Refrigerated cabinet

Abstract

A refrigerated cabinet ( 11 ) comprising storage space having a front opening through which access is gained to the space, the space including a zone subdivided into at least one compartment ( 15 ), each compartment ( 15 ) defined by a drawer ( 31 ), each drawer ( 31 ) being moveable from a retracted position at which it is accommodated within the zone and an extended position at which it extends forwardly from the space, wherein when the drawer ( 31 ) is in the retracted position the compartment is connected to a cooling means ( 23 ) and when the drawer is in the extended position the interior of the compartment is accessible from an upper portion of the drawer ( 31 ) and the drawer ( 31 ) is isolated from the cooling means ( 23 ), the isolation means being associated with the cabinet ( 11 ) to sealingly isolate the cooling means ( 23 ) from the compartment ( 15 ) when the drawer ( 31 ) is not in the retracted position.

1 . A refrigerated cabinet comprising a storage space having a front opening through which access is gained to the space, the space including a zone subdivided into at least one compartment, each compartment adapted to be occupied by a drawer, each drawer being moveable within the compartment from a retracted position at which it is accommodated within the compartment and an extended position at which it extends forwardly from the zone, and whereby the interior of the drawer is accessible from an upper portion of the drawer, the cabinet further comprising cooling means wherein when the drawer is in the retracted position, the cooling means is in communication with the drawer and when the drawer is in an extended position the cooling means is isolated from the compartment by isolation means.  
   
   
       2 . A refrigerated cabinet as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a portion of the compartment is associated with a closure, said closure being moveable between an open position and a closed position wherein when the drawer is in its retracted position the closure is moved to the opened position to provide said communication with the drawer and when the drawer is in its extended position the closure is in its closed position to thereby isolate the compartment from the cooling means.  
   
   
       3 . A refrigerated cabinet as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said cooling means comprises a plenum formed between the walls of the storage space and the at least one compartment said communication being between the plenum and the at least one compartment.  
   
   
       4 . A refrigerated cabinet as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the closure comprises at least a portion of the rear wall of the drawer and the plenum is located between the rear wall of the drawer and the face of the rear walls of the at least one compartment.  
   
   
       5 . A refrigerated cabinet as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the plenum is defined by a wall of the storage space and an opposed wall, said opposed wall being provided with a set of closures, each compartment being associated with at least one closure, each closure being moveable between a closed position and an open position wherein when a drawer is in the retracted position it cooperates to move the at least one respective closure to the open position to provide said communication and when said drawer is moved from the retracted position the respective at least one closure is closed to prevent said communication.  
   
   
       6 . A refrigerated cabinet as claimed in  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the upper face of the compartment is open.  
   
   
       7 . A refrigerated cabinet as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the portion of the upper face communicates with the source when the drawer is in the retracted position.  
   
   
       8 . A refrigerated cabinet as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the front opening of the at least one compartment sealingly cooperates with the front opening when the drawer is in the retracted position.  
   
   
       9 . A refrigerated cabinet as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a plurality of compartments are accommodated within the zone.  
   
   
       10 . A refrigerated cabinet as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the compartments are supported in a vertical array.  
   
   
       11 . A refrigerated cabinet as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the front opening is associated with a door which controls said access.  
   
   
       12 . A refrigerated cabinet as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the door accommodates one or more storage zones, the space defined between the door and front opening communicating with the remainder of the space.  
   
   
       13 . A refrigerated cabinet as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the storage zones are closed by a closure which is capable of being opened wherein the interior of the storage zones communicate with the storage space.  
   
   
       14 . A refrigerated cabinet as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the communication between the remainder of the space and the space defined between the door and front opening and/or storage zones is through passageways provided in the door.  
   
   
       15 . A refrigerated cabinet as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the isolation means is associated with the cooling means.  
   
   
       16 . A refrigerated cabinet as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the isolation means is associated with the compartment.  
   
   
       17 . A refrigerated cabinet as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the cooling means comprises a duct element adapted to convey chilled air and the isolation means comprises a valve associated with said duct element, and the drawer comprises a means operative to open said valve when the drawer is in the retraced position and the valve comprises means to close said valve when the drawer is not in the retracted position.  
   
   
       18 . A refrigeration system comprising a plurality of refrigerated cabinets as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the cooling means is provided to each refrigerated cabinet from a common cooling source.  
   
   
       19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . (canceled)