Heated food storage and display cabinet

Abstract

A heated food storage and display cabinet comprises an open fronted chamber in which packs of food can be stored, an upwardly extending enclosed air duct having a plurality of outlets over a substantial length of the duct leading from the duct to the chamber, a first flow inducing means for directing air upwardly through the duct and a second flow inducing means for producing a curtain of air which is directed across the open front of the chamber and heater means, the first flow inducing means causing the air to pass over the heater means, through the duct, through the outlets and into the chamber, the cabinet having a glazed, openable door in which at least part of the said duct is defined, the openable door enabling food packs to be placed in the cabinet other than through the open front.

1 . A heated food storage and display cabinet comprising an open fronted chamber in which packs of food can be stored, an upwardly extending enclosed air duct having a plurality of outlets over a substantial length of the duct leading from the duct to the chamber, a first flow inducing means for directing air upwardly through the duct and a second flow inducing means for producing a curtain of air which is directed across the open front of the chamber and heater means, the first flow inducing means causing the air to pass over the heater means, through the duct, through the outlets and into the chamber, the cabinet having a glazed, openable door in which at least part of the said duct is defined, the openable door enabling packs of food to be placed in the cabinet other than through the open front.  
     
     
         2 . A cabinet as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the openable door is arranged in a rear wall of the cabinet.  
     
     
         3 . A cabinet as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the openable door is double glazed so as to prevent heat loss and condensation.  
     
     
         4 . A cabinet as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the door has an inner surface which faces the chamber and a plurality of louvres is provided on the inner surface, the openable door and louvres defining said at least part of the duct.  
     
     
         5 . A cabinet as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the louvres are formed in a panel attached to or incorporated in the openable door.  
     
     
         6 . A cabinet as claimed in  claim 5  wherein individual louvre members are supported on the openable door by appropriate support means.  
     
     
         7 . A cabinet as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the support means may comprise opposed channel members having slots adapted to receive said individual louvre members.  
     
     
         8 . A cabinet as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the channel members and openable door are formed from a similar material.  
     
     
         9 . A cabinet as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the channel members and openable door are formed from stainless steel.  
     
     
         10 . A cabinet as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the louvre members are formed from a plastics material.  
     
     
         11 . A cabinet as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the plastics material is a substantially transparent plastics material.  
     
     
         12 . A cabinet as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the plastics material is Lexan.  
     
     
         13 . A cabinet as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the cabinet is further provided with an additional heater means operable to supplement the heater means to maintain a desired temperature within the chamber.  
     
     
         14 . A cabinet as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the additional heater means is operable in response to a change in a sensed operating condition of the cabinet.  
     
     
         15 . A cabinet as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the additional heater means is operable in response to a reduction in chamber temperature.  
     
     
         16 . A heated food storage and display cabinet comprising an open fronted chamber in which packs of food can be stored, an upwardly extending enclosed air duct having a plurality of outlets over a substantial length of the duct leading from the duct to the chamber, a first flow inducing means for directing air upwardly through the duct and a second flow inducing means for producing a curtain of air which is directed across the open front of the chamber, and heater means, the first flow inducing means causing the air to pass over the heater means, through the duct, through the outlets and into the chamber, and the second flow inducing means being arranged to draw air from an upper end of the chamber and use it in the formation of the air curtain, wherein the cabinet is further provided with an additional heater means operable to supplement the heater means to maintain a desired temperature within the chamber.  
     
     
         17 . A cabinet as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the additional heater means is operable in response to a change in a sensed operating condition of the cabinet.  
     
     
         18 . A cabinet as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the additional heater means is operable in response to a reduction in chamber temperature.