Refrigerated cabinet

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional refrigerated cabinets often have inefficient layouts and limited accessibility to the goods compartment, with separate sections not easily connectable or modular for optimal use of space and accessibility.

Innovation Solution

A modular refrigerated cabinet design comprising multiple individual pieces of furniture with heat pumps, where longitudinal units are placed back-to-back with doors on opposite sides, and a head unit at the ends allowing for continuous access and connection of compartments with sliding doors, enabling a single large goods compartment and improved visibility through glass sides.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional refrigerated cabinets use separate sections with limited accessibility, then each section can be independently operated, but the goods compartment accessibility and space utilization are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegoods compartment accessibilityVSAvoidsection separation structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The refrigerated cabinet is divided into multiple independent longitudinal units (first longitudinal unit, second longitudinal unit, etc.) that can be separately manufactured and assembled. Each unit contains its own heat pump assembly and refrigeration system, allowing independent operation while maintaining overall system functionality. This segmentation enables flexible configuration and easier maintenance without requiring the entire cabinet to be shut down.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Adjacent longitudinal units are connected back-to-back with their rear walls abutting each other, forming a continuous goods compartment space. The shelves extend across multiple units creating an uninterrupted storage area. This merging of separate units creates improved accessibility and space utilization while maintaining the benefits of modular construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If refrigerated cabinet uses fixed layout with separate sections, then manufacturing is simplified, but space utilization and accessibility are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexible arrangement of unitsVSAvoidmodular assembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The cabinet is constructed from standardized longitudinal units that can be manufactured separately and assembled in various configurations. Each unit is a self-contained module with identical dimensions and connection interfaces, allowing flexible arrangement to create different cabinet sizes and layouts while using the same basic building blocks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each longitudinal unit is designed as a universal module that can serve multiple positions in the cabinet configuration. The units have standardized connection points and dimensions that allow them to be arranged in series to create cabinets of different lengths, providing versatility in application while simplifying manufacturing through standardization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Illumination intensity

If end units have closed side walls, then structural integrity is improved, but visibility into the merchandise area is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility into merchandise areaVSAvoidside wall structural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The side walls of the end units incorporate glass panes in specific locations to provide visibility into the merchandise area, while maintaining solid wall construction in other areas to preserve structural integrity. This local modification allows the structure to have different properties in different regions - transparent where visibility is needed, opaque where structural strength is prioritized.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3367028B1Refrigerated cabinet
Publication Date: 2022.04.06 PAN DUR HLDG GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3367028B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3367028B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a refrigerated cabinet (1) with a goods compartment (67) that can be closed with the aid of doors (2), the refrigerated cabinet (1) having a first long side and a second long side opposite the first long side, both long sides each having a plurality of doors (2 ) have, so that the goods space (67) is accessible from both long sides. According to the invention, the refrigeration appliance (1) has at least one transverse side connecting the two longitudinal sides, the transverse side also having one or more doors (2) through which the goods compartment (67) is accessible.