WO2016087083A1

WO2016087083A1 - A cooling device comprising a height adjustable shelf

Info

Publication number: WO2016087083A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/072520
Authority: WO
Inventors: Oner Hatipoglu; Yusuf KUYUMCU; Yagiz TEZEL; Mucahit Bacaksiz
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2014-12-04
Filing date: 2015-09-30
Publication date: 2016-06-09

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling device (1) comprising a body (2), at least one shelf (3) that is disposed inside the body (2), that can be moved in the vertical direction, whereon the foodstuffs are placed, and a motor (4) that provides the drive required for the movement of the shelf (3).

Description

A COOLING DEVICE COMPRISING A HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE SHELF

The present invention relates to a cooling device comprising a height adjustable shelf.

In cooling devices such as refrigerators and deep freezers the foodstuffs and various containers are placed on the shelves. However, while the tall objects are placed on the shelf, problems are encountered such as the object hitting the upper shelf and therefore not being able to be placed on the shelf or the object on the shelf hitting the upper shelf and the other articles while being taken out. Depending on the needs of the user, the distance between the two shelves can be required to be changed, in other words the height of the shelf in the body can be required to be adjusted.

In the state of the art, various embodiments are known wherein the height of the shelf is changed as a result of the user turning an arm or pressing a button by means of a movement transmission means.

In the state of the art United States Patent Application No US2005062380, for refrigerators, a height adjuster which comprises gear portions on opposite side surfaces of the refrigerating chamber, height adjustment gears which are fastened to the gear portions and a stopper located on the shelf and providing the height adjustment gear to rotate in a controlled manner, is described.

In the state of the art United States Patent Document No US5913584 a shelf for refrigerators, wherein the height can be adjusted by connecting the gears attached to a support assembly mounted thereon to an arm extending to the front side of the shelf and thus rotating by means of the arm, is described.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device comprising a shelf the height of which is easily adjustable.

The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof comprises a body, at least one shelf whereon the foods are placed, that is placed in the body, the vertical position of which can be changed, and a motor that provides the drive for the movement of the shelf. The motor can be a synchronous, asynchronous, AC or DC motor.

The cooling device of the present invention comprises a first compartment the height of which can be adjusted, that is disposed between two shelves or between the base of the body and one shelf or between the ceiling of the body and one shelf, that is determined by being selected by the manufacturer or the user; at least one second compartment that is disposed under and/or above the first compartment; a sensor that is disposed at the lower surface of each shelf or at the lower surface of the ceiling of the body and that detects the foodstuffs in the compartment located under the shelf or the ceiling of the body, and a control unit that, when the first compartment is determined, enables the height of the first compartment to be increased by decreasing the height of the second compartment so as to limit the height of the second compartments to the height of the foodstuffs in the second compartment according to the data received from each sensor. During the movement of the shelves in the vertical direction, the sensor controls the foodstuffs in the compartment situated under the shelf. When the foodstuff is detected by the sensor, the control unit terminates the movement of the shelf whereon the sensor detecting the foodstuff is located. Thus, the shelf is prevented from contacting the foodstuff. It is provided that the limit distance predetermined by the manufacturer is maintained between the shelf and the highest foodstuff in the second compartment. Thus, the foodstuffs are prevented from being squeezed in the second compartment and the user is enabled to take the desired foodstuff out. The sensor can be composed of a receiver and a transmitter that are disposed at the two opposite sides of the base of the shelf. In this embodiment, the foodstuffs getting close to the shelf base during the upwards-downwards movement of the shelf interrupts the signal transmission between the receiver and the transmitter. When the signal transmission between the receiver and the transmitter is interrupted, it is detected that the shelf is close to the foodstuffs, thus, the control unit enables the energy supplied to the motor to be interrupted and the movement of the shelf to be terminated.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit enables the shelves under the first compartment to move downwards and the shelves above the first compartment to move upwards. The control unit decreases the heights of the second compartments below the first compartment by moving the shelves under the first compartment downwards and decreases the heights of the second compartments above the first compartment by moving the shelves above the first compartment upwards. Thus, the idle volume between the foodstuffs in the second compartments and the shelves is transferred to the first compartment, thus increasing the usable volume of the first compartment.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises a door providing access into the body and the control unit that enables the shelves to move with the closing of the door. The control unit enables the shelves to move after the door of the cooling device is closed and the optimization of the compartment volumes is carried out only when the door is closed. Thus, when the user opens the door to place the foodstuffs into the body, he/she can place the foodstuffs more quickly and the energy loss from the cooling device due to the door remaining open while the foodstuffs are being placed is decreased. The control unit terminates the movement of the shelf after the door is opened.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises at least one button that is disposed on the body corresponding to each compartment and that enables the corresponding compartment to be designated as the first compartment when actuated. The user pushes the button located at the compartment the height of which he/she desires to be adjusted, thus enabling the selected compartment to be designated as the first compartment. The control unit decreases the heights of the other compartment so as to increase the height of the selected compartment. Thus, the user can increase the height of the shelf that is suitable for his/her preference, thus the user satisfaction is improved.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises at least one camera that is disposed in each compartment and that detects the occupancy rate of the compartment and the control unit that enables the compartment having the least amount of foodstuffs therein to be designated as the first compartment by evaluating the data received from each camera. The control unit enables the height of the shelf having the least amount of foodstuffs to be increased by evaluating the images taken by the cameras. Thus, the user can place the foodstuffs into the cooling device more conveniently and quickly.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the control unit enables the user to be informed by visual and/or audio warnings. When the height of the first compartment is brought to the maximum level after the movement of the shelf is completed, the user is informed that the all the compartment volumes are optimized.

By means of the present invention, a cooling device is realized, wherein the shelf heights are easily changed without requiring to unload and load again the foodstuffs.

The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 – is the schematic view of a cooling device.

Figure 2 – is the perspective view of a cooling device.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Cooling device
Body
Shelf
Motor
First compartment
Second compartment
Sensor
Control unit
Door
Button
Camera

The cooling device (1) comprises a body (2), at least one shelf (3) that is disposed inside the body (2), that can be moved in the vertical direction, whereon the foodstuffs are placed, and a motor (4) that provides the drive required for the movement of the shelf (3).

The cooling device (1) of the present invention comprises a first compartment (5) the height of which can be adjusted, that is disposed between two shelves (3) or between the base of the body (2) and one shelf (3) or between the ceiling of the body (2) and one shelf (3), that is determined by being selected by the manufacturer or the user; at least one second compartment (6) that is disposed under and/or above the first compartment (5); a sensor (7) that is disposed at the lower surface of each shelf (3) or at the lower surface of the ceiling of the body (2) and that detects the foodstuffs in the compartment (5, 6) located, and a control unit (8) that, when the first compartment (5) is determined, enables the height of the first compartment (5) to be increased by decreasing the height of the second compartment (6) so as to limit the height of the second compartments (6) to the height of the foodstuffs in the second compartment (6) according to the data received from each sensor (7). The control unit (8) enables the shelf (3) to move upwards-downwards until the sensor (7) detects any foodstuff and enables the energy supplied to the motor (4) to be interrupted and the movement of the shelf (3) to be terminated when the sensor (7) detects a foodstuff. By moving the shelf (3) close to the foodstuff, the height of the second compartment (6) is decreased. Thus, the empty volume in the second compartments (6) remaining between the foodstuffs and the shelves (3) is enabled to be used in the first compartment (5).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (8) enables the shelves (3) under the first compartment (5) to move downwards and the shelves (3) above the first compartment (5) to move upwards. The control unit (8) decreases the heights of the second compartments (6) and increases the height of the first compartment (5) by moving downwards the shelves (3) below the first compartment (5) and by moving upwards the shelves (3) above the first compartment (5). When the sensor (7) situated at the lower surface of the shelf (3) moving downwards detects foodstuffs in the second compartment (6) that the sensor (7) faces and the control unit (8) terminates the movement of the shelf (3). When the sensor (7) situated at the lower surface of the shelf (3) situated above the shelf (3) moving upwards detects foodstuffs in the second compartment (6) that the sensor (7) faces and the control unit (8) terminates the movement of the shelf (3).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a door (9) providing access into the body (2) and the control unit (8) that enables the shelves (3) to move with the closing of the door (9). After the user closes the door (9), the control unit (8) moves the shelves (3), thus enabling the heights of the second compartment (6) to be decreased so that the height of the first compartment (5) is the tallest. Thus, when the user opens the door (9) to place a foodstuff into the cooling device (1), he/she can easily place the foodstuff in his/her hand without displacing the foodstuffs on the shelves (3).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises at least one button (10) that is disposed on the body (2) corresponding to each compartment (5, 6) and that enables the corresponding compartment (5, 6) to be designated as the first compartment (5) when actuated. The user selects the compartment (5, 6) the height of which is to be increased by pushing the relevant button (10) corresponding to the relevant compartment (5, 6). The control unit (8) designates the compartment (5, 6) corresponding to the actuated button (10) as the first compartment (5, 6) and decreases the heights of the second compartments (6) so as to increase the height of the first compartment (5) selected by the user. Thus, the user is enabled to designate the desired compartment (5, 6) as the first compartment (5) as per his/her needs and to increase the height thereof.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises at least one camera (11) that is disposed in each compartment (5, 6) and that detects the occupancy rate of the compartment (5, 6) and the control unit (8) that enables the compartment (5, 6) having the least amount of foodstuffs therein to be designated as the first compartment (5) by evaluating the data received from each camera (11). The images are received from the cameras (11) to the control unit (8) and the control unit (8) determines the occupancy rate of the compartments (5, 6) by evaluating the gaps on the shelf (3) according to the images. The control unit (8) determines the compartment (5, 6) the occupancy rate of which is the lowest and designates this compartment (5, 6) as the first compartment (5, 6) and decreases the heights of the second compartments (6) so as to increase the height of the designated first compartment (5). Thus, the user can more easily place the foodstuffs into the cooling device (1).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (8) enables the user to be informed by visual and/or audio warnings when the process of changing the position of the shelves (3) is completed. When the height of the first compartment (5) is brought to the maximum level after the movement of the shelf (3) is completed, the user is informed that the volumes of the compartments (5, 6) are optimized.

In the cooling device (1) of the present invention, according to the heights of the foodstuffs in the second compartment (6), the heights of the second compartments (6) are decreased so as to increase the height of the designated first compartment (5) that is predetermined by the manufacturer or selected by the user. Thus, the user can easily place the foodstuffs into the first compartment (5) the height of which has been increased.

Claims

A cooling device (1) comprising a body (2), at least one shelf (3) that is disposed inside the body (2), that can be moved in the vertical direction, whereon the foodstuffs are placed, and a motor (4) that provides the drive required for the movement of the shelf (3), characterized by

- a first compartment (5) the height of which can be adjusted, that is disposed between two shelves (3) or between the base of the body (2) and one shelf (3) or between the ceiling of the body (2) and one shelf (3), that is determined by being selected by the manufacturer or the user,

- at least one second compartment (6) that is disposed under and/or above the first compartment (5),

- a sensor (7) that is disposed at the lower surface of each shelf (3) or at the lower surface of the ceiling of the body (2) and that detects the foodstuffs in the compartment (5, 6) located, and

- a control unit (8) that, when the first compartment (5) is determined, enables the height of the first compartment (5) to be increased by decreasing the height of the second compartment (6) so as to limit the height of the second compartments (6) to the height of the foodstuffs in the second compartment (6) according to the data received from each sensor (7).
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the control unit (8) that enables the shelves (3) under the first compartment (5) to move downwards and the shelves (3) above the first compartment (5) to move upwards.
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a door (9) providing access into the body (2) and the control unit (8) that enables the shelves (3) to move with the closing of the door (9).
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by at least one button (10) that is disposed on the body (2) corresponding to each compartment (5, 6) and that enables the corresponding compartment (5, 6) to be designated as the first compartment (5) when actuated.
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized by at least one camera (11) that is disposed in each compartment (5, 6) and that detects the occupancy rate of the compartment (5, 6) and the control unit (8) that enables the compartment (5, 6) having the least amount of foodstuffs therein to be designated as the first compartment (5) by evaluating the data received from each camera (11).
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the control unit (8) that enables the user to be informed by audio and/or visual warnings when the process of changing the position of the shelves (3) is completed.