EP2218358B1 - Goods presentation container - Google Patents

Abstract

The container has a roller-type cover (6) for closing an access opening in a housing. The cover has a seal (11), which is arranged at a lower edge (6a) and/or a side edge (6b) of the cover. The seal has a gap between the cover and the housing and/or between adjacent covers. The seal has two contact flanges (11a), which are arranged at the lower edge and/or the side edge of the cover. The seal has an elastic core (14) e.g. massive rubber lip, which is arranged at a central base (11b), where a thickness of the core is equal to a thickness of the cover.

Description

The invention relates to a goods display container, in particular cooling rack, with at least one housing, and at least one cover for closing an access opening in the housing, wherein at least two in the longitudinal extent of the housing adjacent covers are provided, which are actuated by a common drive means, wherein further Drive means comprises at least one shaft for receiving the two covers and an associated drive, wherein further the shaft is formed divided and composed of at least one shaft portion per cover, and wherein the shaft portions are connected by at least one coupling means driving technology.

Goods presentation containers are generally used for stocking and advertising of goods, especially food in shops. In the present case, it is primarily a matter of a refrigerated goods presentation container, ie one which regularly stores refrigerated foodstuffs for direct customer removal and for this purpose usually has an integrated cooling device. Chilled goods display containers are generally refrigerated shelves, ie open refrigerators with one or more shelves. In this way, foods that require permanent refrigeration are kept easily accessible to customers. Access to such refrigerated shelves is made possible via the at least one access opening.

In contrast to closed refrigerators, for example, open refrigerators or refrigerated shelves constantly exchange with the usually warmer ambient air inside the shop. For this reason, the energy consumption in such open refrigeration or refrigerated shelves significantly higher than the one with closed cooling units. For this purpose, one increasingly uses in practice refrigerated shelves, in which the access opening can be closed, for example, by glass revolving doors or so-called night blinds. The night blinds are used in particular outside shop opening hours. In contrast, the glass hinged doors ensure a relatively low energy loss during the entire operation.

However, this only applies in the event that a low customer frequency is observed. Because with high customer frequency, the glass doors or glass revolving doors often have to be opened so that the energy efficiency is significantly worsened. In addition, such glass doors are associated with the disadvantage that in the area of the customer a suction effect is observed by the outside penetrating warm air. Quite apart from that, glass doors or glass turntables during customer use are a barrier for the respective customer and disrupt the sale.

In the prior art according to the DE 102 36 212 A1 a refrigerator is described, which is equipped with a thermally insulated housing. In addition, the known refrigeration device has a heat-insulating cover formed by longitudinally displaceable rolloartig contiguous contiguous also heat-insulating elements is formed. As a result, the access opening has a total thermally insulating trained cover and can be closed with the help of this cover.

The two realized at this point hollow chamber roller blinds are guided in grooves longitudinally displaceable. The grooves are located within the mutually facing sides of the side walls and are preferably formed circumferentially along the peripheral edge of the side walls. This will possibly a perfect guidance of the blinds achieved, however, such a solution can not be retrofitted, for example. In addition, the known teaching pursues the DE 102 36 212 A1 ultimately the goal to replace previously used flaps or doors through the roller blind, which is logically closed again after removal of the desired food or must be closed. In addition, in the realization of several and adjoining Warenpräsentationsbehältern the problem is that unavoidable slots or gaps are realized between the covers. In addition, the prior art discloses how multiple merchandise presentation containers can be grouped together.

To these fundamental problems also the generic state of the art after the DE 198 48 395 A1 delivered no significant contribution. In fact, a refrigerator with a cover is described here, which consists of windable films made of thermally insulating material, which are received on juxtaposed winding shafts. The winding shafts are driven by a common electric motor. Between the film edge and a housing side wall as well as on opposite edges of the adjacent films bristles are provided. In this way, the influx of outside air into the interior of the refrigerator is largely prevented.

By the DE 201 01 977 U1 is a cooling rack has become known in which an access opening is closed by means of two laterally adjacent cover blinds. In addition, an intermediate roller blind is provided, which is designed wider than a vertical gap.

Finally, the utility model is concerned DE 20 2007 011 972 U1 with an electromechanical night blind, which can be installed at an angle.

The invention is based on the technical problem of developing a generic goods presentation container so that even large lengths can be covered and any energy losses are minimized, with a structurally simple design.

To solve this technical problem is provided in a generic Warenpräsentationsbehälter that the shaft and the drive are designed independently and the drive applied to the shaft via an intermediate connection means, the connection means also acts as a coupling device to a flexible attachment of both components of the drive device or to allow on the housing.

The goods presentation container thus initially has at least two covers, which are arranged in the longitudinal extent of the housing adjacent to each other - even at a distance. In this case, usually a respective cover belongs to a separate housing or a department or housing department, so that the goods presentation container can be composed of a total of several cases or even several departments within a housing. That is, it is also possible that only a housing with multiple covers and associated sections or housing sections or housing sections is realized. In any case, can be stored with such a goods presentation container a variety of goods and in particular refrigerated goods and present for immediate customer withdrawal. The individual covers ensure this that individual sections or sections of the goods presentation container can be closed or closed as desired. In addition, this design allows virtually any length of the goods presentation container.

Closing is typically done at closing time to close the access opening and minimize energy losses by replacing most of the internal cooling air with the outside ambient air in a store or other showroom.

By resorting to at least two adjacent in the longitudinal extent of the housing covers large access openings can be realized in the housing and closed when necessary using the respective associated cover. The invention takes into account the fact that covers for such access openings can be made and operated only up to a certain maximum width.

In this connection, the two covers may be spaced from each other at a distance in the longitudinal extent of the housing, as long as they are actuated by the common drive means. In general, however, the two covers adjoin one another in the immediate vicinity. In addition, the covers are formed regularly and in each case transversely to the longitudinal extent of the housing movable.

The cover may be a sheet-like cover of, for example, a plastic sheet in the form of a roller blind or a roller blind from the outset. This roller blind can in turn be constructed of individual mat-like and articulated interconnected roller blind rods. The roller poles are usually made of plastic. These are usually hollow profiles. In addition, the hollow profiles may be equipped with a heat-insulating core.

In detail, it has proved to be advantageous if the drive device is designed to be adjustable overall relative to the housing. Because in this way the cover can be easily changed relative to the housing in position. To this end, the further invention measure contributes that a housing-independent guide (rails) device can be provided for the cover. The housing independence expresses that the cover does not rely on the housing or parts of the same for their storage and guidance. Rather, the cover and the housing-independent guide (rail) device form a quasi-independent structural unit. Because the cover is guided, for example, in grooves of the housing-independent guide (rails) device and also supported by this. In this way, the cover can be easily retrofitted to an existing housing. The cover is necessarily arranged outside of the housing. This is not mandatory, however.

Overall, the guide rail assembly may extend from a cover access slot to a bottom edge of the access opening to ensure that the access opening can be fully closed using the cover. In most cases, the housing-independent guide (rail) device is mounted on the housing. This makes it easy to implement the retrofitting described above.

In any case, the cover ensures that the access opening in the housing is completely or partially closed. Mostly this will be the Covers the individual departments or sections of the housing moves together and synchronously, namely by means of the common drive means. This is not mandatory. In this context, one can also perform a partial closure of the access opening during operation, ie during store opening hours. The full closure of the access opening with the covers is regularly outside the store opening hours, during shop closing hours.

For this purpose, the two covers are each electrically operated, so have a mostly common electric drive. This drive or electric drive forms together with at least one shaft for receiving the two adjacent in the longitudinal extent of the housing covers the drive device as a whole. In this case, the aforementioned shaft may be designed to be shared for receiving the two covers. In most cases, the interpretation will be such that each cover each a shaft portion is realized and shaft portion and cover each belong to a section or a department of the housing or a respective individual housing.

The shaft and the drive are designed independently. As a result, the drive device can be easily adjusted relative to the housing, as has already been described. Because for the connection of at least one shaft to the drive, the intermediate connection device provides. This connecting device between drive and shaft may be a chain, a toothed belt or the like. In any case, the invention with the at least one shaft and the independent drive opens a flexible attachment of both components of the drive device on or in or in the housing. That's it possible, in particular to place the shaft and with it the covers worn by it, for example, in a certain height position on a housing head. Even a desired depth position in comparison to the housing depth can be realized. All this is possible without the drive as such having to change its position, because for the connection of the drive with the shaft, the intermediate connection device or, for example, the chain or the toothed belt provide. The wave and / or the

Drive are thus designed to be advantageous adjustable, and that against the housing. The adjustability can take place in all three spatial directions for the drive and / or the shaft.

In order to maintain this flexibility in the longitudinal direction of the housing, it has been proven to arrange the individual shaft sections of the shaft in the longitudinal direction in alignment with each other. Then the individual shaft sections are aligned coaxially. But it is also possible to arrange the individual shaft sections with offset from each other and on different axes. By this offset of the shaft sections, the individual covers can be approximated with respect to their edges. It is possible to connect the shaft sections in the region of their respective end edges with a short distance or almost free of spacing in the longitudinal extension of the housing to each other. As a result, the covers, which are respectively received by the shaft sections, also close to one another in the longitudinal extension of the housing virtually without gaps. It is even an overlapping arrangement of the covers to each other in the edge region conceivable.

In general, however, leaving an at least slight gap between the individual covers, because between the individual departments or sections of the housing differences in the installation level may be present and must be compensated. D. h., You will regularly align the covers with a slight gap to each other, but due to, for example, unevenness or misalignment of an exhibition space in a shop or the like can not be completely excluded and controlled. In addition, of course, also in the edge region overlapping operation of the covers is possible and is encompassed by the invention.

However, since the cover is usually a roller blind made up of individual mat-like blinds connected to one another in order to achieve the best possible energy expenditure, one will usually work without overlapping covers and with the already described slight gap. This gap is particularly in the case that the shaft sections are arranged with offset from each other on different axes. Nevertheless, the covers are of course operated unchanged via the common drive device.

For this purpose, the invention proposes that the shaft sections are connected to one another in terms of drive technology by at least one intermediate coupling device. This coupling device may be, for example, a chain, a toothed belt or the like, as in the case of the connection device between the drive and the shaft. In this case, ultimately, the width of the intermediate coupling device, ie the chain or the toothed belt, the conceivable minimum distance between the individual adjacent covers before. This is true at least for the covers that adjoin one another in the immediate vicinity. If, however, between the covers a distance remains, for example, an overall closed housing part is interposed, it will of course work with another intermediate coupling device, such as a joint rod or a cardan shaft.

The invention regularly resorts to an electric drive or an electric motor which rotates the entire shaft with the plurality of covers to wind or unwind the respective covers on the shaft. This is recommended for cost reasons. In addition, there is the possibility, for example, in case of failure of the single electric drive or electric motor to provide an alternative manual operation with, for example, a drive rod. As a result, the covers can be closed in any case, even if the drive fails. Here are the main benefits.

Fig.1 1

einen Warenpräsentationsbehälter in perspektivischer Ansicht entsprechend der Erfindung.

Fig. 2

den Warenpräsentationsbehälter nach Fig. 1 in schematischem Querschnitt in einer etwas abgewandelten Ausführungsform,

Fig.3

den Gegenstand nach Fig. 2 in Frontansicht (links) und in schematischem Schnitt (rechts) und

Fig. 4A

eine perspektivische Ansicht auf die Wellenabschnitte im Bereich ihrer jeweiligen Abschlusskanten sowie

Fig.4B

eine andere Ausführungsform der Wellenabschnitte gemäß Fig. 4A.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing showing only one exemplary embodiment; show it

Fig.1 1

a goods presentation container in perspective view according to the invention.

Fig. 2

the goods presentation container after Fig. 1 in a schematic cross section in a somewhat modified embodiment,

Figure 3

the object after Fig. 2 in front view (left) and in schematic section (right) and

Fig. 4A

a perspective view of the shaft portions in the region of their respective end edges and

4B

another embodiment of the shaft sections according to Fig. 4A ,

In the figures, a goods presentation container is shown, which has in its basic structure on a housing 1 and provided in the housing 1 a plurality of shelves 2. The shelves 2 are set up to hold refrigerated food. It can be seen that the housing 1 consists of two housing side walls 1a, a housing cover 1b, a housing foot 1c and finally a housing rear wall 1d. As a result, the housing 1 has a similar shell-like character, which leaves an access opening 3 open on its front side. This is how customers become involved allows unhindered access to food, which are arranged on the respective shelf 2. Based on Fig. 1 it can be seen that a plurality of housing 1 are combined in a longitudinal extension modular to a cooling section.

The illustrated goods presentation container has in the embodiment according to Fig. 1 Thus, over a total of three housings or individual housings 1, respectively, is composed of three sections or departments, if one identifies the individual departments with the reference numeral 1 and emanating from an overall housing. Either way, this modular design allows the realization of virtually any length of cooling sections.

The goods presentation container in the embodiment is a refrigerated shelf. In fact, a cooling air unit 4 in the region of the rear wall of the housing 1 d ensures that cooled air circulates inside the housing 1, as does the Fig. 2 represents. As a result, a cooling air curtain is generated in the region of the access opening 3, which largely prevents the exchange of warm ambient air with the cooling air in the interior of the housing 1. In normal operation, ie usually during the store opening times and when the access opening 3 is open, there is an exchange of energy between the cooling air in the interior of the housing 1 and the contrast warmer ambient air. In order to minimize an associated energy loss, at least during the shop closing times, a total of three covers 6 are provided in the longitudinal direction of the housing 1 in the exemplary embodiment. The individual covers 6 can be moved transversely to the longitudinal extension in order to open or close the associated access opening 3.

The respective cover 6 is in the example case a roller blind of mat-like interconnected roller blind rods. The roller poles are regular designed as hollow profile bars and equipped inside with an insulation filling to represent the lowest possible energy losses in the closed shade 6 and closed cover 6 can.

The respective roller blind 6 or the cover 6 is designed independently of the housing 1. For this purpose, the cover or the shade 6 has its own roller blind housing 7, as can be seen in particular in the Fig. 2 recognizes. Of course this is not mandatory. In any case, the roller blind 6 is wound on a shaft 8, which has a drive 9. The drive 9 is an electric drive 9, in the present case an electric motor 9.

It can be seen that the housing 7 or cover housing or roller blind housing 7 as well as the cover 6 are arranged outside the housing 1. Consequently, the housing 7 and the cover 6 are predestined for a retrofit solution. Based on Fig. 2 It is clear that the cover housing or roller blind housing 7 is arranged on the housing cover 1 b of the housing 1.

The housing-independent design of the cover 6 of the housing 1 is supported by a guide device 10. In this guide device 10 is a support element, a support rail or the like, over which the cover 6 during winding and unwinding of the shaft 8 slides and is guided in a certain way. An additional lateral guidance of the cover 6 in, for example, side rails does not take place within the scope of the exemplary embodiment, but of course is possible.

The illustrated three and in the longitudinal extent of the housing 1 adjacent covers 6 are actuated by a common drive means 8, 9, which in the Fig. 4A and 4B in detail and in different Embodiments is shown. It can be seen that the covers 6 each adjoin one another in the immediate vicinity, which is not mandatory. Because between the covers 6 and a more or less large distance could be present. Nevertheless, the drive of the three covers 6 in the example case or the three blinds 6 shown in each case via the common drive means 8, 9th

The drive device 8, 9 is composed of the already mentioned drive 9 and acted upon by the drive 9 at least one shaft 8 together. The shaft 8 serves to receive the covers 6, in the embodiment of all three covers 6. For this purpose, the shaft 8 may be formed divided. That's what they show Fig. 4A and 4B ,

In fact, it follows from these illustrations that the shaft 8 is composed of several shaft sections 8 '. In this case, a shaft section 8 'per cover 6 is usually realized. Consequently, the embodiment shows three shaft sections 8 'for the associated three covers 6. The individual shaft sections 8' close in the region of their respective end edges with a small distance A or almost distance in the longitudinal extension of the housing 1 to each other, as can be seen in the Fig. 4B recognizes. In this way, a small distance between the individual immediately adjacent covers 6 is realized. For the width of the respective cover 6 corresponds in each case substantially to the length of the associated shaft section 8 'receiving it.

There are basically several ways to arrange the shaft sections 8 '. Thus, the shaft portions 8 'can be placed in alignment with each other and on an axis, which is not shown. In contrast, the show Fig. 3 and 4A and FIG. 4B shows a variant in which an offset V is observed between the individual shaft sections 8 '. This offset V can be present both in the horizontal direction (cf. Fig. 4A ) as well as in the vertical direction (see. Fig. 4B ). The individual shaft sections 8 'are thus arranged on different axes. So that the shaft 8 as a whole or the individual shaft sections 8 'can be acted upon by the one (single) drive 9, interposed coupling devices 11 between the individual shaft sections 8' are realized.

The coupling devices 11 between the individual shaft sections 8 'are, for example, gears, sprockets, toothed belts or the like. Similar devices can also be used between the drive 9 and the respective driven Wellenabschitt 8 '. Because here is an intermediate connection device 12, which in the Fig. 4A is shown. In fact, this intermediate connecting device 12 is likewise gearwheels, a chain, toothed belt, etc., with the aid of which rotations of the drive 9 are transmitted in terms of drive technology to the shaft 8. This can be done so that the drive 9 as in Fig. 4A represented, at the same time two shaft sections 8 'acted upon. In this case, the connecting device 12 also acts as a coupling device 11.

By resorting to a single drive 9 or a single electric motor 9, it is possible to provide a manual emergency operation with an actuating rod 13, as they also Fig. 4A lets recognize. As a result, the covers 6 can be closed in any case, even if the drive 9 or the electric motor 9 realized at this point has failed.

As part of the Fig. 2 It is clear that the drive device 8, 9 is designed to be adjustable relative to the housing 1. The same then of course applies to the covers 6, which are acted upon by the drive means 8, 9. In this case, an adjustment of the drive device 8, 9 in All three spatial directions shown, ie in the XY and Z directions conceivable and is encompassed by the invention. This is possible because the drive 9 on the one hand and the shaft 8 on the other hand are designed independently of each other and only provides the connection means 12 for the drive technology coupling.

As a result, for example, the shaft 8 with the respective cover 6 received by it or the individual shaft sections 8 'of the shaft 8, for example, in the X and Y directions as required relative to the housing 1 are moved. The same applies to any adjustment in height or Z direction. That indicates the total Fig. 2 at.

As a result, the housing-independent design of the cover 6 becomes clear. Ie. the shaft 8 or the individual shaft sections 8 'can be attached to their respective associated end-side bearing block 14 at virtually any point on the housing head 1 b. In this case, the adjustment of the bearing block 14 and consequently the shaft 8 as a whole or the individual shaft sections 8 'ensures that even very different topologies of the housing 1 can be controlled and the cover 6 nevertheless ensures a reliable closure of the access opening 3.

It is of course within the scope of the invention that the individual shaft sections 8 'can be adjusted independently. Because of the interposed between the individual shaft sections 8 'coupling devices 11 is a flexible frictional connection between the shaft sections 8' given that allows a different orientation of the shaft sections 8 'to each other. In the same way, the connecting device 12 allows a flexible force connection between the drive 9 and the individual shaft sections 8 'or the shaft 8. Here it is possible, for example, the individual shaft sections 8 'not shown couplings assigned. In this way, the drive or electric motor 9 can work on the respectively desired shaft section 8 'for adjusting the associated cover 6, without affecting the other (adjacent) shaft sections 8' thereof. As a rule, however, the shaft sections 8 'or the shaft 8 as a whole is acted upon by the drive 9, so that the covers 6 undergo a synchronous adjustment.

Claims (10)

1. A container for presenting goods, in particular a refrigerated display case, comprising at least one housing (1) and comprising at least one cover (6) for closing an access opening (3) in the housing (1), wherein

   - at least two covers (6), which are adjacent to one another in longitudinal extension of the housing (1) and which are actuated via a common drive device (8, 9), are provided, wherein further

   - the drive device (8, 9) encompasses at least one shaft (8) for accommodating the two covers (6) as well as a corresponding drive (9), wherein further

   - the shaft (8) is embodied so as to be divided and is comprised of at least one shaft section (8') for each cover (6), and wherein

   - the shaft sections (8') are connected to one another in terms of drive technology by means of at least one coupling device (11),

   characterized in that

   - the shaft (8) and the drive (9) are designed independent from one another and the drive (9) acts on the shaft (8) via a connecting device (12), which is interconnected, wherein

   - the connecting device (12) at the same time acts as the coupling device (11), so as to

   - provide for a flexible attachment of both components of the drive device (8, 9) to or on the housing (1).
2. The container for presenting goods according to claim 1, characterized in that the two covers (6) are in each case embodied so as to be displaceable at right angles to the longitudinal extension of the housing.
3. The container for presenting goods according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the two covers (6) connect to one another in their immediate vicinity.
4. The container for presenting goods according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the drive device (8, 9) is designed so as to be displaceable relative to the housing (1).
5. The container for presenting goods according to claim 4, characterized in that the shaft (8) and/or the drive (9) are designed so as to be adjustable.
6. The container for presenting goods according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the shaft sections (8') are aligned with one another in longitudinal direction and are arranged on the same axis or on different axes with an offset (V) to one another.
7. The container for presenting goods according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the shaft sections (8') connect to one another in the area of their respective end edge at a slight distance (A) or virtually directly in longitudinal extension of the housing (1).
8. The container for presenting goods according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the cover (6) is in each case designed independent from the housing (1).
9. The container for presenting goods according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the cover (6) is embodied as a roller blind (6).
10. The container for presenting goods according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that provision is made for a housing-independent guide device (10) for the cover (6).

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