Integrated Center Shelf Standard for Faster Display Case Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of refrigerated display cases is labor-intensive due to the complexity of combining modular components like evaporator coils, plumbing, fans, and shelves, which requires numerous parts and significant on-site labor.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a single, unified center shelf standard with an attachment flange, extension portion, channel portions, and bracket apertures simplifies installation by reducing the number of parts and eliminating alignment issues, allowing direct attachment to the aft wall and reducing material usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If multiple separate shelf standards are used to support shelves, then structural stability is improved, but device complexity and installation time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate shelf standards into a single integrated center shelf standard that includes left and right support portions, channel portions, and bracket portions all in one piece. This merging reduces the number of parts from multiple separate standards to one integrated component, directly resolving the contradiction between structural stability and device complexity.
2Stability of the object's composition
If multiple separate shelf standards are used, then structural stability is improved, but installation time and labor increase
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating left and right shelf standard functions into one unified center shelf standard component, the installation process is simplified from assembling multiple separate parts to installing a single integrated unit, directly reducing installation time and labor while preserving structural stability.
3Strength
If multiple separate shelf standards are used, then load distribution is improved, but material usage and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated center shelf standard consolidates the material requirements of multiple separate standards into one component, reducing total material usage and cost while maintaining load distribution capability through its integrated left and right support portions.
Solution Approach 2:
The shelf standard utilizes composite construction with an attachment flange, extension portion, channel portions, and bracket portions integrated into a single structure, optimizing material efficiency while maintaining strength and load-bearing capacity.
4Ease of manufacture
If separate left and right shelf standards are used, then ease of assembly is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges separate left and right shelf standard components into one integrated center shelf standard, reducing the number of components that need to be manufactured and assembled while maintaining the functional benefits of having both left and right support structures.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application provides a refrigerated display case. The refrigerated display case may include an aft wall, a number of shelf standards positioned about the aft wall, and a number of shelves positioned on the shelf standards. The shelf standards may include an integrated center shelf standard.