showcase

Abstract

In display cases equipped with doors, this method improves cooling efficiency while suppressing condensation that forms on the doors. [Solution] The showcase 10 comprises a storage chamber 13, a storage body 12 having an opening 12S for accessing the storage chamber 13, a transparent door 15 for opening and closing the opening 12S, a cooler 21, and an internal fan 31. An air outlet 17B is provided near the opening 12S, and the internal fan 31 is provided near the air outlet 17B. The axial direction of the internal fan 31 intersects with the opening direction of the air outlet 17B, and a flow straightening member 35 is provided between the air outlet 17B and the internal fan 31 to straighten the airflow of the air blown by the internal fan 31 while directing it towards the air outlet 17B.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This technology relates to a showcase.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a showcase having an opening is known, and an example thereof is described in Patent Document 1. The showcase described in Patent Document 1 is an open showcase with an open top surface (upper surface), and cools the contents in the storage chamber by forming an air curtain of cold air along the top surface opening. Further, in Patent Document 1, a blower (internal fan) for sucking the air in the storage chamber and passing it through the inside of the cooler and returning the cold air from the cooler to the storage chamber is disposed at the bottom of the showcase.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, there is a type of showcase (so-called closed showcase) that has a transparent door that opens and closes the opening in order to improve the cooling efficiency, different from the open showcase described in Patent Document 1 above. In a closed showcase, when an air curtain of cold air is formed using the technology described in Patent Document 1, the cold air hits the door and condensation is likely to occur. In particular, when the internal fan is disposed not at the bottom but at a position close to the opening, while increasing the supply amount of cold air and making it easier to form an air curtain, the flow rate of the cold air hitting the door increases, and there is a situation where condensation occurs even more.

[0005] This technology has been completed based on the above situation, and an object thereof is to suppress condensation generated on the door while increasing the cooling efficiency in a showcase provided with a door. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To solve the above problems, the showcase disclosed in this application has the following configuration.

[0007] (1) A storage room and a storage unit having an opening for accessing the storage room, A door that is transparent and opens and closes the opening, A cooler for cooling the storage chamber, The system includes an internal fan that circulates air by drawing it in from the storage chamber, passing it through the cooler, and blowing out the cooled air from the outlet of the storage chamber. The aforementioned outlet is provided near the aforementioned opening, The aforementioned internal fan is provided near the air outlet and blows air along the axial direction. The axial direction of the internal fan intersects with the opening direction of the outlet. A showcase is provided with a rectifying member between the air outlet and the internal fan, which rectifies the airflow of the air blown by the internal fan while directing it toward the air outlet.

[0008] Furthermore, the above configuration can be adapted to various forms as shown below.

[0009] (2) The opening of the storage unit body is a top opening, The opening direction of the outlet of the storage chamber is aligned horizontally. The axial direction of the aforementioned internal fan is aligned in the vertical direction. The rectifying member rectifies the air blown upward by the internal fan so that it is blown out horizontally from the outlet.

[0010] (3) The opening of the storage unit body is a top opening, The opening direction of the outlet of the storage chamber is aligned horizontally. The axial direction of the aforementioned internal fan is aligned in the vertical direction. The rectifying member rectifies the air blown upward by the internal fan so that it is blown out diagonally downward from the outlet.

[0011] (4) The opening of the storage unit body is a top opening, The opening direction of the outlet of the storage chamber is aligned horizontally. The axial direction of the aforementioned internal fan is aligned in the vertical direction. The aforementioned rectifier member consists of a plurality of flap plates, The plurality of flap plates include at least one flap plate that straightens the air blown upward by the internal fan so that it is blown out horizontally from the outlet, and at least one flap plate that straightens the air blown by the internal fan so that it is blown out diagonally downward from the outlet.

[0012] (5) The opening of the storage unit body is a top opening, The opening direction of the outlet of the storage chamber is aligned horizontally. The axial direction of the aforementioned internal fan is aligned in the vertical direction. The rectifier member consists of a plurality of flap plates arranged at predetermined intervals, The end of the uppermost flap plate among the multiple flap plates, opposite to the air outlet, extends from the end of the other flap plates opposite to the air outlet, in order to suppress the inflow of air blown upward by the internal fan.

[0013] (6) The rectifier member consists of a plurality of flap plates arranged at predetermined intervals, The aforementioned spacing is set to a dimension that prevents the multiple flap plates from being blocked by frost accumulating on them.

[0014] (7) The storage room is provided with a container for storing ice cream, The showcase is a refrigerated showcase used to scoop out the ice cream from the storage container while storing the ice cream in a frozen state.

Advantages of the Invention

[0015] According to the present technology, in a showcase with a door, it is possible to suppress dew condensation generated on the door while enhancing the cooling efficiency.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] [Figure 1] Perspective view of the refrigerated showcase according to Embodiment 1 [Figure 2] Cross-sectional perspective view taken along line I-I of FIG. 1 (excluding the cover part) [Figure 3] Cross-sectional perspective view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1 (excluding the cover part) [Figure 4] Cross-sectional perspective view of the refrigerated showcase cut at the position of line III-III of FIG. 3 (excluding the cover part) [Figure 5] Enlarged cross-sectional perspective view of the vicinity of the flap plate in FIG. 4 [Figure 6] Plan view of the frame part IV in FIG. 3 with the first duct removed [Figure 7] Cross-sectional perspective view showing the shielding plate between adjacent coolers [Figure 8] Perspective view of the shielding plate [Figure 9] Diagram showing the refrigeration circuit [Figure 10] Enlarged cross-sectional perspective view of the vicinity of the flap plate according to Embodiment 2 [Figure 11] Enlarged cross-sectional perspective view of the vicinity of the flap plate according to other embodiments [Figure 12] Perspective view of the refrigerated showcase according to Embodiment 3 [Figure 13] Enlarged cross-sectional perspective view of the vicinity of the flap plate [Figure 14] Cross-sectional perspective view showing the covering member according to Embodiment 4 (excluding the door) [Figure 15] Perspective view of the refrigerated showcase according to Embodiment 5 [Figure 16]Enlarged perspective view of the area around the cold air cover. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0017] <Embodiment 1> A refrigerated display case 10 (an example of a refrigerated storage unit) according to Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 9. The symbols F, B, L, R, U, and D shown in each figure indicate the front and rear of the refrigerated display case 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.

[0018] The refrigerated display case 10 is used, for example, to store stored goods 70 (e.g., ice cream or gelato, see Figure 2) in a frozen state, and to scoop out the frozen stored goods 70 from the storage container 11 (e.g., an ice bin). The refrigerated display case 10 is, for example, a dipping display case installed in an ice cream shop.

[0019] As shown in Figures 1 to 9, the refrigerated display case 10 broadly comprises a horizontally elongated storage body 12, a cover portion 14 that covers the top opening 12S of the storage body 12 from above, a door 15 that forms part of the cover portion 14 and opens and closes the top opening 12S, a machine room 16, a refrigeration circuit 20, and a control unit 60. In this embodiment, the side with the closed door 15 is the rear side (the side facing the staff when installed in a store), and the side opposite the door 15 is the front side (the side facing the customer).

[0020] The cover portion 14 is roughly rectangular in shape with an opening at the bottom and covers the entire top opening 12S of the storage unit body 12 from above. The cover portion 14 is made of a light-transmitting material, so that customers positioned in front of the refrigerated display case 10 and store staff positioned behind it can see the stored items 70 inside the storage container 11 from the outside.

[0021] Door 15 forms the rear wall of the cover portion 14 when closed and is transparent. In this embodiment, two doors 15 are provided side by side. In Figure 1, one door 15 is shown in the closed state, and the other door 15 is shown in the open state. The upper wall portion 14A of the cover portion 14 has a length in the front-to-back direction that is smaller than the top opening 12S, and door 15 extends inclined from the rear end portion 14A1 of the upper wall portion 14A to the front edge of the opening of the top opening 12S (counter 45, which will be described later). Door 15 is mounted so as to be able to swing upward around a pivot axis 14B provided on the frame that constitutes the cover portion 14. When opened, door 15 is stored below the upper wall portion 14A.

[0022] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the storage unit body 12 is an insulated box, with an outer box 12A and an inner box 12B, both assembled from metal plates such as stainless steel, and an insulating material 12C made of foamed resin (such as foamed urethane) filled between them. The interior of the storage unit body 12 is mostly a storage chamber 13 that houses the storage containers 11, and the top opening 12S is an opening for accessing the storage chamber 13. The storage containers 11 are stored throughout the entire storage chamber 13 (see the dashed line in Figure 2), but in the illustration, some or all of the storage containers 11 are omitted to clearly show the inside of the storage chamber 13.

[0023] The storage unit body 12 has a recessed shape at the lower right and lower rear. This recessed area is covered by a panel from the outside of the storage unit body 12, and a machine room 16 is formed between the storage unit body 12 and the panel. The machine room 16 houses the machinery that constitutes the refrigeration circuit 20 (compressor 24, condenser 25, electronic expansion valve 27, etc.) and the control unit 60. The refrigeration circuit 20 will be described in detail later.

[0024] As shown in Figure 3, three first ducts 17 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction at the rear of the storage unit body 12. The area in front of the first ducts 17 within the storage unit body 12 is the storage chamber 13. Behind each first duct 17 (between the first duct 17 and the rear wall 12D of the storage unit body 12), as shown in Figures 4 to 7, a cooler 21 for cooling the storage chamber 13, an internal fan 31 (an example of a cooler fan), a heater 32 (an example of a defrosting means), a drain pan 33, a guide member 34, a flap plate 35 (an example of a flow straightening member), and a shielding member 38 are provided.

[0025] The refrigerated display case 10 is provided with multiple combinations (specifically, three combinations) of these components, and the configuration and arrangement of the components in each combination are basically the same. That is, each combination (each cooler 21) is provided with multiple (specifically two) internal fans 31, heaters 32, drain pans 33, guide members 34, multiple (specifically three) flap plates 35, multiple (specifically two) shielding members 38, and a first duct 17. By providing multiple combinations of coolers 21 and various components to be combined with them, the frozen state of the stored goods 70 can be suitably maintained even when the storage compartment 13 has a large capacity and the door 15 is opened and closed frequently.

[0026] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the first duct 17 extends vertically. A predetermined gap is formed between the lower end of the first duct 17 and the bottom wall 12E of the storage unit body 12, and this gap serves as the first intake port 17A for drawing air from the storage chamber 13 into the cooler 21. An outlet port 17B is provided at the upper end of the first duct 17 for blowing the air that has passed through the cooler 21 into the storage chamber 13. The outlet port 17B is a horizontally elongated rectangle and is located near (directly below) the top opening 12S.

[0027] Furthermore, a long, narrow counter 45 is provided between the upper end of the first duct 17 and the top opening 12S of the storage unit body 12. As shown in Figure 5, the counter 45 comprises two metal plates 45A that form the upper and lower surfaces, a resin joint member 45B that connects the metal plates 45A, and an insulating body 45C embedded in the space formed by these. The counter 45 is formed separately from the storage unit body 12 and is attached to the storage unit body 12 in a way that allows it to be attached later (or retrofitted upon request).

[0028] By providing the counter 45, space for a workbench can be secured, and it becomes easier to prevent condensation water from entering the storage unit body 12 or for the removed stored items 70 from falling into the storage unit body 12. In particular, in this embodiment, the front end portion 45A1 of the upper metal plate 45A protrudes upward, which makes it possible to more reliably prevent the intrusion of condensation water and the like.

[0029] The cooler 21 is positioned above the center of the first duct 17 in the vertical direction and has a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape that is horizontally elongated in the left-right direction. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the cooler 21 is a fin-tube type heat exchanger and comprises a large number of fins, end plates 21A, and evaporator tubes 21B. The fins are rectangular plate-shaped metal plates arranged at predetermined intervals in the left-right direction, but are omitted in the illustration. The end plates 21A are metal plates provided on both sides of the arrangement direction (left-right direction) for the large number of fins. The evaporator tubes 21B extend in the left-right direction and have a U-shaped form, passing through the fins and end plates 21A. The evaporator tubes 21B are connected to the refrigerant tubes 29 of the refrigeration circuit 20. When the liquid refrigerant flowing into the evaporator tubes 21B evaporates and vaporizes into refrigerant gas, the air passing through the cooler 21 is cooled by the heat of vaporization.

[0030] As shown in Figure 7, the three coolers 21 are arranged adjacent to each other in front of the three first ducts 17. In the following, when distinguishing and describing the three coolers 21 by their arrangement, the cooler 21 on the left will be called cooler 21L, the cooler 21 on the right will be called cooler 21R, and the cooler 21 in the middle between them will be called cooler 21M.

[0031] Between adjacent coolers 21, multiple shielding members 38 are provided to separate the flow paths of each cooler 21. The shielding members 38 are attached to both the left and right outer sides (opposite the end plate 21A) of the folded portion (U-shaped portion) of the evaporator tube 21B of the cooler 21, and two are provided for each cooler 21. As shown in Figure 8, the shielding members 38 are plate-shaped members with an L-shaped cross-section, and their main surface 38A is sized and shaped to cover from the side from the upper end 21A1 of the end plate 21A of the cooler 21 to the lower end of the drain pan 33 (more specifically, the drain port 33A on the bottom surface, which will be described later). This ensures that the flow paths of each cooler 21 are reliably separated.

[0032] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the internal fan 31 is installed above the cooler 21 (on the air outlet side) near the outlet 17B (diagonally downwards). As shown in Figures 6 and 7, two internal fans 31 are installed for each cooler 21, arranged side by side. The internal fan 31 circulates the air in the storage chamber 13 by drawing air in from the storage chamber 13, passing it through the inside of the cooler 21, and blowing out the air that has passed through the cooler 21. The axial direction of the internal fan 31 is along the vertical direction and intersects with the opening direction (horizontal direction) of the outlet 17B. When the internal fan 31 is operating, the air is cooled as it passes through the cooler 21 from bottom to top along the vertical direction (axial direction). Note that if the cooler 21 is small, one internal fan 31 may be installed for each cooler 21, and the number of fans installed is not limited.

[0033] During cooling operation, the internal fan 31 operates, drawing air from the storage chamber 13 through the first intake port 17A. As the air passes through the cooler 21, heat exchange occurs, and the resulting cold air is blown back into the storage chamber 13 through the outlet 17B via the internal fan 31. This circulates air between the storage chamber 13 and the cooler 21, cooling the inside of the storage chamber 13.

[0034] The guide member 34 is provided between the internal fan 31 and the air outlet 17B. The guide member 34 is an inclined plate-shaped member and is provided above and behind the internal fan 31. The guide member 34 changes the direction of the upward-blowing cold air blown by the internal fan 31 so that it is directed towards the air outlet 17B. More specifically, the direction of the cold air blown upward from the internal fan 31 is changed forward towards the air outlet 17B by hitting the inclined guide member 34. The inclination angle of the guide member 34 is set to change the direction of the upward-blowing cold air forward.

[0035] Multiple flap plates 35 are provided near the outlet 17B, between the guide member 34 and the outlet 17B. The flap plates 35 straighten the airflow of the cold air blown by the internal fan 31, directing it towards the outlet 17B. The flap plates 35 straighten the airflow so that the cold air blown by the internal fan 31 and whose direction has been changed by the guide member 34 is blown out horizontally from the outlet 17B. Note that if the cold air blown by the internal fan 31 is sufficiently directed towards the outlet 17B by the flap plates 35 alone, the guide member 34 does not necessarily need to be provided.

[0036] In this embodiment, three flap plates 35 are provided and arranged at predetermined intervals. As a result, a total of four gaps (flow straightening spaces) G1 are formed between the opening edge of the air outlet 17B and each flap plate 35. Each flap plate 35 has two flat plate portions 35A and 35B that are connected in the front-rear direction. The front flat plate portion 35A (on the air outlet 17B side) is aligned horizontally, while the rear flat plate portion 35B (on the guide member 34 side) extends diagonally downward so as it approaches the guide member 34.

[0037] The aforementioned rectification space G1 decreases when the number of flap plates 35 is increased, provided that the size of the air outlet 17B remains constant. While a smaller rectification space G1 enhances the rectification effect of the flap plates 35, it also makes the flap plates 35 more prone to clogging if frost accumulates on them. Therefore, the spacing (number) of the flap plates 35 is set to a size (number) that prevents the rectification space G1 from being blocked by frost. In this embodiment, for example, three flap plates 35 with a thickness of 1.4 mm are provided for an air outlet 17B with a vertical length of 50 mm.

[0038] The heater 32 is positioned directly below the cooler 21 (on the air inlet side). The heater 32 melts the frost that has accumulated on the cooler 21 by heating. In addition, the frost that has accumulated on the internal fan 31 is also melted as the air heated by the heater 32 rises.

[0039] The drain pan 33 is a horizontally elongated, shallow tray-like structure located below the cooler 21. The drain pan 33 collects the defrost water generated when frost on the cooler 21 and the internal fan 31 melts. A drain port 33A is formed in the center of the drain pan 33 in the left-right direction, and the bottom surface of the drain pan 33 is sloped so that water flows down toward the drain port 33A. The defrost water collected in the drain pan 33 is discharged to the outside through a drain hose.

[0040] Furthermore, a second duct 18 is provided on the front side of the storage unit body 12, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 4. The second duct 18 has a second intake port 18A formed in the second duct 18 at a position opposite the outlet port 17B of the first duct 17 in the front-to-back direction. The second intake port 18A is elongated vertically and is provided in large numbers in a row in the left-to-right direction. As previously described, cold air is blown forward horizontally from the outlet port 17B, but most of this blown cold air is drawn into the second intake port 18A. Directly below the top opening 12S, an air curtain of cold air is formed along the opening surface of the top opening 12S, from the outlet port 17B to the second intake port 18A, thereby improving cooling efficiency.

[0041] The lower end 18B of the second duct 18 is located slightly below the upper end of the containment container 11. The cold air drawn into the second intake port 18A descends from this lower end 18B and diffuses into the storage chamber 13.

[0042] As shown in Figure 9, the refrigeration circuit 20 is a refrigeration cycle in which three coolers 21, an accumulator 23, a compressor 24, a condenser 25, a dryer 26, and an electronic expansion valve 27 are connected by refrigerant pipes 29. The three coolers 21 (left cooler 21L, center cooler 21M, and right cooler 21R) are connected in parallel. The refrigerant gas from the coolers 21 is returned to the compressor 24, which is located downstream in the refrigerant flow direction.

[0043] The compressor 24 uses an electric motor as a power source to draw in and compress refrigerant gas, and discharges high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas to circulate the refrigerant in the refrigeration circuit 20. The condenser 25 cools and liquefies the refrigerant gas compressed by the compressor 24 using airflow from the condenser fan 28. The electronic expansion valve 27 is installed between the condenser 25 and each cooler 21, on the upstream side of each cooler 21 in the refrigerant flow direction. The electronic expansion valve 27 reduces the pressure of the refrigerant from the condenser 25 and switches the supply of refrigerant to the coolers 21 on and off.

[0044] In this embodiment, an accumulator 23 is provided to prevent liquid refrigerant that was not vaporized in the cooler 21 from returning to the compressor 24, and a dryer 26 is provided to remove moisture mixed in with the refrigerant liquid.

[0045] As shown in Figure 9, the control unit 60 is electrically connected to various devices and controls them. The control unit 60 is, for example, a control board including a microcontroller, and may also be equipped with a memory unit and a timing unit. The control unit 60 performs cooling operation by controlling the compressor 24, condenser fan 28, internal fan 31, and electronic expansion valve 27 based on a control program. The electronic expansion valve 27 and internal fan 31 are controlled individually for each corresponding cooler 21. For example, if the temperature of the storage chamber 13 is sufficiently higher than the set temperature, all electronic expansion valves 27 may be turned on simultaneously and all internal fans 31 may be operated simultaneously in order to perform cooling operation using all coolers 21. On the other hand, if the temperature of the storage chamber 13 is slightly lower than the set temperature, for example, only the corresponding electronic expansion valve 27 and internal fan 31 may be operated in order to perform cooling operation using one cooler 21.

[0046] Furthermore, the control unit 60 performs a defrosting operation at predetermined cooling operation intervals (for example, every 6 hours) to melt the frost that has accumulated on the cooler 21 during the cooling operation. The control unit 60 performs the defrosting operation by controlling the compressor 24, condenser fan 28, internal fan 31, electronic expansion valve 27, and heater 32 based on a control program.

[0047] In defrosting operation, the control unit 60 does not operate all three heaters 32 simultaneously, but operates only one or two heaters 32 at a time. In this embodiment, the three coolers 21 are defrosted one by one by operating the three heaters 32 sequentially. More specifically, the heater 32 for the left cooler 21L is operated, then two hours later the heater 32 for the central cooler 21M is operated, then two hours later the heater 32 for the right cooler 21R is operated, and then two hours later the heater 32 for the right cooler 21R is operated, thus defrosting the left cooler 21L, the central cooler 21M, and the right cooler 21R in that order. In this embodiment, the right portion of the storage chamber 13 where the right cooler 21R is located is recessed only by the machine room 16, as shown in Figure 3, and has a small capacity. Therefore, since the amount of frost on the right-hand cooler 21R is expected to be less than that on the other coolers 21M and 21L, the defrosting order for the right-hand cooler 21R is set to last.

[0048] During defrosting, the control unit 60 turns on the electronic expansion valve 27 connected to the cooler 21 that has a heater 32 that is currently stopped (i.e., the cooler 21 that is not being defrosted), while turning off the other electronic expansion valves 27. The control unit 60 also operates the compressor 24 and the condenser fan 28 to circulate refrigerant through the refrigeration circuit 20 and supplies refrigerant to the cooler 21 connected to the turned-on electronic expansion valve 27. Furthermore, the control unit 60 operates the internal fan 31 for the cooler 21 that is being supplied with refrigerant, while not operating the other internal fans 31.

[0049] In this way, by not operating all three heaters 32 simultaneously and cooling the storage chamber 13 with the cooler 21 that houses the heaters 32 that are not in operation, excessive temperature rise in the storage chamber 13 during defrosting can be suppressed. Furthermore, by using an electronic expansion valve 27 to supply refrigerant to the cooler 21 that houses the heaters 32 that are not in operation, the electronic expansion valve 27 alone can perform both the role of a capillary tube (reducing the pressure of the refrigerant from the condenser 25) and the role of a solenoid valve (turning the supply of refrigerant to the cooler 21 on and off). This suppresses the increase in the number of parts and installation space that would be required if multiple coolers 21 were provided.

[0050] Furthermore, even when three coolers 21 are arranged adjacent to each other and each cooler 21 is provided with an internal fan 31, the shielding member 38 ensures that the flow paths of each cooler 21 are reliably separated. As a result, when performing defrosting, even if the internal fan 31 for the cooler 21 connected to the electronic expansion valve 27 that is ON (i.e., generating cold air) is activated, while the internal fan 31 for the cooler 21 connected to the electronic expansion valve 27 that is OFF (i.e., defrosting) is stopped, the mixing of the flow paths of each cooler 21 can be suppressed.

[0051] If the shielding member 38 is not provided, the airflow paths of adjacent coolers 21 may mix, and for example, cold air drawn in by an adjacent operating internal fan 31 may flow into a cooler 21 that is defrosting. As a result, there is a concern that the defrosting of the cooler 21 will not progress, leading to a defrosting failure. Also, for example, there is a concern that warm air from a cooler 21 that is defrosting may be drawn in by an adjacent operating internal fan 31 and blown out into the storage chamber 13. As a result, there is a concern that the temperature of the storage chamber 13 may rise. In this embodiment, providing the shielding member 38 can suppress such situations.

[0052] Next, the effects of the refrigerated display case 10 with the above configuration will be explained. As previously stated, the air outlet 17B of the storage compartment 13 is located near (directly below) the top opening 12S, and the internal fan 31 is located near (diagonally directly below) the air outlet 17B. In this way, the amount of cold air supplied to the storage compartment 13 is increased, making it easier for an air curtain to form along the top opening 12S, thereby improving cooling efficiency. On the other hand, when the top opening 12S, air outlet 17B, and internal fan 31 are located near each other in this way, the cold air from the air outlet 17B is likely to hit the closed door 15, causing condensation. Therefore, in this embodiment, the axial direction of the internal fan 31 is positioned vertically, intersecting the opening direction (front-to-back direction) of the air outlet 17B, and a flap plate 35 is provided as a flow straightening member. This directs the airflow of the cold air blown out from the air outlet 17B horizontally (forward), making it less likely to hit the door 15. As a result, cooling efficiency can be improved while suppressing condensation that occurs on the door 15.

[0053] Furthermore, if the internal fan 31 is installed with its axial direction in the front-to-back direction (the direction of the opening of the air outlet 17B), defrost water generated from the melting of frost on the internal fan 31 is likely to accumulate in the case and frame of the internal fan 31. This accumulated defrost water then refreezes into ice and grows when the cooling operation is restarted, raising concerns that it may cause the internal fan 31 to malfunction. According to this embodiment, by arranging the internal fan 31 with its axial direction aligned with the vertical direction, defrost water is less likely to accumulate in the internal fan 31, thus suppressing such a situation.

[0054] <Embodiment 2> The flap plate 135 according to Embodiment 2 will be described with reference to Figure 10. In Embodiment 2, the arrangement direction of the flap plate 135 differs from that of Embodiment 1. In Embodiment 2, redundant explanations of the same configuration and effects as in Embodiment 1 will be omitted.

[0055] The flap plate 135 has a flat plate portion 135B on the rear side (guide member 34 side) that is aligned horizontally, and a flat plate portion 135A on the front side (air outlet 17B side) that extends diagonally downward so as it approaches the air outlet 17B.

[0056] By providing the flap plate 135, the direction of the cold air blown out from the outlet 17B is directed diagonally downward. This makes it less likely for the cold air to hit the door 15, and also makes it easier for the cold air to hit the top of the storage container 11 (and thus the stored items 70) inside the storage chamber 13. As a result, cooling efficiency can be increased while suppressing condensation that occurs on the door 15.

[0057] <Embodiment 3> The refrigerated display case 110 according to Embodiment 3 will be described with reference to Figures 12 to 13. In Embodiment 3, redundant explanations of the same configuration and effects as in Embodiments 1 and 2 will be omitted, and the differences will be described primarily.

[0058] As shown in Figure 12, the refrigerated display case 110 does not have the cover portion 14 according to Embodiment 1. The entire top opening 12S of the storage body 12 is covered from above by a flat door 115, which can be opened and closed. The door 115 is attached so as to be able to swing upward by a hinge member 65 provided near the front edge 46 of the top opening 12S. In this embodiment, there are multiple doors 115 (specifically four) arranged in the left-right direction, and Figure 12 shows that two doors 115 are in the open state and the other two doors 115 are in the closed state.

[0059] Each door 115 comprises a door body 115A, a door frame 115B, and a packing 115C. The door body 115A is made of a transparent plate such as glass or acrylic and has a rectangular shape when viewed from above. The door frame 115B is provided in a frame shape so as to surround the outer edge of the door body 115A. The packing 115C is provided along the frame-shaped door frame 115B on the side of the door frame 115B that faces the storage body 12 (the bottom surface when the door 115 is closed).

[0060] A columnar member 51 extending in the front-to-back direction is provided at the top of the storage unit body 12. A closed door 115 is placed on the columnar member 51. The columnar member 51 is a support member that supports the closed door 115 from below. The columnar member 51 is provided at the boundary position when adjacent doors 115 are closed in the top opening 12S. In this embodiment, since there are four doors 115, three columnar members 51 are provided accordingly. Therefore, when the four doors 115 are closed, they are placed on the three columnar members 51 and the opening edges of the top opening 12S of the storage unit body 12 (more specifically, the rear edge 45, front edge 46, right edge 47, and left edge 48 of the opening), and are supported from below.

[0061] Of the three flap plates 235 in this embodiment, the uppermost flap plate 235U, as shown in Figure 13, has its rear end (the end opposite to the air outlet 17B) 235U1 extending to the guide member 34. This rear end 235U1 contacts the guide member 34, and the space between the rear end 235U1 and the guide member 34 is closed. As a result, the cold air blown out from between the uppermost flap plate 235U and the upper edge 17B1 of the opening of the air outlet 17B is blocked (the flow rate of cold air is reduced).

[0062] When the door 115 is opened, the cold air blown out from between the uppermost flap plate 235U and the upper edge 17B1 of the opening of the air outlet 17B tends to flow out to the outside through the top opening 12S. By extending the rear end 235U1 of the uppermost flap plate 235U to the rear, the flow rate of such cold air can be reduced, thereby decreasing the flow rate of cold air flowing out to the outside. As a result, cooling efficiency can be improved, and temperature unevenness and temperature rise of the stored items 70 can be suppressed.

[0063] Furthermore, the rear end portion 235U1 of the uppermost flap plate 235U does not need to be in contact with the guide member 34. It is sufficient that this rear end portion 235U1 extends further rearward than the rear end portion 235M1 of the middle flap plate 235M and the rear end portion 235L1 of the lowermost flap plate 235L. This makes the gap between the rear end portion 235U1 of the uppermost flap plate 235U and the guide member 34 relatively narrower, thereby suppressing the inflow of air blown by the internal fan 31 into this gap.

[0064] By the way, when the refrigerated display case 110 is used to scoop out frozen stored goods 70 (for example, ice cream) from a storage container 11, the first duct 17 is located on the side of the staff, making it prone to dirt from spilled stored goods 70. If the first duct 17 is made of metal, wiping off the dirt with a wet cloth may cause the cloth to freeze at the point of contact with the first duct 17, making cleaning difficult. As a result, there is a concern that before cleaning the first duct 17, it may be necessary to temporarily move the storage container 11 to another freezer and stop the cooling operation of the refrigerated display case 110 to raise the temperature of the first duct 17. Furthermore, there is a concern that after cleaning, it may be necessary to recool the refrigerated display case 110 and return the storage container 11 to its original position. Therefore, in order to avoid such situations, it is preferable that the material of the first duct 17 be a resin that does not easily become cold.

[0065] <Embodiment 4> The refrigerated display case 210 according to Embodiment 4 will be described with reference to Figure 14. In Embodiment 4, redundant explanations of the same configuration and effects as in Embodiments 1 to 3 will be omitted, and the differences will be explained primarily.

[0066] The refrigerated display case 210 includes a covering member 54 that covers the upper part of the first duct 17. The covering member 54 is a plate-shaped member made of resin. The covering member 54 is, for example, superimposed on the upper part of the first duct 17 from the storage chamber 13 side and fixed together with the first duct 17 with screws. Alternatively, the covering member 54 may be attached using magnets or adhesive tape.

[0067] By providing the covering member 54, even if the first duct 17 is made of metal, the upper part of the first duct 17, which is prone to contamination from the stored material 70, can be covered with a resin member, making the cleaning work described in Embodiment 3 easier. In addition, since the upper part of the first duct 17 can be protected by the covering member 54, it becomes easier to deal with damage, etc., by replacing the covering member 54.

[0068] The covering member 54 is preferably made of a white resin, for example. This increases the light reflectivity of the covering member 54 and improves the brightness inside the storage unit body 12. The covering member 54 may also be provided on the upper part of the side walls 12F and 12G of the storage unit body 12. This effectively improves the brightness around the side walls 12F and 12G, which tend to be dark.

[0069] <Embodiment 5> The refrigerated display case 310 according to Embodiment 5 will be described with reference to Figures 15 to 16. In Embodiment 5, redundant explanations of the same configuration and effects as in Embodiments 1 to 4 will be omitted, and the differences will be described mainly.

[0070] In this embodiment, a plate-shaped cold air cover 52 is provided to cover the front portion of the top opening 12S (the portion closer to the front edge 46 of the opening), as shown in Figure 15. The cold air cover 52 is provided between the door 115 and the columnar member 51, and continues to cover the front portion of the top opening 12S even when the door 115 is open. This prevents excessive leakage of cold air from the storage unit body 12 through the top opening 12S when the door 115 is open.

[0071] The cold air cover 52 comprises, for example, a transparent resin flat plate member 52A and a metal mounting fixture 52B, as shown in Figure 16. The cold air cover 52 may be detachably installed, for example, only during periods when the door 115 is opened and closed frequently or when the outside air temperature is high. Furthermore, by providing the cold air cover 52 with a display element such as an LED, the cold air cover 52 may be given the function of a digital signage that displays information.

[0072] Furthermore, the cold air cover 52 may be configured to slide in the front-to-back direction. This makes it possible to adjust the range (position and size) of the top opening 12S covered by the cold air cover 52. Alternatively, a movement mechanism for sliding the cold air cover 52 may be provided, and the control unit 60 may control the movement mechanism based on the detection results of the door 115 opening and closing frequency detection unit and the outside temperature detection unit. For example, the control unit 60 may activate the movement mechanism when the outside temperature detection result is higher than a threshold temperature.

[0073] <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.

[0074] (1) The flap plates 35, 135, and 235 may be used in combination. For example, as shown in Figure 11, the flap plate 35 has the effect of making it easier to form an air curtain of cold air, and the flap plate 135 has the effect of making it easier to cool the top of the storage container 11 (and by extension the stored items 70) in the storage chamber 13 with cold air.

[0075] (2) The shape of the flap plates 35, 135, and 235 is not limited to those shown in the figures, and the inclination angle and size can be changed as appropriate. For example, as shown in Figure 11, the flat plate portion 35B on the rear side (opposite side from the storage chamber 13) of the uppermost flap plate 35 may be formed to have a smaller length in the front-to-back direction and a smaller inclination angle with respect to the flat plate portion 35A on the front side (storage chamber 13 side). This makes it possible to increase the gap between it and the flat plate portion 135B of the flap plate 135 below it.

[0076] (3) A honeycomb core or the like, which is an aggregate of hexagonal cavities, may be added to the front side of the flap plates 35, 135, and 235 to improve the rectifying effect.

[0077] (4) The size, shape, and opening / closing method of the doors 15 and 115 are not limited, and it is sufficient that part or all of the top opening 12S can be opened and closed.

[0078] (5) This technology is applicable not only to the refrigerated display cases 10, 110, 210, and 310, but also to refrigerated display cases and the like that store the stored goods 70 in a refrigerated state. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0079] 10, 110, 210, 310: Refrigerated display case (showcase), 11: Storage container, 12: Storage unit body, 12S: Top opening (opening), 13: Storage room, 15, 115: Door, 17B: Air outlet, 21, 21L, 21M, 21R: Cooler, 31: Internal fan, 35, 135, 235: Flap plate (air rectifier), 235U: Top flap plate, 235U1: Rear end (end opposite the air outlet)

Claims

1. A storage room, and a storage unit body having an opening for accessing the storage room, A door that is transparent and opens and closes the opening, A cooler for cooling the storage chamber, The storage chamber is equipped with an internal fan that circulates air by drawing it in from the storage chamber, passing it through the cooler, and blowing out the cooled air from the outlet of the storage chamber. The aforementioned outlet is provided near the aforementioned opening, The aforementioned internal fan is provided near the air outlet and blows air along the axial direction. The axial direction of the internal fan intersects with the opening direction of the outlet. A showcase is provided with a rectifying member between the air outlet and the internal fan, which rectifies the airflow of the air blown by the internal fan while directing it toward the air outlet.

2. The opening of the storage unit body is a top opening. The opening direction of the outlet of the storage chamber is aligned horizontally. The axial direction of the aforementioned internal fan is aligned in the vertical direction. The showcase according to claim 1, wherein the rectifying member rectifies the air blown upward by the internal fan so that it is blown out horizontally from the outlet.

3. The opening of the storage unit body is a top opening. The opening direction of the outlet of the storage chamber is aligned horizontally. The axial direction of the aforementioned internal fan is aligned in the vertical direction. The showcase according to claim 1, wherein the rectifying member rectifies the air blown upward by the internal fan so that it is blown out diagonally downward from the outlet.

4. The opening of the storage unit body is a top opening. The opening direction of the outlet of the storage chamber is aligned horizontally. The axial direction of the aforementioned internal fan is aligned in the vertical direction. The aforementioned rectifier member consists of a plurality of flap plates, The showcase according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of flap plates include at least one flap plate that straightens the air blown upward by the internal fan so that it is blown out horizontally from the outlet, and at least one flap plate that straightens the air blown upward by the internal fan so that it is blown out diagonally downward from the outlet.

5. The opening of the storage unit body is a top opening. The opening direction of the outlet of the storage chamber is aligned horizontally. The axial direction of the aforementioned internal fan is aligned in the vertical direction. The rectifier member consists of a plurality of flap plates arranged at predetermined intervals, The showcase according to claim 1, wherein the end of the uppermost flap plate among the plurality of flap plates, opposite to the air outlet, extends from the end of the other flap plates opposite to the air outlet, so as to suppress the inflow of air blown upward by the internal fan.

6. The rectifier member consists of a plurality of flap plates arranged at predetermined intervals, The showcase according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the spacing is set to a dimension that prevents it from being blocked by frost adhering to the plurality of flap plates.

7. The aforementioned storage room is provided with a container for storing ice cream. The showcase according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the showcase is a freezer showcase used for storing the ice cream in a frozen state and for scooping the ice cream out of the container.

Images