JP2006317109A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator capable of approximately calculating the freshness and quality degradation of foods stored in the refrigerator, particularly those taken in and out many times even after being unpackaged, based on the T. T. T. (Time-Temperature-Tolerance; open date-storage temperature-quality resistance) theory, and precisely managing them including temperature history information. <P>SOLUTION: A radio tag 13 attached to unpackaged food 27' and associated with the taking in and out of the food from the refrigerator 1 is used. Using the radio tag, temperatures inside and outside the refrigerator are regarded as the approximate temperature values of the food in this atmosphere and a quality degradation characteristic is approximately calculated on the basis of the temperature values and residence time so as to manage the expiration date of the food. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator capable of managing the expiration date by acquiring temperature history information inside and outside the warehouse by attaching a wireless tag to food.

  In recent years, management technology employing a wireless tag has advanced, and a plurality of antennas disposed on a side wall or the like for storing the food with the wireless tag in a box and transmitting and receiving radio waves from the wireless tag A home refrigerator has been proposed in which food information is managed and confirmed by identifying the food storage position by communication or counting the number of times food is taken in and out (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ).

Also, the product ID and distribution data stored via a plurality of facilities are read from the wireless tag attached to the product, and the temperature history data until the product reaches the final facility is created and transmitted to the host computer. , Users of the final facility can know the temperature history of the product from the completion of the product until it is displayed on the showcase, etc. by looking at the temperature history data displayed on the monitor of the host computer or reader Has been filed (see Patent Document 2).
JP 2002-81848 A JP 2004-299827 A

  However, in the refrigerator as described in Patent Document 1, the purpose is to manage the expiration date of the food stored in the refrigerator, but the food stored in the RFID tag information. It is difficult to specify the actual expiration date because only the name and expiration date are read, since the time of receipt of important food as information is unknown, and information such as temperature changes due to food removal is not entered. Met.

  Further, according to Patent Document 2, it is possible to know a temperature history from when a product is completed until it is displayed in a showcase by recording on a wireless tag. The above example is a product history in a distribution process, In general consumers manage the freshness and quality of food stored in a refrigerator for home use, especially foods that are frequently put in and out after opening, such as seasonings and pickles and vegetables prepared for regular consumption. There wasn't. Therefore, if the food is taken out of the refrigerator each time it is eaten and stays for a long time in summer, etc., when the temperature is high, the quality of the food deteriorates at an accelerated rate. There was no food management.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points. The freshness and quality deterioration of food stored in a refrigerator, particularly food that is often taken in and out of the cabinet even after opening, is described in T.W. T.A. An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that is approximately calculated based on the theory of T (Time-Temperature-Tolerance Storage-Storage Temperature-Quality Tolerance) and can be accurately managed including temperature history information. .

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the refrigerator according to claim 1 of the present invention uses a wireless tag attached to the food after opening and attached to the food in and out of the refrigerator. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the quality deterioration characteristic is approximated from the temperature value and the residence time as an approximate temperature value of the food in the atmosphere, and the expiration date of the food is managed. Two wireless tags, a wireless tag that is attached to food in advance for distribution management and entered with a food identification code, expiration date data, etc., and a wireless tag that is attached to the food after opening and attached to and out of the refrigerator Based on the above information, the quality deterioration characteristics were approximated from the temperature value and residence time as the temperature inside and outside the food as the approximate temperature value of the food in the atmosphere, and the expiration date of the food was managed. It is an butterfly.

  In addition, the refrigerator of the invention described in claim 3 is attached to the food after opening and receives a food identification code, a shelf life data, etc., and a wireless tag attached to and out of the refrigerator, and communicates with the wireless tag. Equipped with a wireless tag reader that reads wireless tag information from an antenna provided in the cabinet, a storage door opening / closing detector, a time integrator, and a main controller that inputs signals from the inside / outside temperature sensor It consists of a storage body and a data server that transmits and receives these information signals and has a food information database, and approximates the quality deterioration characteristics of food from each information and manages its expiration date.

  According to the invention of claim 1, not only quality deterioration during storage of food in the refrigerator, but also more detailed quality including quality deterioration due to taking out from the refrigerator and using it in the outside air. Management can be performed easily. Further, according to the invention of claim 2, in addition to the above, the opening time of the food that greatly affects the storage period of the food can be given without input, and the distribution tag information attached to the food in advance By using, you can save time and effort to enter product names. Further, according to the invention of claim 3, the expiration date can be managed by inputting the minimum product information to the wireless tag even in the state where the wireless tag is not used for the current social infrastructure, that is, the product distribution. .

  Hereinafter, an example in which a wireless tag is stored and stored in a refrigerator will be described on the premise that the wireless tag is used for merchandise distribution according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The refrigerator main body (1) shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a refrigerator room (2), a vegetable room (3), an ice making room (4), and a freezing room (6) from above, and the side of the ice making room (4). Has a switching room (5) that can switch the room to multiple temperatures. The refrigerator compartment (2) has its front opening closed with a rotary door (7) pivotally supported by a hinge on one side, a vegetable compartment (3), an ice making room (4), a switching room (5) and a freezer room. (6) is provided with a drawer-type door, and the main control section (9) of the refrigerator (1) is composed of a microcomputer and is arranged on the back of the main body.

  The wireless tag has, for example, a coin-like or card-like appearance, and is formed integrally with a resin by arranging an antenna, a transmission / reception circuit, and a memory inside, and is formed on the ceiling surface of the refrigerator body (1). Is provided with a wireless tag reading device (10) which is a control unit for transmitting and receiving wireless tag information from a wireless tag attached to food.

  An antenna that is connected to the wireless tag reader (10) on the peripheral wall of the refrigerator compartment (2) and communicates with the wireless tag when food with the wireless tag is stored in the room, and transmits and receives food information. Many (11) are arranged. This antenna (11) enables communication if the wireless tag attached to the food is within a range of several tens of centimeters, and the refrigerator ( 2) is disposed on the heat insulating material side of the wall surface, the door, or the shelf.

  Next, the control configuration will be described with reference to FIG. The wireless tag reading device (10) is connected to the main control unit (9), and has a wireless tag A (12) attached to food to be taken in and out of the refrigerator (1), and a wireless tag B (13 described later). ) Based on the read data.

  In addition to the wireless tag reader (10), the main controller (9) includes a time accumulator (14) for measuring the date and current time, an outside air temperature sensor (15), and an internal temperature. Information input devices such as a sensor (16), a door (7) of the refrigerator compartment (2), and a door opening / closing detection unit (17) for controlling the opening and closing of each drawer type door are provided.

  Further, the main control unit (9) includes a memory unit (18) for storing data and a communication unit (20) for communicating with a home network device (19) outside the refrigerator main body (1). In addition, as a user interface, an input device such as a character, image or sound output device (21) and a touch panel (22) for control operation is provided.

  The home network device (19) can communicate with the data server (25) via the Internet (23), and further can communicate with the mobile phone (24) owned by the user. The data server (25) includes a food material information database (26) for managing food names and the like of food.

  When the main control unit (9) determines that the door (7) of the refrigerating room (2) is opened by a signal from the door open / close detection unit (17) and confirms the presence / absence due to the movement of the wireless tag. Transmits the information reading standby instruction to the wireless tag reading device (10). The wireless tag reading device (10) starts the operation upon receiving the reading standby instruction from the main control unit (9), The wireless tag information from the wireless tag A (12) or B (13) is detected, and the read wireless tag information is transmitted to the main controller (9).

  The main control unit (9) receives the RFID tag information from the RFID tag reading device (10), and updates the RFID tag information related to the food, in this example the margarine (27), stored in the memory unit (18). . Then, the main control unit (9) transmits a write standby instruction to the wireless tag reading device (9) and transmits update data.

  This update data is data including warehousing date / time information indicating the date and time when the margarine (27) was warehousing, and the number of warehousing. The main control unit (9) compares the received RFID tag information with the RFID tag information stored in the memory unit (18), and if the RFID tag information is new, the memory unit (18) The RFID tag information is added to.

  In the wireless tag reader (10), when there is a write standby instruction from the main control unit (9) and update data is received, the operation is started so as to transmit the update data. And if a wireless tag (12) (13) is detected, update data will be transmitted via an antenna (11). The wireless tag updates the number of times of warehousing and warehousing date / time information stored inside based on the transmitted update data, and the wireless tag reading device (10) notifies the main controller (9) of the writing result and ends. The main control unit (9) ends when a write completion notification is received from the wireless tag reading device (10).

  In the above, the case where the margarine (27) is stored in the refrigerator compartment (2) has been described. Even when the margarine (27) is extracted from the refrigerator compartment (2), the same operation as described above is performed after the door (7) is opened. And the delivery date / time information is transmitted instead of the receipt date / time information. Note that the number of warehousing is not updated when leaving.

  The main control unit (9) transmits the radio tag information of each food stored in the memory unit (18) as described above to the data server (25) via the communication unit (20). Each time the data server (25) is accessed, the date and time of the time integrating device (14) are updated. Thereby, even when the outlet of the refrigerator main body (1) is pulled out or there is a power failure, the correct date and time can be stored in the warehousing date / time information and the warehousing date / time information.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the margarine (27), which is the managed food purchased, is attached with a wireless tag A (12), and this tag is stored in the memory of the wireless tag A (12). Information necessary for merchandise distribution, such as an identification code indicating the name of the food item attached with the date, the date of manufacture, the expiration date, and the production lot number, is input at the shipping stage.

  The margarine (27) at the time of purchase is unopened, and the wireless tag A (12) is attached to the outer wall of the margarine container (28). When the margarine (27) is opened for use, the wireless tag B (13) is newly attached to the margarine container (28). As shown in FIG. 4, the wireless tag B (13) is attached to the margarine (27) to be purchased as a unit, or separately attached to the butter knife (29) provided as a novelty product. Although the configuration in which 13) is incorporated is practical and effective, other methods, for example, as described above, may be attached to the margarine container (28) as a seal, or may be incorporated in a cap or the like. Moreover, it may be attached with a string or a rubber band, and it is sufficient that the wireless tag B (13) can be stably attached for several tens of days until the margarine (27) is used up. . The wireless tag B (13) may be input with minimum information such as “butter knife” that can be distinguished from other tags.

  The process of purchasing the margarine (27), storing and storing it in the refrigerator in an unopened state, opening the package and using it will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, as Step 1, only the wireless tag A (12) is attached to the purchased and unopened margarine (27), and the margarine (27) in this state is attached to the door of the refrigerator compartment (2) ( 7) When the door is opened and stored in the cabinet, the RFID tag B (13) is not yet attached, so that the door is opened and closed (S1) and the RFID tag A (12) is present. When it is confirmed (S2) by the detection unit (16) and the wireless tag reader (10), it is determined that the refrigerated storage is started in an unopened state, and is transmitted to the main control unit (9) (S3).

  At this time, the temperature-quality information peculiar to the margarine (27), for example, the coefficient necessary for the temperature approximate calculation and the T.V. T.A. T, T. T.A. T, and T. T.A. The degradation limit calculated based on T is recorded in the data server (25) (S4).

  This temperature-quality control information indicates that the quality retention period of food during low-temperature storage changes exponentially according to the change in temperature, and the food per day at a certain temperature can be eaten deliciously. The above-mentioned T., which is theoretical data capable of calculating the amount of quality degradation. T.A. Approximate calculation based on T (Time-Temperature-Tolerance Storage-Temperature-Storage Temperature-Quality Tolerance) Theory, and categorizes foods with similar low-temperature characteristics into several groups, although the data are all different for each food By doing so, the temperature history information can be accurately managed.

  Therefore, in implementation, general margarine data may be stored in the data server (25) in advance, or the data previously input to the wireless tag A (12) may be read. You may make it request | require the said data from a foodstuff information database (26).

  Then, as step 5, based on the set temperature in the refrigerator compartment (2), the temperature of the margarine in the store is approximately calculated using the temperature approximation coefficient, and the calculated result is stored in the data server (25) as a temperature history. (S5).

  Step 6 reads that the door has been opened and then closed (S6). At this time, when it is confirmed that the RFID tag A (12) is not in the cabinet (S7), the unopened margarine (27) is refrigerated. Based on the temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor (15) of the refrigerator and the temperature approximation coefficient of the data server (25), it is determined that the margarine temperature outside the room is approximated and calculated (S8). The temperature history is recorded in the data server (25) (S9).

  The next step is to read the opening and closing (S10), and when confirming that the wireless tag A (12) and the wireless tag B (13) are present (S11), open the margarine (27). It is determined that the butter knife (29) with the wireless tag B (13) is attached, and the user confirmation (S12) is performed. That is, if the display part (30) in the vicinity of the touch panel (22) of the refrigerator compartment door (7) displays whether or not the margarine has been opened, and the user confirms this and inputs “Yes” Is to manage the margarine after that as an opened margarine (27 ').

  At this point, it is determined that refrigerated storage of the opened margarine (27 ') has started (S13), and the margarine temperature is calculated by approximation based on the set temperature in the refrigerator, and the data server (25) Record (S14).

  In step 15, reading of the opening and closing of the door is executed, and when it is confirmed that the wireless tag A (12) and the wireless tag B (13) are not in the cabinet (S16), the opening margarine (27 ' ) Is taken out of the cabinet and is determined to be in use at the dining table (S17), and the time information stored in the cabinet from the date and current time is sent to the main control unit (9) and the memory unit (18), the margarine temperature is approximately calculated based on the temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor (15) of the refrigerator, and the calculation result is recorded in the data server (25) (S18).

  When the margarine (27 ') has not been returned to the refrigerator compartment (2) after a certain period of time, for example, 30 minutes have elapsed, or the estimated temperature of the margarine has reached a predetermined temperature such as 10 ° C ( In S19), a warning is given to the display unit (30) so as to return the margarine (27 ') into the refrigerator to alert the user (S20).

  In particular, in summer when the temperature outside the refrigerator becomes high, the quality of food deteriorates not only due to meal time but also due to temperature rise and time lapse due to forgetting to store in the cabinet after meals. It is effective from.

  In response to this warning, when the user confirms the message and, for example, discards it because he has used up the margarine, he selects “Discard” or inputs that fact (S21), so Management ends. At this time, in order to ensure certainty, the presence or absence of the wireless tag B (13) may be checked again to confirm the discard (S22).

  On the other hand, if the margarine (27 ') is received again in the refrigerator compartment (2) in response to the warning, the door is opened, the door is read (S23), and the wireless tag A (12) and the wireless tag B ( 13) By confirming that it exists (S24), it is determined that the unsealed margarine (27 ') has been returned to the cabinet and approximated based on the set temperature in the refrigerator (1) and the margarine temperature at the time of charging. The margarine (27 ') calculated by subtracting the date and time in the warehousing date / time information from the date and time of the calculated date and time of the warehousing date and time is calculated along with the information on the time spent outside the warehousing that is taken out of the refrigerator. Record in the server (25) (S25).

  By repeating Step 10 and Step 15 and beyond, the temperature and storage time data of the unopened state to the unsealed state and the margarine (27 ′) after opening are recorded and accumulated in the data server (25). T. when opened T.A. T and T. T.A. A margarine degradation index is estimated and calculated based on T (S26).

  Then, when the deterioration index exceeds a predetermined value, it is determined that the margarine's best-before date has expired (S27), and a warning is issued to the user by the output device (21) (S28). The user who confirms the warning inputs the confirmation items using the input device, and promptly discards the opened margarine (27 ′).

  At this time, reading of the opening and closing of the door is executed, and it is confirmed that there is no wireless tag A (12) and wireless tag B (13). With this, the expiration date of the margarine (27 ') is managed. Will complete.

  Next, as a second embodiment, an example based on mayonnaise will be described based on the premise of current social infrastructure, that is, a state in which a wireless tag is not used for merchandise distribution. That is, a management process from purchase of unopened mayonnaise without electronic merchandise information unopened, storage and storage in the same refrigerator as in the previous embodiment, until opening and use is described below.

  First, as shown in FIG. 6, the mayonnaise (37) purchased in an unopened state attaches the wireless tag C (39) at the time of opening. As an attaching method, for example, a mayonnaise cap with a built-in wireless tag is conceivable. This is a practical and excellent method for attaching together with the opening of the mayonnaise, but other methods, for example, as in the above example, a method of sticking to a mayonnaise container as a seal, a cover body covering a cap, etc. It is only necessary that the wireless tag can be stably attached for several tens of days after using mayonnaise. In the wireless tag C (39), minimum information such as mayonnaise as a product name and “mayonnaise cap” that can be distinguished from other tags is input in advance.

  The refrigerator main body (1) is provided with a wireless tag reading device (10) for managing the loading / unloading of mayonnaise (37) from the refrigerator main body (1) based on the reading data of the wireless tag C (39). In addition to the RFID tag reader (10), the door open / close detector (17) such as the door switch of the refrigerator compartment door (7), the time accumulator (14), the outside air temperature sensor (15), the inside temperature sensor (16) and the like, and an input device similar to the above-described embodiment, such as a character, image or voice output device (21), and a touch panel (22) for control operations. I have.

  The process of purchasing the mayonnaise (37) unopened, storing and storing it in the refrigerator (1), then opening the mayonnaise (37) and finishing using it will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, as Step 1, since the purchased mayonnaise is not attached with a wireless tag, when the unopened mayonnaise (37) is stored in the refrigerator with the door (7) of the refrigerator compartment (2) opened. The management is not performed, and it is determined that there is no opened mayonnaise (37 ′) because the wireless tag does not exist in the cabinet.

  On the other hand, when reading the opening and closing (S1) and confirming that the wireless tag C (39) is attached (S2), the mayonnaise is opened and the wireless tag C (39) is attached. It is determined that the cap (38) is newly attached, and user confirmation is performed. In other words, whether or not the mayonnaise has been opened is displayed on the display (30) of the refrigerator compartment door (7). If the user confirms this and inputs “yes”, the subsequent mayonnaise Is managed as an opened mayonnaise (37 ') (S3).

  In addition, foods such as the above mayonnaise and bottling jam can be stored at room temperature for a long time in an unopened state, and there is not much need to manage the expiration date described on the container, but the elapsed time in an unopened state such as margarine For foods that affect quality degradation, expiration date management is required, and at this point, the display section (30) of the refrigerator compartment door (7) displays a label requesting the expiration date of the applicable food. The user inputs the expiration date (S4).

  Temperature-quality information of each food corresponding to the wireless tags C (39), C ′, C ″, for example, coefficients necessary for temperature approximate calculation, unopened TTT, opened TTT, The deterioration limit calculated based on T.T.T and the like are recorded in advance in the data server (25).

  Then, as step 5, based on the indoor set temperature of the refrigerator compartment (2), the temperature of the mayonnaise in the room is approximately calculated using the temperature approximation coefficient, and the calculation result is recorded as a temperature history in the data server (25) ( S5).

  After that, reading of opening and closing (S6) is executed, and when it is confirmed that the RFID tag C (39) is not in the cabinet (S7), the opened mayonnaise (37 ′) is taken out of the cabinet and the table etc. Is determined to be in use (S8). Based on the temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor (14) of the refrigerator, the mayonnaise temperature outside the refrigerator is approximately calculated and recorded in the data server (25) (S9).

  When the mayonnaise (37 ') has not been returned to the refrigeration room after a certain period of time, for example, 30 minutes have elapsed, or the estimated mayonnaise temperature has reached a predetermined temperature such as 10 ° C (S10) Then, a warning is issued on the display unit (30) to return the mayonnaise (37 ') to the refrigerator to alert the user (S11).

  In response to this warning, the user confirms the message and, for example, if the mayonnaise (37 ') has been used up and is discarded, select "Discard" or enter that fact (S12), and wirelessly again. By checking the presence / absence of the tag C (39) (S13) and confirming the discard (S14), the subsequent management of the margarine is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the mayonnaise (37 ') is received again in the refrigerator compartment (2) in response to the warning, the opening of the door, the reading of the closing (S15), and the presence of the wireless tag C (39) are confirmed. By confirming (S16), it is determined that the opened mayonnaise (37 ') has been returned to the refrigerator (1), and an approximate calculation is made based on the set temperature of the refrigerator compartment (2) and the mayonnaise temperature at the time of charging. Record (S17) in the server (25).

  By repeating step 1 and step 6 and subsequent steps, the temperature and storage time data of the mayonnaise (37 ') after opening are recorded and accumulated in the data server (25). T.A. T and T. T.A. A margarine degradation index is estimated and calculated based on T (S18).

  When the deterioration index exceeds a predetermined value, it is determined that the mayonnaise expiration date has expired (S19), and a warning is issued to the user by the output device (21) (S20). The user who confirms the warning inputs the confirmation items using the input device and promptly discards the opened mayonnaise (37 ′).

  At this time, reading of the opening and closing of the door is executed, and it is confirmed that there is no wireless tag C (39), thereby completing the management of the expiration date of the mayonnaise (37 ').

  Although the present invention is configured as described above, various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiments, the example of the refrigerator compartment (2) has been described. Not limited to the above, it may be applied to the vegetable room (3), the switching room (5), the freezing room (6), etc., and may be managed for each room. It can be used for things such as milk cartons and pickles that are used for food for a relatively long period of time after opening.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for a refrigerator that performs food management after opening with a wireless tag.

It is a perspective view of the refrigerator which shows one Embodiment of this invention. It is a control block diagram of the refrigerator shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the foodstuff which attached | subjected the wireless tag accommodated in the refrigerator of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the foodstuff which opened the foodstuff of FIG. 3, and attached | subjected the 2nd wireless tag. It is a flowchart which shows the quality control of the foodstuff stored in the refrigerator of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the foodstuff which attached | subjected the wireless tag of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the quality control state of the foodstuff of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Refrigerator 2 Refrigerating room 7 Refrigerating room door 9 Main control unit 10 RFID tag reader 11 Antenna
12 RFID tag A 13 RFID tag B 14 Time accumulator
15 Outside air temperature sensor 16 Inside temperature sensor 17 Door open / close detector
18 Memory unit 19 Home network device 20 Communication unit
21 Output device 22 Touch panel 23 Internet
24 Mobile phone 25 Data server 26 Food information database
27 Margarine 27 ′ opened Margarine 28 Margarine container
29 Butter knife 30 Display 37 Mayonnaise
37 'opened mayonnaise 38 mayonnaise cap 39 RFID tag C

Claims (5)

  Use a wireless tag attached to the food after opening and attached to the food in and out of the refrigerator. By using this wireless tag, the temperature inside and outside the container is approximated to the temperature of the food in the atmosphere and the residence time. The refrigerator is characterized in that the quality deterioration characteristic is approximated from the above and the shelf life of the food is managed.   A wireless tag attached to food in advance for food distribution management and input with a food identification code, expiration date data, and the like; a wireless tag attached to food that has been opened and attached to / from the refrigerator; Based on the information of the wireless tag, the temperature inside and outside of the cabinet is approximated as the approximate temperature value of the food in the atmosphere, and the quality deterioration characteristics are approximately calculated from the temperature value and the residence time, and the expiration date of the food is managed. Refrigerator.   Attached to food after opening, food identification code, expiry date data, etc. are input, and a radio tag attached to the inside / outside of the refrigerator and an antenna provided in the cabinet so as to be able to communicate with this radio tag A wireless tag reader for reading wireless tag information, a storage door opening / closing detector, a time accumulator, a storage main body having a main control unit for inputting signals from the inside / outside temperature sensor, and a food material that transmits and receives these information signals A refrigerator comprising: a data server having an information database, wherein a quality deterioration characteristic of food is approximated from each information and its expiration date is managed.   The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the wireless tag is attached to tableware or a food container, or is attached to the food container so as to be taken in and out together with the food. 5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein a wireless tag attached by a user after food is opened is loaded into a tableware such as a butter knife or a food container such as a container cap.

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