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US 2020/0237117 A1Published application
Temperature control plate and self-service shelf with a temperature control plate
AssigneeLidl Stiftung & Co. KG
InventorsHernan De La Vega, Denis Cichuta, Christine Wolff, Benjamin Zilch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
To be able to keep warm or to cool products that are placed on the individual shelves (6) of a dispensing shelf (1), the shelves (6) are embodied as electrically operated temperature-control panels (50), wherein the temperature-control panels (50) as well as particularly the base frame (19) of the dispensing shelf (1) are adjusted to each other in a specific manner.
Claims22
Use of a temperature-control panel (50), in particular of a heating plate (50), as a shelf compartment base (6) that can be reached by the customer in a self-service dispensing shelf (1).
Temperature-control panel for use as a shelf (6) in a self-service dispensing shelf (1), in particular for placement on the bearing strips (18) extending in the depth direction of the dispensing shelf (1)
- characterized in that
- the temperature-control panel (50) comprises a composite plate (51) with a glass top plate (51a) and a glass bottom plate (51b) and a temperature-control layer (56), in particular a heating layer (56), that is arranged in between them and in a manner fixedly connected to the top plate and the bottom plate.
Temperature-control panel according to any of the preceding device claims,
- characterized in that
- the temperature-control panel (50) can be temperature-controlled by means of supplying electrical current, and in particular a combined data/current cable (64) with a plug (65) at the free end is fixedly arranged at the temperature-control panel (50)
- and/or
- at least at its top side and at its front edge (50.1) that is facing towards the customer, the temperature-control panel (50) is free of materials having a higher thermal conductivity than the material of the top plate (51a) and/or bottom plate (51b)
- and/or
- the temperature-control panel (50) multiple temperature sensors (57), in particular at least one in each temperature-control area (52a, b), that are connected to a control unit (66) for automated control based on the target temperature set at the control unit (66) or the target temperature range and/or the time periods set at the control unit (66).
3 more elements
Temperature-control panel according to any of the preceding device claims,
- characterized in that
- in a support area (58) that preferably extends in the depth direction (30) and is present on both sides, and that in particular has the same or a lower width than the non-heated edge area (53), a protective coating (59), in particular a stainless steel plate (59), is present at the bottom side of the temperature-control panel (50)
- and/or
- the protective coating (59), in particular the stainless steel plate, is of the same size or smaller than the support area (58),
- and/or
- a thermally insulating layer (60) is arranged between the protective coating (59) and the temperature-control panel (50).
3 more elements
Temperature-control panel according to any of the preceding device claims,
- characterized in that
- at the rear edge (51.2) of the composite plate (51), the temperature-control panel (50) has an upwardly projecting rear stop (61) that in total extends over more than half, better of more than 80%, of the extension of the rear edge (50.2),
- and/or
- in its front corner areas, the composite plate (51) of the temperature-control panel (50) respectively has a corner recess (63), in particular an angled corner recess (63) with a rounded inner corner or with an arc-shaped, in particular quarter circle-shaped, corner recess (63),
- and/or
- the corner recesses (63) in the front corners in the transversal direction (31) are of the same size or larger than the width of the non-heated edge area (53).
3 more elements
Temperature-control panel according to any of the preceding device claims,
- characterized in that
- at its bottom side, the temperature-control panel (50′) has a thermally insulating layer (60), in particular with an outer surface of stainless steel or in the form of a tray with a circumferential edge which rests at the bottom side of the composite plate (51) of the temperature-control panel (50),
- and/or
- in the case of a heating plate, the top plate (51a) of the temperature-control panel (50) is formed to be thinner, and in the case of a cooling plate is formed to be thicker than the bottom plate (51b).
1 more element
Self-service dispensing shelf (1) for storing, presenting and dispensing food products (P), which are to be hygienically protected, to a removing person (100),
- a base frame (19), which is in particular embodied as a frame (19),
- at least one storage space (2) for storing and for presenting products (P) on respectively one shelf (6), so that they are visible to a removing person (100), with
- a front side (3) that is facing towards the removing person (100),
- a back side (22) that is facing away from the removing person (100), as well as
- a right and left side as seen in the depth direction (30), that is, in the direction from the front side (3) to the back side (22) of the storage space (2),
- at least one removal space (4) for taking out products (P) from the dispensing shelf (1), which at the same time can be the storage space (2),
- wherein the storage space (2) and/or the removal space (4) are at least partially arranged in the interior of the base frame (19),
- characterized in that
- at least one shelf (6), in particular all shelfs (6), are embodied as an in particular electrically operated temperature-control panel (50), in particular according to one of the preceding device claims.
6 more elements
Dispensing shelf according to any of the preceding shelf claims,
- characterized in that
- if the temperature-control panel (50) is placed centrally in the shelf on the lateral bearing strips (18) extending in the depth direction (30), it rests on them up to a lateral overhang of the top side of the bearing strips (18) of less than 8 mm, better of less than 5 mm, better of less than 2 mm, but in particular does not laterally project beyond the dimensions of the base frame (19),
- and/or
- at least one front stop (8) for the temperature-control panel (50) is present at the base frame (19), in particular the bearing strips (18) or the front upright profile (41a) or a front cross bar (17) that extends between two front upright profiles (41a),
- and/or
- except for the uppermost temperature-control panel (50), the temperature-control panels (50) inside a base frame (19) have the same length and width, or that all temperature-control panels (50) inside a base frames (19) have the same length and width,
- and/or
- a rear stop (7) for the temperature-control panel (50) is arranged at the lateral bearing strips (18),
- and/or
- all stops (7, 8) that are in contact with the temperature-control panel (50) have a contact surface with respect to the temperature-control panel that is as small as possible, so that the stability of the stop (7, 8) which is particularly necessary for the function as a stop (7, 8) is provided,
- and/or
- the corner recesses (63) in the front corners of the composite plate (51) of the temperature-control panel (50) are so large in the transversal direction (31) that the facing side edges (51.2 or 51.3) of the composite plate (51) of the temperature-control panel (50) can be lifted up to an oblique position of at least 20°, better of 30°, better of 40° with respect to the horizontal line by laterally displacing them to one side up until they stop against the base frame (19) provided in this location.
9 more elements
Dispensing shelf according to any of the preceding shelf claims,
- characterized in that
- the bearing strip (18), as viewed in its extension direction, comprises a V-profile (34) which in the mounted state is open towards the outer side of the dispensing shelf (1), and in particular is a bent sheet metal part,
- and
- a fixation appliance (36) for attaching at an upright profile (41a), in particular a plate-shaped screw lug (36) with a passage opening, is present at the front and rear end of the V-profile (34), and in particular in such a manner as to be respectively projecting beyond it,
- wherein in particular the plane of the plate-shaped screw lug (36) extends at a right angle to the free ending area of the upper leg (34a) and preferably below the height of the upper leg (34a),
- as well as in particular the plate-shaped screw lug (36) is offset backwards from the free outer end of the upper leg (34a) by an offset distance (38) that maximally corresponds to the width of an upright profile (41a), as viewed in the front view,
- wherein in particular
- the upper leg (34a) of the V-shape of the V-profile (34), as viewed in the extension direction of the V-profile (34), extends in a straight manner from its free end up to the rounded tip (13) of the V-profile (34) over a distance that at least corresponds to the width of an upright profile (41a), as viewed in the front view,
- and/or
- at least in its free end area, the lower leg (34b) extends obliquely outwards and in particular downwards to the upper leg (34a), preferably at an angle of 20-60°, better of between 25 and 45°, in particular to the free end section of the upper leg (34a) that extends in a straight manner.
7 more elements
Dispensing shelf according to any of the preceding shelf claims,
- characterized in that
- in the obliquely downwards tilted section of the lower leg (34b) at least at the ends of the bearing strip (18), respectively one attachment device (32) for attaching a light bar (40) at the outer side of this lower leg (34b) is present,
- and/or
- a front stop (8), which in particular consist of the same material as the V-profile (34), protrudes upwards beyond the top side of the upper leg (34a) at the front end of the V-profile (34), in particular in front of it.
1 more element
Dispensing shelf according to any of the preceding shelf claims,
- characterized in that
- the data/power cable (64) leads out of the rear narrow side of the composite plate (51) of the temperature-control panel (50),
- and/or
- the control unit (66) for the at least one temperature-control panel (50), which also forms the power supply unit (43) for the temperature-control panel (50) and/or the light bars (40), is arranged in the base space (12) below the lowermost shelf (6) sideways in the rear area and so as to be pointing backwards with the operating unit (66a)
- and/or
- a cable channel (29), which is in particular made of a thermally insulating material such as a plastic material and inside of which the cables (64) from the temperature-control panel (50) run to the control unit (66), is arranged at the base frame (19), in particular the inner side of one of the rear upright profiles (41a),
- and/or
- at least one of the rear upright profiles (41a) is embodied as a hollow profile, and the cables (64) extend in the interior of the hollow upright profile (41a).
5 more elements
Dispensing shelf according to any of the preceding shelf claims,
- characterized in that
- respectively one plug (65) is arranged at the free ends of the cables (64) that are leading away from the temperature-control panel (50), and that plug sockets (67a, b) that fit the plugs (65) are formed either at the control unit (66) or at a socket connector (67) that is attached at the base frame (19) and that in particular is configured to be functionally combined with the cable channel (29),
- and/or
- the control unit (66) is capable of maintaining a set air temperature up to a deviation of +/−15°, better of +/−10° C., better of +/−5° C. in the entire air space between two temperature-control panels (50)
- and/or
- light bars (40) which radiate obliquely downwards and inwards and are used as a component of the edge-side air space heating are arranged at the bottom side of the bearing strips (18).
3 more elements
Dispensing shelf according to any of the preceding shelf claims,
- characterized in that
- at least one of the sides of the base frame (19) is closed by at least respectively one side plate (20) by at least 70%, better by at least 80%, better by at least 90%, and better completely,
- and/or
- respectively one side plate (20), in particular one made of a translucent material such as translucent plastic material or glass, is arranged between the bearing strips (18) that are arranged above each other, with the side plate (20) in particular ending at a distance above the bearing strip (18) arranged below it that is greater than the thickness (D) of the temperature-control panel (50) in its lateral edge area, in particular twice as large, better 2.5 times as large as this thickness (D),
- and/or
- the side plate (20) can be pivoted with the lower edge outwards relative to the base frame (19) about a plate pivot axis (49) extending in the depth direction (30) and in the upper half of the side plate (20), in particular so far that the adjacent side edge of the temperature-control panel (50) can be pivoted upwards past the side plate (20) about the facing side edge of the temperature-control panel (50).
3 more elements
Dispensing shelf according to any of the preceding shelf claims,
- characterized in that
- a suspension device (10) for suspending a reach back protection device (9) which is pivotable to a limited degree is present between the front and the rear upright profile (41a) of the base frame (19), and the side plate (20) is embodied in such a manner that it can be suspended inside this suspension device (10),
- and/or
- a reach back protection device (9) which is present in the dispensing shelf (1) between the laterally adjacently arranged storage space (2) on the one hand and the removal space (4) on the other hand is made of the planar material, in particular a panel of translucent plastic material or a glass panel, that closes the side surface of the air space of this storage space (2) by at least 70%, better by at least 80%, better by at least 90%.
1 more element
Dispensing shelf according to any of the preceding shelf claims,
- characterized in that
- the back side (22) of the dispensing shelf (1) is at least partially closed by a rear door (15) which in particular consist of glass and is translucent at least from the outside to the inside, and is preferably mirror-coated when viewed from the inside,
- and/or
- the rear door (15) extends in height across the height of a compartment, and/or across the height of the total back side (22), at least in the storage area (2′).
1 more element
Dispensing shelf according to any of the preceding shelf claims,
- characterized in that
- the dispensing shelf (1) has a cover plate (42) that closes the top side of the uppermost storage space (2) and that consists of a thermally insulating material and/or is embodied to be mirror-coated, as viewed from the bottom side,
- and/or
- the back side (22) of the dispensing shelf (1) is not closed below the lowermost compartment base (6), in particular the lowermost temperature-control panel (50),
- and/or
- the lowermost temperature-control panel (50) rests on the bearing strips (18), with a bearing shell (6) placed with the open side upwards being arranged in between and with the rims of the bearing shell (6) in between.
3 more elements
Dispensing shelf according to any of the preceding shelf claims,
- characterized in that
- the front side (3) of the dispensing shelf (1) is tilted at least in the upper area towards the vertical line (44) and in particular also towards the back side (22) of the dispensing shelf (1), with its lower edge being further away from the back side (22) than its upper edge, and, in particular when multiple storage spaces (2) are arranged above each other, this front side (3) is a flat, tilted front side (3) that is continuous across multiple, in particular all, storage spaces (2),
- and/or
- the removal opening (5) is an access opening (14) or a tool opening (14) in a storage front plate (11), in particular a translucent front panel (11), that otherwise closes the front side (3),
- and/or
- a base space (12) is present under the lowermost storage space (2) in the base frame (19), being closed on the front side (3) by a base front plate (16), and
- and/or
- at least in the area of the base space (12), at least one of the sides of the base frame (19) is closed by a side plate (20) which is in particular attached at the base frame (19) in a dismountable manner.
5 more elements
Dispensing shelf according to any of the preceding shelf claims,
- characterized in that
- one, in particular only one, suspended cross bar (17) is present between the front upright profiles (41a) of the frame (19), which in particular serves for attaching the price tag holder (23), and in particular is arranged at such a height position that it is positioned in front of or below the front narrow side of the dividing element (6), in particular of the temperature-control panel (50),
- and/or
- a light bar (40) extending in the depth direction (30) is attached at the bottom side of the bearing strip (18), in particular having LEDs as illumination means
- and/or
- lighting devices, in particular in the form of a light bar, are attached at the cross bar (17), eradiating on the front edge area of the next temperature-control panel (50) that is arranged below it.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.