Bin storage management system and refrigerator

Abstract

The utility model discloses a warehouse storage management system and a refrigerator, which comprise a warehouse for storing articles, an intelligent control unit, an NFC label arranged on the article and an NFC reader arranged around the warehouse and used for monitoring the movement of the NFC label, the NFC reader monitors the putting-in and taking-out of the article, and the intelligent control unit monitors the storage time of the article; the system further comprises a weight sensor for monitoring the weight of an article, the weight sensor is in signal connection with the intelligent control unit, and the intelligent control unit judges the storage amount of the article according to detection information of the weight sensor. According to the utility model, the NFC detection system and the weight detection device work cooperatively so as to record the time of putting in and taking out food. The weight detection device is used for detecting the weight change of the bin and recording the time when the food is taken out, and when it is detected that the bin is empty, the low-power-consumption mode is triggered, and the power consumption of the refrigerator is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of warehousing, in particular to a warehouse storage management system and a refrigerator. Background Art

[0002] With the progress of society, people's requirements for food quality are getting higher and higher. However, it is inevitable that some food will be forgotten and expire in the refrigerator. The amount and length of time of storage of items have different requirements for refrigeration capacity. For example, items that have been stored for a long time need a lower temperature than when they were first put in, which is conducive to better preservation of the items. When there are fewer items, less cooling capacity is required. However, the current warehouse cannot monitor the amount of items, resulting in a waste of cooling capacity. Utility Model Content

[0003] In order to solve the problem of monitoring the inventory and time of items stored in the warehouse, the utility model combines an NFC detection device with a weight detection device to monitor the inventory and time of items stored in the warehouse, preventing items from expiration while providing matching cooling capacity for the warehouse and saving energy.

[0004] The technical solution adopted by the present utility model is to design a warehouse storage management system, which includes a warehouse for storing items, an intelligent control unit, an NFC tag provided on the item, and an NFC reader provided around the warehouse for monitoring the movement of the NFC tag. The NFC reader monitors the placement and removal of items, and the intelligent control unit monitors the storage time of the items. The utility model also includes a weight sensor for monitoring the weight of the items. The weight sensor is signal-connected to the intelligent control unit, and the intelligent control unit determines the storage quantity of the items based on the detection information of the weight sensor.

[0005] In certain embodiments, the weight sensor is a thin film pressure sensor pressed beneath the chamber.

[0006] In some embodiments, the chamber includes a support tray, opposite edges of the support tray are supported on a bar-shaped body, the bar-shaped body is supported on fixed ridges, and the thin film pressure sensor is provided between the ridges and the bar-shaped body.

[0007] In certain embodiments, at least two thin film pressure sensors are disposed under each of the strip-shaped bodies, and the thin film pressure sensors are supported under both ends of the strip-shaped body.

[0008] In some embodiments, blocking bodies are provided on both sides of the strip-shaped body and are located downward on both sides of the convex ridge.

[0009] In some embodiments, the support tray is a support box.

[0010] In some embodiments, the strip-shaped body is provided with rollers for supporting the bottom of the supporting box.

[0011] A refrigerator comprising the above-mentioned compartment storage management system.

[0012] In some embodiments, the NFC reader is disposed at the rear and side of the compartment.

[0013] In some embodiments, the NFC reader is disposed on a wall or door of the refrigerator.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0015] This utility model utilizes an NFC detection system in conjunction with a weight detection device to record the time food is placed in and removed from the refrigerator. An intelligent control unit analyzes sensor data to determine the shelf life of food and sets a reminder function to notify the user when food is nearing its expiration date. The user interface allows users to view food information, expiration dates, and expiration reminders at any time. The weight detection device detects changes in the weight of the compartment and records the time food is removed. When the compartment is empty, it triggers a low-power mode, reducing the refrigerator's power consumption. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The present invention is described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings. To illustrate details and facilitate understanding of its principles, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and similar reference numerals may describe similar components in different views. The accompanying drawings generally illustrate the embodiments discussed herein by way of example and not limitation. Among them:

[0017] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of a refrigerator with one compartment according to the first embodiment.

[0018] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of a refrigerator with two compartments according to the first embodiment.

[0019] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the second embodiment.

[0020] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the AA section.

[0021] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 Schematic diagram of point B in .

[0022] Figure 6 It is a flowchart of the management system's operation.

[0023] Figure 7 It is a flow chart for determining whether food is taken out or put in.

[0024] In the figure, 1. NFC tag; 2. NFC reader; 3. box wall; 4. door; 5. long thin film pressure sensor; 6. supporting slot; 7. supporting tray; 8. intelligent control unit; 9. food; 10. supporting box; 11. strip body; 111. blocking body; 12. ridge; 13. circular thin film pressure sensor; 14. roller. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The following are specific embodiments of the present invention, and the technical solutions of the present invention are further described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and the following embodiments do not limit the utility model involved in the claims. In addition, not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily required for the solution of the utility model.

[0026] The principle and structure of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. Example 1

[0027] like Figure 1 、 2 As shown in Figures 3 and 4, a compartment storage management system for a refrigerator includes a compartment for storing items, an intelligent control unit 8, an NFC tag 1 attached to the item, and an NFC reader 2 positioned around the compartment to monitor the movement of the NFC tag 1. The NFC reader 2 monitors the placement and removal of items, and the intelligent control unit 8 monitors the storage time of the items. The system also includes a weight sensor for monitoring the weight of the items. The weight sensor is signal-connected to the intelligent control unit 8, and the intelligent control unit 8 determines the storage quantity of the items based on the detection information from the weight sensor. The stored items in this embodiment are food 9.

[0028] The NFC reader 2 is provided at the rear and side of the compartment, so as to facilitate all-round detection of the NFC tags 1 of the items in the refrigerator at various locations.

[0029] The NFC reader 2 can be arranged on the wall 3 or door 4 of the refrigerator to facilitate electrical connection with the intelligent control unit 8.

[0030] The NFC detection system works in conjunction with the weight detection system to record the time when food 9 is placed in and removed from the refrigerator. The intelligent control unit 8 analyzes sensor data to determine the shelf life of food 9 and sets a reminder function to notify the user when food 9 is nearing expiration. The user interface allows users to view food 9 information, expiration dates, and expiration reminders at any time. The weight sensor detects changes in the compartment's weight and records the time when food 9 is removed. When the compartment is empty, it triggers a low-power mode, reducing the refrigerator's power consumption.

[0031] The weight sensor is a long, thin-film pressure sensor 5 located beneath the compartment. It's positioned in a compartment support slot 6 or rail, with its two terminals connected to an intelligent control unit 8 inside the refrigerator. This intelligent control unit 8 processes data from the NFC reader 2 and the weight detection system. Based on the NFC sticker information and weight data, it determines when food 9 was taken, its location, whether it has expired, and whether certain compartments require low-power operation, triggering corresponding alerts or alarms.

[0032] The compartment includes a supporting tray 7 or a supporting box 10 for placing stored food 9. The side wall of the refrigerator is provided with a supporting groove 6 or a guide rail supporting the bottom of the supporting tray 7 or the supporting box 10. The film pressure sensor can be arranged on the supporting groove 6 or the guide rail to monitor the storage changes of food 9 in the supporting tray 7 or the supporting box 10 in real time.

[0033] The NFC tag 1 can be an NFC sticker. The NFC sticker uses a programmable NFC chip and supports user-defined expiration dates and food information. The sticker surface is made of food safety grade materials and can be attached to food packaging without affecting food quality.

[0034] The NFC reader 2 is built into the door frame and inside the refrigerator body and is equipped with a highly sensitive NFC antenna to ensure fast and accurate reading of NFC sticker information, connecting to the main control system and transmitting the NFC sticker information.

[0035] The weight detection system arranges the thin film pressure sensor in the compartment support groove 6 or on the guide rail. Its two terminals are connected to the intelligent control unit 8 inside the refrigerator to detect the weight change of the compartment and record the time when the food 9 is taken out. When it is detected that the compartment is empty, the low power consumption mode is triggered to reduce the power consumption of the refrigerator.

[0036] The intelligent control unit 8 is responsible for processing the data transmitted by the NFC reader 2 and the weight detection system. Based on the NFC sticker information and weight data, it determines the time when the food 9 is taken, the location of the food 9, whether it has exceeded the shelf life, and whether certain compartments need to operate at low power consumption, and triggers corresponding reminders or alarms. The intelligent control unit 8 can be, for example, the central control module of the refrigerator, an embedded microprocessor system, etc.

[0037] When used, the following steps are included:

[0038] Step 1: NFC sticker application: The user attaches the NFC sticker to the food package and customizes the expiration date and related information through the refrigerator display panel or smartphone.

[0039] Step 2: NFC information reading: The NFC reader 2 in the refrigerator regularly reads the information on the NFC sticker. This information includes the type and expiration date of the food 9 and can be used to detect whether the food 9 is taken out or put in.

[0040] Step 3: Food 9 insertion and removal detection: Both insertion and removal detection are based on the detection after the refrigerator door is opened.

[0041] Food 9 removal detection: After the door is opened, if the weight of a certain compartment is detected to be reduced, it proves that the food 9 has been taken out. If it is subsequently detected that the NFC tag 1 has been stored and passed through the NFC reader 2, it proves that the food 9 has been taken out, and the shelf life of the food 9 is cancelled.

[0042] Internal movement detection of food 9: After opening the door, if the weight of a certain compartment is detected to be reduced, it proves that the food 9 has been taken out. If no tag passes through the NFC reader 2 and the refrigerator door is subsequently closed, it proves that the user adjusted the storage position of the item and it was not taken out.

[0043] Detection of food 9 being placed: When the refrigerator door is open, if a new NFC tag 1 is detected passing by the NFC reader 2 and the weight of a certain compartment increases, it proves that food 9 has been placed. If the weight increase of a certain compartment is not detected, the user is prompted to place the food 9 correctly. If the placed tag is not defined with the corresponding item (food) category, the user is prompted to define the tag.

[0044] Step 4: Weight Detection: A weight sensor continuously monitors the weight of food 9 in each compartment. Weight detection combined with NFC detection determines when food 9 is placed and removed: Combining weight detection with the NFC detection used in step 3 to more accurately determine when food 9 is placed and removed (for example, this can prevent situations where items in the refrigerator are being adjusted but not removed; weight detection can detect when the item is being picked up, and combined with NFC detection, it can detect whether the food 9 has been removed).

[0045] Step 5: Data Analysis: The intelligent control unit 8 receives the NFC sticker information, the weight and weight change position data collected by the weight sensor, and determines and records the time points of the food 9 being put in and taken out:

[0046] Recording the time when food 9 is put in can be used to estimate the best-case consumption time of some products without a shelf life, such as fruits and vegetables (assuming that the fruits or vegetables put in after the tag is set for the first time are freshly bought. Different foods 9 have different best-case consumption times in the refrigerator, which can be estimated based on the refrigerator's built-in algorithm). The user can be reminded to eat before the best-case consumption time expires. The removal time is used to record that the food 9 has been taken out. If the NFC information is not changed and the food is put in again, the user will be reminded whether to update the NFC tag 1.

[0047] If the user sets a shelf life, then if it is subsequently detected that the food 9 is about to expire, the system will trigger an alarm or reminder to notify the user to take appropriate measures.

[0048] Step 6: Power consumption control: Determine the location of the food 9 and the weight change of the food 9 in the compartment. When it is detected that some compartments are empty, turn off the fan of the compartment or reduce the fan speed of the compartment, and turn off or reduce the brightness of the compartment light.

[0049] If the refrigerator compartment is detected to be completely empty: reduce the speed of the refrigerator fan, dim the brightness of the refrigerator compartment lights, and reduce the opening and closing angle of the refrigerator damper;

[0050] If the freezer compartment is completely empty: reduce the speed of the freezer fan, dim the brightness of the freezer compartment light, and reduce the opening and closing angle of the freezer damper;

[0051] If the refrigerator is detected to be completely empty, the compressor power and speed will be reduced to achieve intelligent power consumption operation of the refrigerator.

[0052] Step 7: User interface interaction: Users can view food 9 information and reminders, as well as customize NFC stickers at any time through the user interface. Example 2

[0053] like Figure 5 、 6 As shown in Figures 7 and 7, when the chamber is a support box 10, in order to facilitate the movement of the support box 10 without wearing the thin film pressure sensor, the opposite edges of the support box 10 are supported on a strip 11, and the strip 11 is supported on a fixed ridge 12. A circular thin film pressure sensor 13 is provided between the ridge 12 and the strip 11. The ridge 12 is equivalent to the chamber support groove 6 or guide rail. The strip 11 is located between the thin film pressure sensor and the support box 10. While supporting and guiding the movement of the support box 10, it is also beneficial to protect the thin film pressure sensor from being damaged by the friction of the support box 10. Of course, this embodiment is also suitable for use with a support tray 7.

[0054] At least two of the thin film pressure sensors are arranged under each of the strip-shaped bodies 11, and the thin film pressure sensors are supported under both ends of the strip-shaped body 11, so that the weight of the items in the support box 10 can be accurately detected regardless of the distribution of the items in the support box 10. The weight is equal to the sum of the pressures received by all the thin film pressure sensors below. As long as the thin film pressure sensors are supported under both ends of the strip-shaped body 11, the use of pressure sensors can be reduced.

[0055] The strip body 11 is provided with downward blocking bodies 111 on both sides of the ridge 12 , which prevent the strip body 11 from moving to both sides and prevent external dirt from entering the interior and affecting the use of the thin film pressure sensor.

[0056] The strip body 11 is provided with rollers 14 for supporting the bottom of the supporting box 10 so as to reduce the resistance of the supporting box 10 when being moved in and out.

[0057] The specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the spirit of the present invention. Persons skilled in the art may make various modifications, additions, or substitutions to the described specific embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention or exceeding the scope defined by the appended claims.

[0058] Although some terms are used more frequently in this article, the possibility of using other terms is not excluded. These terms are used only to more conveniently describe and explain the essence of the present invention; interpreting them as any additional restrictions is contrary to the spirit of the present invention. The execution order of actions, steps, etc. in the devices and methods shown in the specification and drawings can be implemented in any order as long as there is no special explicit limitation on the order and as long as the output of the previous processing is not used in the subsequent processing. Similar sequential terms (for example, "first", "next", "secondly", "again", "then", etc.) used for the convenience of description do not mean that they must be implemented in such an order.

[0059] It should be understood by those skilled in the art that all directional references (for example, above, below, upward, up, downward, down, top, bottom, left, right, vertical, horizontal, etc.) are used descriptively in the drawings to facilitate the reader's understanding, and do not represent limitations (for example, on position, orientation or use, etc.) on the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. They are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description. Unless otherwise specified, these directional words do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. The directional words "inside" and "outside" refer to the inside and outside relative to the outline of each component itself.

[0060] For ease of description, spatially relative terms such as "above", "above", "on the upper surface of", "above", etc. may be used herein to describe the spatial positional relationship of a device or feature to other devices or features as shown in the figures. It should be understood that spatially relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation described in the figures. For example, if the device in the drawings is inverted, the device described as "above other devices or structures" or "above other devices or structures" will be positioned as "below other devices or structures" or "below other devices or structures". Thus, the exemplary term "above" can include both "above" and "below". The device can also be positioned in other different ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatially relative descriptions used here are interpreted accordingly.

[0061] In addition, some vague terms (e.g., "substantially," "certainly," "substantially," etc.) may refer to slight inaccuracies or deviations in conditions, quantities, values, or dimensions, some of which are within manufacturing variations or tolerances. It should be noted that the use of terms such as "first" and "second" to define components is solely for the purpose of distinguishing the corresponding components. Unless otherwise stated, these terms have no special meanings and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A warehouse storage management system, comprising a warehouse for storing items and an intelligent control unit, characterized in that: The system further includes an NFC tag provided on the item and an NFC reader provided around the chamber for monitoring the movement of the NFC tag. The NFC reader monitors the placement and removal of items, and the intelligent control unit monitors the storage time of the items. The system also includes a weight sensor for monitoring the weight of the items. The weight sensor is signal-connected to the intelligent control unit, and the intelligent control unit determines the storage capacity of the items based on the detection information of the weight sensor.

2. The warehouse storage management system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The weight sensor is a thin film pressure sensor pressed under the chamber.

3. The warehouse storage management system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The chamber includes a supporting tray, opposite edges of the supporting tray are supported on a strip-shaped body, the strip-shaped body is supported on fixed ridges, and the thin film pressure sensor is arranged between the ridges and the strip-shaped body.

4. The warehouse storage management system according to claim 3, characterized in that: At least two of the thin film pressure sensors are arranged under each of the strip-shaped bodies, and the thin film pressure sensors are supported under both ends of the strip-shaped body.

5. The warehouse storage management system according to claim 3, characterized in that: Blocking bodies are arranged on both sides of the strip body and face downwards and are located on both sides of the convex ridges.

6. The warehouse storage management system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The supporting tray is a supporting box.

7. The warehouse storage management system according to claim 6, characterized in that: The strip-shaped body is provided with rollers for supporting the bottom of the supporting box.

8. A refrigerator, characterized in that Comprising the warehouse storage management system according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, characterized in that The NFC readers are arranged at the rear and sides of the compartment.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 9, characterized in that The NFC reader is arranged on a wall or a door of the refrigerator.

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