Goods display furniture and method for displaying food

Abstract

The invention relates to a product display unit and a method for storing and presenting foodstuffs, in particular meat-containing products, wherein the product display unit comprises a light source (1) for illuminating the foodstuff, wherein the light source emits light with a color point within a rectangle in the CIE diagram with the vertices x=0.41, x=0.45, y=0.33 and y=0.36.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a product display unit for storing and presenting foodstuffs, in particular meat-containing products. The invention further relates to a method for storing and presenting foodstuffs and the use of a lighting device for illuminating meat-containing products. The invention particularly relates to a refrigerated unit, such as a refrigerated shelf or freezer, as product display unit.

[0002] It is well known that meat products, such as meat and / or sausage products, are illuminated in product display cabinets using special light sources to make the products appear fresh and high-quality. For this purpose, the light emitted by these special light sources has a higher red component. Examples of special light sources used include white-emitting light sources with a tinted optical lens. Fluorescent tubes and LED-based light sources are also known specifically for illuminating meat and sausage products. Examples of light sources used for illuminating food include the MULTIFRIO V5D light source from self electronics or the InteGrade engine Va Rose G4 light source from Phillips.

[0003] However, the relatively high red component of the light emitted by these special lamps masks the white fat components in meat products and the marbling in fresh meat, which can make these products look unnatural.

[0004] The meat products offered are also subject to degradation, which involves graying. This graying depends, among other things, on the animal feed, the living conditions and slaughter of the animals, as well as the processing, storage (e.g., temperature), packaging, the ambient atmosphere, and chemical treatment of the meat products. However, graying also depends to a large extent on the lighting of the meat products in a product display cabinet.

[0005] Due to the greying of meat-containing foods caused by lighting, hundreds of thousands of tons of meat and sausage products are disposed of every year because the visual appearance no longer meets customer expectations due to the greying, even though the meat and sausage products are otherwise considered fresh and edible.

[0006] The object of the present invention is therefore to eliminate the disadvantages described with reference to the prior art and, in particular, to provide a product display unit and a method for storing and presenting foodstuffs that can reduce the disposal of otherwise edible and consumable meat-containing foods. In particular, the aim is to provide a product display unit and a method that emphasizes the marbling and visual presentation of the meat-containing product with high contrast and simultaneously minimizes the graying of the meat-containing product.

[0007] A solution to the problem is provided by the merchandise display unit and the method of the respective independent claim. Further solutions and advantageous developments are specified in the above and following descriptions as well as in the dependent claims, whereby individual features of the advantageous developments can be combined with one another in a technically expedient manner. Features disclosed with reference to the merchandise display unit are applicable to the method and the use, and vice versa.

[0008] The problem is solved in particular by a product display cabinet for storing and presenting foodstuffs and in particular meat-containing products, such as sausages and / or meat products, wherein the product display cabinet comprises a light source for illuminating the foodstuff and the light source emits light with a color location within a rectangle in the CIE diagram with the corner points x=0.41, x=0.45, y=0.33 and y=0.36.

[0009] The problem is also solved by a method for storing and presenting foodstuffs, in particular meat-containing products such as sausages and meat products, comprising at least the following steps: Providing a food item in a product display cabinet, illuminating the food item with light, wherein the light has a color location within a rectangle in the CIE diagram with the corner points x=0.41, x=0.45, y=0.33 and y=0.36.

[0010] It is also proposed to use a luminous means for illuminating meat products, such as meat and / or sausage products, wherein the light emitted by the luminous means has a CIE value within a rectangle in the CIE diagram with the corner points x=0.41, x=0.45, y=0.33 and y=0.36.

[0011] The product display unit can, for example, be a shelf with multiple shelves, with at least one light source aligned to illuminate the food arranged on the shelves. However, it is preferred that the product display unit be designed as a refrigerated unit, such as a freezer or refrigerated shelf. In this case, at least one light source is mounted and aligned to illuminate chilled or frozen food, in particular meat products, in a shelf compartment of the refrigerated shelf or in a compartment of the freezer. The (deep) refrigerated unit thus has a cooling unit with which the food can be cooled in the refrigerated unit.

[0012] The specified CIE values ​​refer to x- and y-values ​​in the CIE 1931 color space. As is known to those skilled in the art, the color coordinate in the CIE color space is specified using an x-value and a y-value. The color coordinate can be specified, for example, in the following notation: (x-value = y-value).

[0013] The light source can be realized by a fluorescent tube whose emission spectrum is adjusted so that the color location of the light emitted by the fluorescent tube lies in the claimed range of the CIE color space.

[0014] The illuminant preferably comprises one or more LED light sources. The illuminant may, for example, comprise a red-light-emitting (in particular dye-converted) LED, a blue-light-emitting LED, and a green-light-emitting (in particular dye-converted) LED, wherein the relative intensity of the individual LEDs is adjusted such that the mixed light has a color location within the claimed range. Alternatively, a single LED, for example, emitting blue light, may be coated with one or more dyes, wherein the amount of the one or more dyes is selected such that light is emitted with a color location within the claimed range.It can also be provided that in a light source comprising several LED light sources, at least one of the LEDs comprises an LED element emitting, for example, blue light and a dye layer comprising one or more dyes, so that the LED (then also referred to as dye-converted) emits red or green light.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the light emitted by the luminous means has a spectrum with a first maximum in a range from 450 to 480 nm and a second maximum in a range from 610 to 655 nm, wherein the second maximum preferably has 0.7 times to 1.3 times, particularly preferably 0.8 times to 1.2 times the intensity of the first maximum. If there are several local maxima in the spectrum in one of the ranges, the maximum with the highest intensity is selected to form the ratio with the maximum of another range. In this context, it is particularly preferred if a dye-converted LED for generating red light has at least two, preferably exactly three (local) maxima in the range from 610 nm and 655 nm in its spectrum. Thus, the spectrum in the range from 610 to 655 nm has, in addition to the second maximum, at least one further local maximum, preferably exactly two further local maxima.This can be achieved, for example, by using the dye TriGain from GM and / or the dye F90 from Bridgelux as the dye of the red light-emitting dye-converted LED.

[0016] It is preferably provided that the optical power (also called radiant flux or radiant power) of the emitted light in a wavelength range up to 480 nm is 10% to 20%, preferably 15% to 18% of the total optical power of the emitted light, wherein the optical power of the emitted light in a wavelength range from 480 nm to 600 nm is 30% to 50%, preferably 34% to 48% of the total optical power of the emitted light and wherein the optical power of the emitted light in a wavelength range from 600 nm is 30% to 50%, preferably 33% to 50% of the optical power of the emitted light.

[0017] In one embodiment, for example, it can be provided that the optical power of the emitted light in a wavelength range up to 480 nm is 15% to 17% of the total optical power of the emitted light, wherein the optical power of the emitted light in a wavelength range from 480 nm to 600 nm is 33% to 35% of the total optical power of the emitted light and wherein the optical power of the emitted light in a wavelength range from 600 nm is 49% to 51% of the optical power of the emitted light.

[0018] In a further embodiment, it can be provided that the optical power of the emitted light in a wavelength range up to 480 nm is 14% to 16% of the total optical power of the emitted light, wherein the optical power of the emitted light in a wavelength range from 480 nm to 600 nm is 45% to 47% of the total optical power of the emitted light and wherein the optical power of the emitted light in a wavelength range from 600 nm is 38% to 40% of the optical power of the emitted light.

[0019] In a further embodiment, it can be provided that the optical power of the emitted light in a wavelength range up to 480 nm is 17% to 19% of the total optical power of the emitted light, wherein the optical power of the emitted light in a wavelength range from 480 nm to 600 nm is 47% to 49% of the total optical power of the emitted light and wherein the optical power of the emitted light in a wavelength range from 600 nm is 33% to 35% of the optical power of the emitted light.

[0020] In a further embodiment, it can be provided that the optical power of the emitted light in a wavelength range up to 480 nm is 15% to 17% of the total optical power of the emitted light, wherein the optical power of the emitted light in a wavelength range from 480 nm to 600 nm is 36% to 38% of the total optical power of the emitted light and wherein the optical power of the emitted light in a wavelength range from 600 nm is 46% to 48% of the optical power of the emitted light.

[0021] For example, the light source can be configured and / or operated to emit light having a color coordinate system with a CIE x-value of 0.42 and a CIE y-value of 0.35. In another example, the light source can be configured and / or operated to emit light having a color coordinate system with a CIE x-value of 0.44 and a CIE y-value of 0.35. In yet another example, the light source can be configured and / or operated to emit light having a color coordinate system with a CIE x-value of 0.42 and a CIE y-value of 0.34.

[0022] If the lighting device comprises at least one LED light source, the luminaire preferably comprises a heat sink, in particular made of an extruded strip, and an LED module comprising the LED light source, which is thermally attached to the heat sink. The lighting device can also comprise a cover or an optical lens that diffuses the emitted light, directs it onto the meat-containing product, and / or minimizes glare. The luminaire can also comprise a control module for dimming, switching on / off, and / or color control.

[0023] Tests have confirmed that the graying of meat products can be minimized by using light with a color coordinate within the claimed range of the CIE 1931 color space. A meat product ("Extrawurst von Messner" from BILLA) was illuminated in a sealed measuring chamber using the respective illuminant. Reflectance spectra of the meat product were recorded at the beginning of the test and after 210 minutes using a Konica Minolta CM-36 spectrophotometer. The illuminant in the measuring chamber was adjusted so that 1000 lx could be measured on the meat product.

[0024] In Figure 7 Reflection spectra at the start of the test and after 210 minutes of the meat-containing product when illuminated with a conventional LED module emitting white light with a color temperature of 4200 K, as commonly used in refrigerated cabinets, are shown.

[0025] In Figure 8In contrast, reflection spectra are shown at the beginning of the test and after 210 minutes with the same test setup, but with a light source in which the emitted light has a color location with a CIE x value of 0.42 and a CIE y value of 0.35 and whose spectrum in Figure 4 is shown.

[0026] It is clearly visible that the sample irradiated with the conventional light source (color temperature of 4200 K) exhibits lower reflectance in the red spectral range (600 nm to 740 nm) after 210 minutes. Lower reflectance corresponds to greater graying, as less red light is reflected by the meat-containing product.

[0027] The decrease in reflection in the red range is smaller after 210 minutes when the meat-containing product is illuminated with a light source that emits light with a color location in the inventive range of the color space, so that there is less graying of the meat-containing product.

[0028] The invention and the technical environment are explained below using the figures as examples. They show schematically Figure 1: a product display cabinet with light sources, Figure 2: a partial perspective view of a light source, Figure 3: an emission spectrum of a first light source, Figure 4: an emission spectrum of a second light source, Figure 5: the CIE 1931 color space, Figure 6: a section of the color space according to Figure 5with the marking of the range according to the invention, Figure 7: Reflection spectra of a meat-containing product with an LED module from the prior art and Figure 8: Reflection spectra of a meat-containing product when illuminated with light with a color location from the range according to the invention.

[0029] In Figure 1 A product display unit designed as a shelf is shown, on whose shelves 5 a light with a light source 1 is mounted, extending along the front edge of the shelf 5. The light is mounted and aligned in such a way that a food item arranged in the shelf compartment formed below the light is illuminated. The product display unit can also be designed as a refrigerated unit, such as a freezer or refrigerated shelf with a corresponding refrigeration unit.

[0030] In Figure 2A luminaire is shown that comprises a longitudinally extending heat sink 2 made of an extruded profile. The light source 1 is arranged on the heat sink 2 and is covered by a cover 6 that scatters the light emitted by the light source 1. The light source 1 comprises a red light-emitting LED, a blue light-emitting LED, and a green light-emitting LED, wherein the intensity of the light emitted by each LED is adjusted so that the mixed light has a desired color location.

[0031] In Figure 5 In this regard, the CIE 1931 color space is represented by the Planck curve. The CIE 1931 color space is well known as such.

[0032] In Figure 6A partial enlargement of the CIE 1931 color space is shown, in which the region according to the invention is marked with a rectangle. The rectangle has the following (xy) CIE values ​​as corner points: (0.4110.33), (0.41|0.36), (0.4510.36), and (0.4510.33).

[0033] The light source 1 can be operated in such a way that the emitted light Figures 3 and 4 The emission spectrum has a first peak 3 at 460 nm and a second peak 4 at 630 nm, with the first peak 3 being due to the emission of the blue-emitting LED and the second peak 4 being due to the emission of the red-emitting LED. The shoulder in the spectrum between the two peaks 3 and 4 is due to the emission of the green-emitting LED.

[0034] The light with the spectrum of Figure 3 has a color coordinate of (0,4410,35), while the light with the spectrum from Figure 4 has a color coordinate of (0,4210,35).

[0035] As already explained above, the comparison of the Figures 7 and 8 It is evident that when meat products are illuminated with light having a color coordinate within the inventive range of the CIE diagram, the graying of the meat product is minimized, while at the same time the illuminated meat product is displayed with high contrast. Since the visual appearance of the meat product thus meets customer expectations for longer, the disposal of edible meat products is reduced. List of reference symbols

[0036] 1Light source 2Heat sink 3First maximum 4Second maximum 5Shelf 6Cover 7Reflection spectrum at the start of the test 8Reflection spectrum after 210 minutes

Claims

1. Product display furniture for storing and presenting foodstuffs, in particular meat-containing products, wherein the product display furniture comprises a light source (1) for illuminating the foodstuff, characterized in that the illuminant (1) emits light with a color location within a rectangle in the CIE diagram with the corner points x=0.41, x=0.45, y=0.33 and y=0.

36.

2. Goods display furniture according to claim 1, wherein the light has a spectrum with a first maximum (3) in a range of 450 to 480 nm and a second maximum (4) in a range of 610 to 655 nm.

3. Goods display furniture according to claim 2, wherein the second maximum (4) has 0.7 to 1.3 times the intensity of the first maximum (3).

4. Goods display furniture according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the spectrum has a third maximum in a range from 520 nm to 570 nm, wherein the third maximum has 0.3 to 0.6 times the intensity of the first maximum (3).

5. Goods display furniture according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the spectrum in the range from 610 to 655 nm has, in addition to the second maximum (3), at least one further local maximum (9), preferably exactly two further local maxima (9).

6. Goods display furniture according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the optical power of the emitted light in a wavelength range up to 480 nm is 10% to 20%, preferably 15% to 18% of the total optical power of the emitted light, wherein the optical power of the emitted light in a wavelength range from 480 nm to 600 nm is 30% to 50%, preferably 34% to 48% of the total optical power of the emitted light and wherein the optical power of the emitted light in a wavelength range from 600 nm is 30% to 50%, preferably 33% to 50% of the optical power of the emitted light.

7. Goods display furniture according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lighting means (1) comprises at least one LED light source.

8. A method for storing and presenting foodstuffs, in particular meat-containing products, comprising at least the following steps: - providing a foodstuff in a product display unit, - illuminating the foodstuff with light, characterized in that the light has a color location within a rectangle in the CIE diagram with the corner points x=0.41, x=0.45, y=0.33 and y=0.

36.

9. Use of a lamp to illuminate meat products, characterized in that the light emitted by the illuminant (1) has a color location within a rectangle in the CIE diagram with the corner points x=0.41, x=0.45, y=0.33 and y=0.36.

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