JP2008256302A - Open showcase - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an open showcase for requiring less energy for cooling air for air curtain. <P>SOLUTION: On the lower side of a discharge port 40, an extending member 90 is provided extending in the cross direction of a commodity display room 20. The rear end of the extending member 90 is arranged in a range of 20 mm or less before and beyond the front end of the air curtain. Thus, even when swirling occurs on a contact face between discharge air and outside air, the downward movement of the swirling is prevented by the extending member 90 and the swirling is broken down into smaller pieces by the extending member 90 to prevent the greater growth of the swirling on the contact face between the discharge air and the outside air. Namely, this reduces the amount of discharge air to be mixed with the outside air on the lower end side of the air curtain and requires less energy for cooling air for the air curtain. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an open showcase that is arranged in a store such as a convenience store and displays products such as food and beverages while cooling or heating.

Conventionally, as this type of open showcase, a product display room having an opening on the front surface, a discharge port provided at the upper end of the opening of the product display room and capable of discharging air downward, and a product display room Provided at the lower end of the opening of the air outlet, and includes a suction port for sucking air discharged from the discharge port, and an air circulation mechanism for cooling the air sucked from the suction port and discharging it from the discharge port. An air curtain is formed in the opening of a commodity display chamber by the cooled discharge air that is cooled (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-325698

  By the way, in the open showcase, the discharge air discharged from the discharge port moves downward while being in contact with the outside air outside the product display room, so that a vortex is generated on the contact surface between the discharge air and the outside air (the front surface of the air curtain). And the vortex grows gradually and gradually downward (see FIG. 17). Also, the discharge air and the outside air are mixed by the vortex, and when the vortex becomes large, the amount of the discharge air mixed with the outside air increases, so the temperature of the discharge air rises at the lower end side of the air curtain, and the air curtain air There was a problem that the amount of energy required for cooling increased.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an open showcase capable of reducing the amount of energy required for cooling air for an air curtain.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a product display room having an opening on the front surface, and is provided at the upper end of the opening of the product display room so as to extend in the width direction of the product display room. A discharge port that can be discharged and a suction port that is provided at the lower end of the opening of the product display chamber so as to extend in the width direction of the product display chamber and sucks the discharge air discharged from the discharge port. In an open showcase in which an air curtain is formed at the opening of the product display chamber by discharging the discharged air from the discharge port, an extension provided to extend in the width direction of the product display chamber below the discharge port A member is provided, and the rear end of the extending member is arranged within a range of 20 mm or less with respect to the front surface of the air curtain.

  Accordingly, the extending member is provided below the discharge port so as to extend in the width direction of the commodity display chamber, and the rear end of the extending member is disposed within a range of 20 mm in the front and rear direction with respect to the front surface of the air curtain. Therefore, even if the discharge air discharged from the discharge port comes into contact with the outside air outside the product display chamber and a vortex is generated on the contact surface, the downward movement of the vortex is hindered by the extension member, and the extension The vortex is finely broken by the member, and the vortex does not grow greatly at the contact surface between the discharge air and the outside air.

  According to the present invention, since the vortex does not grow greatly on the contact surface between the discharge air and the outside air, the amount of the discharge air mixed with the outside air on the lower end side of the air curtain can be reduced, and the air curtain The amount of energy required for cooling the air can be reduced.

  1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an open showcase, FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the open showcase, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the position of the extending member and the content ratio of the discharged air. In addition, description of the direction in the following texts applies to the direction shown in FIG. Also, the left-right direction and the width direction are the same.

  The open showcase includes a rectangular box-shaped showcase body 10, a product display room 20 provided in the showcase body 10 and having an opening 20 a on the front surface, and a plurality of upper and lower stages attached in the product display room 20. The product shelf 30, the discharge port 40 provided at the upper end of the opening 20 a of the product display chamber 20 so as to extend in the width direction of the product display chamber 20, and the product display chamber at the lower end of the opening 20 a of the product display chamber 20. 20, a suction port 50 provided so as to extend in the width direction, a ventilation path 60 provided in the showcase body 10, a known cooler 70 and a blower 80 provided in the ventilation path 60, and a discharge port. A plurality of extending members 90 are provided below 40 and spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction.

  The showcase body 10 has a top wall 11, a back wall 12, a bottom wall 13, a pair of side walls 14 and a front wall 15 formed of a heat insulating member.

  The merchandise display chamber 20 includes a metal upper surface wall 21, a rear wall 22, a bottom wall 23, and a pair of left and right side walls 24 made of a transparent member such as glass.

  Each product shelf 30 includes a shelf plate 31 on which products are placed, and a pair of support members 32 that support both left and right ends of the shelf plate 31. A plurality of mounting holes 22a are provided in the back wall 22 of the product display chamber 20 at intervals in the vertical direction, and the rear end of each support member 32 is locked to an arbitrary mounting hole 22a among the mounting holes 22a. Thus, the product shelf 30 can be attached to any position in the product display chamber 20 in the vertical direction.

  The discharge port 40 is formed by a gap between the front end side of the upper surface wall 11 of the showcase body 10 and the front end of the upper surface wall 21 of the commodity display chamber 20 and can discharge air downward. The discharge port 40 is provided with a rectifying member 41 for rectifying air downward, and the rectifying member 41 is provided with a plurality of holes that are vertically inserted.

  The suction port 50 is formed by a gap between the upper end side of the front wall 15 of the showcase body 10 and the front end of the bottom wall 23 of the merchandise display chamber 20, and sucks the discharge air discharged from the discharge port 40. . A cover 51 is provided on the suction port 50 so that goods or the like do not fall into the suction port 50.

  The ventilation path 60 is formed by a gap between the top wall 11, the back wall 12, the bottom wall 13 and the front wall 15 of the showcase body 10 and the top wall 21, the back wall 22 and the bottom wall 23 of the product display room 20. One end of 60 communicates with the discharge port 40, and the other end of the ventilation path 60 communicates with the suction port 50. Since the cooler 70 and the blower 80 are provided in the ventilation path 60, the air whose temperature is adjusted (cooled) by the cooler 70 is discharged from the discharge port 40, and the discharge air discharged from the discharge port 40 is sucked. Inhaled through mouth 50. That is, an air curtain is formed in the opening 20 a of the product display chamber 20 by the discharged air discharged from the discharge port 40.

  Each extending member 90 is formed in a rod shape having a circular cross section and a diameter of approximately 20 mm, and is provided so as to extend in the width direction of the commodity display chamber 20. Each extending member 90 is supported at both ends by a pair of frames 91, and each frame 91 is provided so as to extend in the vertical direction along the front end of each side wall 24 of the product display chamber 20. Each extending member 90 has a rear end disposed behind the virtual surface IF connecting the front end 40a of the discharge port 40 and the front end 50a of the suction port 50, and the rear end of each extending member 90 and the virtual surface IF. The distance L1 is 10 mm (see FIG. 2). The virtual plane IF is a surface that connects the front end 40a of the discharge port 40 and the front end 50a of the suction port 50 with the shortest distance. In the present embodiment, the front end 40a of the discharge port 40 and the front end 50a of the suction port 50 are linear. For this reason, the virtual plane IF is also planar. Here, in this embodiment, since the discharge air discharged from the discharge port 40 flows almost linearly toward the suction port 50, each extending member 90 is disposed at a position 10 mm behind the virtual plane IF. Thus, the rear end of each extending member 90 is disposed at a position 10 mm behind the front surface of the air curtain. Each extending member 90 is disposed in front of each product shelf 30.

  In the open showcase configured as described above, when the air cooled in the ventilation path 60 is discharged from the discharge port 40, the discharge air discharged from the discharge port 40 and the outside air outside the product display chamber 20 are generated. The vortex is generated at the contact surface between the discharged air and the outside air (see FIG. 3). Here, the extending member 90 is provided below the discharge port 40 so as to extend in the width direction of the commodity display chamber 20, and the rear end of the extending member 90 is the front end 40 a of the discharge port 40 and the front end of the suction port 50. It is arranged at a position 10 mm behind the virtual plane IF connecting 50a. Thereby, since the rear end of the extending member 90 is disposed at a position 10 mm behind the front surface of the air curtain, even if a vortex occurs on the contact surface between the discharge air and the outside air, The movement is hindered by the extension member 90, and the extension member 90 breaks the vortex finely, so that the vortex does not grow greatly on the contact surface between the discharge air and the outside air.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the vortex does not grow greatly on the contact surface between the discharge air and the outside air, the amount of the discharge air mixed with the outside air on the lower end side of the air curtain can be reduced. The amount of energy required for cooling the air curtain air can be reduced.

  In addition, since the plurality of extending members 90 are provided at intervals in the vertical direction, each extending member 90 prevents the vortex from moving downward, and each extending member 90 provides fine vortices. It is crushed and is extremely advantageous in suppressing vortex growth at the contact surface between the discharge air and the outside air.

  Here, the relationship between the position of each extending member 90 and the content ratio of the discharge air in the intake air is as shown in the graph of FIG. The graph of FIG. 4 shows the ratio of the discharge air discharged from the discharge port 40 in the air sucked into the suction port 50 (discharge air) while changing the distance L1 between the rear end of each extending member 90 and the virtual plane IF. Content ratio). In addition, when not providing each extending member 90, the content rate of discharge air will be 0.75.

  When the rear end of each extending member 90 is disposed in front of the imaginary plane IF, if the distance L1 between the rear end of each extending member 90 and the imaginary plane IF is 20 mm or less, the content ratio of the discharge air is If the distance L1 is close to 0.9 and the distance L1 is 10 mm or less, the content ratio of the discharge air exceeds 0.9. On the other hand, if the distance L1 exceeds 20 mm, the content ratio of the discharge air is significantly reduced. Further, even when the rear end of each extending member 90 is disposed behind the virtual surface IF, if the distance L1 between the rear end of each extending member 90 and the virtual surface IF is 20 mm or less, the inclusion of the discharge air is included. When the ratio is close to 0.9 and the distance L1 is 10 mm or less, the discharge air content ratio exceeds 0.9, and when the distance L1 exceeds 20 mm, the discharge air content ratio decreases significantly.

  Therefore, in the above-described embodiment, the extending member 90 is disposed at a position 10 mm behind the imaginary plane IF. However, the rear end of the extending member 90 is within 20 mm forward and backward with respect to the imaginary plane IF. If the rear end of the extending member 90 is disposed within a range of 20 mm or less with respect to the front surface of the air curtain, the lower part of the vortex generated at the contact surface between the discharge air and the outside air The extension member 90 effectively prevents the extension member 90 from moving, and the extension member 90 efficiently breaks the vortex, so that the vortex does not grow greatly at the contact surface between the discharge air and the outside air. Further, the rear end of the extending member 90 is disposed within a range of 10 mm or less with respect to the virtual plane IF, so that the rear end of the extending member 90 is disposed within a range of 10 mm or less with respect to the front surface of the air curtain. More preferably. Here, in the present embodiment, the extension member 90 having a diameter of about 20 mm is used. However, the extension member 90 preferably has a diameter of 10 mm to 30 mm, and the extension members 90 having other diameters. It is also possible to use. Moreover, when arrange | positioning the rear end of the extending member 90 back with respect to the front surface of an air curtain, it is preferable that the front end of the extending member 90 is arrange | positioned ahead of the front surface of an air curtain.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, it is also possible to provide a juxtaposed member 95 in front of each extending member 90 and to extend each juxtaposed member 95 alongside each extending member 90. That is, each juxtaposed member 95 is provided so as to extend in the width direction of the product display chamber 20 like each extending member 90, and a predetermined gap is provided between each juxtaposed member 95 and each extending member 90. Is provided. By providing each juxtaposed member 95, the downward movement of the vortex is prevented more efficiently, and the vortex is more finely crushed, which is extremely advantageous in suppressing the growth of the vortex at the contact surface between the discharge air and the outside air. It is.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of juxtaposed members 95 may be provided in front of each extending member 90. In this case, a predetermined gap is provided between the juxtaposed members 95. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, it is also possible to arrange the juxtaposed members 95 so that they are arranged in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 7, the juxtaposed members 95 are gradually positioned forward. It is also possible to arrange so that the position becomes lower, and as shown in FIG. 8, it is also possible to arrange the juxtaposed members 95 so that the position gradually increases toward the front. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 9, it is also possible to arrange each juxtaposed member 95 so that it becomes higher after the position is gradually lowered toward the front, and as shown in FIG. It is also possible to arrange 95 so that the position is gradually lowered and then lowered.

  Further, since each extending member 90 is arranged in front of each product shelf 30, each extending member 90 does not interfere with taking out the products on each product shelf 30, and the convenience of the user is reduced. I will not let you.

  In the present embodiment, the distance L1 between the rear end of each extending member 90 and the virtual plane IF is equal to each other. However, as shown in FIG. It is also possible to make the distance L1 from the IF different from each other. Even in this case, the rear end of each extending member 90 is disposed within a range of 20 mm or less with respect to the virtual plane IF, so that the rear end of each extending member 90 is within 20 mm with respect to the front surface of the air curtain. If it is arranged in the range, it is possible to achieve the same effect as described above.

  12 and 13 show a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 12 is a side sectional view of an open showcase, and FIG. 13 is a graph showing the relationship between the position of the extended member and the content ratio of discharged air. is there. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and shown to the component equivalent to 1st Embodiment.

  This open showcase includes a showcase body 10, a product display room 20, each product shelf 30, a discharge port 40, a suction port 50, a ventilation path 60, a cooler 70, a blower 80, and a discharge port that are the same as those in the first embodiment. 40 and a single extending member 90 provided below 40. Similarly to the first embodiment, the rear end of the extending member 90 is disposed within a range of 20 mm or less with respect to a virtual plane IF connecting the front end 40a of the discharge port 40 and the front end 50a of the suction port 50. Thus, the rear end of the extending member 90 is disposed within a range of 20 mm in the front and rear with respect to the front surface of the air curtain. Here, the rear end of the extending member 90 is disposed on the virtual plane IF. Further, the extending member 90 is disposed such that a vertical distance L2 between the rear end and the front end 40a of the discharge port 40 is 200 mm or more and 700 mm or less. The extending member 90 is disposed in front of any one of the product shelves 30.

  In the open showcase configured as described above, when the air cooled in the ventilation path 60 is discharged from the discharge port 40, the discharge air discharged from the discharge port 40 and the outside air outside the product display chamber 20 are generated. The vortex is generated at the contact surface between the discharge air and the outside air. Here, the extending member 90 is provided below the discharge port 40 so as to extend in the width direction of the commodity display chamber 20, and the rear end of the extending member 90 is within a range of 20 mm in the front and rear direction with respect to the virtual plane IF. Since the rear end of the extending member 90 is disposed within a range of 20 mm before and after the front surface of the air curtain by being disposed, in the contact surface between the discharge air and the outside air as in the first embodiment. The downward movement of the generated vortex is prevented by the extending member 90, and the vortex is finely broken by the extending member 90, so that the vortex does not grow greatly on the contact surface between the discharge air and the outside air.

  Further, the relationship between the vertical position of the extending member 90 and the content ratio of the discharge air in the intake air is as shown in the graph of FIG. The graph of FIG. 13 shows the discharge air discharged from the discharge port 40 in the air sucked into the suction port 50 while changing the vertical distance L2 between the rear end of the extending member 90 and the front end 40a of the discharge port 40. The ratio (content ratio of discharged air) is measured. Thus, if the vertical distance L2 between the rear end of the extending member 90 and the front end 40a of the discharge port 40 is 200 mm or more and 700 mm or less, the content ratio of the discharge air exceeds 0.82, but the distance L2 is When the distance is less than 200 mm, the decrease in the content ratio of the discharge air becomes significant. When the distance L2 exceeds 700 mm, the decrease in the content ratio of the discharge air becomes significant.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, the extending member 90 is provided below the discharge port 40 so as to extend in the width direction of the commodity display chamber 20, and the rear end of the extending member 90 is the virtual surface IF. On the other hand, it is arrange | positioned in the range within 20 mm back and forth. Thereby, since the rear end of the extending member 90 is disposed within a range of 20 mm or less with respect to the front surface of the air curtain, the downward movement of the vortex generated on the contact surface between the discharge air and the outside air is extended. In addition to being efficiently blocked by 90, the eddy is efficiently broken by the extending member 90, and the vortex does not grow greatly at the contact surface between the discharge air and the outside air.

  Similarly to the first embodiment, a single or a plurality of juxtaposed members 95 can be provided in front of the extending member 90, and the effect in this case is as shown in the first embodiment.

  Further, since the extending member 90 is disposed in front of any one of the product shelves 30, the extending member 90 may hinder the removal of the products on each product shelf 30. And user convenience is not reduced.

  In the second embodiment, a single extended member 90 is provided below the discharge port 40, and the vertical distance L2 between the rear end of the extended member 90 and the front end 40a of the discharge port 40 is 200 mm or more and 700 mm. Although what was arrange | positioned so that it might become below was shown, it is also possible to further provide the extending member 90 below the said extending member 90 further. Even in this case, the rear end of each extending member 90 is disposed within a range of 20 mm or less with respect to the virtual plane IF, so that the rear end of each extending member 90 is within 20 mm with respect to the front surface of the air curtain. In this case, the downward movement of the vortex generated at the contact surface between the discharge air and the outside air is effectively prevented by each extending member 90 and efficiently by each extending member 90. The vortex is broken and the vortex does not grow greatly at the contact surface between the discharge air and the outside air. Moreover, since the uppermost extension member 90 is arrange | positioned so that the up-down direction distance of the rear end and the front end 40a of the discharge outlet 40 may be 200 mm or more and 700 mm or less among each extension member 90, the uppermost extension member 90 is provided. The extension member 90 effectively prevents the downward movement of the vortex, and the uppermost extension member 90 efficiently breaks the vortex, which is extremely advantageous for suppressing the growth of the vortex.

  In the first and second embodiments, the both ends of the extending member 90 are supported by the respective frames 91. However, both ends of the extending member 90 are supported by the pair of movable frames 92 and each movable frame. 92 can be supported by the product shelf 30 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction (see FIG. 14). Accordingly, the extending member 90 can move in the front-rear direction, and the position of the extending member 90 in the front-rear direction can be easily set.

  In addition, the extending member 90 can be provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction. In this case, the vertical position of the extending member 90 can be easily set.

  In the first and second embodiments, the extending member 90 is formed in a bar shape with a circular cross section. However, the extending member 90 is formed in a bar shape with a polygonal cross section such as a triangular cross section or a quadrangular cross section. It is also possible.

  In the first and second embodiments, the extension member 90 formed in a rod shape is provided. However, a part or all of each extension member 90 is formed by an illumination device including an LED or a fluorescent lamp. It is also possible to do this (see FIG. 15). In this case, the extending member 90 has an effect of suppressing the growth of the vortex and also has a function of illuminating the product on the product shelf 30. Furthermore, a part or all of each extended member 90 can be formed by a display member that displays an advertisement, a product price, or the like. In this case, the extending member 90 has an effect of suppressing vortex growth and also has a display function.

  In the first and second embodiments, the cooler 70 is provided in the ventilation path 60 and the discharge air discharged from the discharge port 40 is cooled. However, a heater is provided in the ventilation path 60. It is also possible to heat the air discharged from the discharge port 40.

  Further, in the first and second embodiments, the discharge air discharged from the discharge port 40 flows almost linearly toward the suction port 50, and the imaginary connection between the front end 40a of the discharge port 40 and the front end 50a of the suction port 50 is made. By arranging the rear end of the extending member 90 with respect to the surface IF in a range within 20 mm in the front and rear, the rear end of the extending member 90 is arranged in a range within 20 mm with respect to the front surface of the air curtain. I showed what I did. On the other hand, for example, when the air discharged from the discharge port 40 flows while gradually changing the direction forward (see FIG. 16), the front and back of the air curtain assumed based on the flow of the discharge air is 20 mm forward and backward. The rear end of the extending member 90 is adjusted by arranging the rear end of the extending member 90 within the range of the inner wall or adjusting the position of the extending member 90 in the front-rear direction while checking the position of the front surface of the actual air curtain. It is possible to arrange | position in the range within 20 mm back and front with respect to the front surface of an air curtain. Even in the first and second embodiments, the rear end of the extending member 90 is adjusted by adjusting the position of the extending member 90 in the front-rear direction while confirming the position of the front surface of the actual air curtain. It is possible to arrange | position in the range within 20 mm back and front with respect to the front surface.

The perspective view of the open showcase which shows 1st Embodiment of this invention Side view of open showcase Operation explanation diagram of open showcase The graph which shows the relationship between the position of an extending member and the content rate of discharge air Side surface sectional drawing of the principal part of the open showcase which shows the 1st modification of 1st Embodiment. Side surface sectional drawing of the principal part of the open showcase which shows the 2nd modification of 1st Embodiment. Side surface sectional drawing of the principal part of the open showcase which shows the 3rd modification of 1st Embodiment. Side surface sectional drawing of the principal part of the open showcase which shows the 4th modification of 1st Embodiment. Side surface sectional drawing of the principal part of the open showcase which shows the 5th modification of 1st Embodiment. Side surface sectional drawing of the principal part of the open showcase which shows the 6th modification of 1st Embodiment. Side surface sectional drawing of the principal part of the open showcase which shows the 7th modification of 1st Embodiment. Side surface sectional drawing of the open showcase which shows 2nd Embodiment of this invention The graph which shows the relationship between the position of an extending member and the content rate of discharge air The perspective view of the goods shelf which shows the modification of 1st and 2nd embodiment. Side surface sectional drawing of the principal part of the open showcase which shows the other modification of 1st and 2nd embodiment. Side surface sectional drawing of the open showcase which shows the further another modification of 1st and 2nd embodiment. Operation explanatory diagram of conventional open showcase

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Showcase body, 20 ... Product display room, 30 ... Product shelf, 40 ... Discharge port, 40a ... Front end, 41 ... Rectification member, 50 ... Inlet port, 50a ... Front end, 51 ... Cover, 60 ... Ventilation path, 70 ... cooler, 80 ... blower, 90 ... extending member, 91 ... frame, 92 ... movable frame, IF ... virtual surface.

Claims (7)

A product display room having an opening on the front surface, a discharge port provided at the upper end of the opening of the product display room so as to extend in the width direction of the product display room, and capable of discharging air downward; A suction port is provided at the lower end of the opening so as to extend in the width direction of the product display chamber, and sucks in the discharge air discharged from the discharge port. By discharging the air sucked from the suction port from the discharge port, In an open showcase that forms an air curtain at the opening of the product display room,
An extending member provided so as to extend in the width direction of the commodity display chamber below the discharge port;
An open showcase characterized in that the rear end of the extending member is arranged within a range of 20 mm or less with respect to the front surface of the air curtain. 2. The open showcase according to claim 1, wherein one extending member is arranged so that a vertical distance between the rear end and the front end of the discharge port is 200 mm or more and 700 mm or less. The open showcase according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the extending members are provided at intervals in the vertical direction. A plurality of product shelves provided in the product display room at intervals in the vertical direction,
The open showcase according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the extending member is arranged in front of the product shelf. 4. The open show according to claim 3, wherein the uppermost extension member among the extension members is arranged such that a vertical distance between the rear end and the front end of the discharge port is 200 mm or more and 700 mm or less. Case. The open showcase according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the extending member is provided so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. Comprising at least one juxtaposed member provided to extend in front of the extending member alongside the extending member;
The open showcase according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein a predetermined gap is provided between the extending member and the juxtaposed member.

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