JP2001299521A - Showcase cover and showcase - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a showcase over which can efficiently cool a cold storage member while keeping the temperature in the product display section within a preset range and a showcase using the showcase cover. SOLUTION: A product display section 2 one side of which is open, a cooler 6, a fan 5 and a cold storage member 7 are provided and a cover 1 is installed on the opening section of the showcase 10 which is so constructed to cool the air sucked from a suction hole 4 provided in the lower part of the product display section 2 and then exhaust the cooled air from an exhaust hole 3 provided in the upper part of the product display section 2. At this point the cover 1 is provided with a flow channel 11 which is formed to guide a part or a whole of the air exhausted from the exhaust hole 4 to the suction hole 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a so-called "night cover" for covering a cover of a showcase having an open front when a store is closed, and to a showcase having this cover. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, showcases 30 as shown in FIG. 6 have been widely used for displaying products that require cooling, such as fresh foods and frozen foods. The showcase 30 shown in the figure is an open type in which one surface of the product display section 22 is opened, so that the consumer can freely take the displayed products. The showcase 30 shown in FIG.
As shown by arrows, the air sucked from the suction port 24 provided at the lower part of the product display section 22
It is configured such that it is cooled when passing through a cooler 26 installed at the bottom of the outlet 0 and is discharged from a discharge port 23 provided at the top of the product display unit 22. Therefore, the products displayed in the showcase 30 can be frozen and refrigerated.

The cooler 26 has a meandering pipe 26a.
In operation, a cooled refrigerant is supplied into the pipe. 25 is a fan for circulating the air cooled by the cooler 26. In FIG. 6, a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and the like for cooling and supplying the refrigerant are omitted. Reference numeral 21 denotes a cover for covering the opening of the product display unit 22 during the closing time to prevent cold air from escaping. This cover is commonly called a "night cover". Reference numeral 29 denotes a hook for holding the cover 21. The cover 21 is formed of a film material and has flexibility. Cover 2
1 is wound up and stored by the winding device 28 in the daytime opening hours as shown in FIG. When the store closes at night, the cover 21 is pulled out of the winding device 28 as shown by a dotted line in FIG.

[0004] The showcase 30 is further provided with a cold storage material 27. In the showcase 30, cold energy is stored in the cold storage material 27 by using low-cost nighttime electric power, and the stored cold heat is released during the daytime opening hours, thereby reducing daytime power consumption. The cool storage in the cool storage material 27 is performed until the cool storage material is completely solidified in the time period when the nighttime power is applied.
5 is performed by increasing the operation rate. Release of the cold stored in the cold storage material 27 is performed by stopping the cooler 26 and operating only the fan 25. In this case, since only the power for operating the fan 25 is required, the power consumption is reduced as compared with the case where the cooler is operated.

However, in the showcase 30, since the heat exchange rate between the cold storage material 27 and the air blown from the fan 25 is low, the cooler 26 and the fan 25 during the cold storage.
If the operation rate of the product is increased, the product displayed on the product display unit 22 before the cool storage material 27 is completely solidified may be excessively cooled. In such a case, for example, if the products displayed on the product display unit 22 are fresh foods and beverages, they solidify and are not sold. Also, some frozen foods may not be for sale if they are cooled too much.

On the other hand, if the operation rate of the cooler 26 and the fan 25 is set to such an extent that the displayed products are not excessively cooled, the above-mentioned problem can be solved. Cannot completely coagulate,
A problem arises in that sufficient cold heat cannot be stored.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a showcase cover and a showcase using the same, which can efficiently cool the cold storage material while keeping the temperature in the product display portion within a set range. It is in.

[0008]

The showcase cover of the present invention has the following features. (1) It has a product display part with one side open and a cold storage material,
And an opening of the product display part in a showcase having a structure in which air sucked from an intake port provided at a lower part of the product display part is cooled and discharged from a discharge port provided at an upper part of the product display part. A cover for covering a part, comprising a flow path formed so as to guide all or a part of air flowing out of a discharge port to a suction port.

(2) The cover according to the above (1), wherein the flow path is formed by making a flexible film material into a cylindrical shape.

(3) The cover according to (2), wherein the tubular film material is disposed on one surface of a sheet member having heat insulating properties.

The showcase of the present invention has the following features. (4) A showcase comprising the cover according to any one of (1) to (3).

[0012]

As described above, the showcase cover of the present invention is provided with a flow path for guiding cool air discharged from the discharge port to the suction port. For this reason, when the cover of the present invention is attached to the showcase, it is possible to increase the amount of cold heat and the amount of cool air flowing to the cold storage material while limiting the amount of cool air flowing to the product display portion. Therefore, even when the operating rates of the cooler and the fan are increased, the temperature of the product display section can be maintained within the set range, and the cold storage material is completely solidified within the time when the nighttime power is applied, and the cold storage is performed. Can be completed.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a showcase cover and a showcase of the present invention, which are shown in cross section. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the opening of the product display unit 2 is covered with the cover 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the showcase cover of the present invention shown in FIG. 3 to 5 are perspective views showing other examples of the showcase cover of the present invention.

As shown in the examples of FIGS. 1 and 2, the cover 1 of the present invention is for covering the opening of a showcase 10 provided with a product display portion 2 having an open surface. Installed. Showcase 10
Is a general open type showcase. The showcase 10 is provided with a cooler 6 and a fan 5 for freezing and refrigeration of commodities displayed in the merchandise display section 2, and is further provided with a cold storage material 7. Showcase 10
Has a structure in which air taken in from an intake port 4 provided in a lower part of the product display unit 2 is cooled and discharged from a discharge port 3 provided in an upper part of the product display unit 2.

The cooler 6 is the same as the cooler 2 described with reference to FIG.
6 and a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and the like for supplying a cooled refrigerant are also omitted in FIG. 6a is a pipe constituting the cooler 26, and the pipe 6a is a meandering pipe. 15 is the suction port 4
2 shows a ventilation path connecting the discharge port 3 and the discharge port 3. Reference numeral 16 denotes a frame of the showcase.

The cover 1 of the present invention has a flow path 11 formed so as to guide all or a part of the air flowing out of the outlet 3 of the showcase 10 to the inlet 4. FIG.
In the example of FIG. 2 and FIG. 2, the cover 1 is configured by attaching a channel 11 made of a similar film material in a tubular shape to a sheet member 12 formed of a flexible film material. Since the channel 11 is foldable, the channel 11 is wound and stored together with the sheet member 12 by the winding device 8 when the store is closed. The winding device 8 is provided with a mechanism for automatically winding the cover 1 using rubber, a spring, or the like. Reference numeral 13 denotes a fastener for hooking on the hook 9 of the showcase.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cross section of the cylindrical flow path 11 has a circular shape. However, the present invention is not limited to this. , An ellipse or the like. The shape of the cross section of the cylindrical flow path 11 may be appropriately determined according to the amount of cool air required in the product display unit 2. For example, when a product to be displayed does not work as a product when cooled excessively, such as fresh food or beverage, almost all of the cool air from the outlet 3 is sent to the inlet 4. Is preferred. Therefore, in this case, since the shape of the discharge port 3 is usually rectangular, the cross section of the cylindrical flow path 11 is shown in FIG.
It is preferable that it has a rectangular shape as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, if the products displayed in the product display section 2 need to be kept at a lower temperature than fresh foods, such as frozen foods, part of the cool air from the discharge port 3 It is necessary to circulate the display. Therefore,
In this case, the cylindrical flow path 1 preferably has a circular or triangular cross section. In addition, the number and the size of the cross section of the cylindrical flow path 11 are not particularly limited, and may be appropriately determined in accordance with the amount of cool air required in the product display unit 2 similarly to the shape of the cross section. Good.

In the present invention, the film material forming the cylindrical flow path 11 and the film material forming the sheet member 12 are not particularly limited as long as they have flexibility. The film material forming the cylindrical flow path 11 and the film material forming the sheet member 12 may be the same material or different types of materials. The thickness of the film material is not particularly limited in both cases. Specifically, the thickness of the film material may be about 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm in both cases.

The film material forming the cylindrical flow path 11 and the film material forming the sheet member 12 include:
Plastic films, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, cellophane, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyester, polystyrene, polyvinyl alcohol, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and the like. Of these, polyethylene, nylon, polycarbonate, and polyethylene terephthalate are preferably used because of their excellent cold resistance and impact resistance.

Further, in the present invention, the sheet member 12 can be provided with heat insulation. Specifically, as the sheet member 12, if a laminated film formed by attaching a sheet-like heat insulating material formed of foamed polyethylene, foam polystyrene, urea foam, vinyl chloride foam, polyurethane foam, or the like to the above-described plastic film is used. good. This embodiment is effective when the temperature around the showcase is high.

In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, a sheet member 14 is also provided on a portion facing the inside of the showcase,
Heat insulation can also be imparted to this. This aspect is effective when the temperature in the product display section is too low. An example of the sheet member 14 is a laminated film of the above-described plastic film and a heat insulating material. In FIG. 4, the sheet member 12 is also provided with heat insulation, and
It is also possible to adopt a mode in which 1 is sandwiched between heat insulating members.
This embodiment is effective when the temperature around the showcase is high and it is necessary to prevent the temperature inside the product display unit 2 from dropping too low.

In the cover of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the flow path 11 is mounted so as to be entirely covered by the sheet member 12, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of tubular flow paths 11 may be connected in parallel, and the sheet member 12 may be used only for connection with the winding device 8.

The cover of the present invention is not limited to the examples shown in FIGS. For example, the cover of the present invention cannot be wound by a winding device, that is, the sheet member and the flow path are formed of a material (metal or plastic material) having a high shape retention that cannot be folded. May be.

Further, in the present invention, in order to adjust the temperature of the commodity display section 2, a plurality of punch holes may be provided on the commodity display section side of the flow path 11 in FIGS. The number and size of the punch holes may be set according to the desired temperature. Note that the temperature adjustment of the product display unit 2 can also be performed by the shape of the flow channel 11 as described above.

The showcase of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as the cover of the present invention can be attached thereto, but is an open type showcase as shown in FIG. And freeze the displayed products
Preferably, it is refrigerated. In the showcase of the present invention, the shape and size of the showcase itself, the structure of the cooler and the fan, the installation position and type of the cold storage material, and the like are not particularly limited.

For example, the cooler may be one in which fins are further provided on a meandering pipe, or one in which a plurality of pipes are assembled at an inlet and an outlet of a refrigerant. There may be. Although the cold storage material is arranged on the back side of the product display unit 2 in the example of FIG. 1, it may be arranged on the lower surface side or the upper surface side of the product display unit 2, and the arrangement place is not limited. Absent. In addition, the cold storage material may be placed on, for example, piping or fins of the cooler so as to be in contact with the cooler.

Next, the showcase 1 of the present invention shown in FIG.
The operation mode of “0” will be described. Here, a case where the store opening time is 10:00 am and the store closing time is 8:00 pm is used in a store is taken as an example. The nighttime electric power is applied from 8:00 pm to 8:00 am the next morning. Release of the cold stored in the cold storage material is performed at noon when the power consumption reaches a peak.

When the time is 8:00 pm when the store is closed and the cover 1 is hung over the opening of the commodity display section 2, the cooler 6 and the fan 5 are continuously operated to lower the temperature of the air passing through the ventilation path 15. Thus, cold storage in the cold storage material 7 is performed. At this time,
Since only a necessary amount of the cool air flowing out of the discharge port 3 flows to the commodity display section 2, the commodity is not excessively cooled. The remaining cool air enters the ventilation passage 15 from the inlet 4 and is cooled by the cooler 6 to cool the cold storage material again. Continuous operation of the cooler 6 and the fan 5 is performed until 8:00 am the next morning.

During the period from 8:00 am to noon when cold heat is released, the cooler 6 and the fan 5 are operated at a lower operation rate than during cold storage. Specifically, the operation and stop of the cooler 6 and the fan 5 are repeated at regular intervals so that the temperature of the product display unit 2 is kept within the set range. The operation rate at this time is determined according to the type of displayed product, the environment where the showcase is placed, and the season. In addition,
When the cover is opened, cold air escapes outside.
When the store opening time comes, the cooler 6 and the fan 5 are operated at a higher operation rate than before.

At noon, the supply of the refrigerant to the cooler 6 is stopped, and the operation of the cooler 6 is stopped. Instead, the fan 5 is continuously operated to release the cold stored in the cold storage material to cool the product. How long the continuous operation of only the fan 5 is performed is determined by the amount of heat stored in the cold storage material 7. In addition, when the product cannot be sufficiently cooled only by releasing cold heat due to the environment or season around the showcase, the refrigerant is appropriately supplied to the cooler 6.

The operation of the cooler 6 and the fan 5 is repeated at regular intervals from the end of the release of cold heat until the store is closed, as in the case of 8:00 a.m. to noon.
When the store closes, the cold storage is performed again as described above.

[0033]

EXAMPLE A cover of the present invention shown in FIG. 3 was actually manufactured.
This was attached to a showcase similar to the showcase 10 shown in FIG. 1 to produce a showcase of the present invention, and the cool storage material 7 was cooled.

EXAMPLE The cover was a sheet member made of polyethylene film (size: 1000 mm × 1500 mm, thickness 0.2 m).
m), a polyethylene film (0.2 m thick)
m), ten cylindrical channels (opening diameter 90 mm, length 1000 mm) were provided.

As a showcase, the entire size (W
× D × H) is 1000 mm × 860 mm × 1500 m
m, the size of the opening (length x width) is 990mm x 900m
m, a product display part having a volume of about 0.59 m ³ was used. In addition, a cooler (diameter of cooling coil (piping): 15.88 mm, 6 rows and 3 stages), a fan motor (100 V, φ150 × 1), and a refrigerator were attached to the showcase.

The regenerator material is an aluminum foil composite film (a nylon film (15 μm), an aluminum foil (9 μm), a nylon film (15 μm), and a polyethylene film (60 μm).
μm) into a bag (size 210 mm × 400 mm) and filled with a water-absorbent resin and a 9.7% KNO ₃ aqueous solution. A total of 12 cold storage materials were produced and placed in the above showcase. The total amount of the cold storage material was 9.0 kg. Further, the cold storage material is completely solidified at -5 ° C (latent heat temperature 4.7 ° C).

The opening of the showcase was covered with the cover obtained above, and the cooler and the fan were continuously operated to cool the cool storage material. The cool storage material was completely solidified in 8 hours, The temperature of the cold storage material at that time was lower than the latent heat temperature. On the other hand, during that time, the temperature of the merchandise display section was kept within the set range of 2 ° C. to 8 ° C.

Comparative Example A polyethylene film (size: 1000) was used as a cover.
mm × 1500 mm, thickness 0.2 mm) was used to carry out cold storage in the cold storage material in the same manner as in the example. result,
In 8 hours, the regenerator material was cooled to the latent heat temperature range, but could not be completely solidified. It took 12 hours to completely solidify. Further, the temperature of the product display dropped to -10 ° C, and could not be kept within the set range.

[0039]

As can be understood from the above description, the use of the showcase cover of the present invention makes it possible to efficiently cool the cold storage material while keeping the temperature in the product display portion of the showcase within the set range. That is, by using the showcase cover of the present invention, it is possible to more effectively use electric power in the showcase than in the past, and without impairing the quality of displayed products.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a showcase cover and a showcase of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the showcase cover of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 and an example of a showcase to which the cover is attached.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another example of the showcase cover of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another example of the showcase cover of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another example of the showcase cover of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a conventionally used showcase.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cover 2 Merchandise display part 3 Discharge port 4 Inlet port 5 Fan 6 Cooler 7 Cold storage material 10 Showcase 11 Flow path 12 Sheet member

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A product display part having one open side and a cold storage material, and provided at an upper part of the product display part by cooling air taken in from a suction port provided at a lower part of the product display part. A cover for covering an opening of the product display section in a showcase having a structure for discharging from an outlet, wherein a flow formed so as to guide all or a part of air exiting from the outlet to an inlet. A showcase cover characterized by having a road. 2. The cover according to claim 1, wherein the flow path is formed by making a flexible film material into a cylindrical shape. 3. The cylindrical film material is disposed on one surface of a sheet member having heat insulation properties.
Cover described. 4. A showcase comprising the cover according to claim 1.