Drawer device and cover with lifting means

A drawer device includes a drawer body, a drawer movable linearly therein, and a cover movable relative to the drawer and relative to the drawer body in a lifting direction by a lifting element. A controlled relative movement of the cover can be carried out in the lifting direction by the lifting element and a controller to allow evacuation and/or dehumidification of the drawer interior. The lifting element is arranged to run along two lateral edges of the cover, and each lifting element has a motor, a spindle, and a linear carriage connected to the spindle and linearly movable. A profiled lifting section is operatively connected to a securing element on the drawer body, and can be moved by the lifting element in the lifting direction relative to the cover in a controlled manner by a controller.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a drawer device comprising a drawer body, a drawer which can be moved linearly therein, and a cover which can be moved relative to the drawer and relative to the drawer body in a lifting direction by a lifting element such that a controlled relative movement of the cover can be carried out in the lifting direction by the lifting element and a controller and such that the drawer interior can be evacuated and/or dehumidified after the cover is brought into the closed position. The invention further concerns a cover of a drawer device with a drawer in a drawer body, and an evacuation and/or a dehumidification of the drawer interior can be made possible when the cover is closed, and the lifting element is arranged on or in the cover.

Refrigerators for storing food have several drawbacks, because a large amount of electrical energy is continuously required in order to constantly and massively cool an interior space. Little attention has been paid to the inner climate of the refrigerator so far. According to an investigation of the Hygiene Council which performed an international study with the name Hygiene Report 2010, the refrigerator with approximately 11400000 germs per square centimeter is more contaminated than a toilet with approximately 100 pathogens per square centimeter. This information received widespread media coverage in 2010. However, apart from recommendations to more often clean the refrigerator, no noticeable improvements have been taken place up to now.

For the first time, DE202017006169 generally disclosed a drawer device with a drawer and a cover, in which a negative pressure could be produced within a drawer interior with the aid of a pump. The drawer device includes a drawer having walls and a drawer interior, the drawer being operatively connectable to a cover and being linearly movably supported within a drawer body. However, more details about the drawer, the cover and possible lifting means and evacuation means have been largely left open in the DE202017006169 reference.

The closest prior art is the WO2019/141574 reference to the applicant. Food which does not have to be necessarily cooled can be stored in a drawer device at room temperature, and an increased energy consumption for cooling can be dispensed.

The drawer interior can be evacuated with a slight underpressure, below the atmospheric pressure, which can be produced and held in a controlled manner. In this way, food can be longer edible or held palatable in a simpler manner. The storage within the drawer body with the drawer device requires less energy than the refrigerator, because the oxygen deprivation in the interior space is completed after a few minutes, and practically no further electricity is required thereafter. A drawer device can be provided without harmful materials such as cooling agents or thermal insulation. The consumption of plastic bags, with the known vacuuming with the aid of vacuum devices, can be significantly reduced, and yet food can be stored over longer periods of time without any problems. With drawer devices, food can be easier stored, environmentally friendlier and more energy efficiently. This has a positive effect on the quality of the food and on the health of the consumers. Also, less food would be discarded and the often criticized “food waste” can be restricted, because the quality of food can be longer maintained.

The drawer body forms the outer shell in which the cover and the drawer can be supported in a movably-protected manner. Lifting means configured to be driven electrically and by a controller and evacuating means are arranged in the cover or in the drawer, so that the evacuation can be made possible upon supporting the cover onto the drawer. By an air channel, air can be pumped out from the drawer interior. With the arrangement of sensors, the evacuation can be performed automatically and also the ventilation can be detected before opening the drawer, and can be automatically introduced by the controller.

The lifting means known so far from the WO2019/141574 reference fulfill their tasks well and the cover can be precisely lowered onto the drawer by means of a controller in a controlled manner, and can be again distanced from the drawer linearly in the lifting direction. The lifting means are electrically driven and controlled. In part, the closing performance leaves to be desired with the known solution, because the cover does not sufficiently seal against the outside.

However, there was also the desire to improve the energy consumption and the handling, so that the drawer device becomes more accepted to customers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has the object to improve a drawer device for evacuating and/or for dehumidification of the drawer interior and to improve a cover such that the usability is increased upon closing, that the energy consumption can be reduced and a secured, reproducible movement of the cover in the lifting direction and a sealed support of the cover on the drawer can be provided.

With evacuation, a slight underpressure below the atmospheric pressure of 150 mbar and more are to be understood here, thus absolute pressures of less than 850 mbar which can be produced in the drawer interior or within the interior space of containers arranged within the drawer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The drawer device0is denoted with0in an entirety and includes a drawer3with a drawer interior R and a cover2movable relative in a lifting direction H by lifting element7. The drawer3includes walls30and the drawer interior R and is movably supported between a closed position and an open position in the sliding movement direction S, and is configured to be evacuated and/or dehumidified.

The drawer3can be operatively connected to the cover2and is movably supported linearly within the drawer body9in a sliding movement direction S. The drawer body9forms the outer shell in which the cover2and the drawer3are movably supported in a protected manner. The drawer3is linearly movably supported in a drawer slide, not further explained in detail here, so that the drawer3can be brought into an open position and a closed position. InFIG.1, the open position of the drawer3is shown.

The drawer interior R configured to be evacuated and/or dehumidified is formed by a plurality of containers14. The containers14are arranged within the drawer3and each of the containers14has a same height, but different sizes. Jointly with the drawer interior R, the inner spaces of the containers14can also be evacuated. Preferably, the containers14are configured as Gastronorm containers, and the inner spaces of which can form the entire drawer interior R which can be closed by the cover2and can be configured to be evacuated and/or dehumidified. The containers14are supported in the drawer3and can be entrained with the drawer3, but can also be removed. However, the containers14can also have other forms and sizes.

For evacuating the drawer interior R, the cover2movably arranged within the drawer body9serves therefore. The cover2is configured to be airtight and is supported so as to be lowered onto the drawer3in a lifting direction H extending perpendicular to the sliding movement direction S. Here, the cover2is fixed to the drawer body9via a fastening element, so that a relative movement between the cover2and the drawer3can be provided. A mounting bracket19is chosen for the fastening element here. However, a limb or the like arranged on the drawer body9may also be used for the fastening element.

Lifting element7is arranged on and/or partially in the cover2, within the drawer body9, the lifting element7movably holding the cover2within the drawer body9in the lifting direction H. The lifting element7can be actuated by a not shown controller to which an operating button104′, as in the present case, and a closed position sensor29′ can be connected. Only when the closed position sensor29′ signalizes that the drawer3is in the closed position below the cover2which is fixed in the sliding movement direction S, the lifting element7is activated so as to lower the cover2onto the drawer3.

With the lifting element7, the cover2can be lifted from the drawer3and the containers14, respectively, in a controlled manner and can be again lowered thereon. Of course, the lifting element7is electrically driven and can be controlled by the controller. In this way, the lifting movement of the cover2in the lifting direction H perpendicular to the sliding movement direction S can be provided. The containers14within the drawer3of the drawer device0can be closed in an entirety to the above with respect to conventional drawers, namely in that the operator manually closes the drawer3and the cover2is lowered onto the containers14in the closed position of the drawer3, and seals the containers14from above in an airtight manner.

InFIG.2, the cover2configured to be airtight is shown. It can be particularly preferred that the cover2includes several layers. In order to obtain a compact construction of the cover2, as many electronical components, channels and/or tubes and cables are integrated into the cover2.

In a plurality of recesses A in the cover2, evacuating element, a controller and further electrical components are shown here. A possible dehumidification element is omitted for the sake of simplicity, because especially the lifting element7are of interest.

As the evacuating element, a pump11′, an air tube12′ to the pump11′ and a connection14′ are arranged here. In addition, a check valve13′ is advantageous so that the evacuated volume is not vented in an undesired manner. These components11′,12′,13′,14′ are arranged on the later front panel17and, respectively, on the side of the cover2facing away from the operating button104′.

The evacuation of the drawer interior R and of the containers14can be provided by the pump11′ via evacuating channels83′ and holes84′ extending in the cover2. By a controllable valve, an evacuation of the drawer interior R and of the containers14can be automatically performed, namely in that the at least one evacuation channel83′ is opened or closed by a valve. As soon as the valve is open, the air can be evacuated by the pump11′. For the evacuation, the air pressure and the level of underpressure in the drawer interior R or in the containers14shall be signalized to the controller. For this purpose, at least one pressure sensor is arranged in an evacuation channel83′. In this way, the controller can be programmed to a threshold value of the underpressure, and in case that the pressure sensor reports a shortfall, the controller can activate the pump11′ correspondingly.

A possible dehumidifying element can be arranged in a similar manner within the cover2and can be operated via the controller.

Here, the lifting element7is configured in the form of a special lifting mechanism, and the components of which can be electromechanically controlled by the controller. The lifting element7is at least partially integrated in the lateral edges of the cover2and co-operate with the drawer body9in order to allow a relative displacement of the cover2to the drawer3. Here, lifting element7comprises a pair of lifting elements each arranged in an integrated manner on a respective one of both lateral edges of the cover2. However, an arrangement on only one side is also possible.

InFIG.3a, the lifting element7are shown, the lifting element7co-operating with a mounting bracket19(not shown) in the form as a fastening element of the drawer body9. A motor71′, preferably a geared motor71′, drives at least one, preferably two linear carriages792′ (FIG.3b). The motor71′ is fixed to the cover2via an engine bracket72′. The lifting element7has on both sides an end block73′ and a mounting block74′. The motor71′ transmits its performance via a shaft coupling76′. The shaft coupling76′ transmits force indirectly to both linear carriages792′ via a bearing bush793′ when the motor71′ is stationary or fixed in place relative to the cover2or to a surface of the cover2.

A lifting profile75′ is mounted between the end blocks73′ and the mounting blocks74′, the lifting profile75′ being movable by the linear carriages792′ und thus indirectly by the motor71′ in the lifting direction H. The lifting profile75′ can be moved relative to the other components of the lifting element7.

Here, the lifting profile75′ is fixed to the mounting bracket19of the drawer body9, so that the cover2, jointly with the remaining lifting element7, is movable in a direction of the drawer3and in the opposite direction when the lifting profile75′ is held on the fastening element.

The motor71′ can be actuated by being connected to the controller, and the respective position of the linear carriages792′ can be read out by a slide potentiometer791′, likewise automatically by the controller. As a result, the relative position of the cover2can be exactly determined and is known at all times.

Here, the lifting profile75′ includes a longitudinal slot in which the fastening element, in particular in form of the mounting bracket19, can be introduced. Therefore, a simple attachment of the cover2and of the lifting element7on the drawer body9can be provided. Between the fastening element and the lifting profile75′, a simple but a secure from-locking connection can be provided therewith.

InFIG.3b, for a better understanding, the lifting profile75′, the drawer body9and the cover2are omitted. A plurality of guides77′ can be seen on which the two linear guides792′ run. A guide79′ of the slide potentiometer791′ is also required in order to detect a position of the at least one linear carriage792′.

A spindle78′ extends transversely to the entire construction of the lifting element7between two end blocks73′ and between the motor71′ and an end block73′, respectively. The linear carriages792′ are operatively connected to the spindle78′, so that by a movement of the motor shaft of the at least one motor71′, the spindle78′ applies a force to the at least one linear carriage792′, the linear carriage792′ moving the lifting profile75′ and the remaining lifting means7, respectively, in the lifting direction H.

A possibility for coupling the at least one linear carriage792′ to the lifting profile75′ is the provision of slits in the side surfaces of the lifting profile75′ and the provision of engagement limbs800on at least one side surface of each linear carriage792′. Particularly preferable is the configuration of engagement limbs800and two opposing side surfaces of each linear carriage792′. These engagement limbs800protrude away in a direction extending transversely to the movement of the linear carriages792′ and the spindle78′, respectively. It is preferable that the engagement limbs800are formed on the linear carriages792′. Upon a linear displacement of the at least one linear carriage792′, the engagement limbs800displace the lifting profile75′ in a direction away from the spindle78′ in the lifting direction H, or move the lifting profile75′ closer to the spindle78′. The spindle78′ and other components of the lifting element7′ do not vary their distance to a top surface of the cover2.

The angles of the extending directions of the at least one slit on the lifting profile75′ and of the at least one engagement limb800on at least one linear carriage792′ relative to a longitudinal axis of the lifting element7shall be between 20° and 60°. The angles shall be chosen compatible to one another in an analogous manner.

In an open position of the cover2, the lifting element7, jointly with the cover2, are spaced from the drawer3. The cover2with the lifting element7is arranged on a height of the fastening element, here of the mounting bracket19, of the drawer body9. The engagement limbs800are arranged in the respective slits in the lifting profile75′ and are maximally introduced.

When the at least one linear carriage792′ is deflected, according toFIG.4b, the lifting profile75′ with the mounting bracket19remains indirectly connected to the drawer body9. The cover2, jointly with the remaining components of the lifting element7and other components fixed to the cover2, is lowered onto the drawer3. This is the closed position of the cover2. The motor71′ moves the at least one linear carriage792′, jointly with the engagement limbs800, relative to the lifting profile75′. The angled extension of the slits and of the engagement limbs800can be well seen. Depending on the steepness, the closing speed and the manual effort can be varied. By reading out the slide potentiometer791′, the controller knows when the motor71′ can be switched off.

In this position, the cover2rests on the drawer3and an airtight evacuation and/or dehumidification and/or a mere secured storage can be provided.

Besides a dehumidification element which can be arranged within the cover2, optionally an illumination of the drawer interior R or of the container interior space14can be provided with blue visible light. As a result, besides the prevention of a moisture layer on the food, the mould formation can be restricted by radiation. The illumination element in question is arranged so as to radiate in a direction towards the drawer interior R and are controlled by the controller. Thereby, visible light with wavelengths between 420 and 460 nanometers shall be irradiated. In the simplest case, this happens permanently, independently from the opening condition of the cover2and of the drawer3.

In order to provide a cover2as compact as possible, all components as far as possible shall be supported within the cover2, so that such a cover2can be easily combined with already existing drawers3. As a result, drawer devices0consisting of one existing drawer body9, a drawer3and a cover2can be produced.

Preferably, the cover2has a sandwich construction, in which different materials are assembled in different layers to a cover2. The cover2includes two outer airtight top layers and a core layer. Here, an additional printed circuit board is arranged which can also be used instead of one of the outer airtight top layer.

The layers are bonded statically operative to one another to a multi-layered cover2, the cover2being torsion-resistant with a corresponding level of stiffness. The upper top layer is airtight and can consist of MDF, CFK or glass. However, an airtight plastic coating on a breathable material can be arranged as an upper top layer so as to obtain the airtightness of the upper top layer.

In the core layer, recesses A can be provided. Electrical devices, such as an evacuating element and a dehumidification element are arranged in the recesses A. The core layer can be produced by a plastic hard foam or of a comb-like plastic structure or a layer of solid plastic, and the required recesses A must be arranged. Channels and recesses A can be recessed from the material of the core layer.

On the printed circuit board, conductor tracks are arranged on at least one side, and the electrical consumers are connected to the conductor tracks. The contact of the electrical components and of the components to be controlled by the controller and of the controller on the printed circuit board is simple and uncomplicated. The printed circuit board forms part of the sandwich-like cover2and is preferably assembled in orientation such that the conductor tracks face in a direction of the drawer interior R. There is no disturbing cabling within the cover2continuing in the drawer body9outside the cover2. The production of the cover2is simplified and the error rate upon the lifting movement of the cover2can be minimized.

In order to further increase the stability properties of the cover2, a lower top layer with the same properties as the upper top layer as a part of the sandwich construction can be used. The lower top layer22″ is fixed to the printed circuit board on a side facing towards the drawer interior space. In order for the air to stream through the sandwich-like cover2, holes must be arranged in the printed circuit board and in the optional top layer so as to evacuate the drawer interior R and the interior space of the containers14, respectively.

For increasing the evacuation properties and the sealing properties of the cover2, a layer of sealing profiles is arranged on a side facing towards the drawer interior space. As a result, the sealing against the edges of the containers14can be improved. For hygienical reasons, the sealing profiles are releasably fixed and are thus configured to be removed for cleaning purposes.

In a further embodiment with or without a lower top layer and/or sealing profiles, a sealing bracket and a layer of air filtering fleece can be arranged on a drawer-sided surface of the cover2.