JP2012157554A - Showcase - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve illuminance uniformity of a product while maintaining constant average illuminance.SOLUTION: The showcase includes a shelf 32 on which a product 50 is mounted, LED lighting 38 arranged in proximity to, diagonally downward and forward relative to the front edge of the front of the shelf 32 which is served as the side from which a customer takes the product 50 and in which an LED 38a is provided with the light axis faced nearly upward, a reflecting plate 40 arranged in proximity to, forward of the LED lighting 38 and partially reflecting the light of the LED lighting 38 toward the product 50. High-luminosity direct light in a vicinity of the center of the light axis illuminates the upper part of the product 50 which is far from the LED lighting 38 by luminosity attenuated by the distance, and low-luminosity direct light off from the center of the light axis illuminates the lower part of the product 50 which is near the LED lighting 38 by luminosity less attenuated by the distance. Reflected light being part of the light from the LED lighting 38 which is reflected on the reflecting plate 40, makes up for the direct light emitted onto the product 50 from the LED lighting 38 and illuminates the product 50.

Description

  The present invention relates to a showcase including an LED (Light Emitting Diode) illumination device.

  As a showcase, among the shelves for displaying products, there is known a product in which a fluorescent lamp is arranged on the front side from which a customer takes out a product to illuminate the product on the shelf. In such a showcase, in addition to reducing the space for displaying merchandise due to the installation of fluorescent lamps that require a large space, electric energy is wasted because there is a lot of light that is not irradiated on the merchandise.

  For this reason, as described in Patent Document 1, instead of a fluorescent lamp, an LED illumination device having LEDs excellent in space and energy consumption is arranged in front of the product to illuminate the product on the shelf ( A showcase (hereinafter referred to as “front lighting”) has been proposed.

JP 2010-78250 A

  However, in order to illuminate the product with a certain average illuminance by such front illumination, if the LED lighting device is arranged close to the product to some extent, the front surface of the product is illuminated in a spotlight shape. For this reason, the illuminance on the front surface of the product increases in part, but decreases in other parts, and the entire product displayed on the shelf may give a dark impression to the customer.

  Therefore, in view of the above-described conventional problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a showcase that improves the illuminance uniformity of a product while maintaining a constant average illuminance.

  For this reason, the showcase according to the present invention is arranged in the vicinity of the front side of the shelf on which the product is placed and the product placed on the front side of the shelf on which the customer takes out the product. The LED illumination for illuminating the product, and a reflector that is disposed in proximity to the front of the LED illumination and reflects a part of the light of the LED illumination toward the product, are characterized in that it is configured.

  According to the showcase of the present invention, in addition to the direct light from the LED illumination arranged in the vicinity of the front side with respect to the product placed on the front side of the shelf board, the reflected light from which a part of the direct light is reflected Since the product is illuminated, the illuminance uniformity of the product can be improved while maintaining a constant average illuminance.

Perspective view showing an example of a showcase Partial sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. Shelf perspective view Partial cross section of shelf front Cross section of lighting module Light distribution curve diagram illustrating the orientation characteristics of the lighting module Explanatory drawing which shows the illumination of goods by an illumination module Explanatory drawing which shows the illumination by the illumination module when taking out goods Explanatory drawing which shows the illumination by the illumination module using the shelf constructed above Explanatory drawing which shows the illumination using the display board which has a diffused reflection layer Explanatory drawing which shows the light transmission of the display board by the light from an illumination module Explanatory drawing which shows the light transmission of the display board which has a diffused reflection layer Explanatory drawing which shows the shelf which orient | assigned the optical axis of the illumination module to the downward direction

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1 and 2 are explanatory diagrams showing an example of a showcase. This showcase 10 is a refrigerated showcase installed in a supermarket or a convenience store, for example. It may be a showcase for freezing or keeping warm.

  The showcase 10 includes a box-shaped main body 12 having heat insulation that opens on the front surface (exhibition side, customer side, sales floor side), an installation table 14 that is attached to the bottom surface of the main body 12 and supports the main body 12; It is comprised including.

  Partition walls 12a, 12b, and 12c are attached to the inner upper surface, the inner bottom surface, and the inner rear surface of the main body 12 so as to be separated from each other inward, and the partition walls 12a, 12b, and 12c and the like are connected to the main body 12. A display chamber 16 opened to the front surface is formed by both side walls.

  The space between the display chamber 16 and the main body 12 accommodates an unillustrated evaporator, a cool air circulation blower, and the like, and the cool air circulation by the cool air circulation blower is formed at the upper edge of the front opening of the display chamber 16. The discharge port 18 and the suction port 20 formed at the lower edge of the front opening of the display chamber 16 are performed. Due to the flow of cool air from the discharge port 18 to the suction port 20, a cool air curtain is formed at the front opening of the display chamber 16, and a part of the cool air in the air curtain is circulated in the display chamber 16. Cool down.

  At least the front and rear surfaces and side surfaces of the installation table 14 are covered with a panel having good heat dissipation, and thereby a compressor and a condenser, and a condenser blower (not shown) below the display chamber 16. A refrigeration machine chamber 22 is formed in which are arranged. The compressor and the condenser constitute a refrigeration circuit (not shown) together with the above-described evaporator.

  Both side walls of the display chamber 16 are defined by a transparent plate such as a glass plate that can be seen through the inside of the display chamber 16. The transparent plate to be used may have a three-layer structure with a hollow layer sandwiched between them in order to improve heat insulation, and may be applied with a transparent heat insulating film or a transparent heat insulating paint. In addition, when heat insulation is given priority over the internal see-through property of the display chamber 16, a part or all of both side walls may be defined and closed with a heat-insulating panel that cannot see through the inside.

  In the display chamber 16, a plurality of shelves 24 for placing commodities are installed via brackets 26. The partition wall 12c on the inner and rear surfaces of the display chamber 16 is provided with a plurality of support columns 28 extending vertically, and the support holes 28 have engagement holes 30 with which the base ends of the brackets 26 are detachably engaged. A plurality of holes are formed in the vertical direction. The shelf 24 is stretched over a pair of brackets 26 engaged with a pair of engagement holes 30 of adjacent columns 28 so as to be positioned at a predetermined height in accordance with the height of the product to be placed. Is built. The shelf 24 slides with respect to the bracket 26 so as to facilitate the display and exchange of goods, and closes toward the front of the showcase 10.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of the shelf 24 installed on the pair of brackets 26. The shelf 24 has a shelf plate 32 having a substantially rectangular shape on which the product is placed, and a guard 34 that stands on four sides of the shelf plate 32 and prevents the product placed on the shelf plate 32 from falling. The front end member 36 extending in the width direction at the front end of the shelf plate 32, the illumination module 38, the display plate 40, and the shielding plate 42 are configured.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the structure of the front portion of the shelf 24.
The front end member 36 includes a first member 44 and a second member 46. The first member 44 extends in the width direction at the front end of the shelf board 32, and has an upper step portion 44a, a lower step portion 44b, and a connection portion 44c that connects them so that the cross section is substantially stepped. Formed. The upper step portion 44 a is fixed on the bottom surface of the front end portion of the shelf plate 32, forms the base end of the first member 44, and the extending end of the lower step portion 44 b extending forward forms the tip end of the first member 44. Further, the second member 46 extends upward from the tip of the first member 44. Then, the lower step portion 44 b and the connection portion 44 c of the first member 44 and the second member 46 form a recess 48. In addition, it replaces with the shelf 32 and the front end member 36 of another body, and is good also as the recessed part of the shelf 32 extended from the front end of the shelf 32 and formed integrally.

  The bar-shaped lighting module 38 that illuminates the product 50 placed on the shelf 32 is integrally formed extending from the front end of the shelf 32 or the shelf 32 so as to be disposed in the recess 48 of the front end member 36. It is held and fixed to a separate holder 52 that is connected and fixed to the front end portion of the. This prevents the product 50 from directly contacting the lighting module 38 in cooperation with the holder 52 when the product 50 is put in and out of the shelf 24. Note that the illumination module 38 may be directly fixed in the recess 36c.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the illumination module 38 is an integrated LED light source having LEDs 38 a and lenses 38 b that are arranged at regular intervals (for example, about 10 to 15 mm) in the longitudinal direction. is there.

  The LED 38a uses, for example, a power consumption of about 0.1 W to 0.5 W and a light distribution angle (1/2 beam angle) in the range of 1/2 of the maximum luminous intensity is about 120 degrees.

  Further, the lens 38b is configured to reduce the ½ beam angle of the LED 38a in a plane orthogonal to the width direction of the shelf board 32 to about 60 degrees as shown in FIG. 6, for example, and the light distribution angle by the lens 38b. With this aperture, the light intensity near the center of the optical axis is increased. The light emitted from the lens 38b is adjusted substantially symmetrically with respect to the optical axis center.

Furthermore, the illumination module 38 has a width W of about 15 mm and a height H of about 13.5 mm, and the length is adjusted to the width of the shelf board 32.
Then, when the illumination module 38 is held and fixed to the holder 52, the optical axis is set to be substantially upward. The optical axis may be substantially perpendicular to the shelf plate 32.

  In addition, when the lighting module 38 is held and fixed, the lighting module 38 irradiates the lower part of the front surface of the product row 50 arranged in the foremost row of the shelf board 32 and emits sufficient direct light to the upper part. The position of the illumination module 38 is set in consideration of the above-mentioned light distribution characteristics so that the illumination can be performed. For this reason, the illumination module 38 is disposed in the vicinity of the front side of the commodity row 50 placed on the front end portion of the shelf board 32. Specifically, the illumination module 38 is disposed close to the front of the front end edge of the mounting surface of the shelf 32 obliquely downward. The sizes of the front end member 36 and the holder 52 are determined so as not to block the cold air curtain formed in the front opening of the display chamber 16 while corresponding to the arrangement of the illumination module 38.

  One surface of the long plate-like display board 40 is formed with a display layer 40a displaying a POP (Point of Purchase) advertisement related to the product 50, and this surface is used as a front surface to illuminate the concave portion 36c of the front end member 36. It is inserted in front of the module 38. The inserted display board 40 may be sandwiched between the inner surface of the front end member 36 and the holder 52 that holds the illumination module 38. The height of the display board 40 is set so that, in the inserted state, the customer does not prevent the product 50 from being taken out, and the customer can visually recognize the product display label of the product 50 behind.

Moreover, the rear surface of the display board 40 acts as a reflective surface that reflects light from the illumination module 38 toward the product 50, and from this action, the display board 40 can also be referred to as a reflector.
Furthermore, the display board 40 is gradually tilted toward the shelf board 32 as it goes upward, improving the appealing power to customers such as POP advertisements displayed on the front surface, and the light from the lighting module 38. When reflected on the rear surface of the display board 40, the reflected light is effectively applied to the product 50 placed on the shelf board 32.

  The shielding plate 42 covers both sides of the front end member 36 to substantially the same height as the upper end of the display plate 40, shields the direct light from the lighting module 38 leaking to the side of the front end member 36, and the customer feels dazzling. It is difficult. The display plate 40 may be supported or fixed by a stay standing from the shielding plate 42 along the rear surface of the display plate 40.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the lighting module 38 is turned on, the product row 50 arranged in the foremost row of the shelf board 32 is illuminated with direct light from the lighting module 38 (LED 38 a) and reflected light from the display board 40. Is also illuminated by.
Such direct light from the illumination module 38 can improve the illuminance uniformity on the front surface of the product line 50 than direct light from the front illumination.

  That is, the illumination module 38 disposed obliquely downward and forward near the front edge of the mounting surface of the shelf 32 on which the products 50 are arranged is narrowed by the lens 38b and the optical axis of the LED 38a is substantially reduced. Since the light is directed upward, the direct light having a large light intensity near the center of the optical axis irradiates the upper part far from the illumination module 38 in the product row 50, and the direct light having a small light intensity is emitted from the illumination module 38 in the product row 50. Irradiate the near lower part. On the other hand, since the illuminance is inversely proportional to the square of the distance, the illuminance is lower in the upper part of the product line 50 far from the illumination module 38 than in the lower part near the illumination module 38. For this reason, the upper part and the lower part illuminance of the product line 50 approach each other, and the illuminance uniformity on the front surface of the product line 50 can be improved. Therefore, the direct light from the illumination module 38 can improve the illuminance uniformity on the front surface of the product line 50 compared to the case of the front illumination. Thereby, it becomes possible to give a bright impression to the customer as the product 50 as a whole. Even in the illumination module 38 in which the light distribution angle of the LED 38a is not restricted by the lens 38b, for example, the above-described illuminance uniformity can be improved with respect to the product 50 having a relatively low height. .

  Although the illumination module 38 can reduce illuminance unevenness due to the direct light, since the optical axis of the LED 38a is directed substantially upward rather than in the direction of the product 50, the direct light applied to the product 50 is reduced compared to the front illumination. . However, since a part of the light from the illumination module 38 is reflected toward the product 50 on the rear surface of the display panel 40, the reflected light supplements the direct light applied to the product 50 from the illumination module 38. 50 is illuminated. For this reason, even if compared with the front illumination, the average illuminance on the front surface of the product line 50 can be maintained at a constant level without significantly decreasing. In particular, since the upper part of the product line 50 is a part far from the illumination module 38, the illuminance due to direct light tends to be insufficient, and the light far from the illumination module 38 among the light emitted to the rear surface of the display panel 40 is irradiated. The incident light with respect to the display panel 40 becomes larger and can be reflected with a high reflectance to irradiate the upper part of the product row 50. Therefore, in addition to maintaining the average illuminance at the front surface of the product line 50 at a constant level, it is possible to contribute to improving the illuminance uniformity by bringing the illuminances at the upper and lower parts of the product line 50 closer to each other.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the products 50 arranged in the front row of the shelf board 32 are taken out, it is difficult for the direct light from the illumination module 38 to be irradiated to the lower part of the products 50a in the back. However, since the display board 40 that is gradually inclined toward the shelf 32 as it goes upward is arranged in front of the illumination module 38, a part of the light from the illumination module 38 is reflected on the rear surface of the display board 40. Therefore, the possibility of illumination with improved illuminance uniformity with respect to the product 50a is increased in that the reflected light is easily irradiated to the lower part of the product 50a in the back, and the visibility of the product 50a by the customer is improved.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the light from the illumination module 38 is reflected on the lower surface of the shelf 24a installed above the shelf 24 provided with the illumination module 38, for example, the bottom surface of the shelf plate 32a, etc. The product 50 placed on 32 is irradiated from above. On the other hand, the reflected light obtained by reflecting the light of the illumination module 38 by the display board 40 is reflected at a larger reflection angle on the bottom surface of the shelf board 32a which is deeper than the direct light. Therefore, compared with the case where the display board 40 is not provided, the product 50 placed on the shelf board 32 can be illuminated farther, and the product 50 as a whole contributes to giving a bright impression to the customer.

  In the showcase 10 described above, the rear surface of the display board 40 is a surface treatment that diffusely reflects light from the illumination module 38, for example, silk printing such as white, dimple processing with fine unevenness, application of matte paint, You may provide the irregular reflection layer 40b which gave the embossing etc.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the rear surface of the display panel 40 including the irregular reflection layer 40b causes irregular reflection upon receiving light from the illumination module 38. Therefore, the incident light is different from the specular reflection in various directions. reflect. Therefore, compared to the case where the irregular reflection layer 40b is not provided, the irregular reflection light from the rear surface of the display panel 40 is mixed with the direct light and irradiated relatively uniformly on the 50, so that the illuminance of the product row 50 by the direct light The uniformity can be improved. Moreover, the mixed light of such irregularly reflected light and direct light can realize soft and natural lighting. The effects obtained by the configuration including the irregular reflection layer 40b will be further described as follows.

  That is, in the light distribution characteristics of the illumination module 38, the light intensity does not attenuate at a constant rate of change from the center of the optical axis (see FIG. 6), and the LEDs 38a are arranged at intervals in the illumination module 38. Some unevenness occurs in the direct light from 38. However, the irregularly reflected light from the rear surface of the display panel 40 provided with the irregular reflection layer 40b is emitted in various directions, so that it is mixed with the direct light and has an effect of reducing such unevenness.

  Further, a shaded portion that cannot be irradiated by direct light or reflected light from the rear surface of the display panel 40 that does not include the irregular reflection layer 40 b is generated between the products 50. However, in the case of the display panel 40 provided with the irregular reflection layer 40b, irregular reflection light from the rear surface irradiates and irradiates the shaded portion, and the shadow between the products 50 can be reduced.

  Further, when the products 50 placed in the front row of the shelf board 32 are taken out (see FIG. 8), the product is irradiated from the rear surface of the display panel 40 not provided with the irregular reflection layer 40b toward the lower part of the products 50a in the back. Since the reflected light is a reflection of direct light having a relatively small luminous intensity, the illuminance below the product 50 in the back may be insufficient. However, if the display panel 40 includes the irregular reflection layer 40b, direct light having a relatively large luminous intensity can be reflected and radiated to the lower part of the product 50 in the back, so that illuminance deficiency can be improved.

  When the display panel 40 is made of a material having a property of transmitting light, for example, transparent resin, glass, etc., when the rear surface of the display panel 40 is not provided with the irregular reflection layer 40b, as shown in FIG. Light incident on the rear surface of the display panel 40 from the module 38 is refracted at a substantially unique refraction angle due to the difference in refractive index between the air and the display panel 40. In this case, due to the light distribution characteristics of the illumination module 38, the light intensity in the vicinity of the center of the optical axis is large. Brightness unevenness appears. For this reason, brightness and darkness appear clearly in the display layer 40a such as a POP advertisement displayed on the front surface of the display board 40, which may affect the customer suction force.

  The light transmission when the irregular reflection layer 40b is provided is different from the light transmission when the irregular reflection layer 40b is not provided on the rear surface of the display panel 40. That is, as shown in FIG. 12, light incident on the rear surface of the display panel 40 from the illumination module 38 is refracted at an angle different from a refraction angle that is substantially uniquely determined in refraction at the rear surface that does not have the irregular reflection layer 40b. And transparent. Therefore, even if light in the vicinity of the center of the optical axis having a high luminous intensity is incident on the rear surface of the display panel 40, the light is refracted in various directions. That is, it becomes difficult for light and dark to appear in the POP advertisement displayed on the front surface of the display board 40. The effects obtained by the configuration including the irregular reflection layer 40b will be further described as follows.

  That is, in the light distribution characteristics of the illumination module 38, the light intensity does not attenuate at a constant rate of change from the center of the optical axis (see FIG. 6), and the LEDs 38a are arranged at intervals in the illumination module 38. Some unevenness occurs in the direct light from 38. However, in the case of the display panel 40 provided with the irregular reflection layer 40b, the direct light incident on the rear surface from the illumination module 38 is refracted and transmitted in various directions, so that the transmitted light is mixed with the direct light. This has the effect of reducing such unevenness.

  In the showcase 10 described above, the guard 34 erected on the front end of the shelf board 32 may be formed of a transparent plate having high light transmittance. Thereby, the illuminable range of the illumination module 38 can be expanded. In particular, it is meaningful when the product 50 arranged in the front row of the shelf board 32 is taken out and then the lower part of the product 50a placed in the back is illuminated.

  In the showcase 10 described above, the surface of the shielding plate 42 facing the illumination module 38 may include a surface-treated layer that diffusely reflects the light from the illumination module 38 as described above. Thereby, the illumination of the product 50 can be made closer to a natural-feeling illumination.

  In the above-described showcase 10, the illumination module 38 is illuminated from the lower front side of the product line 50 with the optical axis of the illumination module 38 facing substantially upward. Instead, as shown in FIG. 13, the product 50 can be illuminated from above with the optical axis of the illumination module 38 directed substantially downward. The illumination module 38 is arranged so that the optical axis of the LED 38a extends downward in the vicinity of the front side of the commodity row 50 placed on the front portion of the shelf board 32. Specifically, with respect to the shelf 24 displaying the product 50 illuminated by the illumination module 38, the illumination module 38 with the optical axis directed substantially downward is provided via the holder 52 on the bottom surface of the shelf 24 a installed above the shelf 24 a. Installed. In this case, a configuration different from the above-described showcase 10 is illustrated. That is, the upper surface of the shelf board 32a is formed in a flat surface and the front end thereof is bent downward, and the display board 40 is inserted and sandwiched from below between the rear surface of the bent portion and the holder 52.

  In this way, the showcase 10 in which the optical axis of the illumination module 38 is directed substantially downward, for example, when the shelves 24, 24a are installed at a position higher than the customer's viewpoint, the display 50 This is significant in terms of improving the appeal of the front POP advertisement.

  In the above-described showcase 10, when the guard 34 standing at the front end of the shelf 32 does not transmit light and illumination from the lower part of the front surface of the product 50 located behind the guard 34 is unnecessary, FIG. Instead of the shelf 24, the first member 44 may be a flat plate, connected to the mounting surface of the shelf plate 32, and the lighting module 38 may be disposed on or above the first member 44. In this case, the first member 44 and the shelf board 32 may be integrated as a flat plate, and the front edge may be bent upward to replace the second member 46. As a result, the size in the height direction of the shelf 24 can be reduced, so that the product 50 can be smoothly put in and out through the opening defined between the shelf 24 and the shelf installed below the shelf 24. It becomes.

  The above-described showcase 10 has been described as a so-called open showcase, but the front opening of the display chamber 16 may be a showcase defined and closed by, for example, an openable / closable glass door.

10 Showcase 32 Shelf plate 36 Front end member 38 Lighting module 38a LED
38b Lens 40 Display panel 40a Display layer 40b Diffuse reflection layer 44 First member 46 Second member 50 Product, product line

Claims (11)

A shelf board on which products are placed;
With respect to the product placed on the front side, which is the side from which the customer takes out the product, among the shelf boards, LED lighting that is arranged in the vicinity of the front side and illuminates the product,
A reflector disposed close to the front of the LED lighting and reflecting a part of the light of the LED lighting toward the product;
Showcase configured including.   2. The LED illumination according to claim 1, wherein the LED lighting is disposed obliquely downward and forward in front of a front edge of a surface of the shelf on which the product is placed, and the optical axis of the LED is directed upward. Showcase described.   2. The showcase according to claim 1, wherein a reflection surface that reflects part of light from the LED illumination is configured to diffusely reflect light from the LED illumination.   The showcase according to claim 3, wherein the reflective surface of the reflective plate forms a white silk print layer.   The showcase according to claim 1, wherein the reflecting plate is made of a material having a property of transmitting light.   6. The showcase according to claim 5, wherein a surface of the reflecting plate opposite to the reflecting surface forms a display layer for displaying the advertisement of the product.   The showcase according to claim 1, wherein the reflector is gradually inclined toward the shelf as it goes upward.   The showcase according to claim 1, wherein the LED illumination includes a lens that narrows a light distribution angle in a plane orthogonal to the width direction of the shelf.   The showcase according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the LED illumination includes a plurality of LEDs arranged along a front end of the shelf board.   The showcase according to claim 9, wherein the LED illumination is a bar-shaped illumination module in which the LEDs are aligned and integrated. A first member having a base end connected in the width direction at the front end of the shelf and a tip extending forward;
A second member extending upward from the tip of the first member;
And further comprising
The said LED illumination is located on the said 1st member, or the upper direction, and the said reflecting plate is arrange | positioned along the said 2nd member, The any one of Claims 1-10 characterized by the above-mentioned. Showcase described in one.