FOOD PRESERVATION CABINET

Abstract

 A food preservation cabinet comprising a plurality of panels (1) making up cabinet walls, a bottom (2), an evaporator (4), a tray (5) underneath the evaporator (4) and a liquid drainage duct (6) connected to the tray (5), such that the plurality of panels (1) and the bottom (2) make up a food space (3), characterised in that the duct (6) is embedded inside a panel (1) and is connected to a first bottom orifice (8) meant for draining liquid accumulated in the tray (5).

Description

Object of the invention

[0001] The present invention refers to a food preservation cabinet that provides a useful inner space with improved use properties as compared to the cabinets known in the state of the art, by including the liquid drainage mechanism in one of the insulated side panels of the cabinet. The cabinet which is the object of the invention is applicable to the cabinet industry, more particularly to those intended for the preservation of foods which are to be exhibited.

Technical problem to be solved and background of the invention

[0002] Food preservation cabinets having four insulating walls making up a space where foods to be preserved are kept are known in the state of the art, said cabinets also having an evaporator in the upper part of the cabinet and another coil-shaped evaporator embedded in the insulated panel intended to cool foods, and finally a duct through which a plurality of conduits descend, the upper part of the duct being limited by a tray located underneath the evaporator, such that said tray collects the water resulting from the defrosting of the evaporator, the ducts draining said water.

[0003] The insulating walls are formed with panels injected with insulating material which are thick enough to favour inner insulation.

[0004] The duct of cabinets known in the state of the art requires a casing to cover said duct which is hence inserted in the space of the cabinet intended for foods, thus reducing the space available for foods of said cabinet.

[0005] Furthermore, in the cabinets known in the state of the art, when the food space is cleaned, flooding thereof takes place, or at least a considerable amount of water is required as said cabinets have high capacity, and in order to remove the water used in the cleaning, said water is removed through procedures which are external to the cabinet.

Description of the invention

[0006] The invention described discloses a food preservation cabinet comprising a plurality of panels making up cabinet walls, a bottom, an evaporator, a tray underneath the evaporator and a liquid drainage duct connected to the tray.

[0007] In the food preservation cabinet which is the object of the invention the plurality of panels and the bottom make up a food space; furthermore, in the food preservation cabinet which is the object of the invention, the duct is embedded inside a panel and connected to a first bottom orifice to drain the liquid accumulated in the tray.

[0008] The duct of the food preservation cabinet which is the object of the invention comprises an angle-shaped piece in the connection to the tray intended for collecting the liquid accumulated in said tray.

[0009] The food preservation cabinet comprises a second lower orifice located in the bottom of the cabinet intended for draining the products used in the cleaning of the cabinet or any other liquid that may have been spilt in the food space.

Description of the figures

[0010] To complete the description and in order to give a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, this descriptive report is accompanied by a series of drawings that are an integral part of the report, wherein, for illustration purposes and without limitation, the following has been represented:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cabinet which is the object of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side section view of the cabinet which is the object of the invention.

[0011] The different numerical references featured in the figures correspond to the following elements:

1.- wall,

2.- bottom,

3.- food space,

4.- evaporator,

5.- tray,

6.- duct,

7.- angle-shaped piece,

8.- first lower orifice, and

9.- second lower orifice.

Preferred embodiment of the invention

[0012] As stated above, and as can be seen in the figures, the object of the invention is a food preservation cabinet, in particular, a thermal contact cooling-type cabinet designed to exhibit preserved products.

[0013] The cabinet which is the object of the invention comprises a plurality of panels (1) making up walls and a bottom (2), which form a food space (3) that is completely open with panels (1) of a flat shape, further comprising top doors to cover access to the food space (3) and avoid cold losses.

[0014] The panels (1) of the cabinet which is the object of the invention and the bottom (2) may be panels injected or formed with an insulating expanded-polystyrene-based material having a proper density, in order to ensure suitable insulation between the interior of the cooled space and the exterior thereto.

[0015] For cooling purposes, the cabinet which is the object of the invention comprises an evaporator (4) located in the uppermost part of the cabinet, inside the food space (3), and for defrosting water drainage purposes, said cabinet comprises a tray (5) assembled on a panel (1) underneath the evaporator (4) and a duct (6) connected to the tray (5) embedded inside a panel (1) in-between the injected or insulating material.

[0016] With the above-mentioned configuration, wherein the duct (6) is embedded inside a panel (1), a food space (3) is obtained with no protrusion in the panels (1), the above-mentioned food space (3) having improved use properties as compared to the cabinets known in the state of the art.

[0017] The duct (6) finishes in the upper part where it makes contact with the tray (5) in an angle-shaped piece (7), which collects the defrosting water and drains it to the exterior of the cabinet through a first lower orifice (8) into which said duct (6) flows.

[0018] Furthermore, the food preservation cabinet which is the object of the invention comprises a second lower orifice (9) which may be closed or opened at one's discretion, located in the bottom (2) of the cabinet, said second lower orifice (9) enabling the drainage of products used in the cleaning of the cabinet or any liquid which may have been spilt in the food space (3).

[0019] The invention should not be seen as limited to the particular embodiment described in this document. Those skilled in the art can develop other embodiments in view of the disclosure made herein. In consequence, the scope of the invention is defined by the claims that follow.

Claims

1. A food preservation cabinet comprising:

- a plurality of panels (1) making up walls of the cabinet,

- a bottom (2),

- an evaporator (4),

- a tray (5) underneath the evaporator (4) and

- a liquid drainage duct (6) connected to the tray (5)

wherein the plurality of panels (1) and the bottom (2) make up a food space (3), characterised in that the duct (6) is embedded inside a panel (1) and connected to a first bottom orifice (8) to drain the liquid accumulated in the tray (5).

2. A food preservation cabinet according to claim 1, characterised in that the duct (6) comprises an angle-shaped piece (7) in the connection to the tray (5) for collecting the liquid accumulated in said tray (5).

3. A food preservation cabinet according to claim 1, characterised in that, according to the preceding claims, it comprises a second lower orifice (9) located in the bottom (2) of the cabinet for draining the products used in the cleaning of the cabinet or any other liquid that may have been spilt in the food space (3).

Drawing