WO2018063126A2

WO2018063126A2 - Refrigerator with improved food preservation and improved food spoilage sensing

Info

Publication number: WO2018063126A2
Application number: PCT/TR2017/050347
Authority: WO
Inventors: Aylin MET; Nihat KANDEMİR; Tolga Nurettin AYNUR; İsmet ARSAN; Yasin İĞİT
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2016-08-08
Filing date: 2017-07-26
Publication date: 2018-04-05
Anticipated expiration: 2019-02-08
Also published as: WO2018063126A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator (1) comprising: a chamber (2) for storing food (3); a refrigerating unit (4) for refrigerating the chamber (2); a sensing unit (5) for sensing the level R of the volatile organic compounds released from the food (3); and a control unit (6) for determining the contamination level S of the food (3) inside the chamber (2) based on the level R and for controlling the refrigerating unit (4) and the sensing unit (5), wherein the control unit (6) has a food spoilage function for operating the sensing unit (5).

Description

REFRIGERATOR WITH IMPROVED FOOD PRESERVATION AND

IMPROVED FOOD SPOILAGE SENSING The present invention relates to a refrigerator, in particular to a refrigerator with a food spoilage sensing facility.

Refrigerators with food spoilage sensing facility are commonly known in the art. This type of a refrigerator generally comprises: a chamber for storing food; a refrigerating unit for refrigerating the chamber; a sensing unit for sensing the level R of the volatile organic compounds released from the food; and a control unit for determining the contamination level S of the food inside the chamber based on the level R and for controlling the refrigerating unit and the sensing unit, wherein the control unit has a food spoilage function for operating the sensing unit.

CN203758163(U) discloses a refrigerator with a food spoilage sensing facility.

In general, the food in the chamber immediately starts spoiling due to the microorganism, and emits volatile organic compounds which cause a bad taste and a bad smell. Some kind of food products such as meat and sausages spoil in a comparatively shorter time. Thus, a problem with the prior art refrigerator is that when the user does not remove the spoiled food, the bad smell increases to unbearable levels, and adheres to the other fresh food and also to the inner surface of the chamber An objective of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator which solves the aforementioned problems of the prior art in a cost-effective way and which enables an improved preservation of the food and an improved sensing of the food spoilage.

This objective has been achieved by the refrigerator as defined in claim 1, and the control method as defined in claim 15. Further achievements have been attained by the subject-matters respectively defined in the dependent claims. In the refrigerator of the present invention the control unit is further adapted to control the refrigerating unit based on the contamination level S.

A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the formation of the bad smell and also the spreading of the bad smell inside the chamber can be stopped or slowed down as much as possible by controlling the refrigeration unit based on the contamination level S. Thereby, the user can be prevented from encountering unpleasant heavy odors. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the saturation effect of the high VOC concentration on the sensing unit can be eliminated or reduced as much as possible by controlling the refrigeration unit based on the contamination level S, and thus the spoiling of the food can be more accurately sensed, and also the quality and the freshness of the food inside the chamber can be more reliably determined. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the spoiling of the food can be suppressed at an early stage, namely before it becomes inedible by controlling the refrigeration unit based on the contamination level S. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the performance of the food spoilage function of the refrigerator has been improved, and thus the preventive and protective actions against the food spoiling and the harmful VOC levels can be more reliably taken. Thereby, the user satisfaction can be increased.

Additional features and additional advantageous effects of the refrigerator of the present invention will become more apparent with the detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 - is a schematic sectional partial view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 - is a flowchart showing the steps of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention for controlling the refrigerator of Fig. 1. The reference signs appearing on the drawings relate to the following technical features. 1. Refrigerator

2. Chamber

3. Food

4. Refrigerating unit

5. Sensing unit

6. Control unit

7. Temperature sensor

8. Flap The refrigerator (1) comprises: a chamber (2) for storing food (3); a refrigerating unit (4) for refrigerating the chamber (2); a sensing unit (5) for sensing the level R of the volatile organic compounds released from the food (3); and a control unit (6) for determining the contamination level S of the food (3) inside the chamber (2) based on the level R and for controlling the refrigerating unit (4) and the sensing unit (5), wherein the control unit (6) has a food spoilage function for operating the sensing unit (5) (Fig. 1).

In the refrigerator (1) of the present invention, the control unit (6) is further adapted to control the refrigerating unit (4) based on the contamination level S.

In an embodiment, the control unit (6) is further adapted to start warning the user when the contamination level S has reached a limit level S-L . In this embodiment, the warning is indicative of the contamination level S of the food (3) inside the chamber (2). In other alternative embodiments, the user is warned audibly and/or visually through the user interface (not shown) of the refrigerator (1).

In another alternative embodiment, the user is warned through a wireless communication means (not shown) of the refrigerator (1) by sending a text massage such as an e-mail, sms or the like. In another embodiment, the control unit (6) is further adapted to start causing, either on approval by the user or automatically, the refrigeration unit (4) to refrigerate the chamber (2) at an increased rate to a relatively lower temperature T_low when the contamination level S is equal to or higher than a limit level S-L . In this embodiment, the normal refrigeration is interrupted and the increased refrigeration is started, and thus the temperature of the food (3) is lowered.

In other alternative embodiments, the user can make the approval through the user interface and/or the wireless communication means.

In another embodiment, the relatively lower temperature T_low is equal to or below the freezing point of the food (3) in the chamber (2). In another embodiment, the control unit (6) is further adapted to allow the user to reset the sensing unit (5). In this embodiment, the control unit (6) is further adapted to stop causing, the refrigeration unit (4) to refrigerate the chamber (2) at the increased rate when the user has reset the sensing unit (5) after having removed the spoiled food (3) from the chamber (2). In this embodiment, the increased refrigeration is stopped, and the normal refrigeration is continued, and thus the temperature of the chamber (2) is raised.

In another embodiment, the control unit (6) is further adapted to stop warning the user when the user has reset the sensing unit (5). In this embodiment, the user can reset the sensing unit (5) through the user interface and/or the wireless communication means.

In another embodiment, the control unit (6) is further adapted to determine the contamination level S based on the currently sensed level R of the volatile organic compounds and a reference level R₀ of the volatile organic compounds which has been sensed by the sensing unit (5) immediately after the sensing unit (4) has been reset by the user. In another embodiment, the control unit (6) is further adapted to determine the contamination level S based on the time rate of the currently sensed level R of the

dR

volatile organic compounds, wherein S oc— .

1 dR

In another embodiment, the contamination level S is proportional to .

Q dt

In another embodiment, the control unit (6) is further adapted to selectively allow the user to enable or disable the food spoilage function. In this embodiment, the user can enable/disable the food spoilage function through the user interface and/or the wireless communication means.

In another embodiment, the limit level S-L corresponds to the level of spoilage when the shelf life of the food (3) is just expired

In another embodiment, the limit level S-L corresponds to the level of spoilage when the shelf life of the food (3) is not yet expired or when half of the shelf life of the food (3) is not yet expired.

In another embodiment, the refrigeration unit (4) comprises a temperature sensor (7) for sensing the temperature inside the chamber (2); and a flap (8) which is openable/clo sable and which is further adapted to allow the passage of the cooling air into the chamber (2) (Fig. l).

In another embodiment, the refrigerator (1) further comprises: a cleaning unit (not shown) for cleaning the ambient air inside the chamber (2). In this embodiment, the control unit (6) is adapted to start/finish causing the cleaning unit to clean the chamber (2) based on contamination level S. In another embodiment, the cleaning unit comprises a carbon filter (not shown) which is adapted to filter the contaminated air inside the chamber (2) and/or an ion/ozone generator (not shown) which is adapted to clean the contaminated air inside the chamber (2).

The present invention also provides a method of controlling the refrigerator (1). The method comprises: a step (S5, S7,S9) of refrigerating the chamber (2); a step (S 1-S3,S8) of sensing the level R of the volatile organic compounds released from the food (3); and a step (S4,S6) of determining the contamination level S of the food (3) inside the chamber (2) based on the level R (Fig. 2).

In the method method of the present invention, the step (S5, S7,S9) of refrigerating the chamber (2) is based on the contamination level S (Fig. 2). A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the formation of the bad smell and also the spreading of the bad smell inside the chamber (2) can be stopped or slowed down as much as possible by controlling the refrigeration unit (4) based on the contamination level S. Thereby, the user can be prevented from encountering unpleasant heavy odors. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the saturation effect of the high VOC concentration on the sensing unit (5) can be eliminated or reduced as much as possible by controlling the refrigeration unit (2) based on the contamination level S, and thus the spoiling of the food (3) can be more accurately sensed, and also the quality and the freshness of the food (3) inside the chamber (2) can be more reliably determined. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the spoiling of the food (3) can be suppressed at an early stage, namely before it becomes inedible by controlling the refrigeration unit (4) based on the contamination level S. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the performance of the food spoilage function of the refrigerator (1) has been improved, and thus the preventive and protective actions against the food spoiling and the harmful VOC levels can be more reliably taken. Thereby, the user satisfaction can be increased. Other advantageous effects of the present invention can be taken from the above described embodiments.

Claims

1. A refrigerator (1) comprising: a chamber (2) for storing food (3); a refrigerating unit (4) for refrigerating the chamber (2); a sensing unit (5) for sensing the level R of the volatile organic compounds released from the food (3); and a control unit (6) for determining the contamination level S of the food (3) inside the chamber (2) based on the level R and for controlling the refrigerating unit (4) and the sensing unit (5), wherein the control unit (6) has a food spoilage function for operating the sensing unit (5), characterized in that the control unit (6) is further adapted to control the refrigerating unit (4) based on the contamination level S.

2. The refrigerator (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (6) is further adapted to start warning the user when the contamination level S has reached a limit level S-_L .

3. The refrigerator (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control unit (6) is further adapted to start causing, either on approval by the user or automatically, the refrigeration unit (4) to refrigerate the chamber (2) at an increased rate to a relatively lower temperature T_low when the contamination level S is equal to or higher than a limit level S₁.

4. The refrigerator (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that T_low is equal to or below the freezing point of the food (3) in the chamber (2).

5. The refrigerator (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the control unit (6) is further adapted to allow the user to reset the sensing unit (5), wherein the control unit (6) is further adapted to stop causing, the refrigeration unit (4) to refrigerate the chamber (2) at the increased rate when the user has reset the sensing unit (5) after having removed the spoiled food (3) from the chamber (2).

6. The refrigerator (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the control unit (6) is further adapted to stop warning the user when the user has reset the sensing unit (5).

7. The refrigerator (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the control unit (6) is further adapted to determine the contamination level 5 based on the currently sensed level R of the volatile organic compounds and a reference level R₀ of the volatile organic compounds which has been sensed by the sensing unit (5) immediately after the sensing unit (4) has been reset by the user.

8. The refrigerator (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the control unit (6) is further adapted to determine the contamination level S based on the time rate of the currently sensed level R of the volatile organic compounds, wherein S oc dR

dt

9. The refrigerator (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the control unit (6) is further adapted to allow the user to enable or disable the food spoilage function.

10. The refrigerator (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the limit level S-_L corresponds to the level of spoilage when the shelf life of the food (3) is just expired.

11. The refrigerator (1) according to to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the limit level S-_L corresponds to the level of spoilage when the shelf life of the food (3) is not yet expired or when half of the shelf life of the food (3) is not yet expired.

12. The refrigerator (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that refrigeration unit (4) comprises a temperature sensor (7) for sensing the temperature inside the chamber (2); and a flap (8) which is openable/closable and which is further adapted to allow the passage of the cooling air into the chamber (2).

13. The refrigerator (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized by further comprising: a cleaning unit for cleaning the ambient air inside the chamber (2), wherein the control unit (6) is adapted to start/finish causing the cleaning unit to clean the chamber (2) based on contamination level S.

14. The refrigerator (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that the cleaning unit comprises a carbon filter which is adapted to filter the contaminated air inside the chamber (2) and/or an ion/ozone generator which is adapted to clean the contaminated air inside the chamber (2).

15. A method of controlling a refrigerator (1) comprising: a chamber (2) for storing food (3), the method comprising: a step (S5, S7,S9) of refrigerating the chamber (2); a step (S 1-S3,S8) of sensing the level R of the volatile organic compounds released from the food (3); and a step (S4,S6) of determining the contamination level S of the food (3) inside the chamber (2) based on the level R, the method being characterized in that the step (S5, S7,S9) of refrigerating the chamber (2) is based on the contamination level S.