U.S. patent application number 13/681525 was filed with the patent office on 2014-05-22 for method for storing food items within a refrigerator appliance.
This patent application is currently assigned to GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY. The applicant listed for this patent is GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY. Invention is credited to Joel Erik Hitzelberger.
Application Number | 20140137587 13/681525 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50726661 |
Filed Date | 2014-05-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140137587 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hitzelberger; Joel Erik |
May 22, 2014 |
METHOD FOR STORING FOOD ITEMS WITHIN A REFRIGERATOR APPLIANCE
Abstract
A method for storing food items within a refrigerator appliance
is provided. The method includes placing a plurality of food items
within a chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance and
establishing an identity of each food item of the plurality of food
items. The method also includes determining a preferred storage
condition of the chilled chamber based upon the identities of the
plurality of food items and adjusting a current storage condition
of the chilled chamber to about the preferred storage condition.
Operating the chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance at the
preferred storage condition can improve a useful life of food items
within the chilled chamber.
Inventors: |
Hitzelberger; Joel Erik;
(Louisville, KY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY |
Schenectady |
NY |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Schenectady
NY
|
Family ID: |
50726661 |
Appl. No.: |
13/681525 |
Filed: |
November 20, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/228.1 ;
62/62 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 17/042 20130101;
F25D 31/00 20130101; F25D 2317/0417 20130101; F25D 2500/06
20130101; F25B 49/022 20130101; F25D 29/00 20130101; F25D 2317/0413
20130101; F25D 2700/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/228.1 ;
62/62 |
International
Class: |
F25D 31/00 20060101
F25D031/00; F25B 49/02 20060101 F25B049/02 |
Claims
1. A method for storing food items within a refrigerator appliance
having a chilled chamber, comprising: placing a plurality of food
items within the chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance;
establishing an identity of each food item of the plurality of food
items; determining a preferred storage condition of the chilled
chamber of the refrigerator appliance based upon the identities of
the plurality of food items; and adjusting a current storage
condition of the chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance to
about the preferred storage condition.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of adjusting comprises
modifying ambient conditions of the chilled chamber of the
refrigerator appliance.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of adjusting comprises
at least one of: altering a temperature of the chilled chamber of
the refrigerator appliance; modifying a humidity of the chilled
chamber of the refrigerator appliance; changing a wavelength or an
intensity of light within the chilled chamber of the refrigerator
appliance; and varying a composition of ambient gas within the
chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein said step of altering comprises
activating or deactivating a refrigeration system of the
refrigerator appliance.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein said step of changing comprises
adjusting a light source positioned within the chilled chamber of
the refrigerator appliance.
6. The method of claim 3, wherein said step of varying comprises
increasing or decreasing a flow of gas from a gas source of the
refrigerator appliance.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the preferred storage condition
is selected in said step of determining in order to increase a
storage life of the food items within the chilled chamber of the
refrigerator appliance relative to the current storage
condition.
8. A refrigerator appliance, comprising: a cabinet that defines a
chilled chamber; a drawer positioned within the chilled chamber of
said cabinet, said drawer defining a storage volume configured for
receipt of food items for storage; a compressor positioned within
said cabinet; and an evaporator positioned within the chilled
chamber of said cabinet, said compressor being in fluid
communication with said evaporator in order to supply said
evaporator with refrigerant; and a controller in communication with
said compressor, said controller configured for establishing an
identity of each food item within the storage volume of said
drawer; determining a preferred storage condition of the storage
volume of said drawer based upon the identities of food items
within the storage volume of said drawer; and adjusting operation
of said compressor in order to increase or decrease a supply of
refrigerant to said evaporator and to assist with changing a
current storage condition of the storage volume of said drawer to
about the preferred storage condition.
9. The refrigerator appliance of claim 8, further comprising a gas
source configured for selectively directing a flow of gas into the
storage volume of said drawer, said flow of gas comprising at least
one of a nitrogen gas, an oxygen gas, a carbon dioxide gas, an
ozone gas, and an argon gas, wherein said controller is in
communication with said gas source and configured for activating
said gas source in order to direct the flow of gas into the storage
volume of said drawer and to assist with changing the current
storage condition of the storage volume of said drawer to about the
preferred storage condition.
10. The refrigerator appliance of claim 8, further comprising a
humidity regulator mounted to said drawer and configured for
selectively adjusting a flow of air between the storage volume of
said drawer and the chilled chamber of said cabinet, wherein said
controller is in communication with said humidity regulator and
configured for adjusting said humidity regulator in order to change
a humidity of the storage volume of said drawer and to assist with
changing the current storage condition of the storage volume of
said drawer to about the preferred storage condition.
11. The refrigerator appliance of claim 8, further comprising a
light source mounted within the chilled chamber of said cabinet,
said light source configured for directing light into the storage
volume of said drawer, said controller in communication with said
light source and configured for adjusting said light source in in
order to change a wavelength or an intensity of light emitted by
said light source into the storage volume of said drawer and to
assist with changing the current storage condition of the storage
volume of said drawer to about the preferred storage condition.
12. The refrigerator appliance of claim 8, further comprising a
camera mounted to said cabinet and directed towards the storage
volume of said drawer, said controller being in communication with
said camera and configured for receiving an image from said camera,
the image from said camera assisting said controller with
identifying food items within the storage volume of said drawer
during said step of establishing.
13. The refrigerator appliance of claim 8, further comprising a
user input mounted to said cabinet, said controller being in
communication with said user input and configured for receipt of a
signal from said user input, the signal from said user input
corresponding to an identity of a food item within the storage
volume of said drawer and assisting said controller with
identifying each food item within the storage volume of said drawer
during said step of establishing.
14. The refrigerator appliance of claim 8, further comprising a
scanner for reading identifiers mounted to food items, said
controller being in communication with said scanner and configured
for receipt of a signal from said scanner, the signal from said
scanner corresponding to an identity of a food item within the
storage volume of said drawer and assisting said controller with
identifying each food item within the storage volume of said drawer
during said step of establishing.
15. The refrigerator appliance of claim 8, wherein the preferred
storage condition is selected in said step determining in order to
increase a storage life of food items within the storage volume of
said drawer relative to the current storage condition.
16. A method for storing food items within a refrigerator appliance
having a drawer disposed within a chilled chamber of the
refrigerator appliance, the drawer defining a storage volume, the
method comprising: placing a plurality of food items within the
storage volume of the drawer; establishing an identity of each food
item of the plurality of food items; determining a preferred
storage condition of the storage volume of the drawer based upon
the identities of the plurality of food items; and adjusting at
least one of a temperature of the storage volume, a humidity of the
storage volume, a wavelength or an intensity of light within the
storage volume, or a composition of gas within the storage volume
in order to shift the storage volume of the drawer from a current
storage condition to about the preferred storage condition.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein said step adjusting comprises
activating or deactivating a refrigeration system of the
refrigerator appliance in order to adjust the temperature of the
storage volume.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein said step adjusting comprises
altering a light source positioned within and directing light into
the storage volume of the drawer in order to adjust the wavelength
or an intensity of light within the storage volume.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein said step adjusting comprises
increasing or decreasing a flow of gas from a gas source of the
refrigerator appliance in order to adjust the composition of gas
within the storage volume.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein the preferred storage condition
is selected in said step of determining in order to increase a
storage life of the food items within the storage volume of the
drawer relative to the current storage condition.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present subject matter relates generally to refrigerator
appliances.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Refrigerator appliances generally include a cabinet that
defines a chilled chamber for receipt of food items for storage.
Refrigerator appliances can also include various combinations of
drawers, shelves, and bins positioned within the chilled chamber to
assist with storing food items therein. Drawers within the chilled
chamber can be designed to facilitate storage of certain food
articles. Thus, certain drawers can be designed for storing fruits
or vegetables, and other drawers can be designed for storing dairy
products, such as cheese.
[0003] Food items have a limited useful life and can spoil within
the chilled chamber. Such waste can be expensive and inconvenient.
Thus, certain refrigerator appliances include features for
improving the useful life of food items within the refrigerator
appliance's chilled chamber. For example, certain drawers can be
sealed or can include an airflow controller that a user can
manually adjust to regulate the humidity within the drawer.
However, manually adjusting such airflow controllers can be
inconvenient and imprecise. Alternatively, certain refrigerator
appliances include dual-evaporators for more precisely controlling
a temperature within the chilled chamber. Certain other
refrigerator appliances include a gas discharge system for
adjusting a gas content of the refrigerator appliance's drawer.
Other refrigerator appliances include LEDs where a wavelength of
light from the LEDs is adjustable. Such systems are designed to
improve the useful life of food items within their respective
refrigerator appliances but generally offer limited effectiveness.
In particular, such systems are generally limited to a particular
type of food item and offer limited improvement for other types of
food items.
[0004] Accordingly, a method for storing food items within a
chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance such that a useful
life of food items is increased would be useful. In particular, a
method for storing mixed loads of food items within a chilled
chamber of the refrigerator appliance such that a useful life of
such food items is increased would be useful.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present subject matter provides a method for storing
food items within a refrigerator appliance. The method includes
placing a plurality of food items within a chilled chamber of the
refrigerator appliance and establishing an identity of each food
item of the plurality of food items. The method also includes
determining a preferred storage condition of the chilled chamber
based upon the identities of the plurality of food items and
adjusting a current storage condition of the chilled chamber to
about the preferred storage condition. Operating the chilled
chamber of the refrigerator appliance at the preferred storage
condition can improve a useful life of food items within the
chilled chamber. Additional aspects and advantages of the invention
will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be
apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice
of the invention.
[0006] In a first exemplary embodiment, a method for storing food
items within a refrigerator appliance having a chilled chamber is
provided. The method includes placing a plurality of food items
within the chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance,
establishing an identity of each food item of the plurality of food
items, determining a preferred storage condition of the chilled
chamber of the refrigerator appliance based upon the identities of
the plurality of food items, and adjusting a current storage
condition of the chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance to
about the preferred storage condition.
[0007] In a second exemplary embodiment, a refrigerator appliance
is provided. The refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet that
defines a chilled chamber and a drawer positioned within the
chilled chamber of the cabinet. The drawer defines a storage volume
configured for receipt of food items for storage. A compressor is
positioned within the cabinet. An evaporator is positioned within
the chilled chamber of the cabinet adjacent the drawer. The
compressor is in fluid communication with the evaporator in order
to supply the evaporator with refrigerant. A controller is in
communication with the compressor. The controller is configured for
establishing an identity of each food item within the storage
volume of the drawer, determining a preferred storage condition of
the storage volume of the drawer based upon the identities of food
items within the storage volume of the drawer, and adjusting
operation of the compressor in order to increase or decrease a
supply of refrigerant to the evaporator and to assist with changing
a current storage condition of the storage volume of the drawer to
about the preferred storage condition.
[0008] In a third exemplary embodiment, a method for storing food
items within a refrigerator appliance having a drawer disposed
within a chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance is provided.
The drawer defines a storage volume. The method includes placing a
plurality of food items within the storage volume of the drawer,
establishing an identity of each food item of the plurality of food
items, and determining a preferred storage condition of the storage
volume of the drawer based upon the identities of the plurality of
food items. The method also includes and adjusting at least one of
a temperature of the storage volume, a humidity of the storage
volume, a wavelength or an intensity of light within the storage
volume, or a composition of gas within the storage volume in order
to shift the storage volume of the drawer from a current storage
condition to about the preferred storage condition.
[0009] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following description and appended claims. The accompanying
drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this
specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,
together with the description, serve to explain the principles of
the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention,
including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill
in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes
reference to the appended figures, in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of a refrigerator
appliance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
subject matter.
[0012] FIG. 2 provides a perspective view of the refrigerator
appliance of FIG. 1 with doors of the refrigerator appliance shown
in an open position.
[0013] FIG. 3 provides a schematic view of the refrigerator
appliance of FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates a method for storing food items within a
refrigerator appliance according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present subject matter.
[0015] FIG. 5 illustrates a method for storing food items within a
drawer of a refrigerator appliance according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present subject matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the
invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the
drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the
invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be
apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and
variations can be made in the present invention without departing
from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features
illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with
another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is
intended that the present invention covers such modifications and
variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and
their equivalents.
[0017] FIG. 1 provides a front, elevation view of a refrigerator
appliance 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
subject matter with refrigerator doors 128 of refrigerator
appliance 100 shown in a closed position. FIG. 2 provides a front
view of refrigerator appliance 100 with refrigerator doors 128
shown in an open position to reveal a fresh food chamber 122 of
refrigerator appliance 100.
[0018] Refrigerator appliance 100 includes a cabinet or housing 120
that extends between a top 101 and a bottom 102 along a vertical
direction V. Housing 120 defines chilled chambers for receipt of
food items for storage. In particular, housing 120 defines fresh
food chamber 122 positioned at or adjacent top 101 of housing 120
and a freezer chamber 124 arranged at or adjacent bottom 102 of
housing 120. As such, refrigerator appliance 100 is generally
referred to as a bottom mount refrigerator. It is recognized,
however, that the benefits of the present disclosure apply to other
types and styles of refrigerator appliances such as, e.g., a top
mount refrigerator appliance or a side-by-side style refrigerator
appliance. Consequently, the description set forth herein is for
illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be limited in any
aspect to any particular refrigerator chamber configuration.
[0019] Refrigerator doors 128 are rotatably hinged to an edge of
housing 120 for selectively accessing fresh food chamber 122. In
addition, a freezer door 130 is arranged below refrigerator doors
128 for selectively accessing freezer chamber 124. Freezer door 130
is coupled to a freezer drawer (not shown) slidably mounted within
freezer chamber 124.
[0020] Turning now to FIG. 2, various storage components are
mounted within fresh food chamber 122 to facilitate storage of food
items therein as will be understood by those skilled in the art. In
particular, the storage components include bins 140, drawers 142,
and shelves 144 that are mounted within fresh food chamber 122.
Bins 140, drawers 142, and shelves 144 are configured for receipt
of food items (e.g., beverages and/or solid food items) and may
assist with organizing such food items. As an example, drawers 142
can receive fresh food items (e.g., vegetables, fruits, and/or
cheeses) with a storage volume 143 defined by each drawer 142. As
discussed in greater detail below, refrigerator appliance 100 also
includes features for increasing a useful life of food items within
fresh food chamber 122, e.g., within storage volume 143 of drawers
142.
[0021] FIG. 3 provides a schematic view of refrigerator appliance
100. As may be seen in FIG. 3, refrigerator appliance 100 includes
a sealed refrigeration system 168 for executing a vapor compression
cycle for cooling air within refrigerator appliance 100, e.g.,
within fresh food chamber 122 and/or storage volume 143 of drawers
142. Sealed refrigeration system 168 includes a compressor 170, a
condenser 172, an expansion device 174, and an evaporator 176
connected in series and charged with a refrigerant. As will be
understood by those skilled in the art, refrigeration system 168
may include additional components, e.g., at least one additional
evaporator, compressor, expansion device, and/or condenser. As an
example, refrigeration system 168 may include two evaporators.
[0022] Within refrigeration system 168, gaseous refrigerant flows
into compressor 170, which operates to increase the pressure of the
refrigerant. This compression of the refrigerant raises its
temperature, which is lowered by passing the gaseous refrigerant
through condenser 172. Within condenser 172, heat exchange with
ambient air takes place so as to cool the refrigerant and cause the
refrigerant to condense to a liquid state.
[0023] Expansion device (e.g., a valve, capillary tube, or other
restriction device) 174 receives liquid refrigerant from condenser
172. From expansion device 174, the liquid refrigerant enters
evaporator 176. Upon exiting expansion device 174 and entering
evaporator 176, the liquid refrigerant drops in pressure and
vaporizes. Due to the pressure drop and phase change of the
refrigerant, evaporator 176 is cool relative to fresh food and
freezer chambers 122 and 124 of refrigerator appliance 100. As
such, cooled air is produced and refrigerates fresh food and
freezer chambers 122 and 124 of refrigerator appliance 100. Thus,
evaporator 176 is a type of heat exchanger which transfers heat
from air passing over evaporator 176 to refrigerant flowing through
evaporator 176.
[0024] Refrigerator appliance 100 also includes a light source 162.
Light source 162 is configured for directing light into fresh food
chamber 122 and/or storage volume 143 of drawers 142. Light source
162 may be any suitable light emitting device. For example, light
source 162 can include light emitting diodes, incandescent bulbs,
fluorescent bulbs, and/or combinations thereof. Light source 162
may be positioned at any suitable location within refrigerator
appliance 100, e.g., within fresh food chamber 122 and/or storage
volume 143 of drawers 142. Light from light source 162 can assist
with increasing the useful life of food items within fresh food
chamber 122, e.g., within storage volume 143 of drawers 142, as
discussed in greater detail below.
[0025] Refrigerator appliance 100 further includes a gas source
164. Gas source 164 is configured for directing a flow of gas into
fresh food chamber 122 and/or storage volume 143 of drawers 142.
Gas source 164 may direct any suitable gas into fresh food chamber
122 and/or storage volume 143 of drawers 142. For example, gas
source 164 can include canisters containing nitrogen gas, oxygen
gas, carbon dioxide gas, ozone gas, argon gas, or combinations
thereof. Gas source 164 may be positioned at any suitable location
within refrigerator appliance 100, e.g., within cabinet 120. The
flow of gas from gas source 164 into fresh food chamber 122 and/or
storage volume 143 of drawers 142 can assist with increasing the
useful life of food items within fresh food chamber 122, e.g.,
within storage volume 143 of drawers 142, as discussed in greater
detail below.
[0026] Refrigerator appliance 100 also includes a humidity
regulator 166. Humidity regulator 166 is configured for regulating
and adjusting an amount of water vapor within fresh food chamber
122 and/or storage volume 143 of drawers 142. Humidity regulator
166 can adjust a humidity of fresh food chamber 122 and/or storage
volume 143 of drawers 142 by regulating a flow of air between a
volume of relatively high humidity air and a volume of relatively
low humidity air. Thus, humidity regulator 166 can include a valve
positioned between such volumes and selectively adjustable to
adjust a flow of air between the volumes. As an example, fresh food
chamber 122 can have a relatively low humidity relative to storage
volume 143 of drawers 142, e.g., due to water vapor condensing on
evaporator 176 during operation of refrigeration system 168. Thus,
humidity regulator 166 can adjust the humidity within storage
volume 143 of drawers 142 by selectively adjusting a flow of air
between fresh food chamber 122 and storage volume 143 of drawers
142. Controlling the humidity within fresh food chamber 122 and/or
storage volume 143 of drawers 142 can assist with increasing the
useful life of food items within fresh food chamber 122, e.g.,
within storage volume 143 of drawers 142, as discussed in greater
detail below.
[0027] Refrigerator appliance 100 further includes user inputs 152
and a controller 150. Operation of the refrigerator appliance 100
is regulated by controller 150 that is operatively coupled to user
inputs 152. In one exemplary embodiment, the user interface panel
136 may represent a general purpose I/O ("GPIO") device or
functional block. In another exemplary embodiment, the user
interface 136 may include input components, such as one or more of
a variety of electrical, mechanical or electro-mechanical input
devices including rotary dials, push buttons, and touch pads. The
user interface 136 may be in communication with controller 150 via
one or more signal lines or shared communication busses. User
inputs 152 provide selections for user manipulation of the
operation of refrigerator appliance 100. In response to user
manipulation of the user inputs 152, controller 150 operates
various components of the refrigerator appliance 100. For example,
controller 150 is operatively coupled or in communication with
compressor 170, light source 162, gas source 164, humidity
regulator 166, such that controller 150 can operate such
components.
[0028] Controller 150 is also in communication with a thermal
sensor 180, e.g., a thermocouple or thermistor. Thermal sensor 180
may be positioned in one of fresh food chamber 122 and/or freezer
chamber 124. Controller 150 may receive a signal from thermal
sensor 180 that corresponds to a temperature of fresh food chamber
122 and/or freezer chamber 124.
[0029] Controller 150 is also in communication with a camera 190.
Camera 190 may be any type of device suitable for capturing an
image. As an example, camera 190 may be a video camera or a digital
camera with an electronic image sensor, e.g., a charge coupled
device (CCD) or a CMOS sensor. Camera 190 is in communication with
controller 150 such that controller 150 may receive a signal from
camera 190 corresponding to the image captured by camera 190.
[0030] Camera 190 may be positioned at any suitable location on or
within refrigerator appliance 100. For example, refrigerator
appliance 100 may be positioned on refrigerator doors 128 and
directed towards fresh food chamber 122 such that camera 190
captures pictures of fresh food chamber 122. In particular, camera
190 may be directed towards any particular one of or combination of
bins 140, drawers 142, and shelves 144. Thus, camera 190 can
capture pictures of one of bins 140, all of bins 140, one of
drawers 142, all of drawers 142, one of shelves 144, all of shelves
144, or any suitable combination thereof. A plurality of cameras
may be required to capture a picture of the entire fresh food
chamber 122.
[0031] Refrigerator appliance 100 also includes a scanner 195 for
reading identifiers, such as bar codes, QR codes, and/or RFID tags,
mounted to food items. Controller 150 is in communication with
scanner 195 and is configured for receipt of a signal from scanner
195. The signal from scanner 195 corresponds to an identity of a
food item, e.g., within fresh food chamber 122 and/or storage
volume 143 of drawers 142. Thus, scanner 195 can assist controller
150 with identifying food items within fresh food chamber 122
and/or storage volume 143 of drawers 142.
[0032] Controller 150 includes memory and one or more processing
devices such as microprocessors, CPUs or the like, such as general
or special purpose microprocessors operable to execute programming
instructions or micro-control code associated with operation of
refrigerator appliance 100. The memory can represent random access
memory such as DRAM, or read only memory such as ROM or FLASH. The
processor executes programming instructions stored in the memory.
The memory can be a separate component from the processor or can be
included onboard within the processor. Alternatively, controller
150 may be constructed without using a microprocessor, e.g., using
a combination of discrete analog and/or digital logic circuitry
(such as switches, amplifiers, integrators, comparators,
flip-flops, AND gates, and the like) to perform control
functionality instead of relying upon software.
[0033] Controller 150 may be positioned in a variety of locations
throughout refrigerator appliance 100. Input/output ("I/O") signals
may be routed between controller 150 and various operational
components of refrigerator appliance 100. The components of
refrigeration system 168 may be in communication with controller
150 via one or more signal lines or shared communication
busses.
[0034] FIG. 4 illustrates a method 400 for storing food items
within a refrigerator appliance according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present subject matter. Refrigerator appliance
100, e.g., controller 150, (FIG. 3) may be configured or programmed
to implement method 400. As discussed in greater detail below,
utilizing method 400 can assist with increasing the useful life of
food items within fresh food chamber 122, e.g., within storage
volume 143 of drawers 142.
[0035] At step 410, a user can place a plurality of food items
within a chilled chamber, e.g., fresh food chamber 122 or freezer
chamber 124 of refrigerator appliance 100. As an example, the user
can load an orange and a head of lettuce within fresh food chamber
122.
[0036] At step 420, controller 150 establishes an identity of each
food item of the plurality of food items loaded into the chilled
chamber. To identify each food item at step 420, controller 150 can
receive an image from camera 190 and analyze the image in order to
establish an identity of each food item. For example, the image
from camera 190 can show an orange and a head of lettuce within
fresh food chamber 122. Alternatively, the user can utilize user
input 152 to manually input an identity for each food item. For
example, controller 150 can receive a signal from user input 150 or
scanner 195 corresponding to an identity of a food item within
fresh food chamber 122. For example, the user can utilize user
input 152 to signal controller 150 that an orange and a head of
lettuce are positioned within fresh food chamber 122.
[0037] At step 430, controller 150 determines a preferred storage
condition of the chilled chamber based upon the identities of the
plurality of food items established at step 420. The preferred
storage condition can selected at step 430 in order to increase a
storage life of the food items within the chilled chamber of the
refrigerator appliance relative to the current storage condition.
For example, a head of lettuce can have an optimum storage
condition of about thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit and about
ninety-eight percent relative humidity. Conversely, an orange can
have an optimum storage condition of about thirty-five degrees
Fahrenheit and about ninety percent to about ninety-five percent
relative humidity. In particular, oranges can be damaged if stored
at about thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit. Thus, if an orange and a
head of lettuce are positioned within fresh food chamber 122,
controller 150 can determine a preferred storage condition for
fresh food chamber 122 of greater than about thirty-two degrees
Fahrenheit and greater than about ninety-five percent relative
humidity for the orange and the head of lettuce within fresh food
chamber 122.
[0038] At step 440, controller 150 adjusts a current storage
condition of the chilled chamber to about the preferred storage
condition. In particular, controller 150 can modify ambient
conditions of the chilled chamber at step 440 in order to adjust
the current storage condition of the chilled chamber to about the
preferred storage condition. In order to adjust the current storage
condition of the chilled chamber to about the preferred storage,
controller 150 can altering a temperature of the chilled chamber of
the refrigerator appliance, modifying a humidity of the chilled
chamber of the refrigerator appliance, changing a wavelength or an
intensity of light within the chilled chamber of the refrigerator
appliance, and/or varying a composition of ambient gas within the
chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance.
[0039] As an example, to alter the temperature of fresh food
chamber 122, controller 150 can activate or deactivate
refrigeration system 168 of refrigerator appliance 100. In
particular, controller 150 can adjust operation of compressor 170
in order to increase or decrease a supply of refrigerant to
evaporator 176 and adjust the temperature of fresh food chamber
122. In such a manner, controller 150 can assist with changing the
current storage condition of fresh food chamber 122 to about the
preferred storage condition.
[0040] To modify the humidity of fresh food chamber 122, controller
150 can actuate humidity regulator 166. Similarly, to change the
wavelength and/or the intensity of light within fresh food chamber
122, controller 150 can adjust light source 162. Further, to vary a
composition of ambient gas within fresh food chamber 122,
controller 150 can increase or decrease a flow of gas from gas
source 164 to fresh food chamber 122.
[0041] By adjusting the current storage condition of the chilled
chamber to about the preferred storage condition at step 440,
method 400 can assist with improving the useful life of food items
within fresh food chamber 122, e.g., within storage volume 143 of
drawers 142. For example, when fresh food chamber 122 contains food
items with various optimum storage conditions, method 400 can
adjust the current storage condition of fresh food chamber 122 to
about the preferred storage condition in order to maximize the
useful life of such food items despite their different identifies
and potentially dissimilar optimum storage conditions.
[0042] FIG. 5 illustrates a method 500 for storing food items
within a drawer of a refrigerator appliance according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. Refrigerator
appliance 100, e.g., controller 150, (FIG. 3) may be configured or
programmed to implement method 500. As discussed in greater detail
below, utilizing method 500 can assist with increasing the useful
life of food items within storage volume 143 of drawers 142.
[0043] At step 510, a plurality of food items is placed within
storage volume 143 of drawers 142. As an example, a user can load
food items into storage volume 143 of drawers 142 at step 510. At
step 520, controller 150 establishes an identity of each food item
of the plurality of food items from step 510. Like with method 400
(FIG. 4) described above, controller 150 can utilize camera 190 or
receive signals from user input 152 or scanner 195 at step 520 in
order to establish the identity of each food item from step
510.
[0044] At step 530, controller 150 determines a preferred storage
condition of storage volume 143 of drawers 142 based upon the
identities of the plurality of food items within storage volume 143
of drawers 142 established at step 520. The preferred storage
condition can be determined at step 530 in order to increase a
storage life of the food items within storage volume 143 of drawers
142 relative to the current storage condition. As an example,
garlic can have an optimum storage condition of about thirty-two
degrees Fahrenheit and about sixty-five percent relative humidity.
Conversely, onions can have an optimum storage condition of about
thirty-five degrees Fahrenheit and about seventy-five percent
relative humidity. Thus, controller 150 can determine a preferred
storage condition of storage volume 143 of drawers 142 having
garlic and onions stored therein such that the temperature is
greater than about thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity
is greater than about sixty-five percent relative humidity.
[0045] At step 540, controller 150 adjusts at least one (e.g., at
least two, three, or all) of a temperature of storage volume 143, a
humidity of storage volume 143, a wavelength or an intensity of
light within storage volume 143, or a composition of gas within
storage volume 143 in order to shift storage volume 143 of drawer
142 from a current storage condition to about the preferred storage
condition.
[0046] At step 540, controller 150 can activate or deactivate
refrigeration system 168 in order to adjust the temperature of
storage volume 143. Controller 150 can also alter light source 162
in order to adjust the wavelength or the intensity of light within
storage volume 143 at step 540. Further, controller 150 can
increase or decrease a flow of gas from gas source 164 in order to
adjust the composition of gas within storage volume 143 at step
540. In addition, controller 150 can adjust the humidity within
storage volume 143 by utilizing humidity regulator 166 at step
540.
[0047] By adjusting the current storage condition of storage volume
143 to about the preferred storage condition at step 540, method
500 can assist with improving the useful life of food items within
storage volume 143 of drawers 142. For example, when storage volume
143 contains food items with various optimum storage conditions,
method 500 can adjust the current storage condition of storage
volume 143 to about the preferred storage condition in order to
maximize the useful life of such food items despite their different
identifies and potentially dissimilar optimum storage
conditions.
[0048] This written description uses examples to disclose the
invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person
skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and
using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated
methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the
claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled
in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope
of the claims if they include structural elements that do not
differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include
equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from
the literal languages of the claims.
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