FR2671957A1 - REFRIGERATED DISPLAY AND ITS REFRIGERATION PROCESS. - Google Patents

Abstract

The refrigerated display case comprises an opaque insulated and refrigerated enclosure surrounding the lower and rear part of a display surface for refrigerated products on which a flow of refrigerated air circulates, as well as a display window arranged at the top and front. of the showcase. It comprises at least one transparent plate or sheet 13 interposed between the refrigerated products 5, 5 'and the display window 3 on the path of the refrigerated air stream 10, 10', so that its two faces are swept by said stream. refrigerated air. Application to refrigerated display cases exhibiting foods which are very sensitive to drying out.

Description

i

  REFRIGERATED DISPLAY AND ITS REFRIGERATION PROCESS

  The present invention relates to a refrigerated showcase

  managed comprising an insulated and refrigerated opaque enclosure surrounding the bottom and rear portion of at least one refrigerated product exposure surface on which a stream of refrigerated air circulates, a display pane disposed at the top and front of the display cabinet to isolate refrigerated products from the public without prohibiting their service access from the rear It also relates to the refrigeration process of such a refrigerated showcase In fact, it relates more particularly to a refrigeration showcase able to preserve foodstuffs with

less drying.

  Refrigerated display cases are currently widely used for the display and sale of fresh foods and products, such as meats, cold cuts, cheeses, pre-prepared and unfrozen dishes, certain heat-fearing vegetables, etc. showcases provide good visibility of the products on display with a large front or curved front window on the side of the public to protect the products exposed from unauthorized contact Highlighting the products exposed, using outdoor lamps or lamps integrated into the showcase, further increases the attractiveness of the products on display. It is unfortunately noted that the products exhibited

  the most fragile, such as fresh meat, is drying up.

  and they degrade rapidly when placed in refrigerated furniture under intense lighting because they receive a significant amount of heat radiation because they "see" a very radiant environment because they are very bright. The perishable goods and products exhibited in Refrigerated display cases are in thermal equilibrium on the one hand, heat removed by convection between air and exposed products, plus possible heat removed by the direct thermal conduction between the products and the surface. refrigerated exposure, and other

  on the other hand, the heat supplied by radiation to the products.

  This radiation heat is received on the surface of the products and poses daunting problems for them.

good conservation.

  Products exposed in a store "see" the ceiling and lighting of the store, and most importantly, the glazing of the refrigerated cabinet which, in fact, is not very transparent to thermal radiation and behaves almost like an opaque body. In fact, this usually gives rise to a temperature that may no longer be significantly different from that which prevails in the store, because of the radiation

received locally.

  The present invention proposes to reduce considerably

  the warming of refrigerated products by the effect of the thermal radiation received from the atmosphere through the

  glazing that separates them from the public and, consequently,

  to reduce the various desiccations and degradations that chilled products exposed to the public

refrigerated display cases.

  For this purpose, according to the invention, the refrigeration process

  refrigerated showcase comprising on the one hand an opaque refrigerated insulated enclosure, in which at least one refrigerated product exposure surface opening towards the upper part of the enclosure is arranged, is

  characterized in that between the refrigerated products is

  managed and the external environment of the showcase, a plate or transparent sheet, in that one maintains said plate at low temperature, and in that one moves said transparent plate and / or said exposure surface carrying them.

  refrigerated products in order to access these products.

  keeps the transparent plate at a temperature close to that of the refrigerated products in particular, by blowing on the

  two sides of the plate a stream of refrigerated air.

  According to another embodiment of the method, one part of a stream of refrigerated air is blown on both sides of the plate and the other part S 'flows on the

refrigerated products.

  According to a particular arrangement of the method according to

  according to the invention, said transparent sheet or sheet is

  between refrigerated products and a separator pane

  which covers the upper part of the enclosure

  leaving behind a service access.

  The refrigerated showcase for carrying out the process according to the invention comprises at least one transparent plate or sheet interposed between the refrigerated products and the presentation pane, on the path of said stream of refrigerated air, so that its two faces, respectively lower and upper, are scanned by said current

refrigerated air.

  The plate or transparent sheet is disposed, in the operating position, substantially horizontal and parallel to the exposure surface and defines, with the insulated refrigerated enclosure and the front of the presentation glass, a substantially closed enclosure to the radiation in

  from the space above said plate.

  According to another embodiment of the invention, the transparent plate or sheet consists of at least two

  parts of a smaller width than the surface of

  sition and slide one above the other, so that

  allow access to refrigerated products by sliding

  one of the parties and to set up a wall in service.

  continuous or quasi-continuous transparency interposed between

  refrigerated products and the presentation glass.

  According to yet another embodiment of the showcase

  refrigerated according to the invention, the transparent sheet or sheet

  rent is articulated to the front part of the window, close to

  mity of the presentation glass, to pivot upwards to

  the back of the showcase to the vicinity of the window pane

  and to allow access to refrigerated products.

  The refrigerated showcase may include lighting means

  Refrigerated products, for example a lamp, arranged between the display glass and the transparent plate or sheet The transparent plate or sheet is preferably made of a material that is almost opaque to thermal radiation, so as to behave while being relatively transparent for the lighting received by the public,

  like a black body stopping most of the radiation-

thermal effect of the atmosphere.

  Other purposes, advantages and features appear

  read the description of various modes of

  embodiment of the invention, made in a non-limiting manner and with reference to the appended drawing, o:

  FIG. 1 is a schematic cross sectional view of

  tick, a refrigerated showcase according to the invention comprising a pivoting protective glass and refrigerated product drawers that can be pulled on the service side;

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of

  schematic dirty but feet removed, a refrigerated showcase according to the invention,

sliding protective glass.

  Figures 1 and 2 where the same elements bear the

  same reference marks represent a refrigerated showcase

  1 having a thermally insulated refrigerated enclosure

  2 The insulated enclosure 2 is opaque to radiation and is provided with a presentation glass 3 and a surface

  preferably consisting of a plate 4

  If necessary, to expose the refrigerated products 5 and 'to different levels A cold generator, constituted by a refrigerant circuit evaporator 6 forming an exchanger, is housed in the chamber 2, arranged in a channel 8 formed between the insulated enclosure 2 and the

  plateau 4 The circulation of air inside the en-

  2 can be formed by natural convection but, preferably, as shown in the figures, with the aid of one or more fans 9 sucking air, which has come to lick according to the current 10 refrigerated products 5, 5 ' at

  their upper part, below the plate 4 on the sample.

  After passing through the exchanger 6, the refrigerated air is discharged by a vertical channel 11 to an outlet grille 12 disposed below a service rim 7.

  and from where it falls back by spreading on the refrigerated

Res 5, 5 '.

  According to the invention, a plate or sheet or window

  13, for example glass or plastic

  This plate 13 is placed on the path of the refrigerated air stream so that a stream of refrigerated air passes through the refrigerated products 5, 5 'and the display glass 3. above the plate 13 and joins at 14 'the stream 14 of refrigerated air which has swept the upper surface of the refrigerated products and

  which is sucked by the fan 9 to the evaporator 6.

  The transparent plate 13 is thus scanned on its two sides, upper and lower, by the stream of air

  cold and is kept at a low temperature.

  heat from the atmosphere in which the refrigerated display case is placed, pass through the display glass 3 and are added, if necessary, to those of the particular lighting of the showcase, such as that produced by tubes This radiation, which would normally heat the surface of the refrigerated products 5 '', is stopped by the transparent plate 13 maintained at low temperature and their thermal energy is carried away by the two air currents. refrigerated 10, 10 ', mainly by the upper stream 10' flowing on the hottest side The refrigerated products are thus exposed to external ambient walls which are cold on all sides and they no longer undergo warming of surface that led, especially for fresh meat, to a rapid drying out by a kind of surface lyophylisation Effectively and, the transparent plate 13 delimits, with the insulated enclosure 2 and the front portion 3a of the presentation pane 3 in the vicinity of the attachment 3b of the latter, a closed enclosure with respect to the radiation coming from the the ambient space located above the insulated enclosure 2 which is opaque to radiation This closed space nevertheless comprises, on the side of the service rim 7, a refrigerated air inlet 20 and, on the side of the presentation window 3, an outlet 21 to the evaporator 6, air that has licked the refrigerated products The outlet 21 is arranged below a transverse hinge axis 16 of the transparent plate 13 and is isolated from the outside radiation only by the presentation glass 3, thus leaving a small ambient radiation input which can be reduced by replacing the front portion 3a of the presentation glass with a rim of the isolated enclosure 2

  used to fix the display glass 3.

  The transparent plate 13 shown in FIG. 1 is arranged, in the operating position, substantially horizontal,

  and is kept at a substantially constant distance from the

  water 4 to leave a space for housing refrigerated products and ventilation of these same products by the cold air stream 10 For this, the plate 13 is articulated on the transverse axis 16 at one end of the side of the display glass 3 and rests, at the other end, on

  17 In order to allow access to refrigerated products

  managed by the service personnel placed on the side of the service rim 7, the transparent plate 13 is rotated towards the

  high, around the axis 16, as represented by the arrow 18.

  It is possible, if necessary, to hang a hook 19 or other fastening means, for example a magnet not shown, with high fastening means, for example the housing of the fluorescent tube 15 or the upper part of the glass of

presentation 3.

  Another way of access is possible without lifting the plate

  transparent 13 because the support tray 4 of the pro-

  refrigerated products is integrated in a drawer 22 formed, on the one hand, of the plate 4 mounted on slides 4a and carrying on the side of the flange 7 the vertical channel 11 and, on the other hand, of an isolated enclosure part 2 to come, in service position, extend substantially sealed through joints, the main insulated enclosure 2 mounted on feet 2 c En

  pulling the drawer 22 on the side opposite to the window

  3, the service personnel can easily access at least refrigerated products 5, this movement of the drawer however has the disadvantage of interrupting the refrigerated air circuit but may be more advantageous for

the complete loading of the plate 4.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, where the similar elements bear the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1, the transparent plate 13 is made in two parts 13a and 13b, sliding in lateral slides 23 and 24. The two parts 13a and 13b, which have a width less than that of the surface

  plate 4, preferably slightly higher than

  than half of the width of this exhibition surface

  tion, in order to slide and move freely in their slides 23 and 24 In the operating position, the two plates 13a and 13b are largely covering the refrigerated products 5 and 5 t, the plate 13 is shown on the side of the edge 7 even inserting itself under this rim 7 to define a passageway 20a of refrigerated air outlet for the air stream 10 'which runs through

  the upper part of the plates 13a and 13b.

  The transparent plates 13a and 13b being arranged horizontally in the arrangement of FIG. 2, which has the advantage that they tend to remain in position after a displacement by sliding, the outlet orifice 21 of the air stream. 20 which has swept the refrigerated products 5, 5 'has a large section through which the ambient heat radiation can penetrate the

  refrigerated products (especially on 5 'products).

  In order to stop this thermal radiation penetrating through the outlet 21, it is possible to have a transparent protective glazing between the end of the plate 13b on the side of the protective glass 3 and, for example, the center of the channel.

  sintering of the refrigerated air from the sweeping to the evapo-

  The air that is sucked by the fan 9 into the embodying channel 25 would thus come from two streams 10 and

'not mixed before this channel.

  As explained above, the transparent plate or sheet 13 or 13a, 13b constitutes an ambient wall which is, at least on the side facing the refrigerated products 5, 5 ', slightly cooler than these refrigerated products because it is swept by the very cold air that has flowed on the tubes of the evaporator 6 The refrigerated products therefore tend to radiate a little towards this transparent plate rather than receive heat radiation

  from this transparent plate which isolates them from the outside

  The transparent plates 13 or 13 a, 13 b undergo very little mechanical stress, unlike the presentation glass 3 which mechanically isolates the window 1 from the outside and it is possible to choose for these plates transparent materials to with regard to the light radiation and thus allowing good exposure to the view of the refrigerated products, but which, on the other hand, are relatively opaque to the thermal radiation for which they exert a kind of reflective effect The thermal radiation that has passed through the glass of presentation 3 and which comes for example from solar radiation and lighting radiation, as well as the direct thermal radiation of the illumination (lamp 15) inside the pane of presentation 3, is thus either reflected outwardly it is stopped at the outer surface of the plate 13, 13a, 13b and carried away by the upper air stream 10 'A much smaller amount of radiation is insi applied to refrigerated products 5 ', which considerably reduces their drying out.

  particularly harmful to their appearance, particularly

for fresh meat.

  It should be noted that using for plates

  13, 13 a, 13 b transparent materials relative to

  opaque to thermal radiation, it is possible to

  for some applications, to remove the display glass 3 With this solution, the hygiene conditions are generally maintained sufficient because the plates 13, 13 a and 13 b protect the food vis-à-vis customers cooling the outer "skin" of the transparent plate 13, 13 a, 13 ba has the effect of greatly reducing the heat transfer between the two faces of the transparent plate and thus reducing the temperature of the inner surface of the plate 13 under which the refrigerated products see the outside mood and receive from this

  atmosphere a thermal radiation that warms them.

  Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown but it is capable of numerous variants accessible to the man of

  art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims (12)

  1. A method of refrigerating a refrigerated showcase comprising on the one hand an insulated and refrigerated opaque chamber, in which is disposed at least one refrigerated product exposure surface opening towards the upper part of the enclosure, characterized in that what is available between the refrigerated products and the external environment of the window a plate or transparent sheet, in that one maintains said plate at low temperature and in that one moves said transparent plate and / or said surface   exposure to access products.   2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the transparent plate is maintained at a temperature   close to that of refrigerated products.   3 Process according to claim 2, characterized in that the transparent plate is maintained at a temperature close to that of the refrigerated products by blowing on the   two sides of the plate a stream of refrigerated air.   4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that one blows on both sides of the plate part of a stream of refrigerated air, the other part flows on refrigerated products.   5. Method according to any one of claims 1   at 4, characterized in that said plate or transparent sheet is arranged between the refrigerated products and a separating pane which covers the upper part of   the speaker leaving behind a service access.   6. Refrigerated showcase for the implementation of the   method according to one of claims 1 to 4 and   comprising: an insulated and refrigerated opaque enclosure   the lower and rear part of at least one refrigerated product exposure surface on which a stream of refrigerated air circulates, a presentation glass disposed at the upper and front part of the showcase to isolate the refrigerated products from the public without prohibit their service access from the rear, characterized in that it comprises at least one plate or transparent sheet (13, 13 a, 13 b) interposed between the refrigerated products (5, 5 ') and the presentation glass (3) on the course of said current of air   refrigerated (10, 10 '), so that its two faces, respectively   lower and upper, are swept by said stream of refrigerated air. 7. Refrigerated showcase according to claim 6, characterized in that the transparent plate or sheet (13, 13a, 13b) is arranged, in the operating position, substantially   horizontally and parallel to the exposure surface (4).   8 refrigerated showcase according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the plate or transparent sheet (13, 13 a, 13 b) delimits, with the insulated refrigerated enclosure (2) and the front (3 a) of the glass (3), an enclosure substantially closed with respect to radiation from   the space above said plate (13).   9. Refrigerated display case according to any one of   Claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the plate or   transparent sheet consists of at least two parts   (13a, 13b), of a width smaller than that of the exposure surface and sliding one above the other, so as to allow access to refrigerated products by sliding one of the parts and to constitute in service a continuous or quasi-continuous transparent wall interposed between the refrigerated products and the glass of presentation (3).   10. Refrigerated display case according to any one of   Claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the plate or   transparent sheet (13) is articulated (at 16) to the part   before the window, near the window of   (3), to pivot upwards, at the rear of the   trine, close to the presentation glass (3) and   to allow access to refrigerated products (5, 5 ').   11. Refrigerated display case according to any one of   Claims 6 to 10, characterized in that it comprises   lighting means (15) for refrigerated products, by   example a lamp, placed between the window of   (3) and the transparent plate or sheet (13).   12. Refrigerated display case according to any one of   Claims 6 to 11, characterized in that the plate or   transparent sheet (13, 13 a, 13 b) is made in one   material almost opaque to thermal radiation.