EP2814360B1 - Refrigeration cabinet - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a refrigerated cabinet, in particular a commercial refrigeration or freezer, having a housing having a frontal access opening and a door having at least one door leaf for the access opening, wherein the door leaf has a height and a width.

Such a refrigerator is for example from the Scriptures EP 2 345 347 A1 or the scripture JP S4896548 U known. It is a refrigerated shelf, which is open during the sales, the door is stored in a parking position laterally displaced in the housing next to the refrigerator. In this way, the sales-inhibiting effect of a closed door should be avoided, but at the same time a handle ready door can be provided, with the refrigerator outside the sales hours can be closed in order to save energy costs can. Handling during the sales hours is basically an open refrigerated cabinet.

Based on this, the inventors set themselves the goal of further reducing the energy costs by also providing a closure for the access opening during sales hours. However, this should be easy to overcome and thus not constitute a sales barrier. Although commercial refrigerators are known, which have ordinary, one-sided hinged and thus rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation doors. In this regard, the disclosure documents are exemplary DE 10 2007 034 417 A1 and US 2008/0141689 A2 directed. However, such doors are not only a barrier to the goods in the interior of the refrigerator, but in the open state, a disability in the outdoor space in front of the refrigerator. There is regularly a traffic area on which customers reside and move. The problem increasingly occurs where several refrigeration cabinets of this kind are placed side by side and the customer for orientation, the range of goods usually close to the closed Looking at doors standing for a long time. In addition, customers hinder access to the goods or, conversely, are prevented from passing through open doors.

From the EP 2 525 177 A1 is a refrigeration unit of the type mentioned above, the doors completely swing when opening in the defined by the housing cooling or interior of the cabinet and therefore do not require a swivel range in front of the housing. A part of the described problems can be solved hereby. However, the swivel range is now shifted into the cold room, which either greatly reduces the usable cold room and the distance of the refrigerator front to the goods is increased or which, in order to counteract, the door width must be significantly limited. Both again form a barrier to the goods.

The font US 2004/0050087 A1 deals with a refrigerated cabinet whose frontal access opening can be closed with a folding door comprising two door leaves.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator of the type mentioned, which can be opened in a space-saving and at the same time comfortable way and therefore forms the least possible hindrance to the accessing and the surrounding customers when accessing the goods.

The object is achieved by a refrigerated cabinet with the features of claim 1.

According to the invention, the refrigerated cabinet of the type mentioned above has a guide which permits a movement of the preferably partially, predominantly or completely transparent door leaf between a closed position and an open position defined such that the pivoting range of the door leaf protrudes less than a full door leaf width in the outer space in front of the access opening, and wherein the door leaf is rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation and slidably mounted transversely to the axis of rotation, wherein the door is an automatic door with a drive for movement the door leaf is and wherein the housing has on its front side below the access opening a base which projects by a depth in the outer space in front of the access opening, which corresponds at least to the pivoting range of the door leaf.

The term "pivoting range" is understood to mean the space area which the door leaf sweeps over in the movement from the closed position into the open position and / or vice versa. "Access opening" refers to the area of the frontal opening of the refrigerator that coincides with the door level when the door is closed.

This is preferably implemented in such a way that the guide comprises a radial or pivot bearing defining the vertical axis of rotation of the door leaf and a guideway in the plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation, along which the radial or pivot bearing or the axis of rotation and together with this the door leaf is movable is stored, that the door leaf is forcibly guided between a closed position and an open position, so that the pivot region of the door leaf protrudes less than a full door leaf width in the outside space in front of the access opening and less than a full door leaf width in the interior behind the access opening.

As a guideway in this respect an abstract curved or straight path is referred to, which describes the axis of rotation in the plane perpendicular to it on the way from the closed position to the open position and back. As a radial or pivot bearing a bearing point is called, which allows a rotational movement.

Because the door leaf protrudes into the interior of the door and on the other hand only partially, not only is the space required in front of the refrigeration unit for swinging the doors lower. The space utilization of the refrigerator according to the invention is generally better than, for example, that of the refrigerator from the EP 2 345 347 A1 or the EP 2 525 177 A1 because no additional space is needed laterally next to the refrigerator or in the interior to park the doors. It should be noted that the invention also relates to refrigerated cabinets with a plurality of door leaves and in particular those with one or more double-leaf doors with such door leaves. Such a refrigerator forms a substantially uninterrupted transparent front. Due to the reduced pivoting range of the door leaves in the interior also eliminates the door parking position. Therefore arranged in the interior shelves across several doors or door leaves away can be designed consistently and with a straight front edge, which gives a total homogeneous, aesthetically pleasing impression.

Although automatic doors are basically known. It is in this regard to the disclosure WO 92/13161 A1 directed. But only in conjunction with the reduced pivoting range of the doors but automation of the door can be made meaningful and safe, since the opening of the doors no longer prevents standing in front of the refrigeration furniture customers on passing or viewing the goods.

On the one hand, the base serves to identify the pivoting range and prevents items from being parked in this swiveling range or persons from being present. In this way it also serves as protection of the glass edge of the door. On the other hand, the base can be used to accommodate or hide parts of the opening mechanism or the drive.

The movement, which ends in an open position with partially projecting into the interior door leaf, and the corresponding guide can be configured in various ways. Preferably, the guide track is described by a curve or alternatively by a linear guide, which are each oriented transversely to the axis of rotation and along which the radial or rotary bearing is slidably mounted.

These advantageous embodiments are in both cases a turn-and-slide door. This allows a structurally simple way to unscrew the door from the closed position and preferably move along the guideway in the edge region of the access opening to release the entire access opening.

The rotational movement and the displacement can be done successively or temporally overlapping. The superimposed movement is preferred because this is sufficient for a single drive. The combined rotary-sliding movement is realized in this case via a mechanical positive coupling.

When using a linear guide, the drive can be designed as a linear drive, for example in the form of a toothed belt running along the linear guide, wherein the superimposed rotary movement is forcibly guided by a hinge arrangement.

With a rotation or crank drive by means of an eccentrically articulated push rod can be realized both a sliding movement on a curved curve and along a linear guide, the superimposed rotary motion can be forcibly guided here by a hinge assembly, or by means of several eccentrically hinged push rods, the immediate Define the degrees of freedom for a complex turn-and-slide movement.

In order to implement the reduced pivoting range in the guidance of the rotary sliding door, the axis of rotation of the doors in the cooling furniture according to the invention is preferably offset so that it is arranged in a central region of the door leaf, more preferably between ¼-tel and ¾-tel the door width , This ensures that the door leaf can swing out only by a significantly reduced degree, so the pivoting range of the door leaf so particularly preferably maximally ¾ of the width of the door leaf protrudes into the outside space in front of the access opening and / or in the interior behind the access opening.

"Arranged in a central region of the door leaf" does not mean that the axis of rotation must lie in the plane of the door leaf. It may also be arranged outside it, but still in such a way that its vertical projection onto the door leaf preferably falls in said central region.

In the case of a curve as a guideway, this is preferably formed by a circular arc. The guide on a circular floor can be robust and at the same time cost-effectively realized by a hinge.

The guide does not have to be said, but for reasons of technical simplicity it can also be straight. Such a linear guide does not necessarily have to be aligned parallel to the access opening. However, for reasons of optimum space utilization, it may be preferred that it runs essentially parallel and / or in parts parallel to the access opening. In any case, defines the linear guide unlike that of the EP 2 345 347 A1 known cooling shelf part of the opening movement of the door and not a parking position.

The rotary axis defining radial or pivot bearing can be formed for example by a bearing bush or a rolling bearing and a journal be. Both bearing elements form part of a door hanger in addition to any fitting or coupling elements. Preferably, a door hanger is provided at the top and at the bottom of the door leaf in each case. At least one of the radial or pivot bearings of the upper and lower door suspension also absorbs the axial force due to the weight of the door. The second door hanger is preferably designed to float. That is, mechanical decoupling means between the door leaf and the housing of the cooling cabinet allow axial relative movement. A possible change in distance between the upper and lower door hanger due to a possible deformation of the housing of the cabinet under load can therefore be balanced and a smooth and low-wear running of the door leaves without excessive stiffening of the housing can be ensured.

Preferably, the door has an opening sensor.

If the opening sensor detects a signal triggered by the customer, it causes the automatic door to be opened. In the simplest case, the opening sensor may be a button or a touch sensor on the housing or on the door. In the case of a glass door leaf, the touch sensor is preferably formed by a capacitive element applied to the glass.

However, the opening sensor particularly preferably has an ultrasound sensor or light barrier which detects at least one area in the outer space in front of the access opening.

As a result, the door can be opened without contact by the customer only provides for interruption of the light beam, which facilitates access to the product again and accelerates. This is especially true when the light barrier is advantageously perpendicular to the door leaf. The customer then only has to intuitively reach for the door leaf.

It is advantageous if the cooling furniture has a presence sensor for detecting a movement and / or a physical object in a detection space in front of the access opening.

The presence sensor is primarily intended to detect when the customer has finished his access to the refrigerator, so that the door can be automatically closed again or, conversely, prevent the door from being automatically closed as long as the customer still accesses the refrigerator. This is best achieved if the detection space of the presence sensor predominantly coincides with the pivoting range of the door leaf or at least one danger zone connected with the movement of the door leaf, in which customers could be present. In principle, the presence sensor can be suitable for detecting moving obstacles in the swiveling range, such as the customers, even stationary obstacles in the swivel range, such as, for example, a parked shopping trolley.

The presence sensor is preferably formed either by a motion detector or by a light barrier.

The motion detector advantageously has an infrared sensor.

Alternatively, a camera (CCD) or an ultrasonic sensor with known advantages and disadvantages can be used.

The opening sensor and occupancy sensor can also be combined in a device that is switched as an opening sensor when the door is closed and as an occupancy sensor when the door is open.

Preferably, the two sensors have different detection ranges. For example, to prevent the door from accidentally being opened accidentally, the detection area is the opening sensor is preferably smaller and closer to the access opening than that of the presence sensor.

Furthermore, a clip protection device is preferably provided for detecting a physical object in the pivoting region of the door leaf.

The terminal protection device is used solely for monitoring the pivoting range of the door leaf and is intended to prevent a person or an object from being caught in the pivoting area by the door leaf. It is in some ways a redundant security, if at the same time a presence sensor is provided. However, it typically has a different detection range than the presence sensor and, in contrast to this, does not serve to detect whether the closing process can be started or not, but rather to end the closing process if an obstacle stands in the way. The pinch protection, therefore, acts in contrast to the presence sensor upon detection of a physical resistance during closing, and therefore requires touching the door. In addition, the presence sensor, when designed as a motion detector, can not detect still objects, which may require the anti-jamming device. The clamping protection device is preferably formed by means for monitoring the power or line recording of the drive motor or by means for detecting an angular position of the drive axle.

Advantageously, a controller connected to the opening sensor is provided, which is set up to detect a signal of the opening sensor and to output a control signal for opening the door to the drive upon detection.

Preferably, the controller is set up to output a control signal for closing the door to the drive after a selectable time interval after opening.

Particularly preferably, the controller is set up to detect a signal of the presence sensor and, when detected, output a control signal for keeping the door open or, if the door is closing, for opening the door to the drive.

Preferably, an air flow generator for generating a cold air curtain in the interior of the housing is provided immediately behind the access opening. In this way, a space not serving for merchandise presentation behind the access opening has a double benefit, namely as a flow area for the cold air curtain and as a pivoting area for the doors to the inside.

Figur 1

eine Schnittdarstellung des erfindungsgemäßen Kühlmöbels mit geschlossener Tür von der Seite;

Figur 2

Ausschnittsvergrößerungen des Kühlmöbels im Bereich der oberen und unteren Türaufhängungen;

Figur 3

die gleiche Schnittdarstellung des Kühlmöbels, diesmal mit geöffneter Tür;

Figur 4

eine Schemadarstellung eines ersten Führungskonzeptes für eine Automatiktür;

Figur 5

eine Schemadarstellung eines zweiten Führungskonzeptes für eine Automatiktür;

Figur 6

eine Schemadarstellung eines dritten Führungskonzeptes für eine Automatiktür;

Figuren 7A-D

eine Draufsicht auf die Antriebsmechanik eines vierten Führungs- und Antriebskonzeptes für eine Automatiktür;

Figuren 8A-D

eine Draufsicht auf die Antriebsmechanik eines fünften Führungs- und Antriebskonzeptes für eine Automatiktür,

Figuren 9A-D

eine perspektivische Ansicht der Antriebsmechanik eines fünften Führungs- und Antriebskonzeptes für eine Automatiktür,

Figuren 10A-D

eine Draufsicht auf eine obere Führungsmechanik des fünften Führungs- und Antriebskonzeptes für eine Automatiktür,

Figuren 11A-D

eine perspektivische Ansicht der oberen Führungsmechanik des fünften Führungs- und Antriebskonzeptes für eine Automatiktür und

Figur 12

eine Vorderansicht derselben oberen Führungsmechanik.

Further aspects and advantages of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying figures. Show it:

FIG. 1

a sectional view of the refrigerator according to the invention with closed door from the side;

FIG. 2

Enlarged views of the refrigerator in the area of the upper and lower door hinges;

FIG. 3

the same sectional view of the refrigerator, this time with the door open;

FIG. 4

a schematic representation of a first guide concept for an automatic door;

FIG. 5

a schematic representation of a second guide concept for an automatic door;

FIG. 6

a schematic representation of a third guide concept for an automatic door;

Figures 7A-D

a plan view of the drive mechanism of a fourth guide and drive concept for an automatic door;

Figures 8A-D

a top view of the drive mechanism of a fifth guide and drive concept for an automatic door,

Figures 9A-D

a perspective view of the drive mechanism of a fifth guide and drive concept for an automatic door,

Figures 10A-D

a top view of an upper guide mechanism of the fifth guide and drive concept for an automatic door,

Figures 11A-D

a perspective view of the upper guide mechanism of the fifth guide and drive concept for an automatic door and

FIG. 12

a front view of the same upper guide mechanism.

An embodiment of the invention cooling cabinet 10 is in the FIGS. 1 to 3 shown cut from the side. It has a housing 12 with a frontal access opening 14, which is closed by a door 16. In the interior 18 of the refrigerated cabinet 10 a plurality of shelves 20 for presenting the product to be cooled (not shown) are arranged. Between the front edge of the shelves 20 and the door 16 remains a free area in the interior 18 in which a cold air curtain 22 flows immediately behind the door 16 from top to bottom. Furthermore, this free space serves as a pivoting area, in which can protrude the door when opening and in the open position, without colliding with the shelves 20.

The door 16 includes a door panel 24 and upper and lower door hangers 26, 28 that provide the guiding and driving mechanics. The door hangers 26, 28 are in the views "X" and "Y" in FIG FIG. 2 shown enlarged.

The door leaf 24 is transparent over almost its entire surface, so that the view into the interior 18 and the goods is as undisplaced as possible, and is preferably made of a safety glass and particularly preferably from a single-pane safety glass (ESG) or a laminated safety glass (VSG) , The door leaf may further preferably in combination with one of said safety glasses consist of a multi-pane insulation glass. To the door leaf 24 further includes a frame 30 in which the door leaf 24 is taken and which is preferably very narrow and visually inconspicuous. As already mentioned, the refrigerated cabinets can have a plurality of such door leaves and in particular a plurality of double-leaf doors with such door leaves, which then form a largely uninterrupted transparent front. In particular, in connection with the remaining between the front edge of the shelves 20 and the door 16 clearance such a cabinet conveys a homogeneous, aesthetically pleasing impression, because the free space already provides enough space for the reduced pivoting range of the door leaves and also allows the shelves consistently and with straighter Design front edge, which is interrupted by any door parking position.

The door leaf is received both on its top and on its underside in a respective U-shaped holder 32, 34 which is connected to an axis of an associated radial or pivot bearing 36, 38. The two radial bearings 36, 38 are aligned and define one substantially vertical axis of rotation A, around which the door leaf opens and closes. If necessary, the axis can also be inclined somewhat out of the vertical within the scope of the invention.

The pivot bearings are in turn each coupled to a linear guide 40, 42. More specifically, they are each connected to a carriage running in a straight guide rail. The guide rail of the lower linear guide 40 is adapted to receive predominantly vertical forces and therefore carries the overwhelming load of the door 16. The guide rail of the upper linear guide 42 is adapted to receive predominantly horizontal forces and guides the door at its upper end parallel to the access opening 14th

The door 16 further has, in the area of the upper door hanger, a drive 44, which essentially has a drive motor 46, a transmission and a force transmission means. Of course, the drive can also be arranged in the area of the lower door suspension. As drive elements come, as already mentioned, for example, a toothed belt or a crank in conjunction with one or more push rods into consideration.

Furthermore, a pedestal 48 is arranged on the housing 12 on its front side below the access opening 14, which protrudes by a depth T in the outer space 50 in front of the access opening 14, which corresponds to the pivoting range of the door leaf 24. The pedestal 48 prevents customers from approaching the door too close and / or being within its pivotal range and prevents objects such as shopping carts from being deposited there.

The refrigerator also has an opening sensor in the form of a light barrier, best in the enlarged illustration of FIG. 2 to see. The opening sensor comprises in the region of the upper door hanger a unit 52 consisting of a light source, preferably in the form of a diode laser, and a light-sensitive detector and in the region of the lower door hanger a corresponding mirror 54. The light source generates a light beam 56 which extends in the outer space 50 in front of the access opening 14 and more precisely perpendicular to the door leaf 24 and is directed to the mirror 54. It is reflected by the mirror 54 and received by the photosensitive detector in the unit 52. If the light beam of this light barrier is interrupted on its way back or forth, the opening sensor generates an opening signal.

The light beam 56 may be a narrow laser beam or an optically expanded beam for detecting a larger volume. The beam is preferably fanned out in the plane parallel to the access opening to cover a wider area but at the same time not to extend deeper than necessary into the depth of the exterior space 50. It is also possible to provide a plurality of light sources and / or detectors for generating a light barrier curtain in order to monitor the access opening as extensively as possible.

Furthermore, a presence sensor 58 for detecting a movement and / or a physical object in a detection space 60 in front of the access opening 14 is arranged on the front side of the housing 12 in the region of the upper door suspension. The presence sensor 58 is a motion detector in the case shown. The detection area 60 preferably extends, in contrast to the detection range of the opening sensor, into the depth of the exterior space 50 in front of the refrigeration unit in order to be able to recognize a person moving near the open refrigerated shelf in good time. The detection range further extends directly into the access opening and even a small piece in the interior 18 of the cabinet 10, to ensure that in particular the pivoting range of the door leaf is not adjusted. If a person moves into the detection area 60 of the presence sensor 58, this generates a presence signal.

The opening sensor and the presence sensor are connected to a control, not shown, which is adapted, on the one hand, to detect the opening signal of the opening sensor and to output a control signal for opening the door 16 to the drive 44 upon detection. A closing operation is preferably initiated after a selectable time interval of 5 to 15 seconds after opening by outputting a control signal for closing the door 16 to the drive 44. On the other hand, the controller is arranged to detect the presence signal of the presence sensor 58 and, when detected, a control signal to keep the door 16 open or, if the door 16 is closing, to stop the closing operation and / or reopen the door 16 to the operator 44 issue.

Furthermore, a clip protection device for detecting a physical object may be provided in the pivoting area of the door panel 24, which is also connected to the controller. This indicates by issuing a disability signal when an object or a person is moving the swivel range of the door. The controller is then set up to detect the disability signal of the anti-pinch device and to output a control signal for stopping the closing operation and / or for reopening the door 16 to the drive 44 upon detection. The anti-pinch device is therefore to some extent a redundant security measure, because even the presence sensor ensures that the door is not closed, while moving objects or people are in the pivoting range of the doors. However, the anti-jamming device also prevents stationary objects from becoming trapped by closing doors. The anti-jam device is preferably formed by means for monitoring the power or line recording of the drive motor.

In FIG. 3 the door is shown completely swung open. It can be seen that the door leaf 24 in this open position partially in the refrigerator 10th enclosed interior 18 protrudes. It can also be seen that the axis of rotation A in the width direction B is arranged in a central region of the door leaf 24. More precisely, this does not run centrally through the door leaf, but within an area around the center of the door leaf 24, which is each ¼ -th of the door leaf width from the two lateral edges of the door leaf.

In FIG. 4 schematically, a first embodiment of a guide is shown which defines a movement of the door leaf 62 between a closed position and an open position. The refrigerator is only greatly simplified in the view and in the scope of its two side walls 64, 66 shown. The line 68 limits the pivoting range of the two door leaves 62 in the interior region 70 of the refrigerated cabinet and thus indicates the extremely possible position of the front edge of shelves. By way of example, a refrigerator with two door leaves per door is shown here, which perform a mirror-symmetrical movement and move into an open position close to and parallel to the outer walls 64, 66. In the following, the opening movement is described only on the basis of a door leaf, the movement of the second door leaf takes place simultaneously and in mirror symmetry.

The door leaf 62 pivots first about its vertical axis of rotation A, in this case in the middle of the cabinet to the inside. Already after the door leaf is slightly pivoted out of the closed position, it is moved with the axis of rotation along the linear guide 74 parallel to the access opening in the direction of the side walls at the same time superimposed, continued pivotal movement in the open position. The door leaf 62 is forcibly guided with its end facing the door center along a curved path 76. For this purpose, for example, a guide pin 78 is arranged on the door leaf, which engages in a corresponding arcuate guide rail. The movement is so by the linear guide 74 of the axis of rotation A on the one hand and on the other hand limited by the curved path 76 on the other hand to a single degree of freedom.

Another guide concept for the door of the refrigerator according to the invention is in FIG. 5 shown. Consistent with the embodiment according to FIG. 4 Also, the door panel 82 is rotatably mounted about a vertical axis of rotation A in the central region of the door leaf, wherein the axis of rotation A along a linear guide 84 is parallel to the access opening displaced. In contrast to the embodiment according to FIG. 4 however, the door panel 82 pivots outwardly in the center of the cabinet. This movement is enforced by the door leaf is guided by means of a arranged at its outer end guide pin 86 along a second linear guide 88 parallel to the side wall 90 and thus perpendicular to the linear guide 84. Even so, the movement of the door panel 82 is limited to a single degree of freedom.

In FIG. 6 only the guide mechanism of a third embodiment is shown, which is demonstrated only by a door. Shown is the detail of a side wall 91, the interior 96 of the refrigerator is located to the right thereof and above the door leaf 92. The embodiment according to FIG. 6 is in common with the two embodiments described above, that the door of the cabinet is designed as a pivoting pivot door 92 which is rotatably mounted about a vertical axis of rotation A and along with this vertical axis of rotation along a linear guide 94 parallel to the access opening is displaceable. The door leaf 92 is further articulated at a pivot point 98 between the laterally outer end of the door leaf and the axis of rotation A to a pivot lever 100 which is pivotally hinged at a pivot point 98 opposite pivot point 101 in the lateral edge region of the access opening on the housing of the refrigerator. The pivot point 98 of the door leaf 92 is thereby forcibly guided on a circular path 102, so that the door leaf in conjunction with the linear guide 94 in its movement between the closed position and the open position is also limited to one degree of freedom.

The embodiment according to the FIGS. 7A to 7D represents a combined solution for the guidance and the drive of the door. The door leaf 104 is in turn rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation A and together with this along a linear guide 106 slidably mounted. The positive guidance of the door, ie the coupling of the rotary and sliding movement takes place in this case via two rigid, mounted on a crank disc 110 of the drive push rods 112, 114. The two push rods attack at two offending articulation points 116, 118 on the door panel 104. Both articulation points 116, 118 are located on the same side of the axis of rotation A, 118 approximately in the plane of the door leaf 104 and the other 116 clearly outside the plane of the door leaf 104. The push rods 112, 114 are at its opposite end to two in the circumferential direction spaced crank pin 120, 122 of the crank disc 110 hinged. By a rotation of the crank disk 110, the door leaf 104 is moved with a combined pivoting rotary movement from the open position to the closed position and vice versa. The outer pivoting range is indicated in the projection by the arcuate line 124. This shows that the door is first pivoted substantially in a coupled movement of the closed position and then moved substantially linearly in the open position.

The embodiment according to the FIGS. 8A to 8D in the plan view and the FIGS. 9A to 9D in perspective view represents an alternative, combined solution for the guidance and the drive of a door. The door is again designed as a two-leaved door. Since both doors and their drive and guide are constructed mirror-symmetrically, the mechanism is described by way of representative only with reference to a door.

Unlike the embodiment of the FIGS. 7A to 7D pivots the door leaf 126 centered in the direction of the interior 128 of the cabinet. For this purpose, it is rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation A and mounted together with this along a circular segment-shaped curve K slidably. The positive guidance of the door, ie the coupling of the rotary and sliding movement takes place in this case via a multiple hinge assembly, which will be described below.

A drive motor 130 acts on a common shaft 132 for both door leaves. On the drive shaft, a crank 134 is mounted on both sides and with this a push rod 136 hingedly connected about a pivot point P ₁ , which acts on a lever 138 at its other end. The lever 138 is hinged on the one hand to the housing 140 of the refrigerated cabinet about a rotational axis D ₁ rotatable. On the other hand, the lever 138 is rotatably connected to a bracket 142 for the door panel 126 about the rotation axis A. The door leaf 126 is arranged on the support 142 such that the axis of rotation A falls in the center plane of the door leaf 126. The carrier is, spaced from the axis of rotation A, about a further axis of rotation D ₂ rotatably connected to a first end of a link rod 144, whose second end is hinged to the housing 140 about a rotation axis D ₃ a. All rotary axes described above are perpendicular to the plane of representation of FIGS. 8A to 8D , Fulcrums therefore have two degrees of freedom.

The movement sequence when opening the doors thus looks like this: The push rod 136 transmits a rotation of the drive shaft 132 in a pushing movement, with which the lever 138 is pivoted about the axis of rotation D ₁ . The lever thus forms a rotary joint, which guides the axis of rotation A of the door leaf on a circular arc K ₁ , which is deflected in the lower case counterclockwise. At the same time, the carrier 142 and with it the door leaf 126 rotates about the axis of rotation A in a clockwise direction, so that the door leaf 126 is pivoted toward the interior 128, as in the sequence of FIGS. 8A to 8D such as 9A to 9D is shown. The rotational movement of the door leaf and the sliding movement of the axis of rotation are forcibly coupled by the hinge rod 144, which forces the carrier at the location of the axis of rotation D ₂ on a further arcuate curve K ₂ about the axis of rotation D ₃ . When closing the movement takes place in the opposite direction.

When swiveling, the door leaf with its edge facing the center of the housing 146 sweeps over a pivoting area bounded by the edge curve S ₁ , and with its edge facing the edge of the housing 148, a pivoting area bounded by the edge curve S ₂ . It is easy to see that although the door leaf so swings toward the interior 128 behind the access opening, but also in the outer space 150 in front of the access opening the web

The common shaft 132 effects a mechanical positive coupling between both door leaves of the double door. This positive coupling causes a synchronous opening and closing of both leaves, even during manual operation. A manual operation can basically be provided as a less expensive variant without a drive motor and associated sensors or even be considered as an emergency operation in an automatic system.

The in the FIGS. 8A to 8D in the plan view and the FIGS. 9A to 9D shown in perspective view drive and guide mechanism preferably forms the lower door hanger and is preferably hidden below the access opening in a base of the housing of the cabinet. This embodiment with a guideway, which is described by a curve and realized by means of a lever, has the advantage over that with guide rails, as shown in the previous examples, that the base has a closed upper surface without any breakthroughs for guide elements, such as guide pins can be configured. The surface of the base can thereby be cleaned more easily and thoroughly.

In the FIGS. 10A to 10D in the plan view, the FIGS. 11A to 11D in perspective view and in FIG. 12 in the front view of the above-described lower door hanger complementary upper door hanger is shown, which differs from the former essentially only the absence of the active drive components drive motor, drive shaft, crank and push rod. The guide components complementary to the lever 138, the carrier 142 and the linkage rod 144 first link arm 138 ', guide plate 142' and second link arm 144 'are of construction at least with respect to the arrangement of their axes of rotation D ₁ ', D ₂ 'and D ₃ ' and A ' the lower door hanger so that they allow identical movements. The first articulated arm 138 'and the second articulated arm 144' are in turn rotatably connected to a housing 152 of the refrigerated cabinet, which also serves to conceal the mechanism. The guide plate 142 'is suspended between the first and second articulated arms and rotates in synchronism with the door leaf 126 about the axis of rotation A'.

In front view, the upper door hanger is shown only in part to better illustrate another aspect of the invention of the guide: While the guide plate 142 'and the second hinge arm 144' are shown, the first hinge arm 138 'has been omitted for ease of illustration. At the upper edge 153 of the door leaf 126, a fitting 154 is fixed, on which a bearing pin or guide pin 156 is arranged. The guide pin 156 engages a corresponding bearing bore in the guide plate 142 'and connects it to the door leaf such that no horizontal relative movement between the door leaf and the guide plate 142' is possible. Since the movement of the guide plate 142 'to the same degree of freedom, that is, is set to the same combined rotary-sliding movement, as that of the lower carrier 142 and thus also of the door leaf 126, the horizontal position of the axle portion 156 is uniquely determined. In other words, the door is always synchronized at the top and bottom.

Although the connection between guide pin 156 and door leaf 126 allows a relative rotational movement between the two parts, but this is not necessary because of the synchronous rotational movement about the axis A '. It is crucial that the connection between guide pin 156 and door leaf 126 also permits a relative vertical movement. The fitting with guide pin on the one hand and the guide plate with bearing bore on the other hand thus form axial decoupling. The thus constructed floating bearing allows any distance change between the upper and the lower door hanger due to a possible deformation of the housing under load of the cooling cabinet, which ensures a low-friction and low-wear running of the door leaves without excessive stiffening of the housing.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

refrigeration cabinets

12

casing

14

access opening

16

door

18

inner space

20

shelf

22

cold curtain

24

door leaf

26

upper door hanger

28

lower door hanger

30

frame

32

holder

34

holder

36

Lower radial or pivot bearing

38

Upper radial or pivot bearing

40

lower linear guide

42

upper linear guide

44

drive

46

drive motor

48

base

50

outer space

52

Light source and detector unit

54

mirror

56

beam of light

58

presence sensor

60

Detection area of the presence sensor

62

door leaf

64

Side wall

66

Side wall

68

Boundary line of the inner swivel range

70

inner space

74

linear guide

76

guideway

78

guide pin

82

door leaf

84

linear guide

86

guide pin

88

linear guide

90

Side wall

91

Side wall

92

door leaf

94

linear guide

96

inner space

98

pivot point

100

pivoting lever

101

articulation

102

Circular path of the fulcrum

104

door leaf

106

linear guide

110

crank

112

pushrod

114

pushrod

116

articulation

118

articulation

120

crank pin

120

crank pin

124

swivel range

126

door leaf

128

inner space

130

drive motor

132

drive shaft

134

crank

136

pushrod

138

lever

138 '

first articulated arm

140

casing

142

carrier

142 '

guide plate

144

joint rod

144 '

second articulated arm

146

door edge facing the center of the housing

148

door edge facing the edge of the case

150

outer space

152

casing

153

top edge

154

fitting

156

Guide pin, bearing pin

A, A '

axis of rotation

B

Width of the door leaf

D ₁ , D ₁ '

axis of rotation

D ₂ , D ₂ '

axis of rotation

D ₃ , D ₃ '

axis of rotation

K ₁

circular segment curve

K ₂

circular segment curve

S ₁

boundary curve

S ₂

boundary curve

T

Depth of the pedestal

Claims (13)

1. Refrigeration cabinet (10) comprising a housing (12) having a front access opening (14) and a door (16) having at least one door leaf (24) for the access opening (14), the door leaf (24) having a height (H) and a width (B),
   characterized by a guide which defines a movement of the door leaf (24) between a closed position and an open position in such a way that the pivoting range of the door leaf (24) projects by less than one full door-leaf width (B) into the external space (50) in front of the access opening (14), and wherein the door leaf (24) is mounted such that it can be rotated about a vertical axis (A) and displaced transversely with respect to the axis of rotation,
   wherein the door (16) is an automatic door having a drive (44) for the movement of the door leaf (24), and
   wherein the housing (12) has, on its front side underneath the access opening (14), a plinth (48) which projects into the external space (50) in front of the access opening (14) by a depth (T) which corresponds at least to the pivoting range of the door leaf (24).
2. Refrigeration cabinet (10) according to Claim 1,
   characterized in that the guide comprises a radial or rotary bearing (36, 38) defining the vertical axis of rotation (A) and a guide track (40, 42) in the plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation (A), along which the radial or rotary bearing (36, 38) is mounted such that it can be moved in such a way that the door leaf (24) is forcibly guided between a closed position and an open position, so that the pivoting range of the door leaf (24) projects by less than a full door-leaf width (B) into the exterior space (50) in front of the access opening (14) and by less than a full door-leaf width (B) into the internal space behind the access opening (14).
3. Refrigeration cabinet (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the axis of rotation (A) or its vertical projection onto the door leaf (24) in the width direction (B) is arranged in a central region of the door leaf (24).
4. Refrigeration cabinet (10) according to Claim 2 or 3,
   characterized in that the guide track is described by a curve which is oriented transversely with respect to the axis of rotation (A) and along which the radial or rotary bearing (36, 38) is mounted such that it can be displaced.
5. Refrigeration cabinet (10) according to Claim 4,
   characterized in that the curve is a circular arc (K₁), wherein the axis of rotation (A) is preferably arranged on a rotary joint which defines the circular arc (K₁).
6. Refrigeration cabinet (10) according to Claim 2 or 3,
   characterized in that the guide track is formed by a linear guide (40, 42), which is oriented transversely with respect to the axis of rotation (A), along which the radial or rotary bearing (36, 38) is mounted such that it can be displaced and which preferably extends parallel to the access opening (14).
7. Refrigeration cabinet (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the door (16) has an opening sensor, which preferably has either a touch sensor on the housing (12) or on the door (16) or has a light barrier (52, 54, 56) or an ultrasonic sensor which detects at least one region in the external space (50) in front of the access opening (14).
8. Refrigeration cabinet (10) according to Claim 7,
   characterized in that the light barrier (52, 54, 56) extends perpendicularly in front of the door leaf (24).
9. Refrigeration cabinet (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized by a presence sensor (58) for detecting a movement and/or a bodily object in a detection space (60) in front of the access opening (14), which space is preferably either formed either by a motion detector or formed by a light barrier.
10. Refrigeration cabinet (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized by a finger trap detection device for detecting a bodily object in the pivoting range of the door leaf (24).
11. Refrigeration cabinet (10) according to one of Claims 7 to 10,
    characterized by a controller which is connected to the opening sensor and which is configured to detect a signal from the opening sensor and, upon detection, to output a control signal to the drive (44) to open the door (16), and which is preferably configured to output a control signal to the drive (44) to close the door (16) after a selectable time interval following the opening.
12. Refrigeration cabinet (10) according to Claim 11,
    characterized in that the control is configured to detect a signal from the presence sensor (58) and, upon detection, to output to the drive (44) a control signal to hold the door (16) open or, if the door (16) is just closing, to open the door (16).
13. Refrigeration cabinet (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized by an air-stream generator for generating a cold air curtain (22) in the internal region (18) of the housing (12) immediately behind the access opening (14).

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