JP2007137553A - Article storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator capable of performing antenna output so as to prevent any adverse effect on the periphery, and enhancing the reading accuracy of tag information. <P>SOLUTION: The radio wave can be easily output from an antenna when a refrigerator door is closed by providing a door opening/closing detection means for detecting the opening/closing of the refrigerator door by a door switch, a tag data reading means for reading information on a tag mounted on an article by outputting the radio wave from the antenna, and a first control means for giving the reading command to the tag data reading means according to the signal from the door opening/closing detection means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an inventory management device for stored articles in a freezer or refrigerator, and other similar storage devices.

  Conventionally, many devices have been invented that automatically manage articles stored in a refrigerator to prevent food corruption and forgetting to use. In particular, in recent years, an apparatus for performing inventory management of articles stored in a refrigerator by transmitting and receiving information by wireless communication has been proposed. Among them, an article management apparatus provided with a reader / writer for a non-contact IC tag is known. (See Patent Document 1).

Such a management device is configured to output radio waves from the antenna with the refrigerator door open, and to read and write information on the non-contact IC tag at the operation timing when the user inserts and removes the article.
JP 2001-317862 A

  However, since the conventional article management device outputs radio waves for acquiring management information with the refrigerator door open, there is a possibility of malfunctions and adverse effects on peripheral devices, and the effects of radio waves on the human body Must be considered.

  In order to prevent each of the above adverse effects, it is conceivable to suppress the output, but such a measure has a drawback that the reading accuracy of the non-contact IC tag is deteriorated.

  Further, as long as the door is open, the output to the antenna is always performed for the above-described reading, so that power is consumed more than necessary.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and enables management control to output radio media such as radio waves so as not to adversely affect the surroundings and to improve the reading accuracy of tag information. With the goal.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the article storage apparatus of the present invention includes management control means for transmitting and receiving article information stored or stored in the article storage apparatus using a wireless medium, and the management control means when the door is opened. This is to stop the transfer operation.

  As a result, various adverse effects caused by radio wave leakage at the time of opening the door can be prevented or suppressed.

  Further, the article storage apparatus of the present invention operates the tag data reading means in conjunction with the door closing operation or after the door closing operation, and can easily detect opening and closing of the door by a switch means or the like. It is possible, and the operation of the tag data reading means can be easily automated.

  In the present invention, since the article information is recognized when the article storage device is closed, the wireless medium such as the radio wave output for the recognition is not leaked to the outside, and the wireless medium is leaked to the outside. It is possible to eliminate the inconvenience.

  In addition, the present invention reads the information of the non-contact IC tag by the tag data reading means, the control circuit can be easily digitized, the reading operation can be linked with the opening and closing of the door, and automation is also easy. This improves operability and usability.

  Moreover, since the recognized article information can be used as an information source for display outside the warehouse, the development according to the application can be expanded.

  The invention according to claim 1 is housed in the article storage apparatus main body for storing or storing articles, and in the article storage apparatus main body when the door provided on the article storage apparatus main body is closed or when the door is closed. Alternatively, it includes a management control means for transmitting and receiving stored article information using a wireless medium.

  With this configuration, the article information is recognized in the closed state of the article storage device, so that a radio medium such as a radio wave output for the recognition is not leaked to the outside, and the outside of the radio medium is released. Inconvenience due to leakage can be solved. Further, in order to improve the accuracy in the recognition operation of the article information, it is possible to increase the output of the wireless medium such as radio waves, and even in such a case, the influence on the outside is eliminated.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the management control means is attached to the article, a tag holding information on the article, and tag data reading means for reading the article information held by the tag via the wireless medium. And output control means for controlling the output of the wireless medium.

  With this configuration, the operation of the output control unit can perform the recognition operation of the article information, and the storage or storage status of the article can be acquired and stored as electronic information.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the tag data reading means is operated in conjunction with the door closing operation or after the door closing operation.

  With such a configuration, the recognition operation of the article information can be automated, and the operability and usability can be improved.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the management control means is provided with timer means for restricting the output time of the wireless medium to a predetermined time.

  By adopting such a configuration, the power saving effect can be achieved without unnecessarily recognizing the article information.

  The invention according to claim 5 includes storage means for storing article information in the warehouse before and after opening and closing the door, and processing means for performing predetermined processing on article information after closing with the article information stored in the storage means as an input. It is.

  With this configuration, it becomes possible to manage the list of stored or stored articles using the article information in the storage means as an input, and in addition to assisting user management activities such as article replenishment or article replacement, it is electronic information. The processing of article information can be used and utilized for a wide range of purposes, such as being usable as display information to the outside.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the tag data reading means is provided with an antenna that outputs the wireless medium, and the antenna is provided on a shelf that divides the interior of the article storage device body into a plurality of stages or a plurality of rows. is there.

  By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to read information on storage and storage articles in both spaces sandwiching the shelf, and it is possible to manage articles even in storage and storage environments with different amount spaces.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view in which a part of a refrigerator door showing the first embodiment of the article storage device according to the present invention is opened, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view in which a part of a different door in the refrigerator is opened, and FIG. Fig. 4 is a control block diagram of the refrigerator, and Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation contents of the refrigerator by the control block.

  In FIG. 1, the refrigerator main body 1 is comprised with the heat insulation housing | casing as is well-known, and is equipped with the refrigerator compartment 2, the vegetable compartment 3, and the freezer compartment 4 inside. The refrigerating room 2 is used by being divided into a plurality of stages by shelves (not shown) as is well known, and is provided on the front side of the refrigerating room 2 up and down at one end of the refrigerator body 1. A refrigerator compartment door 6 pivotally supported by the hinge 5 is rotatably provided. The vegetable compartment 2 and the freezer compartment 4 are provided with a vegetable compartment door 9 and a freezer compartment door 10 which are integrated with box-like containers 7 and 8, respectively. As a result, the vegetable compartment 3 and the freezer compartment 4 have a drawer-type opening / closing structure. Further, a door switch 11 that is turned ON / OFF in accordance with opening / closing of the refrigerator compartment door 6 is provided on the front surface of the refrigerator compartment 2, and the vegetable compartment doors are similarly applied to the front surfaces of the vegetable compartment 3 and the freezer compartment 4. 9. Door switches 12 and 13 that are turned ON / OFF in accordance with opening / closing (drawing and pushing) operations of the freezer compartment door 10 are provided.

  The refrigerator having the above-described configuration is a well-known configuration and is not directly related to the control of the present invention, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In addition, a refrigerating room antenna 14 constituting tag data reading means described later is provided on the inner rear surface of the refrigerating room 2, and the vegetable room 3 constituting tag data reading means described later is also provided on the inner top surface of the vegetable room 3. An antenna 15 is provided. Since the refrigerator compartment antenna 14 and the vegetable compartment antenna 15 may have a well-known configuration, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The refrigerator body 1 is provided with management control means (not shown) for managing the stock status of stored items (not shown) stored in the refrigerator compartment 2 and the vegetable compartment 3.

  Next, the configuration of the management control means will be described with reference to FIG. Here, non-contact made of a well-known configuration in which identification information (for example, varieties, product names, weights, expiration dates, etc.) is written in the stored items stored in the refrigerator compartment 2 and the vegetable compartment 3. Description will be made on the assumption that an IC tag (hereinafter referred to as a tag) is attached.

  In FIG. 3, the management control means 21 inputs open / close signals (ON / OFF signals) of the door switches 11 and 12, and the open / close determination means 22 for determining at least that the door is open, and the open / close determination means 22. The tag data reading means 24 for starting the operation of inputting the signal and reading the identification information of the tag 23 (item information, hereinafter referred to as tag information), and outputting / stopping the reading signal of the tag data reading means 24 Output control means 25 for controlling, and antennas 14 and 15 for generating radio waves of a predetermined frequency in the refrigerator compartment 2 or the vegetable compartment 3 by the output signal of the output control means 25 are provided.

  Here, a specific circuit or the like for generating and outputting the radio wave having the predetermined frequency may have a well-known configuration, and thus description thereof is omitted. Further, the specific recognition process and contents of the tag information by the tag data reading unit 24 may be within a well-known range, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  Next, the contents of control by which the tag data reading unit 24 reads the tag information will be described with reference to FIG. Here, for convenience of explanation, tag information processing associated with taking in and out of stored articles in the refrigerator compartment 2 will be described.

  When the refrigerator compartment door 6 is opened (Step 1), the loading / unloading of articles in the refrigerator compartment 2 is completed (Step 2), and the refrigerator compartment door 6 is closed, the door is closed by the open / close discrimination means 22. (Step 3), the tag data reading means 24 starts the operation of reading the tag information.

  That is, the output control means 25 outputs a read signal to the antenna 14, and a radio wave is output from the antenna 14 into the refrigerator compartment 2 (Step 4). Under the influence of the radio wave, the information of the tag 23 is read, and the tag data reading means 24 stores the tag information (Step 5).

  When the tag data processing by the tag data reading unit 24 is completed, the output control unit 25 receives the signal and stops the operation of the antenna 14 (Step 6). Hereinafter, the above-described operation is performed as the refrigerator compartment door 6 is opened.

  The tag information processed by the tag data reading means 25 can be used for display or warning depending on the contents of the tag information. For example, if it is a display, the product type and product name can be displayed, and if it is a warning, the user can be prompted for an expiration date.

  Further, in the above description, management control in the refrigerator compartment 2 has been described, but the vegetable compartment 3 is also controlled by the same processing flow. Further, if necessary, a person skilled in the art can easily perform management control by providing an antenna in the freezer compartment 4 as necessary.

  Accordingly, the tag information exchange control for grasping the article management status in the warehouse is performed in a state where the refrigerator compartment door 6 or the vegetable compartment door 9 is closed, so that radio waves as a radio medium for the exchange control are transmitted. There is no influence on the outside of the refrigerator body 1, the adverse effects on the peripheral devices can be eliminated, and there is no need to consider the influence on the human body.

  And since the data of the tag 23 are read / written collectively after a door is obstruct | occluded, energy saving can be aimed at without consuming electric power more than necessary.

  Further, since there is no fear of leakage of radio waves as a wireless medium, it is not necessary to reduce the strength (antenna output) for reading the tag information in consideration of these effects, and as a result, the reading Accuracy can be improved and reliability is not impaired.

  In addition, since the tag information can be acquired and managed as electronic information, the electronic information can be used as an information source for a well-known display control circuit, and can be used for adding a display function or the like. Can be increased.

  Further, the tag data reading means is interlocked with the opening and closing of the door such as the refrigerator door 6 and is performed after the closing operation, so that there is no leakage of the wireless medium to the outside and the user is not bothered. It becomes.

  The management control means 21 is composed of an electronic control circuit mainly composed of a microcomputer, and it goes without saying that the specific configuration contents can be easily realized from known ones.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Here, for convenience of explanation, the article storage device is assumed to be the refrigerator described in the first embodiment, and control contents different from those in the first embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 5 shows a control block diagram according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing operation contents of the refrigerator by the control block.

  In FIG. 5, the difference from the first embodiment is that the management control means 21 is provided with a timer means 26 for controlling the stop operation timing of the tag data reading means 24.

  Therefore, the tag data reading means 24 stops its operation after a predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds) after processing the tag information, and at the same time, the output to the antenna is also stopped.

  Next, the control content of the tag data reading unit 24 reading the tag information will be described with reference to FIG. Also here, for convenience of explanation, tag information processing associated with taking in and out of stored articles in the refrigerator compartment 2 will be described.

  In FIG. 6, when the refrigerator compartment door 6 is opened (Step 1), the loading and unloading of articles in the refrigerator compartment 2 is completed (Step 2), and the refrigerator compartment door 6 is closed, the door is closed by the open / close discrimination means 22. ”(Step 3), and the tag data reading means 24 starts an operation of reading the tag information.

  That is, the output control means 25 outputs a read signal to the antenna 14, and a radio wave is output from the antenna 14 into the refrigerator compartment 2 (Step 4). Under the influence of the radio wave, the information of the tag 23 is read (Step 5), and the tag data reading means 24 stores the tag information (Step 6).

  When the tag data processing by the tag data reading means 24 is completed, the timer means 26 receives the signal and counts a predetermined time (Step 7), and the output control means 25 stops the operation of the antenna 14 (Step 8). This completes the tag information processing, and the following operation is performed as the refrigerator compartment door 6 is opened.

  Therefore, in the second embodiment, in addition to the operation and effect of the first embodiment, when the tag information processing by the tag data reading unit 24 is completed, the operation of the antenna 14 is stopped after a predetermined time has elapsed. The energy saving effect can be obtained without power consumption.

  In addition, it cannot be overemphasized that it can implement similarly about the vegetable compartment 3 or the freezer compartment 4. FIG. Further, the management control means 21 is also configured by an electronic control circuit mainly composed of a microcomputer as in the first embodiment, and the specific configuration contents can be easily realized from known ones. Needless to say.

(Embodiment 3)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the third embodiment as well, for convenience of explanation, the article storage device is the refrigerator described in the first embodiment, and the control contents different from those in the first and second embodiments will be described.

  FIG. 7 shows a control block diagram according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation contents of the refrigerator by the control block.

  In FIG. 7, the difference from the first embodiment is that the management control means 21 stores tag information read by the tag data reading means 24, for example, storage means 27 for managing the list of changes in stored items in the refrigerator compartment 2. This is the point.

  The storage means 27 stores the tag information read from the tag data reading means 24, and manages the list of the articles taken out of the refrigerator compartment 2 and the tag information of each article accommodated in the refrigerator compartment 2. For example, tag information necessary for management of the storage date and time of stored articles, product type, weight, expiration date, etc. is stored.

  More specifically, the storage means 27 is provided with a stored article list A before the refrigerator compartment door 6 is opened. After the refrigerator compartment door 6 is closed, a separate stored article list B is created and finally stored. The article lists A and B are compared, the taken-out article and the newly stored article are scrutinized, and the stored article list A is updated.

  Next, the control contents that the tag data reading unit 24 reads the tag information and manages the list in the storage unit 27 will be described with reference to FIG. Also here, for convenience of explanation, tag information processing associated with taking in and out of stored articles in the refrigerator compartment 2 will be described.

  In FIG. 8, the refrigerator compartment door 6 is opened (Step 1), the loading / unloading of articles in the refrigerator compartment 2 is finished (Step 2), and when the refrigerator compartment door 6 is closed, the open / close discrimination means 22 “closes” the door. ”(Step 3), and the tag data reading means 24 starts an operation of reading the tag information.

  That is, the output control means 25 outputs a read signal to the antenna 14, and a radio wave is output from the antenna 14 into the refrigerator compartment 2 (Step 4). Under the influence of the radio wave, the information of the tag 23 is read (Step 5), and the operation of the antenna 14 is stopped by the output control means 25 (Step 6).

  Thereafter, the management control means 21 creates an article storage list B based on the read information of the tag data reading means 24 (Step 7), and compares it with the already created article storage list A before the refrigerator compartment door 6 is released. It is carried out (Step 8), and different data, that is, articles taken in and out are scrutinized and identified (Step 9), and the final article storage list A is created and stored (Step 10). This completes one tag information processing by the management control means 21, and the following operation is performed as the refrigerator door 6 is opened.

  Therefore, in the third embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, when the tag information reading process by the tag data reading means 24 is completed, the inventory status (article storage status) in the refrigerator compartment 2 is changed. Since the latest contents are updated and managed, for example, the latest information can be confirmed when the user needs it, and the convenience can be improved. Here, as the confirmation means, since the above-mentioned management contents are performed with electronic data, it can be easily implemented with known means such as using the electronic data and displaying on the display panel by operating the display switch. Needless to say.

  Moreover, if it is configured so that the antenna output stop of Step 6 is time-limited as shown in the second embodiment as necessary, the same energy saving effect can be obtained, and those skilled in the art can adopt such a configuration. Needless to say, it is easy.

  In addition, it cannot be overemphasized that it can implement similarly about the vegetable compartment 3 or the freezer compartment 4. FIG. Further, the management control means 21 is also configured by an electronic control circuit mainly composed of a microcomputer as in the first embodiment, and the specific configuration contents can be easily realized from known ones. Needless to say.

(Embodiment 4)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the fourth embodiment, for convenience of explanation, the article storage device is a refrigerator, and the description of the control contents is omitted because the configuration is particularly the gist. Further, the same constituent elements as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 9: is a front view which shows the state which open | released the refrigerator compartment door of the refrigerator in Embodiment 4. FIG.

  In FIG. 9, the inside of the refrigerator compartment 2 is provided with a plurality of shelf plates 31 and 32 that divide the room into a plurality of compartments. In particular, a dedicated temperature zone antenna 33 having the same configuration and function as in the first embodiment is provided on the lower surface of the lower shelf 32. The dedicated room antenna 33 is attached so that a part thereof protrudes from the shelf plate 32 into the refrigerator compartment.

  In addition, as is well known, a drawer-type exclusive chamber 34 is provided at the bottom of the refrigerating chamber 2 that is partitioned by the lower shelf plate 32 and is maintained in a dedicated temperature zone such as a partial by an original cold air supply control. It has been.

  Therefore, in addition to being able to read the tag information of the tag (not shown) provided in the stored items such as fresh food stored in the dedicated chamber 34, the dedicated chamber antenna 33 is partially refrigerated chamber 2. Since it faces the inside, when the door is closed, the storage article placed on the shelf plate 32 or a part of the storage shelf 35 provided on the back surface (inside the refrigerator compartment 2) of the refrigerator compartment door 6 is stored. Tag information can also be read.

  Needless to say, the tag information of the stored articles placed on the shelf board 32 can be read by attaching an antenna (not shown) to the upper surface of the shelf board 32.

  Further, in each of the first to fourth embodiments, the radio medium for transmitting / receiving the article information for the tag data reading means to perform the reading operation has been described by taking the radio wave as an example. As a method, an electromagnetic induction method, an electromagnetic coupling method, an electrostatic induction method, or a combination of these methods is preferable.

  As described above, the article storage apparatus of the present invention reads and manages the information of the non-contact IC tag in the storage state of the article in the storage chamber, and its use is not limited to the refrigerator. Can be applied to uses such as showcases, vending machines, bags, etc. as storage and storage devices.

The perspective view which opened some doors of the refrigerator in Embodiment 1 of this invention The longitudinal cross-sectional view which opened a part of different door of the refrigerator in Embodiment 1 Control block diagram of the refrigerator in the first embodiment The flowchart explaining the operation | movement content of the refrigerator in the same Embodiment 1. Control block diagram of refrigerator in Embodiment 2 of the present invention The flowchart explaining the operation | movement content of the refrigerator in the same Embodiment 2. Control block diagram of refrigerator in Embodiment 3 of the present invention The flowchart explaining the operation | movement content of the refrigerator in the same Embodiment 3. The perspective view of the refrigerator compartment part of the refrigerator which opened the refrigerator compartment door in Embodiment 4 of this invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerator body 2 Refrigerating room 3 Vegetable room 4 Freezing room 5 Hinge 6 Refrigerating room door 9 Vegetable room door 10 Freezing room door 11 Door switch 12 Door switch 13 Door switch 14 Refrigerating room antenna 15 Vegetable room antenna 21 Management control means 22 Opening / closing discrimination Means 23 Tag 24 Tag data reading means 25 Output control means 26 Timer means 27 Storage means 31 Shelf plate 32 Shelf plate 33 Dedicated room antenna 34 Dedicated room 35 Storage shelf

Claims (6)

  Article storage apparatus main body for storing or storing articles, and exchange of article information stored or stored in the article storage apparatus main body when the door provided in the article storage apparatus main body is closed or when the door is closed An article storage apparatus provided with management control means for performing wireless communication using a wireless medium.   A tag that is attached to the article and holds information about the article; tag data reading means that reads the article information held by the tag via the wireless medium; and an output of the wireless medium. The article storage device according to claim 1, further comprising an output control means for controlling.   The article storage device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tag data reading unit is operated in conjunction with or after the door closing operation.   The article storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the management control means is provided with timer means for restricting an output time of the wireless medium to a predetermined time.   The storage means which memorize | stores the article information in the store | warehouse | chamber before and behind the said door opening and closing, and the process means which carries out the predetermined process of the article information after a door closing by inputting the article information of the said storage means. The article storage device according to 1.   The tag data reading means is provided with an antenna that outputs the wireless medium, and the antenna is provided on a shelf that divides the interior of the article storage device into a plurality of stages or a plurality of rows. The article storage apparatus as described.

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