Sealing system for refrigeration cassette

Abstract

A refrigerated merchandiser ( 10 ) includes a cabinet ( 20 ) having a top wall ( 22 ), a lower wall ( 24 ), a rear wall ( 34 ), and side walls ( 36, 38 ) defining an interior product display space ( 100 ) housing a product ( 110 ) in a refrigerated environment for consumer selection. A refrigeration unit ( 50 ) is disposed in operative association with the interior product display space in a compartment ( 55 ) beneath the lower wall ( 24 ). A first opening in the lower wall provides an air return inlet ( 102 ) establishing a flow passage from the interior product display space ( 1000 to the compartment ( 55 ) beneath the lower wall. A sealing member ( 58 ) is disposed between the under surface of the lower wall ( 24 ) and the upper surface of the refrigeration unit cassette ( 50 ) about the first opening; and a positioning apparatus ( 150 ) for raising the refrigeration unit cassette ( 50 ) unit into sealing relationship with the lower wall.

1 . A sealing system for a refrigerated merchandiser having a cabinet having a refrigerated interior space for housing a product in a refrigerated environment intended for selection by consumers and a having refrigeration unit cassette disposed in operative association with the interior space in an equipment compartment separated from the refrigerated interior space by a common wall, the common wall having a first opening therein providing fluid flow communication between the refrigerated interior space and the equipment compartment; the sealing system comprising: 
 a sealing member disposed between the common wall and the refrigeration cassette unit about said first opening; and    a positioning apparatus for placing the refrigeration cassette unit into sealing relationship with the common wall.    
     
     
         2 . A sealing system for a refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 1  wherein said positioning apparatus is positionable in a first position thereby placing the refrigerated unit cassette into sealing relationship with the common wall, and is positionable in a second position thereby releasing the refrigerated unit cassette from its sealing relationship with the common wall.  
     
     
         3 . A sealing system for a refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 1  wherein said sealing member comprises a compressible seal.  
     
     
         4 . A sealing system for a refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 1  wherein said positioning apparatus comprises a lifting apparatus for raising the refrigeration cassette unit into sealing relationship with the common wall.  
     
     
         5 . A sealing system for a refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 1  wherein said sealing member comprises a compressible seal and said positioning apparatus comprises a lifting apparatus for raising the refrigeration cassette unit into sealing relationship with the common wall.  
     
     
         6 . A sealing system for a refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 1  wherein said sealing member is carried on an upper surface of said refrigeration cassette.  
     
     
         7 . A sealing system for a refrigerated merchandiser having a cabinet having a refrigerated interior space for housing a product in a refrigerated environment intended for selection by consumers and a having refrigeration unit cassette disposed in operative association with the interior space in an equipment compartment beneath the refrigerated interior space and separated from the refrigerated interior space by a common wall, the common wall having a first opening therein providing fluid flow communication between the refrigerated interior space and the equipment compartment; the sealing system comprising: 
 a compressible sealing member disposed between the common wall and the refrigeration unit cassette about said first opening; and    a lifting apparatus disposed in operative association with the refrigeration unit cassette for raising the refrigeration unit cassette upwardly to compress said compressible sealing member against the common wall thereby establishing a sealing relationship about said first opening.    
     
     
         8 . A sealing system for a refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 7  wherein said lifting apparatus is positionable in a first position thereby raising the refrigerated unit cassette to compress said compressible sealing member, and is positionable in a second position thereby lowering the refrigerated unit cassette to decompress said sealing member.  
     
     
         9 . A sealing system for a refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 7  wherein said lifting apparatus comprises a cam mechanism selectively positionable in a first position thereby raising the refrigerated unit cassette to compress said compressible sealing member, and is positionable in a second position thereby lowering the refrigerated unit cassette to decompress said sealing member.  
     
     
         10 . A sealing system for a refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 7  wherein said lifting apparatus comprises a pair of cam sets, one cam set of the pair of cam sets operatively associated with one side of the refrigeration unit cassette and the other cam set of said pair of cam sets operatively associated with the opposite side of the refrigeration unit cassette, each cam set having at least two cam members disposed in spaced relationship and operatively interconnected by a linkage mechanism.  
     
     
         11 . A sealing system for a refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 10  wherein said linkage mechanism is positionable in a first position for pivoting said cam members so as to raise the refrigeration unit cassette upwardly to compress said compressible sealing member and is positionable in a second position for pivoting said cam members so as to lower the refrigeration unit cassette downwardly to decompress said compressible sealing member.  
     
     
         12 . A sealing system for a refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 7  wherein said lifting apparatus comprises a pair of generally L-shaped members, one member of said pair of generally L-shaped members operatively associated with one side of the refrigeration unit cassette and the other member of said pair of generally L-shaped members operatively associated with the opposite side of the refrigeration unit cassette, each member of said pair of generally L-shaped members having an elongated leg extending along a side of the refrigeration unit cassette and having at least one cam section.  
     
     
         13 . A sealing system for a refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 12  wherein said at least one cam section comprises a raised portion of the first leg.  
     
     
         14 . A sealing system for a refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 13  further comprising a flat surface on the raised portion of the first elongated leg for contacting the refrigeration unit cassette when in the first position.  
     
     
         15 . A sealing system for a refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 12  wherein said generally L-shaped member has a second leg extending outwardly from an end of the first leg in a second plane substantially perpendicular to a first plane in which the first leg and the raised portion lie.  
     
     
         16 . A sealing system for a refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 12  wherein each generally L-shaped member may be positioned in a first position for rotating said at least one cam section so as to raise the refrigeration unit cassette upwardly to compress said compressible sealing member between the refrigeration unit cassette and the common wall thereby establishing the sealing relationship.  
     
     
         17 . A sealing system for a refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 12  wherein each generally L-shaped member may be positioned in a second position for rotating said at least one cam section so as to lower the refrigeration unit cassette downwardly to decompress said compressible sealing member thereby releasing the refrigeration unit cassette from sealing relationship with the lower wall.  
     
     
         18 . A refrigerated merchandiser having an interior space housing a product in a refrigerated environment intended for selection by consumers, comprising: 
 a cabinet having a top wall, a lower wall, a rear wall, and side walls defining the interior space;    a refrigeration unit disposed in operative association with the interior space in a compartment beneath the lower wall and having an upper surface facing a lower surface of the lower wall;    an opening in the lower wall providing an air return inlet establishing a flow passage from the interior space to the compartment beneath the lower wall;    a sealing member disposed between the common wall and the refrigeration cassette unit about said first opening; and    a lifting apparatus for raising the refrigeration cassette unit into sealing relationship with the lower wall.    
     
     
         19 . A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 18  wherein said lifting apparatus is positionable in a first position thereby rising the refrigerated unit cassette into sealing relationship with the lower wall, and is positionable in a second position thereby releasing the refrigerated unit cassette from the sealing relationship with the lower wall.  
     
     
         20 . A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 19  wherein said lifting apparatus when positioned in the second position prevents installation of a grille over an ambient air inlet to the compartment beneath the lower wall.  
     
     
         21 . A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 18  wherein said sealing member comprises a compressible seal.  
     
     
         22 . A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 18  wherein said sealing member is carried on an upper surface of said refrigeration cassette.