WO2016087082A1

WO2016087082A1 - A cooling device comprising a height adjustable shelf

Info

Publication number: WO2016087082A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/072518
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mucahit Bacaksiz; Yusuf KUYUMCU; Yagiz TEZEL; Oner Hatipoglu
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2014-12-03
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 and that can move in the vertical direction, 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 comprises a distance sensor that is positioned on the shelf so as to detect the user and that detects the movement of the user, and a control unit that controls the movement of the shelf according to the change in the distance between the distance sensor and the user as a result of the movement of the user in the vertical direction. When the user enters the field of view of the distance sensor, the distance sensor measures the distance between the latter and the user and the control unit saves the measured distance as the reference distance (Hset). The distance between the user and the distance sensor increases or decreases as a result of the movements of the user in the vertical direction. The control unit enables the shelf to be moved in the vertical direction so as to maintain the reference distance (Hset). When the measured distance between the user and the distance sensor reaches the reference distance (Hset), the control unit ends the movement of the shelf. Thus, when the user ends his/her movement in the vertical direction, the shelf is enabled to be stopped at the reference distance (Hset) from the user. In this embodiment, a distance sensor is disposed on each shelf. The control unit moves only the shelf whereon the distance sensor detecting the user is disposed, thus the user is enabled to move the required shelves upwards or downwards.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises the control unit that enables the energy supplied to the motor to be interrupted and the movement of the shelf to be terminated when the user gets out of the field of view of the distance sensor. When the user enters the field of view of the distance sensor, the control unit controls the movement of the shelf according to the change in the distance between the distance sensor and the user and terminates the movement of the shelf by deciding that the user has brought the shelf to the desired level when the user gets out of the field of view of the distance sensor.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises the control unit that controls the movement speed of the shelf according to the measured distance between the distance sensor and the user. The control unit controls the movement speed of the shelf according to the rate of change of the measured distance between the distance sensor and the user. The control unit increases or decreases the movement speed of the shelf according to the rate of change of the measured distance. Thus, the user can control the movement speed of the shelf and is enabled to place the foodstuffs more quickly. Thus, energy losses occurring during the placement of the foodstuffs are decreased.

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 distance to be measured with the opening of the door. In cases the door is closed, the distance sensor does not perform any measurements and when the door is opened, the control unit activates the distance sensor, thus enabling the measurement of the distance. Thus, the shelves are enabled to be moved only after the user opens the door.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises a frame surrounding the shelf and the distance sensor that is disposed on the frame. By mounting the distance sensor to the frame remaining outside the part of the shelf whereon the foodstuffs are placed, the distance sensor is prevented from contacting the foodstuffs and from being damaged.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises a receiver and a transmitter that are oppositely disposed at the base of the shelf and the control unit that enables the movement of the shelf to be terminated according to the signal transmission between the receiver and the transmitter. The signal transmission between the receiver and the transmitter is interrupted if an object gets close to the foodstuffs during the movement of the shelf. In this case the control unit decides that the foodstuff gets close to an obstacle and terminates the movement of the shelf in order to prevent the shelf from impacting this obstacle. Thus, both the shelf and the foodstuffs are prevented from being damaged.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises the control unit that enables the user to be informed by visual and/or audio warning according to the data received from the receiver and the transmitter. Thus, the user is informed that the shelf gets close to the foodstuffs during the movement of the shelf.

By means of the present invention, a cooling device is realized, wherein the shelf heights are easily changed by the user without requiring to unload and load again the foodstuffs. While the user places foodstuffs into the cooling device or takes the foodstuffs out of the cooling device, he/she can move the shelves upwards-downwards.

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
Distance sensor
Control unit
Door
Frame
Receiver
Transmitter

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 distance sensor (5) that is disposed on the shelf (3) and that detects the user, thus measuring the distance between the user and the distance sensor (5), and a control unit (6) that calculates the change in the distance between the distance sensor (5) and the user according to the movement of the user in the vertical direction, thus enabling the shelf (3) to move in the vertical direction for the amount of change in distance. When the user enters the field of view of the distance sensor (5), the distance sensor (5) measures the distance between the user and the latter. The control unit (6) saves the measured distance as the reference distance (Hset) and enables the shelf (3) to move upwards-downwards so that the distance between the user and the distance sensor (5) is equal to the reference distance (Hset) during the upwards-downwards movements of the user. Thus, after the distance sensor (5) detects the user, the control unit (6) moves the shelf (3) for the distance the user moves in the upwards or downwards direction, in the same direction. When the distance between the distance sensor (5) and the user is equal to the reference distance (Hset), the control unit (6) enables the energy supplied to the motor (4) to be interrupted and the movement of the shelf (3) to be terminated. After the user determines the reference distance (Hset) by extending his/her hand or elbow over the distance sensor (5) positioned on the shelf (3), he/she enables the shelf (3) to be brought to the desired height by moving his/her hand or elbow. Thus, the user is enabled to adjust the shelf (3) heights even if his/her hands are full of foodstuffs, thus improving user satisfaction.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (6) enables the energy supplied to the motor (4) to be interrupted and the movement of the shelf (3) to be terminated when the user gets out of the field of view of the distance sensor (5). After the user adjusts the level of the shelf in the vertical plane to the desired height, he/she enables the movement of the shelf (3) to be terminated by getting out of the field of view of the distance sensor (5).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (6) controls the movement speed of the shelf (3) according to the measured distance between the distance sensor (5) and the user. The control unit (6) calculates the difference between the reference distance (Hset) and the distance measured between the distance sensor (5) and the user and controls the movement speed of the shelf (3) according to the measured difference. The control unit (6) increases the movement speed of the shelf (3)if the measured distance between the distance sensor (5) and the user increases and decreases the movement of speed of the shelf (3) if the measured distance between the distance sensor (5) and the user decreases. Thus, the user is enabled to bring the shelf (3) to the desired height more quickly and in a more controlled manner.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a door (7) providing access into the body (2) and the control unit (6) that enables the distance to be measured with the opening of the door (7). After the user opens the door (7), the distance sensor (5) starts measuring and the control unit (6) controls the movement of the shelf (3) according to the distance between the distance sensor (5) and the user. Thus, the shelf (3) is prevented from being moved without user intervention.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a frame (8) surrounding the shelf (3) and the distance sensor (5) that is disposed on the frame (8). If the distance sensor (5) contacts the foodstuffs placed into the shelf (3), the distance sensor (5) is prevented from detecting the user. The distance sensor (5) is placed onto the frame (8), thus prevented from contacting the foodstuffs. In this embodiment, the distance sensor (5) is positioned at the part of the frame (8) close to the door (7), thereby the detection of the user by the distance sensor (5) is facilitated.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a receiver (9) and a transmitter (10) that are disposed on the opposite two sides of the shelf (3) base and the control unit (6) that enables energy delivered to the motor (4) to be interrupted and the movement of the shelf (3) to be terminated according to the data received from the receiver (9) and the transmitter (10). The foodstuffs getting close to the shelf (3) base during the upwards-downwards movement of the shelf (3) interrupts the signal transmission between the receiver (9) and the transmitter (10). When the signal transmission between the receiver (9) and the transmitter (10) is interrupted, it is detected that the shelf (3) is close to the foodstuffs, thus, the control unit (6) enables the energy supplied to the motor (4) to be interrupted and the movement of the shelf (3) to be terminated. Thus, the shelf (3) is prevented from impacting the foodstuffs.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises the control unit (6) that enables the user to be informed by visual and/or audio warning according to the data received from the receiver (9) and the transmitter (10). The user is warned by audio and/or visual means if the signal transmission between the receiver (9) and the transmitter (10) is interrupted. Thus, the user is not required to check the distance between the shelf (3) and the foodstuffs during the movement of the shelf (3), thus improving user satisfaction.

In the cooling device (1) of the present invention, by means of the distance sensor (5) disposed on the shelf (3), the user movement is detected and by means of the control unit (6), the movement of the shelf (3) in the vertical direction is controlled according to the movement of the user. Thus, the user can easily adjust the position of the shelf (3) in the cooling device (1).

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 distance sensor (5) that is disposed on the shelf (3) and that detects the user, thus measuring the distance between the user and the distance sensor (5), and

- a control unit (6) that calculates the change in the distance between the distance sensor (5) and the user according to the movement of the user in the vertical direction, thus enabling the shelf (3) to move in the vertical direction for the amount of change in distance.
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the control unit (6) that enables the energy supplied to the motor (4) to be interrupted and the movement of the shelf (3) to be terminated when the user gets out of the field of view of the distance sensor (5).
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the control unit (6) that controls the movement speed of the shelf (3) according to the measured distance between the distance sensor (5) and the user.
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a door (7) providing access into the body (2) and the control unit (6) that enables the distance to be measured with the opening of the door (7).
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a frame (8) surrounding the shelf (3) and the distance sensor (5) that is disposed on the frame (8).
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a receiver (9) and a transmitter (10) that are disposed on the opposite two sides of the shelf (3) base and the control unit (6) that enables energy delivered to the motor (4) to be interrupted and the movement of the shelf (3) to be terminated according to the data received from the receiver (9) and the transmitter (10).
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 6, characterized by the control unit (6) that enables the user to be informed by visual and/or audio warning according to the data received from the receiver (9) and the transmitter (10).