Instrumented shelf for refrigerator and corresponding refrigerator

Abstract

The invention relates to a shelf for mounting in a refrigerator, comprising: - a support for products; - a frame having four indexing fingers positioned at the four corners of a quadrilateral, each indexing finger having a lug that can be selectively positioned to protrude in a transverse direction; - four connecting elements linking the frame to the support at the level of a respective indexing finger, each connecting element having a beam having a first end fixed to the frame and a second end cantilevered from the first end and fixed to the support; - four shear sensors configured to measure the shear between the first and second ends of a respective beam; - a processing device configured to determine the weight applied to the support as a function of the shear sensor measurements. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Instrumented shelf for refrigerator and corresponding refrigerator

[0001] The invention relates to the storage of food in refrigerators, and in particular the storage of food on shelves for self-service refrigerators.

[0002] Self-service refrigeration systems are known. Some self-service refrigeration systems are equipped with instrumented shelves. Such shelves have pressure sensors, and an electronic circuit determines the weight of the products on the shelves. The electronic circuit then detects the removal of one or more products from a shelf. Thus, a processing system is able to calculate the value of the products removed and perform a corresponding bank transaction, either through a payment method or a prepaid account.

[0003] However, it turns out that such shelves are difficult to adapt for optimal handling outside the refrigerator, for example, for reloading products. Furthermore, the angle of such shelves is not adjustable, which can be inconvenient for the presentation or accessibility of products. Moreover, such shelves can impair refrigeration efficiency.

[0004] The invention aims to resolve one or more of these drawbacks. The invention thus relates to a shelf for fixing in a refrigerator, comprising: -support for products; -an armature comprising four indexing fingers positioned at the four corners of a quadrilateral, each indexing finger comprising a lug that can selectively be positioned in projection along a transverse direction; -four connecting elements linking the reinforcement to the support at the level of a respective indexing finger, each connecting element comprising a beam having a first end fixed to the reinforcement and having a second end cantilevered from the first end and fixed to the support; -four shear sensors configured to measure the shear between the first and second ends of a respective beam; -a processing device configured to determine the weight applied to the support based on measurements from shear sensors.

[0005] The invention also relates to the following variants. Those skilled in the art will understand that each of the features of the following variants can be combined independently with the above features, without thereby constituting an intermediate generalization.

[0006] According to one embodiment, each beam has a through hole along the direction transverse at the level of its shear sensor.

[0007] According to another variant, said four shear sensors are fixed on an underside of their respective beam, the shelf further comprising four additional shear sensors fixed on an upper side of a respective beam opposite the sensors fixed on the underside.

[0008] According to yet another variant, the armature comprises two arms crossing in a median part, extending between the transverse ends of the armature, the armature being openwork outside of said arms.

[0009] According to yet another variant, each indexing finger is fixed at the level of a respective end of said two arms.

[0010] According to one variant, a housing is provided at the crossing between said two arms, the treatment device being fixed in said housing.

[0011] According to yet another variant, said support is perforated.

[0012] According to another variant, the support has counterbores for receiving products, the support being perforated in the counterbores.

[0013] The invention also relates to a refrigerator, comprising: -a refrigerated container with two opposing vertical walls, each vertical wall having a first series of recesses distributed vertically near a first end in the depth of the refrigerated container and a second series of recesses distributed vertically near a second end in the depth of the container, several recesses of the first series of recesses being equidistant from a recess of the second series of recesses, the recesses of the two vertical walls being positioned opposite each other; -a shelf as defined above, whose indexing finger lugs engage with recesses in the two opposite vertical walls.

[0014] Other features and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following description, which is by way of example and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0015] [Fig-1] is a schematic perspective view comprising shelves according to a example of a method of embodiment of the invention;

[0016] [Fig.2] is a side view of an example of a refrigerator panel intended for the shelf fixing according to the invention;

[0017] [Fig.3] is a side view of a shelf according to an example embodiment of the invention;

[0018] [Fig.4] is a side view of an indexing finger of the tray of [Fig.3];

[0019] [Fig.5] is a top view of a support for the shelf of [Fig.3];

[0020] [Fig.6] is a side cross-sectional view of the support of [Fig.5];

[0021] [Fig.7] is a bottom view of a frame of the shelf of [Fig.3];

[0022] [Fig-8] is a front view of the frame of [Fig.7].

[0023] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a refrigerator 9, equipped with several shelves 1 according to one embodiment of the invention. The shelves 1 are fixed in a manner known per se to opposite vertical lateral walls of a refrigerated container of the refrigerator 9.

[0024] Figure 3 is a front view of a shelf 1 that can be fixed in the refrigerator 9. The shelf 1 comprises a support 3 for holding products and a frame 2. The frame 2 can typically be made of metal. The support 3 can typically be made of a synthetic material, facilitating its cleaning.

[0025] The frame 2 has four indexing fingers 6 positioned at the four corners of a quadrilateral. An example of the arrangement of the indexing fingers 6 is shown in [Fig. 4]. Each indexing finger 6 has a lug 61 that can be selectively positioned to project in a transverse direction, here identified by the Y direction. The lugs 61 can thus selectively engage with recesses in the walls of the refrigerator 9 to ensure fixation. The indexing fingers 6 are here fixed in flanks 24 of the frame 2, suitable bores 26 being provided in these flanks 24, as shown in [Fig. 8].

[0026] The shelf 1 comprises four connecting elements 4 linking the reinforcement 2 to the support 3 at the level of the 4 respective indexing fingers 6. Each connecting element 4 comprises a beam 44 having a first end 41 fixed to the reinforcement 2 and having a second end 42 cantilevered from the first end 41 and fixed to the support 3. In the illustrated example, the beam 44 is oriented along the longitudinal direction X, but it is also possible for the beam 44 to be oriented along the transverse direction Y. As can be seen in [Fig. 4], the cantilevers of the beams 44 positioned at opposite longitudinal ends of the reinforcement 2 are placed in opposition.

[0027] The shelf 1 comprises four shear sensors 5 configured to measure the shear between the first and second ends 41 and 42 for four respective beams 44. The shear sensors 5 are shown here on an upper surface of their beam 44. Alternatively, the shear sensors 5 could be positioned on an underside of their beam 44.

[0028] The shelf 1 also includes a processing device 7 configured to determine in a way known in itself the weight applied by the support 3 on the connecting elements 4 as a function of the measurements of the shear sensors 5. The processing device 7 can be implemented in the form of a microcontroller.

[0029] Thus, due to the presence of the shear sensors 5 at the four corners of a quadrilateral, weight measurements can be taken even when the shelf 1 is inclined in the refrigerator 9 around a transverse axis Y, since the measurements of the The less loaded shear sensors 5 are compensated by the measurements of the more loaded shear sensors 5 due to the inclination. Furthermore, because the shear sensors 5 are positioned at the connecting elements 4, the measurements of the shear sensors 5 are representative of the forces exerted at the fixings between the refrigerator 9 and the shelf 1. Moreover, thanks to the use of indexing fingers 6, the shelves 1 can easily be removed from the refrigerator 9 or have their inclination adjusted. The shelves 1 are thus easily removable, which can, in particular, facilitate their handling for loading or transporting products using these shelves 1. Being able to fill the shelves 1 outside the refrigerator 9 allows for flat and faster handling than inside the refrigerator 9, and without having to keep a refrigerator 9 access door open.By having shelves 1 whose weight applied to the connecting elements 4 can be determined, a calculator can easily determine variations in this weight to identify the removal of one or more products. A refrigerator 9 equipped with such a calculator can thus be used to carry out a transaction, either by means of a withdrawal from a customer account or by means of a monetary transaction.

[0030] The connecting elements 4 are attached to the frame 2 in an appropriate manner, for example by screw / thread. The support 3 is attached to the connecting elements 4 in an appropriate manner, for example by screw / thread.

[0031] Advantageously, to increase the sensitivity of the shear sensors 5, the beams 44 have a through hole 43 along their transverse direction, at the level of their shear sensor 5. Such a through hole 43 facilitates the bending deformation of the beam 44 on which a force is exerted, which makes it possible to increase the amplitude of the deformations measured by a corresponding shear sensor 5.

[0032] Advantageously, four shear sensors 5 are fixed to a lower face of their respective beam 44, and four additional shear sensors are fixed to a upper face of a respective beam 44, opposite the shear sensors fixed to the lower face. Such a configuration makes it possible, in particular, to compensate for the difference in thermal expansion between the support 3 and the reinforcement 2 when using different materials.

[0033] Advantageously, the frame 2 is perforated to promote vertical airflow in the refrigerator 9, in order to improve cooling despite the presence of the shelves 1. The frame 2 here comprises two arms 21 and 22 crossing in a median portion and extending between the transverse ends of this frame 2. The frame 2 is perforated outside the arms 21 and 22. Each indexing finger 6 is here fixed at one respective end of the two arms 21 and 22.

[0034] A housing 23 is provided here at the crossing between the two arms 21 and 22. The processing device 7 is fixed in the housing 23. This protects the processing device 7. The position of the processing device 7 in the middle section also reduces the overall length of the connecting cables to the various shear sensors 5. The arms 21 and 22 also protect the passages of the connecting cables of the processing device 7.

[0035] Threaded bores 25 are advantageously provided in the frame 2, in order to allow the fixing of the connecting elements 4 with screws.

[0036] Advantageously, the support 3 is perforated to promote vertical airflow in the refrigerator 9. The openings in the support 3 are advantageously opposite the openings in the frame 2.

[0037] An example of a support 3 is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. The support 3 comprises a tray 31. The support 3 advantageously includes product-receiving recesses 32 formed in the tray 31. The recesses 32 advantageously extend along the longitudinal direction to allow products to slide in rows. The support 3 advantageously includes openings or bores 33 in the bottom of the recesses 32. This optimizes product cooling. Advantageously, the recesses 32 terminate in a longitudinal stop 35, which ensures product retention, particularly when the shelf 1 is inclined. The tray 31 includes through bores 34, intended to allow the passage of fixing screws to the connecting elements 4.

[0038] Figure 2 illustrates an example of a vertical wall of a refrigerator 9, designed to allow the shelves 1 to be tilted. The vertical wall 91 has a first series of recesses 93, distributed vertically near one of its first ends in depth. The vertical wall 92 also has a second series of recesses 92 distributed vertically near a second end in depth. To facilitate handling, the recesses 93 are advantageously positioned close to the opening of the refrigerator 9. As illustrated by the dashed arcs, several recesses 93 are equidistant from the same recess 92. The opposite vertical wall will have recesses facing each other. The lugs 61 of the indexing fingers 6 can thus engage with the recesses 92 and 93, in order to secure the shelves in the refrigerator 9.Due to the presence of several recesses 93 equidistant from the same recess 92, the shelves 1 can have a modifiable inclination in the refrigerator 9. .

[0039] The processing device 7 can average the measurements from the different shear sensors 5 to calculate the force applied to the fixings of the shelf 1. After calculating the total weight applied to all the fixings of the shelf 1, the weight of the shelf 1 can be subtracted to determine the weight of the products present on the shelf 1.

[0040] By having the calculated forces for each of the fixings of the shelf 1, it is also possible to determine the location of the products present on the support 3, in particular in the presence of positioning counterbores 32.

[0041] A common computer can be connected to the various processing devices 7 of the shelves 1, for example, by a wired connection. Such a wired connection can also provide power to the processing devices 7. Such a computer can store a map of the products stored on the shelves 1 with their associated costs, in order to prepare a transaction. The computer can also control the opening or locking of a refrigerator access door 9.

Claims

Claims

1. Shelf (1) for fixing in a refrigerator (9), characterized in that it comprises: - a support (3) for products; - a frame (2) comprising four indexing fingers (6) positioned at the four corners of a quadrilateral, each indexing finger (6) comprising a lug (61) which can be selectively positioned projecting in a transverse direction (Y); - four connecting elements (4) connecting the frame (2) to the support at a respective indexing finger (6), each connecting element comprising a beam (44) provided with a first end (41) fixed to the frame and provided with a second end (42) cantilevered relative to the first end and fixed to the support (3); - four shear sensors (5) configured to measure the shear between the first and second ends (41, 42) of a respective beam;- a processing device (7) configured to determine the weight applied to the support (3) based on the measurements of the shear sensors (5).;

2. Shelf (1) according to claim 1, in which each beam (44) has an orifice (43) passing through in the transverse direction at its shear sensor.

3. Shelf (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said four shear sensors (5) are fixed on a lower face of their respective beam (44), the shelf further comprising four additional shear sensors fixed on an upper face of a respective beam opposite the sensors fixed on the lower face.

4. Shelf (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the frame (2) comprises two arms (21, 22) crossing in a middle part, extending between the transverse ends of the frame, the frame being openwork outside said arms.

5. Shelf (1) according to claim 4, wherein each indexing finger (6) is fixed at a respective end of said two arms.

6. Shelf (1) according to claim 4 or 5, in which a housing (23) is provided at the crossing between said two arms (21, 22), the treatment device (7) being fixed in said housing (23).

7.

8.

9. Shelf (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, in which said support (3) is perforated. Shelf (1) according to claim 7, in which the support (3) comprises counterbores (32) for receiving products, the support being perforated (33) in the counterbores. Refrigerator (9), comprising: - a refrigerated container provided with two opposite vertical walls (91), each vertical wall comprising a first series of recesses (93) distributed vertically near a first end in the depth of the refrigerated container and a second series of recesses (92) distributed vertically near a second end in the depth of the container, several recesses (93) of the first series of recesses being equidistant from a recess of the second series of recesses, the recesses of the two vertical walls being positioned opposite each other; - a shelf (1) whose indexing finger lugs engage with recesses in the two opposite vertical walls.

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