Patent Application
20240407573
The invention relates to the field of refrigerated display cabinets (abridged RDC), intended to display and preserve products at a reduced temperature which prolongs their good state of conservation; for the presentation and sale of many food products this temperature is imposed by regulations.
The present invention relates more particularly to refrigerated cabinets which are open on a substantially vertical face. More precisely, it concerns a so-called “vertical open” refrigerated display cabinet, that is to say having a substantially vertical face which remains open so that the products displayed for sale can be apprehended. In this type of cabinet, the thermal confinement of the space where the products displayed for sale are located is achieved by a curtain of cold air extending from the top of the open face to the bottom of said open face. For this purpose, means are provided for blowing air as well as means for suction of this air, which are placed substantially directly above each other. Furthermore, the display cabinet is hollow, so as to form an air vein, that is to say a circulation conduit for air which allows the latter to be returned from the suction means towards the blowing means.
The invention relates to a new display cabinet of this type which presents a means of humidification by nebulization.
The technological background is represented by the article by G. Rigot “Meubles frigorifiques de vente”, published in 2002 in the collection “Techniques de l'Ingénieur” (chapter BE 9780).
The state of the art includes in particular different types of refrigerated display cabinets which are commercially available, and which are the subject of standard NF EN ISO 23953 (2015) “Refrigerated display cabinets” in two parts (“Part 1: Vocabulary” and “Part 2: Classification, requirements and test methods”).
Refrigerated display cabinets are typically made up of a thermally insulated structure, elements ensuring the production and distribution (local or remote) of cold, and shelves allowing the presentation and storage of foodstuffs, as illustrated in
Cooling of foodstuffs of plant or animal origin in refrigerated enclosures is generally achieved by forced air convection due to its relatively low cost and its adaptability to all kinds of products compared to other cooling techniques. However, this air is generally dry, because humidity condenses on the cold walls as well as at the evaporator. Forced convection of dry air exacerbates the drying out of products, at least on the surface, leading to an irreversible alteration of their organoleptic properties and a non-optimal shelf life.
The evaporation of very fine water droplets on the surface of products of plant or animal origin is known to increase heat transfer and to reduce water loss during the refrigeration process; this allows to increase the shelf life of products and to avoid the deterioration of their quality. “Very fine droplets” refer here to droplets with a diameter typically between 1 μm and 10 μm. In a known manner, such droplets can be produced by piezoelectric elements which are also called “nebulisators”; such a device is described for example in European Patent Publication No. EP 0 691 162 (IMRA Europe). This results in a sheet of fog that does not wet surrounding surfaces.
We note here that for those skilled in the art the term “mister” designates a wetting type mist generator, composed of larger droplets which evaporate less quickly. It is generally not desirable to wet dry or moist food products intended for sale.
Displays with nebulizer diffusers have been used in stores for around thirty years. For example, WO 2014/023 907 (ARECO) describes a display with a substantially horizontal exhibition surface, provided with nebulizer nozzles which spread a sheet of fog over the surface where the products are displayed; in such a device, the sheet of fog floats in the air, envelops the products displayed for sale, but evaporates before falling to the ground. As described in the cited document, this fog layer can be suctioned close to the exposure surface to avoid any overflow of the fog layer.
RDCs having an open upper horizontal face are known; they typically take the form of a box open on their upper side, which can be closed by a glass door. In such a system, thermal confinement can be achieved naturally by means of cold air, heavier than hot air, which remains confined by the side walls of the box. In particular, this confined cold air does not tend to escape significantly through the upper opening. Such a cabinet is described in French Patent Publication No. FR 2 434 601 (Bosshard).
The situation is more complex in the case of cabinets open on a vertical face. The geometry of such a refrigerated cabinet represents a technical challenge. In fact, the aforementioned vertical face defines an opening which is certainly advantageous, because it allows immediate apprehension of the products by the consumer. On the other hand, unlike the cabinet with a top opening, in this case the cold air necessarily tends to escape, in particular by gravity, through this front opening. Consequently, unless additional means are provided, the temperature in the display cabinet tends to increase undesirably.
In order to remedy this drawback, the cold air can be confined in the interior volume of the open display cabinet described above. This confinement of the cold air is typically done by a vertical flow of air (also called “air curtain”), which exits from a nozzle or blowing slot placed at the top of the open face, which extends vertically in the form of a curtain on the open face, and which is sucked in by a mouth or suction slot located at the bottom of the open face. This descending and continuous flow of air is optically transparent and can be crossed by the hand of the customer who wants to apprehend a product displayed on a shelf of the cabinet. Different types of air curtains are known, which can notably be single, double, triple, symmetrical, asymmetrical; they are sized according to the length of the opening to be covered, and according to the temperature difference to be maintained between the interior volume of the cabinet and the external environment.
The state of the art has already proposed adding a nebulization system to an open vertical refrigerated display cabinet of the type targeted by the invention. In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 4,612,777 (Sanyo Electric) will be cited here for this purpose, which describes a refrigerated display cabinet equipped with different oblique shelves. A nebulization system is also provided, placed above the ceiling of the cabinet, which creates a fog flowing into the air stream of this cabinet.
This known solution, however, has certain drawbacks. In fact, the nebulization system fitted to this display cabinet is found to be relatively ineffective. In particular, it does not allow sufficient humidification of the stored products. Furthermore, this humidification is not of good quality, particularly in that it is not uniform across the entire storage volume.
Japan Patent Publication No. JP 55 69 676, which describes a refrigerated display cabinet, equipped with a sprinkler, will also be cited here. The latter, which is very different from a nebulization system, is also located near the rear of the cabinet.
Furthermore, Japan Patent Publication No. JP 55 59 277 discloses a refrigerated display cabinet, which is provided with different nozzles. These are placed on different levels at the rear of the cabinet.
Eventually, Japan Patent Publication No. JP 63 65 277 describes a refrigerated display cabinet, which includes a plurality of flexible tubes allowing the diffusion of liquid. These flexible tubes penetrate the upper wall of the display cabinet, which makes the structure of the latter complex.
That being said, the invention aims to remedy the disadvantages of the prior art presented above.
It aims in particular to provide an open vertical refrigerated display cabinet equipped with nebulization means which, while preserving the proper functioning of the air curtain of this display cabinet, ensure satisfactory humidification of the stored products.
It also aims to provide such a display cabinet, the nebulization means of which guarantee homogeneous humidification over the entire storage volume.
Finally, it aims to provide such a display cabinet, the nebulization means of which have a simple structure and can be conveniently installed on this display cabinet.
At least one of the above objectives is achieved through an open vertical refrigerated display cabinet (I), comprising: a lower wall (1) or base, a rear wall (2), an upper wall (3) or ceiling, as well as a front face (4) opposite the rear wall, this open front face defining access to a volume (V) for storing products, generation means (52, 54), capable of generating an air curtain (200) in the vicinity of this front face, circulating in service in a manner substantially parallel to this front face, the generation means comprising blowing means (52) defining a main blowing orifice (53), as well as suction means (54) located substantially vertical with respect to the blowing means, this display cabinet further comprising nebulization means (8) which are provided in the vicinity of said ceiling, so as to be able to diffuse a fog in at least part of said storage volume, said display cabinet possibly comprising means (100) for producing cold, in particular of the evaporator type, this display cabinet being characterized in that that the nebulization means comprise a diffusion member (82; 382), defining at least one diffusion orifice (84; 840, 841, 842) of said fog, the or each diffusion orifice (84; 840, 841, 842) being distinct from said main blowing orifice (53), while being offset towards the rear wall (2), relative to this main blowing orifice.
According to other characteristics of this display cabinet, which can be taken in separately or in any technically compatible combination for those skilled in the art:
Different embodiments of the invention will be given below, for information only and in no way limiting, with reference to the appended drawings in which:
The refrigerated display cabinet according to a first embodiment of the invention, which is designated as a whole by the reference I, is of general parallelepiped shape. In what follows, we assume that this cabinet rests on a horizontal floor. It firstly comprises a lower wall 1, forming a hollow base. The latter consists of two parallel plates, namely a lower plate 10 intended to rest on the ground, as well as an upper plate 12.
The display cabinet I further comprises rear wall 2, forming a hollow rear. The latter consists of 2 parallel plates, namely a rear plate 20 extending the lower plate 10 above, as well as a front plate 22 extending the upper plate 12 above. In a manner known as such, this plate 22 is pierced with perforations 28, the function of which will be detailed below.
An upper wall 3 is also provided, forming a ceiling. The latter also consists of 2 parallel plates, namely an upper plate 30 extending the rear plate 20 above, as well as a lower plate 32 extending the front plate 22 above.
Finally, the front face 4 of the display cabinet is open, so as to delimit a volume V called storage volume for products intended for sale. These can be arranged on shelves, which will be described in more detail below. As shown in particular in
By convention we note:
In what follows, for each element constituting the cabinet, the initials X, Y and Z will be used to designate the different characteristic axes of this element, which are parallel to the respective axes XX, YY and ZZ above.
Each of the base 1, the rear 2 and the ceiling 3, which are hollow as seen above, delimit the respective spaces 14, 24 and 34. These spaces are placed in mutual communication, so as to define an air circulation duct 5, connecting the base and the ceiling. Means are also provided, of a type known as such, allowing the air to circulate along this duct 5. In the FIG., fans 50 and 51 are schematically illustrated, provided respectively in the upper part and lower part of the display cabinet.
Furthermore, the cabinet includes means, also conventional, allowing the generation of an air curtain at the level of the front face 4 of the cabinet.
In a manner known as such, each mouth 52,54 has for example a “honeycomb” type structure.
More precisely, it is formed by a plurality of channels 52′ and 54′ parallel to each other. The mouth 52 defines an orifice 53, called the main air blowing orifice. This term “main” is used in opposition to the perforations 28, which constitute secondary air blowing orifices. Furthermore, the mouth 54 delimits an air suction orifice 55.
Generally speaking, the display cabinets according to the invention can have a total width LI of between approximately 50 cm and approximately 2000 cm, preferably between approximately 100 cm and approximately 1000 cm. This total width is defined as the distance, along the YY axis, between the opposite side walls. Smaller widths are not of significant practical interest. For larger widths, the capacity and size of the peripheral elements (refrigeration units, nebulizers, fans) as well as the length of the air ducts become limiting factors. Thus, to create cabinets of greater width, its is preferred to line up several separate cabinets of the same type.
The internal height HI of the box, defined as the distance along the axis ZZ between the opposite walls 12 and 32, is limited above all by practical considerations to allow the buyer to easily understand the products on display. Typically, this height HI is between 100 cm and 250 cm, preferably between 120 cm and 200 cm, and even more preferably between 150 cm and 190 cm.
The internal depth PI of the box, defined as the distance along the axis XX between the plate 22 and the furthest front edge 16 or 36, is typically between 50 cm and 120 cm, and preferably between 60 cm and 100 cm. Greater depth makes access to products difficult. A shallower depth, apart from the little practical interest it presents, complicates the control of aeraulic flow conditions.
As indicated above, the display cabinet according to the invention is equipped with several shelves, which are capable of receiving products intended for sale. Typically, each of these shelves connects opposite side walls of the display cabinet. In the example illustrated, four shelves referenced 60 to 63 are provided. It must however be understood that a different number of shelves can equip the display cabinet, typically between 1 and 10, preferably between 2 and 5. These shelves delimit compartments, namely an upper compartment 70 delimited by the ceiling and the upper shelf, three intermediate compartments 71 to 73, each of which is delimited by two adjacent shelves, as well as a lower compartment 74 delimited by the lower shelf and the base.
The shelves, integrated into the display cabinet according to the invention, are substantially horizontal in the illustrated embodiment. This means that each angle, formed by the horizontal and the main axis of each shelf, is less than, for example, 10°. Furthermore, still in the example illustrated, these shelves have substantially identical depths X60 to X63, each depth corresponding to the distance between the plate 22 and the front edge of the shelf considered. This means that the ratio between the greatest depth and the smallest depth is, for example, less than 1.2. Typically the greatest depth of a shelf is less than the depth of the box, each of the depths X60 to X63 typically being between 50 and 80% of this depth PI.
We note h70 to h74 the height of the different compartments 70 to 74, namely the distance, along the vertical axis, between the walls bordering each of these compartments. This height is, by definition, a function of the overall height of the box and the number of compartments. In the example illustrated, the compartments have approximately identical heights.
The invention is however not limited to the arrangement of the shelves, as described with reference to the appended figures. One can first of all imagine a display cabinet according to the invention which has oblique shelves, as will be described in more detail with reference to
The display cabinet according to the invention further comprises nebulization means, which are designated as a whole by the reference 8. These nebulization means firstly comprise a nebulization member 80 which is of a type known as such, for example comprising a piezoelectric type member. In
This member 80, which conventionally has an air inlet 90 and a fog outlet 92, is placed on a mounting bracket 95. The latter is fixed, by any appropriate means, above the cabinet, namely on the upper plate 30. In the example illustrated, the nebulization member 80 is placed substantially directly above the rear wall 2, it being understood that it can be arranged in a different location, along the axis XX.
The inlet 90 is connected to a pipe 91, which extends through the ceiling 3. In this way, nebulization can be carried out by suction of the air circulating in duct 5. Furthermore, the outlet 92 is connected to a pipe 81 passing through the perforated plate 32, so as to extend into the volume V, immediately below the ceiling 3. Advantageously, the pipe 81 is equipped with a line 94, allowing the discharge of waste water in the direction of the evacuation of the cabinet, for example through a flexible hose which is not shown.
The diffusion means 8 further comprise a diffusion tube 82, provided at the front end of the pipe conduit. This tube 82 extends along the width of the cabinet, and can be parallel to the axis YY above. Preferably, this tube has a cross section of cylindrical shape, in circular section. We note d82 the diameter of this tube, as well as Y82 its main axis, which is parallel to YY. As shown in
With particular reference to
We note d84 the diameter of each orifice 84, as well as 184 the distance between 2 adjacent orifices, along this same axis Y82. We also note, in cross section, D84 the straight line connecting the respective centers C82 and C84. Finally, we note a84 the angle formed, according to this same cross section, between the vertical and the line D84.
Referring now to
We also note H82 the distance, along the ZZ axis, between the facing walls of tube 82 and plate 32. Advantageous values of the different parameters, defined above, will be given in the following.
Finally, it should be noted that in the embodiment of
In service, as shown in
It can be seen that the invention ensures improved nebulization quality compared to the prior art described above, which is embodied by the American patent of Sanyo. It will be noted first of all that it is to the merit of the Applicant to have identified the disadvantages linked to the refrigerated display cabinet described in this American patent. In essence, in the Sanyo solution, the fog is diffused through the same orifice as the air curtain. There is therefore a high risk that fog droplets condense unintentionally, particularly against walls. In this way, the stored products ultimately receive a relatively small quantity of nebulization liquid. Furthermore, there is great heterogeneity: certain products will certainly be humidified satisfactorily, but on the other hand other products will receive a significantly lower, or even negligible, quantity of liquid.
On the contrary, the invention provides for diffusing the fog through specific orifices, which are distinct from the blowing orifice while being offset towards the bottom of the cabinet.
This arrangement ensures humidification, not only in sufficient quantity, but also with good homogeneity. The invention thus makes it possible to control the way in which the fog spreads and circulates in the storage volume, as well as the interaction between the fog and the air curtain. It also prevents the fog from condensing significantly along its functional path.
Furthermore, the fact of providing a diffusion tube, provided with several diffusion orifices, presents specific advantages. This makes it possible to simplify the overall structure of the display cabinet, the diffusion tube being able to be mounted simply on the body of the display cabinet. Furthermore, the different diffusion orifices can be conveniently arranged at a large distance from each other.
In the example described and shown, the display cabinet is equipped with an evaporator 100, which forms a means of producing cold. However, the invention can be applied to a display cabinet which is devoid of such a means. In fact, thanks to the good quality of humidification of the products, evaporation occurs during use which leads to lowering of the temperature. The invention therefore makes it possible to provide a “refrigerated” type display cabinet, without necessarily providing a means of producing cold.
Very particularly advantageously, the distance X84 defined above is comprised between 2 and 50 cm, in particular between 20 and 35 cm. These ranges of values contribute significantly to the technical effects of the invention.
Furthermore, also advantageously, the following combination of values is provided for the parameters d82, d84 and 184 defined above:
Also advantageously, the angle a84 is comprised between 0 and 90 degrees, in particular between 30 and 50 degrees. As seen above, this angle can be modified according to arrow F82. Finally, typically, the height H82 is between 1 cm and 10 cm, in particular between 1 cm and 5 cm. In the embodiment of
On the other hand, in the variant of
The distance L810, separating these main axes X810 and X811, is for example comprised between 50 and 200 mm. Furthermore, the diameters D810 and D811 of the conduits 810 and 811 are for example mutually equal. Typically, each of these diameters D810 and D811 is comprised between 20 and 120 mm. Furthermore, the diffusion tube 82 is provided with diffusion orifices 84 similar to those in
The fact of providing two intermediate conduits 810 and 811 presents specific advantages with respect to the solution, for example illustrated in
The variants in
Under these conditions, the inlet 190 of the nebulization member 180 is not associated with a tube, as in the first mode. Indeed, this inlet is capable of directly sucking in the air present in volume V, so as to be able to carry out nebulization. Furthermore, the outlet 192 is connected to an intermediate conduit 181, which does not pass through the wall of the cabinet, as in the first embodiment. In other words, this intermediate conduit 181 extends entirely in volume V, immediately below ceiling 3. At its downstream end, conduit 181 opens into diffusion tube 182, which is similar to that 82 described above.
This embodiment according to
The nebulization member 380, fitted to the display cabinet II, is mounted above the ceiling 303, like the member 80 above. On the other hand, this member 380 differs from that 80, in that it is equipped with two fog outlets 391 and 392. Such a constructive arrangement is of a type known as such. As shown more particularly in
With reference to
As is more particularly illustrated in
According to another variant not shown, one or more additional diffusers can be provided in lower parts of the box, for example at the level of the rear plate of the box, or at the level of the shelves (for example at the rear of the shelves). However, these embodiments are less preferred, for different reasons. They are only effective when said additional diffusers are not obstructed by products; if they are obstructed they can give rise to the uncontrolled formation of ice. Their presence considerably complicates the aeraulic nebulization distribution system. And finally, a complex aeraulic system will be more difficult to maintain, particularly with a view to guaranteeing its perfect cleanliness.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR2107279 | Jul 2021 | FR | national |
| FR2201161 | Feb 2022 | FR | national |
The present application is a National Stage Application of PCT International Application No. PCT/IB2022/056169 (filed on Jul. 4, 2022), under 35 U.S.C. § 371, which claims priority to French Patent Application Nos. 2107279 (filed on Jul. 6, 2021) and 2201161 (filed on Feb. 10, 2022), which are each hereby incorporated by reference in their complete respective entireties.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2022/056169 | 7/4/2022 | WO |
