Frozen and refrigerated display cases

Abstract

We provide a refrigerated / freezer display case that allows for aesthetically pleasing connection of box-shaped units on the left and right sides. [Solution] A refrigerated / freezer showcase 1 is formed by supporting an insulated case 2 having a bottom wall 22a, a back wall 22b, and an upper wall 22c with a pair of left and right frame bodies 3 consisting of an upper frame 33, a rear frame 32, and a lower frame 31, which are arranged along the bottom wall 22a, the back wall 22b, and the upper wall 22c respectively, forming a box-shaped body 10 with the front and at least one side open, wherein the frame body 3 is provided with a front frame 34 that extends in the vertical direction to receive the vertical load between the upper frame 33 and the lower frame 31.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a freezer / refrigerator showcase.

Background Art

[0002] Freezer / refrigerator showcases are installed in food sales sections of supermarkets, convenience stores, department stores and the like, where daily perishable foods, fresh food products and other items requiring cooling are displayed on shelves provided in a product display section, and cold air is circulated through the product display section to maintain the interior of the freezer / refrigerator showcase at a low temperature.

[0003] For example, the freezer / refrigerator showcase disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a box body constituted by a case that is substantially U-shaped in side view formed by a bottom wall, a back wall and an upper wall, and a frame body composed of an upper frame, a rear frame and a lower frame arranged along the bottom wall, the back wall and the upper wall respectively, such that products can be displayed inside the box body. The front face and the side faces of the box body are open, and by connecting the box bodies to the sides, the left-right length of the freezer / refrigerator showcase can be freely designed. In addition, products displayed inside the box body can be taken out from the front face of the box body.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the freezer / refrigerator showcase as described in Patent Document 1, since the upper wall is supported in a cantilever manner via the upper frame relative to the rear frame, the upper front end side of the box body may bend and sag due to the load of the upper wall, which may make it difficult to connect a plurality of box bodies neatly in the left-right direction.

[0006] This invention was made in view of these problems, and aims to provide a refrigerated / freezer display case that allows for aesthetically pleasing connection of box-shaped sections on the left and right. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the aforementioned problems, the present invention provides a freezer / refrigerator display case. A refrigerated / freezer display case is formed by supporting an insulated case having a bottom wall, a back wall, and a top wall with a pair of left and right frame bodies consisting of an upper frame, a rear frame, and a lower frame, which are arranged along the bottom wall, the back wall, and the top wall, respectively, and forming a box-shaped body with the front and at least one side open, The frame body is characterized by having a front frame that extends in the vertical direction and receives the vertical load between the upper frame and the lower frame. This feature reinforces the buckling strength between the upper and lower frames with the front and rear frames, preventing the upper wall from sagging and improving the dimensional accuracy of the box. This makes it easier to connect multiple boxes in the left-right direction, allowing for quick and aesthetically pleasing construction at the installation site.

[0008] The front frame is characterized in that its upper and lower end surfaces are in contact with the upper and lower frames, respectively. According to this feature, the upper wall of the connection point between the front frame and the upper and lower frames has high load-bearing strength.

[0009] The front frame is connected and fixed to the upper frame and the lower frame, and the frame body is characterized by having a rectangular shape. This feature results in a strong frame and allows for easier connection of multiple boxes in the left-right direction.

[0010] A door is located on the front of the aforementioned box. The front frame is characterized by having vertical columns attached to it that extend in the vertical direction and constitute the door stop portion of the door. This feature allows the vertical posts to seal the gap between the front frame and the door.

[0011] The aforementioned vertical columns are characterized by their insulated structure. This feature allows for insulation between the inside and outside of the storage compartment using vertical columns, thereby improving the cooling efficiency inside the compartment.

[0012] The aforementioned vertical column is attached to the front of the front frame, The outer surface of the vertical column is characterized by being flush with the outer surface of the front frame, or positioned outside the outer surface of the front frame. This feature ensures that when the box sections are connected horizontally, the vertical columns on both sides make secure contact, thereby improving the thermal insulation between the two box sections. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing a refrigerated display case according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a vertical cross-section showing a display case. [Figure 3] This is a side view showing the display case. [Figure 4] This is a side view showing the frame. [Figure 5] This is a cross-sectional view AA in Figure 4. [Figure 6] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of BB. [Figure 7] This is a magnified view of the main part of the enclosed section C in Figure 4, seen from the rear. [Figure 8] This is a magnified view of the main part of the enclosed section D in Figure 4, seen from the rear. [Figure 9] This is a cross-sectional view of EE in Figure 3. [Figure 10] This is a side view showing a modified version of the frame. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] Embodiments for carrying out the freezing and refrigerating showcase according to the present invention will be described below based on examples.

Example

[0015] The freezing and refrigerating showcase according to the example will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10. Hereinafter, the left side of the paper surface of FIG. 2 is defined as the front side (front direction side) of the freezing and refrigerating showcase, and the description will be given based on the up-down, left-right directions when viewed from the front side. In Example 1, description will be given on the assumption that the refrigerating showcase is a closed type refrigerating showcase whose front side can be opened and closed by a door, a so-called reach-in showcase. The showcase may also be an open type or a freezing type showcase.

[0016] The refrigerating showcase 1 of the present example is installed in supermarkets, convenience stores and the like to display commodities such as daily food products and fresh food products in a cold-insulated state.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerating showcase 1 is mainly composed of a box body 10 that opens at the front and side faces, and doors 4, 4 that close the front face of the box body 10 in an openable and closable manner. The box body 10 includes a case 2 provided with a cold-insulated chamber 20 in which commodities (not shown) are cooled and stored, and frame bodies 3, 3 (only the right side is shown) that support both side portions of the case 2.

[0018] A plurality of the refrigerating showcases 1 can be arranged in a row in the left-right direction by connecting the side face openings of the box body 10. The left face of the refrigerating showcase 1 arranged at the leftmost end and the right face of the refrigerating showcase 1 arranged at the rightmost end are closed by side plates (not shown).

[0019] Although not shown, the door 4 of the present example is pivotally supported so as to be rotatable about a vertically extending shaft provided at the upper and lower front end portions of the case 2. The door is not limited to a rotary type door, and may be a slide type door.

[0020] As shown in Figure 2, Case 2 consists of an outer box 21 with an open front and a roughly U-shaped cross-section, and an inner box 22 located inside it, which also has an open front and a roughly U-shaped cross-section when viewed from the side.

[0021] More specifically, the outer box 21 comprises a bottom wall 21a, a back wall 21b, and a top wall 21c. The inner box 22 comprises a bottom wall 22a, a back wall 22b, and a top wall 22c, with the space inside the inner box 22 serving as a refrigerated compartment 20. The rear ends of brackets 5,5,… extending front to back are attached to the back wall 22b, and shelves 6,6,… are arranged on top of the brackets 5,5,…. Products (not shown) are displayed on each of these shelves 6,6,… and on the upper surface of the bottom wall 22a of the inner box 22.

[0022] A cold air circulation path 23 is formed between the outer box 21 and the inner box 22, and an evaporator 24a and a blower 24b are installed at the horizontal bottom of this cold air circulation path 23. The evaporator 24a is capable of cooling the surrounding air. A cold air outlet 23a communicating with the cold air circulation path 23 is formed at the front upper end of case 2, and a cold air intake 23b opening upwards is formed at the front lower end of case 2.

[0023] When the blower 24b is activated, the cold air cooled by the evaporator 24a flows upward through the cold air circulation path 23 as indicated by the arrow, and is blown out from the cold air outlet 23a towards the intake port 23b below. As a result, a cold air curtain 25 is formed on the open front surface of the case 2, and some of this cold air flows into the refrigeration chamber 20, thereby keeping the displayed products cool.

[0024] As shown in Figure 3, the box body 10 has increased structural strength due to the frame bodies 3,3 fixed to both sides of the case 2. In other words, the frame bodies 3,3 support both sides of the case 2 in order to maintain its U-shape. These frame bodies 3,3 block the sides of the cold air circulation path 23 of the case 2. For the sake of explanation, in Figure 3, the frame bodies 3 are shown as light dots and the vertical columns 35 are shown as dark dots. Only the right frame body 3 is shown.

[0025] Specifically, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the frame body 3 comprises a high-strength lower frame 31 formed by bending a metal plate, a rear frame 32, an upper frame 33, and a front frame 34, and has a roughly rectangular shape when viewed from the side.

[0026] The lower frame 31 and upper frame 33 extend in the front-to-back direction, while the rear frame 32 and front frame 34 extend in the up-to-down direction. The lower end of the rear frame 32 is fixed to the rear end of the lower frame 31, the upper end of the rear frame 32 is fixed to the rear end of the upper frame 33, the upper end of the front frame 34 is fixed to the front end of the upper frame 33, and the lower end of the front frame 34 is fixed to the front end of the lower frame 31.

[0027] The upper edge of the lower frame 31 rests on the bottom wall 22a of the inner box 22, and the lower edge of the lower frame 31 is fixed along the bottom wall 21a of the outer box 21, closing the horizontal bottom of the cold air circulation path 23. The front edge of the rear frame 32 is fixed along the back wall 22b of the inner box 22, and the rear edge of the rear frame 32 is fixed along the back wall 21b of the outer box 21, closing the vertical rear portion of the cold air circulation path 23. The lower edge of the upper frame 33 is fixed along the top wall 22c of the inner box 22, and the upper edge of the upper frame 33 is fixed along the top wall 21c of the outer box 21, closing the horizontal upper portion of the cold air circulation path 23. The front frame 34 is fixed between the front end of the lower frame 31 and the front end of the upper frame 33, preventing the upper front end of the case 2 from sagging downwards. Note that the left and right frame bodies 3,3 have almost identical configurations, so the description of the left frame body 3 is omitted.

[0028] As shown in Figure 5, the lower frame 31 has a bottom portion 31a, a side portion 31b extending upward from the right end of the bottom portion 31a, and a top portion 31c extending to the left from the upper part of the side portion 31b, forming a U-shaped cross-section that opens to the left. The bottom portion 31a is longer in the left-right direction than the top portion 31c.

[0029] Referring to Figure 8, the front end 31d of the top portion 31c of the lower frame 31 is positioned further back than the front end 31e of the bottom portion 31a. Although not shown, the rear end of the top portion 31c is positioned further forward than the rear end of the bottom portion 31a.

[0030] Returning to Figure 5, the upper frame 33 has a bottom portion 33a, a side portion 33b extending upward from the right end of the bottom portion 33a, and a top portion 33c extending to the left from the upper end of the side portion 33b, forming a U-shaped cross-section that opens to the left. The top portion 33c is longer in the left-right direction than the bottom portion 33a.

[0031] Referring to Figure 7, the front end 33d of the bottom 33a of the upper frame 33 is positioned further back than the front end 33e of the top 33c. Although not shown, the rear end of the bottom 33a is positioned further forward than the rear end of the top 33c.

[0032] As shown in Figures 4 and 6, the rear frame 32 has a back portion 32a, a side portion 32b extending forward from the right end of the back portion 32a, and a front portion 32c extending to the left from the front end of the side portion 32b, forming a U-shaped cross-section that opens to the left. The back portion 32a is longer in the left-right direction than the front portion 32c. The rear frame 32 is positioned vertically at the rear ends of the upper frame 33 and the lower frame 31.

[0033] The front frame 34 has a back portion 34a, a side portion 34b extending forward from the right end of the back portion 34a, a front portion 34c extending to the left from the front end of the side portion 34b, and a side portion 34f extending backward from the left end of the front portion 34c, and has a roughly U-shaped cross-section that opens to the left. The front portion 34c is longer in the left-right direction than the back portion 34a. The right side portion 34b is longer in the front-rear direction than the left side portion 34f. The front frame 34 is positioned vertically on the front ends of the upper frame 33 and the lower frame 31.

[0034] As shown in Figure 7, the front frame 34 is bent backward from the upper end of the front portion 34c, and has an upper portion 34d that contacts the upper end of the back portion 34a. The front-to-back position of the front frame 34 is determined by the back portion 34a contacting the front end 33d of the bottom portion 33a of the upper frame 33. The up-to-down position of the front frame 34 is determined by the upper portion 34d contacting the lower surface of the top portion 33c of the upper frame 33.

[0035] The upper part 34d of the front frame 34 and the top part 33c of the upper frame 33 are welded together, and the side part 34b of the front frame 34 and the side part 33b of the upper frame 33 are welded together. However, the fixing of the front frame 34 and the upper frame 33 is not limited to welding; for example, they may be fixed together with bolts and nuts.

[0036] As shown in Figure 8, the front frame 34 is positioned in front of the lower frame 31 by its back portion 34a contacting the front end 31d of the top portion 31c of the lower frame 31. In addition, the front frame 34 is positioned in up to and down relative to the lower frame 31 by its lower ends (i.e., the lower ends of the back portion 34a, side portion 34b, front portion 34c, and side portion 34f) contacting the upper surface of the bottom portion 31a of the lower frame 31.

[0037] The side portion 34b of the front frame 34 and the side portion 31b of the lower frame 31 are welded together, and the lower end of the front frame 34 and the bottom portion 31a of the lower frame 31 are welded together. However, the fixing of the front frame 34 and the lower frame 31 is not limited to welding; for example, they may be fixed together with bolts and nuts.

[0038] As shown in Figures 3 and 9, a vertical column 35 extending in the vertical direction is attached to the front surface of the front portion 34c of the front frame 34. This vertical column 35 has an insulating structure comprising a pair of left and right first plate-like members 36, 36, a pair of front and rear second plate-like members 37, 37, and an insulating material 38 that fills the hollow space surrounded by the first plate-like members 36, 36 and the second plate-like members 37, 37.

[0039] Specifically, as shown in Figure 9, the first plate-shaped member 36 is made of resin and extends in the vertical direction. The front and rear surfaces of the first plate-shaped member 36 are provided with concave slits 36a, 36a that open to the front and rear, respectively, extending in the vertical direction.

[0040] Furthermore, the second plate-shaped member 37 is made of metal, has a U-shaped cross-section that opens on one side (front or rear), and extends in the vertical direction. The second plate-shaped member 37 has bent portions 37b, 37b that bend from both the left and right ends of the base portion 37a to one side (front or rear). By press-fitting the bent portions 37b, 37b into the slits 36a, 36a of the first plate-shaped members 36, 36, the first plate-shaped members 36, 36 and the second plate-shaped members 37, 37 are assembled into a rectangular prism shape.

[0041] The hollow space extending vertically, enclosed by the first plate-like members 36,36 and the second plate-like members 37,37, is filled with thermal insulation material 38 by injecting and foaming a foaming resin. The thermal insulation material 38 may be a resin other than foaming resin, or it may be glass wool or rock wool.

[0042] This vertical column 35 is fixed to the front surface of the front part 34c of the front frame 34 at multiple points on the top and bottom using bolts and nuts. The front surface of this vertical column 35 is positioned so that the rear side edge of the closed door 4 abuts against it. In other words, the vertical column 35 constitutes the door stop portion of the door 4.

[0043] In Figure 9, the right side 35a of the vertical column 35 in the refrigerated display case 1 on the left side of the page is aligned with the right side 34g of the front frame 34 in the same position in the left-right direction, i.e., flush with it. Similarly, the left side 35a' of the vertical column 35' in the refrigerated display case 1' on the right side of the page of Figure 9 is aligned with the left side 34g' of the front frame 34' in the same position in the left-right direction, i.e., flush with it. In other words, when the refrigerated display cases 1 and 1' are connected side by side, the right side 35a of the left vertical column 35 and the left side 35a' of the left vertical column 35' come into contact with each other.

[0044] As described above, in this embodiment, the frame body 3 of the refrigerated display case 1 is reinforced by the front frame 34 and the rear frame 32, which strengthens the buckling strength between the lower frame 31 and the upper frame 33, preventing the upper wall 22c of the inner box 22 and the upper wall of the outer box 21, i.e., the front of the ceiling of the case 2, from sagging. In other words, the dimensional accuracy of the box body 10 is improved, making it easier to connect multiple box bodies 10 in the left-right direction, and enabling quick and aesthetically pleasing installation at the installation site.

[0045] Furthermore, the front frame 34 is formed by bending a metal plate and has a roughly U-shaped cross-section, which ensures strength against load while keeping it lightweight. The same applies to the other frames, the lower frame 31, the rear frame 32, and the upper frame 33.

[0046] Furthermore, the upper part 34d of the front frame 34 abuts against the top part 33c of the upper frame 33, and the lower end of the front frame 34 abuts against the bottom part 31a of the lower frame 31, so that the load of the ceiling of case 2 can be reliably supported by the front frame 34. In other words, the connection between the front frame 34 and the upper frame 33 and lower frame 31 has high load-bearing strength.

[0047] Furthermore, the front frame 34 is connected and fixed to the upper frame 33 and the lower frame 31, so that the frame body 3 is square-shaped. This increases the strength of the frame body 3 and further improves the dimensional accuracy of the box body 10, so that multiple box bodies 10 can be connected more easily in the left-right direction.

[0048] Furthermore, a vertical column 35, which constitutes the door stopper for the door 4, is attached to the front of the front portion 34c of the front frame 34. The vertical column 35 is designed to seal the gap between the door 4 and the front frame 34, thereby preventing cold air from leaking out of the refrigerator display case 1.

[0049] Furthermore, the vertical columns 35 have an insulating structure, which allows for insulation between the inside and outside of the refrigerated display case 1, thereby improving the cooling efficiency inside the case.

[0050] Furthermore, since the vertical column 35 does not bear the load of the ceiling or door 4 of case 2, there are no constraints on structural strength, allowing for a simple structure.

[0051] Furthermore, when the box bodies 10, 10 are connected side by side, the right surface 35a of the left vertical column 35 and the left surface 35a' of the right vertical column 35' come into contact with each other, thereby improving the thermal insulation between the left and right box bodies 10, 10.

[0052] In this embodiment, the vertical column 35 is shown as having a structure in which a heat insulating material 38 is filled into a hollow space surrounded by first plate-like members 36, 36 and second plate-like members 37, 37. However, for example, the vertical column may be made of a single member with low thermal conductivity.

[0053] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 10, the frame body 203 may be configured such that the rear surfaces of the upper and lower ends of the front frame 234 are fixed to the front surfaces of the upper frame 233 and the lower frame 231, and the front surfaces of the upper and lower ends of the rear frame 232 are fixed to the rear surfaces of the upper frame 233 and the lower frame 231. However, from the viewpoint of strength against load, it is preferable that the upper and lower ends of the front frame are arranged to overlap the upper and lower frames in the vertical direction, as in the embodiment.

[0054] 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 any changes or additions that do not depart from the spirit of the present invention are also included.

[0055] For example, in the above embodiment, each frame of the frame body was shown to be formed by bending a metal plate, but each frame may be constructed by extrusion molding of metal or resin, for example.

[0056] Furthermore, each frame is not limited to a roughly U-shaped cross-section; it may also have a rectangular cross-section, and its shape can be freely changed.

[0057] Furthermore, although the above embodiment illustrates a configuration in which the outer surface of the vertical column and the outer surface of the front frame are flush, the outer surface of the vertical column may be positioned further outward than the outer surface of the front frame. In this case as well, when the box bodies are connected left and right, the left and right vertical columns can be reliably brought into contact, resulting in high thermal insulation.

[0058] Furthermore, although the above embodiment illustrates a configuration in which vertical columns are attached to the front of the front frame, it is not limited to this configuration. For example, the vertical columns may be attached to the side of the front frame, with the front of the vertical columns positioned further forward than the front of the front frame.

[0059] Furthermore, although the above embodiment illustrates a configuration in which the upper frame, lower frame, rear frame, and front frame constituting the frame body are separate components, each frame may be an integrated unit.

[0060] Furthermore, the front frame is not limited to directly connecting the upper frame and the lower frame; it may also connect the upper frame and the lower frame via an intervening member extending in the left-right direction, or the front frame may be positioned offset from the upper frame and the lower frame in the left-right direction. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0061] 1 Refrigerated display case 2 cases 3 Frame Body 4 doors 10 box body 20 Cooling compartment 21 Outer box 22 Inner box 22a Bottom wall 22b Back wall 22c upper wall 23 Cold air circulation path 23a Cold air outlet 23b Inlet 24a Evaporator 24b blower 25 Air Curtain 31 Lower frame 32 Rear frame 33 Upper frame 34 Front frame 35,35' vertical column 35a Right side (outer side) 35a' Left side (outer side) 36 First plate-shaped member 37. Second plate-shaped member 38 Insulation

Claims

1. A refrigerated display case having a bottom wall, a back wall, and a top wall is supported by a pair of left and right frame bodies consisting of an upper frame, a rear frame, and a lower frame, which are arranged along the bottom wall, the back wall, and the top wall, respectively, forming a box-shaped body with an open front and at least one side, A refrigerated display case characterized in that the frame body is provided with a front frame that extends in the vertical direction to receive the vertical load between the upper frame and the lower frame.

2. The refrigerated / freezed display case according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper and lower end surfaces of the front frame are in contact with the upper frame and the lower frame.

3. The refrigerated / freezer display case according to claim 1, characterized in that the front frame is connected and fixed to the upper frame and the lower frame, and the frame body is in the shape of a square.

4. A door is located on the front of the aforementioned box. The refrigerated / freezer display case according to claim 1, characterized in that vertical columns extending in the vertical direction and constituting the door stop portion of the door are attached to the front frame.

5. The refrigerated / freezer display case according to claim 4, characterized in that the aforementioned vertical columns have an insulating structure.

6. The aforementioned vertical column is attached to the front of the front frame, The refrigerated / freezer display case according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the outer surface of the vertical column is flush with the outer surface of the front frame, or positioned outside the outer surface of the front frame.

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