Flow-regulated display counter

Abstract

The present invention relates to a flow-regulated display counter with a cooling compartment, in particular a display compartment for displaying foodstuffs, which is always at least partially open at the top and is designed and intended for cooling and / or storing foodstuffs, preferably at at least -10 degrees Celsius and at most +10 degrees Celsius, preferably from at least 0 degrees Celsius to at most 5 degrees Celsius, and a method for cooling goods in a display counter.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a flow-regulated display counter with a cooling compartment that is always at least partially open at the top, in particular a display compartment for displaying foodstuffs to be removed, which is designed and intended to cool and / or store foodstuffs to be removed, preferably at at least -10 degrees Celsius and at most +10 degrees Celsius, preferably from at least 0 degrees Celsius to at most 5 degrees Celsius.

[0002] The present invention relates to a display counter with a cooling compartment and an access opening at the front for unimpeded access by a consumer to cooled goods within the display counter, wherein the access opening is not closable and thus permanently open, and to a method for cooling goods in a display counter.

[0003] Display counters with an air curtain have become widely adopted in food markets over the past 15 to 20 years. Such counters offer advantages in the storage and display of chilled food products and the like. These counters generally use two or three air curtains spanning the open front of the counter housing; the innermost air curtain and the one adjacent to it are typically circulated around the counter by airflow channels provided within it. The innermost air curtain is usually the coldest, the second is somewhat warmer, and the third, outermost curtain, if present, is essentially at ambient temperature and serves to enhance the radiant energy of the two inner curtains. Refrigerants are installed in the innermost channel to cool the air flowing past it.From time to time, this innermost passage and the coolants must be defrosted during operation to remove ice that has accumulated on the cooling coil, which comes from the cooled air and tends to impede the proper functioning of the equipment.

[0004] DE 10 2022 105 614 A1 relates to a refrigerated display case with a cold storage compartment and an access opening at the front for unimpeded access by a consumer to refrigerated goods stored inside the display case, as well as a method for cooling refrigerated goods in a refrigerated display case.

[0005] DE 102 05 621 A1 shows that a cabinet has several outlet openings in its rear wall, which direct the cooling airflow(s) upwards with a vertical directional component towards the underside of the horizontal shelf surface. The rear wall can have a flat, profiled structure, with the outlet openings arranged in wall sections of the profiled structure, which itself is inclined upwards or downwards.

[0006] DE 10 2022 131 711 A1 relates to a cover plate, in particular an evaporator cover plate for directing a cooling and / or heat flow and for optically concealing a cooling device within a refrigerated display case, comprising at least one support element for carrying a cover plate structure and at least one cover plate structure which has at least one cover plate element for directing a cooling and / or heat flow and for optically concealing a cooling device within a refrigerated display case, wherein the cover plate element has at least partially a surface area which does not run parallel to a horizontal plane, thus enabling concealment and / or redirection.

[0007] The KR 10 2015 057 109 A concerns a refrigerator with a cooling storage material, more precisely a refrigerator with a cooling storage material in which a storage chamber can be cooled using either a cooling circuit device or a cooling storage material.

[0008] In commercial units of this type, basic types of defrosting systems can be used. The warmer air flowing over the cooling coils melts the snow or ice that has accumulated on them. A second type of defrosting system, which is used much less frequently due to its complexity, is also available.

[0009] Defrosting systems that use air are not new in themselves, but are known. In known systems, such as those described in the preceding patents, special fans are switched on during the defrosting phase to draw air from the flow path of the first cooled air curtain and blow this air into the atmosphere, while simultaneously drawing ambient air into the flow path of this air curtain. During the defrosting phase, in known systems, the air curtain completely dissipates over the open front of the display counter, allowing moisture-laden ambient air to penetrate into the storage area of ​​the display counter. This promotes ice formation in the storage area during the cooling phase.

[0010] US Patent 3,082,612 discloses a refrigerated display case with an air curtain and defrosting device, in which the cooling coils can be defrosted without the need to completely shut down the display case. This display case uses the existing fan for circulating air in the main airflow to draw in ambient air through openings in the lower part of the front of the unit. These openings are closed by covers during normal operation. The ambient air drawn in through these openings is discharged from the main cooling airflow at a point beyond the cooling coils through another opening in the rear of the unit. According to the invention, a display counter with a cooling compartment, in particular a display area for displaying foodstuffs to be removed, which is always at least partially open at the top and is designed and intended for cooling and / or storing foodstuffs to be removed, preferably at at least -10 degrees Celsius and at most +10 degrees Celsius, preferably from at least 0 degrees Celsius to at most 5 degrees Celsius.

[0011] According to the invention, the display counter has a cooling compartment and an access opening at the front for unimpeded access by a consumer to chilled goods stored within the display counter, wherein the access opening is not closable and thus permanently open, characterized in that a means is provided for forming a substantially horizontal air curtain extending from the access opening at least partially towards the floor of the cooling compartment and / or towards an operator's window, which prevents the ambient air from passing through the access opening into the cooling compartment, wherein the return flow of the air curtain, partially heated by the ambient air, is cooled by the means and thus a cooling flow is generated below the return flow to produce the air curtain, in particular wherein the means has at least one vertical channel,which runs essentially perpendicular to the cooling flow along a side wall and within the means, wherein within the cooling chamber the return flow and / or the cooling flow runs in a direction from the floor of the cooling chamber towards the opening of the cooling chamber and an increasingly strong cooling of the airflow occurs along the course along the vertical channel, wherein the cooling flow is thus directed directly towards the floor and at least partially, in particular directed, strikes it.

[0012] According to the invention, at least one vertically extending side wall of the vertical channel is cooled by a coolant, and furthermore, a cooling surface of the side wall is subjected to a targeted surface enlargement in order to increase the cooling surface, and furthermore, the side wall can be removed from the cooling channel without damage by sliding it in and out in the manner of a register insert.

[0013] This offers the advantage of energy savings. For the purposes of the invention, "direct" can mean that the cooling flow is directed directly and precisely, i.e., not or not solely via a cooling circuit, within the upwardly open cooling chamber towards the floor of the cooling chamber. For this purpose, the air outlets of the device can have deflecting elements which, as soon as the cooling flow enters the cooling chamber, ensure direct cooling of the floor, preferably only in a vertical direction.

[0014] For this purpose, the deflection elements can be arranged vertically, one above the other, for example, in a cascade. It is conceivable that the deflection elements are offset from each other in a direction horizontal to the vertical axis, so that no airflow stagnation occurs between them. The uppermost deflection element can project furthest into the cooling chamber horizontally, resulting in a cascaded offset of the individual deflection elements.

[0015] According to at least one embodiment, the side wall has a wave-shaped profile, and the individual waves run essentially parallel to the main flow direction within the cooling channel, in particular also to obtain a laminar flow of the cooling stream.

[0016] According to at least one embodiment, in a lower surface area, for example up to half the height upwards, the side surface is designed such that in a boundary region of the cooling flow very close to the side surface, an at least partially non-laminar flow is generated in order to increase the contact residence time of the cooling flow in this region, wherein a more distant part of the cooling flow at least partially retains its laminar properties and the non-laminar cooling air is pushed or drawn by the laminar cooling air into an upper surface area, and in an upper surface area, a laminar cooling flow as a whole can be generated or maintained for consolidation or regeneration, and the upper region for this purpose has a wave-shaped profile on the side wall, and the individual waves run essentially parallel to the main flow direction within the cooling channel.especially to obtain a laminar flow of the cooling stream.

[0017] According to at least one embodiment, the display counter for generating a turbulent flow has, in particular, flow separation elements extending transversely to the cooling flow direction on the side wall, which are either formed by the side wall itself or by being attached to the side wall.

[0018] According to at least one embodiment, the flow separation elements form honeycomb structures within which the cooling flow becomes trapped, in particular wherein the honeycomb structures are applied separately to the side wall in the manner of a honeycomb structure mat, for example by gluing.

[0019] According to at least one embodiment, the vertical channel is the only vertical channel through which the cooling flow is passed.

[0020] According to at least one embodiment, the display counter differs from a freezer.

[0021] According to at least one embodiment, the display counter has at least one vertically extending side wall of the vertical channel through which a coolant is cooled.

[0022] According to at least one further embodiment, at least one side wall of the vertical channel is formed with a side facing the airflow and a side of the vertical channel opposite this side in a horizontal direction, made of different materials.

[0023] According to at least one embodiment, the display counter is characterized in that a surface of at least one side of the vertical channel is formed with a plastic and / or with a cold-conducting material, in particular wherein cooling is supplied to the airflow via this plastic material in order to cool it.

[0024] According to at least one embodiment, the means is designed and intended to generate a temperature difference of at least 3 degrees, preferably at least 10 degrees, between the cooling flow and the return flow.

[0025] According to at least one embodiment, a lower cooling compartment zone has a lower temperature than an upper one.

[0026] According to at least one embodiment, movable closures are provided on the back of the display counter, which allow access to the cold storage room through the closure openings.

[0027] According to at least one embodiment, the display counter has a mechanical, electrical and / or pneumatic control element by means of which the cooling temperature of the cooling flow can be adjusted.

[0028] Furthermore, the invention described herein comprises a method for cooling goods in a display counter with at least one display counter according to claim 1, wherein cooling of the goods is achieved by activating the means for forming the air curtain. As shown below (though not exhaustively), the following 3D printing technologies are suitable for manufacturing a display counter: 1. The FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) process

[0029] Alternative names: Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), Fused Layer Modeling (FLM)

[0030] The process involves the layer-by-layer application (extrusion) of a material through a hot nozzle. The consumable material, in the form of a long wire (filament) on a spool, is fed by the feed unit into a print head, where it is melted and deposited onto a build plate. The print head and / or build plate are movable in three directions, allowing layers of plastic to be applied one on top of the other. 2. The SLS process (Selective Laser Sintering)

[0031] Unlike sintering, where powdered materials are fused together under heat, SLS selectively uses a laser (alternatively an electron beam or infrared beam). Only a specific portion of the powder is fused together.

[0032] A thin layer of powder is applied to the print bed by the coating unit. The laser (or other energy source) is then precisely aimed at specific points within the powder layer to create the first layer of the print data. During this process, the powder is partially melted and then solidifies again upon slight cooling. The unmelted powder remains around the sintered areas and serves as support material. After a layer has solidified, the print bed lowers by a fraction of a millimeter. The coating unit then moves across the print bed and applies the next layer of powder. The second layer of the print data is then sintered by the laser (or other energy source). In this way, a three-dimensional object is created layer by layer. 3. Three-Dimensional Printing (3DP)

[0033] The 3DP process works very similarly to selective laser sintering, but instead of a directed energy source, a print head moves across the powder. This head deposits tiny droplets of binder onto the underlying powder layers, bonding them together. Otherwise, this process is identical to SLS. 4. Stereolithography (SLA)

[0034] Instead of plastic filament or powdered printing material, the stereolithography process uses liquid resins, so-called photopolymers. These are hardened layer by layer by UV radiation, thus creating three-dimensional objects. For this process, the build platform is lowered step by step into the resin bath. There are also variants (so-called PolyJet processes) that do not use a whole bath of liquid resin. In these, an epoxy resin is applied drop by drop from a nozzle and immediately cured by a UV laser. 5. Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM)Alternative name: Layer Laminated Manufacturing (LLM)

[0035] The process is based neither on chemical reactions nor on a thermal process. A cutting tool (e.g., a knife or carbon dioxide laser) is used to cut a film or sheet (e.g., paper) along its contour, and the layers are glued together. Lowering the build platform then creates a layered object made of glued, overlapping films.

[0036] Using at least one of the above methods, at least one side wall of the cooling channel can be printed, in particular one side wall of the vertical channel.

[0037] The invention mentioned above will be described in more detail below with reference to two figures.

[0038] Fig. Figure 1A shows that at least one side wall 102, 103 of the vertical channel 101 extending in the vertical direction V is cooled by a coolant 100, and further wherein a cooling surface of the side wall 102, 103 is subjected to a targeted increase in surface area in order to increase the cooling surface, and further wherein the side wall 102, 103 can be removed from the cooling channel without damage by sliding it in and out in the manner of a register insert.

[0039] Fig. Figure 1A also shows that the side wall 102 has a wave-shaped profile, and the individual waves run essentially parallel to the main flow direction HAR within the cooling channel, in particular also to obtain a laminar flow LAB of the cooling stream 60.

[0040] Furthermore, one can see in Fig. 1A, that in a lower surface area U1, for example up to half the height H1 upwards, the side surface is designed such that in a boundary region of the cooling flow 60 very close to the side surface 102 an at least partially non-laminar flow NLAB is generated in order to increase a contact residence time of the cooling flow 60 in this region, wherein a more distant part of the cooling flow 60 at least partially retains its laminar properties and the non-laminar cooling air NLAB is pushed or pulled by the laminar cooling air LAB into an upper surface area U2, and in an upper surface area U2 a laminar cooling flow LAB viewed in its entirety can be generated or maintained for consolidation or regeneration, and the upper area U2 for this purpose has the side wall 102 having a wave-shaped profile, and the individual waves run substantially parallel to the main flow direction HAR within the cooling channel,especially to obtain a laminar flow LAR of the cooling stream 60.

[0041] Fig. Figure 1A also shows that, in order to generate a turbulent flow, the side wall 102 has, in particular, flow separation elements extending transversely to the cooling flow direction, which are formed either by the side wall 102 itself or by being attached to the side wall 102, and that the flow separation elements form honeycomb structures within which the cooling flow 60 becomes trapped, in particular wherein the honeycomb structures are applied separately to the side wall 102 in the manner of a honeycomb structure mat, for example by gluing, and that the vertical channel 101 is the only vertical channel 101 through which the cooling flow 60 is passed.

[0042] Fig. Figure 1C shows a display counter 1 with a cooling chamber 3 and an access opening 2 at the front for unimpeded access by a consumer to chilled goods stored within the display counter 1, which is characterized in that a means is provided for forming a substantially horizontal air curtain 70 extending from the access opening 2 at least partially towards the floor of the cooling chamber 4 and / or towards an operator's viewing window, which prevents the ambient air 80 from passing through the access opening 2 into the cooling chamber 3, wherein the return flow 90 of the air curtain 70, partially heated by the ambient air 80, is cooled by the means 100 and thus a cooling flow 60 is generated below the return flow 90 to produce the air curtain 70, in particular wherein the means 100 has at least one vertical channel 101,which runs essentially perpendicular to the cooling flow 60 along a side wall and within the center 100, wherein the return flow 90 and / or the cooling flow 60 runs in a direction from the floor 4 of the cooling chamber 3 towards the opening 2 of the cooling chamber 3 and an increasingly strong cooling of the airflow takes place along the course along the vertical channel 101.

[0043] Fig. Figure 1C also shows that at least one side wall of the vertical channel 101 extending in the vertical direction V is cooled by a coolant 100 and that at least one side wall of the vertical channel 101 with a side facing the airflow 70 is formed with a side of the vertical channel 101 opposite this side in the horizontal direction H of a different material.

[0044] Furthermore, Fig. 1C can be deduced that a surface of at least one side of the vertical channel 101 is formed with a plastic and / or with a cold-conducting material, in particular wherein cooling is supplied to the airflow 70 via this plastic material in order to cool it.

[0045] It is evident from Fig. 1B, that the cooling flow is directed directly and specifically, i.e., not or not only via a cooling flow circuit within the still open-topped cooling chamber towards the floor of the cooling chamber. For this purpose, air outlets 106 are equipped with deflecting elements 105 which ensure that the cooling flow, as soon as it enters the cooling chamber, is directed for direct cooling on the floor, preferably only in the vertical direction V.

[0046] For this purpose, the deflection elements 105 can be arranged one above the other in the vertical direction V, for example, in a cascade arrangement. It is conceivable that the deflection elements are offset from each other in a direction H that runs horizontally to the vertical direction V, so that no airflow stagnation occurs between the deflection elements 105. The uppermost deflection element 105 can project furthest into the cooling chamber in the horizontal direction H, resulting in a cascade offset of the individual deflection elements 105.

[0047] Fig. 1C shows that the means 100 is set up and intended to generate a temperature difference of the cooling flow 60 compared with the return flow 90 of at least 3 degrees, preferably at least 10 degrees, and that a lower cooling zone 50 has a lower temperature than an upper one.

[0048] Furthermore, the Fig. 1C shows that movable closures 18 are provided on the rear of the display counter, which allow access to the cooling room through the closure openings 68 and that the display counter 1 has a mechanical, electrical and / or pneumatic control element 69 by means of which a cooling temperature of the cooling flow 60 can be adjusted.

[0049] It also shows Fig. 1C a method 1000 for cooling goods in a display counter 1 with at least one display counter 1 according to claim 1, wherein cooling of the goods is achieved by switching on the means 100 to form the air curtain 70.

[0050] The invention is not limited by the description based on the exemplary embodiment. Rather, the invention encompasses any new feature, as well as any combination of features, which in particular includes any combination of features in the patent claims, even if this feature or combination itself is not explicitly specified in the patent claims or in the exemplary embodiments. Reference symbol list 1 Flow-regulated display counter 2 Access openings 3 Cold storage room 4 floors 18 movable fasteners 50 lower cold storage zone 60 Cooling current 68 locking openings 69 mechanical, electrical and / or pneumatic control element 70 horizontally running air curtain 80 ambient air 90 Return current 100 means 101 Vertical Channel 102 Side wall 103 Side wall 105 Deflection element 106 air outlets 1000 procedures V vertical direction H horizontal direction HAR Main Flow Direction U1 lower surface area U2 upper surface area H1 half height NLAB non-laminar flow LAB laminar flow

Claims

[1] Display counter (1) with - a cold storage room (3) that is always at least partially open at the top, in particular a display room (3) for displaying foodstuffs to be removed, which is designed and intended for cooling and / or storing foodstuffs to be removed, preferably at least -10 degrees Celsius and at most +10 degrees Celsius, preferably from at least 0 degrees Celsius to at most 5 degrees Celsius, and a - Access opening (2) at the front for unimpeded access by a consumer to chilled goods stored within the display counter (1), wherein the access opening (2) is not closable and is therefore permanently open, - characterized by , that - Means (100) are provided for forming an air curtain (70) extending at least partially from the access opening (2) towards the floor of the cold storage room (4) and / or towards an operator's operating window, which prevents the ambient air (80) from passing through the access opening (2) into the cold storage room (3), wherein - the return flow (90) of the air curtain (70), which is partially heated by the ambient air (80), is cooled by the means (100) and thus a cooling flow (60) is generated below the return flow (90) to produce the air curtain (70), in particular wherein the means (100) has at least one vertical channel (101) which runs substantially perpendicular to the cooling flow (60) along a side wall and within the means (100), wherein within the cooling chamber (3) the return flow (90) and / or the cooling flow (60) runs in a direction from the bottom (4) of the cooling chamber (3) towards the opening (2) of the cooling chamber (3) and an increasingly stronger cooling of the airflow (70) occurs along the course along the vertical channel (101), at least one side wall (102, 103) of the vertical channel (101) extending in the vertical direction (V) is cooled by a coolant (100), and further wherein a cooling surface of the side wall (102, 103) is subjected to a targeted enlargement of the surface area in order to increase the cooling area, and furthermore wherein the side wall (102, 103) can be inserted and removed from the The cooling channel can be removed without damage. [2] Display counter (1) according to claim 1, characterized by, that the side wall (102) has a wave-shaped profile, and the individual waves run essentially parallel to the main flow direction within the cooling channel, in particular also to obtain a laminar flow (LAB) of the cooling flow (60). [3] Display counter (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that in a lower surface area (U1), for example up to half the height (H1) upwards, the side surface is designed such that in a boundary region of the cooling flow (60) very close to the side surface (102) an at least partially non-laminar flow (NLAB) is generated in order to increase a contact residence time of the cooling flow (60) in this region, wherein a more distant part of the cooling flow (60) at least partially retains its laminar properties and the non-laminar cooling air (NLAB) is pushed or drawn by the laminar cooling air (LAB) into an upper surface area (U2), and in an upper surface area (U2) a laminar cooling flow (LAB) viewed in its entirety can be generated or maintained for consolidation or regeneration, and the upper area (U2) has a corrugated profile for this purpose, the side wall (102)and the individual waves run essentially parallel to the main flow direction (HAR) within the cooling channel, in particular also to obtain a laminar flow (LAR) of the cooling stream (60). [4] Display counter (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims characterized by , that to generate a turbulent flow the side wall (102) has in particular flow separation elements extending transversely to the cooling flow direction, which are either formed by the side wall (102) itself or by being attached to the side wall (102). [5] Display counter (1) according to claim 4 characterized by , that the flow separation elements form honeycomb structures within which the cooling flow (60) is trapped, in particular wherein the honeycomb structures are applied separately to the side wall (102) in the manner of a honeycomb structure mat, for example glued on. [6] Display counter (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims characterized by, that the vertical channel (101) is the only vertical channel (101) through which the cooling flow (60) is passed. [7] Display counter (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims characterized by , that a lower cooling zone (50) has a lower temperature than an upper one.

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