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(11) | EP 1 095 598 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Display counter with adjustable shelves |
| (57) Display counter (10) equipped with a superstructure able to define an inner compartment
(11), inside said compartment (11) there being provided at least a display shelf (21),
said compartment (11) being defined between an upper plane (19) and a lower plane
(18), said display shelf (21) being coupled in correspondence with two of its counter-opposed
ends with respective bearing elements (23) by means of joints (24), each joint (24)
having a first clamped position and a second unclamped position wherein it is able
to move along said bearing element (23) to regulate the position in height of said
shelf (21) inside said compartment (11). |
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention concerns a display counter, which may or may not be refrigerated, able to be employed in commercial outlets to conserve and display food products to the public.
[0002] The display counter according to the invention is able to allow the position of the different shelves to be adjusted, to adapt them both to the type of product to be displayed, and also, in the case of a refrigerated display counter, to adapt them to the specific cooling requirements thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The state of the art includes display counters employed in commercial outlets for the assisted sale of food products; they have a horizontal development and comprise a transparent superstructure able to define a volume inside which the products on sale are displayed and conserved.
[0004] The superstructure usually comprises a metal frame able to support one or more display shelves in a cantilevered fashion, that is to say, at the two ends.
[0005] In more evolved display counters, the frame is equipped with holes which allow to vary both the number of display shelves inserted into the inner volume, and also the height at which they are mounted.
[0006] A first disadvantage of this type of display counters is the limited number of positions at which the display shelves can be mounted; this entails problems both in adapting the height of the shelves to the bulk of the products on sale, and also in the differentiated distribution of the cold to the products.
[0007] Moreover, in conventional display counters it is not possible to vary the inclination of the individual display shelves in an easy and rapid manner, in order to improve the presentation of the products on sale and/or the distribution of the cold.
[0008] The present Applicant has devised and embodied this invention to overcome these shortcomings and to obtain other advantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The invention is set forth and characterized in the main claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention.
[0010] One purpose of the invention is to provide a display counter which will allow workers to adjust the position at least in the height of the display shelves in an extremely simple and rapid manner, so that they can adapt them to the type of product to be displayed and/or, in the case of a refrigerated display counter, to the cooling requirements of the product.
[0011] In accordance with this purpose, a display counter according to the invention is equipped with an inner compartment, defined at least by a front transparent element, inside which is provided at least a display shelf coupled in correspondence with two counter-opposed ends, with respective bearing elements by means of joints.
[0012] The bearing elements consist of bars or tubes with a vertical or inclined development which extend inside the refrigerated compartment for a substantial part of its height.
[0013] According to the invention, each joint has a first position wherein it is clamped with the relative shelf onto the bearing element, and a second release position wherein it is able to slide in a controlled manner along a relative bearing element to allow at least the height of the shelf to be varied; in one embodiment, the joint allows the shelf also to oscillate in a controlled manner around a longitudinal axis.
[0014] In one embodiment of the invention, the bearing elements are movable at least transversely with respect to the compartment which contains them, thus also allowing to vary the horizontal position of the shelves with respect to the front transparent element.
[0015] According to a variant, the bearing elements are able to oscillate in a controlled manner at least with respect to a horizontal axis.
[0016] According to another variant, the bearing elements are able to vary their overall length during the transverse movement to adapt to the height of the compartment which contains them.
[0017] According to a further variant, between every pair of counter-opposed bearing elements and below the relative shelf is arranged a tubular element made of transparent or translucent material, able to contain an illumination device.
[0018] According to a preferential embodiment, the illumination device is of the low voltage type, for example 12 volt, and is therefore able to be fed from an autonomous source, for example a battery of accumulators, without needing supply cables.
[0019] According to one embodiment of the invention, the positioning of the shelves, both in height and in orientation, is automated by means of servo-mechanisms associated with the joints, the support elements or the shelves themselves, and can be commanded by the workers by means of a control unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] These and other characteristics of the invention will become clear from the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example, with reference to the attached drawings wherein:
Fig. 1 is a cross section of a display counter according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a variant of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a front view of the display counter shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 shows the enlarged detail A of Fig. 1;
Fig. 5 shows the enlarged detail B of Fig. 3;
Fig. 6 is a view from above of Fig. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0021] Figs. 1 and 3 show a display counter 10, in this case of the refrigerated type, comprising a structure with a horizontal development equipped with a superstructure able to define a substantially closed refrigerated compartment 11.
[0022] The superstructure is defined by a lower plane 18, an upper plane 19, a front transparent element 16, a transparent rear-piece 17 and side walls 20.
[0023] In this case, the compartment 11 is cooled by means of a cooling circuit comprising, in its essential parts, an evaporator 14, a ventilator 15, a first channel 12 for the outlet of cold air and a second air-recircling channel 13.
[0024] The outlet channel 12 is defined between the front transparent element 16 and an inner screen 26, the function of which is to convey the cold air into correspondence with the upper part of the compartment 11.
[0025] It is obvious that the following considerations are valid for any type of display counter, also non-refrigerated ones, and for any type of cooling circuit employed.
[0026] According to one characteristic of the invention, the display counter 10 is equipped with a plurality of shelves 21, in this case four, in Fig. 3 aligned horizontally in pairs, which can be adjusted both in height and in inclination.
[0027] In this case, the shelves 21 are associated with their inner ends to distinct intermediate bearing elements 23; however, one intermediate bearing element 23 alone may be present, to which the ends of two adjacent shelves 21 are attached.
[0028] Every shelf 21 is associated by its ends, by means of joints 24, to a pair of counter-opposed bearing elements 23.
[0029] The joints 24, as will be described hereafter, are able to be released with respect to the relative bearing elements 23 to slide along the bearing elements 23 and to allow the shelves 21 to rotate around their longitudinal axis.
[0030] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, each bearing element 23 comprises a tube with a circular section constrained at its ends respectively to the upper plane 19 and to the lower plane 18, so as to be inclined with respect to the latter.
[0031] According to a variant, shown in Fig. 1 by a line of dashes, the bearing elements 23 are arranged orthogonal to the two planes 18 and 19.
[0032] According to another variant, shown in Fig. 2, every bearing element 23 is coupled to the upper plane 19 by means of a pin 25 around which it can oscillate to assume any position whatsoever between an inclined position, shown with a continuous line, and a vertical position, shown with a line of dashes.
[0033] To make this inclination possible, every bearing element 23 comprises two segments, respectively upper 23a and lower 23b, coupled together in a telescopic manner; the lower end is equipped with a wheel 27 able to slide in a corresponding guide 28 made on the top of the lower plane 18.
[0034] A stop element 29, able to clamp the wheels 27, ensures that the bearing elements 23 are maintained in a specific position.
[0035] It is obvious that the bearing elements 23 could be attached to the lower plane 18 and slide along the upper plane 19.
[0036] As shown in Figs. 4-6, the joint 24 comprises a sleeve 30 made in two parts, an outer part 30a and an inner part 30b, of a shape able to encircle the bearing element 23; the two parts 30a and 30b are coupled together by means of bolts 31 which, when tightened, cause the joints 24 to be clamped onto the relative bearing element 23. The sleeve 30 could equally well be made in a single piece with relative clamping bolt 31.
[0037] A shaped plate 32 is coupled, again by means of the bolts 31, with the inner part 30b; the plate 32 is centrally equipped with a threaded hole into which a screw 34 is able to be screwed in order to attach a connection element 33.
[0038] In this case, the connection element 33 has an L-shaped cross section and is able to support the shelf 21 in correspondence with one of its ends.
[0039] The connection element 33 and the shelf 21 can be coupled by different systems, also chosen according to the type of material used to make them, for example welding, screwing or otherwise.
[0040] In this case, between every pair of counter-opposed connection elements 33 a tubular element 35 is inserted, for example made of transparent or translucent plastic; it has a structural function of supporting the shelves 21 lengthwise, and is also able to coaxially contain an illumination system, for example of the type with a fluorescent tube, not shown here, to illuminate the products arranged on the shelf 21 below or on the lower plane 18.
[0041] Therefore, the illumination is distributed in a homogenous manner over the whole extension of the shelf 21.
[0042] The illumination system is advantageously of the type fed with a low voltage (12 volt), thus integrating high illumination capacity, very low consumption and limited heat emission - which last feature is very important in refrigerated display counters.
[0043] To vary the height of the shelves 21, between each other and with respect to the planes 18 and 19, it is enough to loosen the bolts 31 to release the sleeve 30 and to allow it to slide along the bearing element 23.
[0044] According to a variant, to facilitate the positioning in height of the shelves 21, the bearing elements 23 can be equipped with reference marks and/or the shelves 21 can be equipped with a level or other similar device.
[0045] Instead, by acting on the screws 34 it is possible to vary the inclination of the shelf 21, which is free to rotate due to the rotation between the connection element 33 and the shaped plate 32.
[0046] To facilitate the positioning of the shelves 21 to a specific value of inclination, the connection element 33 and/or the shaped plate 32 may be graduated, or the shaped plate 32 may be equipped with a level or other similar device.
[0047] By acting on the stop element 29 instead, it is possible to vary the horizontal position of the shelves 21 with respect to the lower plane 18, pulling or pushing the lower end of the bearing elements 23.
[0048] Adjusting the shelves 21 not only allows to adapt the display counter 10 to the type of product on display, for example according to their bulk in height; it is also particularly important for correct refrigeration conditions in the case of refrigerated display counters.
[0049] With this invention, in fact, the shelves 21 can be located higher or lower, that is, nearer or farther from the outlet mouth of the channel 12, according to whether the products arranged thereon need a higher or lower temperature for correct conservation.
[0050] Modifications and additions may be made to the embodiment of the invention shown here, but these shall remain within the field and scope of the invention.
[0051] For example, instead of having a circular section, the bearing elements 23 may have a C-shaped section, open towards the shelf 21, and the connection elements 33 may have an extension able to be housed and selectively clamped inside said C. Or the bearing elements 23 may comprise a rack and the joint 24 may consist of a sliding element equipped with a ratchet or similar, which can be selectively activated to lodge between the teeth of the rack.
[0052] Moreover, the wheels 27 may be replaced by any element whatsoever able to move in a controlled manner over the lower plane 18, such as pads, sliders or similar.
[0053] The adjustment of the shelves 21 may also be partly or completely automated. In this case, there will be a command unit able to control the functioning of appropriate servo-mechanisms such as electric motors, hydraulic or pneumatic actuators or otherwise, associated with the joints 24, the bearing elements 23 or the shelves 21.
[0054] Thus the vertical movement of the joints 24 may be performed by means of an electric motor and flexible transmission elements, such as belts or chains, or by means of hydraulic or pneumatic jacks.
[0055] Or this movement may be performed by means of driven pinions solid with the shelves 21, able to engage on a corresponding rack solid with the bearing element 23.
[0056] The oscillation of the shelves 21, on the contrary, may be achieved by means of an electric motor and a flexible transmission element able to act on the individual shelves 21, or simultaneously on several superimposed shelves 21 so as to keep them parallel to each other.
1. Display counter equipped with a superstructure able to define an inner compartment
(11), inside said compartment (11) there being provided at least a display shelf (21),
said compartment (11) being defined between an upper plane (19) and a lower plane
(18), the display counter being characterized in that said display shelf (21) is coupled
in correspondence with two of its ends with respective bearing elements (23) by means
of joints (24), each joint (24) having a first clamped position and a second unclamped
position wherein it is able to move along said bearing element (23) to regulate the
position in height of said shelf (21) inside said compartment (11).
2. Display counter as in Claim 1, characterized in that said joints (24) in said unclamped
position are able to allow said shelf (21) to oscillate in a controlled manner around
a longitudinal axis.
3. Display counter as in Claim 1 and 2, characterized in that said bearing elements (23)
consist of bars or tubes which extend vertically or inclined for a substantial part
of the height of said compartment (11).
4. Display counter as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each of said joints (24)
comprises at least a sleeve (30) able to encircle said bearing element (23), attachment
means (31) being provided to clamp said sleeve (30) onto said bearing element (23)
in a specific longitudinal position of said bearing element (23).
5. Display counter as in Claim 4, characterized in that said sleeve (30) is equipped
with coupling means (32, 34) for a connection element (33) able to support said shelf
(21), said coupling means (32, 34) being able to allow said connection element (33)
to oscillate in a controlled manner with respect to said sleeve (30).
6. Display counter as in Claim 5, characterized in that a tubular element (35), made
of transparent or translucent material and able to contain an illumination device,
is coupled with every pair of counter-opposed connection elements (33).
7. Display counter as in Claim 6, characterized in that said illumination device is of
the type fed with a low voltage, for example 12 volt.
8. Display counter as in Claim 1, characterized in that each of said bearing elements
(23) is movable at least transversely inside said compartment (11).
9. Display counter as in Claim 8, characterized in that each of said bearing elements
(23) is associated with said upper plane (19) or lower plane (18) by means of coupling
means (25) able to allow it to oscillate in a controlled manner inside said compartment
(11).
10. Display counter as in Claim 9, characterized in that at least at one end said bearing
elements (23) have sliding means (27) able to slide on guide means (28) made on said
lower (18) or upper (19) plane.
11. Display counter as in Claim 10, characterized in that stop means (29) are provided
to temporarily clamp said sliding means (27).
12. Display counter as in Claim 8, characterized in that said bearing elements (23) are
able to vary their length during the transverse movement inside said compartment (11).
13. Display counter as in Claim 12, characterized in that each of said bearing elements
(23) comprises at least two segments (23a, 23b) coupled together in a telescopic manner.
14. Display counter as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said bearing elements (23)
have reference marks able to facilitate the positioning of said joints (24).
15. Display counter as in Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises servo-mechanisms
able to automate the positioning of said shelves (21) in height and/or in orientation.
16. Display counter as in Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises servo-mechanisms
able to automate the positioning of said bearing elements (23) inside said compartment
(11).