Temperature control plate and self-service shelf with a temperature control plate

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional temperature-control panels used in the food service industry, particularly in self-service dispensing shelves, pose risks of skin burns due to high thermal conductivity materials like stainless steel and lack efficient temperature control, leading to inefficient product retrieval and microbiological concerns.

Innovation Solution

A temperature-control panel with main outer surfaces made of glass, featuring a heating or cooling layer between glass plates, allowing for independent temperature control of different areas, reducing thermal conductivity, and incorporating non-heated edges to minimize heat transfer and prevent burns, while maintaining product core temperature.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a heating plate made of stainless steel is heated to high temperatures (100-130°C) to maintain product core temperature of 65°C, then the product microbiological safety is improved, but the risk of skin burns to customers increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicrobiological safetyVSAvoidskin burn risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The heating plate uses a composite structure with an inner core made of stainless steel (for heat retention and microbiological safety) and an outer layer made of glass or plastic (for thermal insulation and customer safety). This composite material approach allows the plate to maintain high temperatures for product safety while protecting customers from burns through the low thermal conductivity outer layer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If the entire heating plate surface is heated to high temperature, then product temperature control is effective, but the usability for customer access and product retrieval deteriorates due to burn risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature control effectivenessVSAvoidcustomer access safety

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The heating plate implements local quality by creating distinct thermal zones: a central heated area that maintains product temperature for microbiological safety, and peripheral unheated or low-temperature zones that provide safe customer access areas. This allows different regions of the same plate to serve different functions - product preservation and customer safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If a stainless steel heating plate is used, then the structural strength and durability are improved, but the thermal conductivity is too high causing excessive heat loss and energy consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural durabilityVSAvoidheat dissipation

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The plate uses a composite structure where the stainless steel core provides structural strength and heat retention, while the outer glass or plastic layer provides thermal insulation. This combination reduces heat dissipation to the environment and improves energy efficiency while maintaining the mechanical durability needed for commercial use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

4Ease of operation

If the heating plate edge is made wide and unheated for easy handling and device fixation, then the ease of handling is improved, but the usable heating area and productivity are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandling easeVSAvoidusable heating area

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The plate features a composite structure where the central stainless steel core provides the heating surface for maximum product area, while the peripheral glass or plastic edge provides a non-heated handling zone. This allows the plate to maintain large usable heating area while providing safe edges for customer handling and device fixation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The glass-based temperature-control panel effectively maintains product core temperature while preventing burns and reducing energy consumption by minimizing heat dissipation and air temperature gradients, enabling safer and more efficient customer access and product retrieval.

Implementation Method 1

A temperature-control panel with main outer surfaces made of glass, featuring a heating or cooling layer between glass plates

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

at least one of the main outer surfaces of the temperature-control panel... are made of a material with a lower thermal conductivity than iron or steel, in particular stainless steel, and namely preferably of glass

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 3

the products placed thereon must be maintained at least at a core temperature of 65° C. to keep the microbial growth in the product low

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11576500B2Temperature control plate and self-service shelf with a temperature control plate

Publication Date: 2023.02.14 LIDL STIFTUNG & CO KG

AI summary

To be able to keep warm or to cool products that are placed on the individual shelves (6) of a dispensing shelf (1), the shelves (6) are embodied as electrically operated temperature-control panels (50), wherein the temperature-control panels (50) as well as particularly the base frame (19) of the dispensing shelf (1) are adjusted to each other in a specific manner.