JP2006145080A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator for keeping preserved foods fresh by properly controlling humidity in a chamber irrespective of the amount of the preserved foods to maintain food moisture retention state. <P>SOLUTION: The refrigerator comprises a preservation chamber 8b having a humidity sensor 83, a ultrasonic atomizing unit 81, and a drain pan 78 provided on the lower side of a cooler 27 for storing defrosting water. The ultrasonic atomizing unit 81 consists of a tank 84 in which a cassette 88 incorporates an oxidation inhibitor 87 and ceramic stones 89 are installed, a ultrasonic vibrator 85 and an oscillation circuit 86. The tank 84 is connected to the drain pan 78 via a water supply pipe 79. Thus, humidity in the chamber storing a less amount of preserved vegetable is properly controlled to sanitarily maintain preserved vegetable in the moisture retention state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator intended to improve the freshness of food.

  Conventionally, as a refrigerator for maintaining the freshness of this type of food, for example, vegetables, there is a technique of adjusting humidity by ultrasonic atomization (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a conventional refrigerator described in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG. FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the humidity control apparatus HC.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the refrigerator 1 is provided with a freezer compartment 4, a refrigerator compartment 8, and a vegetable compartment 9 for storing food in the cabinet. And the cooler 27 is installed in the back side of the refrigerator compartment 8 across the partition.

  In addition, a blower 28 is installed above the cooler 27, and cold air generated by the operation of the cooler 27 is sent to the refrigerator compartment 8 and the vegetable compartment 9 by the operation of the blower 28.

  The humidity control device HC is installed on a partition plate 11 that partitions the refrigerator compartment 8 and the vegetable compartment 9.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in order to release (moisture release) the humidity control filter 32 and the moisture absorbed and retained by the humidity control filter 32 in a case 31 having a rectangular solid shape made of transparent hard resin. By housing an electrical board 34 on which an ultrasonic oscillator 33 that applies ultrasonic waves to the humidity control filter 32 is mounted, and a sealing material 36, these components are integrated into a single unit.

  The operation of the refrigerator configured as described above will be described below.

  When a large amount of vegetables are stored in the vegetable room 9, moisture is released from the vegetables by the transpiration action, and the vegetable room 9 is in a high humidity state. And when it becomes an environment more than fixed humidity, the silica gel of the humidity control filter 32 comes to absorb the water | moisture content in air. This prevents the inside of the vegetable compartment 9 from becoming excessively high humidity.

  Next, in order to cool the inside of the refrigerator compartment 8 and the vegetable compartment 9, when the refrigerant circulates and the cooler 27 is operated, the cold air is circulated through the refrigerator compartment 8 and the vegetable compartment 9 by the operation of the blower 28, and the internal temperature is increased. The temperature is adjusted. At this time, since the surface of the cooler 27 has a low temperature of 0 ° C. or less, the moisture in the refrigerator compartment 8 and the vegetable compartment 9 is collected and frosted on the surface. Therefore, the humidity in the refrigerator compartment 8 and the vegetable compartment 9 decreases rapidly.

  When the humidity in the vegetable compartment 9 decreases, the humidity control filter 32 tries to release the water held by itself according to the humidity difference. However, since the driving device 37 itself is slow, the ultrasonic wave is generated by the ultrasonic oscillator 33 by the ultrasonic oscillator 33 for a predetermined time from the start of the cooling operation, and the ultrasonic wave is applied to the humidity control filter 32 from the moisture release surface. The retained water is discharged into the vegetable compartment 9.

As a result, the inside of the vegetable compartment 9 where the humidity decreases with the start of the cooling operation is humidified, and the rate of decrease in humidity to be rapidly decreased is reduced. Thus, the humidity in the vegetable compartment 9 is adjusted.
JP 2004-61062 A

  However, in the conventional configuration, the humidity control filter 32 is configured to absorb moisture in the refrigerator compartment 8 or the vegetable compartment 9 and release and humidify it by ultrasonic oscillation, so that it is stored in the vegetable compartment 9. If a large amount of vegetables are present, the moisture will be on the verge of dew condensation due to the transpiration action, so that moisture can be absorbed by the humidity control filter 32, but if the amount of stored vegetables is small, Cannot absorb enough moisture to humidify and cannot adjust to proper humidity.

  Even when a large amount of vegetables are stored, it takes a considerable amount of time for the humidity control filter to absorb moisture into 32.

  Thus, in the said conventional structure, it had the subject that it was difficult to adjust to appropriate humidity according to the change of the amount of preservation vegetables in the vegetable compartment 9. FIG.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and can always properly adjust the humidity in the room without being influenced by the amount of stored vegetables in the vegetable room, and also realizes a hygienic humidity control action. It aims to provide a refrigerator.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the refrigerator of the present invention includes an ultrasonic atomizing unit and a drain pan for storing defrosted water at the lower part of the evaporator, and the ultrasonic atomizing unit includes: A tank, an ultrasonic vibrator, and an oscillation circuit are included, and the tank is connected by a drain pan and a water supply pipe.

  As a result, the water that has melted during the defrosting of the evaporator is collected in the tank without being discharged out of the cabinet, so that the amount of water necessary for humidification can always be ensured, regardless of the amount of vegetables present. It can be adjusted to an appropriate humidity.

  Further, the refrigerator of the present invention includes an ultrasonic atomizing unit and an ice-making water supply tank in the cabinet, and the ultrasonic atomizing unit includes a tank, an ultrasonic vibrator, and an oscillation circuit. The tank is characterized by being connected to an ice-making water supply tank by a water supply pipe.

  Thereby, since the moisture for supplying humidified does not contain odor components, fungi, and fungi in the cabinet, the room can be humidified hygienically.

  The refrigerator of the present invention can improve the freshness by always adjusting the room to an appropriate humidity regardless of the amount of food stored and maintaining the moisture retention of the stored food.

  1st invention is equipped with the preservation | save room which preserve | saves foodstuffs in a warehouse, an ultrasonic atomization unit, a cooler, and the drain pan which stores defrost water in the lower part of the said cooler, The said ultrasonic fog The conversion unit is composed of a tank, an ultrasonic vibrator, and an oscillation circuit, and the tank is connected to the drain pan and a water supply pipe so that the water that has melted during defrosting of the cooler can be discharged to the outside. Therefore, the amount of moisture necessary for humidification can always be ensured, and the humidity can always be adjusted regardless of the amount of vegetables present.

  The second invention comprises a storage room for storing food, an ultrasonic atomizing unit, and a water tank for ice making, wherein the ultrasonic atomizing unit includes a tank, an ultrasonic transducer, It is composed of an oscillation circuit, and the tank is connected to the ice-making water supply tank by a water supply pipe, so that tap water stored for ice-making is used as water for humidification supply. Since it does not contain mold, the room can be humidified hygienically.

  In particular, the third invention includes a storage case for storing food in the storage chamber of the first or second invention, and the storage case is provided with a slit that is opened on the opposite surface of the ultrasonic atomizing unit. This makes it easier for the atomized mist to enter the storage case where the food is stored, so that the moisture retention of the food can be further improved.

  In the fourth aspect of the invention, in particular, the oscillation circuit according to any one of the first to third aspects is provided in the lower portion of the tank, so that the ultrasonic wave output from the ultrasonic oscillator is stored in the tank. Since it is easy to propagate to the surface, indoor humidification can be performed efficiently.

  In the fifth invention, in particular, the water supply pipe according to any one of the first to fourth inventions is provided with a water purification filter, so that the odor components and molds contained in the defrost water of the evaporator are contained. Since the chlorine component and the lead component contained in the water and tap water can be adsorbed and removed, the moisture released into the room is purified, so that the room can be humidified hygienically.

  In the sixth aspect of the invention, in particular, by providing a ceramic stone in the tank of any one of the first to fifth aspects, the mineral component is eluted and ionized in the water stored in the tank. Since the water cluster is subdivided, moisture easily penetrates into the tissue from the vegetable surface, so that the moisture retention of the preserved vegetable can be improved.

  In the seventh invention, in particular, by providing the cassette containing the antioxidant in the tank of any one of the first to sixth inventions, the antioxidant is eluted in the water stored in the tank. Then, it is released into the room by ultrasonic atomization, and moisture containing an antioxidant penetrates from the surface of the preserved vegetable to the inside of the tissue, so that the oxidation of the vegetable can be prevented and the color change can be prevented.

  In the eighth aspect of the invention, in particular, the antioxidant of the seventh aspect of the invention is a vegetable extract such as catechin, licorice, or a vitamin-containing substance, thereby preventing oxidation of vegetables in a food-sanitary state. wear.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in particular, a humidity sensor is provided in the storage chamber of any one of the first to eighth aspects, and the output of the humidity sensor controls the energization of the oscillation circuit. The room can be efficiently humidified according to the conditions.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator in the first embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the ultrasonic atomization unit in the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the storage room 8a is a refrigerated room, and is a storage room whose room temperature is adjusted to about 1 ° C., and stores various foods and beverages such as meat fish, eggs, cooked foods, and dairy products. It is a room. The storage room 8b is a vegetable room, a storage room whose room temperature is adjusted to about 2 ° C., and is mainly a storage room for vegetables.

  The cooler 27 is a cooler for cooling the storage chamber 8a and the storage chamber 8b, and is connected to the compressor 22, a condenser (not shown), and a capillary tube (not shown) by piping to form a refrigeration cycle. is doing. A drain pan 78 is installed on the lower side of the cooler 27 and is configured to receive defrost water that has melted when the cooler 27 is defrosted. A water supply pipe 79 penetrates and is connected to the lower part of the drain pan 78. A water filter 80 made of activated carbon is provided in the water supply pipe 79.

  The ultrasonic atomizing unit 81 is provided on the back side of the storage chamber 8b and is connected to the water supply pipe 79 through the upper portion thereof.

  In addition, an opening slit 82 is provided on the surface of the storage case 18 that stores the food in the storage chamber 8b that faces the ultrasonic atomizing unit 81.

  Further, a humidity sensor 83 for detecting the humidity in the room is installed in the storage room 8b.

  In FIG. 2, in the ultrasonic atomization unit 81, a tank 84 is a tank that stores defrosted water that has melted during the defrosting of the cooler 27, and is connected to the water supply pipe 79 through the upper portion thereof. . Moreover, it opens to the surface facing the preservation | save case 18 which preserve | saves foodstuffs, and it is comprised so that the fog which generate | occur | produced in the tank can be discharge | released to the tank exterior. The ultrasonic transducer 85 is provided in close contact with the lower portion of the tank 84. The oscillating circuit 86 is a circuit for supplying power to the ultrasonic transducer 85 for operation, and generates high frequency waves of 20 kHz to 100 kHz from the ultrasonic transducer 85.

  A cassette 88 containing catechin as an antioxidant 87 is provided in the lower part of the tank 84 so as to be immersed in the stored water. The cassette 88 is opened by a fine hole so that the antioxidant 87 can be eluted into the stored water in the tank. A granite stone, which is a ceramic stone 89, is installed at the same position.

  About the refrigerator comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below.

  By the operation of the compressor 22, the refrigerant condensed at the inlet of the cooler 27 in the refrigeration cycle evaporates, and the latent heat removes heat from the outside air to generate cold air. Then, the cool air is sent to the storage chamber 8a and the storage chamber 8b by the blower 28. Depending on the room temperature, the compressor 22 is repeatedly turned on and off, and adjusted to an appropriate temperature. Since the cooler 27 becomes 0 ° C. or lower during operation, frost forms on the pipe surface as time elapses. For this reason, in order to prevent the cooling performance from deteriorating due to frost formation, defrosting is performed by heating the cooler 27 with a defrost heater (not shown) periodically about once / day. The defrost water melted by the defrosting is dropped on the drain pan 78. Then, the water passes through the water supply pipe 79 and is stored in the tank 84 of the ultrasonic atomizing unit 81. At this time, about 50 cc / day of defrost water is stored under normal use conditions of the refrigerator 1 and the number of times of opening and closing the door, and without collecting moisture in the storage chamber 8a and the storage chamber 8b in the humidity control filter as in the prior art. It is possible to secure a sufficient amount of moisture for conditioning the room.

  Then, an ultrasonic wave having a frequency of 20 kHz to 100 kHz is generated from the ultrasonic vibrator 85 by the power supply of the oscillation circuit 86, and the ultrasonic wave propagates through the stored water in the tank 84. Here, since the ultrasonic transducer 85 is provided in the lower part of the tank 84, the ultrasonic wave can be efficiently propagated to the surface of the stored water. Ultrasonic waves lower the surface tension of the water surface and atomize from the surface to generate fine mist, which is discharged from the opening of the tank into the storage chamber 8b. Then, mist can enter from the slit 82 provided in the storage case 18 of the storage chamber 8b, and the inside of the case can be humidified. As described above, even if the amount of vegetables stored is small, the inside of the storage chamber 8b can be appropriately conditioned and the moisture retention of the stored vegetables can be maintained.

  Further, since a water purification filter 80 of activated carbon is set in the water supply pipe 79, odor components and molds contained in the defrost water of the cooler 27, chlorine components contained in tap water, The lead component can be removed by adsorption. Therefore, since the moisture released into the room is purified, the room can be humidified hygienically.

  Further, since the cassette 88 containing the catechin which is the antioxidant 87 is installed in the tank 84 of the ultrasonic atomizing unit 81, the catechin is eluted in the water stored in the tank and is ultrasonically atomized. As a result, the mist containing catechin is released into the storage chamber 8b, and the water containing the antioxidant penetrates from the surface of the stored vegetable into the tissue. Therefore, oxidation of vegetables can be prevented and color change can be prevented.

  In addition, since granite stone, which is ceramic stone 89, is installed in the tank 84, the mineral components are eluted and ionized in the stored water, so that the water cluster is subdivided. Water that has become mist easily penetrates into the tissue. Therefore, the moisture retention of preserved vegetables can be further improved.

  Further, since the humidity sensor 83 is provided in the storage chamber 8b, the output of the humidity sensor 83 controls the energization of the oscillation circuit 86, so that the room can be humidified efficiently according to the humidity change in the room. .

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the storage room provided with the humidity sensor, the ultrasonic atomization unit, and the drain pan for storing defrosted water in the lower part of the cooler, the ultrasonic atomization unit is It is composed of a cassette with a built-in antioxidant and a ceramic stone tank, an ultrasonic vibrator, and an oscillation circuit. The tank is connected by a drain pan and a water supply pipe, so that even if the amount of stored vegetables is small The room can be properly conditioned and the hygroscopicity of preserved vegetables can be maintained hygienically.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator in the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 3, the ice making water supply tank 90 is installed in the storage chamber 8a and connected to an ice making mechanism (not shown) by a pipe. A water supply pipe 79 is connected to the tank 84 of the ultrasonic atomizing unit 81.

  About the refrigerator comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below.

  The water in the ice making water supply tank 90 is stored in the tank 84 through the water supply pipe 79 by the humidity change of the humidity sensor 83 or a timer (not shown).

  The water in the tank 84 can be atomized by the ultrasonic transducer 85 to humidify the storage chamber 8b. At this time, since the water stored in the tank 79 is tap water or mineral water supplied for ice making, it may contain odor components, fungi, and fungi in the refrigerator like defrost water in the cooler. Since it is not, the room can be humidified hygienically.

  As described above, the present embodiment includes an ultrasonic atomization unit and an ice-making water supply tank, and the ultrasonic atomization unit includes a tank, an ultrasonic vibrator, and an oscillation circuit. Since the tank is connected to the ice-making water supply tank by a water supply pipe, the room can be hygienically humidified and the freshness of the food can be maintained.

  As described above, the refrigerator according to the present invention can maintain freshness by always adjusting the room to an appropriate humidity regardless of the amount of stored ingredients and maintaining the moisture retention of the stored food. It can also be applied to commercial refrigerators and showcases.

Sectional drawing of the refrigerator in Embodiment 1 of this invention Sectional drawing of the ultrasonic atomization unit in Embodiment 1 of this invention Sectional drawing of the refrigerator in Embodiment 2 of this invention Cross-sectional view of a conventional refrigerator Sectional view of a conventional refrigerator humidity control device

Explanation of symbols

8a Storage chamber 8b Storage chamber 27 Cooler 78 Drain pan 79 Water supply pipe 80 Water purification filter 81 Ultrasonic atomization unit 82 Slit 83 Humidity sensor 84 Tank 85 Ultrasonic vibrator 86 Oscillation circuit 87 Antioxidant 88 Cassette 89 Ceramic stone 90 For ice making Water supply tank

Claims (9)

A storage room for storing food, an ultrasonic atomizing unit, a cooler, and a drain pan for storing defrosted water below the cooler, and the ultrasonic atomizing unit includes a tank, A refrigerator comprising an ultrasonic vibrator and an oscillation circuit, wherein the tank is connected to the drain pan and a water supply pipe. A storage room for storing food, an ultrasonic atomizing unit, and a water tank for ice making are provided in the cabinet, and the ultrasonic atomizing unit is composed of a tank, an ultrasonic vibrator, and an oscillation circuit. The refrigerator is connected to the water tank for ice making by a water supply pipe. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a storage case for storing food in a storage chamber, wherein the storage case is provided with slits that are opened on opposite surfaces of the ultrasonic atomizing unit. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the ultrasonic vibrator is provided in a lower portion of the tank. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a water purification filter is provided in the water supply pipe. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a ceramic stone is provided in the tank. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a cassette containing an antioxidant is provided in the tank. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the antioxidant comprises a plant extract such as catechin or licorice or a vitamin-containing substance. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a humidity sensor is provided in a storage room, and an output of the humidity sensor controls energization of the oscillation circuit.

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