REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE WITH IMPINGEMENT COOLING SYSTEM

A refrigeration appliance includes a large capacity refrigeration system f or developing a flow of cold air that is impinged, preferably through top and side nozzles, upon food items placed within an internal cavity of the appliance t o quickly freeze or chill the food items. An additional small capacity refrigeration system is provided to maintain a desired temperature within the cavity when the rapid cooling is not needed. Preferably, an impingement air diffuser arrangement is provided to direct the air flow and includes partition members to divide the internal cavity into subspaces for different food packages, with varying cooling rates being permissible between the various sub-spaces. A vertically adjustable shelf is provided which cooperates with blocking plates which move up and do wn with the shelf and function to black air flow through nozzles arranged below the shelf such that all of the developed air flow is used for direct impingement on the food product.