초록 ▼

An improved refrigerated merchandiser cabinet for food products storage and displaying which is equipped with both transparent barrier doors and an air defrost system to improve the energy efficiency. The barrier doors are openable for product entry and customer usage as well as by an air defrost sy

An improved refrigerated merchandiser cabinet for food products storage and displaying which is equipped with both transparent barrier doors and an air defrost system to improve the energy efficiency. The barrier doors are openable for product entry and customer usage as well as by an air defrost system which creates a gap between the barrier door and the covered access opening to permit flow-through of ambient air for use during the defrost cycle. Operation of the refrigerated cabinet with either a single or multiple air bands during a refrigeration cycle is provided for. During the defrost cycle a number of ambient air flow pattern can be employed, including the use of an auxiliary air fan. Reversal of the air band flow pattern during a defrost cycle is provided for. The method of operating the improved refrigeration display cabinet is also included.

대표청구항 ▼

In a display cabinet having refrigeration means and a display space therein, aperture means in at least one wall of said cabinet for communicating ambient outside air with the air in said cabinet, said aperture means comprising an access opening for permitting products to be moved into and out of sa

In a display cabinet having refrigeration means and a display space therein, aperture means in at least one wall of said cabinet for communicating ambient outside air with the air in said cabinet, said aperture means comprising an access opening for permitting products to be moved into and out of said display space, air moving means for circulating at least one air band within said cabinet and into contact with said refrigeration means during a refrigeration cycle, covering means for said aperture means including a barrier door for substantially covering said access opening, and said refrigeration means including a low temperature element; the improvement comprising: air defrost means for selectively creating a gap between said barrier door and said access opening, said air defrost means causing said air moving means to pass ambient air through said cabinet and through the gap between said barrier door and said access opening during a defrost cycle to bring the ambient air into contact with said low temperature element to remove frost therefrom and to thereafter eject the defrost ambient air from said cabinet, means for providing a plurality of air bands for circulation within said cabinet during a refrigeration cycle, and, control means for selectively operating said air defrost means and said refrigeration means to defrost said low temperature element during a defrost cycle and to refrigerate said cabinet during a refrigeration cycle. A method of operating a refrigerated display cabinet comprising a cabinet having a display space therein, and aperture means in at least one wall thereof for communicating ambient outside air with the air in the cabinet, the aperture means comprising an access opening for permitting products to be moved into and out of the display case, covering means for the aperture means including a barrier door for substantially covering the access opening, the barrier door being movable for enabling access to the cabinet, at least one air conduit extending about the display space and having an outlet opening and an inlet opening at opposite ends thereof, with the outlet opening and inlet opening being arranged in aerodynamic alignment so that air leaving the air conduit outlet opening will be directed toward the received by the inlet opening, and an air moving means for propelling a refrigerated air band through the air conduit during a refrigeration cycle and for propelling ambient air through the cabinet during a defrost cycle, and a refrigeration means arranged within the air conduit; the method comprising the steps of: selectively operating the display cabinet in a refrigeration cycle of operation and in a defrost cycle of operation; during a refrigeration cycle, circulating the air band through the air conduit so that air is expelled from the outlet opening and received by the inlet opening so as to form an air curtain across the access opening in the cabinet along a path inside of the barrier door, and propelling the air band through the refrigeration means; during a defrost cycle operation, terminating operation of the refrigeration means, causing ambient air to be drawn into the cabinet, pass through a substantial portion of the air conduit, and across the refrigeration means, causing the defrost ambient air to be ejected from the cabinet, and creating a gap between the barrier door and the access opening to enable ambient air through-flow; whereby ambient air is drawn into the air band and across the refrigeration means to defrost the same by communicating ambient air with the air band in the display cabinet.