Container cover

Abstract

To avoid problems such as overcapacity and electric shock that occur with conventional containers.SOLUTION: A container cover 20 for housing a container 10 includes: a cover body 21; a power generation unit 31 provided on the outer side of the cover body 21; an electrothermal conversion unit 33 provided on the inner side of the cover body 21 and using electric power to heat and / or cool the container 10 housed in the cover body 21; a temperature acquisition unit 35 for acquiring a temperature of the container 10; and a control unit 34. The control unit 34 determines the required power based on the temperature acquired by the temperature acquisition unit 35, and supplies the electrothermal conversion unit 33 with power based on the generated power which is the power generated by the power generation unit 31, and the required power.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a cover for a container. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, a conventional container is described in Patent Document 1. The container has a temperature control means and a power storage element, which are composed of a heating resistor and a heat exchange element, inside the main body of the container, and the power supply to the temperature control means is controlled by a control unit. This keeps the container warm (heated) or cold (cooled). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2007-312932 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The container of Patent Document 1 (referred to as the "conventional container") has a temperature control means and a power storage element built into the container itself, which may result in problems such as excess container capacity and electric shock.

[0005] The problem that the technology disclosed in this specification aims to solve is to avoid problems such as overcapacity and electric shock that occur in conventional containers. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the technique disclosed in this specification takes the following measures.

[0007] The technology disclosed in this specification is a container cover for storing a container, comprising a cover body, a power generation unit provided on the outer side of the cover body, an electrothermal conversion unit provided on the inner side of the cover body and using electric power to heat and / or cool the container stored within the cover body, a temperature acquisition unit for acquiring the temperature of the container, and a control unit, wherein the control unit calculates a required power based on the temperature acquired by the temperature acquisition unit, and supplies a supply power based on the generated power, which is the power generated by the power generation unit, and the required power to the electrothermal conversion unit.

[0008] According to this configuration, the control unit calculates the required power based on the temperature acquired by the temperature acquisition unit, and supplies the electrothermal conversion unit with power based on the required power and the generated power, which is the power generated by the power generation unit, thereby making it possible to maintain the temperature of the container at a predetermined temperature. Therefore, it is possible to avoid problems such as overcapacity and electric shock that occur in conventional containers.

[0009] In addition, the power generating unit is a thin-film solar cell. Therefore, the thin-film solar cell, which is the power generating unit, can accommodate various shapes of the outer part of the cover body. This allows the thin-film solar cell to absorb sunlight from all directions and generate electricity efficiently.

[0010] The power storage unit is also provided, and the control unit supplies surplus power to the power storage unit when the generated power is greater than the required power, and supplies insufficient power from the power storage unit to the electrothermal conversion unit when the generated power is less than the required power. Thus, the surplus power can be stored in the power storage unit. Furthermore, by supplying the insufficient power from the power storage unit to the electrothermal conversion unit, the power shortage in the electrothermal conversion unit can be compensated for. Effect of the Invention

[0011] The technology disclosed in this specification makes it possible to avoid problems such as overcapacity and electric shock that occur in conventional containers. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a container cover according to one embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the lower half of the container cover. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Hereinafter, an embodiment for carrying out the technology disclosed in this specification will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a container cover. As shown in Fig. 1, the container cover 20 is for housing a container 10 (more specifically, a container body 11). The container 10 is, for example, a portable plastic beverage bottle. A cap 12 is detachably attached to the opening of the container body 11 by a screw.

[0014] The cover body 21 of the container cover 20 is made of a heat insulating fabric and is formed into a cylindrical shape with a bottom. A string 22 for opening and closing the upper end opening of the cover body 21 is passed through a string passage 21e formed in the upper end opening of the cover body 21. Both ends of the string 22 are tied together. The upper end opening of the cover body 21 can be squeezed (closed) like a drawstring bag by the string 22. The string 22 is provided with a string stopper 23 whose position can be adjusted. A carabiner 24 is attached to the cover body 21.

[0015] Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the lower half of the container cover 20. As shown in Fig. 2, the cylindrical part of the cover body 21 has a two-layer structure consisting of an inner cover part 21a on the inner layer side and an outer cover part 21b on the outer layer side surrounding the periphery of the inner cover part 21a. The lower end opening of the cylindrical part is closed by a bottom cover part 21c. The number of layers of the cover body 21 may be increased or decreased.

[0016] A vertically long power generating unit 31 is provided on at least a portion (e.g., the front portion) of the outer portion of the cover body 21, i.e., the surface of the outer cover portion 21b. The power generating unit 31 is curved so as to conform to the surface of the outer cover portion 21b. The power generating unit 31 generates electricity by absorbing light such as sunlight. The power generating unit 31 is a thin-film solar cell. A perovskite solar cell, for example, is desirable as a thin-film solar cell. Perovskite solar cells are thin, light, and highly flexible, and can be manufactured inexpensively by coating, printing, or the like.

[0017] A horizontally elongated electricity storage unit 32 is provided at the lower end of the surface of the outer cover part 21b. The electricity storage unit 32 is provided continuously below the power generation unit 31. The electricity storage unit 32 is formed in a curved shape that follows the surface of the outer cover part 21b. The electricity storage unit 32 is a secondary battery.

[0018] An electrothermal conversion unit 33 is provided on the inner wall surface of the cover body 21, i.e., the inner wall surfaces of the inner cover portion 21a and the bottom cover portion 21c. The electrothermal conversion unit 33 is a Peltier element. The size, number, shape, arrangement, etc. of the electrothermal conversion unit 33 may be changed as appropriate.

[0019] A temperature acquisition unit 35 is provided on the inner wall surface of the cover body 21. In Fig. 2, the temperature acquisition unit 35 is disposed in a hole provided in the bottom of the electrothermal conversion unit 33 via a heat insulating material (not shown). The temperature acquisition unit 35 acquires, i.e., detects, the temperature of the container 10, and outputs the detection signal to the control unit 34. The temperature acquisition unit 35 may be disposed anywhere as long as it is possible to acquire the temperature of the container body 11 of the container 10 or its surroundings, i.e., the temperature inside the cover body 21, or may be disposed in multiple locations.

[0020] A control unit 34 is provided in the cover body 21. In Fig. 2, electrical connections between the control unit 34 and the power generation unit 31, the power storage unit 32, the electrothermal conversion unit 33, and the temperature acquisition unit 35 are omitted. The control unit 34 calculates the required power based on the temperature acquired by the temperature acquisition unit 35, and supplies the electrothermal conversion unit 33 with supply power based on the generated power, which is the power generated by the power generation unit 31, and the required power.

[0021] Furthermore, when the generated power is greater than the required power, the control unit 34 supplies the surplus power to the power storage unit 32, and when the generated power is less than the required power, the control unit 34 supplies the shortage power from the power storage unit 32 to the electrothermal conversion unit 33. Also, by switching the direction of the power supplied to the electrothermal conversion unit 33 by the control unit 34, it is possible to switch between a heat retention (heating) function and a cold retention (cooling) function of the electrothermal conversion unit 33. The hot / cold setting of the electrothermal conversion unit 33 by the control unit 34 may be variable or switchable.

[0022] (Actions and Effects of the Embodiments) According to this embodiment, the control unit 34 determines the required power based on the temperature acquired by the temperature acquisition unit 35, and supplies the supply power based on the required power and the generated power, which is the power generated by the power generation unit 31, to the electrothermal conversion unit 33, thereby making it possible to maintain the temperature of the container 10 at a predetermined temperature. Therefore, it is possible to avoid problems such as overcapacity and electric shock that occur in conventional containers.

[0023] In addition, the thin-film solar cell that is the power generation unit 31 can accommodate a variety of shapes of the outer part of the cover body 21. This allows the thin-film solar cell to absorb sunlight from all directions and generate power efficiently.

[0024] Furthermore, when the generated power is greater than the required power, the control unit 34 supplies the surplus power to the power storage unit 32, and when the generated power is less than the required power, the control unit 34 supplies the shortage power from the power storage unit 32 to the electrothermal conversion unit 33. Thus, the surplus power can be stored in the power storage unit 32. Furthermore, by supplying the shortage power from the power storage unit 32 to the electrothermal conversion unit 33, the power shortage of the electrothermal conversion unit 33 can be compensated for.

[0025] Furthermore, the power storage unit 32 in the embodiment may be omitted. In this case, the control unit 34 calculates the required power based on the temperature acquired by the temperature acquisition unit 35, and supplies the supply power based on the generated power, which is the power generated by the power generation unit 31, and the required power to the electrothermal conversion unit 33.

[0026] [Other embodiments] The technology disclosed in this specification is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and can be embodied in various other forms. For example, the container 10 is not limited to a portable plastic bottle for beverages, but may be a beverage can, other containers, or non-portable containers. In the embodiment, the container 10 is capable of both keeping warm and keeping cold, but the container 10 may be dedicated to keeping warm or keeping cold. The electrothermal conversion unit 33 may be an electric heating wire (heater). In this case, the temperature setting of the electrothermal conversion unit 33 by the control unit 34 may be variable or switchable. The power of the power generation unit 31 or the power storage unit 32 may be converted (AC-DC) by the power conversion unit and supplied to an external load, such as a portable fan or a mobile phone. [Explanation of symbols]

[0027] 10 containers 20 Container Cover 21 Cover body 31 Power Generation Department 32 Power storage unit 33 Electrothermal conversion section 34 Control section 35 Temperature acquisition section

Claims

1. A container cover for storing a container, The cover body, a power generating unit provided on an outer side of the cover body; an electrothermal conversion unit provided on an inner side of the cover body and configured to heat and / or cool the container housed in the cover body using electric power; A temperature acquisition unit that acquires a temperature of the container; A control unit; Equipped with The control unit calculates the required power based on the temperature acquired by the temperature acquisition unit, and supplies a supply power to the electrothermal conversion unit based on the generated power, which is the power generated by the power generation unit, and the required power.

2. 2. The container cover according to claim 1, The power generating unit is a thin-film solar cell.

3. 3. The container cover according to claim 1 or 2, It is equipped with a power storage unit, The control unit supplies surplus power to the power storage unit when the generated power is greater than the required power, and supplies shortage power from the power storage unit to the electrothermal conversion unit when the generated power is less than the required power.

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