JP7519614B2 - Showcase - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a showcase equipped with a filter cleaning device that uses a cleaning body to remove dust adhering to a filter.

Conventionally, there has been known a showcase equipped with a filter cleaning device that removes dust and other particles adhering to the filter (Patent Document 1).

The showcase in Patent Document 1 has a cleaning unit main body located to the left of the filter, a rotating shaft that extends approximately parallel to the top and bottom of the filter, a rotating brush that removes dust adhering to the filter, a motor that rotates the rotating brush, a rack gear that meshes with a rack gear attached to the frame of the filter, and a motor that rotates the rack gear. When the motor is driven by the control unit, the rack gear moves the rack gear, causing the filter to move laterally.

Patent No. 6119114

However, in the case of automatic operation, the filter cleaning operation of the showcase described in Patent Document 1 can be synchronized with the defrost operation of the cooler, but the control mechanism becomes complicated, increasing manufacturing costs, and there are cases where an unnecessary filter cleaning operation is performed immediately after the filter is cleaned, shortening the life of the rotating brush. In addition, when the filter cleaning operation is performed manually, the cleaning operation is started by the user pressing a cleaning button provided on the control unit, but if the user forgets to press the cleaning button, dust accumulates on the filter, causing clogging and increasing power consumption.

The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional art by providing a showcase that does not require a complex control mechanism and allows for periodic filter cleaning using simple means.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 1 provides a showcase having a showcase body and a stand, the showcase body having a product storage with an opening having a display shelf, and a night cover that can be opened and closed to cover the opening, the stand having a condenser, a blower fan that sends air to the condenser, a filter that is provided upstream of the condenser and captures dust, and a filter cleaning device that removes dust adhering to the filter with a cleaning body, the filter or the filter cleaning device being connected to the night cover via a drive transmission means, the night cover having a rotating shaft at one end for winding up the night cover from the one end side, and a rotating body that rotates the night cover. The filter cleaning device includes a movable means A for moving the cleaning body and a movable means B for moving the movable means A, and the movable means B is connected to the drive transmission means, and the movable means B is installed near the other end of the night cover when it is closed, and the drive transmission means has a belt or chain that meshes with a gear installed on the rotation shaft and a gear installed on the movable means B, and the belt or chain is installed near one side of the showcase body, and the cleaning body and the filter move relatively in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the night cover. As a result , since the cleaning body and the filter move relatively in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the night cover, there is no need to consciously clean the filter, and the filter can be cleaned with a simple structure, and the filter can be regularly cleaned to prevent clogging of the filter, and the increase in power consumption used in the showcase and the breakdown of the condenser can be prevented. In addition, since one of the operations of opening and closing the night cover can be performed automatically, the filter can be cleaned more easily. In particular, by designing the cleaning body so that it moves automatically in the direction to remove dust, the burden on the user when opening and closing the night cover can be further reduced.

The invention of claim 2 is a showcase having a showcase body and a stand, the showcase body has a product storage with an opening with a display shelf, and a night cover that can be opened and closed to cover the opening, the stand has a condenser, a blower fan that sends air to the condenser, a filter that is provided upstream of the condenser and captures dust, and a filter cleaning device that removes dust attached to the filter with a cleaning body, the filter or the filter cleaning device is connected to the night cover via a drive transmission means, the filter cleaning device has a moving means A that moves the cleaning body and a moving means B that moves the moving means A, the moving means B is connected to the drive transmission means, the filter cleaning device has a rotary drive motor that rotates when a switch is turned on, the moving means B is connected to the rotary drive motor, and the cleaning body and the filter move relatively in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the night cover. This allows the opening and closing of the night cover and cleaning of the filter to be performed automatically, making it easier to clean the filter.

The invention of claim 3 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1 or 2 , the cleaning body removes dust from the filter surface when the night cover is opened. Therefore, the showcase can be started to be used with the filter cleaned, so that an increase in power consumption when the night cover is open can be suppressed.

The invention of claim 4 is characterized in that in any one of the inventions of claims 1 to 3 , the drive transmission means includes a speed reducing mechanism, and the movable distance of the cleaning body or the filter is smaller than the movable distance of the night cover. This reduces the force required to open and close the night cover, and increases the force with which the cleaning body scrapes off dust adhering to the filter surface.

The showcase inventions of claims 1 and 2 do not require conscious cleaning of the filter, and can clean the filter with a simple structure, while preventing clogging of the filter, and preventing an increase in power consumption used in the showcase and a breakdown of the condenser. In addition, the invention of claim 1 can automatically perform one of the operations of opening and closing the night cover, making it easier to clean the filter. In particular, by designing the cleaning body to be automatic when moving in the direction of removing dust, the burden of opening and closing the night cover can be further reduced. In addition, the invention of claim 2 can automatically open and close the night cover and clean the filter, making it easier to clean the filter. In addition, the invention of claim 3 can suppress an increase in power consumption when the night cover is open.

The showcase according to the invention of claim 4 can reduce the force required to open and close the night cover, and can increase the force with which the cleaning body scrapes off dust adhering to the filter surface.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a showcase according to the present invention; FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of a showcase according to the present invention; FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing another example of a filter cleaning device.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a showcase according to the present invention, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the internal structure of the showcase according to the present invention. Also, Figure 3 is a perspective view of another example of a filter cleaning device. The showcase according to the present invention will be described below using these figures.

The showcase 1 according to the present invention is composed of a box-shaped showcase body 2 and a stand 3 that is provided at the bottom of the showcase body 2 and contains a refrigerant circuit that generates cold air to be supplied into the showcase body 2. The showcase body 2 is equipped with a product storage 4 with an opening 4b having a display shelf 4a for displaying food and the like, a night cover 8 that can be opened and closed to cover the opening 4b, an outlet (not shown) from which the cold air generated in the refrigerant circuit is blown out, an intake (not shown) into which the cold air blown out from the outlet is sucked in after passing through the display shelf 4a, and an LED lamp (not shown) that illuminates the display shelf 4a. The cold air sucked in from the intake is returned to the refrigerant circuit and blown out from the outlet again. The showcase 1 may have either a refrigerating or freezing function, and may be either a flat or tabletop shape.

A removable front panel 5 is attached to the front of the stand 3, and inside the stand 3 are arranged a compressor (not shown), a condenser 6, an evaporator (not shown) that make up the refrigerant circuit, and an electrical box (not shown) that houses a board that controls the refrigerant circuit and fluorescent lights. In addition, a number of air intakes 7 for supplying outside air to the condenser 6 are formed in the area of the front panel 5 facing the condenser 6. In addition, a blower fan (not shown) that supplies outside air to the condenser 6 through the air intake 7 is arranged behind the condenser 6.

A filter 9a is provided between the intake port 7 of the front panel 5 and the condenser 6 to collect dust contained in the outside air supplied to the condenser 6, and a filter cleaning device 10 is provided having a cleaning body 11a and a dust box 12 to remove dust adhering to the filter 9a. The stand 3 including the filter cleaning device 10 may be attached to the bottom of the showcase body 2 as shown in FIG. 1, or to the top of the showcase body 2 (not shown). The dust box 12 is detachably attached and can be removed from the showcase 1 by pulling the handle 12a toward yourself. The present invention also includes a structure in which the dust box 12 is not formed and dust adhering to the filter 9a is scraped off by the cleaning body 11a and dropped to the floor.

The filter 9a or the filter cleaning device 10 is connected to the night cover 8 via drive transmission means 13a, 14, so that the cleaning body 11a and the filter 9a move relatively in conjunction with the opening and closing of the night cover 8. The material of the night cover 8 is not particularly limited, and various materials such as cloth and synthetic resin can be used.

In other words, FIG. 2 shows an example in which the filter cleaning device 10 is connected to the night cover 8 via drive transmission means 13a and 14, and the cleaning body 11a moves in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the night cover 8, but the filter 9a does not move. The drive transmission means 13a is composed of a belt or chain that meshes with the gears 16a and 16b.

The drive transmission means is equipped with a reduction mechanism 14, so that the movable distance of the cleaning body 11a or the filter 9a is smaller than the movable distance of the night cover 8. This reduces the force required to open and close the night cover 8, and increases the force with which the cleaning body 11a scrapes off dust adhering to the surface of the filter 9a. In FIG. 2, the cleaning body 11a moves from the top to the bottom of the filter 9a when the night cover 8 is lowered from the top to the bottom of the product storage cabinet 4, but the cleaning body 11a may move from the top to the bottom of the filter 9a when the night cover 8 is lowered to the middle part of the product storage cabinet 4. Alternatively, the cleaning body 11a may move from the top to the bottom of the filter 9a when the night cover 8 is lowered from the middle part of the product storage cabinet 4. Depending on the display situation of the products, it is possible to assume that some shelves of the display shelves 4a and 4a are not used, so the movable area in which the night cover 8 and the cleaning body 11a are linked can be set arbitrarily.

The filter cleaning device 10 includes a movable means A15 for moving the cleaning body 11a and a movable means B16b for moving the movable means A15, and the movable means B16b is connected to the drive transmission means 13a and 14. Specifically, the movable means B16b is configured as a gear so as to mesh with the drive transmission means 13a consisting of a belt or a chain. In addition, the movable means B16b is connected to the reduction mechanism 14, which is the drive transmission means, via a rotating shaft. Therefore, the structure is not complicated, and the filter 9a can be cleaned more easily. The movable means A15 can be configured as a belt or a chain, but various configurations can be applied as long as the cleaning body 11a can be moved in the vertical direction. In addition, the cleaning body 11a is not limited to a straight brush as shown in FIG. 2, and a rotating brush or a blade can also be adopted. Furthermore, the cleaning body 11a may be moved in the horizontal direction by changing the moving direction of the movable means A15 to clean the filter 9a. In this case, the installation position of the dust box 12 can be changed to near one side of the stand 3.

In addition, although not shown in FIG. 2, a gear that engages with gear 16b and rotates in the opposite direction is provided, and is connected to movable means A15 via reduction mechanism 14, so that the movable direction of night cover 8 and the movable direction of cleaning body 11a can be reversed. Therefore, when opening night cover 8 from the bottom to the top of product storage 4, cleaning body 11a can be moved from the top to the bottom of filter 9a, so that use of the showcase can be started with the filter cleaned, thereby suppressing an increase in power consumption when the night cover is open.

The night cover 8 is equipped at one end with a rotating shaft for winding up the night cover 8 from the one end side, and a spring member for rotating the rotating shaft. This allows one of the operations for opening and closing the night cover 8 to be performed automatically, making it easier to clean the filter 9a. In particular, by designing the cleaning body 11a to be automatic when it moves in the direction of removing dust, the burden of opening and closing the night cover 8 can be further reduced.

The night cover 8 is fixed by fitting its end into a recess (not shown) on the side of the product storage cabinet 4, and the position at which the night cover 8 is fixed is not limited to the bottom of the product storage cabinet 4, but it can be fixed to multiple predetermined locations on the top and middle parts. Also, instead of the winding type, the night cover 8 can also adopt a type that slides along a rail installed near the opening.

Figure 3 shows an example in which the filter 9b is connected to the night cover via a drive transmission means 13b, and the filter 9b moves in conjunction with the opening and closing of the night cover, while the cleaning body 11b does not move.

As shown in FIG. 3, the filter cleaning device 20 can also be configured to include a rotary drive motor 17 that rotates when a switch (not shown) is turned ON, and the movable means B18 is connected to the rotary drive motor 17. This allows the night cover to be opened and closed and the filter 9b to be cleaned automatically, making cleaning of the filter 9b easier. Also, while FIG. 3 shows a sliding system in which the filter 9b moves along a rail, a winding system in which the filter 9b is wound up around a shaft can also be used.

In addition, by controlling the direction of rotation of the motor 17, the cleaning body 11b can be configured to make one reciprocating motion only when the night cover is open. In this case, cleaning of the filter 9b can be performed more easily, and the showcase can be started to be used with the filter 9b cleaned, thereby suppressing an increase in power consumption when the night cover 8 is open.

Furthermore, while in FIG. 3 the cleaning body 11b is configured to be immovable, it may be configured to be movable via a movable means A (not shown) as in FIG. 2. In that case, it is preferable to design the filter 9b and the cleaning body 11b so that they can be moved in opposite directions, and since the filter cleaning can be completed in a shorter time, the time during which cleaning noise, etc. is generated can be shortened.

The showcase of the present invention is installed and used in stores such as supermarkets and convenience stores.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Showcase 2 Showcase body 3 Stand 4 Product storage 4a Display shelf 4b Opening 5 Front panel 6 Condenser 7 Air intake 8 Night cover 9a, 9b Filter 10, 20 Filter cleaning device 11a, 11b Cleaning body 12 Dust box 12a Handle 13a, 13b Drive transmission means 14 Speed reduction mechanism (drive transmission means)
15 Movable means A
16a Gear 16b, 18 Movable means B (gear)
17 Rotation drive motor

Claims (4)

In a showcase having a showcase body and a stand,
The showcase body has a product storage unit having an opening with a display shelf, and a night cover that can be opened and closed to cover the opening,
The stand includes a condenser, a blower fan that sends air to the condenser, a filter that is provided upstream of the condenser and captures dust, and a filter cleaning device that removes dust attached to the filter with a cleaning body,
The filter or the filter cleaning device is connected to the night cover via a drive transmission means,
The night cover is provided at one end with a rotating shaft for winding up the night cover from the one end side, and a spring member for rotating the rotating shaft,
The filter cleaning device includes a movable means A for moving the cleaning body and a movable means B for moving the movable means A, the movable means B being connected to the drive transmission means, and the movable means B being disposed near the other end of the night cover when the night cover is in a closed state,
The drive transmission means has a gear installed on the rotating shaft and a belt or chain that meshes with a gear installed on the movable means B, and the belt or chain is installed near one side surface of the showcase body,
The showcase is characterized in that the cleaning body and the filter move relatively in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the night cover. In a showcase having a showcase body and a stand,
The showcase body has a product storage unit having an opening with a display shelf, and a night cover that can be opened and closed to cover the opening,
The stand includes a condenser, a blower fan that sends air to the condenser, a filter that is provided upstream of the condenser and captures dust, and a filter cleaning device that removes dust attached to the filter with a cleaning body,
The filter or the filter cleaning device is connected to the night cover via a drive transmission means,
The filter cleaning device includes a movable means A for moving the cleaning body and a movable means B for moving the movable means A, and the movable means B is connected to the drive transmission means,
The filter cleaning device includes a rotary drive motor that rotates when a switch is turned on, and the movable means B is connected to the rotary drive motor.
The showcase is characterized in that the cleaning body and the filter move relatively in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the night cover. 3. The showcase according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning body removes dust from the filter surface when the night cover is opened. 4. The showcase according to claim 1, wherein the drive transmission means includes a speed reducing mechanism, and the movable distance of the cleaning body or the filter is shorter than the movable distance of the night cover.

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