JP4591554B2 - Refrigerator with inventory management function - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an inventory management system for articles such as food in a refrigerator.

  Conventionally, as a refrigerator with an inventory management function, an article installation shelf is provided in the warehouse, the entry / exit detection device attached to the shelf is used to detect the entry / exit, and the date when the goods are received and the storage date of the goods received manually entered And a lock switch for fixing and holding the stored contents even when a shipment is detected, and displaying the stored contents on the monitors provided at the visible positions on both sides of the front of the refrigerator. Inventory management can be performed (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  However, in the above method, the place where goods are received is limited, and it is necessary to store the goods in the same place as before when the goods are re-stocked. In order to solve these problems, a method disclosed in JP-A-11-201623 has been proposed.

  As shown in FIG. 15, in this method, by providing means 35 for issuing an identification tag that describes information relating to the touch panel 34 and the goods to be stored, and means 36 for detecting the identification tag at the time of loading and unloading, The inventory management can be performed without limiting the place where the goods are received.

When food is received, the name of the article is selected on the touch panel 34, and the identification tag with the food name and management code added is output from the identification tag issuing means 2. The output identification tag is affixed to the food to be received and passed in front of the identification tag detection device 36 so that the management of the input / output can be performed.
Japanese Patent Publication No.5-7635

  However, in the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-201623, it is necessary to pass through the identification tag detection device one by one when entering and leaving, and the task of issuing the identification tag and attaching the identification tag at the time of warehousing. Because it occurs, it is very troublesome.

  In addition, when the identification tag is peeled off from the stored food, it is impossible to know which food is within the expiration date.

  Further, after the food is used up, the identification tag cannot be reused, and it is necessary to continue issuing the identification tag for each food, which is uneconomical and wasteful of resources.

  Further, the storage location is not determined, and it is not possible to guide the optimal storage location to the user.

  In addition, in a refrigerator or the like divided into a plurality of warehouses, the place where the identification card is stored is not known, so there is no other way than to open the refrigerator door and visually check it, and inventory management is insufficient.

  Moreover, since it has only the information when the identification tag is output, it is not sufficient as the information because the history of food to be stored is not known.

  In addition, since the storage location is unclear, the refrigerator is not controlled according to the food, and the inventory information is not utilized.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the present invention performs inventory management using a food container to which an information tag is added, thereby automatically and simply and reliably managing inventory without performing troublesome loading and unloading operations. It is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator that can be used.

  In order to solve the conventional problem, the refrigerator with a stock management function according to the present invention can determine which storage room has the information tag based on the information tag transmission / reception means that performs transmission / reception with the information tag. Therefore, it is possible to provide a refrigerator that can easily and reliably manage inventory.

  The refrigerator with an inventory management function according to the present invention can easily and surely manage inventory without the effort of inventory management because it can determine which storage room has the information tag based on the information tag transmission / reception means that performs transmission / reception with the information tag. The refrigerator which can be provided can be provided.

  The first invention is based on a plurality of storage chambers, an information tag transmission / reception unit that transmits and receives information tags in the storage chamber by being attached to each of the plurality of storage chambers, and an information tag transmission / reception unit that transmits and receives information tags. It is characterized by comprising storage location discrimination means for discriminating which storage room has the information tag.

  According to this, inventory management can be performed automatically just by putting food in the food storage container and storing it in, and it is not necessary to perform troublesome work at the time of putting in and out, and there is no omission of the identification tag. Inventory management can be done.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a refrigerator with inventory management according to the present embodiment. Reference numeral 1 denotes a refrigerator, which can store the food storage container 2 in the cabinet. The food storage container 2 is made of resin or glass, and an information tag 3 made of a semiconductor IC chip or the like is attached in the container. The information tag 3 includes an antenna unit for transmitting / receiving information data and a control unit (both not shown) for performing communication control and data storage.

  Reference numeral 4 denotes an information tag transmission / reception device that detects the information tag 3 attached to the food storage container 2. The information tag transmission / reception device 4 includes an antenna unit (not shown) for transmitting / receiving information data to / from the information tag 3, an induction power supply unit (not shown) for supplying contactless power to the information tag, and a control unit. Consists of. The information tag detection means 4 always outputs detection data for detecting the information tag 3, and when the information tag 3 approaches within a certain range, the information tag 3 receives the response data from the information tag 3. Is detected.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a food registration setting screen when performing food registration. In order to register food, the information display device 5 attached to a personal computer or a refrigerator door is used. The information display device 5 includes an information storage unit that stores information, a central processing unit that manages information, and a display input unit such as a touch panel display 6.

  The display input unit 6 displays the ID number 9 of the information tag, the food name 10 to be registered, and the registration date 11 at the time of food registration. Reference numeral 7 denotes a food name input button for inputting a food name to be registered. When a food name input button 7 is pressed, a keyboard is displayed on the screen (not shown), and a food name can be input by inputting characters. Reference numeral 8 denotes an ID change button for changing an ID number predetermined for each information tag 3.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an inventory display screen. The stock display is displayed on the information display device 5. In the displayed stock display, the name of the food 12 currently stored in the refrigerator 1 and the corresponding storage date 13 are displayed. When the food storage container 2 is delivered outside the refrigerator 1, the food name and the receipt date corresponding to the ID number attached to the information tag 3 attached to the delivered food storage container 2 are erased from the display.

  An embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the user prepares a plurality of food storage containers 2 for each food item to be stocked. Different ID numbers are stored in the information tag 3 for the plurality of food storage containers 2. The registration of the prepared plurality of food storage containers 2 is performed by bringing the food storage container 2 close to the information tag detection means 4.

  If it is desired to register the food name, the information display device 5 stores the name of the food stored in each food storage container. At this time, when the same food is put in a plurality of food storage containers 2 and stored, and management by ID number is desired to be performed collectively, it is possible to change the ID number to make the same ID number.

  In addition, when the management by the food name is unnecessary, the registration work of the food name can be omitted. After the food is registered, the information tag transmission / reception device 4 communicates with the information tag 3 attached to the food storage container 2 by putting the food in each food storage container 2 and storing it in the refrigerator 1. Goods receipt is automatically set.

  When the food storage container 2 is delivered from the refrigerator 1, it detects that the communication with the information tag transmission / reception device 4 has been released and has been delivered. As a result, food entry / exit is automatically managed, and the name of the existing food in the refrigerator 1 is displayed on the information display device 5 in real time.

  As described above, the information tag is attached to the food storage container, and the food tag is managed by the information tag detection means. Therefore, the inventory is automatically managed simply by placing the food in the food storage container and entering the food storage container. This eliminates the need for troublesome work when taking in and out, and enables reliable inventory management.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the present embodiment. Components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  Reference numeral 14 denotes a storage time storage unit that stores the time when the food storage container 2 to which the information tag 3 is attached is stored in the refrigerator 1. Reference numeral 15 denotes a warehousing timer that measures the time in conjunction with the warehousing time stored in the warehousing time storage unit 14.

  The storage time determination unit 17 determines whether the time measured by the warehousing timer 15 is within the time set by the user in advance in the storage period setting unit 16. As a result of the determination by the storage time determination unit 17, when the user exceeds the time set by the storage period setting unit 16, the storage period excess notification means 18 notifies the user. The storage period excess notification means 18 is constituted by a display device such as an electronic buzzer, an audio output device, or the information display device 5.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the warehousing timer operation of the present embodiment. When the food is put in the food storage container 2 and stored in the refrigerator 1 (STEP 1), measurement of the storage timer 15 is started (STEP 2). When the information tag transmission / reception device 4 detects that the food storage container 2 is delivered (STEP 3), the warehousing timer 15 clears the warehousing timer 15 and returns it to the standby state (STEP 6).

  If no delivery is detected, it is determined whether or not the time measured by the receipt timer 15 exceeds the time set by the user (STEP 4). If the time has not exceeded, it is determined again whether or not it has returned to STEP3. If it has been exceeded, the storage period excess notification means 18 notifies the user that the storage period has expired (STEP 5).

  As described above, since the time management of stored food is performed by the warehousing timer, it is possible to prevent the food from being left in the refrigerator and wasted.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of the present embodiment. Components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  Reference numeral 19 denotes a delivery time storage unit for storing the time when the food storage container 2 to which the information tag 3 is attached is delivered outside the refrigerator 1. When a delivery time is stored in the delivery time storage unit 19, a delivery timer 20 measures the time in conjunction with the delivery time. The initialization determination unit 22 determines whether the time measured by the delivery timer 20 is within the time set by the user in advance in the initialization time setting unit 21.

  When the time determined by the initialization determination unit 22 exceeds the time set by the user in the initialization time setting unit 21, the user is attached to the food storage container 2 stored in the storage management storage unit 23. The information set according to the ID number of the information tag 3 is reset.

  The entry / exit management storage unit 23 stores information such as the ID number set in the information tag 3 and the set food name, and is composed of a semiconductor memory or the like.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the delivery timer operation of the present embodiment. When the food is put into the food storage container 2 and delivered from the refrigerator 1 (STEP 1), measurement of the delivery timer 20 is started (STEP 2). When the information tag transmission / reception device 4 detects that the food storage container 2 is received (STEP 3), the exit timer 20 clears the exit timer 20 and returns to the standby state (STEP 6).

  If no entry is detected, it is determined whether the time measured by the delivery timer 20 has exceeded the time set by the user or the time preset in the initial setting (STEP 4). If the time has not exceeded, it is determined again whether or not the goods have been returned to STEP 3. If it has exceeded, the information of the corresponding information tag 3 ID number in the storage management unit 23 is initialized and reset (STEP 5).

  As described above, if the time taken out by the outgoing timer is long, it is determined that the food contained in the corresponding container has been consumed, so the storage of useless information is not kept, but the necessary information Can only manage. In addition, it is possible to prevent information that has been set previously from being managed with incorrect information.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of this embodiment. Components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  In addition to the information tag transmission / reception device 4 for entering / exiting detection, an information tag transmission / reception device is installed outside the storage (in the present embodiment mobile phone, it is attached to the door of the refrigerator 1). When a user puts food in the food storage container 2 and stores the food in the refrigerator 1, if the user approaches the information tag transmission / reception device 4 installed on the refrigerator door, the storage location guidance means installed on the door of the refrigerator 1 From the audio speaker 25, the user is informed of the storage location of the corresponding food by voice.

  FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of the present embodiment. When the food storage container 2 is brought close to the information tag transmission / reception device 4 attached to the refrigerator door, the information tag transmission / reception device 4 starts transmission / reception of information with the information tag 3 attached to the food storage container 2, and storage advice determination means 24, it is determined that communication is being performed with the information tag transmitting / receiving device 4 installed outside the warehouse.

  If it communicates with the information tag transmission / reception apparatus 4 installed outside the container and it is determined that the communication is performed outside the container, it is stored in the corresponding food storage container 2 from the preset food name. The optimum storage location of the food is inquired of the food storage advice DB 26 and the optimal storage location information of the corresponding food is immediately output.

  The storage location guidance means 25 advises the user on the storage location of the food based on the result output by the food storage advice DB 26. The food storage advice DB 26 is stored on a fixed disk or a semiconductor memory, and the database can be added or deleted.

  The storage location guidance means 25 is voice guidance in the present embodiment, but may be displayed on the information display device 5 or the like. Note that whether or not the storage location guidance is performed may be switched with a switch or the like.

  As described above, since the storage location guidance means automatically guides the storage location when trying to receive food, it is possible for the user to store the food in the optimal storage location without hesitation. It is possible to prevent a lack of food freshness due to storage.

(Embodiment 5)
FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of this embodiment. Components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  An information tag transmission / reception device 4 to be detected by loading / unloading is installed in each storage room of the refrigerator 1, and when a user puts food in the food storage container 2 and food is stored in the refrigerator 1, It communicates with the provided information tag transmission / reception device 4.

  FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram of the present embodiment. When the information tag transmission / reception device 4 attached to each storage chamber in the refrigerator 1 detects the storage of the food storage container 2, the storage location determination means 27 determines in which storage chamber it is stored. Reference numeral 28 denotes an optimum temperature control means having preset target temperature value information for each food, and based on the target temperature value, cooling provided between the cooling air passage provided on the back surface of the storage room and the storage room. The temperature in the storage chamber is controlled by adjusting the amount of air that is cooled by the damper.

In the above configuration, an operation example of this embodiment will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG. There are a storage room 1 and a storage room 2 of the refrigerator 1 whose internal temperature is set at T0 and maintained at T0 ° C.

  When food stored in the food storage container 2 is stored in the storage room 1 (time t1), the optimal temperature of the food corresponding to the food obtained from the ID information of the information tag 3 attached to the food storage container is optimally controlled. The cooling damper attached to the storage chamber 1 indexed by the means 28 (target temperature T1) and received by the storage location determination means 27 is controlled by the optimum temperature control means 28 (time t2). At this time, the target temperature of the storage chamber 2 is not changed.

  When another food is put into the food storage container 2 and stored in the storage room 2 at time t3, the optimum temperature control means 28 sets the target temperature T2 ° C., which is the optimum temperature value according to the food, for the storage room 2. Control. At this time, the target temperature of the storage chamber 1 is not changed. Thereby, the temperature control in the store | warehouse | chamber according to foodstuffs is attained.

  When foods with different storage temperatures are received in the same storage room, the user is encouraged to store them in separate storage rooms, or the average temperature of both foods is satisfied so that the storage temperature range of both foods is satisfied. Etc. to control the temperature.

  As described above, since the storage location is determined by the information tag transmission / reception device for each storage room, the temperature control for each of the storage rooms divided into a plurality of can be automatically set according to the food, and the preservation of the food. Can be improved. In the present embodiment, the optimum temperature control of a plurality of storage rooms is described using a plurality of information tag transmission / reception devices. However, it is of course possible to perform the optimum temperature control at one place using a single information tag reception device.

(Embodiment 6)
FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram in the present embodiment. Components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  Reference numeral 29 denotes a temperature history storage unit built in the information tag 3. When the food storage container 2 is stored in the refrigerator 1, the information tag 3 enters the information tag transmission / reception device 4, the information tag data input / output unit 30 in the information tag 3, and the information tag transmission / reception device data in the information tag transmission / reception device 4. Communication is started between the output units 31. When the warehousing is determined, the internal temperature information detected by the internal temperature detection means 32 is transmitted to the information tag data input / output unit 30 through the information tag transmission / reception device data input / output unit 31 to store the temperature history. Information is stored in the unit 29.

  FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of application to a cooking appliance. The stored temperature history can be used in other cooking equipment. Reference numeral 33 denotes an electronic defroster, which is a cooking utensil for performing thawing and heating by irradiating frozen food with high frequency electromagnetic waves. When the food storage container 2 with the information tag 3 in which the temperature history is accumulated is put into the electronic defroster 33, the same information tag as that provided in the refrigerator 1 provided in the electronic defroster 33 is provided. Temperature history information is input by the transmission / reception device 4. In the temperature history information, the temperature information until immediately before the shipment is recorded as a history, so the product temperature of the food in the food storage container 2 can be estimated.

  When the recorded temperature fluctuation is small, the food temperature is approximately equal to the recorded temperature, and when the temperature fluctuation is severe, the food temperature is higher than the temperature immediately before the shipment and the electronic thawing It is determined by the device 33.

  The electronic defroster 33 controls the heating time and output in consideration of the determination result in addition to the temperature obtained by the temperature detecting means (not shown) for detecting the temperature of its own object. Thereby, it becomes possible to cook food with higher accuracy.

  Thus, by incorporating the temperature history recording unit for recording the temperature history in the information tag, food can be cooked with higher accuracy and convenience is improved.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a food storage container that stores food, an information tag that is attached to the food storage container and that can hold food identification information and exchange information, and the above-described information tag that is installed in a refrigerator. Since it is equipped with an information tag transmission / reception device that transmits / receives information to / from the information tag, inventory management can be performed automatically just by putting food in the food storage container and warehousing. No need for stock management.

  In addition, a storage time storage unit that stores the time when the food container is stored in the refrigerator, a stock timer that measures the time since the food container is stored, and a time that is measured in advance by the stock timer Since the storage period excess notification means for notifying the user that the user exceeds the storage period is provided, forgetting to take out the food can be reduced and forgetting to use the stored food can be prevented.

  Also, a delivery time storage unit that stores the time when the food container is delivered from the refrigerator, a reset timer that measures the time since delivery, and a time that is measured in advance by the reset timer When the food container is received next time, the information reset means for resetting the information up to the previous time is provided, so that unnecessary information is not kept stored, so unnecessary information can be managed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent management with incorrect information due to forgetting to reset the previously set information.

  In addition, since it has a storage location guidance function for guiding the user to the storage location of the food according to the food identification information stored in the information tag attached to the food container, it is appropriate even if there is no knowledge about food storage. The food can be stored in the place, and the freshness of the food can be improved.

  The storage location determination means for determining the position where the signal from the information tag attached to the food container is received and transmitted by a plurality of information tag transmission / reception devices, and the storage location is determined from the storage determination location and the food information. Since the food is provided with the optimum temperature control means for controlling the temperature in the optimum temperature range, the control in the temperature range according to the food is possible, and the freshness can be further improved.

  Further, the internal temperature detection means for detecting the temperature in the refrigerator, the temperature history storage unit for storing the temperature information incorporated in the information tag, and the internal temperature obtained by the internal temperature detection means are the information tag. It is possible to know the storage state of the food in the storage because it is equipped with a temperature information transmission means that periodically transmits to, and it is possible to output the food temperature information of the food to other cooking equipment, Optimum cooking is possible and convenience is improved.

  As described above, the refrigerator with an inventory management function according to the present invention incorporates a temperature history recording unit that records a temperature history in an information tag, thereby enabling more accurate food cooking and improving convenience. .

Schematic configuration diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention The figure which shows the example of a food registration setting screen of the embodiment The figure which shows the example of a stock display screen of the embodiment Functional block diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention Receipt timer operation flowchart of the embodiment Functional block diagram of the third embodiment of the present invention Delivery timer operation flowchart of the embodiment Schematic configuration diagram of the fourth embodiment of the present invention Functional block diagram of the embodiment Schematic configuration diagram of the fifth embodiment of the present invention Functional block diagram of the embodiment Timing chart of the embodiment Schematic configuration diagram of the sixth embodiment of the present invention Schematic application to the cooking appliance of the same embodiment Schematic configuration diagram of conventional example

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerator 2 Food storage container 3 Information tag 4 Information tag transmission / reception apparatus 5 Information display apparatus 15 Storage timer 20 Delivery timer 25 Storage location guidance means 27 Storage location discrimination means 28 Optimal temperature control means 29 Temperature history storage part

Claims (2)

Multiple storage rooms;
Information tag transmitting / receiving means for transmitting and receiving information tags in the storage chamber by being attached to each of the plurality of storage chambers;
A storage location determination means for determining which storage room has the information tag based on the information tag transmission / reception means for performing transmission / reception with the information tag;
Optimal temperature control means for controlling the temperature of the storage room determined by the storage location determination means based on the information tag transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving the information tag to / from the information tag;
Refrigerator with inventory management function. Each of the plurality of storage rooms has a different storage temperature range,
The optimum temperature control means, when a predetermined temperature for preserving the food stored in the storage room determined by the storage location determination means is not within the storage temperature range of the storage room, The refrigerator with an inventory management function according to claim 1, wherein control for prompting storage in the storage room is performed.

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