Hinged Air Curtain Guide Mounting for Product Pusher Restocking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Open display refrigerators with product pushers pose challenges in installing air curtain guides due to the absence of customer-facing shelves and the sliding action of product pusher cassettes, which collide with air curtain guides during restocking.

Innovation Solution

An air curtain guide mounting kit comprising an arm and a bracket with an engagement section for snap-fit or mechanical fastening to the air curtain guide, allowing hinged connection and easy installation on refrigerators with product pushers, including a locking mechanism for movement during restocking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If air curtain guides are fixed to the refrigerator front, then air infiltration is reduced and energy efficiency improves, but product pusher cassettes cannot be slid out for restocking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidrestocking operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The air curtain guide is mounted on a movable arm that can pivot between a first position (blocking air infiltration) and a second position (allowing product pusher access). This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction by making the guide movable rather than fixed, enabling both energy efficiency and ease of restocking operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If air curtain guides are mounted on fixed shelves, then air flow guidance is effective, but installation is impossible on refrigerators with product pushers instead of shelves

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair curtain functionVSAvoidcompatibility with product pusher configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting kit is designed to attach to the front surface of the refrigerator regardless of whether shelves or product pushers are present. The arm can be positioned at various locations and angles, making the system universally applicable to different refrigerator configurations while maintaining reliable air curtain guidance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of energy

If the arm is kept stationary, then air curtain guidance is maintained, but product pusher cassettes collide with the air curtain guide during sliding

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair infiltration preventionVSAvoidcollision damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The arm is designed to pivot or move away from its initial position when a product pusher cassette contacts it during sliding. This dynamic response prevents collision damage while the arm returns to its blocking position afterward to maintain air infiltration prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11737584B2Air curtain guides for refrigerators

Publication Date: 2023.08.29 AEROFOIL ENERGY LTD

AI summary

An air curtain guide mounting kit for attaching an air curtain guide to an open-display refrigerator, the kit comprising: an arm adapted to be mounted to the refrigerator; and a bracket comprising an engagement section adapted to be connected to an air curtain guide, and a mounting section connected to the engagement section and adapted to form a hinged connection with the arm.