Paying strip, suitable for a refrigerated vending display counter

Abstract

 In a paying strip (2), particularly suitable for a refrigerated vending display counter (1), consisting of a longitudinal supporting profile (3), on which products can be displayed as a sales presentation, the supporting profile (3) comprises at least one refrigerating device (4, 11).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a paying strip, particularly suitable for a refrigerated vending display counter, consisting of a longitudinal supporting profile, on which products can be displayed as a sales presentation.

[0002] Retailers who use refrigerated vending display counters tend to regard the paying strip, i.e. the relatively narrow top cover plate of a vending display counter, from the underside of which lighting armatures may be suspended and to which the cover windows of the vending display counter are mounted, also as a means of sales representation and since it constitutes the place in the shop were the selling activity is highest, the paying strip is often mainly used to e.g. bring special offers and new products to the customer's notice in a catching manner.

[0003] To those who most need this refrigerated vending display counter, the butcher, the poulterer and the fishmonger, this way of dis­playing their goods has it restrictions, for the greater part of them has to be displayed refrigerated, so that the most they can do is display smoked articles on this strip.

[0004] The inventions aims to solve this problem. This is attained in that the supporting profile, according to the invention, compri­ses at least one refrigerating device.

[0005] Applying this measure provides for a cool and hygenic presentation of the products displayed on the refrigerated paying strip. Now one or more extra rows of dishes with products can be displayed on the paying strip, which considerably increases the capacity of the vending display counter; a so-called four-dish display counter, i.e. a display counter that can accomodate four rows of dishes in the display space, now becomes a five-dish display counter.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment of the paying strip according to the invention, the supporting profile comprises a separate, L-shaped unit, provided with an at least partially covered space and its horizontal leg comprising a plate refrigerating device and the vertical leg comprising a space refrigerating device.

[0007] By applying these measures a complete, fully refrigerated space is obtained, that can be mounted to the fixed paying strip of any vending display counter.

[0008] In a particularly efficient embodiment of the refrigerated paying strip according to the invention, the L-shaped unit comprises a cover cap of transparant, rigid material which is open at the attending side and the horizontal leg comprises a vertical flange on both the longitudinal edges at the underside.

[0009] In this embodiment of the refrigerated paying strip, it has been rendered particularly suitable as presentation space and, moreover, the top of the cover cap is excellently suited for e.g. writing out cheques. The refrigerated paying strip in this embodiment is furthermore longitudinally fixed by the flanges, engaging about the fixed paying strip with a suitable play.

[0010] The invention will be further elucidated on the basis of the drawing by means of an embodiment.

Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-section of a vending display counter with a refrigerated paying strip according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective end view of the refrigerated paying strip according to fig. 1; and

fig. 3 is a perspective view of the display counter according to fig. 1.

[0011] The display counter 1 according to figures 1, 2 and 3 comprises a paying strip in the shape of a separate, L-shaped unit 2, placed onto the fixed paying strip 2a of the display counter and provided with conduits connected thereto for supplying and discharging refrigerating agent, which can be connected to the refrigerating device of the display counter itself and with a conduit for discharging condensation and other liquids and e.g. cleaning liquids used (not drawn).

[0012] The horizontal leg of the L-shaped unit 2 is provided with a plate refri­gerating device 4, connected to the conduits, constructed as pipes 5 under a supporting plate 6, on which dishes 7 with perishable foodstuffs such as meat (products), fish and poultry can be placed. Further­more the horizontal leg 3 comprises a vertical flange 8, 9, resp. on both the longitudinal edges at the underside, engaging about the flanges 8a and 9a of the fixed paying strip with a slight play. This causes the loose refrigerated paying strip to be fixed transversely onto the fixed paying strip 2a.

[0013] The vertical leg 10 of the L-shaped unit 2 comprises a built-in refrigerating device 11, serving to refrigerate the space 12 above the dishes 7 and also connected to the above conduits.

[0014] The unit 2 furthermore comprises a cover cap 13 of transparant, rigid material, e.g. perspex, comprising a longitudinal wall 14, a top wall 15 and two transverse side walls 16 and comprising an opening 17 for placing and removing the dishes 7. The top wall 15 of the unit can be used as a top by the customer to write out cheques and the like.

[0015] In the above-described manner, a complete refrigerating device for the stated products is obtained which is to be installed as a separate unit and which has excellent presentation space, meeting all the requirements imposed thereon. The unit 2 can easily be mounted onto the fixed paying strip 2a of the display counter 1 by means of the horizontal leg 3 and the flanges 8 and 9.

[0016] However, it is also possible to provide the fixed paying strip 2a at its undrside with a (plate) refrigerating device, or even to mount a space refrigerating device perpendicularly to the paying strip 2a and to cover the fixed paying strip 2a with a cover cap (not drawn), in a manner similar to the one drawn in fig. 1 and described above for the separate, refrigerated paying strip in the shape of the unit 2.

[0017] The actual vending display counter, schematically and partially drawn in figures 1 and 3, comprises a space 19 enclosed by a case 18, having a bottom wall 20 of metal plate under which a plate refrigerating device 21 with pipes 22 has been disposed in a drip can 23, comprising a discharge pipe 24 for condensation and other liquids. On the bottom wall 24 a number, e.g. four, rows of dishes 7 with products can be disposed.

[0018] The space under the drip can 23 and the plate refrigerating device 21 is filled up with insulation material 25. Onto the back wall 26 of the space 19 a refrigerating device 27 for the space 19 has been mounted, which is partly covered by a wall 28, being, by means of hinges, hingeably mounted and which can possibly be driven by an electro motor, via a transmission and controlled by end switches (not drawn). A work top 29 for the retailer has been mounted to the back wall 26.

[0019] The space 19 is covered at the top, on the side of the customers C, by a glass panel 30, being, by means of hinges, hingeably mounted at 31 to the fixed paying strip 2a constructed in the shape of a profile, and possibly being operable, just like the wall 28, by an electro motor with a transmission and end switches (not drawn). Moreover, a lighting armature 32 has been suspended from the fixed paying strip 2a.

[0020] On the side of the customers C, the space 19 has been covered by a fixed glass panel 33, to which the glass panel 30 abuts at its upper rim in the closed position. The glass panel 33 has been mounted in a setting 34, mounted to the front wall 35 of the case.

Claims

1. Paying strip, particularly suitable for a refrigerated vending display counter, consisting of a longitudinal supporting profile, on which products can be displayed as a sales presentation, characterized in that the supporting profile comprises at least one refrigerating device.

2. Refrigerated paying strip according to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting profile comprises a separate, L-shaped unit (2), provided with an at least partially covered space (12) and its horizontal leg (3) comprising a plate refrigerating device (4) and the vertical leg (10) comprising a space refrigerating device (11).

3. Refrigerated paying strip according to claim 2, characterized in that the L-shaped unit (2) comprises a cover cap (13) of transparant, rigid material which is open at the attending side (B) and in that the horizontal leg (3) comprises a vertical flange (8, 9) on both the longitudinal edges on the underside.

Drawing