Refrigerated display merchandiser with variable air curtain
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A refrigerated merchandiser comprising;
- a display case having an exterior and an interior, the interior defining a product display region having an open-front viewing area;
at least one fan associated with said display case for establishing a curtain of airflow passing generally downwardly across the open-front viewing area of the display region;
at least one sensor associated with said display case for detecting a disturbance in said curtain of airflow; and
a controller operatively associated with said at least one fan and said at least one sensor, said controller controlling said at least one fan to increase airflow in said curtain of airflow in response to said sensor detecting a disturbance in said curtain of airflow.
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Abstract
A refrigerated merchandiser (12) includes a display case (30) defining a product display region having an open-front isolated from the ambient air of the store by means of a downwardly directed inner air curtain (55) of relatively cold refrigerated air. The amount of airflow forming the air curtain is selectively increased in response to a signal from a controller (80) whenever a sensor (70) detects a disturbance in the integrity of the air curtain or from movement in front of the display case.
24 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A refrigerated merchandiser comprising;
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a display case having an exterior and an interior, the interior defining a product display region having an open-front viewing area;
at least one fan associated with said display case for establishing a curtain of airflow passing generally downwardly across the open-front viewing area of the display region;
at least one sensor associated with said display case for detecting a disturbance in said curtain of airflow; and
a controller operatively associated with said at least one fan and said at least one sensor, said controller controlling said at least one fan to increase airflow in said curtain of airflow in response to said sensor detecting a disturbance in said curtain of airflow. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A refrigerated merchandiser comprising;
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a display case having an exterior and an interior, the interior defining a product display region having an open-front;
at least one fan associated with said display case for establishing a curtain of airflow passing generally downwardly across the open-front viewing area of the display region;
at least one sensor associated with said display case for detecting motion in vicinity of the open-front of said display case; and
a controller operatively associated with said at least one fan and said at least one sensor, said controller controlling said at least one fan to increase airflow in said curtain of airflow in response to said sensor detecting motion in vicinity of the open-front of said display case. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of operating a refrigerated merchandiser having a display case having an exterior and an interior, the interior defining a product display region having an open-front viewing area and at least one fan associated with said display case for establishing a curtain of airflow passing generally downwardly across the open-front viewing area of the display region, said method comprising:
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detecting a disturbance in said curtain of airflow; and
controlling said at least one fan to increase airflow in said curtain of airflow in response to the detecting of a disturbance in said curtain of airflow.
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16. A method of operating a refrigerated merchandiser having a display case having an exterior and an interior, the interior defining a product display region having an open-front viewing area and at least one fan associated with said display case for establishing a curtain of airflow passing generally downwardly across the open-front viewing area of the display region, said method comprising:
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detecting motion in vicinity of the open-front of said display case; and
controlling said at least one fan to increase airflow in said curtain of airflow in response to said sensor detecting motion in vicinity of the open-front of said display case.
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Specification