A refrigerated display case includes a housing surrounding multiple shelves. An air distribution gap is defined behind the shelves. An air return passage is defined below the shelves. A radial cross-flow fan is disposed in a fan region of the air return passage. The radial cross-flow fan includes an output connected to the air distribution gap. A primary cooling microchannel heat exchanger is disposed in the fan region downstream of the radial cross-flow fan such that air output from the radial cross-flow fan to the air distribution gap passes through the primary cooling microchannel heat exchanger. A pre-cooler microchannel heat exchanger is disposed upstream of the primary cooling microchannel heat exchanger.

A refrigerated display case having a housing defining a temperature controlled space and a refrigeration system coupled to the housing is provided. The refrigeration system is configured to be operable to affect a temperature of the temperature controlled space. The refrigeration system includes an actuator, a controller, and a sensor. The controller is configured to continuously update a stored position of the actuator based on measurement of an electric current provided to the actuator, retrieve the stored position after a power failure, and restart control based on the stored position of the actuator. The sensor is configured to communicate with the controller.

A refrigerated display case includes sidewalls, doors, shelves, a cooling system, a cooling coil defrost system, product defrost lights, and a controller. The sidewalls and doors may define an inner volume of the refrigerated display case. The shelves are positioned within the inner volume of the refrigerated display case, are fixedly coupled with at least one of the sidewalls, and are configured to support a product. The cooling system provides cooling to the inner volume of the refrigerated display case and may include a cooling coil. The cooling coil defrost system provides defrost heating to the cooling coil. Each of the product defrost lights are oriented towards a corresponding one of the shelves. The product defrost lights are configured to emit radiative heating for defrosting the product. The controller is operably coupled with the cooling system, the cooling coil defrost system, and the product defrost lights.

A refrigerated display cabinet (10) includes a refrigeration loop including a compressor, a condenser, a throttling element and an evaporator which are connected; a main body (12) including a storage space (14), wherein the evaporator (16) is located within the main body and is for supplying cooling to the storage space (14); and a container (18) located outside of the storage space (12) and containing at least one of the compressor, condenser and throttling element, wherein the container (18) comprises a vent (20) configured to discharge any build-up of gases within the container (18) outwardly.

One or more example embodiments provide a vending machine (105) that detects refrigerant leaks. The vending machine includes a main cabinet (605), a sensor circuit (615), and control equipment (830). The sensor circuit is configured to detect a refrigerant leaked in the main cabinet. The control equipment is configured to operate a component (620) of the refrigerated vending machine based on the detected refrigerant.

Aspects of the present disclosure include a self-serve kiosk with a door that allows access to products inside the kiosk. A bar is disposed on the door and contains a user interface that allows the user to purchase products. The bar also includes a handle that the user can grasp to open and close the door. The bar can rotate with respect to the door into an access position that improves maintenance access to the user interface and related components. In aspects, the bar and related components improve integration of self-serve functionality into existing product storage devices.

A refrigerated display case having a housing defining a temperature controlled space and a refrigeration system coupled to the housing is provided. The refrigeration system is configured to be operable to affect a temperature of the temperature controlled space. The refrigeration system includes an actuator, a controller, and a sensor. The controller is configured to continuously update a stored position of the actuator based on measurement of an electric current provided to the actuator, retrieve the stored position after a power failure, and restart control based on the stored position of the actuator. The sensor is configured to communicate with the controller.

A temperature controlled case includes a housing that defines a temperature controlled space and a multi-circuit cooling element in thermal communication with the temperature controlled space. The multi-circuit cooling element includes two or more cooling coils. Each of the cooling coils is coupled to a different circuit structured to selectively circulate coolant through the multi-circuit cooling element. Each circuit is fluidly separate from each remaining circuit such that the coolant circulated through each circuit is not shared with each remaining circuit. The multi-circuit cooling element further includes a plurality of heat exchange fins coupled to each of the two or more cooling coils such that each of the heat exchange fins facilitates heat removal from the temperature controlled space by each of the two or more cooling coils.

The present invention includes various types of open-air display cases for displaying, storing, and/or vending food, beverages, or other products having a movable barrier that can be automatically positioned over an open front or side of such a unit to prevent access to the products therein when temperatures, component failure, lost power supply, or other variables affect the condition of the items stored in the display case, and methods of using such units.

A monitoring and control system is provided. The system includes a plurality of sensors for obtaining readings associated with food items, such as temperature readings, freshness indications, and the like. The system is scalable and configurable with each sensor being capable of functioning as an individual sensor and/or as part of a grouping of sensors. The system is configured to obtain a variety of information, such as ambient air temperature, dwell time of food items, moisture levels, and the like, thereby enabling the system to recognize current and future concerns. The system provides audio and visual warnings and visual displays. In some embodiments, the system performs one or more physical operation based on one or more detected condition. The system is further configured to distinguish between accurate readings and inaccurate readings and/or to otherwise determine if an obstacle is preventing a sensor from obtaining an accurate reading.