JP7744781B2 - Containment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a storage facility.

Conventionally, refrigerators have been known in which a transparent glass panel is attached to the door, allowing the interior of the refrigerator to be seen without opening the door (for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-28542

However, with refrigerators like the one in Patent Document 1, it can be difficult to see inside. For example, to check the contents at the back of the refrigerator, it is necessary to open the refrigerator door.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a storage facility that makes it easy to see what is stored inside.

According to the present invention, the storage cabinet comprises a storage cabinet main body having an opening and for storing items; a door body that can be opened and closed and covers the opening of the storage cabinet main body and has a transparent display on at least a portion thereof; and a viewing direction adjustment means that adjusts the viewing direction of the stored items so that the stored items can be viewed from a side other than the side facing the opening when the items are stored inside.

This invention provides a storage facility that allows for easy visibility of stored items.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the appearance of a storage facility according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the state in which the door body of the storage facility in FIG. 1 is open. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the storage facility according to the first embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line III-III in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the IV-IV cross section of the storage facility of FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a modified example of the storage facility according to the first embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a storage facility according to a second embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line III-III in FIG. 1. FIG. FIG. 10 is a front view showing a modified example of a storage facility according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a front view showing another modified example of the storage facility according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, identical or equivalent parts will be designated by the same reference numerals and will not be described again. In the following description, a refrigerator will be used as an example of the storage facility 1. The basic structure for cooling or freezing the contents of the refrigerator and the materials used for the refrigerator are the same as those of known refrigerators, so detailed description will be omitted.

[Overall configuration]
First, the overall configuration of a storage facility 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a front view showing the exterior of the storage facility 1 according to this embodiment. Figure 2 is a front view showing the state in which the door body 20 of the storage facility 1 in Figure 1 is open. In the following description, the vertical direction when the storage facility 1 is placed in a state in which it is generally used is defined as the up-down direction. Furthermore, the side of the storage facility 1 on which the door body 20 is provided is defined as the front side, and the front-rear direction is defined as the front side. Furthermore, the direction perpendicular to the up-down direction and the left-right direction is defined as the left-right direction.

Note that in Figures 1 and 2, storage cabinet 1 is shown as a refrigerator equipped with a refrigerator compartment 1a and a freezer compartment 1b, but storage cabinet 1 is not limited to the type of refrigerator shown in Figures 1 and 2. For example, storage cabinet 1 may be a refrigerator equipped with only a refrigerator compartment, or a refrigerator equipped with a refrigerator compartment, a freezer compartment, and a vegetable compartment. Furthermore, storage cabinet 1 is not limited to a refrigerator, and may be any container capable of storing multiple items 40, such as a cupboard or food storage cabinet. In this case, the basic structure and materials of the cupboard or food storage cabinet may be the same as or different from those of known cupboards and food storage cabinets.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the storage facility 1 comprises a storage facility main body 10, a door body 20, and a viewing direction adjustment means 30.

The storage body 10 contains items 40, such as food. The storage body 10 is box-shaped with an opening 11 on the front. Inside the storage body 10, there are multiple shelves 12 arranged at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction. The shelves 12 are plate-shaped and have approximately the same shape and dimensions as the horizontal cross section of the internal space of the storage body 10.

The door body 20 is plate-shaped and sized to cover the opening 11 of the storage body 10. The door body 20 is attached to the storage body 10 and covers the opening 11 of the storage body 10 in an openable and closable manner. The door body 20 has a transparent display 21 on at least a portion thereof. Specifically, the door body 20 has an opening 201 on at least a portion thereof, and the transparent display 21 is fitted into and fixed in the opening 201 of the door body 20. The transparent display 21 is provided so that the interior of the storage body 10 can be viewed from outside the storage body 10 through the transparent display 21. Note that the transparent display 21 may be a known liquid crystal display or organic EL display. If the transparent display 21 is configured to have an liquid crystal display, a backlight light source is provided inside the storage body 10.

At least a portion of the transparent display 21 is positioned opposite the storage space within the interior space of the storage body 10, which contains the items 40 that can be viewed by changing the viewing direction using the viewing direction adjustment means 30.

The transparent display 21 also displays the location of the storage space in which the viewing direction adjustment means 30 is installed. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the transparent display 21 displays an arbitrary mark 50, such as a fish, in a position facing the storage space in which the viewing direction adjustment means 30 is installed. This allows the user to recognize at a glance that the viewing direction adjustment means 30 is installed in the area where the mark 50 is located.

Note that the method of indicating the location of the storage space in which the viewing direction adjustment means 30 is installed is not limited to attaching a mark 50. For example, the location facing the storage space in which the viewing direction adjustment means 30 is installed may be highlighted by surrounding it, for example.

The viewing direction adjustment means 30 allows the stored item 40 to be viewed from a side other than the side facing the opening 11 when the stored item 40 is stored in the storage body 10. The viewing direction adjustment means 30 is provided inside the storage body 10. The viewing direction adjustment means 30 may include, for example, at least one of a turntable and a photographing device such as a camera.

In Figure 2, the storage facility 1 is shown configured to have one turntable 30a and one camera 30b as the viewing direction adjustment means 30. The viewing direction adjustment means 30 of the storage facility 1 may also be configured to have only one of the turntable 30a or the camera 30b. The viewing direction adjustment means 30 of the storage facility 1 may also be configured to have multiple turntables 30a and/or multiple camera devices 30b.

The door body 20 is also provided with a touch panel 22 for operating the transparent display 21 and the viewing direction adjustment means 30 (see Figure 3). In this embodiment, the transparent touch panel 22 is disposed on the outer surface of the transparent display 21.

The touch panel 22 indicates the viewing direction of the viewing direction adjustment means 30. The touch panel 22 has a touch sensor that detects the approach or contact of a user's finger, touch pen, or the like to the touch panel 22, and outputs an electrical signal in response to the detection. For example, a known touch panel may be used as the touch panel 22.

The touch panel 22 may be provided in a location separate from the transparent display 21 on the door body 20. Also, if the transparent display 21 has a built-in touch sensing function, there is no need to provide a separate touch panel 22.

Power to operate the transmissive display 21, touch panel 22, and viewing direction adjustment means 30 is extracted from the control circuit of the storage facility 1 (refrigerator) via an electrical signal line.

Next, the detailed configuration of the viewing direction adjustment means 30 will be described with reference to Figures 3 to 8.

[Embodiment 1]
First, the viewing direction adjusting means 30 of the storage facility 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the storage facility 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention taken along the line III-III in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the storage facility 1 taken along the line IV-IV in Figure 3. In Figure 3, the stored items 40 are schematically shown as circles, squares, or the like. In Figure 4, the stored items 40 are omitted.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, in embodiment 1, the viewing direction adjustment means 30 has a turntable 30a that can be rotated to change the orientation of the placed contents 40.

The turntable 30a is provided inside the storage body 10 on at least one of the shelves 12 or the bottom surface 101 of the storage body 10 (see Figure 2). The turntable 30a includes a base 31a and a motor 32a.

The base 31a has, for example, a generally circular disk shape in a plan view. Furthermore, the base 31a has, for example, a diameter that is generally equal to or slightly smaller than the diameter of a circle inscribed on the outer edge of the shelf 12 or bottom surface 101 on which the base 31a is installed.

The motor 32a drives the base 31a to rotate. It is preferable that the motor 32a be capable of rotating the base 31a in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions by changing the direction of rotation.

The turntable 30a is configured so that the base 31a and motor 32a are embedded in the shelf 12, and the top surface of the base 31a is flat with the top surface of the shelf 12.

The transparent display 21 is positioned opposite the storage space of the shelf 12 or bottom surface 101 on which the turntable 30a is provided. Specifically, it is provided in a position opposite the space above the shelf 12 or bottom surface 101 on which the turntable 30a is provided, i.e., the space between the shelf 12 or bottom surface 101 and the upper surface 102 (see Figure 2) of the adjacent shelf 12 or storage body 10.

The transparent display 21 also displays the location of the storage space on the shelf 12 where the turntable 30a is located or the storage space on the bottom surface 101 of the storage body 10. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the transparent display 21 displays an arbitrary mark 50, such as a fish, in a position facing the storage space where the turntable 30a is located. This allows the user to recognize at a glance that the viewing direction adjustment means 30 is located where the mark 50 is located.

Next, we will explain how to check the contents 40 using the viewing direction adjustment means 30.

First, the user places the item 40 on the base 31a of the turntable 30a. Then, the user can view the item 40 stored in the front of the storage unit 1, i.e., the item 40 stored in the position opposite the opening 11 of the storage unit main body 10, through the transparent display 21.

The user rotates the turntable 30a using the operation buttons displayed on the touch panel 22 to check the items 40 stored at the back of the storage facility 1. Here, we will assume that right and left arrow buttons are displayed on the touch panel 22, and the user wants to check the items 40 stored on the right side.

The user presses the right arrow button on the touch panel 22. The turntable 30a rotates counterclockwise, for example, while the user is pressing the right arrow button. The user stops pressing the right arrow button when the item 40 they want to view comes to the front. They then view the item 40 through the translucent display 21.

When the user has finished viewing the items 40, they can press the right arrow button or the left arrow button to return the turntable 30a to its initial position. Here, the initial position refers to the position where, when items 40 are stored in the storage facility 1, the items 40 stored at the front are brought to the front again. Using the left arrow button, the turntable 30a can be rotated clockwise. Note that the turntable 30a may rotate clockwise while the right arrow button is pressed, and may rotate counterclockwise while the left arrow button is pressed. Depending on the rotational position of the turntable 30a, the user can return the turntable 30a to its initial position in a short time by pressing the right arrow button or the left arrow button.

The turntable 30a may also be set to automatically return to its initial position. Specifically, a control device (not shown) that controls the rotation of the turntable 30a is given a command to return the turntable 30a to its initial position if the user does not operate the turntable 30a for a certain period of time. This allows the turntable 30a to automatically return to its initial position after viewing the contents 40, even if the user does not perform any operation to return the turntable 30a to its initial position.

To check the items 40 stored on the left side, use the left arrow button to view them in the same way. To check the items 40 stored on the rear side, use the right arrow button or left arrow button to view them in the same way.

The screen for operating the turntable 30a is not limited to the above. For example, it may display a right rotation button, a left rotation button, and a stop button. In this case, for example, if the user wants to view the contents 40 on the right side, they press the right rotation button. Then, when they reach the desired position, they press the stop button. With this configuration, there is no need to keep pressing the buttons. At this time, an initial position button may be displayed, and pressing the initial position button may automatically return the turntable 30a to its initial position. With this configuration, in addition to when no instruction is received for a predetermined period of time, the turntable 30a may automatically return to its initial position after it has made one rotation. This reduces the user's effort in returning the turntable 30a to its initial position.

In addition, an operation instruction such as "Please slide" may be displayed on the touch panel 22. When the user slides a finger, a touch pen, or the like on the touch panel 22 based on the displayed operation instruction, the turntable 30a may rotate according to the direction and amount of sliding.

Alternatively, a top view of the turntable 30a may be displayed on the touch panel 22. When the user presses a desired location on the turntable 30a on the touch panel 22, the turntable 30a may automatically rotate to that position.

Next, a modified example of the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 5. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a modified example of the storage facility 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line IV-IV in Figure 3.

In the above, a configuration has been described in which the base 31a and motor 32a of the turntable 30a are embedded in the shelf 12, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a configuration may be adopted in which a portion of the base 31a of the turntable 30a protrudes upward from the top surface of the shelf 12. Alternatively, a configuration may be adopted in which the entire turntable 30a, including the base 31a and motor 32a, is placed on the top surface of the shelf 12.

[Embodiment 2]
Next, the viewing direction adjusting means 30 of the storage facility 1 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the storage facility 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention taken along the line III-III in Fig. 1. In Fig. 6, the stored items 40 are schematically shown as circles, squares, or the like. Below, differences between the second embodiment and the first embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 6, in embodiment 2, the viewing direction adjustment means 30 has a photographing device 30b. When the item 40 is placed in the storage container main body 10, the photographing device 30b photographs the item 40 from a side facing the opening 11, i.e., from a side other than the front.

The camera device 30b is fixed inside the storage body 10, for example, to the back surface 103, side surface 104, or the corner 105 formed by the back surface 103 and side surface 104 of the storage body 10. Figure 6 shows the camera device 30b attached to the back surface 103 of the storage body 10. The camera device 30b is installed in at least one of the compartments separated vertically by the shelves 12 of the storage body 10.

The photographing device 30b is, for example, a camera. It is preferable that the photographing device 30b has a wide angle so that it can photograph many contained items 40. The image photographed by the photographing device 30b is sent to the transparent display 21 via a wired or wireless connection and displayed. At this time, it is preferable that the image photographed by the photographing device 30b is displayed on the transparent display 21 at a position that does not overlap with the position of the contained item 40 placed in front of the photographed contained item 40 that can be seen through the transparent display 21.

The transparent display 21 is positioned opposite the compartment in which the camera 30b is installed, in a compartment separated vertically by the shelf 12. In addition, the transparent display 21 has an area in which images captured by the camera 30b can be displayed.

Next, we will explain how to check the contents 40 using the viewing direction adjustment means 30.

The items 40 stored in the front of the storage cabinet 1, i.e., the items 40 stored in the position opposite the opening 11 of the storage cabinet main body 10, can be viewed directly through the transparent display 21.

The items 40 stored at the back of the storage facility 1 can be photographed and checked with the camera 30b using the operation buttons of the camera 30b displayed on the touch panel 22. Specifically, an operation button for starting the operation of the camera 30b is displayed on the touch panel 22. When the user wants to check the items 40 stored at the back of the storage facility 1, they press the operation button. When the operation button is pressed, the camera 30b photographs the items 40. The image captured by the camera 30b is displayed on the transparent display 21 by a control device (not shown) that controls the camera 30b and the transparent display 21.

The image displayed on the transparent display 21 is displayed in a position that does not overlap with the position at which the item 40 placed in front of the item 40 photographed in advance by the photographing device 30b can be seen. This is possible by setting the display position of the image photographed by the photographing device 30b in advance in a control device (not shown) that controls the operation of the photographing device 30b and the transparent display 21. The user can also move the position of the image displayed on the transparent display 21 by dragging the image. The user can check the item 40 stored at the back of the storage facility 1 using the image displayed on the transparent display 21.

By being able to view the image captured by the camera device 30b on the transparent display 21, it is possible to check the contents 40 on the spot while operating the camera device 30b. Furthermore, by displaying the image displayed on the transparent display 21 in a position different from the position where the contents 40 placed in front of the contents 40 being photographed by the camera device 30b are visible, it is possible to check the contents 40 in front through the transparent display 21 while checking the contents 40 in the back through the image captured by the camera device 30b. In other words, it is possible to check the contents 40 in the front and the contents 40 in the back at the same time.

The touch panel 22 also displays an information display button for displaying information about the contained item 40 displayed on the transparent display 21. Information about the contained item 40 is, for example, the expiration date of the contained item 40. When the user wants to check the information about the contained item 40 displayed on the transparent display 21, the user presses the information display button. When the information display button is pressed, information about the contained item 40 is displayed on the transparent display 21.

Specifically, information about the contained items 40 is stored in advance in a control device (not shown) that operates the transparent display 21. Information about the contained items 40 is stored in the control device by, for example, inputting it from a user's smartphone, tablet, etc. In addition, a camera (not shown) is installed in the storage facility 1, and the information to be displayed when the contained items 40 are placed in the storage facility 1 is captured with the camera, and the information captured by the camera is digitized and stored in the control device. When instructed by the user, the information stored in the control device is read out and displayed on the transparent display 21.

In addition, information about the contained items 40 can also be displayed on the transparent display 21 as follows. The control device (not shown) processes the image captured by the imaging device 30b and reads information about the contained items 40 from the image captured by the imaging device 30b. The imaging device then displays this read information on the transparent display 21.

Next, a modified example of the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 7 and 8. Figure 7 is a front view showing a modified example of the storage facility 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8 is a front view showing another modified example of the storage facility 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

In the above, the camera device 30b is described as being fixed, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the camera device 30b can be movable. For example, the camera device 30b may be fixed in its mounting position and configured to be oriented left and right or up and down for capturing images. This allows the camera device 30b to capture every corner of the contents 40 at the back even if it does not have a wide angle of view.

Also, as shown in Figure 7, rails 13 may be provided on the back of the storage body 10, allowing the camera device 30b to move left and right (arrow A). The rails 13 may be provided on the side surfaces 104 of the storage body 10, or curved rails may be provided extending from the side surfaces 104 to the back surface 103.

Also, as shown in Figure 8, a rod-shaped support 14 extending through the shelf 12 may be provided at the corner 105 of the storage body 10, and the camera 30b may move up and down (arrow B) on the support 14. In this case, an opening is formed in the shelf 12 through which the support 14 and camera 30b can pass. Note that the camera 30b may be fixed to the support, and the camera area of the camera 30b may be adjusted by moving the support up and down and rotating.

The user can control the operation of the image capture device 30b using the touch panel 22. Specifically, for example, arrow buttons indicating the directions in which the image capture device 30b can operate are displayed on the touch panel 22. The user presses the arrow buttons on the touch panel 22 to move the image capture device 30b and capture the contained item 40, which is then displayed on the translucent display 21 for visual confirmation.

When the user has finished viewing the contained item 40, the user presses the arrow button to return the camera device 30b to its initial position. The camera device 30b can be set to automatically return to its initial position. Specifically, a control device (not shown) that controls the operation of the camera device 30b can be instructed to return the camera device 30b to its initial position if the user does not operate the camera device 30b for a certain period of time. The control device can also be instructed to return the camera device 30b to its initial position after photographing the surface of the contained item 40 facing the opening 11, i.e., the entire surface of the contained item 40 other than the front. This allows the camera device 30b to automatically return to its initial position without any operation after viewing the contained item 40. This reduces the user's effort in returning the camera device 30b to its initial position.

In addition, images captured by the imaging device 30b may be displayed on the user's smartphone, tablet, etc., rather than on the transmissive display 21.

As described above, the storage cabinet 1 of the present invention is provided with a viewing direction adjustment means 30, which allows the stored items 40 placed at the back of the storage cabinet 1 to be checked without opening the door 20 of the storage cabinet 1. If the storage cabinet 1 is a refrigerator, the time required to open the door 20 can be minimized to the time required to remove the stored items 40, thereby preventing the temperature inside the refrigerator from rising. As a result, the power required to lower and maintain the temperature inside the refrigerator to a predetermined temperature can be reduced. Furthermore, deterioration of food stored in the refrigerator can be prevented.

Furthermore, in a configuration equipped with a turntable 30a as in embodiment 1, the contents 40 that have just been placed in the storage cabinet 1 (refrigerator) can be cooled while being rotated on the turntable 30a, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the contents 40.

Embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining multiple components disclosed in each of the above embodiments. The drawings mainly show each component schematically to make it easier to understand, and the thickness, length, size, number, etc. of each illustrated component may be changed as appropriate. Furthermore, the shape, dimensions, etc. of each component shown in the above embodiments are merely examples and are not particularly limited, and various modifications are possible within a scope that does not substantially deviate from the effects of the present invention. For example, some components may be deleted from all of the components shown in the embodiments.

In the above embodiment, the viewing direction adjustment means 30 was operated using the touch panel 22, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an operation button for operating the viewing direction adjustment means 30 may be provided on the storage unit main body 10 or the door body 20. The viewing direction adjustment means 30 may be operated by pressing the operation button, etc.

The present invention provides a storage facility and has industrial applicability.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Storage 10 Storage body 11 Opening 12 Shelf 20 Door body 21 Transparent display 22 Touch panel 30 Viewing direction adjustment means 30a Turntable 30b Photography device 40 Stored items

Claims (8)

A storage body having an opening and configured to store items;
A door body that covers the opening of the storage body in an openable and closable manner and has a transparent display on at least a portion thereof;
a photographing device provided inside the storage body, which photographs the stored item from a side other than the side of the stored item facing the opening when the stored item is stored;
Equipped with
A storage facility in which the image captured by the photographing device is displayed simultaneously with the stored items, which are visible through the transparent display. A storage facility as described in claim 1, wherein the image captured by the imaging device is displayed in a position that does not overlap with the stored items that are visible through the see-through display. The storage facility described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the imaging device is movable and an operating means for operating the imaging device is provided on the storage facility body or the door body. A storage facility as described in any one of claims 1 to 3 , further comprising a turntable provided inside the storage facility main body, on which the stored items are placed and which rotates to change the orientation of the placed items so that they face the opening. The storage body has a plurality of shelves therein,
The turntable is provided on at least one of the shelf or the bottom surface of the storage body,
The storage container according to claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the transparent display is disposed facing a storage space of the shelf on which the turntable is provided or a storage space on the bottom surface of the storage container body. The storage cabinet described in claim 5, wherein the transparent display displays the position of the storage space on the shelf on which the turntable is provided or the storage space on the bottom surface of the storage cabinet body. A storage facility according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the turntable is rotatable and an operating means for operating the rotation is provided on the storage facility main body or the door body. A storage facility according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the transparent display displays information about the stored items to be displayed on the transparent display.