A knockdown cooler with a number of removable chilling panels that cool an interior cavity of the cooler without exposing the contents therein to contact with unhygienic ice or water is provided. A collapsible storage member is positioned atop one or more structural support members to suspend the storage member in the chilling cavity, providing exposure to prolonged cooling impetus, a duration that may be prolonged if desired by removing and replacing one or more of the chilling panels without disrupting the contents of the cooler. A method of cooling items such as food, beverages, or the like without exposing the same to unhygienic ice or water in a knockdown cooler that can be assembled or disassembled without tools, mechanical fasteners, or adhesives is also provided.

A showcase is provided for displaying items, at least one of which is an ultraviolet-reactive item. The showcase has a showcase structure for containing the items to be displayed, which includes at least one glazed surface through which the items can be seen. Showcase lighting is provided wired with the showcase structure. The showcase lighting includes: at least one compact ultraviolet LED assembly; a white light assembly; and a controller for controlling the ultraviolet LED assembly and white light assembly with modulation such that the ultraviolet radiation stimulates visible fluorescence in the ultraviolet-reactive item while items in the showcase structure are broadly illuminated by the white light. A method for displaying items in a showcase, and a kit for retrofitting existing showcases is also provided.

A display case having end jamb lighting module and a center mullion lighting module is disclosed. The lighting modules include a shell and at least one substrate whereon lighting elements are mounted. The shell defines engagement slots used to affix the substrate to the shell, and an aperture allowing light from the lighting elements to be projected out. The lighting module may include a second substrate upon which electrical components are mounted, the electrical components for conditioning input power for the lighting elements. A reflective portion of the shell or a separate reflector mounted on the shell operates on the light to form a desired spatial distribution of light. For robustness in construction, the lighting module end caps allow the secure passage of wires.

A beverage dispenser for dispensing one or more products is disclosed. The beverage dispenser may include a housing having a dispensing port, a shaft disposed within the housing, and a tray rotatably attached to the shaft. The tray may be tilted towards the dispensing port relative to the shaft. The tray may rotate the one or more products disposed thereon to the dispensing port via gravity after one of the one or more products disposed on the tray is dispensed.

A transparent electronic display layer is placed between a front and rear transparent layer. A light guide is positioned behind the transparent electronic display layer and has an outer edge. Lighting elements are positioned adjacent to the outer edge. A cavity is positioned adjacent to and on an opposing side of the lighting elements as compared to the light guide such that light exiting the lighting elements enters both the light guide and the cavity. A graphic may be provided at the cavity.

A refrigerated merchandiser including a case defining a product display area and including a frame having a mullion. The mullion defining an opening to the product display area. A door is coupled and movable relative to the frame over the opening to provide access to the product display area. A refrigeration system is in communication with the product display area to condition the product display area. A first heater is coupled to and routed along the frame and a second heater is coupled to and routed along the frame. The second heater is separate from the first heater. A controller is operatively coupled to the first heater and the second heater and programmed to dependently control the first heater and the second heater relative to each other to remove or inhibit formation of condensation.

The exemplary embodiments disclosed herein provide a transparent LCD which is placed between a front glass and a rear glass. A light guide is preferably positioned behind the LCD and contains an edge. A plurality of LEDs are positioned adjacent to the edge and a cavity is positioned on the opposite side of the LEDs as the light guide. Generally, light which is exiting the LEDs is permitted to enter both the light guide as well as the cavity. A graphic may be placed in front of the cavity and could be bonded to the front glass.

A system and method for operating a transparent electronic display includes providing a display case having a door housing the transparent electronic display, and a controller programmed with transparency data which is in electronic communication with the electronic display. Said transparency data comprises a number of predetermined transparency levels for the electronic display during a number of corresponding time periods. The current time is determined and the electronic display is operated at the predetermined transparency level associated with a time period corresponding to the current time.

Shelves or other fixtures may be used to hold items at a facility. Load cells at the fixtures may be used to acquire weight data indicative of changes to the fixture as items are added or removed from the fixture. The fixtures, such as a freezer case, may include a door that when opened or closed produces air movement with respect to the shelves. This air movement may produce weight data that could be interpreted as a false event, such as a pick or place, even when none has taken place. A door sensor provides data that is used to determine when the door has been opened or closed. Weight data occurring for some time after the opening of the door or before the closing of the door may be disregarded.

Disclosed is a display module including a transparent display panel and a frame to fix a side of the transparent display panel, wherein the frame has a communication unit to receive data from the outside, a controller to process the received data and to output a drive command corresponding to the processed data and a display drive unit to drive the transparent display panel in response to the drive command from the controller. A display system includes a system body and a display module detachably mounted in the system body.