Showcase

Abstract

To increase the maximum amount of products to be displayed in a product display chamber by increasing a capacity of the product display chamber in a showcase controlling a cold air flow with a partition body to switch between a state where refrigerated products are displayed on product display shelves located on a lower side and heated products are displayed on product display shelves located on the upper side, and a state where refrigerated products or heated products are displayed on all product display shelves.SOLUTION: A partition body holding part 13 for detachably holding a partition body 9 in an attitude along a ceiling plate 12 is provided on the lower surface side of the ceiling plate 12 of a body case 1. When the partition body 9 is held by the partition body holding part 13, the insertion-side tip of the partition body 9 enters a cold air passage 4, cold air flowing in the cold air passage 4 flows further in an internal passage 10 and is blown into the product display chamber 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a showcase in which multiple product display shelves are arranged inside a main case, and which can be switched between a state in which refrigerated products are displayed on the lower product display shelves and heated products are displayed on the upper product display shelves, and a state in which refrigerated products or heated products are displayed on all product display shelves. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in stores such as supermarkets and convenience stores, a showcase is used in which a plurality of product display shelves are provided in a main body case, and a cold air passage extending in the vertical direction is provided on the rear side of the main body case. In such a showcase, a ceiling-side space is provided inside the ceiling part of the main body case, and the upper end of the cold air passage is connected to the ceiling-side space. When refrigerated products are displayed on the product display shelves, the cold air that has risen in the cold air passage is guided into the ceiling-side space, and the cold air is blown downward from an outlet formed at the front end of the ceiling-side space to form an air curtain of cold air, which cools the refrigerated products displayed on the product display shelves.

[0003] Incidentally, in recent years, showcases that enable refrigerated and heated products to be displayed simultaneously within the main case have gradually become more widespread, and for example, the one described in Patent Document 1 below is known. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5493672 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The showcase described in Patent Document 1 has multiple product display shelves arranged inside the main case, a cool air passageway formed vertically on the rear side inside the main case, a ceiling space formed inside the ceiling part, and the upper end of the cool air passageway communicating with the ceiling space. Each product display shelf is also provided with a heater that can be switched on and off.

[0006] Furthermore, in the showcase described in Patent Document 1, a partition insertion section is provided on the underside of each product display shelf, and a partition is removably inserted into this partition insertion section. An internal passage with openings at both ends through which cold air can flow is formed inside the partition. By inserting the partition into the partition insertion section, the partition closes the cold air passage at the insertion position, and the cold air flowing upward in the cold air passage flows into the internal passage from one opening of the partition, and the cold air that has flowed into the internal passage is blown downward from the other opening of the internal passage to form an air curtain of cold air.

[0007] Here, a case where refrigerated products are displayed on the lower product display shelf and heated products are displayed on the upper product display shelf will be described. In this case, a partition is inserted into the partition insertion portion of the lowest product display shelf among the product display shelves where heated products are displayed, and the cooler is driven. When the cooler is driven, cold air is generated, and the generated cold air flows through the cold air passage and the internal passage of the partition, and is blown out from the tip of the internal passage into the product display room to form an air curtain of cold air, and the refrigerated products displayed on the lower product display shelf are cooled. Meanwhile, in the upper product display shelf where heated products are displayed, the heated products are heated by turning on the heater.

[0008] Next, a case where the products displayed on all the product display shelves are refrigerated products or heated products will be described. When all the products displayed are refrigerated products, a partition is inserted into a ceiling-side partition insertion portion formed in the ceiling-side space, and the cooler is driven to generate cold air. The generated cold air rises through the cold air passage and flows into the ceiling-side space, and then flows through the internal passage of the partition and is blown out from its tip end to form an air curtain of cold air, and all the refrigerated products displayed on the product display shelves are cooled by the air curtain of cold air. On the other hand, when the products displayed on all the product display shelves are heated products, the cooler is not driven, and all the heaters are turned on, thereby heating all the heated products displayed on the product display shelves.

[0009] Here, in the showcase described in Patent Document 1, the cold air that has risen in the cold air passage is guided into the ceiling space, and the cold air flows through the internal passage of the partition body inserted into the ceiling partition body insertion part, and is blown out from the tip of the partition body into the product display room. Therefore, it is necessary to form a ceiling space inside the top part of the showcase, and by forming this ceiling space, the space above the top product display shelf becomes narrow, causing a problem that the amount of products that can be displayed on the top product display shelf becomes smaller.

[0010] The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and its object is to provide a showcase in which multiple tiers of product display shelves are arranged vertically within a product display chamber, and the flow of cold air is controlled using partitions so that the showcase can be switched between a state in which refrigerated products are displayed on the product display shelves located lower and heated products are displayed on the product display shelves located upper, and a state in which refrigerated products or heated products are displayed on all of the product display shelves, and in which the cold air passage to be provided on the top part of the main case and the cold air passage formed in the partitions are made common, thereby eliminating the need to provide a ceiling-side space inside the top part of the main case through which cold air flows, and by eliminating the need for this ceiling-side space, it is possible to increase the space above the top product display shelf and increase the amount of products that can be displayed on the top product display shelf. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The showcase according to the present invention comprises a main case having a product display chamber therein, a plurality of product display shelves arranged vertically within the product display chamber, a cold air passage formed vertically on the rear side within the main case and through which cold air generated by driving a cooler flows upward, a partition insertion part provided on the underside of the product display shelf, and a partition member which is detachably inserted into the partition insertion part and which, when inserted into the partition insertion part, has an insertion side tip which enters the cold air passage and prevents the cold air flowing through the cold air passage from flowing upward from the insertion position, and prevents the cold air from flowing upward. The display shelf has a partition which prevents cold air from entering the product display room and flows through an internal passage formed therein and is blown out from its tip into the product display room, a heater which is provided on the product display shelf and can be switched on and off, and a partition holding part which is provided on the underside of the ceiling plate of the main body case and which removably holds the partition in a position aligned with the ceiling plate, and when the partition is held by the partition holding part, the insertion side tip of the partition enters the cold air passage and the cold air flowing through the cold air passage flows through the internal passage and is blown out from its tip into the product display room. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the showcase of the present invention, by inserting the partition into the partition insertion portion of any one of the product display shelves, driving the cooler and turning on the heater of the product display shelf above the product display shelf into which the partition is inserted, heated products can be displayed on the upper product display shelf to heat the products, and refrigerated products can be displayed on the lower product display shelf to cool the products. When refrigerated products are displayed on all the product display shelves, the partition can be held by the partition holding portion provided on the underside of the ceiling plate, so that the cold air that has risen in the cold air passage flows through the internal passage of the partition and is blown out from the tip side, thereby cooling all the refrigerated products. Here, in this showcase, the cold air passage that should be provided on the top of the main case when refrigerated products are displayed on all the product display shelves is shared with the internal passage of the partition. As a result, it is no longer necessary to provide a ceiling space inside the ceiling of the main body case through which the cold air that has risen inside the cold air passage can flow in, and by eliminating the need for such a ceiling space, the space above the top product display shelf can be increased, and in particular, when the partition is inserted into the partition insertion portion of one of the product display shelves, the space above the top product display shelf can be made even larger, thereby increasing the amount of products that can be displayed on the top product display shelf. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a showcase showing a state in which a partition is inserted into a partition insertion portion provided on the underside of a sample display shelf. FIG. [Diagram 2] 11 is a cross-sectional side view of the showcase showing a state in which a partition is held by a partition holding portion provided on the underside of a ceiling panel. FIG. [Diagram 3] 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view showing a state in which the partition is not held by the partition holding portion. FIG. [Figure 4] 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view showing a state in which the partition is held by a partition holding portion. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the showcase according to the present invention has a main case 1 having a U-shaped cross section, and a product display room 2 is provided in the main case 1. In the product display room 2, a plurality of product display shelves 3 arranged in the vertical direction and a deck 3a located at the lowest level are provided. In addition, a cold air passage 4 extending in the vertical direction is formed on the rear side of the main case 1. This cold air passage 4 is formed as a space located between the main case 1 and a back panel 5 arranged on the rear side of the product display room 2. In the cold air passage 4, a cooler 6 that cools the air in the cold air passage 4 to generate cold air, and a fan 7 that blows the generated cold air upward are arranged. In addition, a heater (not shown) that can be switched on and off is provided in each product display shelf 3 and deck 3a.

[0015] The underside of the product display shelf 3 is provided with partition insertion sections 8, and partitions 9 are removably inserted into these partition insertion sections 8. The partitions 9 are flat, plate-like members having a width dimension substantially the same as that of the product display shelf 3, and an internal passage 10 is formed therein, which extends in the direction in which the partitions 9 are attached and detached (the front-to-rear direction of the product display chamber 2), has both ends in the attachment and detachment direction open, and has a width dimension that is wider in the width direction of the partitions 9.

[0016] FIG. 1 shows a state in which the partition 9 is inserted into the partition insertion section 8 of one product display shelf 3. When the partition 9 is inserted into the partition insertion section 8, the leading end of the partition 9 on the insertion side enters the cold air passage 4. This entry prevents the cold air flowing through the cold air passage 4 from flowing upward from the insertion position, and the cold air prevented from flowing upward flows through the internal passage 10 of the partition 9 and is blown out from the leading end of the internal passage 10 into the product display room 2. A plurality of dampers 11 are attached to the back panel 5 along the vertical direction, and the lower ends of these dampers 11 are rotatable in the front-rear direction with the upper ends as fulcrums. When the partition 9 is inserted into the partition insertion section 8, the dampers 11 located at the insertion position are pushed by the rear end of the partition 9 and rotate backward.

[0017] A partition holder 13 is provided on the underside of the ceiling plate 12 of the main body case 1, which detachably holds the partition 9 in a position aligned with the ceiling plate 12. This partition holder 13 is formed in the shape of a hole at the upper end of the back plate 5, and is configured to hold the partition 9 when the leading end of the insertion side of the partition 9 is inserted into this hole. A damper 14 that closes the hole is attached to the partition holder 13, and the lower end of this damper 14 is capable of rotating in the front-rear direction, similar to the damper 11 described above.

[0018] 2 shows the partition 9 held by the partition holder 13. When the partition 9 is held by the partition holder 13, the damper 14 is pushed by the rear end of the partition 9 on the insertion side and rotates rearward, so that the cold air passage 4 and the internal passage 10 of the partition 9 are connected to each other.

[0019] In such a configuration, the showcase shown in Fig. 1 shows a state in which a partition 9 is inserted into a partition insertion portion 8 of one product display shelf 3. In the state shown in Fig. 1, heated products are displayed on the product display shelf 3 into which the partition 9 is inserted and on the product display shelf 3 above it, and refrigerated products are displayed on the product display shelf 3 below the product display shelf 3 into which the partition 9 is inserted and on the deck 3a. In this state, the cooler 6 and the fan 7 are driven, the heater of the product display shelf 3 in which heated products are displayed is turned on, and the heater of the product display shelf 3 in which refrigerated products are displayed and on the deck 3a is turned off. As shown in Fig. 3, the partition holding portion 13 is closed by a damper 14.

[0020] By driving the cooler 6 and the fan 7, the air in the cold air passage 4 is cooled to generate cold air, which rises in the cold air passage 4 as shown by the arrow. The cold air that rises in the cold air passage 4 is prevented from flowing upward from the position where the partition 9 is inserted by the partition 9 and the damper 11 that is pushed and rotated by the partition 9. The cold air that is prevented from escaping upward flows into the internal passage 10 of the partition 9, flows through the internal passage 10, and is blown out from the tip of the internal passage 10 into the product display room 2. The blown out cold air cools the product display shelves 3 located below the product display shelves 3 where the partition 9 is inserted and the refrigerated products displayed on the deck 3a.

[0021] On the other hand, the heated products displayed on the product display shelf 3 to which the partition body 9 is inserted and on the product display shelves 3 above it are heated by turning on the heater.

[0022] In this manner, refrigerated products and heated products are displayed and sold in one showcase.

[0023] Next, a case will be described where refrigerated products are displayed and sold on all of the product display shelves 3. In this case, as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 4, the partitions 9 are held by the partition holders 13. Then, the coolers 6 and the fans 7 are driven, and the heaters on all of the product display shelves 3 and the deck 3a are turned off.

[0024] When the cooler 6 and the fan 7 are driven, the cold air rises in the cold air passage 4 as shown by the arrows in Figures 2 and 4 and flows through the internal passage 10, and the cold air is blown out from the end of the internal passage 10 toward the product display room 2, forming an air curtain of cold air, which cools the refrigerated products displayed on the product display shelves 3 and on the deck 3a.

[0025] Here, in this showcase, it is not necessary to provide a ceiling space as explained in the conventional example and cited document 1, and the cold air passage that should be provided in the ceiling of the main body case to form an air curtain of cold air when refrigerated products are displayed on all the product display shelves 3 is shared with the internal passage 10 of the partition body 9. In this way, by eliminating the need for the ceiling space, the space above the top product display shelf 3 can be enlarged, and in particular, when the partition body 9 is attached to the partition body insertion portion 8 of any of the product display shelves 3, the space above the top product display shelf 3 can be further enlarged, and the amount of products that can be displayed on the top product display shelf 3 can be increased.

[0026] Also, the mechanism for blowing out cold air only needs to be provided in the partition 9, and there is no need to provide it in the ceiling space and the partition plate as described in the cited document 1, which reduces the number of parts required for the cold air blowing mechanism. Furthermore, there is no need for a shutter mechanism in the ceiling space for attaching and detaching the partition as described in the cited document 1, which simplifies the structure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0027] 1 Main unit case 2 Product display room 3 Product display shelves 3a Deck 4 Cold Aisle 5 Back plate 6 Cooler 7 Fan 8 Partition insertion section 9 Partition 10 Internal passage 11 Damper 12 Ceiling Panel 13 Partition holder 14 Damper

Claims

[Claim 1] a main body case having a product display compartment therein; A plurality of product display shelves arranged vertically in the product display room; a cold air passage formed in the main body case on the rear side in the vertical direction, through which cold air generated by driving the cooler flows upward; A partition insertion section provided on the underside of the product display shelf; a partition that is detachably inserted into the partition insertion section, and when inserted into the partition insertion section, a tip end of the insertion side enters the cold air passage and prevents the cold air flowing in the cold air passage from flowing upward from the insertion position, and the cold air that is prevented from flowing upward flows through an internal passage formed inside and is blown out from the tip side into the product display room; A heater that is provided on the product display shelf and can be switched on and off; a partition holder provided on a lower surface side of a ceiling plate of the main body case and configured to detachably hold the partition in a position aligned with the ceiling plate, This showcase is characterized in that when the partition is held by the partition holding portion, the insertion side end of the partition enters the cold air passage, and the cold air flowing through this cold air passage flows through the internal passage and is blown out from the end into the product display room.

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