The present invention relates to a display cabinet (1) having an open face; an air circulation system comprising: an air inlet (9) located adjacent to a perimeter of the open front face; an air outlet (7) located adjacent to the perimeter of the open front face opposite the air inlet (9), and configured to blow air across the open front face toward the air inlet (9); an air conduit (11, 17) for conveying air from the air inlet (9) to the air outlet (7); and an air pump configured to draw air from the air inlet (9), move the air thus drawn through the air conduit (11, 17) to the air outlet (7); and at least one shelf (3) disposed within the display cabinet (1); wherein the air conduit (11, 17) is arranged such that at least a portion (19) of the air from the air inlet (9) follows a path that passes out from a wall of the display cabinet (1) through the at least one shelf (3), and back through said at least one shelf (3) to the wall of the display cabinet (1), before being passed to the air outlet (7).

The present invention provides an open display refrigerator comprising: a refrigerated storage space, air in the refrigerated storage space being separated from air exterior to the open display refrigerator by an air curtain established by a fan which blows air towards an air outlet and which recovers air in the air curtain via an air inlet for recirculation to the air outlet; a wall bounding at least a part of the duct and the refrigerated storage space, the wall comprising one or more voids such that air in the duct can flow into the refrigerated storage space via the one or more voids; a deflector which, when the refrigerator is in use, interrupts at least a portion of the flow of air from the one or more voids and directs the portion of the flow of air towards the top of the refrigerator.

An open display refrigerator comprising: a refrigerated storage space, air in the refrigerated storage space being separated from air exterior to the open display refrigerator by an air curtain established by a fan which blows air towards an air outlet, air in the air curtain being recovered by an air inlet which recirculates the air from the air curtain into an air duct coupled to the air outlet; the at least one shelf having a riser attached to the shelf; and an air curtain guide coupled to the riser, the air curtain guide for guiding the flow of air within the air curtain.

A system 1001 comprises a display unit 1002 and shelves 4. The display unit has an open front chamber 50 for storing food products, lower and upper air ducts 32, 34, a fan 36, and an air refrigerator 44. At least one wall is transparent. The display unit further comprises a conduit wall 88, parallel to the transparent wall for creating an air conduit 90. The air conduit comprises a first conduit inlet 92, a second conduit inlet 94, and a conduit outlet 96. The first conduit inlet is in fluid connection with one of the lower and upper air ducts for diverting a portion of the air moving through the relevant air duct into the air conduit. The second conduit inlet is in fluid connection with ambient air outside of the display unit.

A system comprises a display unit and shelves. The display unit has an open front chamber for storing food products, a lower air duct with a lower front inlet, an upper air duct with an upper front outlet, a fan and an air refrigerator. The upper front outlet is directed at the lower front inlet for creating an air curtain in front of the open front. At least one of the shelves is a hollow shelf with an inner space, a shelf air outlet at a front side, a shelf air inlet at a back side, a fan, and a shelf heater. The fan is in fluid connection with the shelf air inlet and the shelf air outlet for moving air from the shelf air inlet through the hollow shelf to the shelf air outlet.

The present disclosure describes a method for configuring an open display refrigerator, the method comprises: a measuring an initial temperature difference between the warmest temperature recorded by an array of temperature sensors and the coldest temperature recorded by the array of temperature sensors; coupling an air guide to at least one shelf; adjusting the distance between the air guide and the edge of the shelf for the at least one shelf; measuring a final temperature difference associated with the distance, the final temperature difference being the temperature difference between the warmest temperature recorded by the array of temperature sensors and the coldest temperature recorded by the array of temperatures sensors after coupling an air guide to the at least one shelf; selecting a distance from the plurality of distances that gives rise to at least a threshold temperature difference, or selecting the distance from the plurality of distances wherein the difference between the initial temperature difference and the associated final temperature difference is greatest.

The present invention provides a merchandiser including a case defining primary and secondary air passageways, a first fan, and an evaporator. The case includes a base having first and second air inlets, one or more walls, and a canopy cooperatively defining a product display area accessible through an opening. The evaporator is disposed in the base. A first fan is disposed in the case and generates a primary airflow through the primary air passageway. The first fan, or a second fan, generates a secondary airflow through the secondary air passageway. Air from the product display area, air outlet, or both entering the first air inlet at least partially defines the first airflow which flows through the evaporator via the primary air passageway. The secondary airflow flows through the evaporator and is at least partially defined by air flowing past the first air inlet and entering the second air inlet.

Provided is a sneeze guard attachment for creating an air curtain between display food covered by a sneeze guard and a person. The device includes a panel, a frame affixed to the panel that creates a chamber between the panel and the sneeze guard, and a means for forcing air into the chamber. The chamber includes an open end, which allows the air to be forced out of the chamber in order to create an air curtain. The air curtain separates the display food contained in a food bar/food prep area from the consumer. The device can be retrofitted on any preexisting food shield or sneeze guard, and can be utilized with various types of display food, including food items found in buffets, salad bars, hot food bars, roller grills, made-to-order food operations, catering stands, roller grills, sandwich preparation areas, and the like.

A riser plate for a shelf of a refrigerated display case and kits of parts allows an angle between an outer guiding surface of a riser plate and an inner retaining surface to be adjusted.

A refrigerated merchandiser is provided including a case having a first case section. The first case section defines a first product display area and an air passageway. The air passageway supports a fan and is in fluid communication with an airflow inlet and an airflow outlet. The air passageway is at least partially defined by a refrigeration system including an evaporator. A portion of the air passageway is further defined by a plenum having a stepped profile configured to channel and adjust a direction of an airflow within the first air passageway prior to entering the evaporator. The refrigerated merchandiser may further include a second case section defining a second product display area and including a glass panel. A first airflow portion of an airflow is configured to flow through the airflow inlet toward the evaporator and a second airflow portion is configured to flow through a second airflow outlet via an evaporator bypass channel. The first airflow portion is cooled by the evaporator and the second airflow portion is uncooled by the evaporator. The second airflow portion may be further directed through the second airflow outlet over an exterior of the glass panel of the second case section.