Plate stacking device.

PLATE STACKING DEVICE

The present invention relates to a plate stacking device for stacking plates, such as dishes, serving trays or similar receptacles .

EP 0 432 813 A discloses a plate stacking device with a vertical column provided with plate supports comprising two symmetrically arranged projections horizontally in line with each other, and a third projection which is longer than the other two projections and lies centrally below the other two projections. Stacked plates are supported at their bottom by the third projection while they are balanced at their edge by the two top projections. With such a device it is possible to stack a large number of plates, e.g., holding a food product and to place them in a refrigerator, an oven or steamer or other food processing unit. A number of dishes can also be partially prepared in advance and then stored in, for example, a refrigerator or freezer.

It is an object of the invention to provide a plate stacking device which can carry a large number of plates per volume and which can be used in refrigerators as well as in ovens or steamers and which can be manufactured economically.

The object of the invention is achieved with a plate stacking device comprising a vertical column provided with plate supports, wherein each plate support comprises two upper projections horizontally in line with each other, and a lower third projection which is longer than the two upper projections and which is at a distance below the two upper projections, characterized in that the upper projections projecting from a side face are lateral extensions of adjacent side faces.

This way, the upper projections can be made as an integral part of the wall elements forming the side faces, which can for instance be made of sheet metal plates using very economic production methods. The number of steps during assembly of the device is substantially reduced. A more compact configuration can be achieved allowing to stack more plates in a given space.

The lateral extensions of each side face can be alternately arranged between lateral extensions of an adjacent side face. At the edges of the column the height of the lateral extensions can for instance correspond to the distance between two parallel lateral extensions arranged above each other. The elements forming the side faces can for instance be coupled by providing the lateral extensions with a slit for receiving a top section of a lower lateral extension of an adjacent side face. This way, the plate stack device can be assembled in a very simple, fast and low-cost way.

The lateral extensions can have any shape suitable for holding a plate. The extensions can for instance be triangular. To provide a good grip between the plate and the plate support, the lateral extensions can comprise an outer tip forming the lowest point of the extension. This can for instance be obtained by providing the lateral extensions with a lower edge extending downwardly away from the column making an angle of less than about 5°, e.g., less than 2°, with the horizontal.

The plate stacking device can be used for a large range of plate sizes if the lower projection is adjustable in height relative to the lateral extensions. This can for example be achieved with a frame of beam carrying the third projections of one side, wherein the beam or frame is slideable within the column, wherein the third projections project through vertical slots centrally arranged in the side faces of the column .

To protect the stacked plates the lateral extensions and/or the lower projections can be capped with a protective material. To allow use within an oven or steamer the protective material can for example be a heat resistant silicone plastic.

The plate supports are typically equally sized and arranged at equal distance above each other. However, if so desired the distances between the plate supports can be different and/or the size and shapes of the various plate supports can be different, for instance if plates or trays of different size or shape need to be stacked.

The lower projection of the plate supports can for instance be a pin, a double pin, a bar, a beam or sheet metal strip or have any shape suitable for supporting the lower side of a plate, dish, tray or similar device.

The plate stacking device can stand on a base or it can be designed as a wheeled trolley if so desired.

The plate stacking device will typically have a column with a square or rectangular cross section, presenting four sides for stacking plates.

The invention also relates to a wall element forming a side face of a plate stacking device as disclosed above. Such a wall element can for instance be a sheet metal plate, e.g., sheets of a corrosion resistant steel. The sheet metal plate can be flat. It can be manufactured by cutting the contour, e.g., by punching or by laser cutting. To assemble a plate stack device, four wall elements can be coupled at their longitudinal edges by positioning the lateral extensions of one element crosswise between the extensions of the two adjacent elements. The distance between the lateral extensions can be the same as the height of the extensions at the edges. This way, the lateral extensions of one wall element fit between two extensions of an adjacent wall element to form a device with substantially identically spaced and sized plate supports on adjacent sides. At the edge of the column the lateral extensions can be provided with a slit for receiving the upper section of the lateral extension below it.

The present invention will be elucidated with reference to the figures wherein:

Figure 1:

shows an exemplary embodiment of a plate stacking device according to the invention;

Figure 2:

shows the device of Figure 1 with two stacked

<td></td><td> plates;</td>

<td> Figure 3:</td><td> shows a side view of the device of Figure 1;</td>

<td> Figure 4:</td><td> shows a wall element of the device of Figure 1 .</td>

<td> Figure 5:</td><td> -L r shows a cross section of the device of Figure 1 along the line V - V in Figure 3;</td>

Figure 6:

shows the device of Figure 1 in exploded view;

Figure 7:

shows the top section of a second embodiment of a plate stack device according to the invention;

Figure 8:

Figure 9:

Figure 10:

shows a strip for forming a projection of a plate support of the stack device in Figure 7;

shows a profile for an inner column of the device in Figure 7;

shows in cross section an inner column of the device of Figure 7.

Figure 1 shows a plate stacking device 1 according to the present invention. The same device is shown in exploded view in Figure 6. The plate stacking device 1 comprises a vertical column 2 with a plurality of plate supports 3 at four side faces 4A, 4B. Each plate support 3 comprises two symmetrically arranged projections 5 horizontally substantially in line with each other, and a longer third projection 6 which lies substantially centrally below the other two projections 5.

The two symmetrically arranged projections 5 of each plate support 3 are triangular lateral extensions of adjacent side faces 4A, 4B. These extensions 5 extend beyond the vertical edges 7 of the column 2. The lateral extensions 5 of one side face 4A are orthogonally and alternately arranged between the lateral extensions 5 of an adjacent side face 4B. At the edge 7 of the column 2 the lower edge 8 of the lateral extension 5 is provided with a slit 9. The slit 9 receives a top section 10 of a lower lateral extension 5 of the adjacent side face.

As shown in Figure 3, the lower edges 8 of the lateral side face extensions 5 extend downwardly away from the column 2 and make an angle a of about 1-2° with the horizontal. The outer tip 11 of the extension 5 forms the lowest point of the extension 5.

The edges of the lateral extensions 5 are protected with a cover 12 of a protective heat resistant material. Similarly, the outer end of the lower projections 6 are protected with a heat resistant cap 13.

As shown in Figure 2, a plate or dish 14 can be stacked by placing it in a plate support 3 where it rests on the lower projection 6 (shown in interrupted line in Figure 2) of the plate support 3 while the plate is balanced by the two lateral extensions 5. The plates 14 can carry food products which are ready for serving or which may need to be treated in an oven, steamer, cooling or other station for food preparation .

In the shown embodiment, the length L of the lower projection 6 (see Figure 3) is about 3 times the distance M of the outer tip 11 to the column 2. Depending on the type, shape and size of the dishes to be stacked, the lower projection can be longer or smaller. The vertical distance N between the lower projection and the outer tip 11 of the lateral side face extensions 5 is adjustable.

The side faces 4A, 4B with the lateral extensions 5 are formed by wall elements 15 made of a flat strip of sheet metal manufactured by laser cutting. Such a wall element 15 is shown in Figure 4 together with a vertically arranged hollow beam 16 carrying the lower projections 6 which project through vertical slots 17 (see Figure 1) extending along the longitudinal center line of the wall element 15. The distance between the projections 6 is substantially the same as the distance between the center points of the slots 17. This way the projections 6 can all be moved simultaneously up and down within the respective slots 17 by moving the hollow beam 16 up and down relative to the wall element 15. Instead of a hollow beam, a solid beam can be used.

Figure 5 shows a cross section of the plate stack device 1 along the line V - V in Figure 3. Four wall elements 15 are assembled to form the column 2 which is square in cross section. Lateral extensions 5 extend beyond the edges 7 of the column 2. The hollow beams 16 are positioned centrally at the inner side of each wall element 15, carrying projections 6 which project through the slots 17 in the corresponding wall element 15. The four hollow beams 16 are kept in place by a spacer 18. In this particular embodiment the spacer 18 is a sheet metal square part with square or rectangular recesses 19 for receiving the hollow beams 16.

If so desired, the spacers 18 can also have any other suitable alternative outline effectively spacing the beams 16 .

Within the column 2 a plurality of spacers 18 is held at regular distance above one another by a threaded rod 25, as shown in Figure 6. The rod 25 runs through threaded central openings 20 in each of the spacers 18.

As shown in Figure 1 the column 2 is capped by a lid 21 provided with slits 22 near the edges for receiving matching ledges 23 at the top side of the wall elements 15. The lid 21 supports four rotary knobs 24 connected to the respective top ends of the four hollow beams 16. These knobs 24 cooperate with the hollow beams 16 as set screws for adjustment of the height of the hollow beams 16. By rotating one of these knobs 24 the corresponding hollow beam 16 is lifted or lowered together with the projections 6 carried by the respective hollow beam 16. This way, the height of the projections 6 at one side of the column can be adjusted by rotating the respective knob 24. The height of the projections 6 at one side of the column can be adjusted independently from the height of the projections 6 at the other sides. This way, the four sides of the column can be configured for use with plates of different sizes or shapes.

Figure 7 shows the top end of a second possible embodiment of a plate stacking device 30 in exploded view. Parts similar to parts in the first embodiment are indicated with the same referential numbers. The plate stacking device 30 comprises a vertical column 2 with side faces 4A, 4B provided with upper projections 5 and longer lower projections 31. Lower projections 31 at the same height at opposite sides of the column 2 are made of one single strip 32, shown separately in Figure 8. These strips 32 are held between four angled profiles 33 which are bent twice in cross section symmetrically over 135 degrees, as shown in Figure 9. The strips 32 and the profiles 33 are provided with openings 29 for receiving fastening elements for joining the strips 32 and the profiles 33, as shown in cross section in Figure 10. This way, the four joint profiles 33 form an inner column 34 with the strips 32 extending from all four sides .

The side panels 35A, 35B are provided with vertical slits for receiving the strips 32. After positioning the panels 35A, 35B, the ends of the strips 32 are provided with protective caps 38. The top ends of the panels 35A, 35 B are provided with a horizontal slit 39. The top ends of two opposite panels 35A are provided with a ledge 40, while the other two panels 35B have top ends provided with recesses 41 flanked by two projections 42.

The top ends of the profiles 33 are provided with horizontal slits 43. A horizontally positioned cross 44 has four arms extending through these slits 43. The ends of the arms 45 of the cross 44 are provided with screw threaded openings .

The top of the column 2 is capped by a square top cover plate 47 with side ledges 48 at each side. These side ledges 48 are received in the horizontal slits 39 at the top ends of the side panels 35A, 35B. Two opposite corners of the square top cover plate 47 are provided with openings 49, while the two other corners are provided with screw threaded pins 50.

A circular top plate 51 is placed on top of the square top cover plate 47. The circular plate 51 comprises four openings 52, 53. Two opposite openings 52 receive the pins

50, while the two other openings 53 are in line with the openings 49 of the square top cover plate 47 and openings in two opposite arms 45 of the cross 44. The circular plate 51 further comprises two opposite longer slits 54 for receiving the ledges 40 at the top ends of side panels 35A. The longer slits 54 in the circular plate 51 are flanked by two shorter slits 55 under right angels with the longer slits 54. These shorter slits 55 receive the projections 42 at the top ends of side panels 35B. Nuts 56 cooperate with the screw threaded pins 50 to fasten the circular plate 51 to the square top cover plate 47. The top ends of the screw threaded pins 50 can for instance be used to attach the column 2 to a frame (not shown).

Two adjustment screws 57 provided with knobs 58 at their respective top ends are inserted into the two opposite openings 53 in the circular plate, the openings 49 of the square top cover plate 47 and the screw threaded openings 46 in two opposite arms 45 of the cross 44. By rotating the knobs 58, the distance between the cross 44 and the square top cover plate can be adjusted. The inner column 34 with the projections moves vertically with the cross

44, while the side panels

35A, 35B stay in place. The length of the slits 36 receiving the projections 31 is such that the height of the projections 31 can be adjusted over a desired distance. This way, the height of the projections 31 can be adjusted at all sides simultaneously.