Open showcase

Abstract

To provide an open showcase that does not reduce the cooling performance of the refrigerated compartment, and allows for good visibility and retrieval of products from above. [Solution] An upward-extending air guide member 23c is provided at the boundary between the ceiling portion 8 and the upper end opening 16a of the exhaust duct 16.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an open showcase for preserving and displaying frozen or refrigerated products.

Background Art

[0002] In supermarkets, convenience stores, etc., open showcases for preserving and displaying frozen or refrigerated products are installed. Such an open showcase blows cold air from a downward cold air outlet provided at the front end of the ceiling part in a showcase body having a cold storage chamber with an open front to an upward suction port provided at the lower front end of the showcase body, thereby forming an air curtain of cold air at the front opening of the cold storage chamber and generally cooling the cold storage chamber.

[0003] Among such open showcases, for example, as described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, there is one provided with an exhaust duct for exhausting warm air that has cooled condensers, compressors, etc. upward on the back side of the showcase body.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the open showcase described in Patent Document 1, the front-to-back width of the ceiling (canopy) of the showcase body is small, which has the advantage of good visibility of the displayed products from above and easy access. However, because the front-to-back width of the ceiling is small, the warm air flowing out from the upper end of the exhaust duct may circulate forward along the ceiling, causing turbulence in the cold air curtain and potentially reducing the cooling performance of the refrigeration chamber.

[0006] On the other hand, the open showcase described in Patent Document 2 has a large front-to-back width at the top of the showcase body, which makes it difficult for warm air flowing out from the top of the exhaust duct to circulate to the front, thus reducing the risk of degrading the cooling performance of the refrigeration chamber. However, because of the large front-to-back width at the top of the showcase, especially in showcases with relatively low heights, there is a problem in that the visibility of products from above is poor and it becomes difficult to take out the products.

[0007] This invention was made in view of these problems, and aims to provide an open showcase that does not reduce the cooling performance of the refrigeration compartment and allows for good visibility and retrieval of products from above. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To solve the aforementioned problems, the open showcase of the present invention is: In an open showcase having a refrigerated compartment with an open front, a cool air curtain is formed in the front opening of the refrigerated compartment by blowing cool air from an outlet provided in the ceiling of the showcase body toward an intake provided in the lower front end of the showcase body, and an exhaust duct is provided on the rear side behind the ceiling, The design is characterized by the placement of an upward-extending air guide member at the boundary between the ceiling portion and the upper end opening of the exhaust duct. This feature guides the warm air discharged from the upper opening of the exhaust duct upward along the air guide member, preventing it from circling forward along the ceiling. Therefore, even if the front-to-back width of the ceiling is reduced, turbulence in the air curtain of cold air does not occur, and the cooling performance of the refrigerated compartment is not reduced. In addition, reducing the front-to-back width of the ceiling improves the visibility and ease of retrieving products displayed in the refrigerated compartment from above.

[0009] The aforementioned air guide member is characterized by its light-transmitting properties. This feature means that even if the height of the air guide component is increased, it will not be noticeable, and therefore the appearance of the open display case will not be negatively affected.

[0010] The air guide member is characterized by being a back panel that constitutes part of a product display fixture attached to the upper surface of the ceiling. This feature means that the back panel of the product display unit also serves as an air guide, eliminating the need for a separate air guide. Furthermore, by attaching the product display unit to the upper surface of the ceiling, the dead space above the ceiling can be effectively utilized as a product display area.

[0011] The aforementioned product display device is characterized by comprising a base plate, a front plate rising from the front edge of the base plate, and a back plate rising from the rear edge of the base plate. This feature prevents products displayed inside the product display unit from falling from the front or back, thanks to the front and back panels.

[0012] The front panel is characterized by being lower in height than the rear panel. This feature makes it easy to load and unload products from the front of the display fixture.

[0013] The aforementioned product display device is further characterized by comprising side panels that are lower in height than the back panel and rise from both side edges of the base panel. According to this feature, it is possible to prevent the products displayed in the product display fixture from falling from both the left and right directions. In addition, it is easier to take in and out products from the side of the product display fixture.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014] [Figure 1] It is a front view of an embodiment of an open showcase according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a longitudinal sectional side view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is an enlarged perspective view of the product display fixture.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] A mode for carrying out the open showcase of the present invention will be described below based on an embodiment.

Embodiment

[0016] The open showcase according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. In the following description, the front side of the open showcase will be described as "front" and the back side as "rear". The open showcase 1 is a relatively low and compact one for use in events such as special sales in supermarkets, convenience stores, etc., and includes a showcase body 2 with a large opening in the front (left side in the figure) and the upper surface, and a box-shaped pedestal 3 that supports the showcase body 2.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, the showcase body 2 includes an outer box 4 with a heat-insulating structure having a substantially inverted L-shaped cross-section in side view, and an inner box 5 inside it, also having a substantially inverted L-shaped cross-section. The internal space of the inner box 5 serves as a cold storage room 6 for bottle products S such as wine and Japanese sake. The product S is placed and displayed on the upper surface of the horizontal bottom plate 5a of the inner box 5. The upper part of the inner box 5 is recessed backward to facilitate the removal of the product S displayed at the rearmost part.

[0018] The left and right open surfaces of the showcase body 2 are blocked by transparent side plates 7, 7 such as glass or acrylic. The outer box 4 has a forward ceiling portion 8 whose front-to-back width is significantly shorter than the front-to-back width of the showcase body 2. In this embodiment, the front-to-back width of the ceiling portion 8 is set to 1 / 8 to 1 / 9 of the front-to-back width of the showcase body 2.

[0019] A ventilation passage 9 is formed between the outer box 4 and the inner box 5, and an evaporator 10 for evaporating refrigerant and a blower 11 for sending the cold air cooled by the evaporator 10 into the cold storage chamber 6 are accommodated on the lower side of the ventilation passage 9.

[0020] A cold air outlet 12 communicating with the ventilation passage 9 is formed along the left-right width direction between the upper end of the inner box 5 and the lower surface of the ceiling portion 8. Further, a cold air suction port 13 communicating with the ventilation passage 9 is formed along the left-right width direction at the front end portion of the bottom plate 5a of the inner box 5. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of horizontally long slit-shaped cold air outlet holes 14 communicating with the ventilation passage 9 are also formed in the upper part of the inner box 5.

[0021] When the blower 11 is operated, the cold air cooled by the evaporator 10 flows upward in the ventilation passage 9 and is blown out from the outlet 12 toward the suction port 13. Thereby, an air curtain of cold air is formed on the open surfaces of the outer box 4 and the inner box 5, and a part of the cold air flows into the cold storage chamber 6 to keep the product S cold. A transparent product fall prevention fence 15 such as glass or acrylic is provided along the width direction above the upper part of the lower front end of the outer box 4.

[0022] An exhaust duct 16 with an open upper end for exhausting the warm air discharged from the inside of the pedestal 3 upward is provided on the back side of the showcase body 2 and the pedestal 3. The left and right opening surfaces of the exhaust duct 16 are blocked by side plates not shown.

[0023] The interior space of the frame 3 houses a condenser 17 for condensing the refrigerant, a blower 18 for discharging the heat from the condenser 17 towards the exhaust duct 16, and a compressor 19 for compressing the refrigerant. Casters 20 are attached to the four corners of the underside of the frame 3 to facilitate the movement of the open showcase 1.

[0024] An intake louver 21 with numerous intake holes is attached to the front panel 3a of the frame 3. When the blower 18 is operating, outside air flows into the frame 3 through the intake louver 21, and the warm air, after cooling the condenser 17, compressor 19, etc., is sent into the exhaust duct 16 by the axial flow fan 22. The warm air that flows into the exhaust duct 16 is discharged to the outside through the upper opening 16a.

[0025] A product display fixture 23 made of transparent acrylic or the like is attached to the upper surface of the ceiling section 8. The width of the product display fixture 23 is approximately equal to the width of the ceiling section 8, and the width of the product display fixture 23 is slightly longer than the width of the ceiling section 8. As shown in the enlarged perspective view of Figure 3, the product display fixture 23 is composed of a base plate 23a, a front plate 23b that rises from the front edge of the base plate 23a, a back plate 23c that rises from the rear edge of the base plate 23a, and side plates 23d, 23d that rise from the left and right side edges of the base plate 23a and are the same height as the front plate 23c. The height of the front plate 23b and the side plates 23d are lower than the back plate 23c. In this embodiment, the vertical dimension of the back plate 23c is approximately three times the vertical dimension of the front plate 23b, but it goes without saying that this is not the case. The side panel 23d is fixed at both the front and rear ends to the opposing surfaces of the side edges of the rear panel 23c and the front panel 23b, and at its lower end to the upper surface of the side edge of the bottom panel 23a, using adhesive or the like. The bottom panel 23a, the front panel 23b, and the rear panel 23c are formed as a single unit, but they may also be fixed together separately using adhesive or the like.

[0026] The back panel 23c, which forms part of the product display fixture 23, corresponds to the air guide member according to the present invention, and the product display fixture 23 is attached to the upper surface of the ceiling portion 8 such that the back panel 23c is located at the boundary between the ceiling portion 8 and the upper end opening 16a of the exhaust duct 16. Screw holes 23e are formed in the bottom plate 23a of the product display fixture 23, and it can be fixed to the upper surface of the ceiling portion 8 using screws. Alternatively, it may be fixed with adhesive or double-sided adhesive tape. Inside the product display fixture 23, vertically elongated box-shaped products S, such as wine bottles or liquor bottles, are displayed.

[0027] In this way, by positioning the back panel 23c of the product display fixture 23 as an air guide member at the boundary between the ceiling 8 and the upper end opening 16a of the exhaust duct 16, the warm air discharged from the upper end opening 16a of the exhaust duct 16 is guided upward along the back panel 23c. Furthermore, if products S that are taller than the back panel 23c are displayed side by side inside the product display fixture 23, the warm air will also be guided upward along the back of the products S.

[0028] As described above, in the open showcase 1 of the embodiment, the product display fixture 23 is attached to the upper surface of the ceiling 8 such that the back plate 23c, which is a guide member, is located at the boundary between the ceiling 8 and the upper end opening 16a of the exhaust duct 16. As a result, the warm air discharged from the upper end opening 16a of the exhaust duct 16 is guided upward along the back plate 23c and does not wrap around to the front along the ceiling 8. Consequently, even if the front-to-back width of the ceiling 8 is reduced, turbulence in the air curtain of cold air does not occur, and the cooling performance of the refrigerated compartment 6 is not reduced. Furthermore, by reducing the front-to-back width of the ceiling 8, the visibility and retrieval of the products S displayed in the refrigerated compartment 6 from above are improved.

[0029] Furthermore, since the entire product display fixture 23 is made of transparent acrylic or the like and is translucent, not only the entire product display fixture 23 but also the tall back panel 23c is not conspicuous, and the appearance of the open showcase 1 is not detracted.

[0030] Furthermore, since the back panel 23c of the product display fixture 23 also serves as an air guide, there is no need to provide a separate air guide.

[0031] Furthermore, by attaching the product display fixture 23 to the upper surface of the ceiling 8, the dead space above the ceiling 8 can be effectively utilized as a product display area.

[0032] Furthermore, since the heights of the front panel 23b and side panels 23d of the product display fixture 23 are lower than the height of the back panel 23c, it becomes easier to load and unload products S into the product display fixture 23 from the front and the side.

[0033] Furthermore, since the product display fixture 23 has a front panel 23b, a back panel 23c, and side panels 23d, 23d, it prevents the products S displayed inside the product display fixture 23 from falling from the front, back, left, or right directions.

[0034] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, the specific configurations are not limited to these embodiments, and additions and modifications that do not depart from the spirit of the present invention are also included.

[0035] For example, in the above embodiment, a product display fixture 23 is attached to the upper surface of the ceiling 8, and its back plate 23c is used as an air guide member. However, an air guide member extending upward may be attached independently to the boundary between the ceiling 8 and the upper end opening 16a of the exhaust duct 16.

[0036] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, for example, the product display fixture 23 has side panels 23d, but the side panels 23d may be omitted.

[0037] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, for example, the heights of the front panel 23b and side panels 23d of the product display fixture 23 are lower than the height of the back panel 23c, but their heights may also be made equal.

[0038] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, for example, the side panel 23 of the product display fixture 23 is located at the rearmost position, but the side panel may also be extended further back than the back panel 23, in which case the product display fixture 23 will be less likely to tip over backward.

[0039] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, for example, the product display fixture 23 has the same dimensions as the ceiling 8, but its dimensions may be reduced. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1 Open showcase 2. Showcase body 3. Stand 4. Outer box 5 Inner box 6. Cooling compartment 7 Side panels 8. Ceiling 9 Ventilation duct 10 Evaporator 11 Blower 12 Air outlet 13 Inlet 16 Exhaust duct 16a Top opening 17 Condenser 18 Blower 19 Compressor 21 Intake Louvers 22 Axial Fan 23 Product display equipment 23a Bottom plate 23b Front plate 23c Rear panel (air guide component) 23d side plate 23e Screw holes S product

Claims

1. In an open showcase having a refrigerated compartment with an open front, cold air is blown from an outlet provided in the ceiling of the showcase body toward an intake provided at the lower front end of the showcase body, thereby forming a cold air curtain at the front opening of the refrigerated compartment, and an exhaust duct is provided on the rear side behind the ceiling, An open showcase characterized by having an upward-extending air guide member provided at the boundary between the ceiling portion and the upper end opening of the exhaust duct.

2. The open showcase according to claim 1, characterized in that the air guide member is translucent.

3. The open showcase according to claim 1, characterized in that the air guide member is a back panel that constitutes part of a product display fixture attached to the upper surface of the ceiling.

4. The open showcase according to claim 3, characterized in that the product display device comprises a base plate, a front plate rising from the front edge of the base plate, and a back plate rising from the rear edge of the base plate.

5. The open showcase according to claim 4, characterized in that the height of the front panel is lower than the height of the back panel.

6. The open showcase according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the product display fixture further comprises side panels that are lower in height than the back panel and rise from both side edges of the bottom panel.

Images