Intelligent refrigerator and cargo storage and retrieval method

Abstract

The present invention provides a smart refrigerator and a method for storing and accessing goods. Through the smart refrigerator of the present invention, when people place an order online to buy fresh food ingredients, but no one is at home at the delivery time, the deliveryman or delivery robot can store the food ingredients in the smart refrigerator. The storage space in the smart refrigerator has cold air, which can keep the food ingredients fresh. At the same time, the smart refrigerator of the present invention is equipped with a cargo transportation mechanism that matches the robot, which can store the goods delivered by the robot in a storage space at any height position, thereby saving the labor cost required for manual delivery. The method for storing and accessing goods of the present invention can meet the needs of the robot to deliver goods, and through each temperature sensor, it can be known which storage space has the lowest temperature in the empty storage space, so as to maximize the use of the cold air left over from the last time and reduce the energy consumption generated by storing the goods this time.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of refrigeration equipment, and in particular relates to an intelligent refrigerator and a cargo storage and retrieval method. Background Art

[0002] As online shopping becomes more popular, people are also buying fresh ingredients online. However, since most ingredients are fresh, unlike other commodities, they cannot be stored in Cainiao stations or temporary storage cabinets. Therefore, when people buy fresh ingredients, they usually need to stay at home and wait for the deliveryman to deliver them to their door. If people buy ingredients online in advance, but suddenly encounter an emergency and need to go out, it is not convenient to receive the goods in time. For some fresh ingredients, if they are not received in time and stored in the refrigerator, they may deteriorate or affect the freshness of the ingredients.

[0003] In addition, with the increase in labor costs, some e-commerce platforms or express delivery companies have begun to study drone aerial delivery or robot ground delivery. For robot ground delivery, the robot itself is not high enough and cannot store the goods in a storage box at a higher position, which restricts the scope of application of robot delivery. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a device that can receive fresh food delivered by the robot. Summary of the invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a smart refrigerator and a method for storing and accessing goods, aiming to solve the problem in the prior art that people purchase fresh food online and cannot receive the goods in time if they go out suddenly.

[0005] The present invention is implemented as follows: a smart refrigerator includes a box body, a refrigeration device and a plurality of storage spaces are arranged in the box body, the plurality of storage spaces are isolated from each other, a cold air storage room, a plurality of solenoid valves, a plurality of ventilation ducts and a controller are also arranged in the box body, a plurality of sliding doors are installed on one side surface of the box body, a plurality of push-pull cylinders and a cargo transport mechanism are also arranged outside the box body; the controller is electrically connected to the solenoid valves, the sliding doors and the cargo transport mechanism;

[0006] Each storage space is connected to the cold air storage chamber through a ventilation duct, and each ventilation duct is provided with a solenoid valve for controlling the opening or closing of the ventilation duct; the cold air generated by the refrigeration equipment is transported to the cold air storage chamber;

[0007] Each storage space is provided with a sliding door, one side of which is connected by a sliding cylinder. When the sliding cylinder is working, the sliding door can be pushed and pulled to close or open the storage space.

[0008] The cargo transport mechanism includes a vertical linear lifting module, a loading platform for placing cargo, and a horizontal linear pushing module for pushing cargo. The power output end of the vertical linear lifting module is transmission-connected to the loading platform. When the vertical linear lifting module is working, it can drive the loading platform to rise or fall; the horizontal linear pushing module is arranged on the loading platform and is located at the edge of the loading platform away from the storage space. When the horizontal linear pushing module is working, it can push the cargo on the loading platform toward the storage space.

[0009] Furthermore, the smart refrigerator also includes a touch panel, which can receive instructions input from the delivery robot or the consignee, and each storage space is provided with a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature and a weight sensor for detecting whether there are goods stored in the storage space; all the temperature sensors and weight sensors are electrically connected to the controller, and the signals collected by the temperature sensors and weight sensors can be fed back to the controller. When the touch panel receives an inventory instruction, the controller controls the push-pull cylinder to open the sliding door corresponding to the storage space with no goods and the lowest temperature.

[0010] Furthermore, the plurality of storage spaces have at least two or more different sizes, and the size of the sliding door matches the size of its corresponding storage space.

[0011] Furthermore, at least one of the plurality of storage spaces is internally provided with a water tank for storing water, and the water tank and the storage space are separate structures.

[0012] Furthermore, the cold air storage chamber is provided with a plurality of air outlets, each of which is connected to an input end of the solenoid valve, and an output end of the solenoid valve is connected to the ventilation duct.

[0013] Furthermore, the power source of the vertical linear lifting module, the power source of the horizontal linear pushing module, and the push-pull cylinder are all electric cylinders.

[0014] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention also provides a method for storing and accessing goods based on the above smart refrigerator, comprising the following steps:

[0015] The delivery robot inputs inventory instructions through the touch panel.

[0016] The controller obtains information about all empty storage spaces based on information collected from all weight sensors.

[0017] The controller records the location information of the empty storage space and collects the information of the temperature sensors of all the empty storage spaces, thereby obtaining a storage space with the lowest temperature among all the empty storage spaces as the target storage space;

[0018] The controller controls the push-pull cylinder corresponding to the target storage space to operate so as to open the sliding door;

[0019] The robot stores the goods on the loading platform, and the vertical linear lifting module works to lift the loading platform to a position at the same height as the target storage space; the horizontal linear pushing module works to push the goods on the loading platform into the target storage space;

[0020] The controller controls the push-pull cylinder corresponding to the target storage space to work again to close the sliding door; at the same time, the controller controls the ventilation duct corresponding to the target storage space to be connected, thereby introducing cold air into the target storage space;

[0021] The controller generates a pickup instruction according to the location information of the target storage space, and transmits it to the robot by wireless transmission or touch panel display;

[0022] The robot then transmits the pickup instructions to the consignee by wireless transmission;

[0023] The consignee enters the pickup instructions through the touch panel;

[0024] The controller controls the push-pull cylinder corresponding to the target storage space to work so as to open the sliding door, thereby enabling the goods to be picked up.

[0025] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0026] The smart refrigerator provided by the present invention is particularly suitable for places such as community goods storage points and the lobby on the first floor of residential buildings, where deliverymen and delivery robots can pass freely. Through the smart refrigerator of the present invention, people place orders online to buy fresh food, but when no one is at home at the delivery time, the deliveryman or delivery robot can store the food in the smart refrigerator, and the storage space in the smart refrigerator has cold air to keep the food fresh.

[0027] At the same time, the smart refrigerator of the present invention is equipped with a cargo transport mechanism that matches the robot, which can store the cargo delivered by the robot in a storage space at any height, thereby saving the labor cost required for manual delivery.

[0028] The cargo storage and retrieval method of the present invention can satisfy the needs of the robot for delivering goods. At the same time, through various temperature sensors, it can be determined which storage space has the lowest temperature among the empty storage spaces (generally speaking, the storage space where someone has recently taken out goods has the most remaining cold air and the lowest temperature), thereby making the most of the cold air left over from the last time and reducing the energy consumption generated by storing the goods this time. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional schematic diagram of a smart refrigerator provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The vertical cross-sectional view of the smart refrigerator shown is along the AA section line;

[0031] Figure 3 The present invention is a flowchart of using the smart refrigerator to store and retrieve goods. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0033] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inside", "outside" and the like indicate positions or positional relationships based on the positions or positional relationships shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present invention; the terms "first", "second", and "third" are only used for descriptive purposes, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance; in addition, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be directly connected, or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, or it can be a connection between the two components. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0034] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2, shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a smart refrigerator, which includes a box body 10, in which a refrigeration device 1 and a plurality of storage spaces 2 are arranged, and the plurality of storage spaces are isolated from each other. The box body 10 is also provided with a cold air storage room 3, a plurality of solenoid valves 4, a plurality of ventilation ducts 5 and a controller, a plurality of sliding doors 6 are installed on one side surface of the box body 10, and a plurality of push-pull cylinders 7 and a cargo transport mechanism are also arranged outside the box body 10; the controller is electrically connected to the solenoid valve 4, the sliding door 6 and the cargo transport mechanism.

[0035] Each storage space 2 is connected to the cold air storage chamber 3 through a ventilation duct 5. The cold air storage chamber 3 is provided with a plurality of air outlets, each of which is connected to an input end of a solenoid valve 4, and an output end of the solenoid valve 4 is connected to the ventilation duct 5. The cold air generated by the refrigeration device 1 is transported to the cold air storage chamber 3.

[0036] Each storage space 2 is provided with a sliding door 6, and one side of the sliding door 6 is transmission-connected via a push-pull cylinder 7. When the push-pull cylinder 7 is working, the sliding door 6 can be pushed and pulled to close or open the storage space 2.

[0037] The cargo transport mechanism includes a vertical linear lifting module, a loading platform 81 for placing cargo, and a horizontal linear pushing module for pushing cargo. The power output end of the vertical linear lifting module is connected to the loading platform in a transmission manner, and the vertical linear lifting module can drive the loading platform to rise or fall when working. In this embodiment, the vertical linear lifting module includes a motor 82, a belt 83, and a pulley 84, the belt 83 is connected to the loading platform 81, the motor 82 is connected to the pulley 84 in a transmission manner, and the belt 83 is wound around the periphery of the pulley 84.

[0038] The horizontal linear pushing module is arranged on the loading platform 81 and is located at the edge of the loading platform away from the storage space. When the horizontal linear pushing module is working, it can push the goods 200 on the loading platform 81 toward the storage space 2. In this embodiment, the horizontal linear lifting module includes a horizontal pushing cylinder 85 and a pushing plate 86, and the telescopic rod of the horizontal pushing cylinder 85 is connected to the pushing plate 86.

[0039] Specifically, the smart refrigerator further includes a touch panel, which can receive instructions input from a delivery robot or a consignee, and each storage space 2 is provided with a temperature sensor for detecting temperature and a weight sensor for detecting whether there are goods stored in the storage space 2. All the temperature sensors and weight sensors are electrically connected to the controller, and the signals collected by the temperature sensors and weight sensors can be fed back to the controller. When the touch panel receives an inventory instruction, the controller controls the push-pull cylinder 7 to open the sliding door 6 corresponding to the storage space 2 without goods 200 and with the lowest temperature.

[0040] The plurality of storage spaces 2 have at least two or more different sizes, and the size of the sliding door 6 matches the size of the corresponding storage space. Thus, according to the size of the goods 200, the storage space 2 with the most matching size can be selected.

[0041] At least one of the plurality of storage spaces 2 is provided with a water tank 21 for storing water, and the water tank 21 is a separate structure from the storage space 2. Therefore, live aquatic food can be placed in the water tank 21.

[0042] In this embodiment, the power source of the vertical linear lifting module, the power source of the horizontal linear pushing module, and the push-pull cylinder are all electric cylinders.

[0043] See also Figure 3 This embodiment also provides a method for storing and accessing goods based on the above-mentioned smart refrigerator, comprising the following steps:

[0044] S1. The delivery robot inputs inventory instructions through the touch panel.

[0045] S2, the controller obtains information about all empty storage spaces 2 according to the information collected from all weight sensors.

[0046] S3, the controller records the location information of the empty storage space 2, and collects the information of the temperature sensors of all the empty storage spaces 2, and then obtains the storage space 2 with the lowest temperature among all the empty storage spaces 2 as the target storage space;

[0047] S4, the controller controls the push-pull cylinder 7 corresponding to the target storage space to work to open the sliding door 6;

[0048] S5. The robot stores the goods 200 on the loading platform 81. The vertical linear lifting module works to lift the loading platform 81 to a position equal to the height of the target storage space. The horizontal linear pushing module works to push the goods 200 on the loading platform 81 into the target storage space.

[0049] S6, the controller controls the push-pull cylinder 7 corresponding to the target storage space to work again to close the sliding door 6; at the same time, the controller controls the ventilation duct 5 corresponding to the target storage space to be connected, thereby introducing cold air into the target storage space;

[0050] S7, the controller generates a pickup instruction according to the location information of the target storage space, and transmits it to the robot via wireless transmission or touch panel display;

[0051] S8. The robot then transmits the pickup instruction to the consignee by wireless transmission;

[0052] S9, the consignee inputs the pickup instruction through the touch panel;

[0053] S10, the controller controls the push-pull cylinder 7 corresponding to the target storage space to work to open the sliding door 6, so that the goods can be picked up.

[0054] The smart refrigerator provided in this embodiment is particularly suitable for places such as community goods storage points and the lobby on the first floor of residential buildings where deliverymen and delivery robots can pass freely. Through the smart refrigerator of this embodiment, people place orders online to buy fresh food, but when no one is at home at the delivery time, the deliveryman or delivery robot can store the food in the smart refrigerator. The storage space 2 in the smart refrigerator has cold air to keep the food fresh.

[0055] At the same time, the smart refrigerator of this embodiment is equipped with a cargo transport mechanism that matches the robot, which can store the cargo 200 delivered by the robot in the storage space 2 at any height position, thereby saving the labor cost required for manual delivery.

[0056] The cargo storage and retrieval method of this embodiment can satisfy the robot's delivery of goods. At the same time, through each temperature sensor, it can be known that the storage space with the lowest temperature in the empty storage space 2 (generally speaking, the storage space 2 where someone recently took out the goods 200 has the most remaining cold air and the lowest temperature), so that the cold air left last time can be utilized to the greatest extent and the energy consumption generated by storing the goods 200 this time can be reduced.

[0057] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A smart refrigerator, comprising a box body, wherein a refrigeration device and a plurality of storage spaces are arranged in the box body, wherein the plurality of storage spaces are isolated from each other, and wherein: The box body is also provided with a cold air storage room, a plurality of solenoid valves, a plurality of ventilation pipes and a controller, a plurality of sliding doors are installed on one side of the box body, and a plurality of push-pull cylinders and a cargo transport mechanism are also provided outside the box body; the controller is electrically connected to the solenoid valves, the sliding doors and the cargo transport mechanism; Each storage space is connected to the cold air storage chamber through a ventilation duct, and each ventilation duct is provided with a solenoid valve for controlling the opening or closing of the ventilation duct; the cold air generated by the refrigeration equipment is transported to the cold air storage chamber; Each storage space is provided with a sliding door, one side of which is connected by a sliding cylinder. When the sliding cylinder is working, the sliding door can be pushed and pulled to close or open the storage space. The cargo transport mechanism comprises a vertical linear lifting module, a loading platform for placing cargoes, and a horizontal linear pushing module for pushing cargoes. The power output end of the vertical linear lifting module is transmission-connected with the loading platform. When the vertical linear lifting module is working, it can drive the loading platform to rise or fall. The horizontal linear pushing module is arranged on the loading platform and is located at an edge of the loading platform away from the storage space. When the horizontal linear pushing module is working, it can push the cargoes on the loading platform toward the storage space. The smart refrigerator further comprises a touch panel, which can receive instructions inputted from a delivery robot or a consignee, and each storage space is provided with a temperature sensor for detecting temperature and a weight sensor for detecting whether goods are stored in the storage space; all the temperature sensors and weight sensors are electrically connected to the controller, and the signals collected by the temperature sensors and weight sensors can be fed back to the controller, and when the touch panel receives a stocking instruction, the controller controls the push-pull cylinder to open the sliding door corresponding to the storage space without goods and with the lowest temperature; The cold air storage chamber is provided with a plurality of air outlets, each of which is connected to an input end of the solenoid valve, and an output end of the solenoid valve is connected to the ventilation duct.

2. The smart refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The plurality of storage spaces have at least two or more different sizes, and the size of the sliding door matches the size of its corresponding storage space.

3. The smart refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that: At least one of the plurality of storage spaces is internally provided with a water tank for storing water, and the water tank and the storage space are separate structures.

4. The smart refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The power source of the vertical linear lifting module, the power source of the horizontal linear pushing module and the push-pull cylinder are all electric cylinders.

5. A method for storing and accessing goods in a smart refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: The delivery robot inputs inventory instructions through the touch panel. The controller obtains information about all empty storage spaces based on information collected from all weight sensors. The controller records the location information of the empty storage space and collects the information of the temperature sensors of all the empty storage spaces, thereby obtaining a storage space with the lowest temperature among all the empty storage spaces as the target storage space; The controller controls the push-pull cylinder corresponding to the target storage space to operate so as to open the sliding door; The robot stores the goods on the loading platform, and the vertical linear lifting module works to lift the loading platform to a position at the same height as the target storage space; the horizontal linear pushing module works to push the goods on the loading platform into the target storage space; The controller controls the push-pull cylinder corresponding to the target storage space to work again to close the sliding door; at the same time, the controller controls the ventilation duct corresponding to the target storage space to be connected, thereby introducing cold air into the target storage space; The controller generates a pickup instruction according to the location information of the target storage space, and transmits it to the robot by wireless transmission or touch panel display; The robot then transmits the pickup instructions to the consignee by wireless transmission; The consignee enters the pickup instructions through the touch panel; The controller controls the push-pull cylinder corresponding to the target storage space to work so as to open the sliding door, thereby enabling the goods to be picked up.

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