JP2009519044A - Refrigerated retail unit - Google Patents

Abstract

  The refrigerated retail unit comprises a support structure (22) and at least one insulated, open-top container (20) movable relative to the structure, the container having an interior through the access opening (28). It has a display position that can be accessed and a full access position where the interior of the container can be accessed through most or all of its open upper end. When in the full access position, the container can substantially hold cool air therein. The unit further includes cooling means (36) for cooling the inside of the container and a heat insulating lid (26) supported by the structure. When the container is in the display position, a portion of the total top surface area formed by the container is covered by the lid, and the remaining portion not covered by the lid forms an access opening.

Description

  The present invention relates to techniques for cold storage using a refrigeration system including devices such as refrigerators and freezers for storing food and other perishable items. The invention is particularly concerned with refrigerated displays and dispensers used in retail environments that supply frozen or chilled foods and beverages, such as in stores, restaurants, bars and the like. For the sake of brevity, this specification collectively refers to such displays and dispensers as refrigerated retail units.

The present invention is a development of the technical idea described in the already published patent application in the name of the present applicant. Examples of those prior patent applications are WO 01/020237, WO 02/073104, WO 02/073105, WO 02/073107, WO 2005/024315 and WO 2006/021819. The contents are incorporated into this document by reference.
WO 01/020237 WO 02/073104 WO 02/073105 WO 02/073107 WO 2005/024315 WO 2006/021819

  Briefly summarizing the preface of WO 01/020237, the benefits of preserving food and other perishable items in a refrigerated and separated state have long been known. Refrigeration delays the deterioration of such items, and separation helps prevent their cross-contamination. Thus, modern cold storages such as refrigerators and freezers are often ineffective, but are usually partitioned, allowing the user to store different types of food in different compartments. All such appliances have the additional purpose of maximizing energy efficiency, but this may be compromised in retail applications due to the ease of access to the product inside.

  A refrigerated retail unit generally consists of a cooler unit that creates a convection loop within an insulated cabinet. The air cooled by the cooler unit descends toward the bottom of the cabinet, and the air absorbs heat during the descent and rises to the cooler unit to be cooled again. It can also be provided with forced air circulation by a fan inside or in communication with the cabinet. Shelves may be provided in the cabinet, which are often formed of wires so that they hardly resist air circulation.

  Refrigerated retail units are available in a large freezer format with an open top insulated cabinet. The cabinet may be left open for convenient access to the contents, but the difficulty arises that heat transfer from the outside air into the cabinet continues. This thermal gain problem can be mitigated by closing the upper end of the cabinet with a sliding access panel or a lateral hinged top-open insulating lid. However, the disadvantage of more difficult access to the products in the cabinet means that this solution is often not adopted in retail applications.

  While large freezers have the advantage of keeping cool air inside the cabinet, the space just above the cabinet is needed for access and is also needed to give room to open the lid, The configuration is inconvenient and wasteful in space because it hinders use. Even if a sliding access panel is used instead of an open lid, the item cannot be conveniently placed on the cabinet. In addition, access to large freezers is very difficult, and it may be necessary to move a number of heavy and painfully cold items to reach the items at the bottom of the cold storage in the cabinet. unknown.

  In view of the disadvantages of large freezer configurations, most refrigerated retail units use vertical, front-opening insulated cabinets. The internal storage volume of the cabinet is usually divided by shelves. This is a better use of floor space by allowing more product to be displayed against the unit's constant planar area or “footprint”. The use of shelves allows the product to be placed at a convenient height for viewing and selection, thus facilitating access to the product if the cabinet is high enough. This type of attention is common in front-opening formats in supermarkets, take-out sandwich shops and cafeterias. Such units are also common in beverage self-service retail, but in that application doors are usually attached.

  The advantage of easy access does not apply to the low “undercounter” units typically used to store bottles in bars. There, the products are usually close to the floor and therefore need to bend or even kneel to see and access them. Also, precious counter space is wasted if the bottles are leveled for rapid cooling.

  The advantage of easy access applies to products that are actually placed on the shelf above the waist level and below the eye level, and only on the products on the front side of each shelf. Access to the product behind the shelf can be very cumbersome. This reduces the effective storage space in the cabinet and prevents access to products that are the coldest and may be closest to the expiration date. Customers tend to pick items that are most conveniently located in front of the shelves, which is a greater demand for effective stock rotation. However, the front-loading design of existing front-opening refrigerated retail units also prevents stock rotation as described below.

  When the stockpile needs to be replenished and rotated, the front-opening vertical cabinet encounters a particular problem. They can only be front-filled, causing the perishable items left behind in the cabinet to expire, and this undesirable scenario can be summarized as first-in, last-out. They also make stockpiling rotation a difficult manual task that may require moving a large number of heavy, cold items out of a messy place in the cabinet. This can lead to product damage and cross-contamination and worker injury. At least some items may not rotate effectively and may expire before they are sold.

  Of course, a major problem with vertical and front-opening cabinets is that cold air can freely flow out from the lower end of the cabinet during use, and can be replaced with warm outside air flowing in at the upper end. The inflow of outside air raises the internal temperature of the cabinet and therefore consumes more energy in correcting the rise by operating the cooler unit. Incoming outside air introduces the possibility of air pollution, and moisture in the air also causes condensation and possibly icing in the cabinet. On the other hand, the cool air leaking from the cabinet can cool the surroundings to the point of discomfort for shoppers and employees, and even violate environmental regulations. This problem is particularly noticeable when several refrigerated retail units are lined up in parallel opposing rows with passages therebetween.

  Whenever the retail store is closed, it is possible to install or place a removable night cover on the open front of the vertical cabinet. However, existing night covers are not very effective and take time to install and are therefore not always used.

  A more general strategy for reducing cold air leaks is to provide a vertically sealed hinged door or sliding door in the cabinet and close the open front. However, the door can reduce spillage only while it is closed, especially as the door is opened longer and more frequently, especially as it occurs in retail applications. Replaced with warm, moist, and possibly contaminated outside air.

  Like the lid of a large freezer, the door prevents you from seeing and accessing the product in the cabinet. Even if the door is usually glazed in a retail environment, the glass should be kept free of dirt and condensation if it is stored behind it and the product can be viewed. Also, for example, if a shopper has a basket or an infant and both hands are not free, it is inconvenient to open the door. This is especially true when the door is forcibly opened against the effects of reduced pressure in the cabinet or against a biasing means such as a spring or tilt that biases the door to close. Opening the door becomes more cumbersome if the door is latched or if it is located below and low like an undercounter unit.

  Also, if the unit is intended for use behind a narrow counter, for example, the hinged door may not fit. Sliding doors may fit the situation but prevent access. This is because at least one door is always located across the open front of the cabinet and must be slid aside to access the product in the cabinet behind it.

  The limitation of the vertical seal means that cold air loss and warm air inflow occurs even when the door is closed. Since the coldest air is thicker than the warmer air, it collects at the bottom of the cabinet and exerts pressure on the seal interface. Unless a perfect seal is formed between the door and the cabinet, the air will leak.

  Another problem with known refrigerated retail units is that they do not effectively separate different types of food or other perishable items to avoid cross-contamination. In fact, food separation is impaired by the convection and / or forced air systems on which these units depend. In addition, substantially open shelves designed to facilitate the circulation of air in the cabinet facilitate the circulation of moisture, enzymes and harmful bacteria. In addition, spilled or leaking liquids, such as juice flowing from raw meat, are not contained by the open shelves and may be dropped or dropped into the underlying product.

  Yet another problem with known refrigerated retail units is the inflexible design, which depends in part on insulated cabinets. For example, the overall shape tends to be an uninteresting cube, and there is little space to display product information such as advertisements and prices without obfuscating and preventing access to the products being sold.

  During the last few years, various efforts have been made to improve the design of refrigerated retail units. For example, US Pat. No. 5,599,079 of Ranno et al discloses a refrigerated product display stand specifically for banana display. The platform has an internally cooled, open top, non-insulated drawer that is pulled horizontally and raised for access. Cooling is effected by a flexible hose that extends into the rear wall of the drawer, supplying cool air from external cooling means. When the drawer is in a horizontal position, it is possible to keep cool air, but when the drawer is raised, the cold air spills out. Also, a large heat gain is created inside the drawer through the open top and non-insulated walls, and condensation can occur in the drawer. Condensation is a major factor in microbial growth.

  Guinness GB 2028480 discloses a bottle cooler with gravity-fed drawers, each drawer having an inclined inner bottom surface and a guide that forms a channel for downward movement of the bottle within the drawer. The front access opening on the front wall of each drawer is located in a vertical plane. There are devices that produce a cool air curtain in the access opening. The access opening can also be closed with a shutter or window, but such shutter or window must be movable in use to maintain access to the interior of the drawer.

  A drawer with an opening in the wall is inherently leaky, even if the opening is normally closed. GB2028480 discloses a cooling cabinet configuration in which air leaks when the drawer is open, air circulates inside, and mixes between the drawers. In this regard, it is noted that the framework structure has an open bottom of each drawer. Again, heat gain and condensation are problems, and there is also the risk of icing at low operating temperatures.

  Electrolux EP0853456 discloses a refrigerated retail unit comprising a plurality of uninsulated drawers stacked one above the other in an insulated front opening cabinet. In the closed state, the drawer bottoms, except for the bottom drawers, are open most of the drawers except for the front access opening formed by an outwardly inclined front wall extending upward from the bottom of each drawer. Cover the top edge.

  Even if the drawer is closed, the item can be removed through the access opening. The inner bottom of each drawer is sloped to facilitate the advancement of the item toward the access opening by gravity.

  The support structure forms a shared plenum chamber that supplies cool air to the rear of each drawer. The drawer and plenum communicate with each other due to the circulation of cold air and the return of warmed air. For that purpose, the drawer has an opening in its rear wall that cooperates with an opening in the front wall of the plenum chamber. When the drawer is pulled forward to open the opening, there is the disadvantage that cold air overflows from both the drawer and plenum chamber openings. In fact, when the upper drawer of an adjacent pair is opened, the cool air flows directly into the open upper end of the lower drawer of the pair.

  There is also a direct flow of cold air from the upper drawer of each adjacent pair to the lower drawer through the access opening in the lower drawer. This is simply intended to give a refreshing feeling when the user's hand is inserted into the access opening.

  The configuration for air movement between the shared plenum and the drawer shows that EP0853456 has nothing to do with effectively separating the cold storage volume of the drawer. EP 0853456 also sticks to the prior art cooling cabinet principle, depending on the thermal insulation of the cabinet. This limits design freedom. More importantly, however, it recognizes that the outside of the drawer is immersed in the outside air due to heat transfer from outside air into the drawer and loss of cold air from the drawer. EP 0 835 456 thus leaves the difficulty of heat gain into and out of the cabinet. This is due to the loss of cool air through the open front of the cabinet and its replacement with warmer ambient air and the contact of the uninsulated drawer to the warmer air.

  Warm inflowing outside air carries water vapor into the cabinet. Therefore, condensation on the surfaces of the drawers, the interiors of the cabinets, and other members in the cabinet, such as drawer runners, is unavoidable when they fall below the surrounding dew point. As mentioned above, condensation promotes microbial growth. In addition, it conveys latent heat, is unsightly, annoying, causes corrosion, and requires continuous movement so that the unit does not leave a growing puddle on the floor. Also, if the unit is used as a freezer, condensation can cause icing.

  Freezing is a specific risk of EP0853456 because there is a gap between the upper and lower drawers of each adjacent pair. The purpose of those gaps is to allow sliding movement between adjacent drawers. However, if the contents of the drawer are less than 0 degrees Celsius, the condensation that moves into those gaps will inevitably freeze. Thus, paradoxically, the gap can eventually freeze the drawers.

  The present invention has been made against this background. That is, the present invention is as follows.

Refrigerated retail unit, comprising:
Support structure,
At least one insulated open-top container, the container being in relation to the structure a display position in which the interior of the container is accessible through an access opening, and the interior of the container is through most or all of the open top. A fully accessible position, and the container can substantially hold cold inside when in the full access position.
A cooling means for cooling the inside of the container, and a heat insulating lid supported by the structure,
Here, when the container is in the display position, a part of the entire upper surface area formed by the container is covered by a lid, and the remaining part not covered by the lid forms an access opening.

  Preferably, the lid is fixed to the structure. The container may be movable relative to the lid beyond the display position to a fully closed position where the open upper end of the container is completely closed by the lid.

  The container may move as a drawer relative to the structure and the lid, or may be removable from the structure. When the container moves as a drawer relative to the structure and lid, the telescopic runner between the container and structure pulls the container out of the structure to the extent necessary to expose substantially all of the open upper end of the container. Can make it possible.

  In some embodiments of the invention, the lid has a substantially horizontal lower surface, the open upper end of the container forms a substantially horizontal upper surface, and the container is substantially between the display position and the full access position. Move horizontally to. In another embodiment, the lower surface of the lid and the upper surface of the container are inclined downward and forward. In that case, the container can move in a corresponding inclined surface between the display position and the full access position. The unit may comprise latch means for holding the container in the upper position. In addition or as an alternative, the unit may comprise biasing means for biasing the container upward.

  The container is preferably supported in a non-insulated cabinet or casing. This gives considerable design freedom.

  In order to increase the display area of each container, a mezzanine floor shelf can be provided in the container.

  The unit may include at least two containers including an upper container and a lower container that are arranged above and below. In that case, it is desirable that an air gap exists between the lid of the lower container and the bottom of the upper container. The containers in the display position may be in a stacked relationship. For example, the lower container may be longer in the front-rear direction than the upper container. The lid of the lower container may be shorter than the lower container, but may be substantially the same as the length of the upper container. When the container is in the display position, the lower container can be pulled out of the structure larger than the upper container.

  It is desirable for the upper container to have an outwardly inclined front wall that forms its access opening and for the lower container to have an inclined front wall that is smaller than the front wall of the upper container. For example, the lower container may comprise a front wall that is substantially vertical or substantially perpendicular to its bottom. This maximizes the space inside the drawer and access to the drawer.

  In some embodiments, the lower container is wider to the left and right than the upper container. In these embodiments, the lid of the lower container is narrower than the lower container and may be substantially the same width as the upper container.

  One container may move as a drawer relative to the structure and the other container may be removable from the structure.

  The cooling means may be provided on the lid side. For example, the cooling means may include a fan coil unit in the lid, or an evaporator in the lid. The plenum chamber in the lid may be in communication with the vessel through the vaporizer and a partition hole that partially forms the plenum chamber.

  It is desirable for the cooling means to use a built-in air circulation between the lid and the container. In some embodiments, the container includes a circulation path with an inlet that receives air from an air curtain delivered across the access opening. The circulation path is formed between the inner wall and the outer wall of the container. The air curtain may be delivered from the lid across the access opening and the circuit may include an outlet for directing air to the lid. In that case, the outlet is preferably located at the rear of the container.

  Generally, the cooling means includes a heat exchanger, a cold air passage extending from the cold air source outside the lid into the lid, or other techniques such as magnetic refrigeration can be used.

  Preferably, at least most of the cooling takes place through the lid and the cooling means does not cool the exterior of the container.

  The container may comprise a bottom and front, rear and side walls upstanding from the bottom to form an open upper end. In that case, the rear wall and the side wall may extend substantially from the bottom to the lid, and the front wall may be shorter than the rear wall. In order to increase the height of the front wall, a heat insulating plate attachable to the front wall of the container may be provided.

  In some embodiments, the front wall, the rear wall, and the sidewalls extend substantially perpendicularly from the bottom. For example, the front wall and / or the rear wall may be substantially vertical. It is also desirable that the sidewalls be substantially vertical.

  It is desirable that at least a part of the front wall is transparent so that the items in the container can be seen. Furthermore, at least the front part of the side wall may be transparent.

  Desirably, at least the inner surface of the bottom portion is inclined downward toward the access opening. In that case, the inner surface may be provided with a parallel groove toward the access opening. It is desirable that the narrow front portion of the bottom inclined inner surface near the access opening is steeper than the wider rear portion of the inner surface. For example, the front wall of the container may be inclined at an obtuse internal angle with respect to the bottom, and the narrow front portion may be inclined substantially perpendicular to the front wall. More generally, the inner surface of the bottom may be inclined downwardly and extend away from the second access opening of the container.

  When the unit of the present invention includes at least two containers arranged one above the other, the lid of the lower container may include an upper surface that is inclined to coincide with the outer inclination of the bottom of the upper container.

  The front wall may be inclined at an obtuse internal angle with respect to the bottom. In that case, each forward extension of the side wall may have an inclined upward edge extending to the upper end of the front wall, said edge and the upper end of the front wall at least partially forming an access opening. A configuration in which the rear wall is inclined at an obtuse internal angle with respect to the bottom is also possible. In that case, each rearward extension of the side wall may have an inclined upward edge extending to the upper end of the rear wall, and the edge and the upper end of the rear wall may at least partially form a second access opening.

  It is also suitable that the main access opening is at least partly formed by the front wall. The access opening may be at least partially formed by a forward extension of the sidewall. When the front wall is inclined at an obtuse internal angle with respect to the bottom, each forward extension of the side wall has an inclined upward edge extending to the upper end of the front wall, the edge and the upper end of the front wall being at least partially access open Can be formed.

  The access opening is preferably upward and outward. For example, the access opening may be forward or sideways. In any case, it is expedient for the access opening to be adjacent to the lid, for example located in front of the lid and / or on at least one side of the lid. Thus, the access opening can extend at least partially around the lid in plan view.

  In order to facilitate access through the access opening, the end face of the lid adjacent to the access opening may be downwardly outward.

  A movable or removable canopy may cover the access opening. The canopy may be supported by the lid, such as hinged to the lid. When not in use, the canopy may be stowed in a recess opened in front of the lid. At least a portion of the canopy may be transparent.

  The container may be formed by a plurality of open top heat insulation boxes arranged side by side on a support base. In that case, one of the boxes may be located below the access opening and at least one other entire box may be located below the lid. The boxes may cooperate to form a flat top surface that can cooperate with the flat bottom surface of the lid.

  The box may be slidable with respect to the support base, the support base may be inclined, and the box may slide down on the inclined surface of the support base under its own weight. In that case, it is desirable that the lower box on the support table supports one or more upper boxes on the support table so as not to slide downward until the lower box is removed from the support table. The inclined support may include a front wall that supports the lower box.

  It is desirable that the support base is movable with respect to the structure, for example as a drawer. The support is preferably supported by a telescopic runner and can be pulled out of the structure to the extent necessary to place a box at the rear of the support.

  Each box preferably includes a rear wall and side walls that extend substantially from the support to the lid, and a front wall that is shorter than the rear wall. Desirably, the access opening is at least partially formed by the front wall.

  The unit may comprise a second access opening that allows access to the interior of the container in the display position. For example, it may comprise at least two access openings, at least one of which is an outlet for removing items from the container. In that case, it is desirable for at least one of the access openings to be an inlet for putting items into the container.

  In the preferred embodiment, a seal acts between the lid and the top of the container. The seal is a magnetic slide seal and may substantially surround the lower surface of the lid. Specifically, the seal may comprise an element that traverses the direction of movement of the container relative to the structure. When the container is in the display position, the first transverse element of the seal can act between the lid and the rear wall of the container. When the container is in the full access position, a second transverse element in front of the first transverse element of the seal can act between the lid and the rear wall of the container. Also, when the container is in the fully closed position, the second transverse element of the seal acts between the lid and the front wall of the container, and the third transverse element behind the first transverse element of the seal is the lid and the rear wall of the container. Can act between.

  It is desirable for the seal to have a longitudinal element parallel to the direction of movement of the container relative to the structure. Conveniently, the longitudinal element of the seal acts between the lid and the side wall of the container when the container is in the display position or the fully closed position.

  BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG.

  Many embodiments of the present invention have some common features, and where appropriate, like reference numerals are used for like parts where appropriate. In each case, the refrigerated retail unit is one piece, usually a thermally insulated drawer 20, that is supported by the structure 22 so as to be movable between an open state extended relative to the structure 22 and a retracted closed state. The above container is provided. The withdrawal runner 24 allows the drawer 20 to be withdrawn from the structure 22 to the extent that the entire open upper end of the drawer 20 can be accessed from above to facilitate cleaning and refilling.

  The drawer 20 may be completely removable from the unit, in which case the entire drawer 20 can be stored in a storage location until needed and then quickly attached to the unit. In fact, the supplier can also supply the goods packed in the drawer 20.

  In general, the number and size of unit drawers 20 can vary depending on the items stored and displayed in the unit. In particular, the drawer 20 can be of any suitable height to accommodate various items such as soft drink cans, 500 ml, 2/3 liter bottles, and the like.

  The drawer 20 has a heat insulating lid 26 fixedly supported by the structure 22. When the drawer 20 is closed, the lid 26 at least partially closes the open upper end of the drawer 20. When the drawer 20 is closed, this drawer 20 forms the entire top surface area that is partially covered by the lid 26. The remaining upper surface area of the drawer 20 that is not covered by the lid 26 forms at least one access opening 28 that allows access to the interior of the closed drawer 20.

  A seal 30 may be provided between the lid 26 and the open upper end of the drawer 20 to minimize cross-contamination such as odor contamination and to minimize energy waste and icing. In order to prevent icing, a slight heating means (not shown) may be provided on the seal 30 side.

  A cooling means for cooling the inside of the drawer 20 instead of the outside is provided. In the described embodiment, the cooling means is associated with the lid 26. Specifically, most embodiments include a fan coil unit comprising a fan 32, a plenum chamber 34, and an evaporator 36 in the lid. As part of the built-in circulation between the lid 26 and the drawer 20 through the opening of a partition 38 that forms the underside of the plenum chamber 34 and distributes the cool air around the drawer 20, the air current is Sent across 36. Although not specifically referred to in this document, the defrosting drain means may be provided on the evaporator 36 side by a known method.

  In general, the cooling means may be a heat exchanger such as an evaporator 36 in the lid 26 or a cold air passage extending in the lid 26 from a cold air source outside the lid 26. Other cooling such as magnetic refrigeration is also possible. In addition, although it is not preferable, the cooling means can be provided without being associated with the lid 26.

  In order to avoid or minimize condensation and icing, it is desirable to expose the outside of the drawer 20 to air above ambient temperature. Means (not shown) for facilitating the flow of outside air or heated air may be provided in the unit and around the closed drawer as proposed in applicants' prior patent applications WO 01/020237 and WO 02/073105. .

  The drawers 20 may be stacked one above the other with the corresponding lids 26 so that the lids 26 and the drawers 20 alternate in the stack. Although not shown in the illustrated embodiment, the drawer 20 and the lid 26 may be arranged side by side in addition or as an alternative. The drawer 20 and the lid 26 can also be provided as individual modules that can be combined to create an ideal arrangement for various applications.

  Optionally, select different temperatures for each drawer 20 to suit different foods or other contents to suit different cold storage types, such as refrigeration slightly above 0 degrees Celsius and frozen well below 0 degrees Celsius. You may comprise. In fact, it is also possible to easily convert any given drawer 20 from the refrigerator to the freezer and back again, changing the ratio of refrigeration space to freezing space in all units. In this way, the unit can respond to changing needs for cold storage.

  Next, with particular reference to FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), a first embodiment of the invention suitable for display and sale of food or beverage 40 is shown. The units of FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b) can be used, for example, as a freezer for displaying boxed ice cream. It may be a free standing or counter top type unit.

  FIG. 1 (a) shows the drawer 20 closed under the lid 26, and FIG. 1 (b) shows the drawer 20 fully opened. As shown in FIG. 1 (b), when fully open, the drawer 20 extends and contracts horizontally at a position that has exited the structure 22 so that it can be filled through the fully open upper end area of the drawer 20. Supported by the expression runner 24. By using the drawer 20 in this way, the filling process is easier than with a conventional refrigerated retail unit. The entire surface of the drawer is accessible, which allows easy and quick stockpile checking and necessary replenishment or stockpile rotation. In particular, easy back-filling helps to perform a desirable first-in first-out (FIFO) stockpiling rotation.

  The lid 26 is a heat insulating block having parallel upper and lower surfaces, one of which is a horizontal lower surface 42 facing the closed drawer 20. The front surface 44 of the lid 26 is inclined forward and downward at two different inclined portions 46 and 48 and terminates at the leading edge 50. The slope of the lower part 48 is shallower than that of the upper part 46.

  The plenum chamber 34 is recessed from the lower surface 42 of the lid 26, and the partition 38 that forms the lower side of the plenum chamber 34 is parallel to the lower surface 42. Fan 32 and evaporator 36 are located in a duct within plenum chamber 34.

  A flexible magnetic slide seal 30 depends from the lower surface 42 of the lid 26, but the arrangement of the seal 30 which can also be provided on the drawer 20 is as disclosed in the applicant's earlier patent application WO 2005/024315. It may be roughly the same.

  The drawer 20 has an integrally formed heat insulating wall, each of which has a substantially flat and parallel side surface. The wall includes an inclined bottom portion 52 inclined forward and downward, an upright rear wall 54 orthogonal to the lower surface 42 of the lid 26, and an inclined front wall 56 that forms an obtuse internal angle with the bottom portion 52. Specifically, the front wall 56 is inclined outward and upward from the bottom 52 and terminates in the front lower direction with respect to the front edge 50 of the lid 26 when the drawer 20 is closed. Parallel side walls 58 (only one of which is visible in the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b)) are orthogonal to the bottom 52, rear wall 54, and front wall 56.

  The front portion of the side wall 58 and the front wall 56 form a chute channel or pocket with a rectangular access opening 28 at the top. The lower end of the access opening 28 is formed by a slanted upper end of the front wall 56, its side edge is formed by a similarly slanted upper end of the front portion of the side wall 58, and its upper end is formed by the front edge 50 of the lid 26. . When the drawer 20 is closed, the access opening 28 is located in a shallow and inclined upward and outward plane that is substantially the same as the lower portion 48 of the front face 44 of the lid 26. The inclined upper edge of the front wall 56 is also located in the plane.

  The item 40 stored in the drawer 20 is biased toward the front of the drawer 20 by the inclination of the bottom 52. This places the coldest items 40 in the front of the drawer 20 and allows the user to easily access them through the access opening 28. The item 40 to be replenished is always placed at the rear of the drawer 20 and has the opportunity to cool down until it is removed through the access opening 28.

  The forward movement of the item 40 in any embodiment of the present invention can be assisted by a pusher mechanism (not shown) acting between the item 40 and the rear wall 54 of the drawer 20.

  An access opening 28 in the forward and outward direction of the drawer 20 allows the user to easily see and hold the item 40 without opening the drawer 20. This convenience applies even when the drawer 20 is below the waist level or below the knee height. It is convenient to access even the items 40 displayed above the eye level. The inclination of the front wall 56 facilitates access of the user's hand and forearm from the access opening 28, even if the user has to raise the elbow above the shoulder level. In that case, it is particularly useful if at least the front wall 56 of the drawer 20 is glazed and transparent so that it can be seen before attempting to access the contents of the drawer 20.

  Referring now to FIGS. 2 (a) -2 (c), a second embodiment of the invention that is particularly suited for the display and sale of bottles 60, but can also be used to store and sell canned refrigerated beverages or foods. An example is shown. The second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment, except for the movable or removable cover 62 on the access opening 28 and the steeper front portion 64 of the bottom 52 of the drawer 20. Further, a channel (not shown) extending forward may be provided on the inner bottom surface 52 of the drawer 20 in order to assist the alignment of the bottles and cans that slide downward and forward in the drawer 20.

  In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 (a) -2 (c), the cover 62 is a rectangular flap or door hinged to the lower portion 48 of the front surface 44 of the lid 26 along its upper horizontal edge. The cover 62 is preferably glazed or double glazed as shown so that the bin 60 in the drawer 20 is visible. In the case where both the drawer 20 and the cover 62 are as shown in FIG. 2 (a), the cover 62 prevents cold air leakage from the drawer 20 and reduces heat conduction into the drawer 20, thus making the unit more efficient. To. However, when the drawer 20 is closed, the cover 62 is easily raised for access to the bin 60 as shown in FIG. 2 (b), and the drawer 20 is fully opened as shown in FIG. 2 (c). The cover 62 can be raised to allow this.

  In another configuration, the cover 62 can be attached to the drawer 20 rather than the lid 26, can be slidably attached to the drawer 20 or the lid 26, and can be removed from the drawer 20 or the lid 26. In this way, the cover can only be attached outside of retail hours.

  A steeply inclined front portion 64 of the bottom 52 is orthogonal to the front wall 56 of the drawer 20. Its purpose is to position the foremost bin 60 in the drawer 20 at an angle that allows the user to see them clearly through the access opening 28 and easily grasp and remove them.

  In the modified example of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the drawer 20 and the lids 26 can be stacked. Three pairs of drawers 20 and lids 26 are shown here, but there may be two such pairs or four or more. The feature of this modification is almost the same as that of the second embodiment, except that the second and third lids 26 each have an inclined top surface shape that follows the overall shape of the bottom 52 of the upper drawer 20. is there. Specifically, the top surfaces of the lids 26 comprise a shallow sloped rear corresponding to the main rear portion of the bottom 52 and a steep front 68 corresponding to the steep forward portion 64 of the bottom 52. However, the air gap between the lid 26 and the bottom 52 of the upper drawer 20 is advantageous to facilitate air flow. This counters condensation and icing by maintaining a good temperature gradient across both the lid 26 and bottom 52 insulation.

  3 (a) to 3 (c) show that the item which is the bin 60 in this case can be easily viewed without the user opening the drawer 20 even when the drawer 20 is lower than the waist height or knee height. It is emphasized how the upper and lower access opening 28 in the front of the drawer 20 is made possible to be removed. There is no need to kneel down or look under the counter, and there are no doors that are difficult to open. Moreover, the counter space is maintained. In fact, if the unit is at the proper height, the upper end of the unit serves as a counter.

  In the third embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), the second access opening 70 communicates with the interior of the drawer 20 from the rear. Otherwise, FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) correspond to FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), each showing a drawer 20 in an open / closed state.

  The rear access opening 70 facilitates stuffing the item 40 from behind the unit into the closed drawer 20, and when the item 40 is removed from the first access opening 28 at the front of the unit, the stuffed item 20 is pulled by gravity. Slide forward on the inclined bottom 52 of the drawer 20. Thus, this embodiment of the invention is particularly suitable for use between “back” food preparation and “front” retail operations in a cafeteria or fast food restaurant environment. Also, since the goods are packed from behind, it helps to carry out FIFO stockpiling rotation.

  Like the front access opening 28, the rear access opening 70 is a rectangle formed by a rear portion of the side wall 58 that cooperates with a rear wall 72 that slopes outward and upward from the bottom 52 of the drawer 50. This forms a chute channel or pocket with the access opening 70 at the top. The lower edge of the access opening 70 is formed by a sloped upper edge of the rear wall 72, its side edge is formed by a similarly sloped upper end of the rear portion of the side wall 58, and its upper edge is formed by the rear edge 74 of the lid 26. Is done.

  FIG. 5 shows that both access openings of the third embodiment may have a cover 62 as shown in FIGS. 2 (a) -3 (c). Here, the inclined front and rear surfaces of the lid 26 are mirror images of each other, each surface comprising two different inclined portions 46 and 48, with the lower portion 48 being shallower than the upper portion 46. A cover 62 is hinged to each lower portion 48, which may also be slidable or removable. The front surface terminates at the front edge 50 of the lid 26 and the rear surface terminates at the rear edge 74 of the lid 26.

  FIG. 6 shows how the variation of FIG. 5 can be stacked to make a multiple drawer unit. Again, the number of drawers 20 is not important. A major modification to the variation of FIG. 5 is that each of the lids 26 except the top lid 26 has a sloped upper surface 76 that matches the slope of the bottom 52 of the drawer just above. This maximizes the insulation thickness, but it is desirable to maintain an air gap between each lid 26 and adjacent drawer 20 as described in the previous example.

  Of course, it is not necessary that the double access embodiment of the invention can only be loaded from one side and removed from the other side, as in FIGS. The invention can be applied to a refrigeration system for retail use where items can be accessed from either the front access opening 28, the rear access opening 70, or both, or in fact, in other embodiments, can be accessed from the side. is there. In such embodiments, the sloped bottom 52 can be omitted, or the bottom 52 can be provided with a double slope extending downward from the central peak between the access openings 28 and 70.

  All of the above embodiments of the present invention provide sufficient space to display brand advertisements or other product information on the display formed by the drawer 20 and / or the front wall 56 of the hinged cover 62. This creates a noticeable and useful display without hindering viewing or accessing the items stored in the drawer 20.

  7 (a) -7 (f), there is shown a fourth embodiment of the invention in which the drawer and cover are arranged in various ways. In this embodiment, the temperature-free retail display unit includes a structure 22 that supports three drawers including an upper display drawer 20U, a lower display drawer 20L, and a storage drawer 20S. The drawers 20U, 20L, and 20S have lids 26U, 26L, and 26S that cool the inside of the corresponding drawers 20U, 20L, and 20S by the evaporator 36 and a cold air distribution means such as a plenum chamber around the evaporator 36. have.

  The upper and lower display drawers 20U, 20L are J-shaped cross sections, each having an upright rear wall 78 that is sufficiently high to be in close contact with the lids 26U, 26L, and a horizontal bottom 80 that extends perpendicularly from the rear wall 78; A short upstanding front wall 82 extending perpendicularly from the bottom 80 is provided. Parallel side walls (not shown in these schematic views) extend at right angles to the rear wall 78, the bottom 80 and the front wall 82.

  Upper and lower access openings 84U and 84L are formed between the upper edge of the front wall 82 and the front edges of the lids 26U and 26L, respectively. Since the upper lid 26U extends for the entire length of the bottom 80 of the upper display drawer 20U, the upper access opening 84U is oriented horizontally. The lower access opening 84L faces upward and outward because the lower lid 26L extends only partway on the bottom 80 of the lower display drawer 20L.

  The storage drawer 20S also includes an upright rear wall 78, a horizontal bottom 80 extending perpendicularly from the rear wall 78, and an upstanding front wall 82 extending perpendicularly from the bottom 80. However, in this case, since the front wall 82 is the same height as the rear wall 78, the storage drawer 20S has a U-shaped cross section. Furthermore, since the lid 26S of the storage drawer 20S extends over the entire length of the bottom portion 80, when the storage drawer 20S is closed, both the front and rear walls 82 and 78 are in close contact with the lower surface of the lid 26S. When the storage drawer 20S is closed, if there is no access opening to the drawer 20S and access to its contents is required, the drawer 20S needs to be pulled out of the unit.

  The upper display drawer 20U can function only as a refrigerator, and the lower display drawer 20L can function as a refrigerator or a freezer. The upper and lower display drawers 20U and 20L are provided with optional middle and second floor shelves 86U and 86L that facilitate multistage display. The shelves 86U and 86L each have a shallow U-shaped cross section, which holds cold air and spilled items, and the items fall from the shelves 86U and 86L, damaging the items in the drawers 20U and 20L below. To help prevent.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 7 (a), a heat-insulated upper night cover 88 that can be withdrawn and retracted is provided on the lid 26U of the upper display drawer 20U when not in use. As shown in FIG. 7 (c), when pulled out, the upper night cover 88 is positioned vertically between the front edge of the lid 26U and the front wall 82 of the upper display drawer 20U, and the upper access opening Close 84U.

  Similarly, a retractable insulated lower night cover 90 is provided that is positioned over the lid 26L of the lower display drawer 20L when retracted and not in use. The lid 26L has a stepped upper surface that forms a forwardly open recess 92 that allows the lower night cover 90 to enter horizontally for that purpose. If desired, the lid 26U can also be provided with a similar housing arrangement for the upper night cover 88.

  As shown in FIG. 7C, when pulled out for use, the lower night cover 90 is fitted horizontally in front of the lid 36L and partially closes the lower access opening 84L. The remaining portion of the lower access opening 84L is closed by a thermal insulation panel 94 that can be placed vertically in front of the front wall 82 of the lower display drawer 20L. Then, the upper end of the panel 94 cooperates with the lower night cover 90 to close the access opening 84L.

  If desired, without the lower night cover 90, the panel 94 can be mounted upright across the front of the lower display drawer 20L. This increases energy efficiency by helping to keep cool air in the lower display drawer 20L when the lower display drawer 20L operates as a freezer. The panel 94 may be opaque, but is preferably transparent.

  The lid 26 </ b> S of the storage drawer 20 </ b> S also has a stepped upper surface that forms a recess 96 that opens forward to accommodate the horizontally oriented panel 94.

  The upper and lower night covers 88 and 90 and the panel 94 allow the unit of the fourth embodiment to be configured and used in various ways. Next, this will be described as follows with particular reference to FIGS. 7 (a) to 7 (f).

  In the first configuration shown in FIG. 7 (a), the upper and lower display drawers 20U and 20L operate at a refrigeration temperature, and the items (not shown) displayed on the drawers 20U and 20L and their middle second floor shelves 86U and 86L. Provide good visibility and access.

  In the second configuration shown in FIG. 7B, the lower display drawer 20L is converted into an energy efficient display freezer by extending and fixing the panel 94 on the front side of the drawer 20L as described above. . This allows customers access to the freezer display compartment.

  In the third configuration shown in FIG. 7C, the upper and lower night covers 88 and 90 and the panel 94 are arranged so that the retail store creates a sealed unit for closing. This further increases energy efficiency. The night covers 88 and 90 and the panel 94 are close to each other, can be easily accommodated, can be easily taken out from the accommodation location, and can be easily attached to the unit. This encourages them to be used as needed.

  In the fourth configuration shown in FIG. 7 (d), the storage drawer 20 </ b> S is opened on the runner 24 in order to facilitate the filling of the upper and lower display drawers 20 </ b> U and 20 </ b> L or the refilling of the storage drawer 20 </ b> S.

  In the fifth configuration shown in FIG. 7 (e), the upper display drawer 20 </ b> U is opened on the runner 24 to facilitate filling. By filling the lower part of the upper display drawer 20U from behind the middle second floor shelf 86U, the FIFO stock rotation can be maintained.

  Finally, in the sixth configuration shown in FIG. 7 (f), the lower display drawer 20 </ b> L is opened on the runner 24 to facilitate filling. By filling the lower part of the lower display drawer 20L from behind the middle second floor shelf 86L, the FIFO stockpiling rotation can be maintained.

  A fifth embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 8 (a), 8 (b) and 8 (c). In this embodiment, the retail display unit comprises a structure 22 that supports a single drawer 20 and cooling means in a lid 26 that cools the drawer 20 and internal items 40. The cooling means includes a fan 32, an evaporator 36 and a plenum chamber 34 around the evaporator 36, which distributes the cold air from the evaporator 36 into the drawer 20 and from the drawer 20 to the evaporator. Partly formed by a perforated partition 38 that allows warmer air return to 36.

  The drawer 20 has a U-shaped cross section and includes an upstanding rear wall 98, a horizontal bottom 100 extending perpendicularly from the rear wall 98, and an upstanding front wall 102 extending perpendicularly from the bottom 100 to the same height as the rear wall 98. Parallel side walls 104 (only one of which is visible in this longitudinal section) extend perpendicular to the rear wall 98, the bottom 100 and the front wall 102.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, since the lid 26 extends over the entire length of the bottom portion 100, when the drawer 20 is completely closed, both the front and rear walls 102 and 98 are in close contact with the lower surface of the lid 26. For this purpose, front and rear magnetic slide seals 30 are provided on the lower surface of the lid 26 near the front and rear ends, and are in close contact with the upper ends of the front and rear walls 102 and 98. Thus, when the retail store is closed, the drawer 20 can be completely closed and sealed by the lid 26. This saves energy and stores the item 40 in a completely stable state.

  When the retail store resumes, as shown in FIG. 8B, the drawer 20 is partially opened by being pulled horizontally over the runner 24 to the intermediate advance position with respect to the lid 26. This forms an upward access opening 28 between the upper edge of the front wall 102 and the front edge of the lid 26, through which the items in the drawer 20 can be seen and accessed.

  In the movement to the intermediate forward position shown in FIG. 8B, the rear wall 98 of the drawer 20 is detached from the seal 30. Instead, the drawer 20 hangs down from the lower surface of the front lid 26 from the rear seal 30 in the direction of movement of the drawer. It is in close contact with the orthogonal intermediate seal 30A. As a part of the sealing loop, parallel side seal members (not shown) may be extended in parallel with the moving direction of the drawer. In that case, as the drawer 20 moves from the closed position to the intermediate forward position, the drawer 20 may remain in sliding engagement with the side seal member.

  When refilling or cleaning is required, the rear wall 98 can be detached from the intermediate seal 30A, and the drawer 20 can be pulled out to the most advanced position as shown in FIG. This allows access to the interior of the drawer 20 over the entire open top area. At this time, the rear wall 98 of the drawer 20 can be engaged with the front seal 30, which helps prevent the loss of cold air from the cooling means of the lid 26.

  A variation of the fifth embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 (a), 9 (b) and 9 (c) stacks the drawer 20 and the lid 26 within the structure 22 to form a multiple drawer unit. In the illustrated variant, three pairs of drawers 20 and lids 26 are provided, but of course the number of such pairs is variable. It will be appreciated that the drawers 20 and their lids 26 increase stepwise from top to bottom. This ensures that when each drawer 20 is opened to the same extent relative to its lid 26, the access opening 28 formed thereby is not obstructed by the upper drawer 20. Then, the front of the unit has a staircase, terrace or cascade appearance.

  Providing a drawer 20 of the same size, with each drawer 20 being pulled further than the drawer 20 immediately above it with respect to its lid 26, may possibly achieve a similar effect. However, in that case, the lower drawer 20 will get less coverage from its lid 26, which is less preferred.

  Next, moving on to the sixth embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 (a), 10 (b) and 10 (c), this embodiment is the same as that of FIGS. 9 (a), 9 (b) and 9 (c). Similar to the modification of the fifth embodiment in side view, like numbers are used for like parts. The main difference is that the drawer 20 does not completely close under the lid 26 in a side view. Therefore, there is no intermediate forward position of the drawer 20, and there is no need for the intermediate seal 30A. However, when the drawer 20 is in the closed position in FIG. 10A and the open position in FIG. 10C, the rear and front seals 30 are in close contact with the rear wall 98 of the drawer 20.

  The refrigerated retail units of FIGS. 10 (a), 10 (b), and 10 (c) also include a structure 22 that supports three pairs of drawers 20 and lids 26 that are alternately stacked. Again, the number of such pairs is not important and only needs to be one or more. The cooling means in each lid 26 including the fan 32, the plenum chamber 34, the evaporator 36, and the partition 38 is the same as the cooling means in the above-described embodiment. Here too, the drawers 20 and their lids 26 increase in size from top to bottom, and the front of the unit has a stepped, terraced or cascaded appearance in side view. When the drawers 20 are closed, the lids 26 extend forward partway along the corresponding drawers 20 to form upward access openings 28. The access opening 28 formed in this way is not blocked by the upper drawer 20.

  The front view of FIG. 10 (b) shows an important difference between the sixth embodiment and all the previously described embodiments, which is that the lid 26 does not extend across the entire width between the side walls 104 of the drawer 20. . Since the lids 26 are arranged on the central longitudinal axis of their corresponding drawers 20, this is because the access openings 28 are C-shaped in plan view, as shown in FIG. 10 (b). Means extending from the front part of the lid 26 to each side of the lid 26. Therefore, this unit also has a stepped, terraced or cascaded appearance from the front side, is visually attractive, and provides good visibility and access to the items 40 in the drawer 20. In order to enhance these advantages, the front wall 102 and the side wall 104 of the drawer 20 can be made transparent by glazing or the like.

  This sixth embodiment of the present invention is particularly suitable for creating promotional “hot spots” that occupy prominent locations in retail stores. The item 40 can be viewed and accessed from 180 degrees around the unit, from the left, right and front. Nevertheless, the drawer 20 allows easy refilling and cleaning by providing full access when opened.

  Turning now to the seventh embodiment of FIGS. 11 (a) and 11 (b), this shows how the invention can provide an air curtain across the access opening 28. Similar to the previous embodiment, the structure 22 supports the drawer 20 and the lid 26. With the drawer 20 closed, the lid 26 extends partway forward along the drawer 20 to form an upward access opening 28. When the drawer 20 is closed, the drawer 20 is sealed against the lid 26 by a seal 30. In this case, the seal 30 is attached to the drawer 20. When the drawer 20 is fully opened on the runner 24, the entire surface of the drawer 20 can be accessed for cleaning and filling.

  The lid 26 in FIGS. 11 (a) and 11 (b) is chamfered so that the front surface 106 of the lid 26 faces downward and forward to facilitate access through the access opening 28 in front of the lid 26. FIG. Apart from that, it has almost the same characteristics as the lid of the previous embodiment. The lid 26 includes the same cooling means as in the previous embodiment, and the same numbers are used for the same parts. The difference is that in front of it the partition 38 under the evaporator 36 has an air inlet 108 at its rear and an air outlet 110 at its front. The air outlet 110 is configured to direct the airflow sent by the fan 32 forward to generate an air curtain across the access opening 28 as shown in FIG. 11 (a). The air curtain helps prevent outside air from entering the cooled drawer 20.

  The drawer 20 is generally similar to the U-section drawer of the previous embodiment, and again like numbers are used for like parts. However, the drawer 20 differs from the previous embodiment in two main ways. First, the drawer 20 shown here functions as a front wall 102 and comprises a multi-layer glass interior window 112 that extends around the front of each side wall 104. Secondly, the drawer 20 comprises a U-shaped circuit formed by an inner wall indicated by a front part 114, a bottom part 116 and a rear part 118 spaced from the front wall 102, the bottom part 100 and the rear wall 98. The front inner wall 114 and the rear inner wall 118 have inwardly inclined upper ends 120 and 122 that form respective enlarged upper ends of the circulation path.

  The inclined upper end 122 of the rear inner wall 118 helps to direct the airflow from the rear end of the circulation path to the air inlet 108 of the partition 38. The low pressure here due to the absorption of the fan 32 is transmitted to the other end of the circulation path, where the inclined upper end 120 of the front inner wall 114 sucks air from the air curtain into the circulation path. In this regard, the front inner wall 114 is slightly lower than the rear inner wall 118, which is more effective for air flow shaping.

  The air curtain principle can be applied to a movable drawer 20 as shown, but need not be applied only to a movable drawer. It can be applied to a well-shaped container with a fixed lid.

  In the eighth embodiment shown in FIGS. 12A to 12D, the structure 22 supports three pairs of drawers 20 and lids 26 that are alternately stacked. Again, the number of such pairs is not important. The cooling means in each lid 26 including the fan 32 and the evaporator 36 is the same as the cooling means in the embodiment described above. However, in this embodiment, the drawers 20 and their lids 26 are inclined downwardly forward of the unit at an angle of about 30 ° with respect to the horizontal. The drawer 20 opens downward and forward on a parallel plane with the same inclination.

  When the drawers 20 are closed, the lids 26 respectively extend forward and downward along the corresponding drawers 20 to form upward access openings 28. As in the seventh embodiment, the front surface 106 of each lid 26 is chamfered to face downward and forward, thereby facilitating access through the aperture 28 without the access aperture 28 being obstructed by the upper drawer 20 or lid 26. To do.

  Each drawer 20 is J-shaped in longitudinal section and includes a rear wall 124 that is sufficiently tall to extend to the lower surface of the lid 26 when the drawer 20 is closed. The J-shaped cross-section further includes a bottom 126 that extends perpendicularly from the rear wall 124 beyond the length of the lid 26 and a short front wall 128 that rises perpendicularly from the bottom 126.

  In this eighth embodiment, the walls 124, 128 and the bottom 126 of each drawer 20 support a plurality of cassettes 130. Specifically, three cassettes 130 are fitted in the bottom 126 of the drawer 20 as shown. The short front wall 128 of each drawer 20 prevents the cassette 130 from sliding out under its own weight. The open upper ends of the three cassettes 130 in each drawer 20 cooperate so that each lid 26 can cool the interior of those three cassettes 130.

  Each cassette 130 includes a rear wall 132 having a sufficient height that extends to the lower surface of the lid 26, a bottom portion 134 that extends at a right angle from the lower end of the rear wall 132, and a short front wall 136 that rises at a right angle from the front end of the bottom portion 134. An open-top box with a J-shaped cross-section wall. The short front wall 136 forms a front access opening 28 that improves the visibility and access of items stored in the cassette 130.

  There may be minimal thermal insulation on the walls 124, 128 and the bottom 126 of the drawer 20. Instead, thermal insulation is provided by the walls 132, 136 and the bottom 134 of the cassette 130.

  When the previous cassette 130 is empty, the retailer removes it from the unit. The sloped bottom 126 lowers the cassette 130 behind the empty cassette 130 forward instead. Thus, when the cassette 130 is taken out from the drawer 20 of the unit as shown by the drawer 20 at the lower end of FIG. 12B, the remaining cassettes 130 in the drawer 20 are removed as shown in FIG. c) Slide forward in drawer 20 as shown. The full cassette 130 is automatically lowered to the front so that the entire contents of the previous cassette 130 are accessible to the user until the drawer 20 is empty.

  FIG. 12 (d) shows that the lower drawer 20 has been opened and a new cassette 130 has been loaded there. The drawer 20 is supported by a runner 24 so as to be movable. Latches or biasing means (not shown) may be suitably provided to assist in holding the drawer 20 in the upper closed position, or raising the drawer 20 back after opening. The open drawer 20 provides sufficient planar access so that a full cassette 130, i.e., a reused empty cassette 130, can be easily placed at the rear to be lowered to the front as needed.

  The purpose of the eighth embodiment of the present invention is to improve inventory management in retail display applications. Only items stored in the previous cassette 130 are accessible. Until the previous cassette 130 is empty and removed, the cassette 130 behind the previous cassette 130 remains inaccessible. This helps retailers implement and maintain FIFO stockpiling rotations and assists in inventory management.

  The retailer can use the removed empty cassette 130 in various ways.

  The cassette 130 can be stored from the retail store's storage area or until refilled with the next delivery. That is, the cassette 130 can be returned to the food supplier so that the supplier can directly replenish, and the insulated cassette 130 can be used to assist in temperature-controlled storage during transport, or can be re-used. The cassette 130 can be placed behind the remaining full cassette 130 in the drawer 20 until it is filled or returned to the food supplier.

  Thus, the eighth embodiment of the invention provides a system of removable insulation cassettes that allows items to be transported safely, refrigerated, and protected from damage. In a not shown variant of this embodiment, the number of drawers 20 and the number of cassettes 130 per drawer 20 are variable depending on the size and nature of the items stored, the type of retail environment, and the inventory management and replenishment method. is there. The entire cassette 130 or a part thereof can be made of a transparent material. Brand advertisements, images and information can be added to the exterior of the cassette 130, such as the front wall 136, or indeed the interior thereof. The rear wall 124 of the drawer 20 can be omitted or lowered in order to open access from the back of each drawer 20 to make up for the cassette 130 from behind. As a result, the drawer 20 need not be configured to be extendable. In fact, the simplified unit may include a fixed slanted shelf, which allows all cassettes 130 of one level to be inserted in order to allow for the insertion of a supplemented cassette 130 at the back of the slanted shelf. Requires removal.

  The ninth embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 13 (a), 13 (b) and 13 (c) is that the lid 26 is inclined downward and forward of the unit at an angle of about 30 ° with respect to the horizontal. There are some similarities with the eighth embodiment. However, in this case, the drawer 20 is replaced with an open top removable insulated container 138. Here, structure 22 supports two pairs of alternately stacked containers 138 and lids 26, but the number of such pairs is not critical.

  Similar to the previous embodiment, when the container 138 is below the lid 26, the lid 26 extends forward, and in this case down, halfway along the container 138 to form an access opening 28 facing upward and forward. . The front surface 106 of the lid 26 is chamfered to face downward and forward to facilitate access through the access opening 28. When the container 138 is under the lid 26, the container 138 may be sealed to the lid 26 by a seal (not shown).

  The cooling means in each lid 26 is similar to that of the seventh embodiment so as to provide an air curtain across the access opening 28. Accordingly, the lid 26 shown in FIGS. 13 (a), 13 (b) and 13 (c) has a partition 38 below the evaporator 36 having an air inlet 108 at the rear and an air outlet 110 at the front thereof. To create an air curtain across the access opening 28, the airflow sent by the fan 32 is directed forward. Further, as in the seventh embodiment, the container 138 has a U-shaped cross section, and the inner wall indicated by the front part 114, the bottom part 116, and the rear part 118 spaced from the front wall 102, the bottom part 100, and the rear wall 98 of the container 138. A U-shaped circulation path formed by The rear inner wall 118 has an upper end 122 that inclines the airflow from the rear end of the circulation path toward the air inlet 108 of the partition 38. The low pressure here due to the absorption of the fan 32 is transmitted to the other end of the circulation path, where air is drawn from the air curtain into the circulation path between the front inner wall 114 and the front wall 102 of the container 138.

  The structure 22 forms a receptacle 140 best shown in FIGS. 13 (b) and 13 (c) that receives the container 138 in a tilted position under the lid 26. Each accommodating portion includes a rear wall 142 extending at a right angle from the lower surface of the lid 26, a bottom portion 144 extending at a right angle from the lower end of the rear wall 142 and parallel to the lower surface of the lid 26, and a short front wall rising at a right angle from the front end of the bottom portion 144. 146. The front wall 146 holds the container 138 in the accommodating portion 140 against the influence of gravity.

  When the container 138 is emptied, the retailer raises the front of the container 138 away from the front wall 146 and removes the container 138 from the container 140, as shown in FIGS. 13 (b) and 13 (c). Take it out of the unit. The retailer can store empty containers that have been removed from the retail store's storage area or until refilled with the next delivery. Alternatively, the empty container 138 can be returned to the food supplier, where the supplier can directly make up, and an insulated container 138 can be used to assist in temperature-controlled storage during transport.

  The tenth embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 14 (a) and 14 (b) is similar to the mixing of the eighth and ninth embodiments in which the tilted removable container 138 and the lower tilted drawer 20 are combined. Is. The cassette 130 of the eighth embodiment is not used in the illustrated tenth embodiment. However, it will be apparent that the tenth embodiment can be adapted to use the cassette 130 for the drawer 20 if desired.

  Similar numbers are used for similar features, but the description of those features need not be repeated. For example, the container 138 and drawer 20 and their associated lid 26 are configured to create an air curtain across the access opening 28. Its configuration is as used in the container 138 and lid 26 of the ninth embodiment and therefore need not be described again here.

  As shown in FIG. 14A, the structure 22 has a lip 148 that holds the closed drawer 20 in the upper position against gravity. As shown in FIG. 14 (b), the drawer 20 must be raised above the lip 148 to be free for lowering when the drawer 20 is opened.

  The final eleventh embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 15 (a) to 15 (d), and its modifications are shown in FIGS. 16 (a), 16 (b) and 16 (c). The embodiment shown in FIGS. 15 (a) -15 (d) has transparent front walls and sidewalls, and the variations of FIGS. 16 (a) -16 (c) have opaque front walls and sidewalls. As best shown in FIG. 15 (a), the eleventh embodiment combines several features of the previous embodiment and uses like numbers for like parts. For example, it is as follows.

  Two insulated drawers 20U (upper stage) and 20L (lower stage) and their lids 26 are stacked, the drawers 20U and 20L can move horizontally with respect to the lid 26, and when closed, the seal 30 attaches the lid 26 to the lid 26. Sealed. The lower drawer 20L has a depth (longer in the front-rear direction) than the upper drawer 20U, and protrudes forward larger than the upper drawer 20U. By having two drawers 20U, 20L, the display area is approximately twice that of a standard well freezer. The ease with which the drawers 20U, 20L can be moved and removed arbitrarily allows for easy cleaning and compensation.

  The lids 26 extend partway forward along the length of the associated drawers 20U, 20L and form an upward access opening 28 in front of each lid 26.

  As in the ninth and tenth embodiments, an air curtain is generated in the access opening 28. The structure is such that inner walls 114 and 118 and a bottom portion 116 forming a circulation path communicating with the fan 32 and the evaporator 36 in the lid 26 via inlets and outlets 108 and 110 provided in the partition 38 below the evaporator 36. including.

  Each of the drawers 20U and 20L has a rear wall 98, a bottom portion 100 extending at a right angle from the lower end of the rear wall 98, a front wall 102, and substantially parallel to the rear wall 98, the bottom portion 100 and the front wall 102. A side wall 104 is provided.

  As best shown in FIGS. 15 (b) to 15 (d) and 16 (a) to 16 (c), the front wall 102 of each drawer 20 U, 20 L is bent into a convex surface at the corner connecting with the side wall 104. A bevel is added. This is beneficial for aesthetics and visibility. In particular, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 15 (a) to 15 (d), the front wall and the side walls 102, 104 are made of double glazing (see 112), so that the items 40 in the drawers 20U, 20L Transparent to maximize visibility and maximize visual effects. However, as shown in FIGS. 16A to 16C, transparency is not essential. In that variation, a visual effect can be ensured by displaying brand advertisements and product information using an opaque panel of the unit instead.

  The front wall 102 of the upper drawer 20U forms an obtuse internal angle with the bottom 100 and is inclined outward. Specifically, the front wall 56 is inclined outward and upward from the bottom 100 and ends horizontally in front of the front edge of the lid 26 of the upper drawer 20U when the drawer 20U is closed. The front portion of the side wall 104 cooperates with the front wall 102 to form a chute channel or pocket under the access opening 28.

  Returning to the first embodiment of the invention, it will be recalled that the inclined front wall 102 of the upper drawer 20U facilitates access of the user's hand and forearm through the access opening 28 even when the access opening 28 is high. . This allows the upper drawer 20U to be at a higher level than it would have access to the item 40 and its reserving reservoir, but with a vertical front. The tilted front wall 102 provides ergonomic access to the user by providing an access angle similar to that of a tilted arm that attempts to reach the bottom item of the upper drawer 20U. Thus, both drawers 20U, 20L can be higher than otherwise, which is advantageous in terms of capacity.

  The lower drawer 20L is sufficiently low that its vertical front wall 102 does not prevent it from being viewed or accessed through its access opening 28. In fact, the vertical front wall 102 is more efficient in terms of space. As a synergistic effect, the inclined front wall 102 of the upper drawer 20U does not block the access opening 28 of the lower drawer 20L.

  Many modifications are possible within the spirit of the invention, many of which have been described above, but others will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, in determining the scope of the invention, reference should be made to the appended claims rather than to the specific description above.

1 is a cross-sectional side view of a first embodiment of the present invention suitable for food display and sale, showing a closed drawer; The same sectional side view as above, showing the drawer opened for refilling FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of a second embodiment of the present invention suitable for display and sale of bottles, showing a drawer and a closed cover Fig. 3 is a sectional side view of the same, showing a closed drawer and an open cover Fig. 4 is a side sectional view of the same, showing both the drawer and cover open FIG. 10 is a sectional side view showing a modification of the second embodiment in which the drawers are stacked, and shows a state in which all the drawers and covers of the stack are closed. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the same as above, showing a state in which all the drawers are closed and one of the covers is opened to take out the bottle from the drawer. The same sectional side view as the above, showing a state in which one of the drawer and one of the covers are opened for refilling the bottle. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of a third embodiment of the present invention having a second access opening in communication with the interior of the drawer, showing a closed drawer It is a sectional side view same as the above, and shows the open drawer FIG. 11 is a sectional side view of a modification of the third embodiment in which a cover is provided in the access opening, and shows a state in which both openings are opened and the drawer is closed. Cross-sectional side view showing how the variation of FIG. 5 can be stacked to create a multiple drawer unit Sectional side view of the fourth embodiment showing that the drawer and cover are arranged in various ways Same as above Same as above Same as above Same as above Same as above FIG. 10 is a sectional side view of a fifth embodiment of the present invention showing a closed drawer; Fig. 3 is a side sectional view of the same, showing a partially open drawer Fig. 3 is a side sectional view of the same, showing the drawer fully open FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side view of a variation of the fifth embodiment showing drawers stacked to create a multiple drawer unit, showing a closed drawer; Fig. 3 is a side sectional view of the same, showing a partially open drawer Fig. 3 is a side sectional view of the same, showing the drawer fully open FIG. 10 is a sectional side view of a sixth embodiment of the present invention showing a closed drawer Sectional front view corresponding to FIG. Cross-sectional side view showing an open drawer of the same embodiment Figure 7 is a cross-sectional side view of a seventh embodiment of the present invention with an air curtain device across the access opening, showing a closed drawer; It is a sectional side view same as the above, and shows the open drawer FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional side view of an eighth embodiment of the present invention in which stacked drawers each support a plurality of cassettes, showing a unit filled with cassettes The figure which shows the cassette taken out from the drawer | drawer of the lowest stage of the unit of the Example The figure which shows the state which the remaining cassette slides ahead in the drawer | drawer of the lowest stage as a result of the said taking out of the Example The figure which shows the state by which the drawer | drawer of the lowest stage of the Example opened and the new cassette was replenished FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional side view of a ninth embodiment of the present invention in which a container can be removed from the unit, showing the container in the unit It is a cross-sectional side view of the same as above, and shows a container taken out from the unit It is a cross-sectional side view same as the above, and shows the container taken out from the unit 9 is a sectional side view of a tenth embodiment of the present invention in which a container of the same type as the container of the ninth embodiment is combined with a lower drawer, showing a closed drawer; It is a sectional side view same as the above, and shows the open drawer Sectional side view with the drawer closed showing the eleventh embodiment of the present invention wherein the upper transparent wall drawer is configured to facilitate access to the lower transparent wall drawer. The perspective view corresponding to Fig.15 (a) of the Example The figure which shows the state which the upper drawer opened of the Example and the lower drawer closed The figure which shows the state which the lower drawer opened of the Example and the upper drawer closed It is a figure which shows the modification of 11th Example with which the front wall and side wall of drawer are opaque, Comprising: The figure corresponding to FIG.15 (b) The figure corresponding to Drawing 15 (c) of the modification The figure corresponding to Drawing 15 (d) of the modification

Claims (106)

Refrigerated retail unit, comprising:
Support structure,
At least one insulated open-top container, the container being in relation to the structure a display position in which the interior of the container is accessible through an access opening, and the interior of the container is through most or all of the open top. Can be moved between the full-access position and the container can hold the cool air inside when in the full-access position,
A cooling means for cooling the inside of the container, and a heat insulating lid supported by the structure,
Here, when the container is in the display position, a part of the entire upper surface area formed by the container is covered by a lid, and the remaining part not covered by the lid forms an access opening.   2. A unit according to claim 1, wherein the container is movable relative to the lid beyond the display position to a fully closed position where the open upper end of the container is completely closed by the lid.   A unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the container is removable from the structure.   The unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the container moves as a drawer with respect to the structure and the lid.   5. A unit according to claim 4, wherein a telescoping runner between the container and the structure allows the container to be pulled out of the structure to the extent necessary to expose all of the open upper end of the container.   The unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the lid has a horizontal lower surface, the open upper end of the container forms a horizontal upper surface, and the container moves horizontally between the display position and the full access position. .   The unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the lower surface of the lid and the upper surface of the container are inclined downward and forward.   8. A unit according to claim 7, wherein a container moves in a corresponding inclined plane between the display position and a full access position.   9. A unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the unit comprises latch means for holding the container in the upper position.   The unit according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the unit comprises biasing means for biasing the container upward.   A unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container is supported in a non-insulated cabinet or casing.   The unit according to claim 1, wherein the lid is fixed to the structure.   The unit according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein a middle second floor shelf is provided in the container.   The unit according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the unit includes at least two containers composed of an upper container and a lower container arranged one above the other.   The unit according to claim 14, wherein an air gap exists between the lid of the lower container and the bottom of the upper container.   The unit according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the containers at the display position are in a laminated relationship.   The unit according to claim 16, wherein the lower container is longer in the front-rear direction than the upper container.   The unit according to claim 17, wherein the lid of the lower container is shorter than the lower container.   The unit according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the lid of the lower container has the same length as the upper container.   20. A unit according to any one of claims 17 to 19 wherein the upper container comprises an outwardly inclined front wall forming its access opening and the lower container comprises an inclined front wall that is smaller than the front wall of the upper container. .   21. A unit as claimed in claim 20, wherein the lower container comprises a vertical front wall.   22. A unit according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the lower container comprises a front wall perpendicular to the bottom thereof.   The unit according to any one of claims 16 to 22, wherein the lower container is wider on the left and right than the upper container.   The unit according to claim 23, wherein the lid of the lower container is narrower than the lower container.   The unit according to claim 23 or 24, wherein the lid of the lower container has the same width as the upper container.   The unit according to any one of claims 16 to 25, wherein the lower container is pulled out of the structure larger than the upper container when the container is in the display position.   27. A unit according to any one of claims 16 to 26, wherein one container moves as a drawer relative to the structure and the other container is removable from the structure.   The unit according to any one of claims 1 to 27, wherein the cooling means is provided on the lid side.   29. A unit according to claim 28, wherein the cooling means comprises a fan coil unit in the lid.   30. A unit according to claim 28 or 29, wherein the cooling means comprises an evaporator in the lid.   31. A unit according to claim 30, wherein the plenum chamber in the lid communicates with the vessel through an evaporator and a partition hole partially forming the plenum chamber.   32. A unit as claimed in any one of claims 28 to 31 wherein the cooling means uses a built-in air circulation between the lid and the container.   The unit according to any one of claims 1 to 32, wherein the cooling means comprises a heat exchanger.   The unit according to any one of claims 1 to 33, wherein the cooling means includes a cold air passage extending in the lid from a cold air source outside the lid.   The unit according to any one of claims 1 to 34, wherein the cooling means uses magnetic refrigeration.   36. A unit according to any one of claims 1 to 35, wherein at least a majority of the cooling takes place through the lid.   The unit according to any one of claims 1 to 36, wherein the cooling means does not cool the outside of the container.   38. A unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container comprises a circulation path with an inlet for receiving air from an air curtain delivered across the access opening.   39. A unit according to claim 38, wherein a circulation path is formed between the inner wall and the outer wall of the container.   40. A unit according to claim 38 or 39, wherein the air curtain is delivered from the lid across the access opening.   41. A unit according to any one of claims 38 to 40, wherein the circuit comprises an outlet for directing air to the lid.   42. A unit according to claim 41, wherein the outlet is located at the rear of the container.   43. A unit according to any one of claims 1 to 42, wherein the container comprises a bottom and front, rear and side walls upstanding from the bottom so as to form an open top end.   44. A unit according to claim 43, wherein the rear and side walls extend from the bottom to the lid and the front wall is shorter than the rear wall.   45. The unit of claim 44, further comprising a thermal insulation plate attachable to the front wall of the container to increase the height of the front wall.   46. A unit as claimed in any one of claims 43 to 45, wherein the front wall, the rear wall and the side walls extend perpendicularly from the bottom.   47. A unit as claimed in any one of claims 43 to 46, wherein the front wall is vertical.   48. A unit according to any one of claims 43 to 47, wherein the rear wall is vertical.   49. A unit according to any one of claims 43 to 48, wherein the side walls are vertical.   50. A unit according to any one of claims 43 to 49, wherein at least a portion of the front wall is transparent.   51. A unit according to any one of claims 43 to 50, wherein at least a front portion of the side wall is transparent.   52. The unit according to any one of claims 43 to 51, wherein at least an inner surface of the bottom portion is inclined downward toward the access opening.   53. A unit according to claim 52, wherein the inner surface comprises parallel grooves towards the access opening.   54. A unit according to claim 52 or claim 53, wherein a narrow front portion of the bottom inclined inner surface proximate the access opening is steeper than a wider rear portion of the inner surface.   55. The unit of claim 54, wherein the front wall is inclined at an obtuse internal angle with respect to the bottom and the narrow forward portion is inclined at right angles to the front wall.   56. A unit according to any one of claims 52 to 55, wherein the inner surface of the bottom portion is inclined downward and extends away from the second access opening of the container.   57. A unit according to any one of claims 52 to 56, wherein the unit comprises at least two containers arranged one above the other, and the lid of the lower container comprises an upper surface inclined to coincide with the outer inclination of the bottom of the upper container. The stated unit.   58. A unit according to any one of claims 43 to 57, wherein the front wall is inclined at an obtuse internal angle with respect to the bottom.   59. The unit of claim 58, wherein each forward extension of the side wall has a sloping upward edge extending to the upper end of the front wall, the edge and the upper end of the front wall at least partially forming an access opening.   The unit according to any one of claims 43 to 59, wherein the rear wall is inclined at an obtuse internal angle with respect to the bottom.   61. The unit of claim 60, wherein each rearward extension of the side wall has a sloping upward edge extending to the upper end of the rear wall, the edge and the upper end of the rear wall at least partially forming a second access opening.   62. A unit according to any one of claims 43 to 61, wherein the access opening is at least partially formed by the front wall.   63. A unit according to any one of claims 43 to 62, wherein the access opening is at least partially formed by a forward extension of the sidewall.   64. A unit according to any one of claims 43 to 63, wherein the access opening is at least partially formed by the leading edge of the lid.   The front wall is inclined at an obtuse internal angle with respect to the bottom, each forward extension of the side wall has an inclined upward edge extending to the upper end of the front wall, and said edge and the upper end of the front wall at least partially define an access opening. 65. The unit of claim 64 formed.   66. A unit according to any one of claims 1 to 65, wherein the access opening is upward.   68. The unit of claim 66, wherein the access opening is also outward.   The unit of claim 66, wherein the access opening is forward facing.   68. The unit of claim 66, wherein the access opening is sideways.   70. A unit according to any one of claims 1 to 69, wherein the access opening is adjacent to the lid.   The unit of claim 70, wherein the access opening is located in front of the lid.   72. A unit according to claim 70 or 71, wherein the access opening is located on at least one side of the lid.   73. A unit according to any one of claims 70 to 72, wherein the access opening extends at least partially around the lid in plan view.   The unit according to any one of claims 1 to 73, wherein an end surface adjacent to the access opening of the lid is a downward and outward direction.   75. A unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a movable or removable canopy covers the access opening.   The unit of claim 75, wherein the canopy is supported on the lid.   77. The unit of claim 76, wherein the canopy is hinged to the lid.   78. The unit according to any one of claims 75 to 77, wherein when not in use, the canopy is stowed in a recess opened in front of the lid.   79. A unit according to any one of claims 75 to 78, wherein at least a portion of the canopy is transparent.   80. A unit according to any one of claims 1 to 79, wherein the container is formed by a plurality of open top heat insulation boxes arranged side by side on a support base.   81. The unit of claim 80, wherein one of the boxes is located below the access opening and at least one other entire box is located below the lid.   82. A unit according to claim 80 or 81, wherein the boxes cooperate to form a flat upper surface that can cooperate with the flat lower surface of the lid.   83. A unit according to any one of claims 80 to 82, wherein the box is slidable relative to the support.   84. The unit according to any one of claims 80 to 83, wherein the support base is inclined.   85. A unit as claimed in claim 84, wherein the box slides down on the inclined surface of the support table under its own weight.   86. A unit according to claim 84 or 85, wherein the lower box on the support base supports the upper one or more boxes on the support base so as not to slide downward until the lower box is removed from the support base.   87. A unit according to claim 86, wherein the inclined support comprises a front wall that supports the lower box.   88. A unit according to any one of claims 80 to 87, wherein the support is movable relative to the structure.   90. A unit as claimed in claim 88, wherein the support is movable as a drawer.   90. The unit of claim 89, wherein the support is supported by a telescoping runner and the support can be pulled out of the structure to the extent necessary to place a box at the rear of the support.   The unit according to any one of claims 80 to 90, wherein each box comprises a rear wall and side walls extending from the support base to the lid, and a front wall shorter than the rear wall.   92. The unit of claim 91, wherein the access opening is at least partially formed by the front wall.   93. A unit according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a second access opening that allows access to the interior of the container in the display position.   94. A unit according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least two access openings, at least one of which is an outlet for removing an item from a container.   95. The unit of claim 94, wherein at least one of the access openings is an inlet for entering an item into the container.   96. A unit according to any one of claims 1 to 95, wherein the seal acts between the lid and the top of the container.   99. The unit of claim 96, wherein the seal is a magnetic slide seal.   98. A unit according to claim 96 or 97, wherein the seal surrounds the underside of the lid.   99. A unit according to any one of claims 96 to 98, wherein the seal comprises an element that traverses the direction of movement of the container relative to the structure.   The unit of claim 99, wherein the first transverse element of the seal acts between the lid and the rear wall of the container when the container is in the display position.   101. Unit according to claim 99 or 100, wherein a second transverse element in front of the first transverse element of the seal acts between the lid and the rear wall of the container when the container is in the full access position.   102. The unit of claim 101, wherein the second transverse element of the seal acts between the lid and the front wall of the container when the container is in the fully closed position.   103. A unit according to any one of claims 100 to 102, wherein a third transverse element behind the first transverse element of the seal acts between the lid and the rear wall of the container when the container is in the fully closed position.   104. A unit according to any one of claims 96 to 103, wherein the seal has a longitudinal element parallel to the direction of movement of the container relative to the structure.   105. A unit according to claim 104, wherein the longitudinal element of the seal acts between the lid and the side wall of the container when the container is in the display position or the fully closed position.   The same refrigerated retail unit as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

Images