DE9106450U1 - Sales counter - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a display counter which facilitates operation and reading of its electrical control systems. To this end, a receptacle (15), which contains the operating elements (22) for the electrically drivable operating units and illuminating devices (11) and the like, is introduced in the form of an insert (15) into the cavity (18) of a hollow upright (6) or into a hollow cross-bar (7) connecting the uprights (6), without entailing substantial modification of the structure and partitioning of the display counter (1). As a result of the invention, a considerable saving of space and weight is achieved, and recognition of functional displays and operation of the electrical units are made much easier. <IMAGE>

Description

akf General refrigeration cabinet construction

GmbH & Co. KG

File 782-68 ern/st

13.06.1992

DESCRIPTION Sales counter

The invention relates to a sales counter with a base table, a worktop on the operator side and with a counter top adjoining the worktop on the buyer side and holding a goods support shelf, which contains several posts arranged at an angle upwards from the worktop to support a pane construction closing off the counter top on the buyer side, whereby the sales counter has electrically driven work equipment, lighting and operating elements associated with them, which are combined in a container and the container is connected to a post at a point facing the seller.

Such a construction of a sales counter is known from EP-A 0 279 789.

In practice, all the equipment required for electrical operation and control is located under the counter, for which a special space is reserved, particularly in the form of a drawer. This does indeed have the advantage that the electrical part is located away from the spread-out

goods and the control surfaces of the sales counter. However, this means that it is difficult to handle because the arrangement of the electrical part close to the floor makes it difficult to operate and read the control states.

EP-A 0 279 789 describes a way of avoiding these difficulties by mounting a console for accommodating the electrical operating elements on the seller-side front wall of a post in the seller's full field of vision, the console housing being intended to form an enlargement of the showcase post.

However, such a measure results in a design that significantly changes the conventional basic shape of the display case, which has an aesthetically disturbing effect and, in addition, acts as a protruding element like a dirt trap.

The invention is based on the object of developing a sales counter that avoids the problems described, in which the operation and reading of the electrical control of all units can be carried out under ergonomic aspects, without a significant change in the design and spatial layout of the sales counter being necessary.

This object is achieved with the invention in that the operating elements for the electrically driven work equipment, lighting and the like are combined in a container designed as an insert which is inserted into the cavity of a hollow post and/or into a hollow crossbar connecting the posts. By separating the operating element from the

controlling work equipment, there is a considerable saving in space and weight, because it has been shown that the drawer previously considered necessary to accommodate the electrical units has become superfluous and the space previously occupied by the drawer has been freed up for other purposes, for example as storage space. The arrangement of the operating element within the post or the crossbeam means that the operating elements and the function display are in the field of vision of the upright operator and are easily accessible for operation without impairing the aesthetic appearance of the display case or acting as a dirt trap.

For this purpose, it is advantageous if the insert has a keyboard (operating panel) with a function display for the individual operating element on its seller-side front. This keyboard can, for example, be closed off on the outside by a film that is connected to pressure-sensitive switches that are connected to the insert. In addition, the insert has one or more microprocessors and a plug-in connection arrangement for the power supply and for the pulse generators. The cables for the power supply and the pulse generators are preferably led through the hollow space of the post or the crossbeam to a remotely arranged electronics unit as well as to the work equipment, lighting fixtures and the like.

Details of the invention can be seen from the drawing. The invention is shown schematically and by way of example. They show:

Fig. 1: a vertical section through a sales counter,

Fig. 2: a partial front view of the sales counter from the seller’s perspective,

Fig. 3: a cross-section along the line III - III through a post of the sales counter,

Fig. 4: a cross-section through the post as per Fig. 3 with an integrated insert for the operating elements

Fig. 5: a partial front view of a keyboard (operating panel) of the insert according to Fig. 4 and

Fig. 6: a partial front view of the sales counter analogous to Fig. 2 with an arrangement of the insert in a traverse.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, a sales counter (1) of a conventional design is shown, which has a base table (3) and a counter top (2). In the counter top (2) there is a goods support floor (4), on which the goods are spread out and can be seen from the buyer's side through a window construction (9).

The counter top (2) has several posts (6) that rise diagonally from a worktop (5) and are connected at their upper edge by a cross member (7) in the form of a ridge profile. On this cross member (7) there is a pivot bearing (10) for supporting fittings (8), which in turn support the pane construction (9). The pane construction (9) can be pivoted upwards around this pivot bearing (10).

In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, at least one of the posts (6) designed as a hollow profile contains a container designed as an insert (15) on the side accessible to the seller, which can be viewed as an operating part for a control system. This insert (15) is intended to accommodate all of the electrotechnical operating elements that are required to control and display the functions of the electrical work equipment, lighting and similar arrangements. This distances the operating elements from the equipment to be operated. In the example in Figure 1, the lighting (11), the evaporator (12) and the fan (13) are indicated as such electrotechnical work equipment.

In Fig. 1, (14) designates a drawer or a storage shelf, which was required in previously known sales counters to accommodate the entire electrical equipment. Due to the inventive separation of operating elements and the electrical equipment to be controlled, this drawer (14) is no longer required, and its space can be used for other purposes, for example as storage space.

In the embodiment of the invention, the post (6) according to Fig. 3 consists of a hollow profile (16), in particular of a light metal extruded profile, through which a web (17) passes, whereby hollow spaces (18) are formed. The larger of the two hollow spaces (18), which is located on the seller side, can easily be used to accommodate the insert (15) (see Fig. 4) by cutting off a section of the wall (20), for example along the cutting plane (21). The insert (15) is accordingly designed in the form of a cassette, whereby care must be taken that the external outer contour

(24) of the insert follows the predetermined contour of the post (6), so that the impression is created that the insert (15) is an integral part of the post (6).

Fig. 4 shows that the insert (15) has an interior space for accommodating the electrical control part (23), which is closed off from the outside by a control panel (22). This control panel (22), of which an example of a partial front view is shown in Fig. 5, is intended to have pressure-sensitive switches and function displays.

The electrical control part (23) is connected to an electronic unit that is housed elsewhere on the sales counter (1). The electrical connection can be made, for example, using plug-in connectors, whereby it is recommended that the cables for the power supply and the pulse generators be routed through the hollow space in the post.

The example in Fig. 6 shows an alternative to Fig. 2, whereby it is possible to connect the cross member (7) to the insert (15). This option is particularly useful when the cross member (7) can be designed as a hollow profile and its position is within the range of movement of the operator.

In a special embodiment of the invention, the front side of the insert (15) is covered by a film (25) which bears corresponding prints for the function of the individual pressure-sensitive pushbuttons located behind the film. In detail, for example, the following switch arrangements can be provided:

Push button switch for counter light (top) with a colored LED for function display;

Push button switch for counter light (trough) with a colored function display;

Push button switch for light (bag storage) with a colored function display;

Push button for temperature zone (1) with a colored function display;

Display for the cooling function;

additional displays for fans, speed information, output voltage and the like;

Push button for window heating;

Push button for body rolling edge heating; Push button for defrost heating;

Push button for humidification;

Push button for controlling the function of the cooling unit; Push button for the disinfection system; Push button for a cold steam generator.

The electrical or electronic design of the operating elements or the electrical control unit and the control panel can be adapted to the respective operational requirements using

conventional experience, or supplemented or modified. The invention leaves the expert free rein in this respect.

PARTS LIST

! Sales counter

2 Counter top

3 Under table

4 Goods support floor

5 Worktop

6 posts

7 Traverse

8 Fitting

9 Disc construction

10 swivel bearings

11 Lighting

12 evaporators

13 Fan

14 Drawer or storage shelf

15 Insert (control unit) - container

16 Hollow profile

17 Bridge

18 Cavity

19 screw channel1

20 Wall section

21 Cutting plane

22 Control panel

23 electrical control unit

24 Outer contour

25 Slide

10

Claims (6)

10 Protection claims 1) Sales counter (1) with a base table (3), a worktop (5) on the operator side and with a counter top (2) adjoining the worktop (5) on the buyer side, holding a goods support base (4), which contains several posts (6) arranged at an angle upwards from the worktop (5) for supporting a pane construction closing the counter top (2) on the buyer side, whereby the sales counter (2) has electrically driven working devices (12, 13), lights (11) and operating elements (22) associated with them, which are combined in a container (15) and the container (15) is connected to a post (6) at a point facing the seller, thereby characterized in that the container (15) is in the form of an insert (15) inserted into the cavity (18) of a hollow post (6) or into a hollow cross member (7) connecting the posts (6). 2) Sales counter according to claim 1, characterized in that the side of the insert (15) facing the seller has a profiling (24) that continues the outer contour of the post (6) or the cross member (7). 3) Sales counter according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the insert (15) has on its seller-side front a keyboard (operating panel (22)) with a function display for the individual operating element. 4) Sales counter according to claim 1 or one of the following, characterized in that the insert (15) has one or more microprocessors and a plug connection arrangement for the power supply and the pulse generator. 5) Sales counter according to claim 4, characterized in that the cables for the power supply and the pulse generators are led through the cavity (18) of the post (6) or the crossbeam (7) to a remotely arranged electronics as well as the work equipment, lighting fixtures and the like. 6) Sales counter according to claim 1 or one of the following, characterized in that the seller-side front of the insert (15) is formed by a film (25) which covers pressure-sensitive switches of the electrical control part (23) contained in the insert (15).