Refrigerator appliances and methods for tracking stored items

Abstract

A refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet, a door, a scanner module, and a controller operably coupled to the scanner module. The door may be rotatably hinged to the cabinet to provide selective access to the chilled chamber. The scanner module may be mounted to the cabinet. The controller may be configured to initiate an operation routine. The operation routine may include initiating a scan sequence at the scanner module, identifying a barcode capture for a product barcode of a stored item based on the scan sequence, processing barcode data for the barcode capture according to one or more predetermined user preferences, establishing an item identifier based on the processed barcode data, and directing an update to a user list with the established item identifier.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present subject matter relates generally to tracking items within a storage enclosure, such as a refrigerator appliance.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Storage enclosures, such as refrigerator appliances and pantries, generally provide an enclosed chamber for receiving multiple items or objects. For example, refrigerator appliances generally include a cabinet that defines a chilled chamber. A user can place food items or objects within the chilled chamber in order to hinder perishing of such food items. Thereby, a useable life of perishable items or objects can be increased.[0003]Over time, a large volume or number of stored items (e.g., food items) can accumulate within the refrigerator's chilled chamber. As stored items accumulate, users of the refrigerator appliance can have difficulty identifying the items located within the refrigerator appliance. Additionally, users can have difficulty determining a quantity of certain items within the refriger...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is related to a refrigerator appliance with a scanner module and a controller that can initiate an operation routine. The operation routine may include identifying a barcode capture for a stored item, processing the barcode data according to user preferences, and establishing an item identifier for the stored item. The established item identifier may then be directed to a user list for updating. This feature allows for easier management of stored items in the refrigerator and faster access to frequently used items.

Problems solved by technology

As stored items accumulate, users of the refrigerator appliance can have difficulty identifying the items located within the refrigerator appliance.

Additionally, users can have difficulty determining a quantity of certain items within the refrigerator appliance.

Consequently, the users may accidentally purchase excessive or undesired items.

For example, certain food items do not readily perish within the chilled chamber, and such food items may be consumed infrequently.

In such a manner, the users can be inconvenienced or expend money needlessly.

Additionally or alternatively, some users may be unaware that certain items have been removed or consumed.

Thus, users may fail to replace or replenish such items.

Nonetheless, such attempts have been insufficiently cumbersome and prone to inaccuracies.

Moreover, it can be difficult for a user to know when a specific item is removed or expired, and thus may need to be replaced.

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