Refrigerated merchandiser display case

In a display cabinet having refrigeration means and a display space therein, aperture means in at least one wall of said cabinet for communicating ambient outside air with the air in said cabinet, said aperture means comprising an access opening for permitting products to be moved into and out of said display space, air moving means for circulating at least one air band within said cabinet and into contact with said refrigeration means during a refrigeration cycle, covering means for said aperture means including a barrier door for substantially covering said access opening, and said refrigeration means including a low temperature element;

• the improvement comprising:
• air defrost means for selectively creating a gap between said barrier door and said access opening, said air defrost means causing said air moving means to pass ambient air through said cabinet and through the gap between said barrier door and said access opening during a defrost cycle to bring the ambient air into contact with said low temperature element to remove frost therefrom and to thereafter eject the defrost ambient air from said cabinet, control means for selectively operating said air defrost means and said refrigeration means to defrost said low temperature element during a defrost cycle and to refrigerate said cabinet during a refrigeration cycle, and said air moving means comprising a first air circulation means for propelling a primary refrigerated air band during a refrigeration cycle and a secondary air circulation means for propelling a secondary air guard band in the same direction as said primary air band during a refrigeration cycle, said air defrost means selectively reversing the direction of flow of said primary air band and terminating operation of said refrigeration means and of said secondary air circulation means during a defrost cycle to prevent flow of said secondary air guard band whereby ambient air is passed through said cabinet by said primary air band.

In a display cabinet having refrigeration means and a display space therein, aperture means in at least one wall of said cabinet for communicating ambient outside air with the air in said cabinet, said aperture means comprising an access opening for permitting products to be moved into and out of said display space, air moving means for circulating at least one air band within said cabinet and into contact with said refrigeration means during a refrigeration cycle, covering means for said aperture means including a barrier door for substantially covering said access opening, and said refrigeration means including a low temperature element;

• the improvement comprising:
• air defrost means for selectively creating a gap between said barrier door and said access opening, said air defrost means causing said air moving means to pass ambient air through said cabinet and through the gap between said barrier door and said access opening during a defrost cycle to bring the ambient air into contact with said low temperature element to remove frost therefrom and to thereafter eject the defrost ambient air from said cabinet, control means for selectively operating said air defrost means and said refrigeration means to defrost said low temperature element during a defrost cycle and to refrigerate said cabinet during a refrigeration cycle, said air moving means comprising a first air circulation means for selectively propelling a primary refrigerated air band within a primary conduit contained in said cabinet and a second air circulation means for selectively propelling a second air guard band within a secondary conduit contained in said cabinet in the same direction as said primary air band during a refrigeration cycle, said air defrost means during a defrost cycle of operation terminating operation of said second air circulation means and causing said primary air band to draw ambient air from outside said cabinet and to contact said low temperature element with said primary air band containing the ambinet air.

In a display cabinet having refrigeration means and a display space therein, aperture means in at least one wall of said cabinet for communicating ambient outside air with the air in said cabinet, said aperture means comprising an access opening for permitting products to be moved into and out of said display space, air moving means for circulating at least one air band within said cabinet and into contact with said refrigeration means during a refrigeration cycle, covering means for said aperture means including a plurality of barrier doors attached to said display cabinet for substantially covering said access opening, and said refrigeration means including a low temperature element;

• the improvement comprising:
• air defrost means for selectively creating a gap between said barrier door and said access opening, said defrost means causing said air moving means to pass ambient air through said cabinet and through the gap between said barrier door and said access opening during a defrost cycle to bring the ambient air into contact with said low temperature element to remove frost therefrom and to thereafter eject the defrost ambient air from said cabinet, and said air defrost means selectively creating a gap between at least alternate doors of said plurality of doors and said access opening during a defrost cycle of operation, and, control means for selectively operating said air defrost means and said refrigeration means to defrost said low temperature element during a defrost cycle and to refrigerate said cabinet during a refrigeration cycle.

A display cabinet having a refrigeration means and a display space therein comprising:

• a cabinet having top, bottom, and end and side walls and having aperture means in at least one wall thereof for communicating ambient outside air with the air in said cabinet, said aperture means comprising an access opening for permitting access to said display space;
• covering means for said aperture means including a barrier door for substantially covering said access opening, said door being movable for enabling access to products within said display space;
• a primary air conduit arranged about said display space and having an outlet opening and an inlet opening at opposing ends thereof, said outlet opening and said inlet opening being arranged in aerodynamic alignment;
• a primary air band contained within said primary air conduit which upon leaving said outlet opening will be directed toward and received by said inlet opening to form an air curtain across said access opening along a path inside of said barrier door;
• a secondary air conduit arranged about said primary air conduit and extending along said top, bottom, rear and side walls of said cabinet;
• a secondary air band contained within said secondary air conduit;
• said refrigeration means including a low temperature element;
• air moving means for circulating said primary and said secondary air bands within said air conduits within said air conduits and for moving said primary air band into contact with said low temperature element during a refrigeration cycle of operation;
• air defrost means for selectively creating a gap between said barrier door and said access opening;
• said air defrost means causing said air moving means to pass ambient air through said cabinet and through said aperture means during a defrost cycle of operation to bring said ambient air into contact with said low temperature element to remove frost therefrom and to thereafter eject the defrost ambient air from said cabinet;
• and, control means for selectively operating said air defrost means and said refrigeration means to defrost said low temperature element during a defrost cycle and to refrigerate said cabinet during a refrigeration cycle.

A display cabinet having a refrigeration means and a display space therein comprising:

• a cabinet having top, bottom, end and side walls and having aperture means in at least one wall thereof for communicating ambient outside air with the air in said cabinet, said aperture means comprising an access opening for permitting access to said display space;
• covering means for said aperture means including a barrier door for substantially covering said access opening, said door being movable for enabling access to products within said display space;
• at least one air conduit extending along said top, bottom, rear and side walls about said display space and having an outlet opening and an inlet opening at opposing ends thereof, said outlet opening and said inlet opening being arranged in aerodynamic alignment;
• an air band contained within said air conduit which upon leaving said outlet opening will be directed toward and received by said inlet opening to form an air curtain across said access opening along a path inside of said barrier door;
• said refrigeration means including a low temperature element;
• air moving means for circulating said air band within said air conduit for moving said air band into contact with said low temperature element during a refrigeration cycle of operation;
• air defrost means for selectively creating a gap of variable distance between said barrier door and said access opening depending upon the amount of frost accumulation on said refrigeration means and the time period for the defrost cycle;
• said air defrost means causing said air moving means to pass ambient air through said cabinet and through said aperture means during the defrost cycle of operation to bring said ambient air into contact with said low temperature element to remove frost therefrom and to thereafter eject the defrost ambient from said cabinet;
• and, control means for selectively operating said air defrost means and said refrigeration means to defrost said low temperature element during a defrost cycle and to refrigerate said cabinet during a refrigeration cycle.

A display cabinet having a refrigeration means and a display space therein comprising:

• a cabinet having top, bottom, end and side walls and having aperture means in at least one wall thereof for communicating ambient outside air with the air in said cabinet, said aperture means comprising an access opening for permitting access to said display space;
• covering means for said aperture means including a barrier door for substantially covering said access opening, said door being movable for enabling access to products within said display space;
• at least one air conduit extending along said top, bottom, rear and side walls about said display space and having an outlet opening and an inlet opening at opposing ends thereof, said outlet opening and said inlet opening being arranged in aerodynamic alignment;
• an air band contained within said air conduit which upon leaving said outlet opening will be directed toward and received by said inlet opening to form an air curtain across said access opening along a path inside of said barrier door;
• said refrigeration means including a low temperature element;
• air moving means for circulating said air band within said air conduit and moving said air band into contact with said low temperature element during a refrigeration cycle of operation;
• air defrost means for selectively creating a gap between said barrier door and said access opening;
• said air defrost means causing said air moving means to pass ambient air through said cabinet and through said aperture means during a defrost cycle of operation to bring said ambient air into contact with said low temperature element to remove frost therefrom and to thereafter eject the defrost ambient air from said cabinet;
• control means for selectively operating said air defrost means and said refrigeration means to defrost said low temperature element during a defrost cycle and to refrigerate said cabinet during a refrigeration cycle, said air conduit comprising a primary air conduit containing a primary refrigerated air band and a secondary air conduit extending about a substantial portion of said primary air conduit and having a secondary conduit outlet opening and an inlet opening at opposite ends thereof, said secondary conduit outlet opening and said inlet opening being arranged in aerodynamic alignment;
• a secondary air band contained within said secondary air conduit which upon leaving said outlet opening is directed toward and received by said inlet opening to form a secondary air guard curtain across said access opening along a path outside of said primary air band and inside of said barrier door during the refrigeration cycle.

A display cabinet having a refrigeration means and a display space therein comprising:

• a cabinet having top, bottom, end and side walls and having aperture means in at least one wall thereof for communicating ambient outside air with the air in said cabinet, said aperture means comprising an access opening for permitting access to said display space;
• covering means for said aperture means including a barrier door for substantially covering said access opening, said door being movable for enabling access to products within said display space;
• at least one air conduit extending along side top, bottom, rear and side walls about said display space and having an outlet opening and an inlet opening at opposing ends thereof, said outlet opening and said inlet opening being arranged in aerodynamic alignment;
• an air band contained within said air conduit which upon leaving said outlet opening will be directed toward and received by said inlet opening to form an air curtain across said access opening along a path inside of said barrier door;
• said refrigeration means including a low temperature element;
• air moving means for circulating said air band within said air conduit and moving said air band into contact with said low temperature element during a refrigeration cycle of operation;
• air defrost means for selectively creating a gap between said barrier door and said access opening;
• said air defrost means causing said air moving means to pass ambient air through said cabinet and through said aperture means during a defrost cycle of operation to bring said ambient air into contact with said low temperature element to remove frost therefrom and to thereafter eject the defrost ambient air from said cabinet;
• control means for selectively operating said air defrost means and said refrigeration means to defrost said low temperature element during a defrost cycle and to refrigerate said cabinet during a refrigeration cycle, said air moving means comprising a first air circulation means for selectively propelling a primary refrigerated air band, and a secondary air circulation means for selectively propelling a second air guard band in the same direction as said primary air band during a refrigeration cycle;
• and said control means terminating operation of said second air circulation means and causing said primary air band to draw ambient air from outside said cabinet and to contact said low temperature element with said primary air band containing the ambient air during a defrost cycle of operation.

A display cabinet having a refrigeration means and a display space therein comprising:

• a cabinet having top, bottom, end and side walls and having aperture means in at least one wall thereof for communicating ambient outside air with the air in said cabinet, said aperture means comprising an access opening for permitting access to said display space;
• covering means for said aperture means including at least one barrier door for substantially covering said access opening, said door being movable for enabling access to products within said display space;
• at least one air conduit extending along said top, bottom, rear and side walls about said display space and having an outlet opening and an inlet opening at opposing ends thereof, said outlet opening and said inlet opening being arranged in aerodynamic alignment;
• an air band contained within said air conduit which upon leaving said outlet opening will be directed toward and received by said inlet opening to form an air curtain across said access opening along a path inside of said barrier door;
• said refrigeration means including a low temperature element;
• air moving means for circulating said air band within said air conduit and moving said air band into contact with said low temperature element during a refrigeration cycle of operation;
• air defrost means for selectively creating a gap between said barrier door and said access opening;
• said air defrost means causing said air moving means to pass ambient air through said cabinet and through said aperture means during a defrost cycle of operation to bring said ambient air into contact with said low temperature element to remove frost therefrom and to thereafter eject the defrost ambient air from said cabinet;
• control means for selectively operating said air defrost means and said refrigeration means to defrost said low temperature element during a defrost cycle and to refrigerate said cabinet during a refrigeration cycle;
• and said covering means including a plurality of barrier doors attached to said display cabinet for substantially covering said access opening, and wherein said air defrost means selectively creates a gap between at least alternate doors in the series of said barrier doors and said access opening during a defrost cycle of operation.

In a display cabinet having refrigeration means and a display space therein accessible through at least one access opening, at least one barrier door for substantially covering said access opening, and means for providing a plurality of air bands for selective circulation within said cabinet during a refrigeration cycle of operation to maintain a flow pattern inside of said cabinet adjacent to said barrier door, wherein at least one of said air bands is cooled by contact with said refrigeration means;

• the improvement comprising:
• a first air band functioning as a primary refrigerated air band circulated about said display space, a secondary air guard band circulated about said primary air band within said said display cabinet, said primary air band and said secondary air guard band circulated within said display cabinet in the same direction during a refrigeration cycle, air defrost means for selectively creating a gap between barrier door and said access opening for enabling passage of ambient air at least into said primary air band in contact with said refrigeration means to remove frost therefrom during a defrost cycle of operation, said air defrost means enabling a reversal of the flow direction of said secondary air guard band during a defrost cycle, and including guide means provided for deflecting at least a portion of said secondary air guard band into said primary air band during a defrost cycle, and said air defrost means enabling ambient air to be drawn into the reversed direction secondary air band through a first portion of the gap between said barrier door and said access opening during a defrost cycle and to expel defrost embient air through a second portion of the gap.

In a display cabinet having refrigeration means and a display space therein accessible through at least one access opening, at least one barrier door for substantially covering said access opening, and means for providing a plurality of air bands for selective circulation within said cabinet during a refrigeration cycle of operation to maintain a flow pattern inside of said cabinet adjacent to said barrier door, wherein at least one of said air bands is cooled by contact with said refrigeration means;

• the improvement comprising:
• a first air band functioning as a primary refrigerated air band circulated about said display space, a secondary air guard band circulated about said primary air band within said display cabinet, air defrost means for selectively creating a gap between said barrier door and said access opening for enabling passage of ambient air at least into said primary air band in contact with said refrigeration means to remove frost therefrom during a defrost cycle of operation, said air defrost means enabling the reversal of the flow direction of said primary refrigerated air band during a defrost cycle of operation to draw ambient air into said display cabinet through a first portion of the gap between said barrier door and said access opening and to expel ambient defrost air from a second portion of the gap, and said air defrost means enabling termination of the flow of said secondary air guard band during a defrost cycle.

In a display cabinet having refrigeration means and a display space therein accessible through at least one access opening, at least one barrier door for substantially covering said access opening, and means for providing a plurality of air bands for selective circulation within said cabinet during a refrigeration cycle of operation to mantain a flow pattern inside of said cabinet adjacent to said barrier door, wherein at least one of said air bands is cooled by contact with said refrigeration means;

• the improvement comprising:
• a first air band functioning as a primary refrigerated air band circulated about said display space, a secondary air guard band circulated about said primary air band within said display cabinet, air defrost means for selectively creating a gap between said barrier door and said access opening for enabling passage of ambient air at least into said primary air band in contact with said refrigeration means to remove frost therefrom during a defrost cycle of operation, at least one of said air bands being reversed during a defrost cycle of operation to draw ambient air into said display cabinet through a first portion of the gap between said barrier door and said access opening and to expel ambient defrost air from a second portion of the gap, and including air moving means for said primary and said secondary air guard bands for circulating said air bands in a first direction during a refrigeration cycle and in the opposite direction during a defrost cycle.

In a display cabinet having refrigeration means and a display space therein accessible for product storage and selection through an access opening, at least one barrier door for substantially covering said access opening, and an air moving means for circulating a primary air band and a secondary air guard band within said cabinet, said primary air band circulated in contact with said refrigeration means, said air movement means propelling said primary and said secondary air bands in a first direction during a refrigeration cycle and in the opposite direction in a defrost cycle, a primary air conduit arranged inside said cabinet about said display space for containing said primary air band, and a secondary air conduit arranged within said cabinet adjacent to a substantial portion of said primary air conduit, said secondary air conduit connected at an inlet end thereof to said primary air conduit, said primary and said secondary conduits being separated along the lengths thereof from said secondary conduit inlet to the outlet end thereof, and said cabinet including a common conduit inlet chamber for said primary air band and said secondary air band;

• the improvement comprising:
• air defrost means for selectively creating a gap between said barrier door and said access opening for enabling the passage of ambient air into at least said primary air band during a defrost cycle to bring the ambient air into contact with said refrigeration means to remove frost therefrom.

A method of operating a refrigerated display cabinet comprising a cabinet having a display space therein, and aperture means in at least one wall thereof for communicating ambient outside air with the air in the cabinet, the aperture means comprising an access opening for permitting products to be moved into and out of the display case, covering means for the aperture means including a barrier door for substantially covering the access opening, the barrier door being movable for enabling access to the cabinet, at least one air conduit extending about the display space and having an outlet opening and an inlet opening at opposite ends thereof, with the outlet opening and inlet opening being arranged in aerodynamic alignment so that air leaving the air conduit outlet opening will be directed toward the received by the inlet opening, and an air moving means for propelling a refrigerated air band through the air conduit during a refrigeration cycle and for propelling ambient air through the cabinet during a defrost cycle, and a refrigeration means arranged within the air conduit;

• the method comprising the steps of:
• selectively operating the display cabinet in a refrigeration cycle of operation and in a defrost cycle of operation;
• during a refrigeration cycle, circulating the air band through the air conduit so that air is expelled from the outlet opening and received by the inlet opening so as to form an air curtain across the access opening in the cabinet along a path inside of the barrier door, and propelling the air band through the refrigeration means;
• during a defrost cycle operation, terminating operation of the refrigeration means, causing ambient air to be drawn into the cabinet, pass through a substantial portion of the air conduit, and across the refrigeration means, causing the defrost ambient air to be ejected from the cabinet, and creating a gap between the barrier door and the access opening to enable ambient air through-flow;
• whereby ambient air is drawn into the air band and across the refrigeration means to defrost the same by communicating ambient air with the air band in the display cabinet.

A method of operating a refrigerated display cabinet having a cabinet containing a display space therein, and aperture means comprising an access opening in at least one wall thereof for communicating ambient outside air with the air in the cabinet and for permitting access to the display space, covering means for the aperture means including a barrier door for substantially covering the access opening, the barrier door being movable for enabling access to the cabinet, a primary air conduit extending about the display space and having an outlet opening and an inlet opening at opposite ends thereof, with the outlet opening and the inlet opening being arranged in aerodynamic alignment so that air leaving the primary air conduit outlet opening will be directed toward and received by the inlet opening;

• a refrigeration means arranged within the primary air conduit;
• and a secondary air conduit extending about a substantial portion of said primary conduit and having a secondary outlet opening and a secondary inlet opening at opposite ends thereof;
• the method comprising the steps of:
• selectively operating the display cabinet in a refrigeration cycle of operation and a defrost cycle of operation;
• during a refrigeration cycle of operation, circulating a primary air band through the primary air conduit so that air is propelled through the primary outlet opening and received by the primary inlet opening so as to form an air curtain across the access opening in the cabinet along a path inside of the barrier door;
• propelling the primary air band through the refrigeration means;
• during the refrigeration cycle of operation, circulating a secondary air band through the secondary air conduit in the same direction as the primary air band so that air is propelled through the secondary outlet opening and received by the secondary inlet opening so as to form a secondary air guard curtain across the access opening in the display cabinet along a path inside of the barrier door;
• during a defrost cycle of operation, causing ambient air to be drawn into the cabinet and to pass across the refrigeration means and through the primary air conduit and be expelled from the display cabinet, creating a gap between the barrier door and the access opening, to enable ambient air through-flow;
• whereby ambient air is thereby drawn into the cabinet and across the refrigeration means to defrost the same by communicating ambient air with the cabinet.