Refrigerated cabinet

Abstract

The present invention concerns a refrigerated cabinet (1) comprising a box-shaped containment body (10) comprising a base (11), two side walls (12, 13), a front wall (14), a rear wall (15) and a top cover (16) to delimit within it a main compartment (2), and a refrigeration system (20), which is housed in a technical compartment (5) formed in a seat (6) delimited by said containment body (10) adjacent to said main compartment (2) at the rear wall (15). The containment body (10) in turn comprises an outer box-like structure (100), defined by the reversible coupling between a base body (110) which constitutes the base (11) of the cabinet (1), a plurality of shaped metal sheets (120, 130, 140) which extend to the two side walls (12, 13) and to the front wall (14), and a lid (150) which constitutes the top cover (16). The containment body further comprises an inner box-like structure (200), the walls (210) of which are directly facing the main compartment (2) and define at least the bottom, the two side walls and the ceiling of said main compartment. A gap (300) is delimited between the outer box-like structure (100) and the inner box-like structure (200), which is occupied by a plurality of preformed panels (310, 320, 330, 340) made of heat-insulating material. The containment body (10) further comprises a back body (400) which is suitable to complete said body at the rear wall (15) and on which said refrigeration system (20) is installed. The back body (400) is separably couplable to the rest of the body.

Description

Field of application

[0001] The subject of the present invention is a refrigerated cabinet of the plug-in type.

[0002] In particular, the refrigerated cabinet according to the invention is intended to be used for positive temperature applications, both for chilled beverages and for foodstuffs. Advantageously, the refrigerated cabinet according to the invention can also be used for negative temperature applications (BT).Prior art

[0003] Generally, a refrigerated cabinet of the plug-in type is provided with its own refrigeration system integrated into the cabinet itself.

[0004] A refrigerated cabinet of the plug-in type comprises a box-shaped containment body which delimits within it a main compartment, intended to receive the products to be stored in a refrigerated environment and accessible by means of a door.

[0005] A refrigerated cabinet of the plug-in type also comprises a secondary compartment, which houses the refrigeration system and thus acts as a technical compartment.

[0006] Typically, the containment body consists of a plurality of insulated walls intended to ensure the necessary thermal insulation of the main compartment.

[0007] More specifically, the containment body is obtained by connecting to one another a plurality of walls, for example made of metal, which are then joined together with a polyurethane foam filling so as to form a single body.

[0008] This technical solution - although ensuring mechanical strength and adequate insulation of the cabinet - makes it effectively not easily disassemblable. This significantly limits refrigerated cabinets in terms of flexibility, end-of-life recyclability and useful service life of the product.

[0009] In fact, the polyurethane foam filling makes it difficult to separate at end of life the different materials forming the cabinet. Therefore, the recovery of said materials proves to be inefficient (not all material is recovered) and / or not economically viable.

[0010] The impossibility of disassembling the cabinet also complicates maintenance operations on the cabinet itself, for example to carry out restoration / replacement of damaged or even only aesthetically marred walls, or to perform repair / maintenance operations on the refrigeration system within the technical compartment.

[0011] All this has a negative impact on the useful life of refrigerated cabinets.

[0012] Technically, the aforementioned problems are closely linked to the essential need to ensure airtightness between the main compartment and the technical compartment.

[0013] In the relevant field, there is therefore the need to implement refrigerated cabinets characterised by: greater ease of maintenance, so as to prolong their useful life; end-of-life recyclability.

[0014] There is also the need to facilitate the assembly of refrigerated cabinets on a production line.Disclosure of the invention

[0015] Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to eliminate in whole or in part the drawbacks of the known prior art mentioned above, by providing a refrigerated cabinet of the plug-in type which offers greater ease of maintenance, with regard to components of both the cabinet and the technical compartment.

[0016] A further object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerated cabinet of the plug-in type which, at the end of its service life, is more easily and extensively recyclable in its components.

[0017] A further object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerated cabinet of the plug-in type which offers good airtightness between the main compartment and the technical compartment.

[0018] A further object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerated cabinet of the plug-in type which is simple and easy to manage.

[0019] A further object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerated cabinet of the plug-in type which is effectively insulated from the environment so as to achieve reduced energy consumption.

[0020] A further object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerated cabinet of the plug-in type with reduced assembly times.

[0021] Yet another object is to provide a refrigerated cabinet of the plug-in type which does not require foaming equipment during the manufacturing step.Brief description of the drawings

[0022] The technical features of the invention, according to the aforementioned objects, are clearly identifiable from the content of the claims reported below, and the advantages thereof will become more apparent in the detailed description that follows, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, which represent one or more embodiments thereof purely by way of example and without limitation, in which: Figures 1 and 2 show two perspective views, respectively front and rear, of a refrigerated cabinet according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated in assembled configuration; Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the refrigerated cabinet of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 shows a front perspective view of a component of the refrigerated cabinet of Figure 1, relating to a component that can be used indifferently as base or as top cover; Figure 5 shows a front perspective view of the refrigerated cabinet of Figure 1, during an initial assembly step, in which a plurality of preformed panels of heat-insulating material have been mounted on the base of Figure 4 so as to delimit an insulation around a central volume; Figure 6 shows a front perspective view of the refrigerated cabinet of Figure 5, during a subsequent assembly step, in which a containment tub suitable to delimit the main compartment of the cabinet itself has been inserted inside the central volume; Figure 7 shows a front perspective view of the refrigerated cabinet of Figure 6, during a subsequent assembly step, in which metal side containment walls have been installed externally to the panels made of heat-insulating material, also having the function of completing the aesthetic appearance of the cabinet; Figure 8 shows a front perspective view of the refrigerated cabinet of Figure 7, during a subsequent assembly step, in which a top cover has been installed; Figures 9, 10 and 11 show three front perspective views of the refrigerated cabinet of Figure 8, during subsequent assembly steps, in which, inside the main compartment, on the inner walls of the containment tub, there have been inserted respectively supports for internal shelves, the internal shelves, and LED lighting bars; Figure 12 shows a front perspective view of the refrigerated cabinet of Figure 11, during a subsequent assembly step, in which a closing door of the main compartment has been installed; Figure 13 shows a rear perspective view of the refrigerated cabinet of Figure 12 still not fully assembled, in which a seat intended to receive a rear closure element is visible on the back of the cabinet; Figures 14 and 15 show two front perspective views of a rear closure element intended to be inserted in the seat made on the back of the refrigerated cabinet of Figure 13, the two views respectively illustrating the inner side and the outer side of the rear closure element; Figure 16 shows a perspective view of a support frame of the rear closure element illustrated in Figures 14 and 15; Figure 17 shows a perspective view of the support frame of the rear closure element illustrated in Figure 16 with an associated static wire & tube condenser arranged on the outer side of the closure element; Figure 18 shows a perspective view of the support frame illustrated in Figure 17 with an associated panel of heat-insulating material arranged between the static (not ventilated) wire & tube condenser and the inner side of the closure element; Figure 19 shows a perspective view of the support frame illustrated in Figure 18 with an also associated metal wall covering the panel of heat-insulating material on the inner side of the closure element; Figure 20 shows a perspective view of the support frame illustrated in Figure 19 with an also associated roll bond evaporator on the metal wall placed to cover the panel of heat-insulating material on the inner side of the closure element; Figure 21 shows a perspective view of the support frame illustrated in Figure 20 with an also associated air conveyor covering the roll bond evaporator on the inner side of the closure element; Figure 22 shows a perspective view of the support frame illustrated in Figure 21 with an also associated compressor and some other components of the refrigeration system; Figure 23 shows a perspective view from the outer side of the support frame illustrated in Figure 22 with the complete refrigeration system associated therewith; Figures 24 and 25 show two assembly steps of the outer box-like structure; Figure 26 shows a refrigerated cabinet according to the invention with the back body separated from the containment body; Figure 27 shows a plan section of the cabinet of Figure 1; and Figure 27a shows an enlarged detail of Figure 27 contained in the circle indicated in the figure. Detailed description

[0023] The refrigerated cabinet of the plug-in type according to the invention is overall denoted by 1 in the attached Figures.

[0024] Herein and in the following description and claims, reference will be made to the refrigerated cabinet 1 in its condition of use. In this sense, any references to a lower or upper position, or to a horizontal or vertical orientation, must therefore be understood.

[0025] According to a general embodiment of the invention, the refrigerated cabinet 1 comprises a box-shaped containment body 10 which in turn comprises: a base 11, two side walls 12, 13, a front wall 14, a rear wall 15 and a top cover 16 to delimit within it a main compartment 2, intended to receive the products to be stored in a refrigerated environment.

[0026] The main compartment 2 is accessible through an opening 3 made on the front wall 14 and closed by at least one door 4 hinged to said containment body 10.

[0027] The containment body 10 is provided with insulation 17 to provide thermal insulation to the main compartment 2.

[0028] The refrigerated cabinet 1 comprises a refrigeration system 20, which is housed in a technical compartment 5 formed in a seat 6 delimited by said containment body 10 adjacent to said main compartment 2 at the rear wall 15 and is suitable to generate a circulation of refrigerated air within the main compartment 2.

[0029] According to a first essential aspect of the invention, the containment body 10 in turn comprises an outer box-like structure 100, defined by the reversible coupling between: a base body 110 which constitutes the base 11 of the cabinet 1; a plurality of shaped sheets 120, 130, 140 which extend to the two side walls 12, 13 and to the front wall 14; and a lid 150 which constitutes the top cover 16.

[0030] Advantageously, the base body 110 and the lid 150 (preferably made of plastic material, for example ABS) may be identical to each other and therefore interchangeable.

[0031] Advantageously, the two side walls 12 and 13 may be defined by two shaped metal sheets 120 and 130 which are identical to each other and therefore interchangeable.

[0032] According to a second essential aspect of the invention, the containment body 10 further comprises an inner box-like structure 200, the walls 210 of which are directly facing the main compartment 2 and define at least the bottom, the two side walls and the ceiling of said main compartment.

[0033] According to a third essential aspect of the invention, a gap 300 is delimited between the outer box-like structure 100 and the inner box-like structure 200, which is occupied by a plurality of preformed panels 310, 320, 330, 340 made of heat-insulating material.

[0034] The preformed panels 310-340 may be separate from each other or form a single piece.

[0035] According to a fourth essential aspect of the invention, the containment body 10 further comprises a back body 400 which is suitable to complete said body at the rear wall 15 and on which said refrigeration system 20 is installed. Said back body 400 is separably couplable to the rest of the body.

[0036] Thanks to the invention, the refrigerated cabinet 1 of the plug-in type offers greater ease of maintenance, with regard to components of both the containment body and the technical compartment.

[0037] The containment body 10 is in fact disassemblable in all of its components, starting from the outer box-like structure, passing through the insulation, up to the inner box-like structure. In turn, both the outer box-like structure and the insulation consist of assemblies of elements that are separable from each other. This allows for easy replacement of individual components during possible maintenance operations. This feature is particularly useful with regard to the outer box-like structure, since it allows the replacement of the shaped metal sheets which constitute the side walls. These parts of the containment body are in fact more likely to be subject to damage that negatively affects the aesthetic appearance of the cabinet. The possibility of replacing them makes it possible to prolong the useful life of the cabinet even from an aesthetic point of view.

[0038] In this perspective, the fact that the insulation is obtained by means of preformed panels made of heat-insulating material and not through polyurethane foaming makes the separation of the outer box-like structure or of some of its components from the containment body easy and feasible.

[0039] Similarly, thanks to the fact that the refrigeration system is fully installed on board the back body and that the back body in turn is extractable from the containment body, maintenance of the refrigeration system is greatly facilitated, to the extent that it is also possible to provide for the complete replacement of the refrigeration system without requiring any intervention on the containment body.

[0040] Therefore, thanks to the invention, the repair or replacement of components of the refrigeration system does not necessarily require the presence on site of a qualified operator; the parts to be repaired and / or replaced can be easily separated from the cabinet to be completely replaced or sent for repair to the manufacturing facility or to a specialised centre.

[0041] In particular, the back body, being separable from the rest of the cabinet and housing the entire refrigeration system, constitutes an independent module which can therefore undergo technical interventions even if separated from the rest of the cabinet. Therefore, the entire refrigeration system (incorporated in the back body) may be considered as any replacement part or otherwise repairable at the manufacturing facility or in a specialised centre, separately from the rest of the cabinet.

[0042] The refrigerated cabinet according to the invention can therefore be easily refurbished, also providing for the replacement of the entire refrigeration system. In this way, it is possible to prolong the useful life of the cabinet itself at the lowest possible cost.

[0043] Thanks to the invention, the refrigerated cabinet 1 of the plug-in type is more easily and extensively recyclable in its components at the end of its life.

[0044] In fact, thanks to the fact that the containment body has a shell-type conformation, each of which is made of homogeneous types of material, it becomes particularly easy to separate the different materials used for their recovery and recycling. From this point of view, it is particularly important that the insulation is made through preformed panels (separate or united in a single piece), that is, that the insulation is made separately with independent elements and is not fixed to the remaining parts of the containment body. All this makes the insulation easily separable from the rest of the body. Therefore, unlike what happens in traditional refrigerated cabinets with insulation obtained through polyurethane foaming, in the refrigerated cabinet 1 according to the invention the insulation does not represent an obstacle to the recyclability of the cabinet components at the end of its life.

[0045] Preferably, as illustrated in particular in Figures 3 to 7, the base body 110, the plurality of shaped metal sheets 120, 130, 140 and the lid 150 are reversibly connected to one another by means of shape-coupling portions.

[0046] In particular, the base body 110 and the lid 150 each define a peripheral groove 111, 151 suitable to receive, with shape coupling, base and top portions of said plurality of shaped metal sheets 120, 130, 140.

[0047] Advantageously, the base body 110, the lid 150 and the plurality of shaped metal sheets 120, 130, 140 may be made integral with each other at said peripheral grooves 111, 151 by fixing means 160, preferably consisting of pressure rivets. Advantageously, said pressure rivets may be of the type that does not require tools for their opening.

[0048] According to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, said plurality of shaped metal sheets 120, 130, 140 comprises a shaped sheet metal for each of said two side walls 12, 13 and for the front wall 14.

[0049] Preferably, the shaped metal sheets are in turn connected to one another by shape coupling near the corners of said outer box-like structure.

[0050] Advantageously, the outer box-like structure 100 may comprise four angular stiffening portions 101, 102, 103, 104, one for each of the four vertical corners of said outer box-like structure.

[0051] Preferably, said angular stiffening portions are made out of a single piece in the shaped metal sheets.

[0052] Preferably, said angular stiffening portions are connected by shape coupling to said lid 150 and to said base body 110.

[0053] The fact that the containment body (and in particular the outer box-like structure) is constituted by components that can be assembled by interlocking and / or reversible fixing means makes the refrigerated cabinet 1 of the plug-in type according to the invention simple and economical to manufacture.

[0054] All this - including the implementation of the insulation by means of preformed panels - makes it possible to obtain the following advantages: reduction of time in maintenance operations and recyclability at end of life: extraction of the sheet metal takes place by removing the pressure rivet and sliding it vertically (having previously removed the lid); this makes the product disassemblable and recyclable at end of life; in addition, space savings are achieved in the transport of spare parts as single disassembled components. Re-branding and refurbishing: the metal sheets can be replaced in a few minutes when the user of the cabinet wishes to re-brand the product or when they are damaged; Flexibility and interchangeable aesthetics: it allows a product that can be adapted to different contexts by replacing some of the external metal sheets and not the entire product, saving costs and reducing environmental impact.

[0055] Preferably, the walls 210 of said inner box-like structure 200 define not only the bottom, the two side walls and the ceiling of said main compartment, but also a portion of the rear wall of said main compartment. Preferably, said portion of the rear wall is the portion of said rear wall that connects to the bottom of said main compartment. As illustrated in the attached figures, with such a configuration the inner box-like structure has a window 230 that is obtained on the upper portion of the rear wall and that allows the refrigeration system to be operationally connected to the main compartment 2 of the refrigerated cabinet 1.

[0056] Advantageously, as illustrated in Figure 3, the inner box-like structure 200 may be defined by a single sheet metal bent at the corners of said inner box-like structure. This configuration makes the walls directly facing the main compartment 2 a continuous surface. This facilitates the hygiene of the main compartment. In fact, the reduction in the number of gaps on the walls directly facing the main compartment facilitates cleaning operations and reduces the accumulation of dirt in areas that are difficult to reach with normal cleaning operations.

[0057] Advantageously, the walls of the inner box-like structure 200 defining the two side walls of said main compartment are provided with a plurality of supports 220 for shelves 250.

[0058] Preferably, each support 220 is connected to the inner box-like structure separately from the other supports.

[0059] Advantageously, each of said supports 220 for shelves 250 may be defined by a V-shaped or L-shaped laminar body.

[0060] In particular, when the laminar body is V-shaped, it is fixed to the respective wall of the inner box-like structure 200 so that the vertex of the V protrudes inside the main compartment and both branches of said V are in contact with said wall. Each branch of said V is provided at its free end with one or more appendages suitable to be inserted in holes 240 obtained in the aforesaid wall so as to reversibly constrain said support to the wall itself. A first branch of the V defines the resting point, whereas the second branch of the V acts as a supporting strut.

[0061] The adoption of such a type of shelf support provides advantages in terms of aesthetics, ease of disassembly of the product, as well as reduction in the number of components and in the material used.

[0062] The solutions currently adopted in refrigerated cabinets for the implementation of shelf supports require the use of screws and / or racks which increase the cost of the product and make its disassembly more difficult.

[0063] The alternative solution adopted for the refrigerated cabinet described herein does not provide for the use of screws nor racks, but provides for the implementation of holes on the walls of the inner box-like structure and for the insertion therein of said V-shaped or L-shaped supports. This solution allows the following advantages to be achieved: the use of screws or rivets and of thermoformed tubs for fixing the shelf is avoided; a reduction in cost and material is obtained; a simplification in assembly / disassembly of the product is obtained; the number of components is reduced.

[0064] The only substantial drawback is related to the impossibility of adjusting the height of the shelves. Any height adjustment may be obtained by providing a series of holes at predefined heights.

[0065] As already mentioned, the preformed panels 310-340 may be separate from each other or form a single piece.

[0066] Advantageously, when they are made separate from each other, the preformed panels 310, 320, 330, 340 made of heat-insulating material that occupy the gap 300 between the outer box-like structure 100 and the inner box-like structure 200 may be connected to each other, preferably by gluing and / or by mechanical fixing means.

[0067] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the preformed panels 310, 320, 330, 340 made of heat-insulating material that occupy the gap 300 between the outer box-like structure 100 and the inner box-like structure 200 are cork panels.

[0068] The choice of cork is dictated by needs of greater recyclability and reduction of environmental impact, both during construction and at end of life.

[0069] As an alternative to cork, the preformed panels may be made of any other heat-insulating material suitable for the purpose, such as for example polyurethane foam in preformed panels, polystyrene, polyurethane, VIP. Preferably, the preformed panels are made of any other heat-insulating material with low environmental impact and / or with recycled materials.

[0070] In the case of using cork panels, in addition or as an alternative to gluing, wooden dowels may advantageously be used as fixing elements.

[0071] Preferably, the seat 6 for housing the back body 400 is delimited by the outer box-like structure 200, by the plurality of preformed panels 310-340 and by said inner box-like structure 200 at the rear wall 15. The seat 6 is sized to house said back body 400 in a shape coupling relationship.

[0072] Preferably, as illustrated in Figures 3, 14 and 15, the back body 400 has a first face 400' facing the inside of the cabinet 1 and a second face 400" facing the outside of the cabinet 1.

[0073] According to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, and in particular in Figures 16 to 23, the back body 400 comprises a support frame 401 and a multilayer structure 406.

[0074] More in detail, said multilayer structure 406 is housed inside a compartment 410 defined by said frame 401 and comprises in sequence from the inner first face 400' to the outer second face 400": a shaped sheet metal wall 402; a preformed panel of heat-insulating material 403, preferably cork; a ventilation grate 404 (in particular made of a sheet metal with a slotted portion).

[0075] Preferably, said refrigeration system 20 is a vapour compression system comprising a condenser 21 and an evaporator 22 which are integrated in said multilayer structure 406 and are respectively constituted by: a static (non-ventilated) wire & tube condenser, arranged between the ventilation grate 404 and said preformed panel of heat-insulating material 403, and a roll bond evaporator, associated with the shaped sheet metal wall 402 at the face facing the interior of the refrigerated cabinet.

[0076] The choice of implementing the condenser and evaporator with the aforesaid devices makes the multilayer structure more compact and thus facilitates the coupling of the back body 400 with the rest of the containment body.

[0077] Advantageously, as illustrated in Figure 21, said multilayer structure 406 comprises an air conveyor 405 defining for the evaporator a forced ventilation chamber directly communicating with the main compartment 2 of the cabinet 1 by means of an inlet mouth 405' and an outlet mouth 405".

[0078] The multilayer structure allows for the use of components made of different materials while maintaining the possibility of easy and practical disassembly, in favour of end-of-life recyclability requirements.

[0079] In particular, the various components forming the multilayer structure are not glued together but are held in contact with one another by through screws acting on the outermost portions of the multilayer structure itself, clamping the inner layers in a sandwich manner.

[0080] According to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, and in particular in Figures 2 and 16, said support frame 401 extends in height between the base body 110 and the lid 150 of the outer box-like structure.

[0081] Advantageously, the compartment 410 defined by said frame 401 is occupied in an upper portion 411 thereof by said multilayer structure 406, while a lower portion 412 thereof defines a technical compartment in which a compressor 23 and a control and electrical supply system 24 of said refrigeration system are housed (as illustrated in Figures 21 and 22).

[0082] More in detail, as illustrated in particular in Figure 16, the frame 401 comprises at least two uprights 401a, 401b connected to each other by a base crosspiece 401' and a top crosspiece 401", which preferably - when said back body 400 is inserted into said seat 6 - are directly or indirectly in contact respectively with the base body 110 and the lid 150 of the outer box-like structure.

[0083] According to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, and in particular in Figure 13, the seat 6 for housing the back body 400 is open directly onto said main compartment 2 at a window 230 made in said inner box-like structure 200 at said rear wall 15.

[0084] In particular, said back body 400 is sized such that, when said back body 400 is inserted into said seat 6, the multilayer structure 406 closes said window 230 and said air conveyor 405 is fluidly connected to said main compartment 2.

[0085] Preferably, the air conveyor 405 is connected by shape coupling to said inner box-like structure 200.

[0086] In particular, as illustrated in Figures 27 and 27a, the air conveyor 405 is provided with a centring profile 450, preferably V-shaped, which extends substantially along the entire outer perimeter of the air conveyor 405. Said centring profile 450 is intended to receive within it the free edge 451 of the portion of inner box-like structure 200 delimiting the window 230. In this way, when the back body 400 is in the installed position, a labyrinth path is formed between the V-shaped profile 450 and the free edge 451 of the outer box-like structure 210 which ensures airtightness substantially along the entire perimeter of the window 230. In this way, airtightness is achieved while reducing the use of seals between the technical compartment and the body.

[0087] Advantageously, the refrigerated cabinet 1 may be equipped with accessories, such as lighting systems, which may be constituted by LED bars 260.

[0088] The invention allows numerous advantages to be achieved, partly already described.

[0089] The refrigerated cabinet of the plug-in type according to the invention offers greater ease of maintenance, with regard to components of both the containment body and the technical compartment.

[0090] The refrigerated cabinet of the plug-in type according to the invention, at end of life, is more easily and extensively recyclable in its components.

[0091] The refrigerated cabinet of the plug-in type according to the invention is simple and economical to manufacture.

[0092] The refrigerated cabinet of the plug-in type according to the invention offers good airtightness between the main compartment and the technical compartment.

[0093] The refrigerated cabinet of the plug-in type according to the invention is simple and easy to manage.

[0094] The refrigerated cabinet of the plug-in type according to the invention achieves a level of efficiency suited to the purposes and to the state of the art.

[0095] In particular, the ease of assembly and disassembly of various components of the refrigerated cabinet according to the invention and the separability of the technical compartment incorporated in the back body lead to the following specific advantages: Possibility of prolonging the useful life of the product: in particular, thanks to the easy removability of the back body, the refrigerated cabinet 1 can be refurbished at a reduced cost; Ease of maintenance and repair; End-of-life recyclability: the refrigerated cabinet 1 according to the invention is configured in such a way that each of its components can be separated and recycled.

[0096] The invention thus conceived achieves the intended objects.

[0097] Obviously, it may assume, in its practical implementation, also forms and configurations different from those illustrated above without thereby departing from the present scope of protection.

[0098] Furthermore, all details may be replaced by technically equivalent elements, and the dimensions, shapes and materials used may be of any kind depending on the needs.

Claims

1. A refrigerated cabinet (1) comprising: - a box-shaped containment body (10) comprising a base (11), two side walls (12, 13), a front wall (14), a rear wall (15) and a top cover (16) to delimit a main compartment (2), intended to receive the products to be stored in a refrigerated environment and accessible by means of an opening (3) obtained on the front wall (14) and closed by at least one door (4) hinged to said body (10), said body (10) being provided with insulation (17) to provide thermal insulation to the main compartment (2); and - a refrigeration system (20), which is housed in a technical compartment (5) obtained in a seat (6) delimited by said body (10) adjacent to said main compartment (2) at the rear wall (15) and is suitable to generate a circulation of refrigerated air inside the main compartment (2), characterised in that said containment body (10) in turn comprises an outer box-like structure (100), defined by the reversible coupling between: - a base body (110) which constitutes the base (11) of the cabinet (1); - a plurality of shaped metal sheets (120, 130, 140) extending to the two side walls (12, 13) and to the front wall (14); and - a lid (150) which constitutes the top cover (16); and in that said containment body (10) further comprises an inner box-like structure (200), the walls (210) of which directly face the main compartment (2) and define at least the bottom, the two side walls and the ceiling of said main compartment; and in that between the outer box-like structure (100) and the inner box-like structure (200) a gap (300) is delimited, occupied by a plurality of preformed panels (310, 320, 330, 340) in heat-insulating material and in that said containment body (10) further comprises a back body (400) which is suitable to complete said body at the rear wall (15) and on which said refrigeration system (20) is installed, said back body (400) being separably couplable to the rest of the body.

2. A refrigerated cabinet (1) according to claim 1, wherein the base body (110), the plurality of shaped metal sheets (120, 130, 140) and the lid (150) are reversibly connected to each other by means of shape-coupling portions.

3. A refrigerated cabinet (1) according to claim 2, wherein the base body (110) and the lid (150) each define a peripheral grooves (111, 151) suitable to receive with shape coupling base and top portions of said plurality of shaped metal sheets (120, 130, 140), preferably the base body (110), the lid (150) and the plurality of shaped metal sheets (120, 130, 140) being integral with each other at said peripheral grooves (111, 151) by fixing means (160), preferably consisting of pressure rivets.

4. A refrigerated cabinet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said plurality of shaped metal sheets (120, 130, 140) comprises a shaped sheet metal for each of said two side walls (12, 13) and for the front wall (14), preferably the shaped metal sheets in turn being connected to each other by shape coupling near the corners of said outer box-like structure.

5. A refrigerated cabinet (1) according to claim 4, wherein the outer box-like structure (100) comprises four angular stiffening portions (101, 102, 103, 104), one for each of the four vertical corners of said outer box-like structure, preferably said angular stiffening portions being made out of a single piece in the shaped metal sheets, preferably said angular stiffening portions being connected by shape coupling to said lid (150) and to said base body (110).

6. A refrigerated cabinet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the walls (210) of said inner box-like structure (200) define not only the bottom, the two side walls and the ceiling of said main compartment, but also a portion of the rear wall of said main compartment, preferably the portion of said rear wall which connects to the bottom of said main compartment.

7. A refrigerated cabinet (1) according to claim 7, wherein said inner box-like structure (200) is defined by a single metal bent at the corners of said inner box-like structure.

8. A refrigerated cabinet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the walls of the inner box-like structure (200) defining the two side walls of said main compartment are provided with a plurality of supports (220) for shelves (250), preferably each support being connected to the inner box-like structure separately from the other supports.

9. A refrigerated cabinet (1) according to claim 8, wherein each of said supports (220) for shelves (250) is defined by a V-shaped laminar body which is fixed to the respective wall of the inner box-like structure (200) so that the vertex of the V protrudes inside the main compartment and both branches of said V are in contact with said wall and wherein each branch of said V is provided at the free end thereof with one or more appendages suitable to be inserted in holes obtained in the aforesaid wall so as to reversibly constrain said support to the wall itself.

10. A refrigerated cabinet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the preformed panels (310, 320, 330, 340) in heat-insulating material occupying the gap (300) between the outer box-like structure (100) and the inner box-like structure (200) are connected to each other, preferably by gluing and / or by mechanical fixing means.

11. A refrigerated cabinet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the preformed panels (310, 320, 330, 340) in heat-insulating material occupying the gap (300) between the outer box-like structure (100) and the inner box-like structure (200) are cork panels.

12. A refrigerated cabinet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said seat (6) is delimited by the outer box-like structure (200), by the plurality of preformed panels (310 - 340) and by said inner box-like structure (200) at the rear wall (15), said seat (6) being sized to house said back body (400) in a shape coupling relationship.

13. A refrigerated cabinet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said back body (400) has a first face (400') facing the inside of the cabinet (1) and a second face (400") facing the outside of the cabinet (1) and comprises a support frame (401) and a multilayer structure (406), wherein said multilayer structure (406) is housed inside a compartment (410) defined by said frame (401) and comprises in sequence from the first face (400') to the second face (400"): - a shaped sheet metal wall (402); - a preformed panel of heat-insulating material (403), preferably in cork; - a ventilation grate (404).

14. A refrigerated cabinet (1) according to claim 13, wherein said refrigeration system (20) is a vapour compression system comprising a condenser (21) and an evaporator (22) which are integrated in said multilayer structure (406) and are respectively constituted by a static wire & tube condenser (not ventilated), arranged between the ventilation grate (404) and said preformed panel of heat-insulating material (403), and a roll bond evaporator, associated with the shaped sheet metal wall (402) at the face facing the inside of the refrigerated cabinet.

15. A refrigerated cabinet (1) according to claim 14, wherein said multilayer structure (406) comprises an air conveyor (405) defining a forced ventilation chamber for the evaporator communicating directly with the main compartment (2) by means of an inlet mouth (405') and an outlet mouth (405").

16. A refrigerated cabinet (1) according to claim 14 or 15, wherein said support frame (401) extends in height between the base body (110) and the lid (150) of the outer box-like structure and wherein the compartment (410) defined by said frame (401) is occupied in an upper portion (411) thereof by said multilayer structure (406), while a lower portion (412) thereof defines a technical compartment in which a compressor (23) and a control and electrical supply system (24) of said refrigeration system is housed.

17. A refrigerated cabinet (1) according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein said frame (401) comprises at least two uprights (401a, 401b) connected to each other by a base crosspiece (401') and by a top crosspiece (401"), which preferably - when said back body (400) is inserted in said seat (6) - are directly or indirectly in contact with the base body (110) and the lid (150) of the outer box-like structure, respectively.

18. A refrigerated cabinet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, when dependent on claim 15, wherein said seat (6) is open directly on said main compartment (2) at a window (230) obtained in said inner box-like structure (200) at said rear wall (15) and wherein said back body (400) is sized such that when said back body (400) is inserted in said seat (6) the multilayer structure (406) closes said window (230) and said air conveyor (405) is fluidly connected to said main compartment (2).

19. A refrigerated cabinet (1) according to claim 18, wherein said air conveyor (405) is connected by shape coupling to said inner box-like structure (200).

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