for the display, conservation and distributing of
the ice-cream, of the kind at double pans line. The above mentioned solution foresee the removal of a fit
number of pans for allowing the inserting of the unit foreseen for the containing of the foodstuff to be used
for decorating the ice-cream portion to distribute instead of their place.
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Even this solution result very complicated and wasteful, because it is necessary to execute it with qualified
personnel, for carrying out the substantial modifications to the structure, especially to the central structure
for supporting the pans. In practise it is necessary to take out a suitable piece of the element that extend
itself longitudinally at the middle of the relative tank for supporting the correspondent central extremities of
the two lines of pans and to make a fit fixing as well as execute suitable further connections. Clearly the
above mentioned modification, besides being complicated and wasteful, results to be practically fixed and no
more changeable, in that the reconstitution of the initial structure clearly would require to remake in an
opposite way the adaptation previously executed, with inevitable consequent onerous costs.
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By what reported, it results obvious that it should be suitable and considerably profitable to have at one's
disposal, an element fit for carrying out the above mentioned finishing functions that results completely
autonomous and that could therefore be moved and placed in every place as well as easily built-in in the
relative appliances, and in particular, as later on explained and illustrated, in an ice-cream display case with a
double line of pans.
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Aim of this demand is therefore to avoid the disadvantages and limitations of the various above-mentioned
solution and this is obtained with the particular autonomous element in subject that, in a possible realisation
way and only to illustrate and not to limit, is herewith described as follows, referring to the enclosed
drawings in which:
- the fig. 1 illustrates, with a lateral view taken from one of its side, the element that constitutes the subject
of this demand;
- the fig. 2 and 3 are respectively the relative orthogonal views of the element of the fig. 1 and exactly the
fig. 2 is the resulted lateral view and the fig. 3 the respective view in plan,
- the fig. 4 is a view in plan quite similar to the ones of fig. 3, illustrating the possibility to modify the
positioning of some kind of containers applicable in the element in subject,
- the fig. 5 and 6 are the two views cutaway conducted respectively along the lines I-I and II-II of the fig. 3,
- the fig. 7 illustrates, with a view in the plan substantially schematic, a generic display case for ice-cream at
two lines of pans with the application to the same of an element of the kind in subject,
- the fig. 8 and 9 are the two cutaway views conducted respectively along the lines III-III and IV-IV of the
fig. 7 illustrating synthetically, and in a schematic way, the display of the two ice-cream containing pans, and
their place, instead of a suitable number of these, of the autonomous element in subject.
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In the above mentioned figures, the common particulars are reported with the same references.
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Making first reference to the fig. from 1 to 6, it describes the autonomous element 1 that is the subject of
this demand.
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As clearly perceivable, it results constituted basically by an inferior covering 10, developing externally a form
substantially parallelepiped, opened on the upper side, which perimetrical (L1-L2-L3-L4) and lower (L5)
surfaces are constituted, as clearly perceivable in a particular way by the fig. 5 and 6, by the relative thermic
isolated walls formed by a dead-air space 11 limited by an external wall 111 and an internal wall 112, carried
out with appropriate stainless steel sheet, whose internal is filled up with a appropriate thermic isolate
material as it is a suitable expanded polyurethane.
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Of course this lower covering 10 will present a fit height for creating, as follows described, appropriate
openings separated between them as well as thermic independent in which are inserted the relative containers
(C1-C2-C3) of the foodstuffs to use, as said, for the finishing of various foodstuffs that must be kept at
different temperatures.
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For clearness, the perimetrical thermic insulating walls are composed by a front and a back wall, parallel
between them, constituting the respective front side L2 and back side L1, that result interconnected to their
extremities by the respective lateral walls parallel between them as well as orthogonal to the precedent
forming the sides L3 and L4 of the above mentioned lower covering 10.
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These walls (L1-L2-L3L4) result at last interconnected in their lower extremities by a further wall put
orthogonally to the same that forms the side constituting the lower L5 of the above mentioned lower
covering 10.
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Inside of this parallelepiped covering, is obtained, close to the central part of the same, a ulterior wall 13
that extend itself longitudinally as well parallel to the perimetrical wall forming the back side L1, that, as
further explained, will be equipped with an appropriate cooling group 8, the above mentioned wall 13
develop itself for an height equal to the one of the perimetrical sides L1, L2, L3, L4, forming in this way a
respective opening V1 fit for the containing of the respective pans (C1 or C2) of a known kind in which will
be contained the finishing stuff that has to be kept at a low temperature.
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The cooling of such opening V1 is obtained, unlike the traditional and known systems, by means of a cooling
group 8 using favourably as means for the heat conveyance, a well known cell with Peltier effect, which use
executed practically in a known way is illustrated in all in the fig. 1 and 2 and more in particular in the fig. 5
and 6.
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With reference to these fig. 1, 2, 5 and 6, it should be noted as the cooling group 8 consists of a Peltier cell
of normal finding in the market that, as known, is constituted normally by an element 81, usually having a
quadrangular shape, presenting limited dimensions and a fairly thin thickness.
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That element 81 results applied practically in the middle of the external wall 111 of the side L1 with his face
turned to the external connected to a finned metallic plate 82, that extend itself for an adequate part along
that side L1. The internal face of that element 81, results instead connected to a metallic lump 83 developing
the same perimetrical shape and a thickness fairly bigger of that of the wall on which is applied ending
inside of the opening V1, with a new metallic plate 84, that develops itself longitudinally for an adequate
part and vertically almost as the height of the whole opening V1 itself.
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Around the element 81 and respective metallic lump 83, is placed a frame 85 in a fit thermic isolated
material.
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The described placing is in his whole known, as well as its working, is herewith synthetically described.
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Applying to the element 81 an appropriate electric voltage at direct current with the polarities placed so that
its internal surface absorbs heat transmitting it to the external one, the above mentioned metallic plate 84,
through the connection created by the metallic lump 83 cools itself, cooling consequently the air contained in
the opening V1 and therefore the stuffs contained in the pans C1 or C2 in it inserted.
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The removed heat will be therefore transmitted to the external surface of the element 81, that by means of
the finned metallic plate 82 will dissipate it externally. We point out that the above mentioned finned metallic
plate 82 will result inserted in covering 86 provided with a suitable fan 87 that raising the air flow increases
opportunately the heating removal.
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In the upper side of the lower covering 10, a plane 20 of a adequate thickness is placed, formed also by an
appropriate thermic isolating material composed by, for example, suitable wood substitute as a fit
laminboard, chipboard or similar that as perceivable by the fig. 1, 5 and 6, will extend itself beside the above
mentioned side L1 and that opposed L2 with the related adequate useful parts essentially for the particular
application that will be further explained.
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In the top 20, in proximity of the opening V1 underneath it, a regular suitable opening 51 is executed,
which sides follow the perimeter of the upper border of the above mentioned opening V1. As clearly
noticeable by the fig. 5 and 6, that rectangular opening 51 results suitable for allowing the inserting in the
above opening V1 of the respective pans C1 or C2 that, as well-known, will be of the unified kind and will
go in support with their perimetrical border B1 or B2, projecting from their upper extremities on
correspondent parts of the perimetrical border resulting from the upper surface of the above mentioned
rectangular opening 51.
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In the part that in fig. 3 results placed on right, it is applied over the plane 20 a first planar element marked
21 opportunely shaped that will be executed with the same material and that will present an almost equal
thickness, while on the left side a second planar element is applied, marked 22, executed with the same
material too, that results however more noticeable presenting an almost double thickness than the first (21)
and that develops, for the following reasons, a conformation basically triangular with rounded edges. In the
above mentioned first planar element marked 21 applied as above-stated on the above plane 20, two
rectangular openings 52 will be executed, parallel between them that will go inside the same (21) as well as
in the lower plane 20 creating the related openings V2 that go in the lower opening V3 in which could be
inserted the respective pans C1 or C2, that, as in the precedent case, will go to support with the respective
perimetrical border B1 or B2 on the correspondent parts of the respective perimetrical borders resulting on
the upper surface of the relative above mentioned first planar element marked 21.
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For clearness, we point out that the outlines of the rectangular opening 51 and the ones of the rectangular
openings 52, are shown in the fig. 3 and 4 with a broken line, and present a transversal length
opportunately lightly higher than the width of the normal pans C2 with a square shape, also the rectangular
opening 51 will extend itself for a length almost quadruple than its width while the rectangular opening 52
will extend themselves for a length only double of the above mentioned width.
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So, it results possible, as clearly noticeable from the fig. 3 and 4 too, to insert in those rectangular openings
51 and 52, both square pans C1 and rectangular pans C2 having a length equal to that of the sides of the
square ones (C1) and a width like the 2/3 of this. Finally, in the above mentioned second planar element
marked 22, as dearly shown particularly in fig. 6, suitable circular holes are executed passing F (in the
shown case only three holes) that go through both the above mentioned planar element marked 22 and in
the lower plane 20.
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Those circular holes passing F, form practically correspondent openings that get into the respective opening
V4, going in the lower opening V5 and present a diameter opportunely lightly superior to the external
diameter of suitable cylinder pots C3, that could therefore be inserted in them, resulting supported on the
upper borders by the holes F, by the respective circular borders B3 projecting by their upper extremities.
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In the lower part of the above mentioned pots C3, practically in proximity of their bottoms, an heating plate
PR is placed provided with a fit electric resistance that controlled by a suitable thermostat, will be kept at a
prefixed temperature.
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An adequate vertical wall 19 will obviously be placed between the opening V3 underneath the openings V2
obtained on the above first mentioned planar element marked 21 and the opening V5 underneath the above
mentioned heating plate PR in order to keep them thermic independent from each other.
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At this point, the essential description of the autonomous element which is the subject of this request results,
practically ended. In practice with the system and the above-mentioned illustrative composition, a complex
element is obtained that results divided in three thermic independent openings and precisely a cold opening
V1, an heat opening V4 formed by cylinder cavities obtained with the execution in the planar element
marked 22 of the holes F and an opening V2 that remains at room temperature. It is to note that obviously
both the cooling and the heating means will be provided with suitable control and regulating means all
well-known and applicable in various ways.
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Both heating and cooling, obtained with the described means and the systems make it possible for element
(10) to be completely autonomous, not needing of any connection to a remote condensing unit or passive
cooling systems, in practice for his autonomous working, the only connection to the electric network by
means of a plug that has to be connected to the relative electric outlet, will be enough.
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It results that the equipment constituting the autonomous element 10, could be used everywhere, for
example on a available furniture, on a suitable supporting structure that could be easily moved and placed
where possible and/or desirable, and in the end even built-in, without making any changes, in an ice-cream
display case with double line of pans that however it doesn't have to be necessarily in operation for his
working.
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Such a further profitable solution is obtained with the changing as follows described, that however is already
clearly understood in the figures to whom we referred until now and which practical utilisation is
synthetically illustrated in the figures 7, 8 and 9.
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As we can notice in a particular way with the fig. 1, 5, 6 and 9 in the middle part of the lower part of the
lower covering 10 a re-entering part is obtained forming practically a channel 30, that extends itself
longitudinally as well as parallelly to the side L1 and L2. This channel 30 results defined by two lateral
sides 31 and 32, parallel between them as well as opportunely separated which get into the
above-mentioned lower covering 10 with a part equal to about the half of its height, these (31-32) connect
themselves on the upper part with a transversal wall 33 orthogonal to the same (31-32) as well as parallel to
the back wall L5.
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The above mentioned channel 30 will result fit to allow, as further described, the penetration into it of the
supporting element 61(see fig. 8 and 9) normally place in the ice-cream display case 6 with a double line of
pans (65).
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Such supporting element 61 as known, is composed by a tubular bar or similar placed longitudinally at the
middle of the upper part of the refrigerated tank 62. As noticeable by the fig. 8 and 9 the external covering
63, the basement 64, the transparent protection screen 65 as well as the above refrigerated tank 62 of the
above mentioned ice-cream display case 6, are indicated only schematically and in a synthetic way with the
respective lines that define the respective generical conformations.
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As clearly noticeable with fig. 8, the longitudinal upper extremities of the refrigerated tank 62 end with
adequate parts folded orthogonally towards its internal forming the respective border, front 621 and back
622, besides in a central position respect to the same (621-622) is placed the above mentioned supporting
element 61, which upper borders result equidistant from the respective front 621 and back 622 borders.
Such known configuration allows the application of two pan lines 65 used for containing each one an
adequate quantity of ice-cream of different kind.
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As known and as noticeable by the fig. 8, the mentioned pans 65 will be used to support with the respective
front and back parts of the perimetrical borders 651 projecting orthogonally towards external from the upper
extremities of the respective lateral walls, from one side, on the corresponding parts of the front border 621
and back 622 and on the other side on the corresponding parts of the upper surface of the above-mentioned
supporting element 61.
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It will be therefore possible to take away from the display case 6 a part of the pans 65, and form in this way
a free space which could be applied in the way further described, the autonomous element 1 that is subject
of this document and that has been previously described. Such applicative solution is clearly described in fig.
7 in which in the generical display case 6 are applied both some pans 65 and the autonomous element 1
placed respectively on the right and left side of the above-mentioned figure 6.
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The application of the above-mentioned autonomous element 1 is clearly illustrated in fig. 9 which will
referred to in particular on the following description.
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From tank 62 are taken away a number of pans 65 fit to create an opening of a width equivalent at least to
the width of the autonomous element 1 to be applied. Therefore we place in proximity of the transversal
lateral extremities of the opening resulting i.e. in proximity of the sides of the autonomous element 1 which
will be in it built-in, two couple of devices 7 for the adjustable supporting of the same (1). The above
mentioned devices 7 are composed by a longitudinal element 71 formed by a piece of section bar obtained
by a piece of "C" folded sheet, that extend itself for a length equal to that of the pans 65 by the which
extremities depart orthogonally as well as facing the same side two bands 72 with an equal length, preferably
of a length equal to the height of the above mentioned pans 65, the mentioned bands 72 result to end in their
extremities with the respective short parts 73, folded orthogonally towards the external.
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On the longitudinal element 71 is finally applied a stem 74, placed on its axis parallelly to the above
mentioned bands 72, which (74) slides in the correspondent holes obtained on the wings of the same (71)
and it could also be fixed with suitable means not shown on the wished position. This stem 74 ends on his
upper extremity, i.e. the as further described will go to tie to the bottom L5 of the autonomous element 1,
with a small plate 76 with a frustum of cone shape or similar that connects itself to the upper extremity of
the same (74), by means of an adequate spherical articulated joint 75.
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The four above-mentioned devices 7 are inserted practically as the pans 65 and they'll go in support with
their respective short parts 73, on one side on the correspondent part of the front border 621 and back
border 622 and on the other side on the correspondent part of the upper surface of the above supporting
element 61.
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After having done this, it is inserted in the corresponding part of the refrigerated tank 62, from which were
previously took away the pans 65, the autonomous element 1 that clearly will lean with his bottom L5 on
the small plates 76 of the stems 74, that can be slided up and down, allow to go up and down as well as tilt
in every direction the whole autonomous element 1 that will result at end fixed in the wished position by the
above mentioned fixing means, placed on the stem 74. We point out again that in order to avoid eventual
slidings of the autonomous element 1 as applied, towards the front side of the display case 6, could be
applied further suitable positioning elements that could be constituted for example, as illustrated in the fig. 5,
6 and 9 by a square 9, composed by a L folded sheet band , which wing 91 is fixed in an adjustable way on
the bottom L5 of such autonomous element 1, allowing therefore to place the other wing 92 against the back
part of the supporting element 61.
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The particular applicative possibility of the autonomous element 1 to an ice-cream display case as above
described, results besides that remarkable advantageous of easy and simply execution too and therefore
economic, indeed in similar cases in which there is the needing to applied in an ice-cream display a group an
already existing well known kind for developing the functions of the autonomous element 1, being subject
of this document, it is necessary to part off the supporting transversal element 61, to carry out the fixing,
usually by means of welding, from the parted off extremity to the refrigerated tank structure 62, to make
eventual pipes that introduce the cold air contained in the refrigerated tank 62 in the cold opening of the
additional element to applied, to apply a possible fan, to execute possible electric connections, etc.
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All these operations that clearly must be executed by qualified personnel, and that result besides that
complicated and expensive even practically irreversible, are on the contrary avoided with the solution that
uses the above mentioned new autonomous element 1.
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By what above-stated it results therefore clear the remarkable applicative and useful advantages as well as
economic achievable with the autonomous element 1 which is the subject of this document.
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To the above mentioned autonomous element 1 obviously could be introduced different modifications both
configuration and dimensional, on the other hand we point out that even for the heating system can be used
a device like the one used for the cooling that uses therefore the Peltier effect applied in an opposite way.
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These and other modifications could anyway be introduced to such an autonomous element 1 without on
other hand going out within the above-stated and further claimed with reference to the enclosed drawings
and therefore of the protection rule of the present industrial privative.
