WO2009090530A2

WO2009090530A2 - Improved refrigerated exhibitor

Info

Publication number: WO2009090530A2
Application number: PCT/IB2009/000033
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marco Maurer
Original assignee: Fly Kit S.R.L.
Priority date: 2008-01-11
Filing date: 2009-01-12
Publication date: 2009-07-23
Also published as: WO2009090530A3

Abstract

There is provided an improved refrigerated exhibitor comprising a main frame (1 ) that includes a containing region (30) defined by a plurality of vertical walls (2,3) mutually interconnected and for the containing of refrigerated food and the like, and a refrigerating unit (5) comprising at least a compressor (50), at least a condenser (51), and at least an evaporator (52), and is characterized by the fact that said refrigerating unit (5) is mounted in a removable manner onto said main frame (1), the arrangement being such that the assembling/ disassembling of said refrigerating unit (5) from said frame (1 ) is carried out without interfering with the mutual interconnection of said multiple walls (2,3).

Description

"IMPROVED REFRIGERATED EXHIBITOR" DESCRIPTION

The present invention refers to an improved refrigerated modular exhibitor such as a refrigerated display, or an horizontal bench fridge, or the like, for the selling and storing of refrigerated merchandise such^" as fresh food, drinks, ice creams or frozen food.

Prior Art

The use of the refrigerated exhibitors for the storage and the refrigerating of goods is widely known today. Typically, in the case of vertical refrigerated exhibitors located in stores, bars, wine-bars and the like, there is provided a substantially parallelepiped structure possibly fitted with a transparent front door where the user can see the merchandise offered and contained within the exhibitor. In these types of exhibitors, the walls are usually insulated to decrease the dispersion of cooling energy to / from the outside. On the other hand, in the case of horizontal refrigerated exhibitors such as

"bench fridges" or the like, there is provided a frame that encloses a main volume substantially parallelepiped shaped and within which the goods are kept, while the lower part of the structure houses the typical refrigerating unit , namely a power unit, an evaporator, a condenser, and one or more ventilating units. The containing volume is a cooled environment and is surrounded by walls, sometimes transparent and designed to contain the product to be displayed. Typically, these benches are used for displaying chilled foods such as ice cream, soft drinks, and also for frozen packaged food products such as vegetables, meats, cakes, pizza, etc..

A problem known to the state of the art is that the refrigerating unit (that is, the power unit, the evaporator, the condenser, and related accessories) is fixedly assembled with the frame of the exhibitor, therefore in the case of a breakage or failure of the coolant or the power unit, it is necessary to remove the entire refrigerated exhibitor from the selling point to bring it to a workshop for the repair thereof. In this case, the shopkeeper must dispose the goods contained within the broken exhibitor and wait for the scheduled withdrawal, and the subsequent replacement of damaged refrigerated exhibitor. This entails a first drawback due to the increase in operating costs for both the sale of non-refrigerated goods, or the non-operating time for the broken refrigerated exhibitor, and in addition to the repair costs. Further, there is another drawback due to the fact the waiting time for withdrawal and/or replacement and the repair thereof usually it is not indifferent.

On the other hand, another problem with the so said horizontal exhibitors or benches is that in case of breakage of a component or the refrigerating unit, the bench shall be completely emptied in order to carry out the repair, with the related drawbacks due to extra costs for the supply of frozen goods, which inevitably will be lost.

Furthermore, in both types of refrigerated exhibitors exists another drawback which is related to the fact that upon carrying out maintenance or repair, it is necessary the complete removal of the same from the selling point for bring it to the assistance center, and subsequently after repair the same return it at the selling point. This leads to extra costs linked to the transporting of the bench as well as maintenance costs and the costs related to the period of absence or replacement of the bench for the seller.

Moreover, there is a further drawback due to the fact that the entire exhibitor after being assembled at the plant, the parts constituting the same are no longer removable. This leads to clutter and an increase of transporting volume from the factory to the selling point, which affect the final cost of the exhibitor itself and also after-sales service. Indeed, in the case of intervention for the repair thereof, it is provided the complete withdrawal of the exhibitor and the subsequent return from/to the selling point, with the related additional costs of transportation.

Therefore, the aim of the present invention is to provide a modular refrigerated exhibitor that solves the abovementioned drawbacks by providing a completely modular design, to be assembled and removable in case of intervention for the replacement or repair of any component thereof, that is regarding both the power unit and the panels forming the walls of the exhibitor itself.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide a refrigerated exhibitor having a modular structure wherein it is expected that the refrigerating unit is mounted in a modular and removable manner within the exhibitor structure, allowing access to said unit without having to dismount and/or mount and/or empty the whole exhibitor. A further aim of the present invention is to provide a modular refrigerated exhibitor that provides the opportunity to be transported in a disassembled manner prior to its use, and subsequently to be assembled at the selling point by the operator.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide an improved refrigerated exhibitor having a high rationality of installation and maintenance, so as to reduce both the costs and the time of installation and maintenance assistance.

A further aim of the present invention is to provide a refrigerated exhibitor providing the possibility of intervention and repair and/or maintenance on a single component/refrigerating unit without having to withdraw the same exhibitor from the selling point of the user for transporting the same to the workshop. Brief description of the Invention

The present invention provides a refrigerated modular exhibitor substantially according to the appended claims. A detailed description of some preferred embodiments of the refrigerated modular exhibitor of the present invention will be now given, as a non limiting example, and with reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view from a side of a refrigerated bench in a condition which constitutes a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view from above of the refrigerated bench of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a component of the refrigerated bench of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a schematic view in a longitudinal cross section illustrating the components of the refrigerated bench of Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 illustrates in detail a part of the refrigerated bench of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a perspective view in from a side of a second embodiment of a refrigerated bench according to the present invention in a open condition; Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of a refrigerated vertical exhibitor which is a third embodiment of the present invention, and

Figure 8 is a schematic cross side view of a power unit of the refrigerated exhibitor of Figure 7.

Detailed description of the Invention Referring now to Figure 1 , there is shown a refrigerated bench in a exploded perspective view and according to a first embodiment of the present invention. According to the invention, the refrigerated bench includes a main frame 1 which includes a containing region 2 for the food and which is surrounded by vertical walls 3.

On the bottom of the containing region 2 there is provided a bottom wall 4 (shown in exploded view in the picture). The bottom wall 4 is mounted in a removable manner onto the refrigerated bench 1 and is associated to a refrigerating unit 5 of the bench 1.

As it may be noted in the picture, the wall 4 incorporates a cooling air ventilating port 6 and a refrigerated air intake port 7 (better illustrated hereinafter). Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown the refrigerated bench of the present invention in a top plan view. As can be seen in the figure, the ventilating port 6 is associated to an air distribution member 60. The member 60 is constituted by a duct connected with said port 6 and arranged onto a respective wall 3 of the bench 1.

Similarly, at the air intake port 7 there is provided a conveying member 70 for conveying the air inlet to the containing region 2 of the bench 1. The member 70 is constituted by a duct connected to said port 7 and is provided onto a respective wall 3 of the refrigerated bench 1 (better explained in the following). With particular reference to Figure 3, there is shown the air intake duct member 70 of the bench 1. As it may be seen in the picture, the duct 70 comprises a box shaped body which has a plurality of intake openings 71 arranged at the vertical direction of the body of the duct 70. Referring now to Figure 4, there is shown a schematic longitudinal cross section of the refrigerated bench.

As it may be understood from the figure, at the lower part of the wall 4 there is mounted a refrigerating unit 5. More precisely, there is provided a compressor 50 and condenser 51 at the "hot" side of the refrigerating unit 5 of the bench 1. Similarly, a evaporating unit 52 and relevant ventilating group 53 are provided at the "cold" side of the refrigerating unit 5. The evaporating unit 52 and the ventilating group 53 are in communication with the suction port 7 and the ventilating port 6 to which are associated the said units 52 and 53 at the wall 4.

In order to thermally isolate the "hot" region from the "cold" region of the refrigerating unit 5 there is provided an insulating wall 54 arranged between the units

51 and 52, the wall 54 being made of heat-insulating material. Furthermore, the purpose of the wall 54 in addition to that of thermally isolate the two units 51 and 52 is to create a chamber between the cooling air and the heat discharge. In fact, as can be understood from the figure, the ventilating unit 53 is in pneumatic connection with the suction duct 70 and the ventilating duct 60 of cooling air. The duct 60 has a port 61 for conveying air from the inside towards the upper part of the containing region 2.

The arrangement of the ducts 60 and 70 is such as to create a preferential flow of cold air indicated by arrows F in the figure. The flow F from the ports 61 is directed to the ports 71 where the air is sucked and channeled to the ventilating unit 53 within the duct 70.

With reference now to Figure 5, it is shown in detail the connecting region for connecting the bottom wall 4 to the chassis structure of the bench 1. More precisely, the wall 4 is likely to rest on respective supporting regions 10 projecting from the structure 1 and is rendered fixedly connected thereto through screws or locking pins 11. Moreover, in order to improve the heat sealing properties and to provide damping of vibrations there is provided a seal 12 interposed between the perimeter of wall 4 and supporting regions 10.

With reference now to Figure 6, there is shown therein a second embodiment of a modular refrigerated bench according to the present invention. For the sake of clarity, same parts will have same numerals and the detailed description thereof will be omitted here because already given above.

According to this embodiment, the bench has a main frame 1 which is completely modular assembled, and which houses at the bottom thereof and in a fully removable manner a refrigerating unit 5 (shown in figure completely extracted). The refrigerating unit 5 is mounted onto a telescopic structure 26 which is sliding housed within the main frame 1. Typically, the refrigerating unit 5 includes at least a compressor 50, at least a condenser 51, and at least an evaporator 52. Both the condenser 51 and the evaporator 52 have a drive fan 53. At of the upper part of the main frame 1 , tehre are provided a plurality of walls 3, said plurality of walls 3 defining a containment volume 30 for a refrigerated food. According to this embodiment, the walls 3 may be mounted in a locked and removable manner onto said main frame 1.

As it is possible to understand from the figure, the refrigerating unit 5 is mounted onto a moving guide 26 so that the same can be extracted without having to access the containing region 30.

For the sake of clarity, in the figures there are not shown the connecting members such as pneumatic tubing or the like, but it has to be understood that according to the needs multiple configurations of individual units may be provided without departing from the inventive spirit of the present invention. For example, in Figure 6 are shown two evaporating units 52 arranged at of the two opposite sides of the main frame 1. Referring now to Figure 7, there is shown in exploded view a third embodiment of the modular refrigerated exhibitor of the present invention, which in this case is a refrigerated display having a vertical transparent window. For the sake of clarity, same parts will have same numerals and the detailed description thereof will be here omitted because already given above. As it may be seen in the picture, the refrigerated display includes a modular structure 1 which consists of three panels 2 each capable of being interconnected with the adjacent panel 2, and a fourth panel 3 made of transparent material for the displaying of the goods inside of the refrigerated display.

According to the invention, each panel 2 is capable of connecting to respective adjacent panels in a removable manner and so that when necessary (for example, after a crash or break) the same can be easily replaced without having to interfere with the whole structure of the refrigerated display itself. Similarly, when needed the transparent panel 3 can be easily removed from the structure 1 and replaced without interfering with the adjacent panels 2. Additionally, the lower part of the structure 1 includes a further base panel 4 which is mounted in a removable manner without interfering with the rest of the panels 2 and 3.

To the skilled man of the art will be apparent that for the assembling and disassembling of the plurality of panels 2, 3 and 4 a number of solutions may be provided as interconnecting means, such as pins and bolts, screw pins, coupling snap or bayonet systems, etc.. all included within the spirit of the present invention.

On the other hand, at of the upper part of the structure 1 it is provided a modular refrigerating unit 5 which is also connected in a removable manner with the structure 1 of the refrigerated display. The modular refrigerating unit 5 includes a power unit, provided with a refrigerant compressor, evaporator and condenser, and other ancillary control units (better illustrated hereinafter).

As will appear clear below, the arrangement of the refrigerated unit 5 is such that it can carry on the refrigeration cycle in a manner totally independent with respect to the structure 1 of the display.

More precisely and referring now to Figure 8, it is described therein and in detail the modular refrigerating unit 5. As it can be understood from the figure, the unit 5 includes a supporting frame 55 within which are mounted the components of the refrigeration cycle. More specifically, the unit 5 encloses two physically separate volumes by an insulated panel 54. The upper volume comprises condensing unit 51 and a fan 53, the ventilation being ensured by the presence of ventilation grids 56. On the other hand, at the lower volume of the modular unit 5 it is provided the evaporator 52 and a fan 53. It must be here clarified that for the operation of the unit 5, the lower volume of the frame 55 which houses the evaporator unit 52 and the ventilator 53 has a shape substantially as a duct 57. The duct 57 has substantially a "C" shape and at the inner thereof the refrigerated air from the inner of the display is sucked and conveyed from the top of the display (i.e., where the air has a higher temperature) through a suction opening 58 to be ventilated onto the evaporator 52 and then be channeled back to the bottom through a blowing opening 59 at the front of the display or over the transparent panel 3 (as the direction of the arrows in Figure 8).

It has further to be precised here that for the sake of clarity in the figure there are not shown all the pneumatic circuits, the typical automatic drives, and the electric circuit necessary for the operating and the control of the refrigerated unit 5. It is obvious that, according to the invention, the modular refrigerating unit 5 be equipped with all automatic controls and drives for the typical proper operation.

To the skilled men of the art will be apparent that the different embodiments of the refrigerated exhibitor of the present invention and described above can be further modified that nevertheless fall within the spirit of the invention and are comprised within the scope of the appended claims.

For example, in a further different embodiment of the refrigerated bench of the present invention, the refrigerating unit 5 can advantageously be mounted directly on a state of the art structure that incorporates a static refrigerant piping embedded within the walls 3 of the containment region 2, such as it is provided in the state of the art bench refrigerators. According to this embodiment, the ventilating and cooling units 52 and 53 and the ventilating duct 60 are replaced by a piping coil and housed jointly in the walls 3 of the containing region 2. Therefore, for the removal of the wall 4 can be provided a couple of bayonet type joints both to the refrigerating unit 52 and the refrigerant piping fixed to the chassis, and in order to allow the removal of the wall 4 in case of maintenance intervention. It follows a significant advantage due to the fact that can be changed both the wall and the refrigerating unit for intervention of maintenance or replacement of the affected component without having to withdraw the refrigerated bench 1 form the selling point.

Moreover, according to a further alternative embodiment of the display of the present invention, according to the needs the modular refrigerated unit 5 can be alternatively mounted at the bottom of the structure of the 1 of the display. In this condition the interchangeability of the panels 2, 3 and the refrigerant 5 is not compromised.

It is convenient to highlight here that the present invention has many advantages.

A first advantage consists in that, thanks to the particular arrangement of the modular structure, i.e. the refrigerated exhibitor 1 , it is possible to realize the shipping/transportation of the same in a disassembled condition, and then assemble all the panels 3 and the refrigerating unit 5 just in time and directly at the selling point. It follows a weight/volume reduction of shipping and the decrease of the risk of breakage of components during the transportation thereof.

Another advantage of the present invention is the fact that can be achieved different configurations of bench and display refrigerators with standardized components, and substantially simplified assembly thereof. Indeed, for any different final arrangement both for the shapes and for the sizes, can be implemented the same components.

Claims

1. Improved refrigerated exhibitor comprising a main frame (1) which includes a containing region (2,30) for goods which is delimited by mutually interconnected vertical walls (2,3), and a refrigerating unit (5) comprising at least a compressor (50), at least a condenser (51), at least an evaporator (52), characterized in that said refrigerating unit (5) is mounted in a removable manner onto said frame (1), the arrangement being such that the assembling/disassembling of said refrigerating unit (5) onto said frame (1) is carried out without interfering with said plurality of walls (2,3).

2. Improved refrigerated exhibitor according to the preceding claim, further comprising a wall (4) mounted in a removable manner onto said main frame (1) and for delimiting said refrigerating unit (5) from said containing region (2,3).

3. Improved refrigerated exhibitor according to the claim 2, wherein said refrigerating unit (5) is fixedly mounted onto said wall (4).

4. Improved refrigerated exhibitor according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising a first ventilating duct (60) of refrigerated air within said containing region (2), and a second duct (70) for the suction of air from said containing region (2,30).

5. Improved refrigerated exhibitor according to the claim 2 or 3 or 4, wherein said wall (4) is arranged at the bottom of said containing region and has a ventilating opening (6) for the refrigerated air and a suction opening (7) of the refrigerated air.

6. Improved refrigerated exhibitor according to the preceding claim, wherein said ventilating opening (6) is associated to said duct (60) for conveying the refrigerated air, and said suction opening (7) is associated to said ventilating duct (70) for sucking air from said refrigerated containing region (2).

7. Improved refrigerated exhibitor according to the preceding claim, wherein said duct (70) consists of a substantially box shaped body having a plurality of intake openings (71) arranged along the vertical development of said body (70).

8. Improved refrigerated exhibitor according to the preceding claim, wherein said evaporator (52) is associated to a ventilating unit (53) and both communicate with said air suction opening (7) and ventilating opening (6) onto said bottom wall (4).

9. Improved refrigerated exhibitor according to any of the preceding claims from 2 to 8, wherein said refrigerating unit (5) further comprises an insulating wall (54) arranged between said condenser (51) and said evaporator (52).

10. Improved refrigerated exhibitor according to the preceding claim, wherein said wall (54) is made of thermally insulating material.

11. Improved refrigerated exhibitor according to any of the preceding claims from 2 to 10, wherein said frame (1) comprise a plurality of seats (10) for supporting said wall (4).

12. Improved refrigerated exhibitor according to any of the preceding claims from 2 to 11 , wherein said wall (4) is fixedly mounted onto said frame (1) by clamping means (11).

13. Improved refrigerated exhibitor according to claim 11 or 12, further comprising a perimeter seal (12) interposed between said wall (4) and said seats (10).

14. Improved refrigerated exhibitor according to the claim 1 , wherein said plurality of vertical walls include a multiplicity of panels (2,3) to be mutually interconnected in a detachable manner.

15. Improved refrigerated exhibitor according to the preceding claim, wherein each panel (2,3) of said multiplicity of panels is mountable/dismountable onto said structure (1) so as to do not interfere with the mutual connection between other adjacent panels (2,3).

16. Improved refrigerated exhibitor according to claim 14 or 15, wherein said refrigerating unit (5) is mounted on said structure (1) in a removable manner and so as not to interfere with the disassembling/assembling of said plurality of panels (2,3).

17. Improved refrigerated exhibitor according to any of claims 14-16, wherein at least a panel (3) of said plurality of panels is transparent.

18. Improved refrigerated exhibitor according to the preceding claims, wherein said refrigerated unit comprises:

- a supporting frame (55) which defines the inside at least two physically separated volumes by an insulated panel (54);

- a condensing unit (51) and a ventilating unit (53) mounted at a first volume of said two separated volumes, and

- a evaporating unit (52) and a ventilating unit (53) mounted at said second volume of said two separated volumes.

19. Improved refrigerated exhibitor according to the preceding claim, wherein said second volume houses said evaporating unit (52) and said ventilating unit (53) further includes a duct (57) for the sucking and conveying the air from the inside of the exhibitor to said evaporating unit (52) and conveying the refrigerated air to another part within said exhibitor.

20. Improved refrigerated exhibitor according to the preceding claim, wherein said duct (57) has a substantially "C" shape comprising openings (58,59) for the suction and the blowing of air.