Refrigerator capable of stock monitoring by providing ideal storage conditions

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, which, by means of a control unit ( 2 ) equipped with a display ( 2.1 ) on the refrigerator body ( 1 ), allows users to maintain foodstuff under ideal storage conditions, and to monitor the comprised stock without opening the refrigerator door. Under the light of detailed information recorded to the said control unit ( 2 ) by means of RF-tags or a barcode reader or wired/wireless data loading units; the conditions of refrigerator compartments as determined by foodstuff characteristics and the monitoring of stock therein are shown to users via said display ( 2.1 ) without necessitating said user to open the refrigerator door.

1 . A refrigerator capable to maintain foodstuff under ideal storage conditions and to keep stock inventory by means of a control unit ( 2 ) with a display ( 2 . 1 ) on the refrigerator body ( 1 ), said refrigerator being characterized in that
 according to detailed data saved on said control unit ( 2 ) memory by means of RF-tags or a barcode reader or wired/wireless data loading units; the info as to which compartment must be used for which foodstuff according to the characteristics of the latter and/or as to what the humidity and temperature values of such storage compartments must be are displayed by said display ( 2 . 1 ) to the user, and   according to detailed data saved on said control unit ( 2 ) memory by means of RF-tags or a barcode reader or wired/wireless data loading units; the stock inventory of contained products is monitored by means of said display ( 2 . 1 ) without having to open the refrigerator door.   
   
   
       2 . A refrigerator according to  claim 1 , characterized in that thanks to detailed data saved on said control unit ( 2 ) memory by means of said RF-tags or said barcode reader or said wired/wireless data loading units; the info as to which refrigerator compartment contains which products, which products' expiry dates are approached or exceeded, and which products are maintained under incorrect storage conditions are displayed on said display ( 2 . 1 ) to the user. 
   
   
       3 . A refrigerator according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the data on products' expiry dates, production dates, origins, contents, and on manufacturer firms are loaded to the memory of said control unit ( 2 ) by means of said RF-tags or said barcode reader or said wired/wireless data loading units. 
   
   
       4 . A refrigerator according to  claim 1 , characterized in that thanks to the software installed on said control unit ( 2 ), the user sends an order information to the vendor by making use of the data related to the relevant product and making use of the communication means such as the Internet, telephone etc. on the subject refrigerator, when any product stock is diminished in any compartment. 
   
   
       5 . A refrigerator according to  claim 1 , characterized in that thanks to the data loaded by means of said RF-tags or said barcode reader or said wired/wireless data loading units; detailed info on liquid or solid foodstuff materials' name, type, amount etc. are entered to the control unit ( 2 ) memory by the user and/or available databases. 
   
   
       6 . A refrigerator according to  claim 1 , characterized in that according to data entered to said control unit ( 2 ) memory by means of said RF-tags or said barcode reader or said wired/wireless data loading units; the control unit ( 2 ) determines and visually displays such determination result on said display ( 2 . 1 ) as to which container is proper for which foodstuff sizes. 
   
   
       7 . A refrigerator according to  claim 1 , characterized in that according to data entered to said control unit ( 2 ) memory by means of said RF-tags or said barcode reader or said wired/wireless data loading units; the control unit ( 2 ) saves and processes the data as to in which refrigerator compartments and containers the foodstuffs are located in. 
   
   
       8 . A refrigerator according to  claim 1 , characterized in that according to data entered to said control unit ( 2 ) memory by means of said RF-tags or said barcode reader or said wired/wireless data loading units; the expiry date of foodstuff are saved and the products with expiry dates approached or exceeded are displayed by means of said display ( 2 . 1 ) in a listed manner. 
   
   
       9 . A refrigerator according to  claim 1 , characterized in that according to data entered to said control unit ( 2 ) memory by means of said RF-tags or said barcode reader or said wired/wireless data loading units; the data on weights of foodstuff or on any alterations in such weights are transmitted to said control unit ( 2 ) by means of sensors, and such transmitted data are displayed visually to the user on said display ( 2 . 1 ) without necessitating the user to open the refrigerator door for viewing the product stock. 
   
   
       10 . A refrigerator according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the database of said control unit ( 2 ) is categorized according to the shelves and compartments within the refrigerator, each shelf and compartment is adjusted in order to store foodstuffs under certain categories, new data and additions are made by the user in said categorized database, and new categories are downloaded from other database by means of said RF-tags, internet or said wired/wireless data loading units. 
   
   
       11 . A refrigerator according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the user carries out operations such as reporting contained foodstuff characteristics, their expiry dates, and amounts on said display ( 2 . 1 ) in a touch-sensitive manner or by means of keys, and data are transferred to said control unit ( 2 ) by means of Bluetooth, wi-fi, cable and wired/wireless connection types and print-outs are taken by direct connection to printer. 
   
   
       12 . A refrigerator capable to maintain foodstuff under ideal storage conditions and to keep stock inventory by means of a control unit ( 2 ) with a display ( 2 . 1 ) on the refrigerator body ( 1 ), characterized in
 at least one weight measuring apparatus ( 3 ) embodied on said refrigerator body ( 1 ) measures the weight of product remaining after consumption in order to determine the stock product in the refrigerator and to keep the stock inventory, such measurement result is saved to said control unit ( 2 ), the final amount of product is displayed to the user by means of said display ( 2 . 1 ) to keep stock inventory, and also to regulate the storage conditions of the compartment where the relevant product is kept by means of thermoelectric calculations performed based on this measured weight;   at least one egg storing apparatus ( 6 ) positioned in the refrigerator is comprised, the expiry dates of eggs are entered to said control unit ( 2 ) before they are placed in said egg storing apparatus ( 6 ), such egg with the data already entered is placed in an egg socket ( 6 . 2 ) formed on said egg storing apparatus ( 6 ), and is reported to said control unit ( 2 ) by depressing a feedback button ( 6 . 3 ) on said socket ( 6 . 2 ) in order to specify the egg socket such egg is positioned in, and said control unit ( 2 ) alters the light color of said feedback button ( 6 . 3 ) in order to report the user that the expiry date of the egg placed in the relevant egg socket ( 6 . 2 ) is approached or exceeded;   at least one liquid foodstuff storing and dispensing apparatus ( 4 ) is positioned in the refrigerator, detailed data on such packaged liquid foodstuff are entered to said control unit ( 2 ) by means of said RF-tags or said barcode reader or said wired/wireless data loading units, such product with the data already entered is placed on a socket ( 4 . 1 ) formed on said liquid foodstuff storing and dispensing apparatus ( 4 ), a indicator lamp ( 4 . 6 ) on said socket ( 4 . 1 ) is activated and lit after such product is placed, and the control unit ( 2 ) makes said indicator lamp ( 4 . 6 ) blink when the related product's expiry data is approached or exceeded in order to alert the user; and   at least one packaged product seizing apparatus ( 5 ) is comprised, detailed data on such packaged product are entered to said control unit ( 2 ) by means of said RF-tags or said barcode reader or said wired/wireless data loading units, such product with data already entered is placed between latch bars ( 5 . 1 ) of said product seizing apparatus ( 5 ), the feedback button ( 5 . 2 ) is depressed on the joint ( 5 . 4 ) that said latch bars ( 5 . 1 ) are connected to after such product is placed, said control unit ( 2 ) is reported as to which latch bars ( 5 . 1 ) the packaged product is placed, said control unit ( 2 ) sends a signal to said feedback button ( 5 . 2 ) when the packaged product's expiry date is approached or exceeded, and the light color of said feedback button ( 5 . 2 ) is altered in order to alert the user on the circumstance.   
   
   
       13 . A refrigerator according to  claim 12 , characterized in that said weight measuring apparatus ( 3 ) is opened and closed in the form of a drawer in an apparatus socket ( 3 . 5 ) embodied on said refrigerator body ( 1 ). 
   
   
       14 . A refrigerator according to  claim 12 , characterized in that said weight measuring apparatus ( 3 ) has a body ( 3 . 2 ); a circular weight measuring element ( 3 . 1 ) is positioned on said body ( 3 . 2 ), weight data on a product measured by said weight measuring element ( 3 . 1 ) is saved in said control unit ( 2 ), said weight data is displayed to the user by means of said display ( 2 . 1 ) whenever the user wishes so in order to view the stock inventory, and the storage conditions are regulated of the compartment containing such product by means of thermoelectric calculations based on such determined weight. 
   
   
       15 . A refrigerator according to  claim 12 , characterized in that at least one hook ( 3 . 5 ) is positioned beneath said body ( 3 . 2 ) to hang bags when the weights of foodstuffs in bags are to be measured. 
   
   
       16 . A refrigerator according to  claim 12 , characterized in that product sensors ( 6 . 4 ) are provided in said egg sockets ( 6 . 2 ) to let the control unit ( 2 ) sense the presence of any egg in said egg socket ( 6 . 2 ) without depressing said feedback button ( 6 . 3 ). 
   
   
       17 . A refrigerator according to  claim 12 , characterized in comprising liquid transferring channels ( 4 . 5 ) connected to openings opened on said sockets ( 4 . 1 ) of said liquid foodstuff storing and dispensing apparatus ( 4 ), a mixing channel ( 4 . 2 ) where said liquid transferring channels ( 4 . 5 ) are coupled, and opening-closing latches ( 4 . 4 ) formed on the connection points of said liquid transferring channels ( 4 . 5 ) and said mixing channel ( 4 . 2 ) in order to control the liquid transfer. 
   
   
       18 . A refrigerator according to  claim 12 , characterized in that amount sensors ( 4 . 7 ) are comprised on the connection points of said sockets ( 4 . 1 ) with said liquid transferring channels ( 4 . 5 ), fruit juice content in packages are sensed by means of said amount sensors ( 4 . 7 ), and such data transmitted to said control unit ( 2 ). 
   
   
       19 . A refrigerator according to  claim 12 , characterized in that said control unit ( 2 ) sends a signal such that said indicator lamp ( 4 . 6 ) lights with a different color to alert the user when the amount measured by said amount sensors ( 4 . 7 ) falls down a predetermined level.