EP2139360B1

EP2139360B1 - Frigorific sales furniture

Info

Publication number: EP2139360B1
Application number: EP07723542.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ortwin Schäfer
Original assignee: Carrier Corp
Current assignee: Carrier Corp
Priority date: 2007-03-23
Filing date: 2007-03-23
Publication date: 2018-09-19
Anticipated expiration: 2027-03-23
Also published as: WO2008116476A1; EP2139360A1

Description

Conventional frigorific sales chests like e.g. freezers in frigorific sales islands in supermarkets and grocery stores are ergonomically disadvantageous, since customers have to bend down deeply into such freezers, especially when the goods filling height in the freezer is low and there are not many goods to be sold left. In particular short and elderly people cannot grasp goods at the bottom of the freezer. Furthermore, with many frigorific sales furnitures and many frigorific sales islands the accessibility of goods to be sold is poor. Moreover, in many cases there are no goods arranged at suitable regions where the accessibility and visibility of goods to be sold would be good. Such frigorific sales furnitures do not satisfactorily use the existing sales space.
DE 299 19 845 U1 discloses an at least partially refrigerated goods presentation furniture in which at least one island shaped least partially refrigerated goods presentation chest is arranged on top of an island shaped least partially refrigerated goods presentation chest, and in which isolated bottoms of the goods presentation chests are heavily rounded in order to facilitate access to the interior of the goods presentation chests.
It would be beneficial to provide a user-friendly frigorific sales furniture providing a better access to the goods to be sold and utilizing the existing sales area in a better way.
Exemplary embodiments of the invention include a frigorific sales shelf according to independent claim 1 and a frigorific sales furniture according to claim 5.
Optional embodiments are defined in claims 2 to 4 and 6 to 9, respectively.
Embodiments of the invention are explained in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a first frigorific sales shelf according to a first embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a frigorific sales module not according to the present invention disposed on a frigorific sales island;
Figure 3 shows a frigorific sales furniture according to a second embodiment of the invention; and
Figure 4 shows a perspective side view of the frigorific sales shelf according to the embodiment of the invention.

In this specification the term "frigorific" is to be understood as an umbrella term comprising cooling/refrigerating temperatures above zero degrees Celsius and/or freezing/deep-freezing temperatures below zero degrees Celsius.
Figure 1 shows a first frigorific sales shelf 2 comprising a lower freezing chest 4 and an upper freezing chest 22 that both have approximately the same shape and size. They comprise a respective bottom 6, 24 the front portion of which extends upwardly from back to front including an angle of approximately 30° with respect to a horizontal plane, a respective vertical rear side 10, 28, a respective transparent front side 8, 26 extending backwardly from top to bottom including an angle of approximately 15° with a respect to a vertical plane, a respective upper side having a horizontal goods access portion 14, 32 and having a rear portion being slanted downwardly from front to back including an angle of approximately 30° with a respect to a horizontal plane. In the interiors of the freezing chests 4 and 22, there are inserted respective cages 20 and 38 for receiving and carrying goods to be sold. In the rear portion of the interiors of the freezing chests 4 and 22, there are arranged respective evaporators 16, 34, and respective fans 18, 36 of a vapor compression cycle.
In order to allow for good air circulation in the freezing chests 4 and 22, the cages 20 and 38 are spaced-apart from the respective bottom 6, 24, and the respective front side 8, 26.
The lower freezing chest 4 is positioned on a base and extends partly into the sales room. The upper freezing chest 22 is disposed above the lower freezing chest 4 in a setback position in regard to the lower freezing chest 4 such that the front portion of the bottom 24 partly rests on the rear portion 12 of the upper side of the lower freezing chest 4.
By this arrangement of the two freezing chests 4 and 22, a machinery space 40 is formed behind the lower freezing chest 4, the machinery space 40 accommodating a compressor, a condenser, a throttle valve, refrigerant conduits, and electrical equipment of the vapor compression cycle (not shown). Behind the rear wall 28 of the upper freezing chest 22 there is disposed a space for outgoing air conduits 42 through which outgoing air conduits extend for transporting warm outgoing air from the condenser (not shown).
Figure 2 shows a frigorific sales island 44, which is not part of the claimed invention. A frigorific sales module comprising a first freezing chest 54 and a second freezing chest 72 is disposed on the frigorific sales island 44.
The frigorific sales island 44 comprises a first freezing region 46 accessible from a first side of the sales room and a second freezing region 50 adjacent to it and being accessible from the opposite second side of the sales room. In the first and second freezing regions 46 and 50, there are inserted cages 48 and 52 for receiving and carrying goods to be sold. The other elements of the first and second freezing regions 46 and 50, e.g. elements of the vapor compression cycle are not depicted and described in detail, since they are well-known to the person skilled in the art.
On top of the center portion of the upper side of the frigorific sales island 44, the first freezing chest 54 and the second freezing chest 72 are disposed back-to-back. In accordance with the freezing chests 4 and 22 of Figure 1, both freezing chests 54 and 72 comprise a respective bottom 56, 74, a respective vertical rear side 60, 78, a respective transparent front side 58, 76 as well as a respective upper side having a goods access portion 64, 82 and a rear portion 62, 80. In the first and second freezing chests 54 and 72, there are inserted a respective cage 70, 88, a respective evaporator 66, 84, and a respective fan 68, 86. The first freezing chest 54 and the second freezing chest 72 are arranged at the same level such that at least part of the bottoms 56 and 74 rest on the center portion of the upper side of the frigorific sales island 44.
The rear walls 60 and 78 of the first and the second freezing chests 54 and 72 are spaced apart forming an machinery space 90 therebetween, in which parts of the vapor compression cycle, comprising at least one of a compressor, a condenser, a throttle valve, refrigerant conduits, electrical equipment, and conduits for warm outgoing air from the condenser can be disposed (not shown).
In an alternative embodiment, both the first and the second freezing chests 54 and 72 and the first and second freezing regions 46, 50 of the frigorific sales island 44 can utilize a common vapor compression cycle or parts thereof like e.g. a compressor, a condenser, a throttle valve, refrigerant conduits, and electrical equipment. Such a common vapor compression cycle or common parts thereof can be accommodated in the machinery space 90. In this case, the size of the space 90 can be reduced significantly, such that the space 90 has a width of several centimeters for accommodating conduits for warm outgoing air from the condenser, e.g. a width of approximately 5 to 15cm, in particular 9 to 10cm or such that the rear walls 60 and 78 abut. In the latter case conduits for warm outgoing air from the condenser must be arranged elsewhere.
Alternatively, separate vapor compression cycles can be provided in the machinery space 90 for both the first freezing chest 54 and the second freezing chest 72.
Figure 3 shows a frigorific sales furniture 92 comprising the first lower freezing chest 4 and the first upper freezing chest 22 directed to a first side of the sales room and a second lower freezing chest 94 and a second upper freezing chest 112 directed to a second side of the sales room opposing the first side.
The freezing sales chests 4, 22, 94 and 112 all have substantially the same shape and size, the second upper freezing chest 112 has the same setback position in regard to a second lower freezing chest 94 as compared to the setback position of the first upper freezing chest 22 to the first lower freezing chest 4, wherein the second freezing chests 94 and 112 are disposed back-to-back in regard to the first freezing chest 4 and 22 (mirrored along a vertical plane).
In accordance with the first freezing chests 4 and 22, the second freezing chests 94 and 112 comprise a respective bottom 96, 126, a respective vertical rear side 100, 118, a respective transparent front side 98, 116, and a respective upper side having a goods access portion 104, 122 and having an oblique rear portion 102, 120. In accordance with the first freezing chest 4 and 22, a respective cage 110, 128, a respective evaporator 106, 124, and a respective fan 108, 126 are inserted in the second freezing chest 94, 112.
The rear walls 10, 100 of the lower freezing chests 4, 94 are spaced-apart forming a machinery space 130 that has approximately double the width of the machinery space 40 of the frigorific sales shelf 2. In the machinery space 130, there can be accommodated one or more vapor compression cycles or parts thereof for the four freezing chests 4, 22, 94, and 112, e.g. one separate vapor compression cycle or common parts thereof for each freezing chest 4, 22, 94, and 112, or alternatively one common vapor compression cycle or common parts thereof for two or more of the freezing chests 4, 22, 94, 112. Providing separate vapor compression cycles or parts thereof provides the capability of independent temperatures for the freezing chests 4, 22, 94, 112. In the cheapest embodiment avoiding redundant parts, one common vapor compression cycle is arranged in the machinery space 130 for all four freezing chests 4, 22, 94, and 112.
The rear walls 28, 108 of the upper freezing chest 22 and 112 are spaced apart at a significantly smaller width compared to the width between the rear walls 10, 100 of the lower freezing chests 4, 94. In the embodiment of Figure 3, the space 132 accommodates conduits for warm outgoing air from the condenser(s), and it has a width of 5 to 15, particularly 9 to 10 cm.
The frigorific sales furniture 92 of Figure 3 can for example be disposed in the middle of a sales room or in the environment of a cash desk.
In an alternative embodiment, the space 132 can be dimensioned wider such that it can also accommodate at least parts of one or more vapor compression cycles.
In a further alternative embodiment, the rear walls 28, 118 of the upper freezing chests 22, 112 can abut thus providing a more compact configuration of the frigorific sales furniture 92.
All the freezing chests 4, 22, 54, 72, 94, and 112 and the freezing regions 46 and 50 comprise side walls (not shown in Figures1 to 3).
Figure 4 shows a perspective side view of a second frigorific sales shelf 134.
The configuration of the second frigorific sales shelf 134 corresponds to that of the first frigorific sales shelf 2, wherein both the lower freezing chest 136 and the upper freezing chest 144 have a lateral machinery space 142, 150, in which parts of the vapor compression cycle, especially at least one of a compressor, a condenser, a throttle valve, refrigerant conduits, electrical equipment, and conduits for warm outgoing air from the condenser can be disposed (not shown). Consequently, the goods access portions 140, 148 extend between the left side walls and the lateral machinery spaces 142, 150 of the freezing chests 136, 144. This configuration renders the second frigorific sales shelf 134 compact and enables it to be positioned with the back of the upper freezing chest 144 directly at a wall.
In the perspective side view of Fig. 4, the right side walls 138, 146 of the freezing chests 136, 144 are depicted.
In the frigorific sales shelves 2, 134, in the frigorific sales island 44 comprising the frigorific sales module mounted thereon and in the frigorific sales furniture 92, the same basic unit, namely the freezing chests 4, 22, 54, 72, 94, 112, 136, 144 having approximately the same shape and size can be used. Thus the frigorific sales chests can be produced in the same production line and the production costs can be reduced significantly.
Furthermore, the frigorific sales shelves 2, 134 and the frigorific sales furniture 92 can be manufactured quite easily and rapidly, leading to a ready-to-use, plug-in frigorific sales shelf 2, 134 and frigorific sales furniture 92, respectively.
By providing several freezing sales chests, an improved product diversification, sorting, and variety of goods to be sold can be achieved.
In an alternative embodiment, the described frigorific sales shelves, frigorific sales furnitures, and frigorific sales modules comprise refrigerating chests instead of freezing chests, the refrigerating chests working at cooling/refrigerating temperatures above 0°C.
In a further alternative embodiment, the described frigorific sales shelves, frigorific sales furnitures, and frigorific sales modules comprise a combination of freezing and refrigerating chests. For example, the lower chest 4 of the first frigorific sales shelf 4 can be a freezing chest, whereas the upper chest 22 of the first frigorific sales shelf 4 can be a refrigerating chest working at a cooling/refrigerating temperature above 0°C, and the lower chests 4, 94 of the frigorific sales furniture 92 can be freezing chests, whereas the upper chests 22, 112 can be refrigerating chests.
Each of the refrigerating or freezing sales chests can be supplied with its own vapor compression cycle. Thereby it is possible to provide refrigerating or freezing sales chests each having an individual cooling or freezing temperature. Alternatively, two or more units can share parts of a common vapor compression cycle rendering the frigorific sales shelf, the frigorific sales island, or the frigorific sales furniture cheaper or more compact, since at least one vapor compression cycle is omitted.
The vapor compression cycle or parts thereof like the compressor or the condensor can be positioned externally from the frigorific sales shelf.
In all the embodiments described, the accessibility, the visibility, and the presentation of the goods are improved, since the size of the gaps between goods in the frigorific sales shelf, frigorific sales island and frigorific sales furniture is reduced even in the case of low filling heights in the refrigerating or freezing chests.
Moreover all the embodiments described are ergonomically advantageous, since the height of the refrigerating or freezing chest and thus the grasping distance for the consumer are reduced.
Though the embodiments have been described by means of cyclic refrigeration using a vapor compression cycle, generally all conventional methods of refrigeration can be applied, namely non-cyclic, cyclic, and thermoelectric refrigeration (Peltier refrigeration).
By mounting a frigorific sales module comprising at least two refrigerating or freezing sales chests disposed back-to-back onto a frigorific sales island, the goods storage capacities and the goods presentation and selling efficiency of such a sales frigorific islands can be improved and the existing sales space can be utilized in an optimized manner. Even existing frigorific sales islands can be retrofitted with such sales modules in particular with ready-to-use, plug-in modules having their own vapor compression cycle. With such sales modules to be mounted on frigorific sales islands, the goods access portions of their refrigerating or freezing sales chests do not necessarily have to be situated in their upper sides. The goods access portions can also be oblique or form at least part of the front side of the refrigerating or freezing sales chest.
As a matter of course, the described frigorific sales shelves, frigorific sales modules, and frigorific sales furnitures can be constructed having different lengths and thus can be customized for each and every field of application, e.g. having a length of e.g. 1 to 2 m for frigorific sales shelves and frigorific sales furnitures to be arranged in the environment of the cash desk or having a length of e.g. 1,5 to 3 m for a frigorific sales shelf to be disposed at a wall of a sales room and for a frigorific sales module to be mounted on a frigorific sales island.
According to an embodiment of the frigorific sales shelf, at least one of the goods access portions comprises a transparent door, particularly a transparent or glass sliding door, a transparent lid or a transparent sliding lid for attaining a particularly good visibility of the goods to be sold.
Alternatively, the goods access portions can be formed as open upper or front sides of the refrigerating or freezing sales chests or as parts thereof. This embodiment provides an easier access to the goods to be sold but consumes more energy, thus making it particularly appropriate for the use with cooling/refrigerating temperatures above 0°C.
According to a further embodiment of the frigorific sales shelf, the front side of the respective refrigerating or freezing chest extends backwardly from top to bottom thereby providing an enhanced visibility and an enhanced access to the goods contained in the unit thereunder.
According to a further embodiment of the frigorific sales shelf, the front portion of the bottom of the respective upper refrigerating or freezing chest extends upwardly thereby providing an enhanced visibility and an enhanced access to the goods contained in the unit thereunder.
According to a further embodiment of the frigorific sales shelf, at least part of the front side of the respective refrigerating or freezing chest is transparent, particularly made of glass, thereby further improving the visibility of goods.
Due to the stepped arrangement of the lower and the upper refrigerating or freezing chests, a space at least behind the lower refrigerating or freezing chest and in some embodiments also behind the upper refrigerating or freezing chest is formed for accommodating parts of the vapor compression cycle. Consequently, the available volume is utilized in an optimum manner thereby reducing the total size and volume needed by the refrigerating or freezing sales shelf and rendering the refrigerating or freezing sales shelf more compact. Such a machinery space can be laterally covered by side cover panels, into which ventilation slots can be formed.
According to a further embodiment an evaporator, particularly also a fan, is/are arranged in the region of at least one of the refrigerating or freezing chests that is relatively difficult to access. Accordingly, no suitable sales space in the respective refrigerating or freezing chest is wasted and the frigorific sales shelf is made particularly effective and user-friendly.
Such difficult-to-access regions can be situated at the inner side wall of the rear wall of the respective refrigerating or freezing chest.
With a frigorific sales furniture having two sales shelves disposed back-to-back, a space at least between the lower refrigerating or freezing chests, in some embodiments both behind the lower and the upper refrigerating or freezing chests is formed which can be utilized for disposing therein parts of the vapor compression cycle. In the space between the upper refrigerating or freezing chests at least one conduit for warm outgoing air can be arranged for removal of warm outgoing air from the condenser.
According to a further embodiment the frigorific sales shelf comprises three or more refrigerating or freezing chests disposed one above the other in a stepped arrangement. Accordingly, a frigorific sales furniture wherein two such frigorific sales shelves are disposed back-to-back is also covered by the present invention. By such a frigorific sales shelf and a frigorific sales furniture the advantages as described above are maintained, wherein due to the greater height more products can be supplied and presented and the existing sales space is utilized even more effectively.
In an exemplary embodiment of a frigorific sales module at least one of the goods access portions comprises a transparent door, a transparent lid or a transparent sliding lid.
In an exemplary embodiment of a frigorific sales module the front side of the respective refrigerating or freezing chest extends backwardly from top to bottom.
In an exemplary embodiment of a frigorific sales module the front side of the respective refrigerating or freezing chest includes an angle of 5 to 25 degrees, particularly an angle of 10 to 20 degrees and more particularly an angle of 13 to 17 degrees with respect to a vertical plane.
In an exemplary embodiment of a frigorific sales module the front portion of the bottom of the respective refrigerating or freezing chest extends upwardly.
In an exemplary embodiment of a frigorific sales module at least part of the front side of the respective refrigerating or freezing chest is transparent.
In an exemplary embodiment of a frigorific sales module an evaporator, particularly also a fan, is/are arranged in a region of at least one of the first refrigerating or freezing chest and the second refrigerating or freezing chest, that is relatively difficult to access.
In an exemplary embodiment of a frigorific sales module said region of the respective refrigerating or freezing chest is at the inner side of the rear wall thereof.
While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt the particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

List of Reference Numerals

2: first frigorific sales shelf
4: lower freezing chest
6: bottom
8: transparent front side
10: rear wall
12: upper side rear portion
14: goods access portion
16: evaporator
18: fan
20: cage
22: upper refrigerating chest
24: bottom
26: transparent front side
28: rear wall
30: upper side rear portion
32: goods access portion
34: evaporator
36: fan
38: cage
40: machinery space
42: space for outgoing air conduits
44: frigorific sales island
46: first freezing region
48: cage
50: second freezing region
52: cage
54: first freezing chest
56: bottom
58: transparent front side
60: rear wall
62: upper side rear portion
64: goods access portion
66: evaporator
68: fan
70: cage
72: second freezing chest
74: bottom
76: transparent front side
78: rear wall
80: upper side rear portion
82: goods access portion
84: evaporator
86: fan
88: cage
90: machinery space
92: frigorific sales furniture
94: second lower freezing chest
96: bottom
98: transparent front side
100: rear wall
102: upper side rear portion
104: goods access portion
106: evaporator
108: fan
110: cage
112: second upper freezing chest
114: bottom
116: transparent front side
118: rear wall
120: upper side rear portion
122: goods access portion
124: evaporator
126: fan
128: cage
130: machinery space
132: space for outgoing air conduits
134: second frigorific sales shelf
136: lower freezing chest
138: side wall
140: goods access portion
142: lateral machinery space
144: upper freezing chest
146: side wall
148: goods access portion
150: lateral machinery space

Claims

Frigorific sales shelf (2), comprising:
a lower refrigerating or freezing chest (4);

an upper refrigerating or freezing chest (22) being disposed at a higher level than the lower refrigerating or freezing chest (4) and having substantially the same shape and size as the lower refrigerating or freezing chest (4);

wherein each of the lower refrigerating or freezing chest (4) and the upper refrigerating or freezing chest (22) comprises a respective bottom (6, 24), a respective vertical rear side (10, 28), a respective transparent front side (8, 26), and a respective upper side, the upper side having a goods access portion (14, 32) and a rear portion (12, 30);

the goods access portions (14, 32) providing access to the interiors of the lower refrigerating or freezing chest (4) and the upper refrigerating or freezing chest (22);

characterized in that
the upper refrigerating or freezing chest (22) has a set back position in relation to the lower refrigerating or freezing chest (4) such that a front portion of its bottom (24) partly rests on the rear portion (12) of the upper side of the lower refrigerating or freezing chest (4);

the rear portion (12, 30) of the upper side is slanted downwardly from front to back including an angle of approximately 30° with respect to a horizontal plane;

the front portion of the bottom (6, 24) of each of the upper and lower refrigerating or freezing chests (22, 4) includes an angle of approximately 30 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane; and

the transparent front side (8, 26) of each of the upper and lower refrigerating or freezing chests (22, 4) extends backwardly from top to bottom including an angle of approximately 15 degrees with respect to a vertical plane.
Frigorific sales shelf (2) of claim 1, wherein at least one of the goods access portions (14, 32) comprises a transparent door, a transparent lid or a transparent sliding lid.
Frigorific sales shelf (2) of any of claims 1 or 2, wherein at least one of a compressor, a condenser, electrical equipment and refrigerant conduits is arranged in a space (40) behind the lower refrigerating or freezing chest (4) or in a lateral space (142, 150) of a refrigerating or freezing chest (136, 144).
Frigorific sales shelf (2) of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein an evaporator (16, 34), particularly also a fan (18, 36), is/are arranged in a region of at least one of the lower refrigerating or freezing chest (4) and the upper refrigerating or freezing chest (22), that is relatively difficult to access, wherein said region of the respective refrigerating or freezing chest (4, 22) is preferably at the inner side of the rear wall (10, 28) thereof.
Frigorific sales furniture (92) comprising a first frigorific sales shelf according to any of claims 1 to 4 and a second frigorific sales shelf according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first frigorific sales shelf and the second frigorific sales shelf are disposed back-to-back.
Frigorific sales furniture (92) of claim 5, wherein at least one of a compressor, a condenser, electrical equipment and refrigerant conduits is arranged in a space (130) between the lower refrigerating or freezing chests (4, 94).
Frigorific sales furniture (92) of claim 5 or 6, wherein the upper refrigerating or freezing chest (22) of the first frigorific sales shelf and the upper refrigerating or freezing chest (112) of the second frigorific sales shelf are spaced apart at a distance of 2 to 20 cm, particularly at a distance of 6 to 12 cm, and more particularly at a distance of 8 to 10 cm.
Frigorific sales furniture (92) of claim 7, wherein at least one conduit for warm outgoing air is provided in the space (132) between the upper refrigerating or freezing chests (22, 112).
Frigorific sales module for mounting on a refrigerating or freezing sales island (44), the frigorific sales module being a frigorific sales furniture (92) according to any of claims 5 to 8.