JP2003254664A - Showcase - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a showcase allowing washing off, without using man-power, flakes of foods or dust piled up in an air passage for circulating cold air in an lower internal space of an inner case for placing various products in the showcase. <P>SOLUTION: In the showcase 1 provided with: air passages A, B and C for circulating cold air formed between inner cases 2a, 2b and 2c and outer cases 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d; and an air blower 5 and a cooler 6 placed in the passages A, B and C, water spray means P and S spraying water from above toward bottom panels 12a, 12b having a drain ditch 16 are provided inside of the lower air passage A constituted between the lower face of the inner case and the bottom panels 12a, 12b of the outer case. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a showcase used in a grocery store such as a supermarket, a convenience store, and a department store, and in particular, a cool air circulation ventilation passage is formed between an inner box and an outer box. A blower in the ventilation passage,
Cleaning the vicinity of the drain in the showcase where the cooler is installed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional showcase 101, as shown in FIG. 3, has inner casings 102a to 102d formed as inner casings inside outer casings 104a to 104d forming outer casings of box-shaped heat insulating walls. 102c are arranged with a required space, and the inner space surrounded by the inner cases 102a to 102c is used as a product storage unit 103 having an open top surface or front surface, so that fruits and vegetables can be displayed therein. ing.

Internal and external cases 102a-102c and 10
The cool air blown via the cooler 106 from the blower 105 provided at the bottom of the cool air circulation ventilation passage configured between 4a to 104d, the cool air blowout port 1 at the top of the showcase 101.
08, and the product storage unit 103 is kept cool by forming an air curtain on the open surface of the showcase 101 by sucking and circulating the air from the cool air suction port 110 at the lower front of the product storage unit 103. ing.

Further, the base shelf board 102 which constitutes a part of the inner case under which various products are placed under the product storage unit 103.
At the lower part of a, a bottom panel 112 attached to the inner surface of an outer case 104b for forming a cooling air circulation passage is provided. The bottom panel 112 is thawed when the cooler 106 is defrosted. Drain 1 that guides the collected water to the drain outlet 116
15 are provided.

[0005]

The bottom panel 112 of the outer case 104b of the showcase 101 thus constructed has a cold air inlet 110 and a base shelf board 102a.
Since debris and dust of food that fall from the gap of 3 are likely to be collected, there is a problem that the drainage during defrosting of the cooler 106 is obstructed, and a bad smell is generated when the debris and dust accumulated for a long period of time decay. Was.

From the above, the base shelf board 102a
The bottom panel 112 closed by the above method is inevitably washed regularly, and at the time of washing, there is a problem that it takes time and labor to remove the products displayed on the base shelf board 102a and to perform the re-display work after washing. It was

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and includes pieces of food accumulated in the cool air circulation ventilation passage in the inner space below the inner case where various products in the showcase are placed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a showcase that can wash dust and the like without the need for manpower.

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems, in the showcase of the present invention, a cooling air circulation ventilation passage is formed between an inner box and an outer box, and a blower and cooling are provided in the ventilation passage. And a drainage groove is provided inside the lower cold air circulation ventilation passage formed between the lower surface of the inner box and the bottom panel of the outer box. It is characterized in that a sprinkling means for sprinkling water from above is arranged. According to this feature, by sprinkling water from the upper side toward the bottom panel, fragments of food, dust, and the like are washed away toward the drainage groove, so that washing can be performed without human labor.

In the showcase of the present invention, it is preferable that the sprinkling means is arranged so as to extend in the width direction of the showcase, and that sprinklers are provided at predetermined intervals. In this way, water can be sprayed evenly across the width of the showcase.

In the showcase of the present invention, it is preferable that vaporized water is used for watering by the watering means.
By doing so, even fine dust that has adhered to the upper surface of the bottom panel and hardened, or is caught in a gap can be peeled off and washed.

In the showcase of the present invention, it is preferable that the watering by the watering means is performed within the defrosting time of the cooler. In this way, since the water is sprinkled within the defrosting time, the washing can be performed without affecting the operating rate of the showcase.

In the showcase of the present invention, the bottom panel is composed of a front panel which constitutes a cool air introduction portion in front of the showcase, and a bottom panel which is inclined so that drain water flows from the rear of the showcase to the front. It is preferable. If you do this, by watering the front panel,
It is possible to efficiently clean the place where dust and dirt that have entered along with the cold air are attached, and by sprinkling water on the bottom panel side, it is possible to wash away debris, dust, scales, etc. of the food stored at the bottom.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a showcase of the present invention in which a water sprinkler is provided in a cool air circulation ventilation passage below a base shelf, and FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the bottom panel side with the base shelf removed. is there.

Reference numeral 1 shown in FIG. 1 indicates a showcase according to the present invention. The showcase 1 includes outer cases 4a to 4d forming an outer box formed of a box-shaped heat insulating wall, and an inner case inside the outer case. An inner case 2a to 2c formed as an inner box and a multi-stage display shelf 3 having an inner space surrounded by the inner cases 2a to 2c as a product storage unit are provided, and fruits and vegetables are displayed on the shelf 3. Has become.

In the cool air circulation ventilation passages A, B, C formed between the inner and outer cases 2a to 2c and 4a to 4d, the blower 5 is installed in the lower cold air circulation ventilation passage A and the side cold air circulation ventilation passage B is formed.
Is provided with a cooler 6. The cool air blown from the blower 5 via the cooler 6 is discharged from the cool air outlet 8 in the upper part of the showcase 1, is sucked from the cool air suction port 10 in the lower part of the front of the multi-stage display shelf 3, and is a ventilation passage for the lower cool air circulation. By being introduced into A, an air curtain is formed on the front open surface of the showcase 1 and the multi-stage display shelf 3 is kept cool.

Further, a bottom panel 12 is provided below the base shelf plate 2a which constitutes a part of the inner case on which various products are placed under the multi-stage display shelf 3, and the bottom panel 12 is a cold air introducing section. Front panel 1 provided on the outer case 4a that constitutes the
2a and a bottom panel 12b provided on an outer case 4b for discharging drain water, which is provided so as to be gently inclined forward. A drain groove 16 is formed in the width direction of both panels 12a and 12b so as to guide drain water or accumulated dusts, which will be described later, to the drain port 15 in a valley between these panels 12a and 12b.

Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the base shelf 2
The showcase 1 is installed inside the ventilation passage A for lower cold air circulation of a.
The water pipe P extends along the width direction of the
A plurality of water spouting outlets S1, S2, S3 constituting a water sprinkler S as water sprinkling means are arranged at predetermined intervals.
The water pipe P is located above the drainage groove 16 and the drainage groove 1
6 extends substantially in parallel with the nozzle 6, and is configured to spray water toward the front panel 12a and the bottom panel 12b.

The direction of water spraying is either the direction toward the front panel 12a or the direction toward the bottom panel 12b, which may be selected as appropriate depending on the accumulation status of scale and dust on the showcase. The container S may be movably attached so that it can be swung, or two water pipes may be provided so that water can be sprayed in different directions.

Further, by disposing the water sprinklers S at predetermined intervals, it is possible to sprinkle water evenly over the width direction of the showcase. Further, as in a food department such as a department store, by extending one water pipe P through a plurality of adjoining showcases, it is possible to simultaneously clean a plurality of showcases. .

Normally, tap water is used for the sprinkler S, but it is also possible to sprinkle water using vaporized water (including high-pressure steam). Considering the usage pattern of the showcase and the type of dust, etc. The optimum one may be selected and used.

Next, the cleaning action of the sprinkler will be described.

First, when the showcase 1 is in operation, the blower 5 is started, so that the outside air sucked from the cool air suction port 10 into the cool air circulation passage passes through the cooler 6 through the blower 5. When this is done, heat is exchanged and cold air is formed.

The cool air formed in the cooler 6 rises in the side cold air circulation ventilation passage B and is discharged from the cold air outlet 8 of the upper cold air circulation ventilation passage C, and then is in a negative pressure state. Ventilation path A for lower cold air circulation that is sucked again from the cold air suction port 10
A circulation flow introduced into the inside is formed, and the flow of the cool air forms an air curtain on the open surface which is the front surface side of the multi-stage display shelf 3.

On the other hand, the base shelf board 2a below the multi-tiered display shelf 3
Various kinds of foods such as fruits and vegetables are placed on the top, and in the long term, fragments and debris of various kinds of foods dropped through the gaps of the base shelf 2a and the cold air suction port 10 are gradually placed on the front panel 12a and the bottom panel 12b. Deposit on.

In order to thaw the freezing of the dew condensation adhering to the cooler 6, when the cooling operation of the showcase 1 is stopped outside the business hours when the store is closed, defrosting is automatically or manually performed within a preset time. Driving is done regularly.

Therefore, by opening an opening / closing valve (not shown) of the water pipe P connected to the water sprinkler S within the defrosting operation time, pure water (tap water) is discharged from the plurality of water sprinkling discharge ports S1, S2, S3. The high-pressure jetting is performed on the rising portion of the front panel 12a and the upper surface of the bottom panel 12b that is inclined toward the front.

By sprinkling water from the sprinkling outlets S1, S2, S3, fragments and debris of various foods accumulated on the front panel 12a or the bottom panel 12b are flushed together with the drain water by the sprinkled tap water. It is guided to the drainage groove 16 and discharged from the drainage port 15 to the outside.

Therefore, according to the showcase configured as described above, inside the lower cold air circulation ventilation passage A formed in the lower portion of the base shelf 2a in which the products are stored,
By sprinkling water toward the bottom panel 12 from the water sprinkler S arranged above the drainage groove 16 extending in the width direction of the bottom panel 12, the fragments and debris of the food accumulated on the bottom panel 12 are removed. It is washed away toward the drainage groove 16 and can be washed without the need for manpower.

Further, by using vaporized water (including high-pressure steam) as the water spray by the water sprinkler S, it is possible to easily adhere to the upper surface of the bottom panel 12 and harden it, or even fine dust caught in a gap. It can be peeled off and washed.

Furthermore, since the watering by the water sprinkler S is controlled so that the watering is performed within the defrosting time of the cooler 6 during the operation of the showcase 1, the operation of the showcase 1 for watering is performed. Showcase 1 without stopping
The cleaning can be performed without affecting the operation rate of.

In addition, the water sprinkler S constitutes the cold air introduction portion near the cold air suction port in front of the showcase 1 and the front panel 12
If water is sprinkled toward a, it is possible to efficiently wash a place where dust or dirt easily enters and adheres.

Further, if the sprinkler S sprinkles water toward the bottom panel 12b, it is possible to wash away debris, dust, scales, etc. of the food stored at the bottom.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments. For example, when the defrosting operation is started, the opening / closing valve of the water pipe P is automatically operated. May be opened automatically or the water sprinkler may be automatically swung to save labor.

[0034]

The present invention has the following effects.

(A) According to the first aspect of the invention, by sprinkling water from above toward the bottom panel, food fragments, dust and the like are washed away toward the drainage groove, so that washing can be done without human intervention. can do.

(B) According to the second aspect of the invention, water can be sprayed evenly in the width direction of the showcase.

(C) According to the third aspect of the invention, it is possible to remove and clean even fine dust that is stuck to the upper surface of the bottom panel and hardened, or is trapped in a gap.

(D) According to the invention of claim 4, since the water is sprinkled within the defrosting time, the washing can be carried out without affecting the operating rate of the showcase.

(E) According to the invention of claim 5, by sprinkling water on the front panel, it is possible to efficiently clean the place where the dust and dirt that has entered with the cold air are attached, and the bottom panel side By sprinkling water on it, it is possible to wash away the food fragments, dust, scales, etc. accumulated on the bottom.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a showcase of the present invention in which a sprinkler is provided in a closed ventilation passage for cold air circulation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a state in which the base shelf plate of the product storage unit is removed and the bottom panel on which the water sprinkling means is arranged is viewed.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional showcase.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 showcase 2a to 2c Inner case (2a is a base shelf board) 3 multi-tiered display shelves 4a-4d outer case 5 blower 6 cooler 8 Cold air outlet 10 Cold air inlet 12 bottom panel 12a front panel 12b bottom panel 15 drain 16 drains A Cooling air passage for lower air circulation B Side air passage for cold air circulation C Upper cold air circulation air passage P water pipe S water sprinkler S1, S2, S3 Sprinkling outlet

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A showcase in which a cooling air circulation ventilation path is formed between an inner box and an outer box, and a blower and a cooler are arranged in the ventilation path, the lower surface of the inner box and the bottom of the outer box. A showcase characterized in that a sprinkling means for sprinkling water from above is arranged inside the lower cold air circulation ventilation passage formed between the panel and the bottom panel having a drainage groove. 2. The showcase according to claim 1, wherein the water sprinkling means is arranged so as to extend in the width direction of the showcase and has water sprinkling openings at predetermined intervals. 3. The showcase according to claim 1, wherein vaporized water is used for watering by the watering means. 4. The showcase according to claim 1, wherein the watering by the watering means is performed within the defrosting time of the cooler. 5. The bottom panel comprises a front panel that constitutes a cool air introduction section in front of the showcase, and an inclined bottom panel that allows drain water to flow from the rear of the showcase to the front. Showcase according to any one of.