EP3885693A1 - Method for detecting products stored in safety cabinets - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for detecting products (2, 3, 4) stored in safety cabinets (1). The respective safety cabinet (1) is equipped with at least one sensor device (10) and in particular weighing device (10). In addition, at least consumption values of the relevant product (2, 3, 4) are recorded with the aid of a control unit (11). According to the invention, the consumption values are converted into payment values in connection with user-specific data.

Description

The invention relates to a method for detecting products stored in safety cabinets, according to which the respective safety cabinet is equipped with at least one sensor device, in particular a weighing device, and according to which at least consumption values of the product are recorded with the aid of a control unit.

Safety cabinets or cabinets for hazardous materials are typically used to store chemicals, solids, gases, etc., which are generally flammable and must therefore be protected from any sources of heat. In addition to the heat protection described, such safety cabinets can of course also offer health protection, access protection, etc. because, due to their massive (regularly metallic) design, they typically only allow access to authorized users. The safety cabinets or hazardous materials cabinets in question can be placed both in buildings and outside of buildings.

As a rule, the aforementioned dangerous goods are stored in bottles, canisters, containers, etc. in the relevant safety cabinet. In order to protect the dangerous goods or substances in the event of fire and, for example, to prevent explosions, such a safety cabinet is usually equipped with doors that close in the event of fire and with a specific and specified fire resistance. This can correspond to a fire resistance of 60 minutes or 90 minutes, for example. This avoids fires and explosions, especially in the event of a fire, which has basically proven its worth. In general, of course, the invention also includes safety cabinets without the previously mentioned fire resistance.

In addition to such basic safety-related requirements, safety cabinets nowadays increasingly take on additional functions, namely, for example, to record the products or dangerous goods or hazardous substances stored inside and also to record any consumption values. In fact, the generic teaching describes according to the DE 20 2017 102 435 U1 a safety cabinet, which is also equipped with a weighing device for determining the mass. With the aid of the weighing device, the mass of the cabinet body and / or of at least one cabinet component located in the cabinet body can be recorded. As a result, the consumption values of the associated hazardous substance can be determined. In addition, the consumption values can be assigned to an operator or user. As a result, security queries are ultimately made. In fact, based on the consumption values of hazardous substances assigned to the respective user in question, it can be determined, for example, whether an explosive mixture or another flammable solution can be produced with this.

For this purpose, the weighing device, which is one or more weighing cells, is implemented in the end. With the aid of an operating unit, the user can be controlled in order to identify him or to obtain user-specific data. These can then be linked to consumption values taken by the respective user. The consumption values are determined with the help of the weighing device. This has basically proven its worth.

In addition, describes the DE 20 2017 102 439 U1 a mixing station for, in particular, liquid hazardous substances, in which an access control unit is provided in order, in the example, to couple a recipe input to an authorization check of the user. With the help of a control unit, consumption quantities of the respective hazardous substance can be checked for plausibility and / or security. In addition, the consumption quantities of the respective hazardous substance can be assigned to a user account, a total consumption account or a storage account, for example.

Regardless of this, there are so-called payment methods, such as those in the WO 2015/181293 A1 to be discribed. The known payment system is a computer-implemented method for processing purchase-specific and user-specific data. For this purpose, an online shop is implemented that dispatches purchase-specific data with or without a web server. With the aid of a computer system, user-specific data stored by a user can be accessed. This makes it easy to check this user-specific data.

The state of the art has basically proven itself. However, in practice there is an increasing requirement that not only the consumption values must be recorded and correlated with a user in order to carry out security queries. Rather, when several users access the same chemical stored in the safety cabinet, for example, security requirements can be mapped, but at no cost. This is disadvantageous with regard to reliable budget planning, for example if the different users belong to different departments of a company. The invention aims to provide a remedy here overall.

The invention is based on the technical problem of developing such a method for detecting products stored in safety cabinets in such a way that reliable budget planning is possible.

To solve this technical problem, a generic method within the scope of the invention is characterized in that the consumption values are converted into payment values in connection with user-specific data.

In the context of the invention, the aim is first of all to correlate the individual consumption values of the associated product with user-specific data. The product in question does not necessarily have to be hazardous substances or goods. Rather, such safety cabinets can basically also be used to store inaccessible products that have to be protected from general access, for example drugs, paints, but also generally valuables. Because the safety cabinets used at this point have, in addition to their previously specified fire protection and the mostly mandatory fire resistance of 60 min or 90 min, also have a mechanically stable structure that is tamper-proof.

As a rule, however, hazardous substances or goods are stored in the safety cabinets, which are or can be not only liquid hazardous substances or hazardous goods or even gaseous hazardous goods such as gas cylinders. Rather, solid hazardous substances or hazardous goods are also and increasingly stored in the safety cabinets in question, for example batteries, in particular lithium-ion batteries, which are known to have a tendency to spontaneously under certain circumstances and are consequently correspondingly safe must be stored. Such safety cabinets and in particular battery cabinets are exemplified in the EP 3 396 094 A1 described by the applicant. Comparable fireproof cabinets for fireproof storage of data carriers or as a safe are also available through the DE 40 41 705 C1 known.

The consumption values of the respective product can be recorded with the aid of the sensor device. This may be a weighing device. In principle, however, other sensor devices for measuring consumption are also conceivable and are encompassed by the invention. For example, consumption values can also be determined by measuring the fill level. A pressure measurement is also conceivable, for example in the case of a gas. In addition, consumption values of the product can also be realized via a current measurement, in which, for example, an emitted product flow is added up.

If a weighing device is used, it usually has at least one weighing cell. The procedure here is usually such that several load cells are provided, which are distributed, for example, on the base of the cabinet body and / or a cabinet component.

The load cell itself usually has a spring body that can be deformed proportionally to the mass. In this way, the load cell transmits electrical signals proportional to the mass to the control unit. In addition, a filter can be provided for the electrical signals in order to eliminate electrical signals due to vibrations, possibly inclined positions, etc., for example.

In any case, with the aid of the weighing device or the at least one weighing cell, electrical signals proportional to the mass can be transmitted to the control unit, which give information about the associated consumption values of the respective product. In the context of the invention, these consumption values are now combined with user-specific data. In addition, the combination of the consumption values and the user-specific data is converted into payment values, i.e. H. ultimately into a "price" of the respective product, taking into account the associated consumption.

The general procedure here is that the operator or user must first identify himself or herself to the safety cabinet in order to generate the user-specific data. In fact, the procedure here is usually such that the user-specific data are generated, for example, via an access control unit on or in the safety cabinet. In the simplest case, the access control unit can be designed as a keypad on which the user or operator must log in using a code that must be entered accordingly.

Alternatively or additionally, however, the user-specific data can also be generated with the aid of a computer that is independent of the respective safety cabinet. This computer can be a portable computer. The independent computer may be designed as a mobile phone, for example a smartphone. In this case, the operator or user is identified with the aid of the portable computer or his smartphone in such a way that a user-specific code is stored in the smartphone or the computer or must be entered by the user. This code can be an alphanumeric code as well as a fingerprint, an iris scanner, etc.

In any case, this allows overall user-specific data to be generated, which are either generated via the access control unit on or in the safety cabinet and then transmitted to the control unit or are transmitted from the outset to the central control unit, for example wirelessly, using the computer that is independent of the safety cabinet. This is usually the case when using a mobile phone or smartphone as a portable computer.

These user-specific data are linked to the associated safety cabinet in order to inform the control unit that a planned removal is to be carried out on the relevant safety cabinet. This link takes place automatically in the access control unit on or in the safety cabinet because the access control unit is assigned in the relevant safety cabinet. If the user-specific data are generated using the computer that is independent of the respective safety cabinet, they are compared with a cabinet-specific identification means. In the simplest case, the cabinet-specific identification means can be a so-called “QR code”, that is to say a two-dimensional code that can be scanned in and read out by the portable computer in question. The associated safety cabinet can be easily identified via the code in question and linked to the user-specific data. This link is then in turn transmitted to the central control unit (wirelessly).

As a result of this, the control unit is informed that the correspondingly identified user is to carry out a planned removal of a chemical from the safety cabinet which is also defined intended. For this purpose, the safety cabinet is first unlocked, for example with the aid of the control unit, provided that the user has been tested positive in terms of an access check. Following this, the user can then take the desired chemical, which he usually also transmits to the control unit via a substance-specific or product-specific identification means. The substance-specific identification means, like the cabinet-specific identification means, can be the "QR code" mentioned above.

At the same time, the previously mentioned mass-proportional signal is generated with the aid of the weighing device and transmitted to the control unit, which corresponds to the consumption value taken after removal and return of, for example, a canister with the desired chemical. Since the removed chemical has previously been identified via the substance-specific identification means as well as the user and the associated safety cabinet, the consumption values can not only be assigned to the specific safety cabinet and the previously identified user, but also to the respective removed product in terms of their quantity.

In other words, the cabinet-specific or substance-specific or product-specific identification means is advantageously designed as a QR code. In general, other codes can also be used. With the help of this QR code or generally a two-dimensional code or a code as a whole, the removed product can now be identified beyond doubt together with the safety cabinet and the associated user. At the same time, with the help of the obligatory weighing device, corresponding consumption values can be linked to this. The product price, for example a The container price for a chemical container can be queried in the control unit and combined with the consumption value in order to obtain the desired payment value in this way. That is, if the user has taken the product in question or the amount of the desired chemical from the safety cabinet, strictly speaking, he would have to pay the "payment value" for this, which depends on the consumption value and the product price (for example euros per liter).

In the context of the invention, however, the payment values are assigned in the central control unit to a department, an account or another budgeting unit, for example, so that maximum transparency and a fair accounting system are made available in this way. This is where the main advantages can be seen.

The control unit itself can be arranged in or on the relevant safety cabinet. As a rule, however, several safety cabinets are linked to one another via the control unit. For this purpose, the control unit can, for example, be physically accommodated in a building, a floor, etc., in which the safety cabinets combined in this way are located. These communicate with the control unit via a network, specifically wired and / or wireless. In principle, however, there is also the possibility within the scope of the invention that the control unit is not only integrated into the network composed of the control unit and the safety cabinets, but can also be embedded in a global network as a cloud server, for example. This also increases data security because the stored data is still available overall if, for example, a laboratory or part of a building is burned out or is otherwise not currently entered because of, for example, escaped vapors can be.

As a result, a method for detecting products stored in safety cabinets is made available, which goes far beyond the previous procedures. Because by linking the safety cabinets to one another through the central control unit in connection with the weighing device assigned to each safety cabinet, not only, for example, removed chemicals can be checked for potential safety risks. Rather, within the scope of the invention, there is expressly the possibility of flanking each withdrawn amount (consumption value) with a price relevant for the chemical in question and thereby storing the payment value associated with the consumption in the control unit. This payment value can then be assigned to an account for budget planning.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the interior of the respective safety cabinet can also be equipped with one or more sockets for the electrical supply of, for example, chargers for batteries. In this case, the consumption value of the product corresponds to the current consumption values of the battery stored inside and connected to the relevant socket via the charger. Otherwise, the consumption values are typically mass decreases in, for example, liquids, volume and thus also mass decreases in, for example, gases, etc.

If one or more batteries are stored in the safety cabinet in question, user-specific data are first generated again, which provide the user with access to the safety cabinet in question. If then the user places the battery in question in the safety cabinet, the presence of the battery inside is registered with the aid of the sensor device and transmitted to the control unit with a time. For this purpose, the sensor device can again be the weighing device. As an alternative to this, of course, other sensor devices are also conceivable in this context, for example a camera including image recognition or presence sensors. This can be an infrared sensor with the help of which the temperature of the battery, which differs from that of the safety cabinet, can be recorded. A light barrier is also conceivable. Either way, the consumption values for the battery in question are then summed up or determined in such a way that either the increased power consumption caused by charging the battery is recorded via an electricity meter belonging to the safety cabinet or a time measurement is simply carried out. As long as the battery is inside the safety cabinet, the time measurement can be converted into electricity consumption, which in turn can be converted into the associated payment value.

As soon as the associated battery is removed, which in turn can be determined with the aid of the sensor device associated with the safety cabinet, the time for drawing electricity is stopped and the desired payment value is derived from the time period and in this case, together with the user-specific data and the substance-specific or production-specific identification means in stored in the control unit or processed further. In fact, the battery in question can be re-equipped with a substance or product-specific identification means in the form of a QR code, for example, which is read out with the aid of a portable computer or smartphone in the example when the battery in question is placed inside the safety cabinet. So the procedure is comparable to the case that a liquid or a gas is to be removed from the safety cabinet in question.

In any case, the safety cabinet cannot only be equipped with one or more batteries in this way. There is also the option of converting consumption values in the form of electricity consumption values into payment values. In the simplest case, these payment values correspond to a dwell time of the battery inside the safety cabinet, because in this case it is assumed that the battery is charged using the one or more sockets located inside the dwell time. In addition to the dwell time, there is of course the option of equipping the entire safety cabinet or each individual socket with a consumption meter for the respective power consumption and in this way recording the associated consumption values for the battery stored inside the safety cabinet.

The respective consumption values or power consumption values for the product in question are combined or correlated with the user-specific data and in turn converted according to the invention into the payment values, which can be correctly and unambiguously assigned to the associated user with the help of the control unit. This is where the main advantages can be seen.

Fig. 1

eine Vorrichtung zum Erfassen von in Sicherheitsschränken gelagerten Produkten in einer generellen Übersicht und

Fig. 2

den zugehörigen Sicherheitsschrank schematisch.

The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of a drawing showing only one exemplary embodiment; show it:

Fig. 1

a device for recording products stored in safety cabinets in a general overview and

Fig. 2

the associated safety cabinet schematically.

In the Fig. 1 a device for detecting products 2, 3, 4 stored in safety cabinets 1 is shown. The products 2, 3, 4 in the exemplary embodiment and not by way of limitation are gas bottles 2, canisters 3 for chemicals and batteries 4, in particular lithium-ion batteries. Of course, products 2, 3, 4 that are not to be classified as hazardous substances can also be stored and protected in the safety cabinets 1 in question.

For this purpose, the respective safety cabinet 1 is evidenced by the Fig. 2 first of all via two doors 5, which can be locked with respect to a cabinet body 7 with the aid of a locking unit or one or more locking elements 6. The doors 5, like the cabinet body 7, are typically made of steel or equipped with a steel shell. In addition, the doors 5 are equipped to close automatically in the event of a fire, as is the case, for example, in FIG EP 3 396 094 A1 is described. In addition, a vent 8 including a fan that is not expressly shown is usually also provided in order to discharge any vapors that may arise inside the safety cabinet 1.

According to the embodiment according to Fig. 2 the safety cabinet 1 is additionally equipped with an access control unit 9. In the exemplary embodiment, the access control unit 9 is implemented on the outside of a door 5 and can of course also be attached to the cabinet body 7. Via the access control unit 9 and a keyboard field provided there, which is not restrictive, a user wishing to access must first identify himself with the aid of an access code to be entered there. The Locking unit 6 opened so that one or both doors 5 release the interior of the safety cabinet 1.

Based on Fig. 2 it can be seen that the locking unit 6, like the access control unit 9 and a sensor device 10 to be described in more detail, are connected to a central control unit 11. In the exemplary embodiment, the sensor device 10 is a weighing device 10 with load cells 10. In fact, the weighing device 10 according to the exemplary embodiment has three load cells 10, with the aid of which the mass or the weight of the safety cabinet 1 can be detected. According to the exemplary embodiment, the consumption of gas in the gas cylinder 2, the consumption of the chemical in the canister 3 or the presence and absence of one or more batteries 4 in the interior of the safety cabinet 1 are recorded with the aid of the weighing device 10 or the load cells 10.

In fact, the invention works in such a way that instead of using the access control unit 9 with the aid of a computer 12 that is independent of the respective safety cabinet 1, not only the authorization of the user, but also user-specific data are generated. In the exemplary embodiment, the independent computer 12 is a portable computer 12, in the present case a mobile phone and in particular a smartphone. At least consumption values of the respective product 2, 3, 4 are recorded with the aid of the central control unit 11. The consumption values of the product 2, 3, 4 are converted into payment values in connection with the user-specific data, as will be explained in more detail below. In addition, permissible data for the access code are stored in the control unit 11 in order to carry out the authorization check of the user.

The consumption values are mass decreases in liquids, for example, in the present case a mass decrease in the liquid chemical in canister 3. However, a decrease in volume of the gas in gas bottle 2 and thus also a decrease in mass can just as well be registered as a consumption value and further processed in control unit 11 . Finally, the consumption values according to the invention and, alternatively, power consumption values for the batteries 4 used as an example. For this purpose, the interior of the safety cabinet 1 accommodating the batteries 4 is equipped with one or more sockets 13 or generally electrical supply units 13. The battery 4 can be charged via the respective socket 13 as soon as an associated charger is plugged into the socket 13. Of course, the safety cabinet 1 can also be equipped with corresponding charging devices or the electrical supply units 13 for direct electrical supply to the batteries 4.

The user-specific data for identifying the user wishing to access are exemplified with the aid of the access control unit 9 in accordance with the illustration in FIG Fig. 2 and the keyboard field displayed there is generated and transmitted to the central control unit 11. As a rule, however, the procedure is such that the user-specific data in question are generated with the aid of the computer 12, in this case the smartphone, which is independent of the respective safety cabinet 1. For this purpose, the user-specific data are stored in the Fig. 1 network to be recognized is transmitted to the central control unit 11 in question. The network can be the Internet or a wired network inside a building. Combinations are of course also conceivable.

Either way, a user must first transmit his user-specific data to the control unit 11 via the network in question. For this purpose, the user enters a code that identifies him or the access code on the portable computer or smartphone 12 in question. This code is then transmitted from the smartphone 12 to the control unit 11 either directly or via the indicated network. The access code is then checked for authorization with the aid of the control unit 11. Immediately before or after this, a cabinet-specific identification means 14 can now also be recorded with the aid of the portable computer 12. In the exemplary embodiment, this is a two-dimensional code, for example a QR code, which may simply be glued to the outside of the safety cabinet 1 or otherwise attached.

When the user wishing to access scans the cabinet-specific code 14 in question and combines it with his user-specific data and transmits this combination to the central control unit 11, the central control unit 11 is informed that a user wishes to access the safety cabinet 1 in question. If the user is authorized to do so, the control unit 11 then ensures that the locking unit 6 of the relevant safety cabinet 1 is acted upon in such a way that it releases one or both of the cabinet doors 5. The user now has access to the safety cabinet 1.

It is then necessary for the user to use another substance-specific or product-specific identification means 15 to document that he wants to manipulate the product 2, 3, 4 in question. The substance or product-specific identification means 15 is again a code, in particular a two-dimensional code and, for example, a QR code, which, like the QR code, can be read in as a cabinet-specific identification means 14 by the portable computer 12.

If the user takes something from the product 2, 3, 4 in question, then corresponding consumption values associated with a decrease in mass can be recorded with the aid of the weighing device 10 of the relevant safety cabinet 1 and with the user identified via the user-specific data on the one hand and with the aid of the cabinet-specific identification means 14 on the other hand to the safety cabinet 1 and finally to the relevant product 2, 3, 4 via the substance or product-specific identification means 15. In the case of the battery 4, the assignment corresponds to the fact that, for example, a time measurement is started because the placing of the associated battery 4 in the safety cabinet 1 recorded with the aid of the weighing device 10 is identified as the fact that the battery 4 in question is charged with electrical current via the supply unit 13 . As long as this is the case, this time can be measured in the central control unit 11 and assigned to a power consumption value. The same applies to, for example, the amount of chemicals withdrawn from the canister 3 or also the amount of gas withdrawn with a view to the gas cylinder 2.

In any case, these different consumption values in connection with the user-specific data can all be converted into payment values. For this purpose, costs for the relevant product 2, 3, 4 are stored in the central control unit 11, for example a price per liter for the gas stored in gas bottle 2, a price per liter for the chemical in canister 3 or an electricity price for each operating hour. In any case, from the consumption values in connection with the user-specific data in the control unit 11 the associated payment value can be generated, which in turn can then be further processed for budgeting. For this purpose, the payment value may be assigned to an account of the user, for example.

The control unit 11 can be connected to the individual safety cabinets 1 by wire as a whole and can communicate with them. Of course, a wireless solution is also possible within the scope of the invention. In addition, the control unit 11 can also be integrated into a global network (Internet), for example as a cloud server. The communication between the portable computer 12 is also typically wireless with the central control unit 11, but can just as well be carried out by wire.

Claims (10)

Method for detecting products (2, 3, 4) stored in safety cabinets (1), according to which the respective safety cabinet (1) is equipped with at least one sensor device (10), in particular a weighing device (10), and then with the aid of a control unit ( 11) at least consumption values of the product (2, 3, 4) are recorded,
characterized in that
the consumption values in connection with user-specific data are converted into payment values. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the consumption values are mass decreases in, for example, liquids, volume decreases in, for example, gases, power consumption values in, for example, batteries, etc. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the inside of the safety cabinet (1) is equipped with one or more electrical supply units (13), for example sockets (13), for the electrical supply of, among other things, chargers for the batteries (4). Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the user-specific data are generated via an access control unit (9) on or in the safety cabinet (1). Method according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the user-specific data are generated with the aid of a computer (12) that is independent of the respective safety cabinet (1). Method according to Claim 5, characterized in that the computer (12) is designed as a portable computer, for example a mobile phone and in particular a smartphone. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the user-specific data are transmitted to the central control unit (11) via a network. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the user-specific data are compared with the consumption values of the associated safety cabinet (1) by a cabinet-specific identification means (14). Method according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the cabinet-specific and / or a substance-specific or product-specific identification means (14, 15) are each designed as a QR code. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the control unit (11) is embedded in the network as, for example, a cloud server.

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