storage

Abstract

To create a storage unit with a highly airtight door that can be opened and closed with simple operation. [Solution] The storage unit 10 includes a door 14 that opens and closes the front opening 12S of the storage unit body 12, and has a handle 20 for opening and closing the door, and is mounted to be pivotable around a first rotation axis P1. The handle 20 is pivotable around a second rotation axis P2 and includes a magnet 22 having a magnetic attraction portion 22B that magnetically attracts to the opening edge 18 of the storage unit body 12 and is attracted to the opening edge 18 when the door 14 is closed. When the handle 20 is swung around the second rotation axis P2 with the door 14 closed, the attraction portion 22B of the magnet 22 is displaced in a direction that releases attraction from the opening edge 18.

Description

Technical Field

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[0005] , ,

[0001] This technology relates to a storage cabinet.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a storage cabinet described in Patent Document 1 below is known. The storage cabinet described in Patent Document is provided with a door capable of opening and closing a storage chamber, and a shelf member (tray) arranged in the storage chamber for displaying stored items (food). For example, it is arranged on the counter for a convenience store cashier. Further, the storage cabinet is provided with a water storage tank arranged below the storage chamber, and a heater for heating the water in the water storage tank to generate steam, and is configured to be able to heat the food in the storage chamber by supplying steam to the storage chamber.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

[0006] To solve the above problems, the storage facility relating to this technology comprises a storage facility body having a front opening, and a door for opening and closing the front opening of the storage facility body, having a handle for opening and closing the door, and being pivotably mounted on the opening edge of the front opening around a first rotation axis, wherein the handle is pivotably mounted around a second rotation axis and has a magnet having an adsorption portion that magnetically attracts to the opening edge of the storage facility body and adsorbs to the opening edge when the door is closed, wherein when the handle is pivoted around the second rotation axis when the door is closed the adsorption portion of the magnet is displaced in a direction that releases the adsorption with the opening edge of the storage facility body.

[0007] Furthermore, the second rotation axis of the handle may extend in a direction along the first rotation axis of the door.

[0008] Furthermore, the handle comprises at least a cover portion that covers the magnet from the side opposite to the storage unit body, and a hinge for pivotably attaching it to the door, and the second rotation axis may be formed by the rotation axis of the hinge.

[0009] Furthermore, the cover portion has a protrusion that extends toward the storage container body, and when the handle is swung around the second rotation axis, the protrusion of the cover portion may be pressed against and come into contact with the opening edge of the storage container body.

[0010] Furthermore, the second rotation axis of the handle may be aligned in the vertical direction, the handle may be provided with an insertion opening that penetrates in the left-right direction for inserting fingers, and the handle may also have a gripping portion that is grasped by the fingers inserted into the insertion opening. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] This technology makes it possible to create a storage facility with a highly airtight door that can be opened and closed with simple operation. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] Perspective view of the steam warmer according to Embodiment 1 (door open) [Figure 2] Perspective view of the steam warmer according to Embodiment 1 (door open) [Figure 3] Figure 2: Longitudinal section perspective view [Figure 4] Enlarged view of the lower part of Figure 3 [Figure 5] Exploded perspective view of components near the water storage tank. [Figure 6] Cross-sectional view in Figure 1 [Figure 7] Perspective view of the handle from the storage unit side (rear). [Figure 8] Cross-sectional view of the area around the door handle when the door is closed. [Figure 9] Cross-sectional view showing the door from the closed position to the state where the door handle is swung. [Figure 10] Enlarged view of the area around the handle in Figure 9. [Figure 11] Cross-sectional view showing the door beginning to open. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] <Embodiment 1> A steam warmer 10 (an example of a storage compartment) according to Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 11. The reference numerals F, B, L, R, U, and D in the drawings indicate the front and rear of the steam warmer 10 in the front-to-back direction, the left and right in the width direction (left-to-right direction) when viewed from the front, and the top and bottom in the vertical direction (up and down direction), respectively.

[0014] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the steam warmer 10 comprises a box-shaped storage body 12 that constitutes a storage chamber 11 in which stored items are placed, and a door 14 that opens and closes the front opening 12S of the storage body 12. The steam warmer 10 is also configured to supply steam to the lower part of the storage body 12, thereby heating and cooking the food 16 (for example, Chinese steamed buns) in the storage chamber 11.

[0015] In this embodiment, the side of the steam warmer 10 near the door 14 is defined as the front side, and the side opposite to the door 14 is defined as the rear side. The steam warmer 10 is, for example, placed on the counter for the cashier in the sales area of a convenience store. In that case, the steam warmer 10 is installed such that the front side faces the store clerk and the rear side faces the customer.

[0016] Inside the storage body 12 (storage chamber 11), shelf members 15 in a plurality of stages (six stages in this embodiment) are accommodated in a slightly inclined shape in the front-rear direction. The shelf members 15 are constituted by combining a plurality of solid metal (for example, stainless steel) rod-shaped members. Food 16 (stored items) is placed on the shelf members 15. The storage body 12 has an opening at the bottom, and steam is supplied from below. By filling the storage chamber 11 and contacting the food 16, the food 16 is heated.

[0017] Among the wall portions constituting the storage body 12, at least the rear inner wall portion 13 (see FIG. 3) is constituted by, for example, glass and has light transmissibility. As a result, a customer located behind the steam warmer 10 can visually recognize the food 16 in the storage chamber 11. In this embodiment, in addition to the inner wall portion 13, the left and right side wall portions also have light transmissibility.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the door 14 is swingably attached to the opening edge portion of the front opening 12S of the storage body 12 in a single-opening type (right-opening type in this embodiment). The front opening 12S and the opening edge portion 18 according to this embodiment have a vertically long rectangular shape, and the door 14 is attached to the right opening edge portion 18R (the right side portion of the opening edge portion 18) using a hinge member 19. The rotation axis P1 of the door 14 is along the vertical direction (the extending direction of the right opening edge portion 18R) and is constituted by the rotation axis of the hinge member 19.

[0019] The door 14 includes a frame member 14A constituting the outer peripheral portion, a plate-shaped light transmissive member 14B constituting the inner portion, a packing 14C that closely adheres to the opening edge portion 18 of the storage body 12, and a handle 20 for opening and closing operations. The handle 20 will be described in detail later.

[0020] The frame member 14A is frame-shaped so as to face the opening edge 18 of the storage unit body 12 when the door 14 is closed. The light-transmitting member 14B of the door 14 is made of glass, for example, so that the food 16 in the storage room 11 can be seen by the staff positioned in front of the steam warmer 10.

[0021] The packing 14C is provided in a frame shape on the rear surface 14A2 of the frame member 14A (and the opening edge 18 of the storage unit body 12 facing it). When the door 14 is closed, the packing 14C is in close contact with the opening edge 18, thereby maintaining the airtightness of the storage room 11.

[0022] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the steam warmer 10 is equipped with multiple light sources 54 that irradiate light toward the storage chamber 11. The light sources 54 are provided on the lower surface of the upper wall portion 17 of the wall portion that constitutes the storage chamber body 12. The light sources 54 are made up of LEDs, for example, and have a longitudinal shape that extends along the left-right direction. By providing the light sources 54, the food 16 can be seen more clearly.

[0023] Next, the configuration for heating the food 16 with steam will be described. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the steam warmer 10 includes a water storage tank 40 located below the storage body 12, a heater 41 for heating the water in the water storage tank 40, a water level sensor 42 for detecting the water level in the water storage tank 40, and an auxiliary member 50. As will be described in detail later, the auxiliary member 50 plays the role of dispersing the steam from the water storage tank 40 generated by heating by the heater 41, and also reflecting the light emitted downward from the light source 54 upward.

[0024] As shown in Figure 5, the water storage tank 40 comprises a shallow, box-shaped tank body 43 and a cylindrical portion 44 formed within the tank body 43. The tank body 43 is rectangular in plan view, with most of it overlapping the storage unit 12 in the vertical direction, and a portion protruding forward from the storage unit 12. A water level sensor 42 (e.g., a float switch) is provided inside this protruding tank body 43. The cylindrical portion 44 is formed approximately in the center of the part of the tank body 43 that overlaps with the storage unit 12 in plan view (in the vertical direction). The cylindrical portion 44 has an upper opening 44S.

[0025] The heater 41 is installed on the bottom wall 44A of the cylindrical section 44 of the water storage tank 40. The heater 41 heats the water stored in the cylindrical section 44, generating steam. The steam generated by the heater 41 is supplied from the upper opening 44S of the cylindrical section 44 through the auxiliary member 50 to the storage chamber 11 located above.

[0026] As shown in Figure 4, the auxiliary member 50 is provided so as to be interposed between the tank body 43 of the water storage tank 40 and the lowest shelf member 15 of the storage unit body 12. The auxiliary member 50 has a first auxiliary member 51 and a second auxiliary member 52 provided above the first auxiliary member 51.

[0027] As shown in Figure 5, the first auxiliary member 51 is a plate-shaped cover member that covers from above the portion of the tank body 43 of the water storage tank 40 that overlaps with the storage body 12 in a plan view. The first auxiliary member 51 has a planar shape and planar size that conforms to the portion that overlaps with the storage body 12. The first auxiliary member 51 also has a circular first communication opening 51S that overlaps with the upper opening 44S of the cylindrical portion 44 of the water storage tank 40 in a plan view. The upper part of the cylindrical portion 44 is inserted into the first communication opening 51S.

[0028] The second auxiliary member 52 is provided on the upper surface 51A of the first auxiliary member 51 so as to cover the first communication opening 51S of the first auxiliary member 51 from above. The second auxiliary member 52 has a rectangular shape in plan view, is smaller than the first auxiliary member 51, and has a planar size that is slightly larger than the first communication opening 51S. Legs 52A are provided at the four corners of the rectangular second auxiliary member 52. The second auxiliary member 52 is positioned with a predetermined gap G1 between it and the upper surface 51A of the first auxiliary member 51 by the legs 52A (see Figure 4). The second auxiliary member 52 has a second communication opening 52S1 in the center and a third communication opening 52S2 at the corner. The size of the second communication opening 52S1 is smaller than the third communication opening 52S2.

[0029] According to the steam supply configuration described above, as shown in Figure 4, the steam generated in the cylindrical portion 44 of the water storage tank 40 flows upward from the upper opening 44S of the cylindrical portion 44, and a portion of it is supplied to the storage chamber 11 through the gap G1 between the first auxiliary member 51 and the second auxiliary member 52. Another portion of the steam flows upward from the upper opening 44S and is supplied to the storage chamber 11 through the second communication port 52S1 and the third communication port 52S2 of the second auxiliary member 52. In this case, as shown in Figure 6, the size of the second communication port 52S1 is smaller than that of the third communication port 52S2, so the amount of steam passing through is greater on the corner side of the second auxiliary member 52 where the third communication port 52S2 is formed than on the central side of the second auxiliary member 52 where the second communication port 52S1 is formed. As a result, the steam does not concentrate too much in the center of the storage chamber 11 (shelf member 15), but is also supplied sufficiently to the four corners of the storage chamber 11, resulting in a more uniform distribution.

[0030] If the second auxiliary member 52 is not provided, the steam will rise from the upper opening 44S of the cylindrical portion 44 and easily come into contact with the food 16 placed on the central side of the shelf member 15. The food 16 placed on the central side will be overheated, causing problems such as discoloration. On the other hand, the food 16 placed on the four corners of the shelf member 15 will not receive enough steam and will be underheated. By providing the second auxiliary member 52, such situations can be suppressed.

[0031] Furthermore, the surfaces of both the first auxiliary member 51 and the second auxiliary member 52 are light-reflecting. For example, light reflectivity can be achieved by making the first auxiliary member 51 and the second auxiliary member 52 from glossy stainless steel. Light emitted downward from the light source 54 and passing through the storage chamber 11 is reflected by the first auxiliary member 51 and the second auxiliary member 52, causing it to be directed upward. As a result, even when the light source 54 is installed on the upper wall 17 of the storage unit body 12, it is possible to prevent the food 16 placed in the lower part of the storage chamber 11 (lower shelf member 15) from becoming dark and difficult to see.

[0032] Next, the handle 20 of the door 14 will be described. The handle 20 is provided on the front surface 14A1 of the left side of the frame member 14A of the door 14. As shown in Figure 7, the handle 20 comprises two magnets 22 that magnetically attract to the opening edge 18 of the storage unit body 12, a cover portion 23 that covers at least the magnets 22 from the side opposite to the storage unit body 12, a grip portion 24 that is grasped by the user's fingers, and a hinge 25 for pivotably attaching the magnets 22 and the cover portion 23 to the door 14.

[0033] The cover portion 23 and the gripping portion 24 are integrally formed, with the gripping portion 24 protruding forward from the cover portion 23. Furthermore, an insertion opening 26 for inserting fingers is formed at the connection point between the gripping portion 24 and the cover portion 23. The insertion opening 26 extends through in the left-right direction, allowing the left hand to be inserted from the left side and the right hand from the right side. The gripping portion 24 can be grasped through the insertion opening 26 with either the left or right hand.

[0034] Furthermore, the cover portion 23 has a protruding portion 23A on its left side that protrudes toward the storage container body 12. The protruding portion 23A protrudes to a length such that it is pressed against and contacts the opening edge 18 of the storage container body 12 when the handle 20 is swung around the rotation axis P2, as will be described later.

[0035] The magnet 22 is attached to the cover portion 23 by fixing its holder 22A to a groove formed on the rear surface of the cover portion 23 with a screw. The magnet 22 is elongated vertically, and two of them are arranged side by side with a gap between them along the vertical direction. Note that the screw is not shown in Figure 7.

[0036] Each magnet 22 has sufficient magnetic attraction force (e.g., 7.5 kgf) to prevent steam from leaking from the storage chamber 11 when the door 14 is closed, and adheres firmly to the opening edge 18. The magnet 22 has an adsorption portion 22B that is attracted to the opening edge 18 when the door 14 is closed. In this embodiment, the adsorption portion 22B is elongated vertically, following the overall shape of the magnet 22, and is provided in three places: on both the left and right sides of the magnet 22 and in the center between them, but its number and shape are not limited to those shown.

[0037] The hinge 25 is a spring hinge having two plate pieces 25A and 25B and a spring 25C that pivotably connects them. One plate piece 25A is fixed by screw to a projection on the front surface 14A1 of the frame member 14A of the door 14. The other plate piece 25B is fixed by screw to a groove formed on the rear surface of the cover part 23 and is attached to the cover part 23. The handle 20 is pivotable in accordance with the movement of the hinge 25. The axis of rotation P2 of the handle 20 during this pivoting is configured with the axis of rotation of the hinge 25. The axis of rotation P2 of the handle 20 is oriented vertically and extends in the same direction as the axis of rotation P1 of the door 14.

[0038] The opening and closing operation of the handle 20 with the above configuration will now be explained. When the door 14 is in the closed position as shown in Figure 8, if the handle 20 is swung around the rotation axis P2 (more specifically, clockwise when viewed from above) by the hand gripping the gripping part 24, the suction part 22B of the magnet 22 is displaced (swung) in a direction that releases its suction with the opening edge 18 of the storage unit body 12, as shown in Figures 9 and 10. Due to this swinging, the suction part 22B is easily pulled away from the opening edge 18, and the tight contact between the door 14 and the opening edge 18 is released.

[0039] By creating a mechanism in which the magnetic attraction portion 22B of the magnet 22 is pulled away from the opening edge 18 by oscillation, the force required to pull the magnetic attraction portion 22B away from the opening edge 18 can be reduced. As a result, even if the magnetic attraction force of the magnet 22 is sufficiently large to improve the airtightness of the door 14, the force required to open the door 14 will not become excessively large. Furthermore, since a latch structure or the like is not required to open and close the door 14, it can be opened with a simple operation of swinging the handle 20 around the rotation axis P2, and it can be easily closed by magnetic attraction force by bringing the magnet 22 of the handle 20 into contact with the opening edge 18. Thus, a door 14 with high airtightness and that can be opened and closed with simple operation can be realized.

[0040] Furthermore, since the rotation axis P2 of the handle 20 extends in a direction aligned with the rotation axis P1 of the door 14, after swinging the handle 20 around the rotation axis P2 to release the door 14 from its closed position, the door 14 can be easily opened by pulling the handle 20 and swinging the door 14 around the rotation axis P1 (more specifically, in a counterclockwise direction when viewed from above) (Figure 11).

[0041] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 10, the protruding portion 23A of the cover portion 23 of the handle 20 is formed to be pressed against and in contact with the opening edge portion 18 of the storage body 12 when the handle 20 is swung around the rotation axis P2. If the protruding portion 23A were not provided, there would be a concern that the suction portion 22B of the swung magnet 22 (more specifically, the suction portion 22B furthest from the hinge 25 (rotation axis P2) out of the three suction portions 22B) would be strongly pressed against the opening edge portion 18, causing wear on the pressed suction portion 22B. In this embodiment, when the handle 20 is swung around the rotation axis P2, the protruding portion 23A of the cover portion 23 is pressed against and in contact with the opening edge portion 18, thereby preventing wear on the suction portion 22B of the magnet 22.

[0042] <Other Embodiments> This technology is not limited to the embodiments described above and in the drawings, and the following embodiments, for example, are also included in the technical scope of this technology.

[0043] (1) The planar shape of the front opening 12S and opening edge 18 of the storage unit body 12, and the door 14 is a vertically elongated rectangle, but other shapes are also acceptable. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 10: Steam warmer (storage compartment), 12: Storage compartment body, 12S: Front opening, 14: Door, 18: Opening edge, 20: Handle, 22: Magnet, 22B: Suction part, 23: Cover part, 23A: Protruding part, 24: Gripping part, 25: Hinge, 26: Insertion port, P1: Rotating shaft (first rotating shaft), P2: Rotating shaft (second rotating shaft)

Claims

1. A storage unit body having a front opening, The storage unit body comprises a door for opening and closing the front opening, having a handle for opening and closing operations, and being mounted on the opening edge of the front opening so as to be pivotable around a first pivot axis, The aforementioned handle is It is provided so as to be able to swing around the second rotation axis, The storage unit body is equipped with a magnet having an adsorption portion that magnetically attracts to the opening edge and adheres to the opening edge when the door is closed, The suction portion of the magnet is such that when the handle is swung around the second rotation axis while the door is closed, the suction portion is displaced in a direction that releases the suction from the opening edge of the storage unit body.

2. The storage unit according to claim 1, wherein the second rotation axis of the handle extends in a direction along the first rotation axis of the door.

3. The aforementioned handle is At least the magnet includes a cover portion that covers it from the side opposite to the storage unit body, It comprises a hinge for pivoting to the aforementioned door, The storage unit according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second rotation axis is configured by the rotation axis of the hinge.

4. The cover portion has a protruding portion that extends toward the storage container body side, The storage container according to claim 3, wherein the protruding portion of the cover portion is pressed against and in contact with the opening edge of the storage container body when the handle is swung around the second rotation axis.

5. The second rotation axis of the handle is aligned in the vertical direction. The handle is provided with an opening that extends through it from left to right and allows fingers to be inserted. The storage cabinet according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the handle comprises a gripping portion that is grasped by fingers inserted into the insertion opening.

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