DRAWER FITTINGS AND LID WITH LIFTING MEANS

Description

Technical area

[0001] The present invention describes a drawer device comprising a drawer body, a drawer which is linearly movable therein and a lid which is movable in a lifting direction by means of lifting means relative to the drawer and to the drawer body, so that a controlled relative movement of the lid in the lifting direction can be carried out by means of the lifting means and a control and an evacuation and / or dehumidification of a drawer interior is made possible after the lid has been brought into the closed position and a lid of a drawer device with a drawer in a drawer body, wherein an evacuation and / or dehumidification of the drawer interior is made possible when the lid is closed and lifting means are arranged on or in the lid. State of the art

[0002] Refrigerators for storing food have several disadvantages, as they constantly require a lot of electrical energy to maintain constant, massive cooling. The internal climate of refrigerators has received little attention so far. According to a study by the Hygiene Council, which conducted an international study called the Hygiene Report 2010, refrigerators are more contaminated with approximately 1,140,000 germs per square centimeter than a toilet, which has around 100 germs per square centimeter. This report received widespread media coverage in 2010, but other than recommendations to clean refrigerators more frequently, no noticeable improvements have been made so far.

[0003] For the first time, DE202017006169 generally disclosed a drawer device with a drawer and a lid, wherein a vacuum could be generated in the drawer interior by means of a pump. The drawer device comprises a drawer with walls and a drawer interior, wherein the drawer is operatively connected to a lid and mounted for linear movement within a drawer body. However, more precise details about the drawer, the lid, and possibly lifting means and evacuation means are largely left open in DE202017006169.

[0004] The closest prior art is WO2019 / 141574 by the applicant. Foods that do not necessarily require refrigeration can be stored at room temperature in a drawer system, thereby avoiding increased energy consumption for cooling.

[0005] The drawer interior is evacuated to a slight negative pressure, below atmospheric pressure, which is created and maintained in a controlled manner. This makes it easier to keep food edible or enjoyable for longer. Storage in a drawer body with drawer units uses less energy than a refrigerator, as the oxygen removal from the interior is complete after just a few minutes, and almost no further electricity is required after that. A drawer unit can be implemented without the use of harmful materials such as refrigerants or thermal insulation. The consumption of plastic bags in the well-known vacuum sealing method using vacuum sealers can be significantly reduced, yet food can still be stored for longer periods without any problems. Using drawer units, food can be stored more easily, in a more environmentally friendly, and energy-efficient manner.This would have a positive impact on food quality and consumer health. It would also reduce food waste and reduce the often-criticized "food waste" because food quality can be preserved longer.

[0006] The drawer body forms the outer shell, within which the lid and drawer are movably and securely mounted. Electrically operated lifting and evacuation devices are located in the lid or drawer, allowing controlled evacuation when the lid is placed on the drawer. Air can be pumped out of the drawer interior through an air duct. By installing sensors, the evacuation can be automated, and ventilation before the drawer opens can also be detected and automatically initiated by the control system.

[0007] The lifting devices known so far from WO2019 / 141574 perform their task well, and the lid can be precisely lowered onto the drawer using a control system and then removed from the drawer in a linear manner in the direction of the lift. The lifting devices are electrically driven and controlled. In some cases, the closing effect of the known solution leaves something to be desired, as the lid does not provide sufficient external sealing.

[0008] However, there was also a desire to improve energy consumption and handling so that the drawer system would meet with greater customer acceptance. Description of the invention

[0009] The object of the present invention is to improve a drawer device according to claim 1 for evacuating and / or dehumidifying the drawer interior, so that the user-friendliness when closing is increased, the energy consumption is reduced and a secure, reproducible movement of the lid in the lifting direction and a sealed mounting of the lid on the drawer is achieved.

[0010] Evacuation here means a slight negative pressure below atmospheric pressure of 150 mbar and more, i.e. absolute pressures of less than 850 mbar, which can be formed in the interior of the drawer or the interior of containers in the drawer. Short description of the drawings

[0011] Preferred embodiments of the subject matter of the invention are described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a drawer device in a drawer body with the drawer open, while Figure 2 shows a top view of the lid with the cover layer removed, wherein the components at least partially integrated into the lid can be seen. Figure 3a shows a perspective side view of the lid with a perspective view of the lifting means, while Figure 3b shows a perspective view of only part of the lifting means. Figure 4a shows a side view of the lid and part of the drawer with the lid in the open position, i.e., the lifting means in the open position, while Figure 4b shows a side view of the lid in the closed position, wherein the lid covers the drawer interior, wherein the lifting means interact with a mounting bracket on the drawer body. Description

[0012] The drawer device 0 is designated here as a whole by 0 and comprises a drawer 3, with a drawer interior R and a lid 2 which is relatively movable in a lifting direction H by means of lifting means 7. The drawer 3 comprises walls 30 and the drawer interior R and is mounted so as to be movable open and closed in the pushing movement direction S and is designed to be evacuatable and / or dehumidifiable.

[0013] The drawer 3 is operatively connected to the lid 2 and is mounted within a drawer body 9 for linear movement in a sliding direction S. The drawer body 9 forms the outer shell in which the lid 2 and the drawer 3 are movably protected. The drawer 3 is mounted for linear movement in a drawer extension (not explained in more detail), so that the drawer 3 can be brought into an open position and a closed position, wherein Figure 1 the open position of drawer 3 is shown.

[0014] The evacuable and / or dehumidifiable drawer interior R is formed by a plurality of containers 14, wherein the containers 14 are positioned within the drawer 3 and each have the same height but different sizes. The interiors of the containers 14 can also be evacuated along with the drawer interior R. Preferably, the containers 14 are designed as Gastronorm containers, the interiors of which can form the entire drawer interior R, which can be closed by means of a lid 2 and can be evacuated and / or dehumidified. The containers 14 are stored in the drawer 3 and can be moved along with the drawer 3, but can also be removed. However, the containers 14 can also have other shapes and sizes.

[0015] The lid 2, which is movable within the drawer body 9 and is designed to be airtight, serves to evacuate the drawer interior R. The lid 2 is mounted so that it can be lowered onto the drawer 3 in a lifting direction H perpendicular to the pushing direction S. The lid 2 is attached to the drawer body 9 via fastening means, so that a relative movement of the lid 2 to the drawer 3 is possible. A mounting bracket 19 is selected as the fastening means here, but a web or similar formed onto the drawer body 9 could also serve as the fastening means.

[0016] Lifting means 7 are arranged on and / or partially in the lid 2 within the drawer body 9, which keep the lid 2 movable within the drawer body 9 in the lifting direction H. The lifting means 7 are operated by a control system (not shown), to which, as here, an operating button 104' and a closed position sensor 29' can be connected. Only when the closed position sensor 29' signals that the drawer 3 is in the closed position below the lid fixed in the sliding direction S are the lifting means 7 activated to lower the lid 2 onto the drawer 3.

[0017] With the lifting means 7, the lid 2 can be raised from the drawer 3 or the containers 14 in opposite directions and can also be lowered back onto them. The lifting means 7 are, of course, electrically driven and controlled by a control system. This creates the lifting movement of the lid 2 in the lifting direction H perpendicular to the pushing direction S of the drawer 3. The containers 14 within the drawer 3 of the drawer device 0 can be closed at the top as a whole, unlike conventional drawers, by the user manually closing the drawer 3. When the drawer 3 is in the closed position, the lid 2 lowers onto the containers 14, sealing them hermetically from above.

[0018] In Figure 2The airtight cover 2 is shown. Particularly preferably, the cover is designed in multiple layers. To achieve a compact design of the cover 2, as many electronic components, channels, and / or hoses and cables as possible are integrated into the cover 2.

[0019] Evacuation devices, a control system, and other electrical components are shown in several recesses A in the cover 2. Possible dehumidification devices have been omitted for simplicity, as the lifting devices 7 are of primary interest here.

[0020] A pump 11', an air hose 12' leading to the pump 11', and a connection 14' are arranged here as evacuation means. A check valve 13' is also advantageous to prevent unwanted venting of the evacuated volume. These components 11', 12', 13', and 14' are arranged on the side of the cover 2 opposite the future front panel 17 or the control button 104'.

[0021] The drawer interior R or the containers 14 can be evacuated by means of a pump 11' via evacuation channels 83' and holes 84' in the lid 2. A controllable valve can be used to automatically evacuate the drawer interior R or the containers 14 by controlling the opening or closing of at least one evacuation channel 83' by means of a valve. As soon as the valve is opened, the air can be pumped out by means of a pump 11'. For the evacuation, the air pressure or the level of the negative pressure in the drawer interior R or the containers 14 should be signaled to the controller. For this purpose, at least one pressure sensor is arranged in an evacuation channel 83'. The controller can thus be programmed to a negative pressure threshold, and if the pressure sensor reports a drop below this threshold, the controller can activate the pump 11' accordingly.

[0022] Possible dehumidifying agents can be arranged in a similar manner in the cover 2 and operated by means of a control system.

[0023] The lifting means 7 are designed here in the form of a special lifting mechanism, whose components are electromechanically controlled by the control system. The lifting means 7 are at least partially integrated into the edge area of the lid 2 and interact with the drawer body 9 to enable a relative displacement of the lid 2 to the drawer 3. Here, the lifting means 7 are arranged on both sides, integrated in the edge area of the lid 2. A single-sided arrangement is also possible.

[0024] In Figure 3a the lifting means 7 are shown, which cooperate with the mounting bracket 19 (not shown) as a fastening means of the drawer body 9. A motor 71', preferably a gear motor 71', drives at least one, preferably two linear carriages 792' ( Fig. 3b). The motor 71' is attached to the cover 2 with a motor mount 72'. On both sides, the lifting means 7 have an end block 73' and a mounting block 74'. The motor 71' transmits its power via a shaft coupling 76', which transmits force indirectly to both linear carriages 792' by means of a bearing bush 793', with the motor 71' being stationary or fixed in place relative to the cover 2 or a cover surface.

[0025] A lifting profile 75' is mounted between the end blocks 73' and the mounting blocks 74', which can be moved in the lifting direction H by the linear carriages 792' and thus indirectly by the motor 71'. The lifting profile 75' can be moved relative to the other components of the lifting means 7.

[0026] The lifting profile 75' is fastened here to the mounting bracket 19 of the drawer body 9, so that when the lifting profile 75' is held in place on the fastening means, the lid 2 together with the remaining lifting means 7 can be moved in the direction of the drawer 3 or in the opposite direction.

[0027] By connecting it to the control system, the motor 71' is operated, and the respective position of the linear carriages 792' can be read by a slide potentiometer 791', also automated by the control system. This allows the relative position of the cover 2 to be precisely determined and known at any time.

[0028] The lifting profile 75' here has a longitudinal slot into which the fastening means, in particular in the form of the mounting bracket 19, can be inserted. This allows for easy attachment of the lid 2 or the lifting means 7 to the drawer body 9. A simple but secure positive connection can thus be achieved between the fastening means and the lifting profile 75'.

[0029] In Figure 3bFor clarity, the lifting profile 75', the drawer body 9, and the lid 2 have been omitted. Several guides 77' on which the two linear carriages 792' run are visible. A guide 79' of the slide potentiometer 791' is also required so that the position of at least one linear carriage 792' can be read.

[0030] A spindle 78' runs across the entire structure of the lifting means 7, between both end blocks 73', or between motor 71' and one end block 73'. The linear carriages 792' are operatively connected to the spindle 78', so that by moving the motor shaft of at least one motor 71', the spindle 78' exerts force on the at least one linear carriage 792', causing the latter to move the lifting profile 75' or the remaining lifting means 7 in the lifting direction H.

[0031] One possibility for coupling the at least one linear carriage 792' to the lifting profile 75' is the formation of slots in the side surfaces of the lifting profile 75' and the formation of engagement webs 800 on at least one side surface of each linear carriage 792'. The formation of engagement webs 800 on two opposite side surfaces of each linear carriage 792' is particularly preferred. These engagement webs 800 protrude transversely to the direction of movement of the linear carriage 792' or the spindle 78'. The engagement webs 800 are preferably integrally formed on the linear carriage 792'. Upon linear displacement of the at least one linear carriage 792', the engagement webs 800 push the lifting profile 75' away from the spindle 78' in the stroke direction H or bring it closer to the spindle 78'. The spindle 78', as well as other components of the lifting means 7', do not change their distance from a cover surface of the cover 2.

[0032] The angles of the at least one slot on the lifting profile 75' and the at least one engagement web 800 on the at least one linear carriage 792' should be between 20° and 60°. The angles should be selected to be compatible with each other.

[0033] When the lid 2 is in the open position, the lifting means 7 together with the lid 2 are spaced apart from the drawer 3. The lid 2 with the lifting means 7 is arranged at the height of the fastening means, here the mounting bracket 19 of the drawer body 9. The engagement webs 800 lie in the corresponding slots in the lifting profile 75' and are inserted to their maximum extent.

[0034] With at least one linear carriage 792' deflected, according to Figure 4b, the lifting profile 75' remains indirectly connected to the drawer body 9 with the mounting bracket 19, and the lid 2, including the remaining components of the lifting means 7 and other components attached to the lid 2, is lowered onto the drawer 3. This is the closed position of the lid 2. The motor 71' moves at least one linear carriage 792' including the engagement webs 800 relative to the lifting profile 75'. The angled course of the slots and the engagement webs 800 is clearly visible. Depending on the steepness, the closing speed or the force required is changed. By reading the sliding potentiometer 791', the control system knows when the motor 71' can be switched off.

[0035] In this position, the lid 2 rests on the drawer 3 and an airtight evacuation and / or dehumidification and / or mere secured storage is achievable.

[0036] In addition to dehumidifying agents, which can be arranged inside the lid 2, optional illumination of the drawer interior R or the container interior 14 with blue visible light is provided. This not only prevents a layer of moisture on the food but also inhibits mold growth through radiation. Appropriate lamps are arranged radiating toward the drawer interior R and are controlled by the control system. Visible light with wavelengths between 420 and 460 nanometers is irradiated, which in the simplest case occurs continuously, regardless of the opening state of the lid 2 and the drawer 3.

[0037] In order to achieve a lid 2 that is as compact as possible, all components should be stored within the lid 2 so that such a lid 2 can also be easily combined with existing drawers 3, whereby drawer devices 0 can be produced from an existing drawer body 9, a drawer 3 and a lid 2.

[0038] The cover 2 is preferably manufactured in a sandwich construction, with different materials combined in different layers to form a cover 2. The cover 2 has two outer airtight cover layers and a core layer. An additional circuit board is arranged here, which can also be used instead of one of the outer airtight cover layers.

[0039] The layers are statically bonded together to form a multi-layer cover 2, which is designed to be torsionally rigid. The upper cover layer is airtight and can be made of MDF, CFRP, or glass. However, an air-impermeable plastic coating can also be applied to an air-permeable material as the upper cover layer to achieve airtightness of the upper cover layer.

[0040] The core layer can contain recesses A in which electrical devices, such as evacuation and dehumidification devices, are located. The core layer can be made of a rigid plastic foam, a honeycomb plastic structure, or a solid plastic layer, whereby the necessary recesses A must be provided. Channels and recesses A can be cut out of the material of the core layer.

[0041] Conductor tracks, to which the electrical loads are connected, are arranged on at least one side of the circuit board. Contacting the electrical components, or the components to be controlled by the controller, and the controller on the circuit board is simple and straightforward. The circuit board is part of the sandwich-like cover 2 and is preferably installed oriented so that the conductor tracks point toward the drawer interior R. There is no disruptive cabling within the cover 2 that continues outside the cover 2 in the drawer body 9. The production of the cover 2 is simplified, and the susceptibility to errors during the lifting movement of the cover 2 is minimized.

[0042] To further increase the stability of the lid 2, a lower cover layer with the same properties as the upper cover layer can be used as part of the sandwich construction. This lower cover layer 22" is attached to the circuit board on the drawer interior side. To allow air to flow through the sandwich-like lid 2, holes must be provided in the circuit board and the optional cover layer so that the drawer interior R or the interior of the containers 14 can be pumped out.

[0043] To enhance the evacuation properties and sealing properties of the lid 2, a layer of sealing profiles is arranged on the drawer interior, thereby improving the seal against the edges of the containers 14. For hygienic reasons, the sealing profiles are detachably attached and thus removable for cleaning purposes.

[0044] In a further embodiment with or without a lower cover layer and / or sealing profiles, a sealing holder and a layer of air filter fleece can be attached to the drawer-side surface of the lid 2.

Claims

1. A drawer device (0) comprising a drawer body (9), a drawer (3) which can be moved linearly therein, and a cover (2) which can be moved relative to the drawer (3) and relative to the drawer body (9) in a lifting direction (H) by lifting means (7) such that a controlled relative movement of the cover (2) can be carried out in the lifting direction (H) by the lifting means (7) and a controller, and such that the drawer interior (R) can be evacuated and / or dehumidified after the cover (2) is brought into the closed position, characterized in that - the lifting means (7) are arranged so as to run along two lateral edges of the cover (2), - each lifting means (7) includes a motor (71'), a spindle (78') and at least one linear carriage (792') which is connected to the spindle (78') and can thereby be moved linearly, in a fixed manner to the cover (2), - wherein a lifting profile (75') operatively connected to fastening means on the drawer body (9) can be moved by the lifting means (7) in the lifting direction (H) relative to the cover (2) in a controlled manner by means of a controller relative to the rest of the lifting means (7) and the cover (2), whereby the cover (2) and be lowered onto the drawer (3) and can be distanced therefrom.

2. The drawer device (0) according to claim 1, wherein at least one slit is arranged in at least one side surface of the lifting profile (75'), the at least one slit being operatively connected to at least one engagement limb (800) arranged on a side surface of the at least one linear carriage (792').

3. The drawer device (0) according to claim 2, wherein the at least one engagement limb (800) is arranged on the side surface of the at least one linear carriage (792').

4. The drawer device (0) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein slits are recessed on both sides of the lifting profile (75') on opposing side surfaces.

5. The drawer device (0) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the angle of the extending directions of the at least one slit on the lifting profile (75') and of the at least one engagement limb (800) on the at least one linear carriage (792') are between 20° and 60° and are chosen correspondingly identical.

6. The drawer device (0) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein two linear carriages (792') are linearly displaceably supported on the spindle (78').

7. The drawer device (0) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one linear carriage (792') is arranged on a plurality of guides (77'), the guides (77') extending parallel to the spindle (78').

8. The drawer device (0) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the spindle (78') is fixed to the cover (2), the spindle (78') extending through the entire construction of the lifting means (7) between an end block (73') and the motor (71') or a shaft coupling 76'.

9. The drawer device (0) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a slide potentiometer (791') is fixed to the spindle (78') via a guide (79') and / or to at least one guide (77') so as to detect a position of the at least one linear carriage (792').

10. The drawer device (0) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lifting profile (75') is operatively connected to a mounting bracket (19) as a fastening means on the drawer body (9).

11. The drawer device (0) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lifting profile (75') has a longitudinal slit in which the fastening means is introduced.