KR20040004815A - kimch refrigerator and method for maturing kimch using the kimch refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A kimchi refrigerator and a Kimchi maturing method thereof are provided to evenly mature kimchi stored in a kimchi vessel by independently operating heaters according to the weight of kimchi. CONSTITUTION: In a kimchi refrigerator, a heater device is installed to the outside of an inner case and a kimchi vessel(11) is received in a storage chamber(3) formed to the inner case. The kimchi refrigerator comprises a weight-measuring unit(12) installed to the bottom surface of the storage chamber and electrically controlled to a control unit to transmit information about the weight of the kimchi vessel; the heater device comprising at least two heaters separably installed to the inner case; and a temperature sensor installed to the storage chamber to uniformly maintain the temperature of kimchi when the heater device is operated. Each heater is independently operated by the control unit. The heater device comprises a bottom heater installed to the bottom surface of the storage chamber; front and rear heaters installed to the front and the rear of the sidewall of the storage chamber; and right and left heaters installed to the right and left of sidewall of the storage chamber.

Description

Kimchi refrigerator and method for maturing kimch using the kimch refrigerator}

The present invention relates to a kimchi refrigerator and its kimchi ripening method, and more particularly, to make kimchi evenly matured by varying the number of heaters operated according to the weight of kimchi.

The general Kimchi refrigerator performs the function of ripening kimchi with a certain ripening and storing the kimchi for a long time.

The kimchi refrigerator puts the kimchi container into the storage compartment and selects the kimchi ripening button to switch to the kimchi ripening mode, and the control unit controls the kimchi to ripen at a preset ripening temperature and ripening time in the control unit.

When kimchi is matured, the kimchi can be stored for a long time in a constant ripening state by keeping the inside of the storage room at a low temperature.

However, in the conventional Kimchi refrigerator, since the heater is installed only at the bottom of the storage compartment, when the heater is operated, the temperature near the bottom of the storage compartment is distributed high, and the temperature near the top of the storage compartment is distributed relatively low. .

Therefore, the kimchi contained in the lower portion of the kimchi container is more mature than the aging degree desired by the consumer, but the kimchi contained in the upper portion of the kimchi container is immature than the aging degree desired by the consumer. Accordingly, there is a problem in that kimchi is uniformly aged according to the position of kimchi container.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is to operate the heaters independently according to the weight of the kimchi to make the kimchi contained in the kimchi container evenly aged.

1 is a schematic view showing a structure of a storage compartment of a kimchi refrigerator according to the present invention.

2 is a configuration diagram schematically showing an installation structure of a heater installed in the storage compartment of FIG. 1.

Figure 3 is a configuration diagram showing an example in which the heater device of Figure 1 applied to the kimchi refrigerator.

Figure 4 is a flow chart showing the kimchi ripening method of the kimchi refrigerator of FIG.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

11: Kimchi container 12: Weighing means

12a: leaf spring 12b: weight sensor

14a: bottom heater 14b: left and right heaters

14c: front and back heater

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a kimchi refrigerator in which the heater device is installed on the outer surface of the inner case, the kimchi container is accommodated in the storage chamber formed by the inner case, installed on the bottom surface of the storage chamber, the kimchi container Weighing means electrically connected to the control unit to transmit information about the weight of the control unit and at least two or more heaters that are electrically separated from the inner case, each heater is operated independently by the control unit It provides a kimchi refrigerator and a kimchi maturation method using the same, characterized in that the heater device is installed so that, and the temperature sensor is installed in the storage compartment to maintain a constant temperature of the kimchi when the heater is operating.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a kimchi refrigerator according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

Referring to Figure 1, the kimchi refrigerator of the present invention comprises a weighing means 12, a temperature sensor and a heater device.

The weighing means 12 is installed on the bottom surface of the storage compartment 3, and is electrically connected to the controller so as to transmit information about the weight of the kimchi container 11 to the controller.

As an example of such a weighing means, the weighing means 12 is installed on the bottom surface of the storage chamber 3, the plate spring 12, the kimchi container 11 is mounted, and the leaf spring 12 It consists of a weight sensor 13 for transmitting information about the weight of kimchi measured by the control unit.

The heater device is composed of at least two or more heaters that are electrically separated from the inner case, it is installed so that each heater is operated independently by the control unit. In this case, a heat insulation member (not shown) is installed between the inner case (not shown) and the outer case (not shown), and a heater device is installed between the heat insulation member and the inner case. The heater device is wound in a coil to form a plate when viewed as a whole.

An example of such a heater device will be described. The heater device includes a bottom heater 14a installed on the bottom surface of the storage compartment 3 and front and rear surfaces installed on the front and rear surfaces of the sidewall surfaces of the storage compartment 3 as shown in FIG. 2. The heater 14b and the left and right heater 14c provided on the left and right sides of the side walls of the storage chamber 3 are provided.

At this time, the bottom heater 14a is installed to correspond to the bottom surface of the kimchi container 11, the front and rear heater 14b and the left and right heater 14c are installed to correspond to the outer surface of the kimchi container (11). It is desirable to be.

In this manner, the heater device heats the lower portion of the kimchi container 11 by the bottom heater 14a, and heats the outer surface of the kimchi container 11 by the left and right heater 14c and the front and rear heater 14b. , The kimchi container 11 is heated evenly as a whole.

In addition, the left and right heater 14c and the front and rear heater 14b may be installed to be electrically separated from the upper and lower portions of the installed surface, respectively. It is also understood that an upper surface heater (not shown) that is electrically separated from the upper surface of the storage chamber 3 can be provided. Each of these heaters is operated independently under the control of the controller.

It can be understood that the heater device having such a structure is not limited to the kimchi refrigerator having the storage compartment 3 having the structure in which the kimchi container 11 is placed in two stages as shown in FIG. 1.

That is, in the storage compartment structure in which the kimchi container 11 is disposed in two or more stages, the front and rear heaters 14b and the left and right heaters 14c may be divided into upper and lower parts and installed electrically.

Of course, in the kimchi refrigerator having two or more kimchi containers 11 installed on the bottom surface of the storage compartment 3, the bottom heater 14a is electrically separated by the number of kimchi containers 11 placed on the bottom surface. It can also be installed.

Subdividing each heater as described above should be designed in consideration of the difference between the capacity of kimchi refrigerator and kimchi maturation.

In addition, a temperature sensor (not shown) is installed in the storage chamber 3 to maintain the ripening temperature of kimchi when the heater is operated. The temperature sensor is installed to be electrically connected to the control unit.

This temperature sensor measures the temperature in the storage compartment 3 and transmits it to the control unit, which maintains a constant temperature in the storage compartment 3 by turning on / off a heater that is operated.

In addition, a heat conduction member (not shown) is installed on the whole or part of the inner surface of the inner case so that the heat generated by each heater is evenly distributed in the storage chamber 3. As the heat conductive member, an aluminum plate having excellent thermal conductivity is proposed.

An example of a refrigerator to which such a heater device is applied will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

The refrigerator includes a freezer compartment 1 at an upper portion thereof, a refrigerator compartment 2 at a lower portion of the freezer compartment 1, and a storage compartment 3 at a lower portion of the refrigerator compartment 2.

A compressor 4 and a condenser 5 are installed at the rear side of the storage chamber 3, a first evaporator 6 is installed at the rear side of the freezing chamber 1, and a second evaporator at the rear side of the refrigerator compartment 2. (7) is installed. Near each of the evaporators 6 and 7, a blowing fan is installed to blow cold air cooled in the evaporator to the freezing chamber 1, the refrigerating chamber 2, and the storage chamber 3. Dampers 8a and 8b are installed in the refrigerating chamber 2 and the storage chamber 3 so that the cold air of the second evaporator 7 can be introduced and blocked.

At this time, the heater device includes a bottom heater 14a provided on the bottom of the storage chamber 3, left and right heaters 14c and front heaters (not shown) provided on the left and right and front and rear surfaces of the storage chamber 3. The left and right heater 14c is composed of three heaters electrically separated as shown in FIG. 3.

In the refrigerator, the cooling operation in the freezer compartment 1 and the storage compartment 3 is the same as that of a general refrigerator, and since the heater device installed in the storage compartment 3 is the same as described above, a description of the operation thereof will be omitted. .

However, when the storage compartment 3 is operated in a aging mode, the damper 8b installed in the storage compartment 3 is closed to prevent cold air from flowing into the storage compartment 3, and when the storage compartment 3 is overheated, the damper 8b. The storage chamber 3 may be lowered to a constant temperature by intermittently opening 8b.

As such, the heater device may be applied to a kimchi refrigerator as shown in FIG. 1, or may be applied to a refrigerator having a kimchi storage room separately as shown in FIG. 3.

Since these refrigerators are as described below for the method of ripening or storing kimchi, the following description will be made based on the kimchi-only refrigerator.

The case where the kimchi refrigerator is operated in the kimchi ripening mode will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

First, the user selects the ripening mode of kimchi through the operation of the kimchi refrigerator.

At this time, the kimchi ripening method comprises the steps of measuring the weight of the kimchi barrel 11 in the weighing means 12 when the aging mode of kimchi is set and delivered to the control unit; The controller determines which weight range among the plurality of weight ranges preset by the weighing means 12 belongs to the controller, and independently operates only the heater preset in the controller according to the weight range determined by the controller. Controlling to cause; When the heater set in the control unit is activated, the temperature sensor transmits information about the temperature in the storage chamber 3 to the control unit, and the control unit determines that the temperature in the storage chamber 3 exceeds the aging temperature preset in the control unit. Stopping the operation, and if it is determined that the temperature in the storage chamber 3 is lower than the aging temperature, by operating the heater to maintain a constant temperature of kimchi made: comprises.

The kimchi ripening method may be slightly different depending on the degree of granularity of the bottom heater (14a), front and rear heater (14b) and left and right heater (14c), the heater is installed as shown in FIG. Kimchi refrigerator will be described as an example.

Referring to FIG. 4, the weight of the kimchi container 11 measured by the weighing means 12 ( ) In this light range ( ), The control unit drives only the bottom heater 14a to ripen kimchi, and the weight of the kimchi container 11 ) Is in the middle range ( ), The control unit drives the bottom heater 14a and the left and right heaters 14c to ripen kimchi, and the weight of the kimchi container 11 ) Heavy range ( ), The control unit drives both the bottom heater 14a, the front and rear heaters 14b, and the left and right heaters 14c to mature kimchi.

In the kimchi ripening method, even if the same amount of kimchi, such as Chinese cabbage kimchi, radish kimchi and the like is generally different weight depending on the type of kimchi, it can be understood that the weight range can be set differently according to the type of kimchi in the controller. Do.

In this kimchi ripening method, the heavier the weight of the kimchi container 11, the higher the height of the kimchi contained in the kimchi container 11, and when the height of the kimchi is high, the heater located near the outer surface of the kimchi container 11 is operated. So that kimchi is evenly aged.

In addition, while the kimchi-only refrigerator is operated in the kimchi ripening mode, the compressor is controlled to stop the operation of the compressor, and when the kimchi ripening mode is completed, the compressor is operated.

However, in the refrigerator as shown in FIG. 3, when the kimchi ripening mode is reached, the compressor still operates and closes only the damper 8b installed in the storage compartment.

As described above, the present invention by installing a heater electrically separated on the side wall surface of the storage compartment so that the heat of the heater can be evenly transferred to the kimchi container, so that the kimchi contained in the kimchi container is all matured uniformly There is an idea.

As described above, the present invention was to reduce the maturity difference of kimchi generated between the upper and lower parts of the kimchi container. Therefore, the kimchi can be matured to suit the taste of the consumer, and the kimchi located in the upper and lower parts of the kimchi container is almost the same, so that the storage period of the kimchi can be increased.

That is, since consumers tend to eat kimchi located in the upper part of the kimchi container first and eat kimchi for the lower part later, even when eating the kimchi located in the lower part of the kimchi container by maintaining the maturity of the kimchi container uniformly, You can enjoy kimchi with the desired degree of aging.

Claims (8)

In the kimchi refrigerator in which the heater is installed on the outer surface of the inner case, the kimchi container is accommodated in the storage chamber formed by the inner case, A weighing means installed on the bottom of the storage compartment and electrically connected to the control unit to transmit information about the weight of the kimchi container to the control unit; A heater device comprising at least two heaters which are electrically separated from the inner case, and installed by the control unit to independently operate each heater; Kimchi refrigerator comprising: a temperature sensor installed in the storage compartment to maintain a constant temperature of the kimchi when the heater is operating. The method of claim 1, The inner surface of the inner case is provided with a heat conducting member, Kimchi refrigerator, characterized in that to evenly dissipate the heat generated in the heater device in the storage compartment. The method of claim 1, The heater device is: A bottom heater installed on a bottom surface of the storage compartment; Front and rear heaters installed on the front and rear surfaces of the side walls of the storage compartment; Kimchi refrigerator, characterized in that consisting of: the left and right heaters installed on the left and right sides of the side wall of the storage compartment. The method of claim 2, The kimchi refrigerator, characterized in that the left and right heaters and front and rear heaters are electrically separated from each other in the upper and lower portions of the installed surface. The method of claim 1, The weighing means is: A leaf spring installed at the bottom of the storage compartment and mounted with a kimchi container; Kimchi refrigerator, characterized in that consisting of: a weight sensor for transmitting information about the weight of the kimchi container measured by the leaf spring to the control unit. The method of claim 1, Kimchi refrigerator characterized in that the heat conducting member is an aluminum plate. Measuring the weight of the kimchi container in the weighing means and transmitting the weight to the controller when the ripening mode of the kimchi is set; The controller determines which weight range among the plurality of weight ranges preset by the weighing means belongs to the controller, and controls to independently operate only the heater preset in the controller according to the weight range determined by the controller. Making a step; When the heater set in the control unit is activated, the temperature sensor transmits information on the temperature in the storage compartment to the control unit, and the control unit stops the operation of the heater when it is determined that the temperature in the storage compartment has exceeded the ripening temperature preset in the control unit, If it is determined that the temperature in the storage room is lower than the aging temperature, the step of maintaining the aging temperature of the kimchi by operating a heater: Kimchi ripening method of the kimchi refrigerator of claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a. The method of claim 7, wherein The kimchi ripening method of the kimchi refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the kimchi refrigerator is controlled to stop the operation of the compressor while the kimchi ripening mode is operated, and to operate the compressor when the kimchi ripening mode is completed.