[0001] This invention relates to food display counters of the type which are commonly used
in bakery shops and food emporia to display food for purchase by customers. More specifically,
this invention relates to food counters of the "serve-over" type, where a shop assistant
serves a customer from behind the said counter, the rear of the counter, being open,
allowing said assistant to retrieve food products displayed, usually on shelving or
the like, within said counter, the food being displayed to the customer on the alternate
side of the counter behind a glass, Perspex or other translucent material shield preventing
access thereto from the side of said counter. Such counters are typically used for
the storage and display of pies, pasties, sandwiches, cream cakes and other perishable
produce which require some form of refrigeration to delay the deterioration of the
produce.
[0002] Although the following description relates exclusively to open-backed, serve-over
counters with glass or Perspex side and front panels used by bakers and confectioners
for the display of the types of perishable produce abovementioned, it will be immediately
apparent from an understanding of the invention that its application need not be limited
by such constraints. In particular, it is considered by the applicant that counters
according to the invention may have application in other fields, for example for warming
foods other than those commonly sold by bakeries and other like establishments.
[0003] In interests of brevity, however, the following description will relate only to serve-over
counters in which refrigeration is important in prolonging the shelf life of the displayed
products.
[0004] It is common for serve-over counters to be provided with a plurality of shelves on
which may be displayed different food products. Refrigeration means may be provided
within the counter such that cooled air is allowed to pass over the products displayed
on the lowermost shelf within the counter. In the light of the continual tightening
of food safety regulations both within the European Union (with which UK produce vendors
must comply), and globally, there has been an increase in the number of counters sold
with refrigeration units.
[0005] Refrigerated serve-over counters are typically provided with a base portion, which
rests on a supporting floor of the premises in which the counter is located, and which
optionally houses the refrigerant pump and associated electrics, glass side panels
and glass front panel above the base and at human torso height. A plurality of shelves
is provided behind the glass front panel and between the side panels, such shelving
being supported by structural members attached to the base portion, or alternatively
being supported by the said glass side panels and front panel. In addition, a further
shelf is provided integrally with the base portion of the counter, said further shelf
being inset within the base of the counter. The relative heights and orientations
of the shelves allows a customer to view all the displayed produce and henceforth
the shelves are generally inclined towards the front of the counter for display purposes.
[0006] The rearward upper portion of the counter is either simply open to allow a shop assistant
to reach into the counter, or may optionally be provided with slidably or rotatably
openable door means which when closed serve to further protect the produce displayed
within the counter from airborne contaminants and the like, and also act to contain
the refrigerated air thus enhancing the refrigerating effect of the counter.
[0007] There are currently two known types of refrigerated counter available, the first
of which gravitationally feeds the refrigerated air over the produce to be chilled,
and the second of which allows for fan-assisted circulation of the refrigerated air
over the said produce.
[0008] The fan-assisted counters were devised to provide a more uniform air temperature
over the produce displayed on the lowermost shelf, as refrigerated air falling under
gravity onto produce on the lowermost shelf of the counter was prone to uneven air
movement as it travelled over said produce. This results in less efficient refrigeration
of the produce displayed towards the front of the said shelf, and thus the said counter.
[0009] In both cases, only produce displayed and positioned on the lowermost shelf within
the counter is subjected to any refrigeration, as both this shelf and the refrigeration
unit are incorporated in the base unit of the counter. The fundamental thermodynamic
principle that cool air falls, and the fact that it is impossible to mount the refrigeration
unit anywhere other than in the base portion of such counters has hitherto prevented
the refrigeration of produce stored on any of the other shelves within the counter,
unless the first upper shelf is positioned at a low level and the solid rear of the
counter built higher to accept a particularly high baffle panel. This particular arrangement
renders it impossible to reach below the first upper shelf into the base of the counter
from the rear.
[0010] Also, air baffling means is required to restrict the flow of air to and over the
lowermost shelf in the counters which employ fan-assisted refrigeration techniques.
Such baffles are used to reduce the flow velocity of air over the produce displayed
on the lowermost shelf, as rapid airflow may cause drying of the produce and reduce
its quality.
[0011] In the fan-assisted refrigeration counters, the lowermost shelf is typically provided
with an air intake grill towards its front edge, a plurality of fans being attached
to the base portion of the counter underneath the shelf approximately at its mid-way
point. These fans draw air through the air intake and blow said air at a positive
pressure underneath said shelf to an air cavity towards the rear of the base portion
of the counter in which a heat exchanger is located. The air baffle means is provided
in front of the heat exchanger towards the rear of the lowermost shelf to restrict
the flow of air, which has passed through said heat exchanger, from the cavity onto
the lowermost shelf. The positive pressure maintained in the air cavity by the fans
and the baffle means is such that there is a substantially uniform flow of air at
a predetermined velocity emerging from the said baffle. Air subsequently flows over
the shelf and produce displayed thereon and is drawn towards the air intake grill
at the front of the shelf. Henceforth air is circulated over the lowermost shelf.
[0012] It is to be noted that upright cabinet fridges and so-called "serve-into" and "self-serve"
counters of the type commonly found in newsagents, petrol stations, supermarkets and
the like do employ an air circulation technique to refrigerate all the products on
all the shelves, but this is only possible because there is no requirement for access
to the rear of the cabinet which can thus be provided with air baffle means over the
entire height of the cabinet. Refrigerated air can be thus urged upwardly at the rear
of the cabinet through said baffle means and allowed to pass over all the shelves
provided within said cabinet. This system is not applicable to serve-over, open-backed
counters to which the invention applies.
[0013] It will be appreciated that there has long been a requirement in the field of multiple-shelf
display counters for refrigeration of produce stored on shelves other than the lowermost
shelf. This improvement would automatically increase the versatility of the counter,
as perishable produce could then be stored on any shelf of the counter, henceforth
improving the display of the produce.
[0014] It is an object of this invention to provide a counter provided with refrigeration
(or heating as indicated previously) means for the display and refrigeration of produce
on multiple shelves within said counter, and to provide a counter refrigeration system
adapted to such purpose.
[0015] According to the invention there is provided an open-backed, serve-over produce display
counter with a base portion with an air cavity in which is provided heat exchange
means, said counter having at least one shelf vertically separated from the base portion
supported either by side panels or support means attached to said base portion, said
base portion also providing support for a lowermost shelf of the counter, said base
portion having air intake means optionally provided in said lowermost shelf for intake
of air, said air from said air intake being drawn into said air cavity and contacting
with said heat exchange means which raises or lowers the temperature of said intake
air, characterised in that said counter is further provided with air conduit means
between the base portion and said vertically separated shelf communicating with said
air cavity and having an opening above the said vertically separated shelf, said conduit
means being disposed upwardly of the base portion and substantially or entirely behind
the said vertically separated shelf and receiving the pressurised air already subjected
to heat exchange such that said air passes over said at least one shelf.
[0016] It is preferable that the air is drawn into said cavity by fan means, and that the
heat exchange means cools the said air, the fan means creating an increased pressure
in said air cavity to urge the air over the heat exchange means and upwardly within
said conduit means.
[0017] It is further preferable that the air cavity also opens via a baffle means above
and toward the rear of the lowermost shelf of the counter allowing cold air to fall
onto and over said shelf for cooling of produce thereon.
[0018] In a most preferred aspect of the invention, the lowermost shelf is provided with
air intake means into which air is drawn by fan means provided underneath said shelf
and subsequently cooled by heat exchange means, the orientation of the conduit means
and the said at least one shelf being such that cool air passing over said shelf falls
ultimately towards the air intake means such that air is circulated within the counter.
[0019] It is yet further preferable that air is caused to circulate over both the said at
least one shelf and the lowermost shelf.
[0020] Preferably, air baffle means is employed to restrict the flow of air over said the
shelves. The baffle means also serves to increase the pressure within the air cavity
and by varying the baffle sizes, and the fan speed it will be appreciated that any
desired air flow velocity over the said produce can be achieved.
[0021] Preferably the air conduit means has at least one substantially vertical portion
connected to the base portion and a horizontal portion which is disposed above and
substantially or entirely behind the said vertically separated shelf.
[0022] Preferably the air conduit means is provided with a single or a pair of vertical
portions connected to the base portion towards respective edges thereof.
[0023] Thus an extremely flexible produce display counter results which is capable of cooling
(or heating) produce on more than the single shelf which is commonly found in most
existing counters.
[0024] A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with
reference to the accompanying diagrams, wherein:
Figure 1 shows schematic side elevation of a conventional fan-assisted refrigerated
display counter;
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the display counter of Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows a fan-assisted refrigerated display counter adapted according to the
present invention, and
Figure 4 shows an elevation from the rear of the counter of Figure 3.
[0025] Referring firstly to Figure 1, there is shown a conventional produce display counter
2 with a base portion 4 which supports a glass front panel 6 and additional support
member 8 which is rigidly attached to said base portion 4.
[0026] The counter 2 is provided with a first and lowermost shelf 10 capable of displaying
produce, said lowermost shelf being inclined upwardly from the front of the counter
2 for display of the produce. In this manner a customer approaching the counter 2
from the front can easily view all the produce displayed within the counter through
the glass front panel 6.
[0027] There is provided a further second shelf 14 and further third shelf 16 vertically
spaced from said lowermost shelf 10 which are shown at a similar angle of inclination
to said lowermost shelf.
[0028] It is common for counters of the type shown in Figure 1 to provide refrigeration
for produce displayed on the lowermost shelf, and in this regard said lowermost shelf
10 is provided integrally with an air-intake grill 18 through which air may be drawn
under the assistance of a row of fans 20 provided with electrical power through mains
cables. Said row of fans 20 expel air into an air cavity 24 underneath and behind
said lowermost shelf 10. The passage of air underneath the said lowermost shelf is
bounded at the bottom by a base portion support member 26 and at its edges by the
side walls (not shown in Figure 1 but indicated at reference numeral 28 in Figure
2). The above mentioned air passage is further bounded on its upper side by said lowermost
shelf 10, and therefore there is practically very little air which escapes from underneath
said lowermost shelf.
[0029] The row of fans 20 urge air into the air cavity 24.
[0030] Within said air cavity 24, there is provided a multi-fin heat exchanger 34 through
which refrigerant is pumped via pipes 36 by a compressor unit 38 provided with electrical
power. Air flows under fan pressure towards the rear of the cavity 24 through the
heat exchanger 34.
[0031] After passing through said heat exchanger 34, air is urged through a baffle 46 and
subsequently flows over the produce and forward towards the grill 18 of the lowermost
shelf.
[0032] It will be seen from the air circulation arrows included in Figure 1, but which have
not been referenced in the interests of clarity, that an air circulation path is provided
over the produce and underneath the said lowermost shelf. The row of fans 20 expel
air into the cavity 24 at a predetermined volumetric air flow rate such that there
is a pressure differential across the baffle 46. Experimentation with different pressure
differentials, and aperture sizes within the baffle 46, allows for a predetermined
air flow velocity to be achieved over the produce which can thus be refrigerated as
desired without any substantial drying of said produce as described above.
[0033] The reader is also referred to Figure 2 of the specification from which a better
understanding of the air circulation underneath the lowermost shelf 10 may be gleaned.
Like reference numerals identify like parts in both Figures 1 and 2.
[0034] Figure 3 shows a produce display counter 50 of a similar configuration to the counter
shown in Figures 1 and 2, but which has been adapted according to the invention. The
reference numerals used in Figures 1 and 2 have been used in Figures 3 and 4 to identify
the components of the counter 50 which are identical to those of the counter 2 for
clarity.
[0035] In particular the counter 50 is provided with an upwardly directed conduit 52 through
which air is allowed to pass in the direction shown by arrow 54. The pressure of the
air within said cavity 24 is still above atmospheric pressure and it can escape either
through the baffle 46 and over produce displayed on the lowermost shelf or alternatively
upwardly into said conduit 52.
[0036] The provision of the conduit 52 and the fact that the row of fans 20 pressurise the
air in the cavity 24 above ambient atmospheric pressure, allows air to be urged upwardly
within the conduit 52 and out through a baffle (not shown in Figure 3 but indicated
at 56 in figure 4) over the produce displayed on the second vertically separated shelf
14 within the counter 50.
[0037] It will be immediately apparent to a person skilled in the art that the modified
counter 50 provides a simple means of refrigerating produce stored on the second shelf
which has hitherto not been possible.
[0038] It will also be seen that two separate air circulation paths are now set up, both
of which terminate at the air intake grill 18 of the lowermost shelf 10 due to the
simple thermodynamic principle that the cold refrigerated air will fall under gravity
past the ambient air which is of a higher temperature within the counter 50. The selection
of the sizes of both baffles 46 and 56 results in a desired air flow velocity over
both produce shelves 14, 16 while nevertheless maintaining produce on said shelves
at the desired temperature.
[0039] It is an advantage of the invention that existing produce display counters could
be modified and adapted according to the invention to allow for refrigeration of produce
stored on one or possibly two or more shelves which are vertically separated from
the lowermost shelf 10, such advantage resulting from the fact that the row of fans
20 provided in conventional produce display counters generate a pressure differential
thereacross and henceforth in the cavity 24 which is sufficient to urge air upwardly
within the conduit 52 and out of one or more baffles onto the produce shelves.
[0040] Although not specifically shown in Figure 4, it will be appreciated instantaneously
therefrom that the secondary support members 8 could additionally incorporate the
said conduits 52 thus precluding the requirement for additional structural components
of the counter 50. In such circumstances, it is foreseeable that more than one vertically
separated shelf 14, the underside of which is shown in Figure 4 at 14', may be provided,
with additional connectors (not shown) being provided in the secondary support 8 for
connection thereto of an horizontal air vent of the type shown in Figures 3 and 4
connected to the conduits 52 and indicated therein by reference numeral 53 to allow
the expulsion of air over the said second and optionally further vertically separated
shelves 14, 16.
[0041] It is also possible that only a single conduit 52 may be provided to support and
feed air to the horizontal air vent 53. Such a configuration would allow a cash register
to be positioned at the opposite side to that at which the single conduit 52 is provided.
[0042] It is also to be appreciated that it is not an essential feature of the invention
that refrigerated air passes over the lowermost tray, and it is foreseeable that the
produce displayed on any shelf, to the exclusion of or in combination with any other
shelves within the counter, may be subjected to refrigeration.
1. An open-backed, serve-over produce display counter (2) with a base portion (4) with
an air cavity (24) in which is provided heat exchange means (34), said counter having
at least one shelf (14) vertically separated from the base portion supported either
by side panels (6) or support means (8) attached to said base portion, said base portion
also providing support for a lowermost shelf (10) of the counter, said base portion
having air intake means (18) optionally provided in said lowermost shelf for intake
of air, said air from said air intake being drawn into said air cavity and contacting
with said heat exchange means which raises or lowers the temperature of said intake
air, characterised in that said counter is further provided with air conduit means
(52) between the base portion and said vertically separated shelf communicating with
said air cavity and having an opening above (56) the said vertically separated shelf,
said conduit means being disposed upwardly of the base portion and substantially or
entirely behind the said vertically separated shelf and receiving the pressurised
air already subjected to heat exchange such that said air passes over said at least
one shelf.
2. A produce display counter according to claim 1 characterised in that the air is drawn
into said cavity by fan means such that an increased pressure is created in said air
cavity to urge the air over the heat exchange means and upwardly within said conduit
means.
3. A produce display counter according to any of the preceding claims characterised in
that the heat exchange means cools the said air.
4. A produce display counter according to any of the preceding claims characterised in
that the air cavity also opens above the lowermost shelf.
5. A produce display counter according to claim 3 characterised in that the air falls
or is urged onto and over said shelf for cooling of produce thereon.
6. A produce display counter according to any of the preceding claims characterised in
that the lowermost shelf is provided with air intake means into which air is drawn
by fan means provided underneath said shelf and subsequently cooled by heat exchange
means, the orientation of the conduit means and the said at least one shelf being
such that cool air passing over said shelf falls ultimately towards the air intake
means such that air is circulated within the counter.
7. A produce display counter according to claim 6 characterised in that air is caused
to circulate over both the said at least one shelf and the lowermost shelf.
8. A produce display counter according to any of the preceding claims characterised in
that air baffle means is employed to restrict the flow of air over said the shelves.
9. A produce display counter according to any of the preceding claims characterised in
that the air conduit means has at least one substantially vertical portion connected
to the base portion and a horizontal portion which is disposed above and substantially
or entirely behind the said vertically separated shelf.
10. A produce display counter according to any of the preceding claims characterised in
that the air conduit means is provided with a pair of vertical portions connected
to the base portion towards respective edges towards the sides thereof and a horizontal
portion to which said vertical portions are attached which is disposed above and substantially
or entirely behind the said vertically separated shelf.