US 5,347,827 AGranted

Modular refrigeration apparatus

AssigneeThe Coca-Cola Company

InventorsArthur G. Rudick, Shaun B. Gatipon, Howard W. Wachenheim

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Abstract

A modular refrigeration apparatus containing a cabinet with a front opening and divided into lower and upper portions, for separately receiving a plurality of removable modular units, said removable modular units including one of a selected plurality of interchangeable storage units and a universal refrigeration unit. A selected one of the plurality of interchangeable storage units is positioned within the upper portion of the cabinet for storing a plurality of containers. The refrigeration unit is positioned within the lower portion of the cabinet and in communication with the upper portion for cooling the entire interior of the cabinet. The cabinet is designed so that the interchangeable storage units and refrigeration unit can be respectfully removed or inserted from the cabinet without affecting the other units.

Claims5

Dependent claims

An apparatus for converting a refrigerated coin-operated vendor to a refrigerated self-service display apparatus, said vendor having a cabinet with a front opening, said front opening formed by removal of coin-operated vending components from said cabinet, and having a refrigeration means for circulating cool air within the interior of said cabinet and venting warm air, comprising;

a front panel attached to the front opening for sealing the interior of said cabinet, said front panel having a transparent door pivotally mounted to said front panel;
and
a partition positioned adjacent and parallel to the rear interior wall of said cabinet defining an air distribution plenum therebetween, said partition having a plurality of slots disposed at spaced locations along substantially the entire length of the partition for directing a plurality of layers of cool air currents flowing from the plenum toward said front panel.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.