US20070119195A1 - Cooling appliance - Google Patents
Cooling appliance Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20070119195A1 US20070119195A1 US11/556,305 US55630506A US2007119195A1 US 20070119195 A1 US20070119195 A1 US 20070119195A1 US 55630506 A US55630506 A US 55630506A US 2007119195 A1 US2007119195 A1 US 2007119195A1
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- Prior art keywords
- refrigerator
- level
- goods
- data
- refrigerators
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D29/00—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
- F25C5/00—Working or handling ice
- F25C5/18—Storing ice
- F25C5/182—Ice bins therefor
- F25C5/187—Ice bins therefor with ice level sensing means
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01G—WEIGHING
- G01G19/00—Weighing apparatus or methods adapted for special purposes not provided for in the preceding groups
- G01G19/52—Weighing apparatus combined with other objects, e.g. furniture
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01G—WEIGHING
- G01G23/00—Auxiliary devices for weighing apparatus
- G01G23/18—Indicating devices, e.g. for remote indication; Recording devices; Scales, e.g. graduated
- G01G23/36—Indicating the weight by electrical means, e.g. using photoelectric cells
- G01G23/37—Indicating the weight by electrical means, e.g. using photoelectric cells involving digital counting
- G01G23/3728—Indicating the weight by electrical means, e.g. using photoelectric cells involving digital counting with wireless means
- G01G23/3735—Indicating the weight by electrical means, e.g. using photoelectric cells involving digital counting with wireless means using a digital network
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01G—WEIGHING
- G01G23/00—Auxiliary devices for weighing apparatus
- G01G23/18—Indicating devices, e.g. for remote indication; Recording devices; Scales, e.g. graduated
- G01G23/36—Indicating the weight by electrical means, e.g. using photoelectric cells
- G01G23/37—Indicating the weight by electrical means, e.g. using photoelectric cells involving digital counting
- G01G23/3728—Indicating the weight by electrical means, e.g. using photoelectric cells involving digital counting with wireless means
- G01G23/3735—Indicating the weight by electrical means, e.g. using photoelectric cells involving digital counting with wireless means using a digital network
- G01G23/3742—Indicating the weight by electrical means, e.g. using photoelectric cells involving digital counting with wireless means using a digital network using a mobile telephone network
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2500/00—Problems to be solved
- F25D2500/06—Stock management
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2700/00—Means for sensing or measuring; Sensors therefor
- F25D2700/08—Sensors using Radio Frequency Identification [RFID]
Definitions
- the invention relates to a refrigerator with a goods space for industrially produced frozen goods.
- Ice cubes consist of frozen water and are required, as a rule, in the catering trade and in the private area. Ice cubes are used in particular for preparing or cooling cocktails and other cold drinks. Furthermore, they can be used for cooling cold dishes, for example for large buffets. In addition to ice cubes, chopped ice cubes, so-called “crushed ice”, are also increasingly used for the preparation of cocktails. To produce ice cubes, water can be frozen in a deep-freezer in ice-cube molds or else in bags with a number of honeycombs. Furthermore, there are refrigerators and deep-freezers which produce ice cubes automatically and store them in a container ready for withdrawal.
- ice cubes In addition to water, the production of ice cubes requires large quantities of electrical energy, so that industrially produced ice cubes are produced centrally.
- large freezing machines can be used, whereby, on the one hand, energy costs can be minimized and, on the other hand, only few freezing machines have to be installed and manufactured, so that investment costs can also be kept low.
- the demand for ice cubes and crushed ice is strongly cyclical, so that it is difficult to forecast when a refrigerator will have to be refilled.
- the reason for the cyclic demand is on the one hand a dependency on the weekday or on the weather, as on warmer days clearly more ice cubes are purchased, and on the other hand large-scale events unforeseeable for the producer, for which unexpectedly large quantities of ice cubes are purchased.
- the invention is based on the consideration that for an efficient refilling of a number of refrigerators, the planning of the refilling itinerary should be optimized.
- the quantity of frozen goods contained in the goods space of a refrigerator should be known and should, therefore, be determined or measured. It can then be decided by means of the filling level whether or not a refrigerator has to be supplied with new goods. Furthermore, the moment when a refilling is necessary can be forecast better. Therefore, to measure the level of a refrigerator, the latter's goods space is provided with a level sensor.
- the level sensor is advantageously a balance.
- the balance can be appropriately positioned as a function of type and way of loading of the refrigerator, so that a particularly reliable measurement of the weight of the goods contained in the refrigerator is possible.
- their number or another characteristic value for the level can be determined.
- the balance is expediently provided with a strain gauge, which is in a position to record a movement caused by the mass of the frozen goods, for example the movement of the bottom of the goods space, thus determining the weight of the frozen goods.
- the level sensor comprises a so-called RFID sensor system.
- a transmitter for example an RF transmitter
- the goods packages are provided with suitable chips, in the manner of a code, which passively reflect a reply signal in response to the emitted signal, which, in turn, can be received by the transmitter and receiver unit.
- the chips can be designed in an individualized manner in such a way that a characteristic reply signal is generated which depends, for example, on type, best-before date or other parameters of the goods in question.
- the level sensor is preferably connected with a data-transfer unit.
- a data-transfer unit can be designed, according to availability and costs, for wireless or wire-bound communication.
- GSM mobile communication
- GPRS GPRS
- UMTS wireless communication
- WLAN wireless local area network
- Powerline a connection over the mains supply
- a communication as an IP connection is particularly advantageous because the protocols used in this case are suitable for almost all hardware types in the evaluation.
- the level of the respective refrigerator is expediently transmitted by a data-transfer unit to the evaluation unit.
- a transmission and subsequent evaluation of the levels can be effected, for example, continuously, according to a cyclic monitoring.
- the levels can be stored intermediately and transmitted and evaluated at relatively long time intervals, according to a logging.
- a transmitted level to a certain refrigerator preferably an individual code of a refrigerator is included in the transmission.
- the time of the level measurement and other parameters like, for example, temperature values, can be transmitted.
- the transmission can be effected at specified intervals.
- a level of a refrigerator is advantageously stored in a data memory of a refrigerator.
- the transmission process has expediently a bidirectional design. Upon the inquiry, a command for a new level measurement of a refrigerator and its transmission to the central evaluation unit can be transmitted.
- a current level of a refrigerator is expediently not transmitted after each withdrawal of goods. Rather is a measured level preferably transmitted in the form of predefined level categories. Rather is the level rounded to the predefined level categories.
- the level categories are adapted to the size of a refrigerator, so that, for the supply with new goods, the quantity of these goods can be determined by means of the categories and the size of a refrigerator. In particular, categories like “completely filled”, “filled more than half”, “filled more than one quarter”, “filled less than one quarter” can be provided.
- a level should advantageously be transmitted whenever it reaches a new level category.
- the advantages achieved with the invention consist in particular in the fact that by measuring the levels of refrigerators and transmitting them to a central evaluation unit, the exact requirements of new goods are known and can, furthermore, also be forecast with greater accuracy. For example, the problem of the cyclic demand for frozen goods can be mitigated by immediately detecting a dynamically increasing demand and arranging for the supply of new goods.
- the supply can be adapted to these requirements and the supply and logistic processes can be optimized by supplying a plurality of refrigerators by means of an itinerary planning adapted to the requirements.
- the invention can reduce losses in turnover, which previously occurred due to the fact that goods of refrigerators were sold out.
- Another advantage of the invention is the possibility to elaborate customer profiles by means of the level measurements and to utilize them for economic purposes.
- FIG. 1 is a diagram of a goods management system for ice cubes
- FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a refrigerator for ice cubes of a goods management system according to FIG. 1 , and
- FIG. 3 shows an alternative refrigerator for the goods management system according to FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 1 is a diagram of a goods management system 2 for industrially produced ice cubes and/or so-called crushed ice with a number of refrigerators 1 .
- the refrigerators 1 are installed, decentralized, in various supermarkets, shops and service stations.
- the goods management system 2 and the refrigerators 1 are designed for individual determination of the requirements of new goods for each individual refrigerator 1 .
- each refrigerator 1 is provided with a level sensor, by means of which the level of the refrigerator 1 can be determined.
- FIG. 2 shows a refrigerator 1 of a goods management system 2 .
- the refrigerator 1 could, for example, be a freezer.
- the refrigerator 1 is a freezer chest, in particular a deep-freezer chest.
- the frozen goods are stored in a goods space 4 surrounded by an outer wall, ice cubes packed in bags being in particular provided.
- the body of the freezer chest surrounding the goods space 4 is carried on four bases 5 .
- a weighing cell with a strain gauge 8 is integrated to form a balance 6 , so that by recording the local load of the bases and taking into account characteristic parameters of the freezer chest, like, for example, its own weight, the weight of the ice cubes can be determined. By means of this weight, the level in the goods space can be determined, so that the balance 6 services as a level sensor.
- the weight can also be determined or the level can be measured, for example, by a weight sensor, a temperature sensor, a volume sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a motion detector, a pressure sensor, a light barrier, a radar, a sonar or a laser for depth measurement.
- the microcontroller 16 uses the weight of the ice cubes as an input quantity, the microcontroller 16 computes and monitors the level of the available ice-cube bags.
- the level can be recorded and evaluated in the manner of a continuous parameter.
- it is, however, provided, for a particularly simple processing requiring only little processing capacity, to subdivide the level for the sake of more clarity into a number of (in the exemplary embodiment, four) measuring limits: full load, 3 ⁇ 4 load, 1 ⁇ 2 load, and 1 ⁇ 4 load.
- a message including date stamp, hour and a refrigerator identification code will be transmitted by a data-transfer unit 18 to the evaluation unit 3 .
- the level will be stored in a data memory 20 and can be inquired, if necessary, by the evaluation unit 3 via the data-transfer unit 18 .
- the transmission method is of bidirectional design, the refrigerator 1 being connected in the exemplary embodiment via the data-transfer unit 18 with the Internet with der evaluation unit 3 .
- other transmission methods such as, for example, transmission over the mains supply, by WLAN, wireless communication, mobile communication (GSM, GPRS, UMTS) or over a separate transmission line are also imaginable.
- the microcontroller 16 will automatically send a test signal to the evaluation unit 3 .
- the program of the microcontroller 16 is designed in such a way that it can be adapted to an individual size of a refrigerator 1 , without requiring any programming knowledge.
- the parameters of the refrigerator 1 such as size, empty weight and load, are entered for this purpose by means of a keypad 22 provided on the refrigerator 1 or else in the manner of remote initialization, over the evaluation unit 3 .
- the program Upon first putting into service, the program will be imported by means of a computer over a serial interface, which is not shown in detail in the drawing.
- the refrigerator identification code can be assigned to the refrigerator 1 either over the keypad 22 or alternatively, over an interface.
- FIG. 3 An alternative embodiment of a refrigerator 1 ′ is shown in FIG. 3 .
- the refrigerator 1 ′ is essentially of identical construction as the refrigerator 1 . It differs, however, by the level-measuring system provided in that case, as the refrigerator 1 ′ comprises a so-called RFID sensor system 28 as a level sensor.
- a sender and receiver unit 30 Inside the goods space 4 , a sender and receiver unit 30 , in the exemplary embodiment, an RF sender, is arranged inside the goods space 4 .
- the sender and receiver unit 30 emits a characteristic signal, which is reflected by chips 34 integrated into the goods packages 32 of the goods contained in the goods space 4 , the chips 34 being configured in such a way that the signal reflected by them has individual, chip-specific properties, in the manner of a characteristic signature.
Abstract
A refrigerator (1) with a goods space (4) for industrially produced frozen goods shall be designed in such a way that it can be supplied with new goods as efficiently as possible. For this purpose, a goods space (4) of a refrigerator (1) is provided with a level sensor.
Description
- The invention relates to a refrigerator with a goods space for industrially produced frozen goods.
- Ice cubes consist of frozen water and are required, as a rule, in the catering trade and in the private area. Ice cubes are used in particular for preparing or cooling cocktails and other cold drinks. Furthermore, they can be used for cooling cold dishes, for example for large buffets. In addition to ice cubes, chopped ice cubes, so-called “crushed ice”, are also increasingly used for the preparation of cocktails. To produce ice cubes, water can be frozen in a deep-freezer in ice-cube molds or else in bags with a number of honeycombs. Furthermore, there are refrigerators and deep-freezers which produce ice cubes automatically and store them in a container ready for withdrawal.
- In the catering trade, for large-scale events or also for large-scale private celebrations, where large quantities of ice cubes are needed, it is as a rule not feasible and too expensive to produce ice cubes by oneself, so that for these purposes industrially produced ice cubes are usually purchased. Industrially produced ice cubes and also industrial crushed ice is usually filled by weight and packed in plastic bags, stored in refrigerators and offered for sale. Refrigerators for the sale of ice cubes, for example freezers, freezer chests or deep-freezer chests, are usually installed in wholesale markets, supermarket and also in service stations.
- In addition to water, the production of ice cubes requires large quantities of electrical energy, so that industrially produced ice cubes are produced centrally. For this purpose, large freezing machines can be used, whereby, on the one hand, energy costs can be minimized and, on the other hand, only few freezing machines have to be installed and manufactured, so that investment costs can also be kept low.
- It is, however, a disadvantage of the central production that the ice cubes have to be transported to the customers or to the installed refrigerators, which constitutes considerable expenses for supplying the ice cubes. This is in particular due to the fact that the central production disproportionately increases the production costs, consisting of the fixed costs and the variable unit costs for water and energy, which are relatively low in comparison with the fixed costs. In view of the transportation costs, the variable unit costs are disproportionately increased, due to the specific characteristics of the ice cubes.
- In addition, the demand for ice cubes and crushed ice is strongly cyclical, so that it is difficult to forecast when a refrigerator will have to be refilled. The reason for the cyclic demand is on the one hand a dependency on the weekday or on the weather, as on warmer days clearly more ice cubes are purchased, and on the other hand large-scale events unforeseeable for the producer, for which unexpectedly large quantities of ice cubes are purchased. To avoid that the ice cubes of certain refrigerators are completely sold out, it is, however, not possible to increase the size of the refrigerators to an unlimited extent as this would increase the energy costs for the operation of the refrigerators and also the rent for the floor space of the refrigerators.
- Therefore, one tries, when supplying the refrigerators, to forecast the level of the refrigerator in question in order to determine an appropriate refilling date. It is a disadvantage of this procedure usual in practice that due to the above-described problem of cyclic demand, the ice cubes of refrigerators are sold out, or that the producer unnecessarily makes a refilling call at a sufficiently filled refrigerator. This causes loss of turnover and unnecessary transportation costs.
- Therefore, it is the object of the invention to provide a refrigerator with a goods space for industrially produced frozen goods, which can be supplied with new goods as efficiently as possible.
- This object is achieved according to the invention by the fact that the goods space of the refrigerators is provided with a level sensor.
- The invention is based on the consideration that for an efficient refilling of a number of refrigerators, the planning of the refilling itinerary should be optimized. For this purpose, the quantity of frozen goods contained in the goods space of a refrigerator should be known and should, therefore, be determined or measured. It can then be decided by means of the filling level whether or not a refrigerator has to be supplied with new goods. Furthermore, the moment when a refilling is necessary can be forecast better. Therefore, to measure the level of a refrigerator, the latter's goods space is provided with a level sensor.
- To determine the level of frozen goods in the goods space independently of the type of storage or the stacking of the individual frozen products, the level sensor is advantageously a balance. The balance can be appropriately positioned as a function of type and way of loading of the refrigerator, so that a particularly reliable measurement of the weight of the goods contained in the refrigerator is possible. By means of the measured weight of the frozen goods and the known weight of the individual frozen products, their number or another characteristic value for the level can be determined.
- To measure the weight, the balance is expediently provided with a strain gauge, which is in a position to record a movement caused by the mass of the frozen goods, for example the movement of the bottom of the goods space, thus determining the weight of the frozen goods.
- In an alternative or additional advantageous embodiment, the level sensor comprises a so-called RFID sensor system. Preferably, a transmitter, for example an RF transmitter, is provided inside the goods space, emitting a characteristic signal for inquiring the level. In such a system, the goods packages are provided with suitable chips, in the manner of a code, which passively reflect a reply signal in response to the emitted signal, which, in turn, can be received by the transmitter and receiver unit. In the manner of a code, the chips can be designed in an individualized manner in such a way that a characteristic reply signal is generated which depends, for example, on type, best-before date or other parameters of the goods in question. Through evaluation of these signals, it is possible to also determine, in addition to the global level, the composition of the goods contained in the goods space, in the manner of a qualified level measurement, so that a refilling which is particularly well adapted to the requirements can be arranged for. This is particularly advantageous when loading the refrigerator with different kinds of goods, for example with both ice cubes and crushed ice or with different kinds of ice cream.
- To enquire the level of a refrigerator or send it to a central evaluation unit, the level sensor is preferably connected with a data-transfer unit.
- To transmit the levels, a plurality of decentral refrigerators of a goods management system for industrially produced frozen goods are advantageously connected, concerning their data, by means of a data-transfer unit with a central evaluation unit. A data-transfer unit can be designed, according to availability and costs, for wireless or wire-bound communication. One can choose for this purpose, for example, mobile communication (GSM, GPRS, UMTS), wireless communication, wire-bound communication, WLAN, the Internet or a connection over the mains supply (“Powerline”). A communication as an IP connection is particularly advantageous because the protocols used in this case are suitable for almost all hardware types in the evaluation.
- During the operation of such a goods management system, the level of the respective refrigerator is expediently transmitted by a data-transfer unit to the evaluation unit. A transmission and subsequent evaluation of the levels can be effected, for example, continuously, according to a cyclic monitoring. Alternatively, however, the levels can be stored intermediately and transmitted and evaluated at relatively long time intervals, according to a logging.
- To allocate in the central evaluation unit a transmitted level to a certain refrigerator, preferably an individual code of a refrigerator is included in the transmission. In addition, the time of the level measurement and other parameters like, for example, temperature values, can be transmitted.
- The transmission can be effected at specified intervals. Alternatively, it is possible to transmit the level to the central evaluation unit only when needed, i.e. when the level of a refrigerator falls below a maximum minimum level. For this purpose, a level of a refrigerator is advantageously stored in a data memory of a refrigerator.
- To make it possible to inquire the level of a refrigerator also by the central evaluation unit from the data memory, the transmission process has expediently a bidirectional design. Upon the inquiry, a command for a new level measurement of a refrigerator and its transmission to the central evaluation unit can be transmitted.
- For a simple determination of the level and for the sake of clarity of the transmitted data of the level, a current level of a refrigerator is expediently not transmitted after each withdrawal of goods. Rather is a measured level preferably transmitted in the form of predefined level categories. Rather is the level rounded to the predefined level categories. For this purpose, the level categories are adapted to the size of a refrigerator, so that, for the supply with new goods, the quantity of these goods can be determined by means of the categories and the size of a refrigerator. In particular, categories like “completely filled”, “filled more than half”, “filled more than one quarter”, “filled less than one quarter” can be provided.
- To record the withdrawal and refilling process of the frozen goods in real time, as far as possible, a level should advantageously be transmitted whenever it reaches a new level category.
- The advantages achieved with the invention consist in particular in the fact that by measuring the levels of refrigerators and transmitting them to a central evaluation unit, the exact requirements of new goods are known and can, furthermore, also be forecast with greater accuracy. For example, the problem of the cyclic demand for frozen goods can be mitigated by immediately detecting a dynamically increasing demand and arranging for the supply of new goods.
- By means of the determined levels, the supply can be adapted to these requirements and the supply and logistic processes can be optimized by supplying a plurality of refrigerators by means of an itinerary planning adapted to the requirements.
- In this way, considerable costs can be saved by maximizing the capacity of the supply vehicles, omitting calls at refrigerators which are still full, and minimizing the number of calls at refrigerators, as the refrigerators will only be refilled shortly before the goods are sold out. Furthermore, the invention can reduce losses in turnover, which previously occurred due to the fact that goods of refrigerators were sold out.
- Another advantage of the invention is the possibility to elaborate customer profiles by means of the level measurements and to utilize them for economic purposes.
- In the following, an exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in detail by means of a drawing, in which
-
FIG. 1 is a diagram of a goods management system for ice cubes, -
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a refrigerator for ice cubes of a goods management system according toFIG. 1 , and -
FIG. 3 shows an alternative refrigerator for the goods management system according toFIG. 1 . - In all figures, identical parts are marked with the same reference numbers.
-
FIG. 1 is a diagram of agoods management system 2 for industrially produced ice cubes and/or so-called crushed ice with a number ofrefrigerators 1. Therefrigerators 1 are installed, decentralized, in various supermarkets, shops and service stations. To supply therefrigerators 1 with ice products as efficiently and cost-advantageously as possible, thegoods management system 2 and therefrigerators 1 are designed for individual determination of the requirements of new goods for eachindividual refrigerator 1. For this purpose, eachrefrigerator 1 is provided with a level sensor, by means of which the level of therefrigerator 1 can be determined. To illustrate this more clearly,FIG. 2 shows arefrigerator 1 of agoods management system 2. - The
refrigerator 1 could, for example, be a freezer. In the exemplary embodiment, however, therefrigerator 1 is a freezer chest, in particular a deep-freezer chest. The frozen goods are stored in agoods space 4 surrounded by an outer wall, ice cubes packed in bags being in particular provided. The body of the freezer chest surrounding thegoods space 4 is carried on four bases 5. In each of these bases, a weighing cell with a strain gauge 8 is integrated to form a balance 6, so that by recording the local load of the bases and taking into account characteristic parameters of the freezer chest, like, for example, its own weight, the weight of the ice cubes can be determined. By means of this weight, the level in the goods space can be determined, so that the balance 6 services as a level sensor. Alternatively, the weight can also be determined or the level can be measured, for example, by a weight sensor, a temperature sensor, a volume sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a motion detector, a pressure sensor, a light barrier, a radar, a sonar or a laser for depth measurement. - Using the weight of the ice cubes as an input quantity, the
microcontroller 16 computes and monitors the level of the available ice-cube bags. The level can be recorded and evaluated in the manner of a continuous parameter. In the exemplary embodiment it is, however, provided, for a particularly simple processing requiring only little processing capacity, to subdivide the level for the sake of more clarity into a number of (in the exemplary embodiment, four) measuring limits: full load, ¾ load, ½ load, and ¼ load. When any of these measuring limits is reached, a message including date stamp, hour and a refrigerator identification code will be transmitted by a data-transfer unit 18 to theevaluation unit 3. In addition, the level will be stored in adata memory 20 and can be inquired, if necessary, by theevaluation unit 3 via the data-transfer unit 18. - For this purpose, the transmission method is of bidirectional design, the
refrigerator 1 being connected in the exemplary embodiment via the data-transfer unit 18 with the Internet withder evaluation unit 3. Alternatively, other transmission methods, such as, for example, transmission over the mains supply, by WLAN, wireless communication, mobile communication (GSM, GPRS, UMTS) or over a separate transmission line are also imaginable. - If after seven days, no data transfer has taken place, the
microcontroller 16 will automatically send a test signal to theevaluation unit 3. - The program of the
microcontroller 16 is designed in such a way that it can be adapted to an individual size of arefrigerator 1, without requiring any programming knowledge. The parameters of therefrigerator 1, such as size, empty weight and load, are entered for this purpose by means of akeypad 22 provided on therefrigerator 1 or else in the manner of remote initialization, over theevaluation unit 3. Upon first putting into service, the program will be imported by means of a computer over a serial interface, which is not shown in detail in the drawing. The refrigerator identification code can be assigned to therefrigerator 1 either over thekeypad 22 or alternatively, over an interface. - An alternative embodiment of a
refrigerator 1′ is shown inFIG. 3 . Regarding many components, for example for the processing, storing and/or transmission of data, therefrigerator 1′ is essentially of identical construction as therefrigerator 1. It differs, however, by the level-measuring system provided in that case, as therefrigerator 1′ comprises a so-called RFID sensor system 28 as a level sensor. Inside thegoods space 4, a sender andreceiver unit 30, in the exemplary embodiment, an RF sender, is arranged. To inquire the level, the sender andreceiver unit 30 emits a characteristic signal, which is reflected bychips 34 integrated into the goods packages 32 of the goods contained in thegoods space 4, thechips 34 being configured in such a way that the signal reflected by them has individual, chip-specific properties, in the manner of a characteristic signature. - Thus, by means of suitable coding and evaluation of these reflected signals, information which is characteristic of the
respective goods package 32, such as, for example, kind of goods, quantity unit, best-before date or the like can also be transmitted. Responding passively to the emitted signal, thechips 34 thus reflect a reply signal, which, in turn, can be received by the sender andreceiver unit 30. Through evaluation of these signals, it is, therefore, possible to also determine, in addition to the global level, the composition of the goods contained in the goods space, in the manner of a qualified level measurement, so that a refilling which is particularly well adapted to the requirements can be arranged for. This is particularly advantageous when loading the refrigerator with different kinds of goods, for example with both ice cubes and crushed ice or with different kinds of ice cream. -
- 1 Refrigerator
- 2 Goods management system
- 3 Evaluation unit
- 4 Goods space
- 5 Base
- 6 Balance
- 8 Strain gauge
- 16 Microcontroller
- 18 Data-transfer unit
- 20 Data memory
- 22 Keypad
- 28 Sensor system
- 30 Sender and receiver unit
- 32 Goods package
- 33 Chip
Claims (12)
1. A refrigerator with a goods space for industrially produced frozen goods, provided with a level sensor.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein a balance is provided as a level sensor.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 2 , whose balance is provided with a weighing cell with a strain gauge.
4. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein an RFID system is provided as a level sensor.
5. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , where in the level sensor is connected with a data-transfer unit.
6. A goods management system for industrially produced frozen goods, wherein each of a plurality of decentral refrigerators according to claim 1 are connected, concerning their data, by means of a data-transfer unit, with a central evaluation unit.
7. A method for transmitting the levels of the goods spaces of the refrigerators of a goods management system according to claim 6 , wherein a level of a refrigerator is transmitted by means of a data-transfer unit to the evaluation unit.
8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the transmission of a level includes the transmission of an individual code of a refrigerator.
9. The method according to claim 7 , wherein a level of a refrigerator is stored in a data memory of the refrigerator.
10. The method according to claim 7 , designed for a bidirectional data transfer.
11. The method according to claim 7 , wherein a measured level of a refrigerator is assigned to a specified level category, wherein afterwards the respective level category is transmitted for characterizing the level.
12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein a level is transmitted in each case when a level of a refrigerator reaches a new level category.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE102005052952.6-23 | 2005-11-03 | ||
DE102005052952A DE102005052952A1 (en) | 2005-11-03 | 2005-11-03 | refrigeration cabinets |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20070119195A1 true US20070119195A1 (en) | 2007-05-31 |
Family
ID=37728304
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/556,305 Abandoned US20070119195A1 (en) | 2005-11-03 | 2006-11-03 | Cooling appliance |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20070119195A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1783447A3 (en) |
DE (2) | DE102005052952A1 (en) |
Cited By (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20110238209A1 (en) * | 2010-03-25 | 2011-09-29 | The Coca-Cola Company | Vending Systems and Methods |
US20110238210A1 (en) * | 2010-03-25 | 2011-09-29 | The Coca-Cola Company | Vending Systems and Methods |
US20150021104A1 (en) * | 2013-07-17 | 2015-01-22 | Soehnle Industrial Solutions Gmbh | Minibar scale to weigh a minibar |
CN104350527A (en) * | 2012-03-29 | 2015-02-11 | 红牛有限公司 | Storage device for articles having load state detection device for detecting removal, loading and/or the load state of the storage device |
US20150068821A1 (en) * | 2012-03-29 | 2015-03-12 | Red Bull Gmbh | Storage Facility for Articles Having a Load State Device and a User Detection Device |
US20150145678A1 (en) * | 2012-03-29 | 2015-05-28 | Red Bull Gmbh | Computer Network for Monitoring and Controlling Storage Facilities Comprising a Load State Device and a User Detection Device |
WO2016126163A3 (en) * | 2015-02-06 | 2016-11-10 | Vroon B.V. | Locking device for securing a corner casting of a container, as well as weighing device and method for determining the weight of a container or a stack of containers |
US20190017736A1 (en) * | 2017-07-11 | 2019-01-17 | Bsh Hausgeraete Gmbh | Household cooling appliance comprising a weight detection unit for determining the weight of a container of an ice maker unit |
US20190301923A1 (en) * | 2018-03-30 | 2019-10-03 | Whirlpool Corporation | Beverage refrigerator with system and methods for weight detection, inventory monitoring, and overload condition notification |
US20220299249A1 (en) * | 2021-03-17 | 2022-09-22 | Braxton Boyte | Weight Sensing Cooler Assembly |
US11965771B2 (en) * | 2019-03-27 | 2024-04-23 | Whirlpool Corporation | Beverage refrigerator with system and methods for weight detection, inventory monitoring, and overload condition notification |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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DE202008015892U1 (en) | 2008-12-02 | 2009-03-05 | Happe, Jana | Container with an RFID sensor |
AT509726B1 (en) * | 2010-08-26 | 2011-11-15 | Fronius Int Gmbh | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETECTING THE WEIGHT OF A WIRE SUPPLIER |
DE102011117506A1 (en) * | 2011-11-02 | 2013-05-02 | Wurm Gmbh & Co. Kg Elektronische Systeme | Household refrigerator i.e. refrigerated sales cabinet, for e.g. normal refrigeration of food products intended for sales, has control device controlling cooling performance of cooling circuit based on determined weight of goods |
IT202000004741A1 (en) * | 2020-03-05 | 2021-09-05 | Nanolever S R L | EQUIPMENT FOR PROCESSING FOOD PRODUCTS AND CORRESPONDING PROCEDURE |
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- 2005-11-03 DE DE102005052952A patent/DE102005052952A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2005-11-03 DE DE202005021490U patent/DE202005021490U1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
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- 2006-11-03 US US11/556,305 patent/US20070119195A1/en not_active Abandoned
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Cited By (16)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20110238210A1 (en) * | 2010-03-25 | 2011-09-29 | The Coca-Cola Company | Vending Systems and Methods |
US20110238209A1 (en) * | 2010-03-25 | 2011-09-29 | The Coca-Cola Company | Vending Systems and Methods |
CN104350527A (en) * | 2012-03-29 | 2015-02-11 | 红牛有限公司 | Storage device for articles having load state detection device for detecting removal, loading and/or the load state of the storage device |
US20150068821A1 (en) * | 2012-03-29 | 2015-03-12 | Red Bull Gmbh | Storage Facility for Articles Having a Load State Device and a User Detection Device |
US20150145678A1 (en) * | 2012-03-29 | 2015-05-28 | Red Bull Gmbh | Computer Network for Monitoring and Controlling Storage Facilities Comprising a Load State Device and a User Detection Device |
US20150153217A1 (en) * | 2012-03-29 | 2015-06-04 | Red Bull Gmbh | Storage device for articles having a load state detection device for detecting a removal, a loading and/or the load state of the storage device |
JP2015520349A (en) * | 2012-03-29 | 2015-07-16 | レッド・ブル・ゲゼルシャフト・ミット・ベシュレンクテル・ハフツングRed Bull Gmbh | Storage device for goods having a filling state detection device for detecting removal, filling and / or filling state of the storage device |
US9671275B2 (en) * | 2013-07-17 | 2017-06-06 | Soehnle Industrial Solutions Gmbh | Minibar scale to weigh a minibar |
US20150021104A1 (en) * | 2013-07-17 | 2015-01-22 | Soehnle Industrial Solutions Gmbh | Minibar scale to weigh a minibar |
WO2016126163A3 (en) * | 2015-02-06 | 2016-11-10 | Vroon B.V. | Locking device for securing a corner casting of a container, as well as weighing device and method for determining the weight of a container or a stack of containers |
US20190017736A1 (en) * | 2017-07-11 | 2019-01-17 | Bsh Hausgeraete Gmbh | Household cooling appliance comprising a weight detection unit for determining the weight of a container of an ice maker unit |
US10775090B2 (en) * | 2017-07-11 | 2020-09-15 | Bsh Hausgeraete Gmbh | Household cooling appliance comprising a weight detection unit for determining the weight of a container of an ice maker unit |
US20190301923A1 (en) * | 2018-03-30 | 2019-10-03 | Whirlpool Corporation | Beverage refrigerator with system and methods for weight detection, inventory monitoring, and overload condition notification |
US11965771B2 (en) * | 2019-03-27 | 2024-04-23 | Whirlpool Corporation | Beverage refrigerator with system and methods for weight detection, inventory monitoring, and overload condition notification |
US20220299249A1 (en) * | 2021-03-17 | 2022-09-22 | Braxton Boyte | Weight Sensing Cooler Assembly |
US11761815B2 (en) * | 2021-03-17 | 2023-09-19 | Braxton Boyte | Weight sensing cooler assembly |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP1783447A2 (en) | 2007-05-09 |
EP1783447A3 (en) | 2009-04-15 |
DE102005052952A1 (en) | 2007-05-10 |
DE202005021490U1 (en) | 2008-09-04 |
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Legal Events
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: ICE AGE ICE GMBH & CO. KG, GERMANY Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:MEREDITH, MATTHEW D.;REEL/FRAME:018759/0186 Effective date: 20061130 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |