EP1061315A1 - System for the exploitation and administration of a group of refrigerated containers - Google Patents

Abstract

Refrigerated container has recorder (2) fitted to wall of container (1), temperature sensor (3) installed in container and connected to recorder so as to record values of temperature measured by sensor. Transmitter-receiver is connected to recorder to enable exchange of data with latter from outside of container, in particular to interrogate recorded temperature values and/or temperature variation during transport of containers. Independent claims are also included for (a) the set of containers, and for (b) the automatic management system of the set of containers.

Description

The present invention relates to a refrigerated container usable for the transport of foodstuffs under controlled temperature, thus than a system for the automatic management of a fleet of such containers, in particular, but not exclusively, for the temperature monitoring inside containers and tracking of said containers through their different stages of packaging, loading and routing.

To ensure the transport of foodstuffs under temperature directed it is known to use self-contained containers which are charged with a reserve of a refrigerant such as ice carbon dioxide, in sufficient quantity to cover the transport time while respecting a temperature set point. Like any transport of foodstuffs, this principle is subject to legislation or regulations which seeks to guarantee the continuity of the cold chain, production to consumption, including storage and transport. So it turned out to be important, both for a sender that for a recipient of the refrigerated container (s), monitor or control the temperature inside the containers, without opening them, and possibly also be able to follow the or said containers during their packaging stages, loading and routing and / or checking that they are actually have gone through these stages, in compliance with the law or regulation on temperature-controlled transport.

The main object of the present invention is therefore to provide a refrigerated container whose internal temperature can be monitored and controlled automatically without having to open the container and without requiring manipulation of a worker outside.

The object of the invention is, in the alternative, to provide a system for tracking one or more refrigerated containers of a container fleet during their various stages of packaging, loading and routing.

To this end, the refrigerated container according to the invention is characterized by the fact that it comprises a recorder carried by a wall of said container, a temperature sensor installed in said container and connected to said recorder to record values of temperature measured by said probe, and a transceiver connected to said recorder to allow exchange of information with it from outside of said container, particularly for ask him about the temperature values recorded in said recorder and / or on the evolution of said temperatures during a transport of food.

Preferably, said recorder is capable of recording also information received by said transceiver during the passage of the container by stages of its route, said information being specific to each stage, along with the date and the time of passage at each stage.

In one embodiment of the invention, said probe temperature can be connected to said recorder by a wired link.

In another embodiment of the invention, said temperature probe can be connected to said recorder by a link radio frequency, said probe itself comprising a transceiver able to communicate with the transceiver connected to said audit recorder.

Said recorder may include a microprocessor associated with a data memory and a real-time clock, for recording the instantaneous value of the temperature measured by said probe, as well as the date and time of this recording.

The container may, in addition, comprise a detector capable to detect the state in which the door is located through which the foodstuffs transport are introduced into and taken out of the container. This detector is connected to the microprocessor to provide it with information on the open or closed state of said door, information which is stored in said data memory with date and time the door was closed and the date and time the door was opened door during transport of food.

Said microprocessor can be programmed to control the starting and stopping of the recording of the values of temperature measured by the probe during transport of food respectively in response to the arrival of the closed status information and to the arrival of the open state information from said entry / exit door of the container.

During each transport of foodstuffs, said microprocessor can be programmed to monitor whether the temperature measured by said temperature probe exceeds a temperature threshold not to be cross. The microprocessor can also be programmed in such a way so that, if said temperature threshold is crossed, it saves the date and time in the data memory each time of crossing the temperature threshold, the duration of this crossing, as well as the temperature value reached during of this crossing. Said microprocessor can also be programmed to trigger the activation of an alarm when said threshold temperature has been exceeded at least once.

Preferably, before each transport of foodstuffs, said temperature threshold is recorded in said data memory or selected from several temperature threshold values stored in said data memory. The microprocessor can then be programmed to control the start of recording the temperature values measured by said probe under the double condition that a temperature threshold value has been saved or selected in the data memory before a new food transport, and the entry / exit door is closed.

The invention also provides a fleet of containers which consists, at least in part, of containers having one or more many of the features listed above. The invention provides also a system for the automatic operation and management of this fleet of containers, in particular for monitoring the temperature inside the containers and tracking them to through their different stages of packaging, loading and routing system, this system being characterized by the fact that it comprises several beacons arranged at least in some of said stages of packaging, loading and routing, each tag being equipped with at least one transmitter and able to send information to the recorder of each container passing in front of the tag.

Preferably, each recorder contains, in its memory, a serial number identifying the container it is in affected. Each tag is able to send a code that identifies the step where the tag is. This code is picked up by the transceiver of the container when it passes in front of said tag and is stored in the memory of the container recorder at the same time that the date and time of the passage of said container in front of said tag.

Preferably, the system according to the invention comprises, in in addition, at least one portable reader, identifiable by a code identification, equipped with a transceiver and able to exchange information with any container of said container fleet located in its range and equipped with a recorder. Preferably, the reader has at least one of the functions of reading the temperature instant in the container, to acknowledge receipt of said container, to if necessary, analyze the severity of an alarm affecting said container and to validate or identify a transport.

Preferably, the system according to the invention comprises in in addition to a calibration device which can be temporarily installed in a container of said fleet of containers and which includes a probe with greater accuracy than that of containers of said fleet of containers, and a transceiver capable of send a calibration instruction to the container recorder in which the calibration device has been temporarily placed, to correct a possible drift of the temperature probe of said container.

a) à acquérir et stocker temporairement les enregistrements stockés dans l'enregistreur d'un conteneur passant devant la balise équipée de ladite interface, et à retransmettre lesdits enregistrements ainsi acquis, en temps différé, audit ordinateur ;

b) à transmettre des paramètres, déterminés par ledit ordinateur, à l'enregistreur d'un conteneur passant devant ladite balise ;

c) à transmettre une consigne pour démarrer l'enregistrement de la température à l'intérieur dudit conteneur passant devant ladite balise.

Preferably, at least one of the aforementioned beacons is equipped in addition to its transmitter, a receiver and an interface connected by a computer link to a computer located at a control and consultation station. Said interface can have at least one of the functions consisting of:

a) to acquire and temporarily store the records stored in the recorder of a container passing in front of the beacon equipped with said interface, and to retransmit said records thus acquired, in deferred time, to said computer;

b) to transmit parameters, determined by said computer, to the recorder of a container passing in front of said tag;

c) to transmit a command to start recording the temperature inside said container passing in front of said tag.

• la figure 1 est un schéma synoptique montrant un conteneur selon l'invention, en une vue latérale, ainsi que plusieurs postes avec lesquels le conteneur est capable de dialoguer ;
• la figure 2 montre, de façon plus concrète, les diverses étapes par lesquelles un conteneur réfrigéré selon l'invention passe au cours de son conditionnement, jusqu'à son chargement sur un camion en vue de son acheminement vers un destinataire ;
• la figure 3 montre le schéma synoptique d'un enregistreur installé dans le conteneur selon l'invention, avec une sonde de température et un contact de porte ;
• la figure 4 montre une autre sonde de température utilisable avec l'enregistreur de la figure 3 ;
• la figure 5 montre le schéma synoptique d'une balise apte à échanger des informations avec l'enregistreur de la figure 3, ladite balise pouvant être équipée d'une interface lui permettant d'être reliée à un ordinateur ; et
• la figure 6 montre le schéma synoptique d'un lecteur portable apte à échanger des informations avec l'enregistreur de la figure 3 et pouvant, éventuellement, aussi être relié à un ordinateur.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge during the following description of an embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a block diagram showing a container according to the invention, in a side view, as well as several stations with which the container is able to communicate;
• FIG. 2 shows, more concretely, the various stages by which a refrigerated container according to the invention passes during its packaging, until it is loaded onto a truck with a view to its transportation to a recipient;
• FIG. 3 shows the block diagram of a recorder installed in the container according to the invention, with a temperature probe and a door contact;
• Figure 4 shows another temperature probe usable with the recorder of Figure 3;
• Figure 5 shows the block diagram of a tag capable of exchanging information with the recorder of Figure 3, said tag can be equipped with an interface allowing it to be connected to a computer; and
• Figure 6 shows the block diagram of a portable reader capable of exchanging information with the recorder of Figure 3 and which can, optionally, also be connected to a computer.

The refrigerated container 1 shown schematically in Figure 1 can be an insulated and refrigerated container of any which known type can be used for transporting foodstuffs under temperature directed. The container 1 usually has double walls in order to isolate thermally its interior volume in relation to the environment outside, and it is usually equipped with a tank (not shown) can be charged with a refrigerant, such as for example dry ice. However, container 1 could also be a container of the type equipped with its own refrigerating machine.

According to the present invention, the container 1 comprises a recorder 2 and a temperature probe 3, which measures the temperature inside the container 1 and is connected to the recorder 2 to record the temperature values measured by the probe therein. The container 1 also comprises a transceiver 4 (not shown in Figure 1, but visible in Figure 3) which is connected to the recorder 2 and allows the latter to exchange information with a certain number of stations P ₁ , P ₂ .... P _i .... P _n , fixed or mobile, directly or via fixed beacons B ₁ , B ₂ .... B _i , located at various stages by which the container 1 must pass.

By way of example, FIG. 2 shows six steps P ₁ -P ₆ through which a refrigerated container 1 usually passes before being sent to a recipient. Step P ₁ is a washing station, in which the container 1 is washed and which is equipped, according to the invention, with a first fixed transceiver beacon B ₁ . The second step P ₂ is a cold room, for example a room at -18 ° C, with which is associated a second fixed transceiver beacon B ₂ . The third step P ₃ is a filling station, for filling the container 1 with a refrigerant, for example dry ice. With this filling station P ₃ , there is associated a third transmitter-receiver beacon B ₃ . The fourth step P ₄ is a control and consultation station where there is a computer, for example a microcomputer, connected by a computer link 5 to a fourth fixed transceiver beacon B ₄ . The fifth step P ₅ is another cold room, for example a room at + 2 ° C, with which is associated a fifth fixed transceiver beacon B ₅ . Finally, the sixth step P ₆ is a loading dock where the container 1 is loaded into a truck 6 for transport to a recipient, a sixth fixed transceiver beacon B ₆ being, here again, associated with the 'step P ₆ .

Returning to Figure 1, the recorder 2 can be constituted by an electronic card inserted in a housing, itself inserted in a wall of the container 1, for example in one of its side walls. This recorder 2 receives information both from the temperature probe 3 placed inside the container 1 and information emitted by the transmitter-receiver beacons B ₁ , B ₂ , .... B _i placed on the route. from container 1.

As shown in figure 3, the electronic card of the recorder 2 essentially comprises a microprocessor 7 to which are connected a memory 8 and a real time clock 9. The microprocessor 7 can be, for example, a microprocessor of the type PIC57C 8-bit OTP. The memory 8 can be, for example, a 2 kbit EEPROM / FLASH type memory. The real-time clock 9 can be any digital clock capable of telling the time and the date (day, month, year). For their operation, all of these elements are supplied with current by a DC voltage source 11 of 6 volts, for example lithium batteries or batteries with cadmium-nickel preferably having a life of 5 years at minimum, i.e. a lifetime corresponding at least to the average life of a refrigerated container. However, the source of direct voltage 11 could also be constituted by a battery rechargeable.

The microprocessor 7 is electrically connected to the transceiver 4, which can be carried by the same electronic card as the microprocessor or be installed at another location in the container 1 and electrically connected to the microprocessor card by an appropriate link. The transceiver 4 comprises a transmitter 4 a , for example a HF 492 MHz transmitter of 0.5 mW, capable of transmitting data in series at a transmission speed of 2400/4800 bps, for transmitting information or data to the aforementioned beacons B ₁ , B ₂ , ... B _i , and a 4 b receiver, for example an HF 492 MHz receiver, having the same data transmission speed characteristics as the transmitter, for receiving information or data from said tags. The radiofrequency transmission of information or data between the microprocessor 7 and the beacons B ₁ , B ₂ , ... B _i via the transceiver 4 can be carried out according to a standard protocol in the field of microcomputing or according to a specific protocol for the owner of the fleet of refrigerated containers.

In the embodiment of Figure 3, the probe temperature 3, for example a silicon temperature probe, PT100 or any other temperature sensor, preferably digital, is connected to the microprocessor 7 of the recorder 2 by a link wired 12. In this case, as the probe 3 must be arranged at inside the container 1 while the recorder 2 is in the double wall of the container, connection of the probe to the recorder should be done by piercing the wall of the container.

In an alternative embodiment, in order to avoid having to pierce the wall of the container, the probe 3 can be connected to the microprocessor 7 by a radio frequency link, like the probe 3 shown in FIG. 4. In this case, the probe 3 is itself connected to a transceiver 13 capable of communicating with the transceiver 4 connected to the microprocessor 7. The transceiver 13 can comprise a transmitter 13 a and a receiver 13 b having the same characteristics as the transmitter 4 a and the receiver 4 b , respectively, of the transceiver 4. The probe 3 and its transceiver 13 can be placed in a small box (not shown) which can be glued inside the container 1, on an internal wall thereof.

In FIG. 3, a detector or sensor 14 has also been represented, which is connected to the microprocessor 7 of the recorder 2 and which provides the latter with information on the open or closed state of the door 1a (FIG. 2) the container 1. For example, the sensor 14 provides the microprocessor 7 a signal having a first logic level when the door is in an open state and a signal having a second logic level when the door 1a is in a closed state. The sensor 14 may be, for example, constituted by an optical sensor which is illuminated or not illuminated depending on whether the door 1a is opened or closed and therefore provides a signal having the first or second logic level. However, the sensor 14 could also be constituted by a simple electrical contactor similar to those which are usually associated with the doors of refrigerators or motor vehicles and whose open or closed state depends on the open or closed state of the door.

In FIG. 3, two alarms 15 and 16 have also been shown, for example two indicator lights, which are installed on an external wall of the container 1 and which, under certain conditions, can be activated, preferably flashing, by the microprocessor 7. For example, the alarm 15 can be activated to indicate that the temperature measured by the probe 3 inside the container 1 has exceeded a predefined temperature threshold. Alarm 16 can be activated to signal the expiration of a metrological verification of the temperature monitoring system constituted by the probe 3 and by the microprocessor 7. Preferably, the temperature measurement range is between -35 ° C. and + 25 ° C, with class 2 measurement accuracy, +/- 1 ° C, or better class 1 accuracy, +/- 0.5 ° C. The temperature measured by the probe 3 is recorded, at regular time intervals, in the memory of the recorder 2 over a storage period which is preferably at least 48 hours. This storage period can be slippery, that is to say that, after 48 hours, the first temperature records are replaced by new temperature records according to the first in, first replaced principle. Preferably, the frequency of the temperature records, that is to say the duration of the time interval between two temperature records, is less than 15 minutes, and it is preferably configurable so that it can be modified, if desired, each time the container passes in front of the tag B ₄ of the control and consultation station P ₄ (Figure 2).

1) des informations relatives au suivi du processus de conditionnement du conteneur 1. Il s'agit essentiellement de la date et de l'heure du passage à chaque étape P₁-P_n et du code de chaque étape. Ces informations sont transmises par radiofréquence par les émetteurs respectifs des balises B₁, B₂, .... placées sur l'itinéraire du conteneur 1. Le nombre de ces émetteurs ou de ces balises peut aller par exemple jusqu'à 10 si l'on considère les six balises B₁-B₆ de la figure 2, auxquelles peuvent éventuellement s'ajouter d'autres balises fixes placées sur l'itinéraire du camion 6 entre l'expéditeur et le destinataire du ou des conteneurs chargés dans le camion 6.

2) des informations relatives à la surveillance de la température. Il s'agit essentiellement :

a) à chaque enregistrement de température, la date et l'heure de l'enregistrement ainsi que la valeur de la température ;

b) les valeurs des seuils d'alarme ;

c) la date et l'heure du démarrage de l'enregistrement des valeurs de température ;

d) la date et l'heure de l'arrêt de l'enregistrement des valeurs de température ;

e) la date et l'heure de la dernière calibration de température ;

f) le fichier des alarmes ;

g) éventuellement, la date et l'heure de chaque action sur le détecteur 14 qui détecte l'état de la porte du conteneur.

3) des informations relatives à la métrologie. Il s'agit essentiellement :

a) la valeur instantanée de la température ;

b) la date de la prochaine calibration de température.

4) des informations relatives à la logistique. Il s'agit essentiellement :

a) de l'identification de l'expéditeur et du destinataire (ces informations sont fournies par le poste de contrôle et de consultation P₄ de la figure 2) ;

b) un accusé de réception du conteneur (cette information peut être émise par un lecteur portable 30 qui sera décrit plus loin).

The memory capacity of the recorder 7 is preferably chosen so as to be able to store the following information:

1) information relating to the monitoring of the packaging process for container 1. This is essentially the date and time of the passage at each stage P ₁ -P _n and the code for each stage. This information is transmitted by radiofrequency by the respective transmitters of the beacons B ₁ , B ₂ , .... placed on the route of the container 1. The number of these transmitters or of these beacons can range for example up to 10 if the 'We consider the six beacons B ₁ -B ₆ of Figure 2, to which may be added other fixed tags placed on the route of the truck 6 between the sender and the recipient of the container or containers loaded in the truck 6.

2) information related to temperature monitoring. These are essentially:

a) at each temperature recording, the date and time of the recording as well as the temperature value;

b) the values of the alarm thresholds;

c) the date and time of the start of the recording of the temperature values;

d) the date and time when the recording of the temperature values stopped;

e) the date and time of the last temperature calibration;

f) the alarm file;

g) optionally, the date and time of each action on the detector 14 which detects the state of the container door.

3) metrology information. These are essentially:

a) the instantaneous value of the temperature;

b) the date of the next temperature calibration.

4) logistics information. These are essentially:

a) of the identification of the sender and of the addressee (this information is provided by the control and consultation station P ₄ of FIG. 2);

b) an acknowledgment of receipt of the container (this information can be sent by a portable reader 30 which will be described later).

1) des paramètres relatifs à l'installation, qui sont entrés une seule fois et sont de préférence inviolables. Il s'agit notamment :

a) du numéro de série du conteneur ;

b) de la date de la première mise en série du conteneur ;

c) du code de la plage de mesure de température ;

d) du code du ou des alarmes ;

e) du code de chacune des étapes par lesquelles doit passer le conteneur (ces codes sont utiles pour permettre à l'enregistreur du conteneur de reconnaítre et dialoguer avec les balises émettrices-réceptrices respectivement placées auxdites étapes).

2) des paramètres variables, comme par exemple :

a) le code de l'expéditeur ;

b) le code du destinataire ;

c) un code de protection (code utilisateur). Ce code doit être composé par un utilisateur pour pouvoir avoir accès à l'enregistreur 2, pour lire son contenu ou y introduire des informations par exemple à l'aide du lecteur portable 30 qui sera décrit plus loin. Il permet donc d'éviter que des personnes non autorisées aient accès audit enregistreur.

The memory 8 associated with the microprocessor 7 of the recorder 2 can also contain a certain number of configurable information, which are:

1) parameters relating to the installation, which are entered only once and are preferably inviolable. These include:

a) the container serial number;

b) the date of the first serialization of the container;

c) the temperature measurement range code;

d) the code of the alarm (s);

e) of the code of each of the steps through which the container must pass (these codes are useful to allow the recorder of the container to recognize and interact with the transmitter-receiver tags respectively placed in said steps).

2) variable parameters, such as:

a) the sender's code;

b) the recipient's code;

c) a protection code (user code). This code must be composed by a user in order to have access to the recorder 2, to read its content or to enter information therein, for example using the portable reader 30 which will be described later. It therefore prevents unauthorized persons from having access to said recorder.

The start and stop of the recording, at regular time intervals, of the temperature values measured by the probe 3 can be controlled respectively by the closing and by the opening of the door 1a of the container 1, since these actions frame the storage time of the foodstuffs in container 1. However, care must be taken with the temperature setting, which must have been carried out before each transport of foodstuffs. This is why, it is preferable that the microprocessor 7 of the recorder 2 controls the start of the recording of the temperature values measured by the probe 3 under the double condition that, on the one hand, a temperature threshold value has been recorded or selected in the recorder memory 2 before a new transport of food, and, on the other hand, the door 1a of the container 1 is closed. This recording of the temperature threshold or the selection thereof from among several temperature threshold values stored in the memory of the recorder 2 can be carried out, for example, by sending a temperature instruction sent by the station. control and consultation P ₄ when the container 1 passes in front of the tag B ₄ thereof (FIG. 2).

Each of the transmitter-receiver beacons B ₁ -B ₆ placed on the route of the container 1 is intended to validate the passage of the container or compliance with an essential step for its packaging, loading and / or routing. Each tag is designed to send to the recorder 2 of a container, by radio frequency, a code specific to each tag, therefore corresponding to the stage where the tag is located. The sending of the tag code can be triggered by random interrogation to detect a container in the container fleet. To this end, the recorder 2 of each container 1 contains, in its memory 8, as indicated above, a serial number identifying the container. Under these conditions, when, during a random interrogation, the tag recognizes the serial number of one of the containers of said fleet of containers, it sends the recognized container the code of the tag, which identifies the stage where is the tag. In an alternative embodiment, the sending of the tag code to the recorder 2 of the container 1 can be triggered by the actuation of a proximity detector, itself actuated by the passage of the container 1 in front of the tag. In either case, this code is recorded in the recorder 2 of the container 1 at the same time as the date and time of the passage of the container in front of the tag concerned. This will make it easy to analyze later whether the container has actually gone through the stages it had to go through, and how much time has passed between two stages.

Each of the aforementioned tags can be constituted by a waterproof case, preferably meeting the IP65 standard, which is placed on the route of the container and which contains an electronic card 18 essentially carrying a microprocessor 19 connected to a transceiver 21 (figure 5). The microprocessor 19, the transmitter 21 a and the receiver 21 b of the transceiver 21 may be identical respectively to the microprocessor 7 of the recorder 2 and to the transmitter 4 a and to the receiver 4 b of the transmitter. receiver 4 of FIG. 3. However, the transmitter 21 a preferably has a power greater than that of the transmitter 4 a , for example a power of 10 mW. The DC voltage necessary for the operation of these elements is supplied by a DC voltage source 22 constituted for example by a commercial battery or battery and / or by a DC power supply operating on the 220 volt, 50 Hz sector.

In the case of the tag B ₄ (FIG. 2) which is connected by a computer link 5 to a computer 23, for example a microcomputer, located at the control and consultation station P ₄ , the tag can also comprise a interface 24 allowing it to communicate by computer link 5 with computer 23. This interface 24 can be, for example, constituted by an interface forming with computer link 5 a serial link of the RS232 type, and it essentially comprises a circuit of attack 25 and a universal asynchronous transceiver 26 usually designated by those skilled in the art by the abbreviation UART.

The interface 24 has mainly two missions. The first mission is in the direction computer 23 towards the recorder 2, to load the recording parameters determined by computer 23, such as temperature or alarm thresholds, the measurement frequency, ..... These parameters are only loaded in the recorder 2 memory only if container 1 to which belongs the recorder should be monitored. Indeed, although it is theoretically possible to monitor all containers in a container fleet refrigerated, the official services that monitor compliance with the temperature-controlled transport legislation suggest perform a statistical control of 10% of container transport refrigerated. Under these conditions, the computer 23 can be programmed to calculate the number of containers to monitor in a given fleet of refrigerated containers, then to find containers fitted a recorder, and finally to automatically program the recorders of these containers, by loading the parameters above, until the inspection quota set by the official services or by a user is reached.

The second mission of said interface is in the direction of recorder 2 to computer 23 to transfer there all the records contained in the memory of recorder 2 of container 1 passing in front of tag B ₄ , in particular the temperature records, the recordings of the passages in front of the tags placed on the route of the container or in front of the aforementioned portable reader 30, and the recording of a temperature calibration if the latter has taken place. The records acquired from the recorder 2 are temporarily stored in the memory of the microprocessor 19 of the tag B ₄ and are retransmitted, in offset time, to the computer 23, preferably in the form of files compatible with a commercial spreadsheet, so that the recordings can then be processed, processed and archived by the computer 23.

a) une édition des courbes de température, c'est-à-dire l'évolution dans le temps de la température dans chacun des conteneurs surveillés, avec mise en évidence des alarmes (dépassement du seuil de température) par une couleur différente, et avec possibilité de se déplacer point par point sur la courbe de température avec visualisation, pour chaque point, de l'heure, de la date et de la valeur de la température au point examiné ;

b) rechercher aléatoirement ou trier les enregistrements, le tri pouvant être effectué par numéro de série du conteneur, par destinataire, par date du transport ou encore sur une période de temps comprise entre deux dates ;

c) imprimer les enregistrements sous la forme de courbes de température et/ou de tableaux de valeurs ;

d) gérer les 10 % de transports qui nécessitent un enregistrement de température ;

e) accéder rapidement aux alarmes ;

f) faire des études statistiques, par exemple sur la stabilité de la température dans un conteneur déterminé, sur les temps moyens de transport, de lavage, de remplissage de l'agent frigorigène, sur la fréquence des alarmes, sur l'activité de transport, etc.

More specifically, the computer 23 is programmed to allow:

a) an edition of the temperature curves, that is to say the evolution over time of the temperature in each of the monitored containers, with highlighting of the alarms (exceeding the temperature threshold) by a different color, and with the possibility of moving point by point on the temperature curve with display, for each point, of the time, date and temperature value at the point examined;

b) randomly search or sort the records, sorting can be done by container serial number, by recipient, by date of transport or even over a period of time between two dates;

c) print the records in the form of temperature curves and / or tables of values;

d) manage the 10% of transport that requires temperature recording;

e) quickly access alarms;

f) carry out statistical studies, for example on the temperature stability in a determined container, on the average times of transport, washing, filling of the refrigerant, on the frequency of alarms, on the transport activity , etc.

a) lire la température instantanée à l'intérieur du conteneur 1 sans avoir besoin d'ouvrir ce dernier ;

b) chez l'expéditeur, valider une expédition de denrées avant son chargement en camion ;

c) chez l'expéditeur ou chez le destinataire du conteneur, identifier le transport (conteneur, destinataire, plage de températures, etc..) ;

d) chez le destinataire, accuser réception du conteneur et des denrées qu'il contient, par exemple en entrant sur un clavier le code du destinataire et en transmettant ce code à l'enregistreur 2 du conteneur ;

e) analyser la gravité d'une alarme, si elle a eu lieu (ce qui est signalé par le voyant lumineux 15 associé à l'enregistreur 2 de la figure 3). Cette analyse peut par exemple fournir la durée du dépassement du seuil de température, la valeur moyenne de la température pendant l'alarme et/ou le nombre de dépassements du seuil.

As indicated above, the system according to the invention can comprise at least one portable reader 30, identifiable by an identification code and equipped with a transceiver which enables it to exchange, by radio frequency, information with any container. located within its operating range and equipped with a recorder such as the recorder 2 in FIG. 3. The portable reader 30 preferably has at least one of the following functions:

a) read the instantaneous temperature inside the container 1 without having to open the latter;

b) at the sender's, validate a shipment of foodstuffs before being loaded into a truck;

c) at the sender or at the recipient of the container, identify the transport (container, recipient, temperature range, etc.);

d) at the addressee's, acknowledging receipt of the container and of the foodstuffs it contains, for example by entering the recipient's code on a keyboard and transmitting this code to the container's register 2;

e) analyze the severity of an alarm, if it has occurred (which is indicated by the indicator light 15 associated with the recorder 2 of FIG. 3). This analysis can for example provide the duration of the temperature threshold being exceeded, the average temperature value during the alarm and / or the number of thresholds exceeded.

The portable reader 30 includes a case, which is held at hand and which can be the size of a mobile phone. This case can even be a standard case of a mobile phone, of which only the liquid crystal display screen, the housing batteries and the control keyboard.

FIG. 6 shows, in the form of a block diagram, the essential elements of the portable reader 30. In FIG. 6, the reference number 27 designates a microprocessor, 28 designates an alphanumeric display screen, for example a screen with liquid crystal capable of displaying a line of 16 characters; 29 designates a keyboard which is connected to the microprocessor 27 for entering information therein, for example an identification code or a user code or commands which can be symbolized by logos; the number 31 a designates a transmitter and the number 31 b a receiver; the number 32 designates a DC voltage source, for example a Cd-Ni battery, providing the DC voltage necessary for the operation of the aforementioned elements. The microprocessor 27, the transmitter 31 a and the receiver 31 b can be identical respectively to the microprocessor 7 of the recorder 2 and to the transmitter 4 a and to the receiver 4 b of the transceiver 4 of FIG. 3, the transmitter 31 a however having here a power of 1 mW. Preferably, the portable reader 30 is further equipped with an interface 33 provided with a connector (not shown) by means of which the portable reader can be connected by a connecting cable to a computer, for example a micro- computer such as the microcomputer 23 at the sender or another microcomputer at the recipient. The interface 33 can be identical to the interface 24 of FIG. 5 and, for this reason, it will not be described again in detail.

Since the temperature probes 3 equipping the refrigerated containers according to the invention may have a drift in time, it is recommended to check, at time intervals the quality of the temperature measurement carried out by each recorder and associated temperature probe, and compensate temperature difference if applicable. A device is provided for this purpose. , which can be temporarily placed inside a container to be checked and which includes a temperature probe or standard thermometer with greater accuracy than probes 3 of the containers in the refrigerated container fleet. For example, the standard thermometer may be a PT100 type probe having a accuracy of +/- 0.1 ° C and a response time equal to that of the probe 3 which is permanently installed in the container to be checked.

Preferably, the standard thermometer is shaped so as to be able to be slid over the probe 3 of the container 1 to be checked, so that the two probes are at the same temperature for the duration of the audit. The temperature measured by the standard thermometer constitutes a reference value or calibration setpoint, which is transmitted for example by radio frequency to the recorder 2 of the container 1 to be checked. In this case, the calibration device can be produced in accordance with the diagram in FIG. 4, already described above at the probe 3 fitted to container 1. If the temperature measured by the standard thermometer is different from that measured by the probe 3, the microprocessor 7 of the recorder 2 calculates the temperature difference, i.e. a compensation value which is stored in the recorder's memory, with the date of this metrological verification or temperature calibration. This value compensation is then used, during each measurement of temperature performed by probe 3, to correct the value of the temperature measured by said probe 3. This calibration operation also has the effect of initiating a time delay in view of triggering an alarm at the end of a predefined period (illumination of the indicator light 16 in Figure 3) signaling to the user that a new verification or calibration of temperature.

From the above, we see that the invention allows not only to continuously monitor the temperature of a container refrigerated, without having to open it, but also to follow the course of this container, in particular to check that it has passed by the various stages of conditioning through which it must go in compliance with the legislation or regulations on transport under temperature controlled. The invention is therefore particularly useful for users of refrigerated containers, who have to manage large fleets containers (often more than 10,000), as it considerably facilitates this management.

It goes without saying that the embodiment of the invention which has been described above has been given by way of purely indicative and in no way limiting example, and that numerous modifications can be easily made by those skilled in the art. art without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, in particular that, with the exception of the tag B ₄ which is connected by the computer link 5 to the computer 23 and which must include a receiver such as the receiver 21 b of FIG. 5, it is not not absolutely essential that the other beacons, such as the b ₁ -B ₃ , B ₅ and B ₆ beacons, be equipped with such a receiver 21 b . In fact, each of the tags B ₁ -B ₃ , B ₅ and B ₆ can comprise only the microprocessor 19, the transmitter 21 a and the power supply 22 shown in FIG. 5. In this case, the microprocessor 19 can be programmed to send via the transmitter 21 a , either automatically at a predefined repetition frequency, or under the command of a proximity detector detecting the passage of a container, a code identifying the step corresponding to the tag considered. When a container passes in front of the tag, this code is picked up by the receiver 4 b of the container and recorded in the memory of the recorder 2 of the latter, together with the date and time of the passage of the container in front of said tag. Optionally, the recording of this code and of the time and date of said passage can only be carried out if the code picked up by the receiver 4 b corresponds to one of the tag codes pre-recorded as parameters in the memory 8 of the recorder 2 of the container.

On the other hand, although, as noted, the recorder 2 is preferably housed in one of the walls of the container, it could be mounted on one of said walls, inside or outside the container.

Claims (17)

Refrigerated container usable for the transport of food under controlled temperature, characterized in that it comprises a recorder (2) carried by a wall of said container (1), a probe temperature (3) installed in said container and connected to said recorder (2) for recording measured temperature values by said probe, and a transceiver (4) connected to said recorder (2) to allow exchange of information therewith from outside said container (1), in particular for interrogating it on the temperature values recorded in said recorder and / or on the evolution of said temperatures during transport of commodities. Container according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said recorder (2) is capable of also recording information received by said transceiver (4) during the passage of the container (1) by stages of its route, said information being specific to each stage, together with the date and time of the passage at each stage. Container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that said temperature probe (3) is connected to said recorder (2) by a wire connection (12). Container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said temperature probe (3) is connected said recorder (2) by a radio frequency link (4, 13), said probe itself comprising a transceiver (13) capable of communicate with the transceiver (4) connected to said recorder (2). Container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said recorder (2) comprises a microprocessor (7) associated with a data memory (8) and a real time clock (9), for recording at time intervals preset the instantaneous value of the temperature measured by said probe (3), as well as the date and time of this recording. Container according to claim 5, comprising an entry / exit door (1 a ) for the foodstuffs to be transported in the container (1), characterized in that it further comprises a detector (14) of the state of door, which is connected to the microprocessor (7) to provide it with information on the open or closed state of said door (1 a ) of the container (1), this information being recorded in said data memory (8) with the date and the time when the door was closed and with the date and time when the door was opened during transport of food. Container according to Claim 6, characterized in that the said microprocessor (7) controls the start and stop of the recording of the temperature values measured by the probe (3) during the transport of food respectively in response to arrival information from closed state and arriving at the open state of said door information input / output (1a). Container according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that during each transport of foodstuffs said microprocessor (7) monitors whether the temperature measured by said temperature probe (3) exceeds a temperature threshold not to be and by the fact that in the event of the said threshold being crossed temperature, the microprocessor (7) records each time in the data memory the date and time the threshold was crossed temperature, the duration of this crossing, as well as the value of the temperature reached during this crossing. Container according to claim 8, characterized by causes said microprocessor (7) to activate an alarm (15) when said temperature threshold has been crossed at least once. Container according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that, before each transport of foodstuffs, said temperature threshold is recorded in said data memory (8) or selected from among several temperature threshold values stored in said data memory, and by the fact that said microprocessor (7) controls the start of the recording of the temperature values measured by said probe (3) under the double condition that a temperature threshold value has been recorded or selected in the data memory (8) before a new transport of foodstuffs, and that the entry / exit door (1 a ) is closed. Container fleet, characterized by the fact that it at least partly consists of containers (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10. System for the automatic operation and management of a fleet of containers according to claim 11, in particular for monitoring the temperature inside the containers (1) and monitoring said containers through their different stages (P ₁ -P ₆ ) for packaging, loading and routing, characterized in that it comprises several tags (B ₁ -B ₆ ) arranged at least in some of said steps (P ₁ -P ₆ ) for packaging, loading and routing, each tag (B _i ) being fitted with at least one transmitter (21 a ) and capable of sending information to the recorder (2) of each container (1) passing in front of the tag (B _i ) . System according to claim 12, characterized by fact that each recorder (2) contains, in its memory (8), a serial number identifying the container (1) to which it is assigned. System according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that each tag (B _i ) is capable of sending a code which identifies the step (P _i ) where the tag (B _i ) is located, and in that this code is picked up by the transceiver of the container (1) when it passes in front of said tag (B _i ) and is recorded in the memory of the recorder (2) of the container (1) at the same time as the date and the time of passage of said container in front of said tag. System according to any one of Claims 12 to 14, characterized in that it further comprises at least one portable reader (30) identifiable by an identification code, equipped with a transceiver (31 a , 31 b ) and capable of exchanging information with any container (1) of said fleet of containers located within its radius of action and equipped with a recorder (2), said reader (30) having at least one of the functions consisting in: read the instantaneous temperature in the container (1), to acknowledge receipt of said container, to analyze if necessary the severity of an alarm affecting said container and to validate or identify a transport. System according to any of claims 12 15, characterized in that it further comprises a device for calibration which can be temporarily installed in a container (1) of said fleet of containers and which includes a temperature probe having greater precision than that (3) of the containers of said fleet containers, and a transceiver capable of transmitting a setpoint calibration to the recorder (2) of the container (1) in which the calibration device has been temporarily placed, to correct a possible drift of the temperature probe (3) of said container (1). System according to any one of Claims 12 to 16, characterized in that at least one beacon (B ₄ ) among said beacons (B ₁ -B ₆ ) is equipped, in addition to its transmitter (21 a ), with 'a receiver (21 b ) and an interface (24) connected by a computer link (5) to a computer (23) located at a control and consultation station (P ₄ ), said interface (24) having at minus one of the functions consisting of: a) to acquire and temporarily store the records which are stored in the recorder (2) of a container (1) passing in front of the beacon (B ₄ ) equipped with said interface, and to retransmit said records thus acquired, in deferred time , said computer (23); b) transmitting parameters, determined by said computer (23), to the recorder (2) of a container (1) passing in front of said tag (B ₄ ); c) transmitting an instruction to start recording the temperature inside said container (1) passing in front of said tag (B ₄ ).

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