DRAWER LID

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention describes a lid for placement on a drawer of a vacuum drawer device with lifting means, wherein the lid enables a sealing of a drawer interior to the drawer by means of suitable means in the lid, wherein the lid and the lifting means are operatively connected to a control system. State of the art

[0002] Refrigerators for storing food have several disadvantages, as they constantly require a significant amount of electrical energy to keep the interior cool. The internal climate of a refrigerator has received little attention so far. According to a study by the Hygiene Council, which conducted an international study called the Hygiene Report 2010, a refrigerator, with approximately 11,400,000 germs per square centimeter, is even more contaminated than a toilet, which has around 100 pathogens per square centimeter. This report from 2010 garnered considerable media attention, but apart from recommendations to clean the refrigerator more frequently, no noticeable improvements have been implemented to date.

[0003] For the first time, DE202017006169 disclosed a general vacuum drawer device comprising a drawer and a lid, in which a vacuum could be generated in the drawer's interior by means of a pump. The vacuum drawer device includes a drawer with walls and a drawer interior, wherein the drawer is functionally connectable to a lid and is mounted for linear movement within a drawer body. However, DE202017006169 largely leaves more precise details about the drawer, the lid, and any lifting and evacuation means unprovided.

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

[0005] The drawer interior is evacuated to a slight vacuum, below atmospheric pressure, which is generated and maintained in a controlled manner. This simplifies the process of keeping food fresh and edible for longer. Storage in a drawer unit with a vacuum drawer system requires less energy than a refrigerator, as the oxygen reduction inside is complete within a few minutes, after which virtually no further electricity is needed. A vacuum drawer system can be implemented without harmful materials such as refrigerants or thermal insulation. The consumption of plastic bags used in conventional vacuum sealing can be significantly reduced, yet food can still be stored for extended periods without any problems. Vacuum drawer systems offer a simpler, more environmentally friendly, and more energy-efficient way to store food.This has a positive impact on food quality and consumer health. Less food would be thrown away, and the often-criticized "food waste" would be reduced, as food quality could be preserved for longer.

[0006] The drawer body forms the outer shell in which the lid and drawer are securely mounted and move freely. Electrically operated lifting and evacuation mechanisms, controlled by a control system, are integrated into the lid or drawer, enabling controlled evacuation when the lid is placed on the drawer. Air can be pumped out of the drawer's interior via an air duct. With the addition of sensors, evacuation can be automated, and ventilation before the drawer is opened can also be detected and automatically initiated by the control system.

[0007] WO2019 / 141574 specifies a multi-layered, compact lid design that can be easily mounted on existing drawers. To minimize the lid's height, lifting and evacuation mechanisms are integrated into the lid wherever possible.

[0008] WO2019 / 141574 discloses a cover for resting on a drawer of a vacuum drawer device with lifting means, wherein the cover enables a seal between the drawer interior and the drawer by means of suitable means in the cover, wherein the cover and the lifting means are operatively connected to a control system, wherein dehumidifying agents are arranged so that fresh air from outside the cover and the drawer interior can be supplied and circulated at intervals, wherein the dehumidifying agents have at least one humidity sensor which is operatively connected to the control system and allows the controlled measurement and monitoring of the relative humidity in the drawer interior, wherein the cover is operatively connected to the control system, electrical evacuation means and / or the dehumidifying agents, which are operated automatically by the control system.where, in addition to the evacuation devices, various channels and sensors are arranged in several recesses within the lid.

[0009] In practice, it has been observed that food stored in such vacuum drawer systems can release significant amounts of gas due to the reduced pressure or slight vacuum. Because of the inherent water activity of each foodstuff, varying amounts of moisture / water diffuse from the food to its surface, emerging as liquid or water vapor. Even after the drawer or container is periodically emptied of the vacuuming fluid, a film of liquid forms on the food surfaces within a few hours. Mold or unsightly discoloration quickly develops on these moist surfaces, meaning that prolonged storage of bread or loose grains in such a vacuum drawer system leads to faster spoilage than storage in an open bread bin.However, the user's wish is to store all food items that do not require refrigeration in such a vacuum drawer system, ideally without pre-sorting the food. Description of the invention

[0010] The present invention aims to provide a lid for a vacuum drawer device, a vacuum drawer device comprising a drawer, lifting means, evacuation means and such a lid, wherein the yellowing of food surfaces is largely prevented and the formation of mold on the food surfaces is automatically prevented.

[0011] This problem is solved with a lid according to claim 1 and a vacuum drawer device according to claim 8.

[0012] In addition to dehumidifying agents located inside the lid, optional lighting of the drawer interior or the container interior with blue visible light is provided, so that in addition to preventing a layer of moisture on the food, the formation of mold is also prevented by radiation.

[0013] Evacuation here refers to a slight negative pressure below atmospheric pressure of 150mbar and more, i.e., absolute pressures of less than 850mbar, which can be created in the interior of drawers or containers within the drawer. Brief description of the drawings

[0014] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below in connection with the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a vacuum drawer unit in a drawer body with the drawer open, while Figure 2 shows a schematic partial section through a vacuum drawer unit of the Figure 1 Figure 1 shows a drawer unit with the drawer closed or a vacuum drawer unit. Figure 3 shows a top view of a cover when mounted on the drawer, showing the integrated components, recesses, and channels. Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a controllable valve from the side of the cover facing the drawer unit, with the cover indicated by dashed lines. Figure 5 shows a top view of the underside of the cover facing the drawer unit, with all sealing elements and lighting elements complete. Description

[0015] The vacuum drawer device 0 is here collectively designated as 0 and comprises a drawer 3 with an interior drawer space R and a lid 2 that is relatively movable in a lifting direction H by means of lifting means 7. The drawer 3 comprises walls 30 and the interior drawer space R and is mounted so as to be movable in the thrust direction S and is designed to be evacuated. The drawer 3 is operatively connected to the lid 2 and is mounted within a drawer body 9 so as to be linearly movable in a thrust direction S. The drawer body 9 forms the outer shell in which the lid 2 and the drawer 3 are mounted so as to be movable and protected. The drawer 3 is mounted in a drawer slide (not further described) so as to be linearly movable, such that the drawer 3 can be moved into an open position and a closed position, whereby in Figure 1 The open position of drawer 3 is shown.

[0016] The evacuable drawer interior R is formed by a plurality of containers 14, which 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 via 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 and evacuated by means of a lid 2. The containers 14 are stored in the drawer 3 and can move with the drawer 3, but can also be removed. The containers 14 can also have other shapes and sizes.

[0017] The interior of the drawer R is evacuated by a lid 2, which is movably arranged within the drawer body 9. This lid is airtight and is mounted to lower itself onto the drawer 3 in a lifting direction H perpendicular to the direction of the sliding movement S. The lid 2 is attached to the drawer body 9 by mounting brackets 19, thus allowing relative movement of the lid 2 to the drawer 3.

[0018] Lifting means 7 are arranged on and / or partially within the lid 2, inside the drawer body 9, which hold the lid 2 movable within the drawer body 9 in the lifting direction H. The design of the lifting means 7 can be implemented in various ways, which will not be discussed further here.

[0019] With one side of the lid facing drawer 3, the lid 2 can be placed on the edges of drawer 3 or container 14, thereby closing at least one drawer compartment R. The lid 2 is mounted so that it can move relative to the drawer body 9 and drawer 3. The lid 2 can be placed on drawer 3 so that the drawer compartment R is sealed. This sealing only occurs when drawer 3 is closed; when drawer 3 is open, the lid 2 remains closed. Figure 1 The lid 2 fully exposes the drawer 3. The drawer 3 can be gripped by a handle 12 and moved in the sliding direction S. The vacuum drawer device 0 can be activated and deactivated using a control button 104' on the lid 2. At least one closed position sensor 29' can be arranged on the lid 2, which is connected to one in Figure 1 The control unit (not shown) signals that lid 2 is closed.

[0020] The lifting means 7 allow the lid 2 to be raised and lowered in the opposite direction from the drawer 3 or the containers 14. This results in the lifting movement of the lid 2 in the lifting direction H being perpendicular to the sliding movement direction S of the drawer 3. The containers 14 within the drawer 3 of the vacuum drawer unit 0 can be completely sealed from above, unlike conventional drawers, by the user manually closing the drawer 3. In the closed position, the lid 2 then lowers onto the containers 14, sealing them airtight from above.

[0021] In Figure 2The airtight lid 2 is shown resting on the drawer 3 or sealing fittings 15. For simplicity, the surrounding drawer body 9 is omitted, and the drawer 3 with an optional front panel 17 is shown in section as a drawer wall 30 and a handle 12. The lid 2 rests on the drawer, creating an airtight seal around the interior of the container R or the containers 14.

[0022] To achieve a compact design for the lid 2, as many electronic components as possible are integrated into the lid 2.

[0023] In addition to evacuation devices, various channels, sensors, and dehumidifiers are arranged within the lid 2 in several recesses A. The different paths of the air during evacuation and dehumidification are indicated by dashed lines.

[0024] A power cable 27' runs to a connector 25', which supplies power to the control unit that controls the lifting devices, the evacuation devices, the dehumidifying agents, and the sensors. The control unit is also located in a recess A in the cover 2.

[0025] The cover 2 is preferably manufactured in a sandwich construction, wherein different materials are assembled in different layers to form a cover 2. The cover 2 has two outer airtight cover layers 22', 22" and a core layer 21'. An additional circuit board 20' is arranged here, which can also be used in place of one of the outer airtight cover layers 22', 22".

[0026] The layers 20', 21', 22', 22" are bonded together to form a multi-layered cover 2, which is designed to be torsionally rigid. The upper cover layer 22' is airtight and can be made of MDF, CFRP, or glass. Alternatively, an airtight plastic coating can be applied to an airtight material as the upper cover layer 22' to achieve airtightness.

[0027] In core position 21', recesses A are provided in which the electrical equipment, such as evacuation and dehumidification devices, are arranged. Motors or other components of the lifting equipment may also be partially installed in the recesses A, as shown in Figure 3 is shown even better.

[0028] In order to achieve the most compact lid 2 possible, all components should ideally be stored within the lid 2, so that such a lid 2 can also be easily combined with existing drawers 3, making it possible to manufacture vacuum drawer units 0 from an existing drawer body 9, a drawer 3 and a lid 2.

[0029] The core layer 21' can be made of a rigid plastic foam, a honeycomb plastic structure, or a solid plastic layer, whereby the necessary recesses A must be arranged. Channels and recesses A can be cut out of the material of the core layer 21'.

[0030] The circuit board 20' has conductor tracks on at least one side, to which the electrical components are connected. The connection of the electrical components, or the components to be controlled by the controller, to the controller on the circuit board 20' is simple and straightforward. The circuit board 20' is part of the sandwich-like cover 2 and is preferably installed oriented such that the conductor tracks point towards the interior of the drawer R. There is no disruptive wiring inside the cover 2 that continues outside the cover 2 in the drawer body 9. The manufacturing of the cover 2 is simplified, and the susceptibility to errors during the lifting movement of the cover 2 is minimized.

[0031] To further enhance the stability of the lid 2, a lower cover layer 22", with the same properties as the upper cover layer 22' can be used as part of the sandwich structure. This lower cover layer 22" is attached to the circuit board 20' on the drawer side. To allow air to flow through the sandwich-like lid 2, holes must be provided in the circuit board 20' and the optional cover layer 22" so that the drawer interior R or the interior of the containers 14 can be pumped out.

[0032] To improve the evacuation and sealing properties of the lid 2, a layer of sealing profiles 31' is arranged on the inside of the drawer, thereby improving the seal against the edges of the containers 14 and the sealing fittings 15. For hygienic reasons, the sealing profiles 31' are detachably attached and thus removable for cleaning purposes.

[0033] In a further embodiment with or without lower cover layer 22' and / or sealing profiles 31', a sealing holder 32' and a layer of air filter fleece 38' can be attached to the drawer-side surface of the cover 2.

[0034] In a top view of the cover 2 with the upper cover layer 22' removed, a cover frame 23' is visible, in which the individual layers of the sandwich structure are held. The cover frame 23' is advantageous for increased stabilization. Here, the core layer 21' is visible, which has recesses A. The circuit board 20' is visible beneath the core layer 21', although the layer configuration of the cover 2 can also be different, for example, without a circuit board 20'. A power connection device 20 is indicated on the upper cover frame 23', which can be functionally connected to the connector 25'.

[0035] The lifting means 7 comprise two motors and a mechanism, which are arranged in the edge region of the cover 2 or the core layer 21'. The lifting means 7 are also connected to the control system, but can, for example, also consist of only one motor and a different mechanism. The control system is designed here as a control board 101', which is also located in the cover 2.

[0036] The evacuation means here are a pump 11', an air hose 12' to the pump 11', and a connection 14'. Additionally, a check valve 13' is advantageous to prevent the evacuated volume from being unintentionally aerated. These components 11', 12', 13', 14' are controlled by the control board 101' and are considered the evacuation means, located here on the side of the core layer 21' opposite the future front panel 17 or the operating button 104'.

[0037] The evacuation of the drawer interior R or the containers 14 can be carried out by means of pump 11' via evacuation channels 83' and holes 84' in the lid 2. A controllable valve 80' allows the control system to automatically evacuate the drawer interiors R or the containers 14 by opening or closing at least one evacuation channel 83'. Once the valve 80' is open, the air can be pumped out by means of pump 11'. The evacuation channels 83', the holes 84', and the controllable valve 80' are also part of the evacuation system.

[0038] For evacuation, the air pressure or the level of the vacuum in the drawer interior R or the containers 14 must be signaled to the control unit. For this purpose, at least one pressure sensor 17' is arranged in an evacuation channel 83' or in a recess A that can be closed by means of a valve 80'. The control unit can thus be programmed to a vacuum threshold value, and if the pressure sensor 17' reports a drop below this threshold, the control unit can activate the valve 80' and the pump 11' accordingly. Air is pumped out of the evacuation channel 83', as indicated by the dotted arrow, when the valve 80' is in the evacuation position.

[0039] In the rear area of ​​the lid 2, opposite the front panel 17, an air outlet 85', the control board 101', an accelerometer 103', and a Bluetooth module 106' (i.e., a radio transmission unit according to the Bluetooth standard) are arranged. Other radio transmission protocols would also be conceivable for programming or manipulating the control unit or the control board 101' of the vacuum drawer device 0. The air is removed from the lid 2 by the air outlet 85' after being pumped out by the pump 11'. Preferably, the air outlet 85' has a replaceable air filter. The control board 101' controls the lifting, evacuation, and dehumidifying agents.

[0040] To dehumidify the drawer interior R and / or the containers 14, the lid 2 incorporates a dehumidifying agent. This agent is arranged in the lid 2, preferably in recesses A in the core position 21', and is at least partially electrically connected to the control system.

[0041] Fresh air from outside the lid 2 can flow through at least one air inlet opening 86', preferably with an air filter, when the valve 80' is open. This air can then flow through optional air inlet channel walls 860', bounded by dehumidification channels 87', into the drawer interior R or container 14 through at least one exhaust opening 33' in the lid 2. Air can be expelled from the drawer interior R or container 14 through the exhaust opening 33', the at least one dehumidification channel 87' by means of a fan 81', and finally through the air outlet opening 85' and / or the air inlet opening 86'.

[0042] The valve 80' is also actuated automatically by the control unit. The at least one dehumidification channel 87' communicates with the drawer interior R or the container interior, so that, if at least one humidity sensor 82' is installed, the current humidity can be measured and transmitted to the control unit. The at least one humidity sensor 82' is located in the dehumidification channel 87' or in a recess that communicates with the drawer interior R or one of the containers 14. Preferably, side walls 860' are arranged along the dehumidification channels 87' and the openings 85', 86'.

[0043] The dehumidification process is carried out by means of at least one fan 81', which is arranged in a recess A along the at least one dehumidification channel 87'. The fan 81' draws in and distributes fresh air into the drawer interior R and the containers 14 with the lid 2 closed, thus removing water / water vapor from the stored food. Monitoring procedures and dehumidification

[0044] The following steps are necessary to monitor the drawer interior R with the lid 2 closed. The control unit / control board 101' is programmed to continuously measure the relative humidity at timed intervals using at least one humidity sensor 82', which communicates with the drawer interior R or the container interior via the dehumidification channel 87'.

[0045] If the relative humidity (rF) in the dehumidification channel 87', in the drawer interior (R), or in the container interior exceeds 80% as the upper threshold, the control unit opens the valve 80', so that fresh air is distributed inside for rinsing through the air inlet opening 86' by means of at least one fan 81'. As the fresh air is circulated by the fan 81', the supplied air absorbs moisture from the food surfaces, thus removing the moisture.

[0046] The at least one humidity sensor 82' continues to measure at time intervals and signals to the control unit, when a relative humidity rF of less than or equal to 60% is reached as the lower threshold, to close the at least one valve 80' and to stop the at least one fan 81', so that the control unit then switches back to monitoring mode.

[0047] To ensure the continued protection of the foodstuffs, evacuation should also be initiated. Accordingly, the evacuation system is activated, if necessary, valve 80' is moved to the evacuation position, and the drawer interior R or the containers are brought to the desired negative pressure. Once this desired negative pressure is reached, valve 80' is closed and pump 11' is switched off. The control system then returns to a monitoring mode, monitoring the humidity using at least one humidity sensor 82' and, optionally, the negative pressure using at least one pressure sensor 17'.

[0048] The dehumidification process could also be started automatically on a timer, without measuring the relative humidity beforehand. However, this would increase energy consumption accordingly, as dehumidification might occur unnecessarily.

[0049] Even if a minimum negative pressure is not reached, as measured by the at least one pressure sensor 17', the control system switches on automatically and evacuates the drawer interior R or the container 14 again.

[0050] In Figure 4 A preferred configuration of the valve 80' is shown. Here, a linearly operated valve 80' is provided, which is driven by a geared motor 41'. The geared motor 41' is attached to a base profile 45' via a motor mount 42'. A spindle 44', which is operatively connected to a variable profile 46', can be actuated via a shaft coupling 43'. Thus, the variable profile 46' can be moved linearly relative to the base profile 45', as indicated by the double arrow.

[0051] The base profile 45' has openings that can be sealed or opened by the variable profile 46'. The variable profile 46' is linearly movable along the base profile 45'. The variable profile 46' has at least one air outlet opening 48' and at least one air inlet opening 49'. Depending on the relative position of the variable profile 46' to the base profile 45', air can flow through it and, during operation, be directed into the dehumidification duct 87' and / or the evacuation duct 83'.

[0052] In order for the control system to be able to read the state of the valve 80' or the position of the variable profile 46', a sliding potentiometer 47' is arranged here, the respective electrical resistance of which allows conclusions to be drawn about the position of the variable profile 46'.

[0053] Optionally, an opening 14' is also provided here for connecting pump 11' to the evacuation channel 83' in the base profile 45'. Evacuation can also be controlled by an additional valve.

[0054] The linear valve 80' can be opened and closed precisely via the control system, thus ensuring trouble-free execution of the dehumidification process. Furthermore, the linear valve 80' is extremely compactly integrated within the cover 2. The linear valve 80' can form part of the multi-layered cover 2.

[0055] On the underside of the lid 2, or the cover layer 22', facing the drawer interior R, sealing profiles 31', sealing holders 32', and a layer of air filter fleece 38' are incorporated. The sealing profiles 31' enclose individual sections in which the position of the sealing holders 32' is visible, which cover the air filter fleece 38', with the containers 14 later being located beneath these sections. In each of these areas, the exhaust air opening 33' is arranged at the level of the fan 81' (not shown). The opening 35' for the humidity sensor 82' is also located in each area, as is the supply air opening 34' through which each sealing profile 31', or the drawer interior R, can be ventilated via the control unit.

[0056] The sealing elements, consisting of sealing profiles 31', the sealing holder 32' and the layer of air filter fleece 38', are designed to be replaceable and arranged on the cover 2. The sealing elements can be completely removed from the cover 2, for example for cleaning purposes.

[0057] To further increase the shelf life of the openly stored food in the containers 14 or the drawer interior R, the drawer interior R should be illuminated with blue light in the wavelength range of 450 nm to 470 nm, preferably 460 nm. For this purpose, at least one suitable light source 36' is arranged on the underside of the lid 2 and connected to the control unit, radiating into the drawer interior R or the container. The light source 36' emits its light through an opening in the sealant with the largest possible light cone, covering as much area as possible. An example of a light cone is shown in Figure 5The lines are indicated by dashed lines. The negative pressure can be achieved through exhaust air openings 33' and dehumidification through supply air openings 34'.

[0058] The compact arrangement of all components in the cover 2 or in recesses in at least one cover layer, particularly in the core layer 21', is advantageous. The components preferably project at least partially into or out of the recesses A. The entire cover 2, whether constructed using a sandwich design or not, must be airtight to adequately seal the drawer interior R against the outside air. It is self-evident to a person skilled in the art that the control unit must be adequately supplied with power to perform all its functions. Even if the control unit is implemented as the control board 101', the power supply must be ensured.

Claims

1. A lid (2) for resting on a drawer (3) of a vacuum drawer device (0) having lifting means (7), the lid (2) being configured to seal a drawer interior (R) to the drawer (3) by suitable means in the lid (2), wherein the lid (2) and the lifting means (7) are operatively connected to a controller, wherein in the lid (2), there are arranged dehumidifying means comprising at least one controllable valve (80') and a ventilator (81') which are operatively connected to the controller, as well as an air outlet opening (85'), an air inlet opening (86') and a dehumidifying channel (87') such that in timed intervals, fresh air from outside the lid (2) and the drawer interior (R) can be supplied, circulated and can be again removed from the drawer interior (R) by the at least one ventilator (81') and the valve (80') in a controlled manner, wherein the dehumidifying means include at least one humidity sensor (82') operatively connected to the controller and allowing a controlled measurement and monitoring of the humidity in the drawer interior (R) or, respectively, in the dehumidifying channel (87') or, respectively at the place of the ventilator (81'), wherein the lid (2) is operatively connected to the controller, to the electrical evacuating means and to the dehumidifying means which are automatically operated by the controller, wherein besides the evacuating means, various channels (83', 87'), sensors (17', 29', 82', 103') and dehumidifying means are arranged within the lid (2) in a plurality of recesses (A).

2. The lid (2) according to claim 1, wherein the dehumidifying means, in particular the valve (80'), are arranged in one or more recesses (A) in a core layer (21') of the lid (2) having a sandwich structure.

3. The lid (2) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the controllable valve (80') is configured as a linear valve having a variable profile (46') linearly movable relative to a base profile (45'), and required openings at the base profile (45) and at the variable profile (46') are arranged such that differing openings are opened or closed depending on the relative position of the two profiles (45', 46') to each other.

4. The lid (2) according to claim 3, wherein a slide potentiometer (47') is arranged so as to determine the respective position of the variable profile (46') relative to the base profile (45') that is operatively connected to the controller.

5. The lid (2) according to one of the claims 3 or 4, wherein the valve (80') or, respectively, the variable profile (46') is configured to be actuated by a gear motor (41'), which is fixed by a motor mount (42') to the base profile (45'), via a shaft clutch (43') and a spindle (44').

6. The lid (2) according to one of the claims 1 to 5, wherein the controller is arranged as a control board (101') in the lid (2), preferably in one or more recesses (A) in a core layer (21') of the lid (2) having a sandwich structure.

7. The lid (2) according to one of the claims 1 to 6, wherein at last one light source (36') is mechanically arranged at or in the lid (2) and electrically connected to the controller, which radiates blue light controlled by the controller to the drawer interior (R) or, respectively, into the interior of a container (14) in the drawer (3), said blue light having a wavelength of 460nm (+ / - 10nm).

8. A vacuum drawer device (0) comprising a drawer (3) linearly movable in a sliding movement direction (S) and having at least one drawer interior (R), with a controller and a lid (2) according to one of the claims 1 to 7.