Showcase lifting shelf device and showcase equipped with same

Abstract

To surely arrange articles of commodities at a position that can reduce a burden on a user when the use takes out an article of commodity.SOLUTION: A showcase shelf lifting device 10 is provided inside a box-shaped case body 2 with an opened upper part, and includes a bottom plate 11, a vertical plate 12 extending upward from the bottom plate 11, a shelf 13 which is positioned above the bottom plate 11 and on a side of the vertical plate 12 and on which articles of commodities P are placed, and a shelf height adjusting mechanism 14. The shelf height adjusting mechanism 14 includes an elastic member 14a disposed in a compressed state between the bottom plate 11 and the shelf 13, a rail 14b fixed to a vertical plate 12, and a slider 14c engaged with the rail 14b movably along the rail 14b and fixed to a side edge portion 13c of the vertical plate, wherein a height position of the shelf 13 is adjusted by the elastic member 14a being expanding and contracting according to weight of loaded commodities. The shelf 13 is configured to be movable in a vertical direction via the slider 14b in a state being separated from the case body 2, the rail 14c, and the vertical plate 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a showcase that has an open top and can store and cool refrigerated or frozen products. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an example of a showcase. The showcase described in Patent Document 1 has an insulated box with an open-topped box-shaped structure, and multiple products are stored in a cooled state inside the inner box of the insulated box. In this showcase, a cooling coil for circulating a refrigerant is wound around the back surface of the inner box of the insulated box, and the cooling coil cools the inner box, thereby cooling the air inside the insulated box (inner box), and the multiple products stored inside the insulated box (inner box) are cooled by natural convection of the cool air. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 3-134466 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In a showcase that houses multiple products inside a box-shaped insulated box with an open top, the bottom of the insulated box is located deep below the top of the insulated box, so when multiple products are stored inside the insulated box and a customer takes out the products one by one, the remaining products end up on the bottom side of the insulated box. This means that customers may need to bend down to take out products from the bottom side of the insulated box, which can be a burden to the user.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a liftable shelf device for a showcase that can reliably place products in positions that reduce the burden on the user when removing products compared to conventional devices. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lifting shelf device for a showcase that is installed inside the case body of a showcase having a box-shaped case body with an open top and that stores multiple products in a refrigerated state. The lifting shelf device for a showcase includes a bottom plate, a vertical plate extending upward from the bottom plate, and a shelf located above the bottom plate and to the side of the vertical plate on which products are placed, and a shelf height adjustment mechanism that adjusts the height of the shelf. In this showcase, the shelf height adjustment mechanism includes an elastic member disposed in a compressed state between the bottom plate and the shelf, a rail fixed to the vertical plate and extending in the vertical direction, and a slider that engages with the rail so as to be movable along the rail and to which a side edge of the vertical plate of the shelf is fixed. The elastic member expands and contracts in response to the product load, thereby adjusting the height of the shelf, and the shelf is configured to be movable in the vertical direction via the slider while being spaced apart from the case body, the rail, and the vertical plate. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a lifting shelf device for a showcase that can reliably place products in positions that reduce the burden on the user when removing the products. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a showcase equipped with a showcase lifting shelf device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the showcase lifting shelf device, showing an example of a lifting state. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a side view of the showcase lifting shelf device. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the showcase lifting shelf device. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is another partially enlarged perspective view of the showcase lifting shelf device. [Figure 6] 10 is a perspective view of the showcase lifting shelf device, showing another example of the lifting state. FIG. [Figure 7] 10 is a partially enlarged front view illustrating a gap between a shelf and a rail of the showcase lifting shelf device. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a front view of a main part schematically showing a modified example of a showcase lifting shelf device. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a front view of a main part schematically showing another modified example of the showcase lifting shelf device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0010] 1 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of a showcase 1 equipped with a showcase lifting shelf device 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The showcase 1 according to the embodiment is a flat showcase that is mainly installed inside retail stores such as convenience stores and supermarkets.

[0011] Referring to FIG. 1, a showcase 1 has a case body 2 with an open top. The case body 2 is formed in a rectangular box shape and has two short outer surfaces (a first short outer surface 2a and a second short outer surface 2b) and two long outer surfaces. In other words, the case body 2 is formed into a rectangular shape that is long in one direction when viewed from above. The interior of the case body 2 forms a storage chamber 3 in which products P are displayed and stored. A pair of upper and lower sliding doors 4, 4 are attached to an opening at the top of the case body 2 so that they can slide longitudinally. Each sliding door 4 has a transparent member such as glass and a frame surrounding the transparent member, so that the interior of the storage chamber 3 can be viewed from above through the sliding doors 4. The opening of the case body is opened and closed by appropriately sliding the pair of sliding doors 4, 4 longitudinally. A user can remove a product P from the storage chamber 3 through the opening at the top of the case body 2 by sliding the sliding door 4.

[0012] The case body 2 has, for example, a double structure made up of an outer box 21 and an inner box 22. The outer box 21 is a member that forms the outer wall of the showcase 1. The inner box 22 is a member that is placed inside the outer box 21 at a distance from the outer box 21. The product P is stored inside the inner box 22.

[0013] A heat insulating member 23 is filled between the outer box 21 and the inner box 22. In other words, the case body 2 is formed in the shape of a rectangular box having an open top and a heat insulating structure.

[0014] The bottom wall 22a of the inner box 22 forms the bottom wall of the storage chamber 3. The four vertical walls 22b of the inner box 22 form the vertical walls of the storage chamber 3. A cooling coil 24 is wound around the entire periphery of the inner box back surface, which is the surface of the vertical wall 22b of the inner box 22 facing the outer box 21. In other words, the cooling coil 24 is in contact with the back surface of the inner box 22 (inner box back surface) and is wound so as to surround the outer periphery of the inner box 22 when viewed from above. The cooling coil 24 is a member that circulates a refrigerant and is made of, for example, a pipe material that has high thermal conductivity, such as copper.

[0015] A case base 5 is provided below the case body 2 to support the case body 2. The interior of the case base 5 forms a machine room M in which a refrigerator body 6 is disposed, which comprises a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, etc. and which constitutes a cooling circuit together with a cooling coil 24. One end of the cooling coil 24 is connected to the suction port of the compressor, and the other end of the cooling coil 24 is connected to the outlet of the expansion valve.

[0016] In the showcase 1, when the refrigeration unit main body 6 (the compressor) is driven and the refrigerant flows around the back surface of the inner box 22 through the cooling coil 24, the cooled cooling coil 24 cools the inner box 22. As the inner box 22 cools, the air in the storage chamber 3 (inside the inner box 22) comes into contact with the inner surface of the inner box 22 (the surface facing the storage chamber 3) and descends while being cooled. After cooling the products in the storage chamber 3, the cooled air warms and rises. The warmed air comes into contact with the inner surface of the inner box 22 again, is cooled, and descends. In this way, natural convection of cool air occurs inside the storage chamber 3, i.e., the case main body 2 (inner box 22), and this natural convection of cool air cools the products P inside the case main body 2. In other words, the showcase 1 has a case main body 2 formed in a box shape with an open top, and stores a plurality of products P in a cooled state inside the case main body 2.

[0017] A showcase lifting shelf device 10 including a bottom plate 11, vertical plates 12, shelves 13, and a shelf height adjustment mechanism 14 that adjusts the height position of the shelves 13 is arranged inside the case body 2 (storage chamber 3). In this embodiment, the bottom plate 11, vertical plates 12, shelves 13, and shelf height adjustment mechanism 14 are unitized, and a showcase lifting shelf device (product lifting unit) 10 including these elements is arranged inside the case body 2. The following will mainly describe the showcase lifting shelf device 10.

[0018] The showcase lifting shelf device 10 is a lifting device on which a plurality of products P are placed and which adjusts the height position of the products P within the storage chamber 3. Although not particularly limited, in this embodiment, the showcase lifting shelf device 10 is placed with a plurality of products P of the same type, and the products P are assumed to be cups filled with ice.

[0019] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the showcase lifting shelf device 10, showing an example of the lifting and lowering state of the showcase lifting shelf device 10. Fig. 3 is a side view of the showcase lifting shelf device 10. Fig. 3 also shows a part of the case body 2.

[0020] The bottom plate 11 is provided inside the case body 2 and is a member that serves as a base for the case body 2. The bottom plate 11 is placed on the bottom wall 22a of the inner box 22 (the bottom wall of the storage chamber 3) and is made of, for example, a thin stainless steel plate material.

[0021] In this embodiment, the bottom plate 11 is formed in a rectangular shape that is long in one direction when viewed from above. Here, the longitudinal direction of the bottom plate 11 coincides with the longitudinal direction of the case body 2 when viewed from above, and the bottom plate 11 is formed in a rectangular shape that is slightly smaller than the bottom wall of the storage chamber 3. Two longitudinally extending edges of the bottom plate 11 are bent downward, and a small gap is provided between the bottom wall 22a and most of the bottom plate 11 other than these edges. The bottom plate 11 also has a plurality of through holes 11a. The through holes 11a not only reduce the weight of the showcase lifting shelf device 10 but also allow frost (ice) that has fallen onto the showcase lifting shelf device 10 to be guided below the bottom plate 11, thereby making it easy to remove the showcase lifting shelf device 10 from the case body 2.

[0022] The vertical plate 12 is a member extending upward from the bottom plate 11. The vertical plate 12 is disposed perpendicular to the upper surface of the bottom plate 11 and is formed into a rectangular shape that is long vertically in a plan view. The vertical plate 12 is made of, for example, a thin stainless steel plate. The short-side length of the vertical plate 12 is the same as the short-side length of the bottom plate 11. The long-side length of the vertical plate 12 (in other words, the height of the vertical plate 12) is set to be shorter than the height of the inner box 22, and the vertical plate 12 extends from the bottom plate 11 to a predetermined height position just before the opening at the top of the case body 2. Reinforcing plates 12a are provided integrally with the vertical plate 12 at the lower ends of both longitudinally extending edges of the vertical plate 12, and the lower ends of the reinforcing plates 12a are connected to the bottom plate 11. One reinforcing plate 12a and the other reinforcing plate 12a extend in opposite directions to each other in the longitudinal direction of the bottom plate 11, reliably preventing the vertical plate 12 from tipping over.

[0023] In this embodiment, the vertical plate 12 is provided in the longitudinal center of the bottom plate 11. Therefore, the vertical plate 12 faces the vertical wall 22b in a parallel position between the vertical wall 22b corresponding to the first short-side outer surface 2a of the four vertical walls 22b of the inner box 22 and the vertical wall 22b corresponding to the second short-side outer surface 2b of the four vertical walls 22b of the inner box 22. The vertical plate 12 divides the storage chamber 3 into two regions.

[0024] The shelf 13 is a member located above the bottom plate 11 and to the side of the vertical plate 12, on which the products P are placed. Referring to FIG. 1, a plurality of products P (cups with ice) are placed in multiple tiers (two tiers) on the shelf 13. The products P are not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The detailed configuration of the shelf 13 will be described later.

[0025] The shelf height adjustment mechanism 14 is a mechanism that adjusts the height position of the shelf 13. The shelf height adjustment mechanism 14 adjusts the height position of the shelf 13 by elastic members 14a, which will be described later, expanding and contracting in accordance with the load (product load) of the products P placed on the shelf 13. The detailed configuration of the shelf height adjustment mechanism 14 will be described later.

[0026] In this embodiment, the shelves 13 and the shelf height adjustment mechanisms 14 are provided on both sides of the vertical plate 12 in the thickness direction. The two shelves 13 are arranged side by side, extending in opposite directions from the vertical plate 12 in the longitudinal direction when viewed from above, and are provided in a point-symmetric relationship with respect to the center of the vertical plate 12 in the short direction when viewed from above. The two shelf height adjustment mechanisms 14 are also provided in a point-symmetric relationship with respect to the center of the vertical plate 12 in the short direction when viewed from above. One shelf 13 and the other shelf 13 have the same configuration except for their installation positions relative to the vertical plate 12, and one shelf height adjustment mechanism 14 and the other shelf height adjustment mechanism 14 also have the same configuration except for their installation positions relative to the vertical plate 12, so that parts are shared between one shelf 13 and shelf height adjustment mechanism 14 and the other shelf 13 and shelf height adjustment mechanism 14.

[0027] Figures 4 and 5 are partially enlarged perspective views of the showcase lifting shelf device 10. Figures 4 and 5 show a state in which a part of one shelf height adjustment mechanism 14 (an elastic member 14a described later) and one shelf 13 have been removed from the showcase lifting shelf device 10, and Figure 5 also shows a state in which a flange portion 14c3 described later has been removed.

[0028] 1 to 5, each shelf 13 is formed in a rectangular shape that is long in the longitudinal direction of the case body 2 when viewed from above. Each shelf 13 is formed, for example, by appropriately bending a stainless steel thin plate material. The longitudinal length of each shelf 13 is approximately half the longitudinal length of the bottom plate 11. The lateral length of each shelf 13 roughly matches the lateral length of the bottom plate 11.

[0029] Each shelf 13 is composed of, for example, a mounting portion 13a, a longitudinal reinforcing portion 13b, and a vertical plate side edge portion 13c, and these elements are integrally formed. The mounting portion 13a is a rectangular portion that is long in the longitudinal direction of the case body 2 when viewed from above and has a flat mounting surface on which the product P is placed. The longitudinal reinforcing portion 13b (in other words, a skirt portion) is a portion that reinforces the strength of the shelf 13 in the longitudinal direction and is formed to extend downward (more specifically, directly downward) from both longitudinally extending edges of the shelf 13. The vertical plate side edge portion 13c is formed to extend downward from the portion of the shelf 13 (mounting portion 13a) on the vertical plate 12 side. The vertical plate side edge portion 13c is composed of a pair of edge pieces 13c1, 13c1 and an intermediate piece 13c2. The pair of edge pieces 13c1, 13c1 extend downward from the end of the shelf 13 on the vertical plate 12 side and are spaced apart from each other in the short-side direction of the shelf 13. The intermediate piece 13c2 is located between the pair of edge pieces 13c1, 13c1 and extends downward at a position farther from the vertical plate 12 than the edge piece 13c1. The vertical plate side edge 13c reinforces the strength of the shelf 13 in the short-side direction. The edge of the placement portion 13a on the opposite side to the vertical plate 12 forms the free end of the shelf 13, and no reinforcement is provided below this edge.

[0030] In this embodiment, the center of gravity of each shelf 13 is located in the portion of the shelf 13 on the vertical plate 12 side. Specifically, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, each longitudinal reinforcement portion 13b is formed in a trapezoidal shape with a large oblique inclination on the lower side opposite the vertical plate 12 in plan view. As a result, the center of gravity position of the longitudinal reinforcement portion 13b in the longitudinal direction is closer to the vertical plate 12 than the center position of the longitudinal reinforcement portion 13b (shelf 13) in the longitudinal direction.

[0031] The shelf height adjustment mechanism 14 has an elastic member 14a, a rail 14b, and a slider 14c. As described above, the shelf height adjustment mechanism 14 is configured so that the elastic member 14a expands and contracts in response to the product load, thereby adjusting the height position of the shelf 13. In other words, the shelf height adjustment mechanism 14 cooperates with the bottom plate 11, the vertical plate 12, and the shelf 13 to form the showcase lifting shelf device 10.

[0032] The elastic member 14a is an elastic member that is disposed in a compressed state between the bottom plate 11 and the shelf 13. The elastic member 14a is, for example, a compression coil spring, and generates a biasing force that biases the shelf 13 upward in a compressed state.

[0033] The lower portion of the elastic member 14a is guided by a lower guide plate 15a fixed to the upper surface of the bottom plate 11, and the upper portion of the elastic member 14a is guided by an upper guide plate 15b fixed to the lower surface of the shelf 13 (mounting portion 13a). Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, each guide plate (15a, 15b) is configured to guide the elastic member 14a from inside the coil of the elastic member 14a. Each guide plate (15a, 15b) has a length approximately equal to the inner diameter of the coil of the elastic member 14a. The lower guide plate 15a extends upward from the upper surface of the bottom plate 11, and the upper guide plate 15b extends downward from the lower surface of the mounting portion 13a of the shelf 13. The lower guide plate 15a and the upper guide plate 15b are arranged perpendicular to each other when viewed from above, and the imaginary intersection of the lower guide plate 15a and the upper guide plate 15b when viewed from above is located on the central axis of the winding of the coil of the elastic member 14a. Here, the lower guide plate 15a extends in the short direction of the bottom plate 11, and the upper guide plate 15b extends in the long direction of the shelf 13.

[0034] The elastic members 14a are configured to be constantly compressed between the bottom plate 11 and the shelf 13. In other words, even when no products P are placed on the shelf 13, the elastic members 14a do not extend to their free length, but are compressed to a total length that is a predetermined length shorter than the free length, and are in a pressurized state. Therefore, the total length of the elastic members 14a when placed between the bottom plate 11 and the shelf 13 is configured to be shorter than the total length of the elastic members 14a when not compressed by the product load (the free length of the elastic members 14a).

[0035] Specifically, a spring length regulation member 16 is provided between the bottom plate 11 and the shelf 13. The spring length regulation member 16 is, for example, a chain. One end of the spring length regulation member 16 is connected to the lower guide plate 15a, and the other end of the spring length regulation member 16 is connected to the upper guide plate 15b. The length of the spring length regulation member 16 is set so that the elastic member 14a is compressed to a total length that is a predetermined length shorter than the free length even when no product P is placed on the shelf 13. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when no product P is placed on the shelf 13, the spring length regulation member 16 extends from the lower guide plate 15a to the upper guide plate 15b without slack, and even in this state, the elastic member 14a is compressed. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, when a product P is placed on the shelf 13, the elastic member 14a is further compressed by an amount corresponding to the product load, and in this state, the spring length regulation member 16 is loosened.

[0036] In this embodiment, the elastic member 14a is provided in a portion on the vertical plate 12 side of the region between the bottom plate 11 and the shelf 13. Therefore, the central axis of the elastic member 14a is located closer to the vertical plate 12 than the center of the shelf 13 (or the bottom plate 11) in the longitudinal direction. Specifically, the elastic member 14a is arranged in the region between the bottom plate 11 and the shelf 13 such that the portion of the coil of the elastic member 14a on the vertical plate 12 side is located near the wall surface of the vertical plate 12. Furthermore, the elastic member 14a is arranged, for example, such that the central axis of the elastic member 14a passes through the center of gravity of the shelf 13 (or near the center of gravity).

[0037] The rail 14b is fixed to the vertical plate 12 and extends in the vertical direction, and is a member for guiding the vertical movement of the shelf 13 when the height of the shelf 13 is adjusted by the shelf height adjustment mechanism 14. The rail 14b has a concave cross-section that opens on the side opposite the vertical plate 12, and extends along the vertical plate 12 from the lower end to the upper end of the vertical plate 12. The rail 14b consists of a fixed portion 14b1 that is fixed to the vertical plate 12 and forms the bottom wall of the concave shape (recess), and a pair of side walls 14b2, 14b2 that face each other with a gap between them and form the side walls of the concave shape (recess). An R-shaped recessed roller guide groove 14b3 is formed on the inner surface of each side wall 14b2 over the entire vertical direction.

[0038] The fixing portion 14b1 of the rail 14b has a screw insertion hole through which a screw for fixing the rail 14b to the vertical plate 12 is inserted. The vertical plate 12 has a screw engagement hole 12b (see FIGS. 4 and 5) into which the screw inserted into the screw insertion hole is threadedly engaged. In this embodiment, as described above, the shelf 13 and the shelf height adjustment mechanism 14 are provided on both sides in the thickness direction of the vertical plate 12, and the rails 14b of the shelf height adjustment mechanism 14 are fixed to both sides in the thickness direction of the vertical plate 12. However, one rail 14b and the other rail 14b are fixed at positions shifted in opposite directions from each other with respect to the center of the vertical plate 12 in the short side direction when viewed from above.

[0039] The slider 14c is a member that engages with the rail 14b so as to be movable along the rail 14b, and to which the vertical plate side edge 13c (intermediate piece 13c2) of the shelf 13 is fixed. In other words, one longitudinal end of the shelf 13 (vertical plate side edge 13c) is supported by the slider 14c, and the shelf 13 is cantilevered via the slider 14c so as to be movable up and down along the rail 14b.

[0040] Specifically, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the slider 14c has a pair of roughly rectangular slider plates 14c1, 14c1 facing each other with a gap between them, four rollers 14c2 rotatably supported between the pair of slider plates 14c1, 14c1, and a flange portion 14c3 to which the intermediate piece 13c2 of the vertical plate side edge portion 13c of the shelf 13 is fixed.

[0041] Each slider plate 14c1 is formed in a generally rectangular shape that is long in the longitudinal direction of the rail 14b in a plan view. One slider plate 14c1 is located within the recess of the rail 14b and faces the fixed portion 14b1 with a gap therebetween, while the other slider plate 14c1 is located outside the recess of the rail 14b.

[0042] The rotation shaft 14c4 of each roller 14c2 extends in the depth direction of the recess of the rail 14b (in other words, in the thickness direction of the vertical plate 12). One end of each rotation shaft 14c4 is supported by one slider plate 14c1, and the other end of each rotation shaft 14c4 is supported by the other slider plate 14c1. The rollers 14c2 are provided at each of the four corners of the slider plate 14c1, and their outer peripheries protrude outward beyond the longitudinal edge of the slider plate 14c1. The outer peripheries of the rollers 14c2 enter roller guide grooves 14b3 formed in the side walls 14b2 of the rail 14b and engage with the rail 14b. The slider 14c engages with the rail 14b so as to be movable along the rail 14b as each roller 14c2 engages with the roller guide grooves 14b3 and rolls along the roller guide grooves 14b3.

[0043] 4 and 5 (see FIG. 4 for details), the flange portion 14c3 is fixed to the other slider plate 14c1 of the slider 14c with screws 14c5. The flange portion 14c3 is formed in a rectangular shape that is long in the rail width direction in a plan view, and both longitudinal ends thereof protrude outward beyond the side wall 14b2 of the rail 14b. When the flange portion 14c3 is fixed to the other slider plate 14c1, a gap is formed between the side wall 14b2 of the rail 14b and the flange portion 14c3.

[0044] When no product P is placed on the shelf 13 and the spring length regulating member 16 extends from the lower guide plate 15a to the upper guide plate 15b without slack (see FIGS. 2 and 3), the slider 14c is positioned within the recess at the upper end of the rail 14b (see FIGS. 4 and 5). In this state, the height position of the shelf 13 is at the highest position in the storage chamber 3, and the height position of the top surface of the shelf 13 at the highest position coincides or nearly coincides with the height positions of the upper end surfaces of the vertical plates 12 and the upper end surfaces of the rails 14b.

[0045] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the showcase lifting shelf device 10, showing another example of the lifting and lowering state. However, the product P is not shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 2 shows a state in which the showcase lifting shelf device 10 has lifted the shelf 13 to the highest position, and Fig. 6 shows a state in which the showcase lifting shelf device has lowered the shelf 13 to a predetermined height position that is lower than the highest position and corresponds to the product load.

[0046] In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4 to 6, the shelf 13 has a cover piece 13d that covers from above the upper end surface of the slider 14c engaged with the rail 14b. Specifically, the center of the end of the placement portion 13a of the shelf 13 on the vertical plate 12 side is cut out so that the cover piece 13d is formed. In other words, the cover piece 13d is formed integrally with the shelf 13. When viewed from above, the cover piece 13d is formed in a rectangular shape that can enter the recessed portion of the rail 14b. When the shelf 13 is positioned at the uppermost position (see FIGS. 2, 4, and 5), the cover piece 13d is located, for example, slightly above the upper end surface of the rail 14b, and when the shelf 13 is positioned below the uppermost position (see FIG. 6), the cover piece 13d enters the recessed portion of the rail 14b. The cover pieces 13d of one shelf 13 and the cover pieces 13d of the other shelf 13 are provided at positions aligned with the corresponding rails 14b on the placement portion 13a.

[0047] In the showcase 1 configured as described above, the elastic members 14a expand and contract in accordance with the product load, and when a product is removed, the shelves 13 rise, and when a product is loaded, the shelves 13 descend. Therefore, the top product P (more specifically, the upper part of the top product P) is located near the opening at the top of the case body 2. As a result, a user can easily remove the top product P from inside the showcase 1 (storage chambers 3, inner box 22) through the opening at the top of the case body 2 by simply reaching out without bending over, and the burden on the user when removing a product is reduced compared to conventional methods.

[0048] Here, since the inside of the case body 2 (inner box 22) of the showcase 1 is cooled, when the sliding doors 4, 4 are opened and outside air enters the storage chamber 3 through the opening of the case body 2, dew or frost may form on the inner surface of the inner box 22 (the surface facing the storage chamber 3) and remain attached to the inner surface of the inner box 22. This phenomenon is likely to occur when cooling is performed by natural convection. The attachment of dew or frost may also occur on the surface of the showcase lifting shelf device 10 housed inside the case body 2. Therefore, there is a risk that the frost or the like may hinder the up and down movement of the shelves 13 in accordance with the product load.

[0049] In contrast to this, in the showcase 1, the shelf 13 is configured to be movable in the vertical direction via the slider 14c while being spaced apart from the case body 2, the rail 14b, and the vertical plate 12. Fig. 7 is a partially enlarged front view illustrating the gap between the shelf 13 and the rail 14b.

[0050] That is, the shelf 13 is spaced apart from the bottom wall 22a and the four vertical walls 22b of the inner box 22 of the case body 2 (see FIGS. 1 and 3). The shelf 13 is also spaced apart from the rails 14b (see FIGS. 4 and 5). Furthermore, the shelf 13 is also spaced apart from the vertical plates 12 (see FIGS. 4, 5, and 7).

[0051] Next, the operation of the showcase 1 in this embodiment will be described.

[0052] In the showcase 1, the shelf 13 is configured to be movable up and down via the slider 14c while being spaced apart from the case body 2, the rail 14b, and the vertical plate 12. Therefore, of the shelf 13 and the slider 14c, which are movable parts that move up and down, only the slider 14c engages with and contacts the rail 14b of the case body 2, the rail 14b, and the vertical plate 12, which are non-movable parts that do not move. Therefore, the showcase 1 is configured so that the movable parts that move up and down and the non-movable parts contact each other at a single point. When the shelf 13 moves up and down (raise and lower) in response to the product load, the shelf 13 can move up and down without coming into contact with the non-movable parts. As a result, even if dew or frost adheres to the inner surface of the inner box 22 (the surface facing the storage chamber 3) or the rail 14b or vertical plate 12 of the lifting shelf device for showcase 10, the lifting and lowering movement of the shelf 13 in response to the product load can be effectively prevented from being hindered by the frost or the like. As a result, the product P can be reliably placed in a position that reduces the burden on the user when taking out the product P.

[0053] As described above, according to the showcase 1 of this embodiment, the product P can be reliably placed in a position that reduces the burden on the user when taking out the product P.

[0054] Furthermore, only the showcase lifting shelf device 10 for raising and lowering the products P is placed inside the case body 2 of the showcase 1, and no frame material is required to surround the entire showcase lifting shelf device 10, so the space inside the case body 2 is effectively used as space for placing and storing the products P, and the number of products P that can be placed and stored can be effectively increased.

[0055] In this embodiment, the elastic member 14a is provided on the vertical plate 12 side of the area between the bottom plate 11 and the shelf 13. As a result, in a structure in which the shelf 13 is cantilevered, the elastic member 14a is positioned closer to the support side of the shelf 13, thereby stabilizing the up and down movement of the shelf 13.

[0056] In this embodiment, the center of gravity of shelf 13 is located on the portion of shelf 13 on the vertical plate 12 side. This makes it possible to more reliably stabilize the up and down movement of shelf 13 in a cantilever-supported structure. In other words, the magnitude of the rotational moment around the support side end (slider 14c) of shelf 13 generated in shelf 13 in a cantilever-supported structure is smaller than the magnitude of the rotational moment when the center of gravity of shelf 13 is closer to the free end of shelf 13. As a result, the sliding resistance between slider 14c and rail 14b is reduced, making it possible to more reliably stabilize the up and down movement of shelf 13.

[0057] In this embodiment, the shelves 13 and shelf height adjustment mechanisms 14 are provided on both sides of the vertical plate 12 in the thickness direction, so that one vertical plate 12 serves as a member for raising and lowering one shelf 13 and another shelf 13, thereby making the device more compact and reducing costs. Also, a store clerk or the like can remove the showcase lifting shelf device 10 from the case body 2 of the showcase 1 simply by lifting the vertical plate 12 with one hand. Although not shown, to improve the ease of removal by a store clerk or the like, a handle (grip) may be provided on the top of the vertical plate 12, or a hole into which a finger or the like can be inserted may be opened in the vertical plate 12.

[0058] In this embodiment, the shelf 13 has a cover piece 13d that covers the upper end surface of the slider 14c from above. This prevents dew and frost from getting inside the slider 14c and prevents foreign objects from getting caught in the moving parts. In addition, the bottom plate 11 has multiple through holes, which improves drainage of water that is generated during defrosting, etc.

[0059] In this embodiment, contact between the movable part (shelf 13) and the case body 2 (vertical wall 22b of the inner box 22) is avoided, but this is not limiting, and a part that actively contacts the vertical wall 22b of the case body 2 may be provided. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the showcase 1 may include a flexible removal member 17 that is provided on a part of the shelf 13 that faces the case body 2 and that removes foreign matter adhering to the case body 2. The removal member 17 is provided, for example, along the entirety of each of three sides of the shelf 13 that face the vertical wall 22b of the inner box 22 of the case body 2. The removal member 17 includes a fixing part 17a that is fixed to the shelf 13 and a brush part 17b that is made of a bundle of multiple flexible fiber materials, and the tip side of the brush part 17b is provided so as to contact the vertical wall 22b. As a result, when a store clerk or the like replenishes products P, the shelves 13 move downward, and dew, frost, etc. that may adhere to the case body 2 (vertical wall 22b) are removed by the removal member 17, and the growth of frost is prevented. As a result, the upward movement of the shelves 13 is not hindered by frost, ice, etc., and the upward movement of the shelves 13 is more reliably stabilized. Therefore, the products P can be more reliably placed in positions that reduce the burden on the user when taking out the products.

[0060] Furthermore, although the longitudinal reinforcing portions (skirt portions) 13b of the shelf 13 are formed to extend straight down, they are not limited to this and may extend obliquely so as to move away from the corresponding vertical wall 22b as they extend downward, as shown in Fig. 9. In this case, it is possible to more reliably prevent the up-and-down movement of the shelf 13 from being hindered by frost, ice, etc. that has grown on the vertical wall 22b.

[0061] The number of showcase lifting shelf devices 10 arranged inside the case body 2 is not limited to one, but may be multiple. In this case, multiple showcase lifting shelf devices 10 are arranged in parallel in the longitudinal direction of the case body 2. This makes it possible to achieve the same effect as this embodiment even in a large showcase 1. Specifically, the longitudinal direction of the showcase lifting shelf device 10 may be arranged in the short direction of the case body 2, or the longitudinal direction of the showcase lifting shelf device 10 may be arranged in the longitudinal direction of the case body 2. Large products P can be placed on it.

[0062] The product P is not limited to a cup with ice, and any suitable type of product P may be applied. Furthermore, the cooling method for the product P in the showcase 1 is not limited to natural convection. The showcase 1 may be equipped with a blower and may adopt a forced convection cooling method in which cool air is forcibly circulated inside the case body 2 (inner box 22).

[0063] The above describes the embodiments and modifications of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications, and it goes without saying that further modifications and changes are possible based on the technical concept of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 1...Showcase, 2...Case body, 10...Showcase lifting shelf device, 11...Bottom plate, 12...Vertical plate, 13...Shelf, 13c...Vertical plate side edge, 13d...Cover piece, 14...Shelf height position adjustment mechanism, 14a...Elastic member, 14b...Rail, 14c...Slider, 17...Removal member, P...Product

Claims

1. The showcase has a case body formed in a box shape with an open top and stores a plurality of commodities in a cooled state inside the case body, The bottom plate and a vertical plate extending upward from the bottom plate; a shelf located above the bottom plate and to the side of the vertical plate, on which products are placed; a shelf height adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height position of the shelf; Including, The shelf height adjustment mechanism is an elastic member disposed in a compressed state between the bottom plate and the shelf; a rail fixed to the vertical plate and extending in the vertical direction; a slider that engages with the rail so as to be movable along the rail and to which a side edge of a vertical plate of the shelf is fixed; The height position of the shelf is adjusted by the elastic member expanding and contracting in accordance with the product load, The shelf is configured to be movable up and down via the slider while being spaced apart from the case body, the rails, and the vertical plates.

2. 2. The lifting shelf device for a showcase according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is provided on a portion of the area between the bottom plate and the shelf on the side of the vertical plate.

3. 3. The lifting shelf device for a showcase according to claim 1, wherein the center of gravity of the shelf is located on a portion of the shelf on a vertical plate side.

4. The bottom plate is formed in a rectangular shape that is long in one direction when viewed from above, The vertical plate is provided at the center of the bottom plate in the longitudinal direction, 4. The lifting shelf device for a showcase according to claim 1, wherein the shelves and the shelf height adjustment mechanisms are provided on both sides of the vertical plate in the thickness direction.

5. A lifting shelf device for a showcase as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, including a flexible removal member provided in a portion of the shelf opposite the case body for removing foreign matter adhering to the case body.

6. 6. The lifting shelf device for a showcase according to claim 1, wherein the shelf has a cover piece that covers from above the upper end surface of the slider engaged with the rail.

7. A showcase equipped therein with the showcase lifting shelf device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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