JP7573708B2 - Blowing means - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a ventilation means provided in a freezer/refrigerator showcase.

Refrigerated and freezer showcases are installed in the food sections of supermarkets, convenience stores, department stores, etc., and daily necessities and fresh foods that require cooling are displayed on shelves in the product display area, and the inside of the refrigerated and freezer showcase is kept at a low temperature by circulating cool air through the product display area.

Such freezer/refrigerator showcases include those with highly visible translucent panels on the side panels so that consumers can see the products in the product display area from the side of the showcase, and those with a rear door with a translucent panel so that sales staff can remove products from the rear side. In summer or in warm regions where there is a large temperature difference between the cooling compartment and the outside air, such freezer/refrigerator showcases have the problem of condensation forming on the translucent panels on the rear door and side panels, causing the condensed water to stain the floor and surrounding items.

One technology for preventing the occurrence of such condensation is shown in Patent Document 1. The freezer/refrigerator showcase shown in Patent Document 1 is equipped with an exhaust port that exhausts air from inside the machine room upward from a machine room provided below a cooling case section that includes a display room where products are displayed and can be kept cool, and the warm air that has air-cooled the condenser inside the machine room is passed to the rear side of the cooling case section, heating the rear door made of a translucent panel provided on the rear side of the cooling case section, thereby preventing the occurrence of condensation.

JP-A-10-232080 (page 2, Figure 2)

However, in the technology of Patent Document 1, the rear door of the cooling case is heated by directing warm air from the machine room against it, thereby preventing condensation from forming. However, the warm air discharged toward the rear door raises the temperature of the interior space of the cooling case, which may adversely affect products that require cooling.

The present invention was made with a focus on these problems, and aims to provide a ventilation means for a freezer/refrigerator showcase that prevents condensation from forming on the translucent panels without adversely affecting the products that need to be cooled inside the cooling compartment.

In order to solve the above problem, the blowing means comprises:
A ventilation means is attached to a side end of an upper portion of a case body surrounding a commodity display section of a freezer/refrigerator showcase that is provided with a light-transmitting panel and that circulates cool air to the commodity display section,
The air blowing means has an air blowing means body having an outer shape long in the width direction and a cross-flow fan inside the air blowing means that is long in the width direction,
The blower body is characterized by having an intake port at an upper portion for drawing in outside air and an outlet port at a lower portion for blowing out outside air along a side plate of the case body .
The intake port is characterized in being provided above an upper surface of the case body.
the air blowing unit body is attached to a side end portion of an upper portion of the case body on which the light-transmitting panel is provided,
The air outlet is formed below the air blowing means main body and can be disposed so as to protrude outward beyond the case main body.
Freezer and refrigerated showcases are
A freezer/refrigerator showcase that circulates cold air in a product display area,
The display unit is characterized in that a blower capable of blowing outside air is disposed along an outer surface of a translucent panel constituting at least one of the side panels surrounding the product display unit.
According to this feature, since outside air is constantly blown along the outer surface of the light-transmitting panel from the air blowing means, the outside air flowing along the outer surface of the light-transmitting panel leaves the light-transmitting panel before condensation occurs on the outer surface of the light-transmitting panel, thereby preventing condensation on the light-transmitting panel. Since condensation is prevented by using outside air in this way, the light-transmitting panel is not heated, and there is no adverse effect on the products that need to be cooled in the cooling chamber.
In addition, the freezer and refrigerated showcases are
A refrigerated/freezer showcase having a translucent panel on a side panel and circulating cold air to a product display area,
A blowing means is disposed on an upper portion and an outer surface of at least one of the side panels surrounding the commodity display section,
The air blowing means has an outlet port on a lower side for blowing outside air generally parallel to an outer surface of the side plate,
The air outlet is located above and away from the light-transmitting panel.
The air outlet is characterized in that it is provided on a side plate side of the air blowing means main body.
The refrigerated/freezer showcase has an open front,
The air blowing means is located rearward of the front end of the light-transmitting panel.
The air blowing means is characterized in that it has an outer shape that is long in the width direction and has a cross-flow fan therein that is long in the width direction.

The outside air outlet of the air blowing means is characterized in that it extends widely along the translucent panel.
According to this feature, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of condensation over a wide area of the light-transmitting panel.

The blower means has an impeller journalled within a housing of the blower means, the impeller being formed to extend in the width direction of the translucent panel.
According to this feature, the impeller extending in the width direction can blow air evenly over a wide area of the translucent panel, thereby making it possible to prevent condensation from occurring evenly over a wide area of the translucent panel.

A light-transmitting panel is attached to the side plate via a stepped portion recessed inward, and outside air can be blown from the outlet of the blowing means along the side plate.
According to this feature, the outside air flowing along the side panel becomes a vortex at the inwardly recessed step, and the outside air is constantly drawn toward the translucent panel, so that the outside air can be blown close to the outer surface of the translucent panel.

The air blowing means is characterized by having an air direction directing mechanism capable of changing the air blowing direction.
According to this feature, air can be blown toward areas of the light-transmitting panel where condensation is likely to occur.

The air blowing means is detachably disposed on the outer surface of the side plate via a locking means.
According to this feature, the air blowing means can be installed in a freezer/refrigerator showcase during seasons when condensation occurs or in a showcase where condensation occurs.

The air blowing means is characterized by being attached above the side plate.
According to this feature, the air blowing means can be installed without spoiling the aesthetic appearance of the freezer/refrigerator showcase, and condensation on the translucent panel can be suppressed.

1 is a perspective view showing a refrigerated showcase according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view showing the structure of the refrigerated showcase. FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view showing the blowing range of the blowing means. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the airflow path to a light-transmitting panel in a cross section of a refrigerated showcase equipped with an air blowing means. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the airflow path to the light-transmitting panel in a cross section of a refrigerated showcase incorporating an air blowing means according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The following describes the embodiment of the freezer/refrigerator showcase according to the present invention.

The freezer/refrigerator showcase according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5. In the following description, the left side of Fig. 2 is the front side (front side) of the freezer/refrigerator showcase, and the description will be based on the up, down, left and right directions when viewed from the front side. Note that in the first embodiment, the description will be of an open-type refrigerated showcase with an open front side. Note that the showcase may also be of a closed type or a freezing type.

The refrigerated showcase 1 of this embodiment is installed in supermarkets, convenience stores, etc. to display products such as daily foods and fresh foods in a chilled state. As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerated showcase 1 is mainly composed of a case body 2 having a chilled chamber 20 at the top where products (not shown) are cooled and stored, side plates 3, 3' attached to both sides of the case body 2, and air blowing means 40, 40' detachably attached to the upper parts of the side plates 3, 3'. The side plate 3 has a window 5 equipped with a translucent panel 50 (glass plate) described in detail later, and is configured so that the inside of the cabinet can be seen from outside the cabinet through the window 5. Note that the side plate 3' and the air blowing means 40' (not shown) are substantially identical in configuration to the side plate 3 and the air blowing means 40, but are formed in a substantially inverted manner, and detailed explanations are omitted.

Furthermore, multiple refrigerated showcases 1 can be installed side by side, in which case the side plates 3 and air blowing means 40 at the opposing parts of the refrigerated showcases 1 are omitted. In other words, when multiple refrigerated showcases 1 are installed side by side, the side plates 3 and air blowing means 40 are attached to one side of the refrigerated showcases 1 located at both the left and right ends, and when a single refrigerated showcase 1 is installed, the side plates 3, 3' and air blowing means 40, 40' are attached to both sides of the refrigerated showcase 1.

2, the case body 2 is composed of an outer box 21 with a heat-insulating structure that is roughly U-shaped when viewed from the side and has an open front (left side in the figure), and an inner box 22 that is arranged inside and is also roughly U-shaped when viewed from the side and has an open front, with the space inside the inner box 22 forming the cold storage compartment 20. The rear ends of brackets 20b, 20b, ... that extend forward and backward are attached to the rear part 22a of the inner box 22, and shelves 20a, 20a, ... are arranged on the brackets 20b, 20b, .... Products (not shown) are displayed on the upper surfaces of the shelves 20a, 20a, ... and the bottom part 22b of the inner box 22.

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 on the vertical and horizontal bottom parts of the cold air circulation path 23, respectively. The evaporator 24a is designed to cool the air around it. A heat insulating material 24c is provided on the front side of the evaporator 24a, suppressing heat exchange between the evaporator 24a and the cold storage compartment 20 side via the inner box 22. A cold air outlet 23a that communicates with the cold air circulation path 23 is formed diagonally downward and forward at the front end of the upper part of the case body 2, and a cold air intake port 23b that opens upward is formed at the front end of the lower part of the case body 2.

When the blower 24b is operated, the cold air cooled by the evaporator 24a flows upward through the cold air circulation path 23 as shown by the arrow, and is blown out from the cold air outlet 23a toward the lower intake 23b. This creates an air curtain 25 of cold air on the open front surface of the case body 2, and some of the cold air flows into the cold storage chamber 20, keeping the displayed products cool.

As shown in FIG. 1, the side plate body 3 is mainly composed of a side plate body 4 having a D-shaped cutout 4a that opens on the front side of the refrigerated showcase 1 and has a horizontal lower end in a side view, and a light-transmitting panel 50 made of a glass plate, acrylic plate, or the like, that fits into the cutout 4a of the side plate body 4, and a ventilation means 40 is attached to the upper end of the side plate body 4. The location where the light-transmitting panel 50 is provided is a window 5, and the inside of the cabinet can be seen from outside through the window 5. In addition, since the side plate body 4 is formed thicker in the width direction than the light-transmitting panel 50, a step D (described later) is formed at the boundary between the side plate body 4 and the light-transmitting panel 50. The ventilation means 40 will be described in detail below.

As shown in FIG. 3, the blowing means 40 is mainly composed of a cover 41, a fan 42, and a back plate 43. The cover 41 is molded from resin and is mainly composed of a roughly U-shaped cover body 41a, side plates 41b, 41b' that are arranged to sandwich the cover body 41a from the left and right and are attached to the cover body 41a from the sides, and a roughly L-shaped partition member 41c that is attached to the lower back side of the cover body 41a. The cover body 41a has a number of slits S that extend in the vertical direction, which are formed in the shape of three strips overall, from the top to the center of the front plate part of the cover body 41a and across the curved part between the front plate part and the bottom plate part.

The fan 42 is mainly composed of an impeller 42a, a casing 42c that supports the impeller 42a, and a drive unit 42b that includes a motor and a power cord that rotates the impeller 42a. The impeller 42a is composed of a shaft 42d that is supported by the casing 42c, and fins 42e that extend radially from the shaft 42d. In addition, by pressing a power button P provided on the cover body 41a, the drive unit 42b is started and the impeller 42a rotates clockwise.

The back panel 43 is mainly composed of a louver 43a as a wind direction directing mechanism and a gap adjustment plate 43b. The louver 43a is formed in a substantially L-shape and is attached to the lower end of the front side of the back panel 43. The gap adjustment plate 43b has arc-shaped holes formed in a vertical row across the width direction, and is attached above the louver 43a. It abuts against the partition member 41c to adjust the gap, which is the short-side length of the air outlet F, and prevents the user's fingertips from touching the fan 42. Detachable members 44, 44 are attached to the back side of the back panel 43, and the air blowing means 40 is detachably attached by fitting it into a receiving member (not shown) attached to the outer surface of the side panel main body 4. In addition, an air outlet F is formed below the back panel 43 and is formed to extend in the width direction relative to the translucent panel 50. The cover 41 is not limited to being made of resin, but may be made of metal.

The blowing means 40 is a cross-flow fan that blows outside air uniformly in the width direction, and an air passage is formed in the cover 41 so that the outside air sucked in through the slits S in the cover body 41a is discharged from the outlet F below the back plate 43 by rotating the impeller 42a extending in the width direction. The louvers 43a are accessible from below the back plate 43, and the upper end of the louvers 43a (see enlarged partial view) is supported by a screw and can rotate left and right around the screw. By adjusting the orientation of the louvers 43a, the direction of the air discharged from the impeller 42a can be adjusted, and the direction and range of the air blown to the outside from the blowing means 40 can be adjusted.

Figure 4 shows the power button P of the air blowing means 40 attached to the top of the side panel body 4 of the refrigerated showcase 1 being pressed to start the air blowing means 40. The outside air blown from the air outlet F is discharged from above in a roughly fan-like shape downwards, because the air outlet F is formed to be wide in the width direction and the louvers 43a diffuse the outside air further in the width direction. Furthermore, by operating the louvers 43a, it is possible to intensively guide the air blown toward the area where condensation is occurring. In addition, a vortex U rotating inwardly is generated at the step D formed at the boundary between the side panel body 4 and the translucent panel 50, which is recessed inwardly, when the air blowing means 40 blows outside air from above.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the blowing means 40 is started, the impeller 42a rotates clockwise when viewed from the rear, so that outside air is sucked in through the slits S in the cover body 41a and blown out from the outlet F along the translucent panel 50. By continuously blowing outside air along the translucent panel 50 by the blowing means 40, the air stagnating near the outer surface of the translucent panel 50 is sent out below the side panel body 4 before it condenses.

In more detail, the outside air blown from the air outlet F flows downward along the side panel body 4, and then when it approaches the step D formed at the boundary between the side panel body 4 and the translucent panel 50, the step D is recessed toward the inside of the storage unit, generating a vortex U that rotates so as to be drawn inward. (See the enlarged partial view.) The generation of this vortex D causes the outside air blown down along the outer surface of the side panel body 4 to be drawn toward the translucent panel 50. The outside air drawn by the vortex U travels along the outer surface of the translucent panel 50 to the lowest end of the translucent panel 50. It is then moved to the lower side panel body 4 that protrudes outward, which is the outside of the storage unit, and is blown down to the floor.

As described above, the air blowing means 40 operates independently of the operation of the refrigeration cycle, and the outside air blown from the air outlet F is constantly blown down along the translucent panel 50, preventing air from accumulating near the outer surface of the translucent panel 50 and causing condensation.

In addition, because the air blowing means 40 blows down from above, the air blown is cooled near the outer surface of the translucent panel 50 as it travels downwards, and depending on the circumstances, the air may become humid and the moisture content may increase, increasing its specific gravity and allowing it to move smoothly to the lower side of the translucent panel 50. This allows the air blown down from the air blowing means 40 to be stably blown down from above to below the translucent panel 50.

In addition, the temperature of the air blown from the air blowing means 40 is approximately the same as the outside air temperature, so the translucent panel 50 is not excessively heated and there is no adverse effect on fresh foods and daily-delivered foods that require cooling and are displayed in the refrigerated showcase 1.

In this way, the air blowing means 40 capable of blowing outside air is arranged along the outer surface of the translucent panel 50 constituting at least one of the side panels 3 surrounding the case body 2, so that the outside air blown from the air blowing means 40 flows along the outer surface of the translucent panel 50 and leaves the translucent panel 50 before condensation occurs on the outer surface of the translucent panel 50. In other words, outside air is constantly blown from the air blowing means 40 along the outer surface of the translucent panel 50, so condensation on the translucent panel 50 can be prevented. As condensation is prevented in this way by using the outside air temperature, the translucent panel 50 is not heated and does not adversely affect products that need to be cooled in the cooling chamber.

In addition, the outlet F of the air blowing means 40 is extended widely along the translucent panel 50, so that condensation can be suppressed over a wide area of the translucent panel 50.

In addition, the air blowing means 40 has an impeller 42a journalled within the casing 42c of the air blowing means 40, and the impeller 42a is formed to extend in the width direction relative to the translucent panel 50. As the impeller 42a extending in the width direction can blow air evenly over a wide area of the translucent panel 50, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of condensation evenly over a wide area of the translucent panel 50.

The translucent panel 50 is attached to the side plate 3 via a step D that is recessed inward, and outside air can be blown from the outlet F of the air blowing means 40 along the side plate 3. This causes the outside air flowing along the side plate 3 to become a vortex U at the step D that is recessed inward, and the outside air flowing along the side plate 3 is constantly drawn toward the translucent panel 50, so that the outside air can be blown close to the outer surface of the translucent panel 50.

In addition, the air blowing means 40 is equipped with louvers 43a that can change the air blowing direction, so that air can be blown toward the outer surface of the translucent panel 50, where condensation is likely to occur.

In addition, since the air blowing means 40 is removably arranged on the outer surface of the side plate body 3 via the detachable member 44, the air blowing means 40 can be attached to the refrigerated showcase 1 during seasons when condensation occurs or where condensation occurs.

In addition, since the air blowing means 40 is attached above the side plate body 3, the air blowing means 40 can be installed without compromising the aesthetic appearance of the refrigerated showcase 1, and condensation on the translucent panel 50 can be suppressed.

Next, the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 6. Note that the same components as those shown in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

As shown in FIG. 6, the refrigerated showcase 11 of Example 2 is modified to a side panel 14 in which the upper end of the side panel body 4 of Example 1 is partially cut out and a cutout portion 14a is formed, and a blower means 140 is incorporated in the cutout portion 14a to form a refrigerated showcase 1 with an integrated blower means.

Since the air blowing means 140 is disposed in the notch 14a, the outlet F is formed on the lower left side of the air blowing means 140. In addition, the impeller 142a of the second embodiment rotates counterclockwise when viewed from the rear by a motor and power source (not shown), and draws in outside air through a slit S formed above the cover 141.

Outside air drawn in through the slits S of the air blowing means 140 passes through an air passage in the cover 141 and is blown downward from the outlet F. The impeller 142a of the second embodiment rotates counterclockwise, and the outlet F is positioned to protrude to the left of the side panel body 14, making it easier to blow air along the outer surface of the translucent panel 50.

In more detail, the outside air blown from the air outlet F flows downward along the side panel body 14, and then when it approaches the step D formed at the boundary between the side panel body 14 and the translucent panel 50, the step D is recessed toward the inside of the storage unit, generating a vortex U that rotates so as to be drawn inward. (See the enlarged partial view.) The generation of this vortex D causes the outside air blown down along the outer surface of the side panel body 14 to be drawn toward the translucent panel 50. The outside air drawn by the vortex U travels along the outer surface of the translucent panel 50 to the lowest end of the translucent panel 50. It then moves to the outer surface of the lower side panel body 14 that protrudes outward, which is the outside of the storage unit, and is blown down to the floor.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention also includes modifications and additions that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, the side panel 3 is composed of a side panel main body 4 and a translucent panel 50, but the translucent panel 50 may be formed on the entire side panel without using the side panel main body 4.

In addition, while the air blowing means 40 has been described as being attached to the upper side of the side panel body 4 and blowing air downward, the air blowing means 40 may be attached to the lower side of the side panel body 4 and blow air from below to above. Air may also be blown from the rear side of the side panel body 4 to the front side, or from an oblique direction. The air blowing means 40 may be attached to the side panel body 4 via a mounting member and blow air toward the translucent panel 50 from a position spaced apart from the side panel body 4.

In addition, although the blower 40 has been described as a cross-flow fan, it may also be configured as a propeller fan, blower, etc.

In addition, although the description has been given of one air blowing means 40 being provided for each side panel body 4, this is not limited thereto, and multiple air blowing means 40 may be provided.

1. Refrigerated showcase (freezer/refrigerated showcase)
2 Case body 3, 3' Side plate body 4 Side plate body 14a Notch portion 40 Blower means 41 Cover 42 Blower 42a Impeller 42b Drive unit 42c Casing (housing)
43 Back plate 43a Louver (wind direction mechanism)
44 Detachable member (locking means)
50 Translucent panel D Step F Outlet S Slit U Vortex

Claims (3)

A ventilation means is attached to a side end of an upper portion of a case body surrounding a commodity display section of a freezer/refrigerator showcase that is provided with a light-transmitting panel and that circulates cool air to the commodity display section,
The air blowing means has an air blowing means body having an outer shape long in the width direction and a cross-flow fan inside the air blowing means that is long in the width direction,
The blower body has an intake port at an upper portion for drawing in outside air and an outlet port at a lower portion for blowing out outside air along a side panel of the case body . 2. The blower according to claim 1, wherein the intake port is provided above an upper surface of the case body. the air blowing unit body is attached to a side end portion of an upper portion of the case body on which the light-transmitting panel is provided,
3. The blower means according to claim 1, wherein the air outlet is formed below the blower means body and can be disposed so as to protrude outward beyond the case body.

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