EP1943472A1

EP1943472A1 - A refrigerator

Info

Publication number: EP1943472A1
Application number: EP06821250A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Halime Usta Yogun; Gunsu Cirpanli Albas
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2005-10-31
Filing date: 2006-10-30
Publication date: 2008-07-16
Also published as: WO2007052208A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator (1) wherein the gas emanating from the food emplaced in the storage compartment (2) where only a single group of food is stored, is detected by the gas sensor (3) and compared with the reference values recorded in the control unit (4) to determine the group and amount of the food, when each group and amount of food is detected to be fresh, providing to prolong the freshness for a long time, when the food is detected to start deteriotating, delaying the deteriotation, and when the food is detected to be completely spoiled, preventing the gases emanating from the deteriorated foods to contaminate the other foods.

Description

Description A REFRIGERATOR

[1] The present invention relates to prolonging the shelf life of foods housed in the refrigerator.

[2] Deterioration of the foods stored in special storage compartments of the refrigerators, for example in the crisper, lowers the nutritional quality of the food and the bad odor dispersing into the refrigerator also results in the deterioration of the foods stored in the other storage compartments. The user generally decides on the deterioration of the food by observing the spoilage indications on the surface of the food and sensing the unwanted odor in the refrigerator. Although the indications of spoilage on the surface of the food stored in the refrigerator cannot be clearly observed with the eyes, deterioration and decay can start in the composition of the food and it is difficult for the user to observe the onset of deterioration. In the current state of the art, whether the food stored in the refrigerator is spoiled or not is detected by gas sensors and if the stored food is spoiled, the user is notified for removing the spoiled food from the refrigerator. Furthermore, there are barcodes and similar applications in the state of the art for determining the shelf life of the food according to their types.

[3] In German patent no. DE 19806041 a heat sensor, a moisture sensor and a gas sensor are provided in a container space in a cooling device and the detected data obtained by means of these sensors relating to the climate prevailing in the container space is controlled by comparing these values to the reference values. In the storage container, there is at least one opening, the air-permeable surface area of which can be adjusted by means of a closing element according to the data received from the sensors.

[4] In the International patent application no. WO2005047788, gas sensors are situated in the vegetable compartment and in the door and the user is alerted by visual and audio alarms when the food stored in the vegetable compartments start to deteriorate.

[5] In the Japanese patent application no. JP2003065655, the shelf lives of the food stored in the cooling device are controlled by "ID chips" embedded in the label of the food.

[6] In Japanese patent application no. JP2003075383, the user is notified when lowering in freshness of fruit and vegetables is detected. The variation in the volume of the gas generated by the food is converted into electrical voltage by the control element and the variation in the voltage is accepted as a change in the freshness of the food.

[7] In Japanese patent application no. JP2003083669, barcode is used for identifying the type of the food.

[8] In Japanese patent application no. JP2003106748, the gas generated from the food in the storage compartment is detected and when the concentration of the gas that indicates the spoilage of the food is detected, the user is recommended to remove the cause of generated gas.

[9] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a refrigerator, wherein the shelf life of the food housed therein is prolonged by detecting the gases emanating from the food.

[10] The refrigerator realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is explicated in the claims.

[11] The refrigerator of the present invention is provided with one or more storage compartments wherein a single group of food such as fruit, vegetables or meat is stored. The foods that will be stored in the storage compartment are classified and the amount of gases generated like ethanol, aldehyde, and trimethylamine by the foods in each group in the fresh state and in the deteriorated state are predetermined by experimental studies and are recorded in the control unit. The values detected by the gas sensor in the storage compartment are compared to the values recorded in the control unit and the foods in the storage compartment are identified according to the group and amount, whether fresh or not, if deteriorated, whether in the initial stage or completely deteriorated.

[12] The emanation of the gases from the foods, the group and amount thereof identified in the storage compartment, are detected by the gas sensor and if detected to be fresh when compared to the reference values in the control unit, the temperature and humidity values that will prolong the freshness of the food in the storage compartment for a long time are implemented.

[13] If the food in the storage compartment is detected to start deteriorating, different temperature and humidity values that will delay the deterioration are implemented.

[14] If the food in the storage compartment is detected to be completely deteriorated, the air entry and exit to the storage compartment is blocked and the dispersal of the gases emanated by the deteriorated food into other compartments of the refrigerator is prevented.

[15] Furthermore, in the event that a food deteriorates that is stored in any one of the multitude of storage compartments in the refrigerator, the user is notified by audio and/ or visual signals about which compartment contains the deteriorating food.

[16] In this embodiment, sample chambers are utilized which provide a movement mechanism such as a rail system that moves the gas sensor to scan all the storage compartments and to transmit the information relating to the foods stored in each compartment to the control unit separately or to analyze the gas samples taken from all the storage compartments at one place and to send separately the information pertaining to the foods in each storage compartment to the control unit. [17] The refrigerator realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[18] Figure 1 - is the schematic view of a refrigerator.

[19] Figure 2 - is the schematic view of a refrigerator in another embodiment of the present invention.

[20] Figure 3 - is the schematic view of a refrigerator in a different embodiment of the present invention.

[21] The elements shown in figures are numbered as follows:

[22] 1. Refrigerator

[23] 2. Storage compartment

[24] 3. Gas sensor

[25] 4. Control unit

[26] 5. Shutter

[27] 6. Fan

[28] 7. Heat sensor

[29] 8. Humidity sensor

[30] 9. Movement mechanism

[31] 10. Sample chamber

[32] The refrigerator (1) comprises one or more storage compartments (2) wherein a single group of foods such as fruits, vegetables or meat is stored, one or more gas sensors (3) that detect the chemical substances making up the odor emanating from the foods stored in the storage compartment (2) into the environment, a control unit (4) that evaluates the signals transmitted by the gas sensor (3), a shutter allowing the delivery of cool air into the storage compartment (2), a fan (6) providing the homogeneous distribution of air in the storage compartment (2), a heat sensor (7) that senses the ambient conditions wherein the foods are stored and a humidity sensor (8).

[33] The foods that will be stored in the storage compartment (2) in the refrigerator (1) are classified into groups such as fruit, vegetables, meat and milk and the amount and type of the gases emanating from each group of foods to the environment when in the fresh state and when in the deteriorated state are predetermined by experimental studies and recorded in the control unit (4) by the manufacturer.

[34] The gas type and amount emanating to the environment from the food in the storage compartment (2) at any moment which is detected by the gas sensor (3) are compared to the gas type and amounts (the odor characteristics) emanating to the environment from a certain group of food in the fresh and deteriorated states which are prerecorded in the control unit (4) and decision is given on the group (fruit, vegetable, meat ..) and the amount (a little, moderate, too much ..) of the food in the storage compartment (2).

[35] Furthermore, the food in the storage compartment (2) is determined whether it is fresh or not, if deteriorated, whether it is in the initial stage or completely deteriorated by means of the control unit (4) by comparing the prerecorded data of the gas type and amounts to the gas type and amounts detected by the gas sensor (3).

[36] The gases emanating into the environment by the respiration of the foods in the storage compartment (2) are detected by the gas sensor (3), and compared to, for example the prerecorded gas type in the fresh state, to decide on the group of the food in the storage compartment (2), and the amount of the food in the storage compartment (2) by comparing to the recorded gas amount in the fresh state. For example when vegetables are emplaced in the storage compartment (2) for the first time, they generate ethylene, ethanol or aldehyde gases into the environment by respiration when fresh and "ethylene" is the dominant gas type amount wise among these. The coded information is recorded in the control unit (4) as the characteristics of the "vegetable" group and when the gas sensor (3) detects "ethylene", the control unit (4) decides that the food group in the storage compartment (2) is "vegetable" and according to the amount of detected "ethylene" (for example ppm) decides on the amount of the vegetables in the storage compartment (2).

[37] The gases emanated by the food when in the deteriorated state that are different as compared to the gases when in the fresh state are detected by the gas sensor (3) and compared by the control unit (4) to the prerecorded gas type generated by deteriorated food to decide on the group of the food spoiled in the storage compartment (2) and by comparing to the prerecorded gas amount when in deteriorated state decides on the amount of the food that is spoiled in the storage compartment (2). For example, in vegetables when food deterioration starts ammonia gas is emanated into the environment. When ammonia gas is detected by the gas sensor (3), decision is given that the spoiled food group in the storage compartment (2) is vegetable.

[38] If the gas amount detected by the gas sensor (3) when the food is spoiled is below a threshold value recorded in the control unit (4) then it is decided that food deterioration has started, if above the threshold value, then it is decided that the food is completely deteriorated.

[39] If the food in the storage compartment (2), the group and amount thereof determined by the control unit (4), is also detected to be fresh, the temperature and humidity values that will prolong the freshness for a long time are implemented by means of the heat sensor (7) and the humidity sensor (8).

[40] If the food in the storage compartment (2), the group and amount thereof determined by the control unit (4), is detected to be at the initial stage of deterioration, different temperature and humidity values are implemented by the heat sensor (7) and the humidity sensor (8) such that the deterioration process is extended.

[41] If the food in the storage compartment (2), the group and amount thereof determined by the control unit (4), is detected to be completely spoiled, the storage compartment (2) is isolated in a leak-proof way in order to prevent the food in the other compartments from being effected by the unwanted odors emanating from the deteriorated food.

[42] In order to isolate the storage compartment (2), the shutter (5) is closed and is maintained not be opened until the source of the unwanted odors is eliminated.

[43] Before taking measurements by the gas sensor (3) to detect the generated gases in the storage compartment (2) by the food, the fan (6) inside the storage compartment (2) is operated for a while to ensure a correct measurement and a homogeneous distribution of the ambient air.

[44] In the refrigerator (1) of the present invention, in the event that a food stored in any one of the multiple storage compartments (2) has deteriorated, the user is warned about which storage compartment (2) contains the spoiled food via an audio and/or visual signal by means of the control unit (4).

[45] In one embodiment of the present invention, separate gas sensors (3) are provided in each storage compartment (2) and each gas sensor (3) transmits the information about the foods in its storage compartment (2) to the control unit (4).

[46] In another embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator (1) comprises a movement mechanism (9) that moves like a railed system that provides to move the gas sensor (3) to scan all the storage compartments (2) and to transmit separately the information about the food stored in each storage compartment (2) to the control unit (4) (Figure 2).

[47] In another embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator (1) comprises one or more sample chambers (10) that provide the gas samples taken one by one from all the storage compartments (2) to be detected by the gas sensor (3) at one place and to transmit the information about the foods in each storage compartment (2) separately to the control unit (4) (Figure 3).

[48] In the refrigerator (1) of the present invention and the control method thereof, the group and amount of the food stored in the storage compartment (2) are determined by evaluating the values detected by the gas sensor (3), utilization of other methods like barcodes, displays, weight measurement, ID chips to determine the type and amount is rendered unnecessary. By implementing the most suitable cooling and humidity values according to the group and amount of the food in the storage compartment (2), preventive measures are taken before deterioration of the stored foods begin. When the deterioration of the foods in the storage compartment (2) is in the initial stage, environmental conditions according to the new status are provided and the deterioration process is delayed. If the food is detected to be completely spoiled, the shutter (5) is closed to stop the air intake and exit from the storage compartment (2) and the gas emanating from the deteriorated foods is prevented to affect the other foods.

Claims

[1] A refrigerator (1) comprising one or more storage compartments (2) wherein a single group of food such as fruit, vegetables or meat is stored, one or more gas sensors (3) that detect the chemical substances making up the odor emanating into the environment from the foods stored in the storage compartment (2), a control unit (4) that evaluates the signals about the odor transmitted by the gas sensor (3), a shutter (5) allowing the delivery of cool air into the storage compartment (2), a fan (6) providing the homogeneous distribution of air in the storage compartment (2), a heat sensor (7) that senses the ambient conditions wherein the foods are stored and a humidity sensor (8) and characterized by a control unit (4) that compares the prerecorded gas type and amounts emanating to the environment from a certain group of food in the fresh and deteriorated states to the gas type and amounts emanating from the food in the storage compartment (2) at any moment that is detected by the gas sensor (3) and decides on the group (fruit, vegetable, meat ..) and amount (a little, moderate, too much ..) of the food in the storage compartment (2).

[2] A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a control unit (4) that determines whether the food in the storage compartment (2) is fresh or not, if deteriorated, whether it is in the initial stage or completely deteriorated by comparing the prerecorded data of the gas type and amounts to the gas type and amounts detected by the gas sensor (3).

[3] A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by a control unit (4) that provides the implementation of the temperature and humidity values that will maintain the freshness for a long time by means of the heat sensor (7) and the humidity sensor (8) if the food in the storage compartment (2) is detected to be fresh, and to implement different temperature and humidity values to delay the deterioration process if the food in the storage compartment (2) is detected to be in the initial stage of deterioration.

[4] A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by a storage compartment (2) that is isolated in a leak-proof way if the food stored inside is detected to be completely deteriorated in order to prevent the unwanted odors emanating from the spoiled food to affect the food in the other compartments.

[5] A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 4, characterized by a shutter (5) that is closed to isolate the storage chamber (2) and maintained not to be opened until the source of the unwanted odors is eliminated.

[6] A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a fan (6) that is operated for a while before measurement is taken by the gas sensor (3).

[7] A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the claims 2 to 6, characterized by a control unit (4) that warns the user with an audio and/or visual notice about which storage compartment (2) contains the spoiled food in the event that a food stored in any one of the multiple storage compartments (2) is deteriorated.

[8] A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 7, characterized by a movement mechanism (9) that moves the gas sensor (3) to scan all the storage compartments (2) and to transmit separately the information about the foods stored in each storage compartment (2) to the control unit (4).

[9] A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 7, characterized by one or more sample chambers

(10) that provide the gas samples taken one by one from all the storage compartments (2) to be detected by the gas sensor (3) at one place and to transmit the information about the food in each storage compartment (2) separately to the control unit (4).