1. Method for preserving at the same time tobacco-based products and bottled or similarly packed beverages, comprising a refrigeration phase to cool down air at a temperature above 0C., characterized in that said refrigeration phase takes place in a position situated below the compartments in which both the beverages and the tobacco-based products are separately stored, and in that it comprises sequencially and cyclically the phases of:
generation of a forced flow of refrigerated and moist air along an ascending column,
utilization of said ascending air column to refrigerate the beverages stored in a first compartment,
circulation of the air at controlled conditions of temperature and relative-humidity through a second compartment, in which there are stored the tobacco-based products, and which is in communication with said first compartment,
creation of a plurality of flows of substantially dried air around said ascending column, and in countercurrent with respect thereto, along walls of the first compartment down to the position in which said refrigeration phase takes place to cool down the air.
2. Apparatus to carry out the method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises in a single cabinet (100) a lower compartment (110) accommodating an entire refrigerating unit (50), an intermediate compartment (120) adapted to accommodate bottled or similarly packed beverages (B1, B2) andor other fresh food products, an upper compartment (140) adapted to accommodate cigars (S1, S2) andor other tobacco-based products, in which the walls (125, 141) separating said compartments (110, 120, 140) from each other comprise central portions (126, 142) provided with a plurality of through-perforations (127, 143) and, along their periphery, through-slots (128, 144).
3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the per se known refrigerating unit (50) consists of a casing (51) that encloses a sandwich arrangement comprising a plurality of Peltier cells, an upper heat sink (56) with a first motor-fan (57) associated therewith, and a lower heat sink (58) with a second motor-fan (59) associated therewith.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the delivery side of the first motor-fan (57) is connected with the central perforated portion (126) of the partition wall (125) between the first compartment (110) and the second compartment (120) via a connection conduit (60), whereas the intake side thereof is situated in correspondence of the upper heat sink (56) and is adapted to receive the descending air flows entering through the peripheral slots (128) provided in the same wall (125).
5. Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the second motor-fan (59), associated with said lower heat sink (58), moves air that is taken in from and conveyed back to the outside ambient.
6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the side walls (121) and rear wall (122), as well as the full-height front door (123) are made with panels of clear, see-through material, preferably with panes of crystal glass of the so-called thermopane type.
7. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims 2 to 6, characterized in that a panel (130) made of a see-through material, preferably a pane of crystal glass, is arranged inside said second compartment (120) so as to be given an inclined posture closer to the rear wall (122) than to the door (123), and is provided with a plurality of through-perforations (131) that are adapted to accommodate the necks of the bottles (B1, B2) andor the cans in which the beverages are packed.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that said through-perforations (131) of the inclined panel (130) have radiused and flared ends (132, 133) so as to enable the bottles (B1, B2) to take the desired layout.
9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that said inclined panel (130) rests with the lower edge (134) thereof in a groove (129) provided in the wall (125) separating the first compartment (110) from the second compartment (120), and is so arranged as to subdivide said second compartment into a first part (A) facing the door (123) and a second part (B) facing the rear wall (122) thereof, the said first part (A) being much larger than the said second part (B).
10. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims 2 to 9, characterized in that said third compartment (140) is entirely made of wood, preferably aromatic wood, including the wall (141) separating it from the second compartment (120) therebelow, as well as a partition panel (150) for supporting the tobacco-based products (S1, S2), which is parallel to said partition wall (141) and provided with a plurality of through-apertures (151).
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A portable thermal imaging analysis apparatus for analyzing a specimen, comprising:
a frame that removably attaches to the specimen;
a sound source mounted to the frame;
a thermal imaging camera for generating thermal images of the specimen; and
a controller connected to said sound source and said thermal imaging camera.
2. The portable thermal imaging analysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sound source is mounted to said frame via an actuator mounted to said frame that moves said sound source towards and away from the specimen.
3. The portable thermal imaging analysis apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said actuator is pneumatic.
4. The portable thermal imaging analysis apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said actuator moves said sound source into contact with the specimen.
5. The portable thermal imaging analysis apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said actuator moves said sound source into contact with the specimen with approximately 10 pounds of pressure to approximately 25 pounds of pressure.
6. The portable thermal imaging analysis apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said actuator moves said sound source into contact with the specimen with approximately 15 pounds of pressure to approximately 20 pounds of pressure.
7. The portable thermal imaging analysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sound source is an ultrasonic transducer.
8. The portable thermal imaging analysis apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a coupler between said sound source and the specimen, providing contact between said sound source and the specimen.
9. The portable thermal imaging analysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thermal imaging camera is pivotably mounted on said frame for movement relative to the specimen.
10. The portable thermal imaging analysis apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an attaching system for attaching said frame to the specimen.
11. The portable thermal imaging analysis apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said attaching system operates by vacuum.
12. The portable thermal imaging analysis apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said attaching system includes suction cups that attach to the specimen by vacuum.
13. The portable thermal imaging analysis apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said attaching system further comprises:
a supply of compressed air;
a venturi connected to said supply of compressed air, said venturi having a vacuum output port; and
at least one suction cup connected to the vacuum outlet port by a conduit.
14. A portable thermal imaging analysis apparatus for analyzing a specimen, comprising:
attaching means removably attaching to the specimen;
sound producing means mounted to the attaching means;
means for generating thermal images of the specimen; and
means for controlling the sound producing means and the means for generating thermal images.
15. The portable thermal imaging analysis apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said sound producing means is mounted to said attaching means via actuating means mounted to said frame that moves said sound source towards and away from the specimen.
16. The portable thermal imaging analysis apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said actuating means moves said sound producing means into contact with the specimen.
17. The portable thermal imaging analysis apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a means for coupling said sound producing means and the specimen, providing contact between said sound producing means and the specimen.
18. The portable thermal imaging analysis apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said attaching means comprises:
means for supplying compressed air;
means for supplying vacuum; and
at least one suction cup connected to the vacuum supplying means by a conduit.
19. A method for analyzing a specimen comprising the steps of:
attaching a frame to the specimen that supports a sound source;
emitting a sound signal onto the specimen with the sound source; and
generating a thermal image of the specimen.
20. The method for analyzing a specmimen according to claim 19, wherein the step of attaching the frame uses vacuum.