CN113494816B - Refrigerator with a refrigerator body - Google Patents

Abstract

A refrigerator which can keep food, such as rice or bread, delicious even after cooking. The refrigerator is provided with: a storage compartment capable of being maintained at a predetermined refrigeration temperature zone; and a control device for controlling the supply of cool air to the storage chamber. The storage chamber has a high-temperature switching section which is provided in part or all of the storage chamber and can be switched between a refrigerating temperature zone and a high-temperature zone having a temperature higher than the refrigerating temperature zone. The control device is capable of performing: a normal control for supplying cool air to the high-temperature switching section and maintaining the high-temperature switching section in a refrigerating temperature zone; and high temperature control for reducing or stopping the supply of cool air or supplying air having a higher temperature than the cool air supplied by the normal control as compared with the case of executing the normal control with respect to the high temperature switching section, thereby maintaining the high temperature switching section in a high temperature zone.

Description

Refrigerator with a refrigerator body

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a refrigerator.

Background

In recent years, due to the increase of double households, so-called middle foods, which are dining forms that are eaten in the home by purchasing finished foods cooked outside the home and bringing them home or calling out for takeaway, etc., have been increasing. Such foods for eating are consumed in a relatively short period after purchase, but may be stored for a period of half a day to several days in some cases. Therefore, there is an increasing demand for storing such cooked foods in a delicious manner.

Here, the reason why cooked rice or bread, for example, has deteriorated flavor with time is that: the starch contained in rice or bread is formed into an alpha form immediately after cooking, but is formed into a beta form with the lapse of time. The beta-formation of starch is most easily developed in a state where the surface of starch is in a liquid phase, i.e., at 2 to 4 ℃.

In order to enable fresh foods and the like to be stored for a longer period of time, conventional refrigerators maintain a refrigerating temperature zone of 3 to 5 ℃ or a so-called chilling temperature zone of 0 to 3 ℃ in a refrigerating chamber. Therefore, when the cooked food is stored in a conventional refrigerator, the beta-formation of starch is promoted, and the flavor is adversely impaired. Therefore, the refrigerator of the conventional structure is not suitable for preservation of cooked foods.

Patent document 1: japanese patent application laid-open No. 2004-125178

Disclosure of Invention

Thus, a refrigerator is provided which can be stored with good taste even in cooked foods such as rice and bread.

The refrigerator of the embodiment comprises: a storage compartment capable of being maintained at a predetermined refrigeration temperature zone; and a control device for controlling the supply of cool air to the storage chamber. The storage chamber has a high-temperature switching section provided in part or all of the storage chamber and capable of switching between the refrigerating temperature zone and a high-temperature zone having a temperature higher than the refrigerating temperature zone. The control device can execute: a normal control for supplying cool air to the high-temperature switching section to maintain the high-temperature switching section in the refrigerating temperature zone; and a high-temperature control unit configured to maintain the high-temperature switching section in the high-temperature zone by reducing or stopping the supply of cool air or supplying air having a temperature higher than that of cool air supplied by the normal control, as compared with the case of executing the normal control, with respect to the high-temperature switching section.

Effects of the invention

Even a cooked food such as rice or bread can be stored in a delicious state while suppressing deterioration of the flavor of the food.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a structure of a refrigerator according to an embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a structure of a refrigerator according to an embodiment around a refrigerating chamber.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of an electrical structure of a refrigerator according to an embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an operation mode for each partition and a temperature zone in the operation mode for a refrigerator according to an embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of control contents in the case of executing each operation mode for the refrigerator according to the embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an execution mode of normal control in a case where a normal cooling mode is selected for a high-temperature switching partition and a normal chilling mode is selected for a chilling partition, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the normal control and the execution mode of the high-temperature control in the case where the high-temperature switching mode is selected for the high-temperature switching partition and the normal chilling mode is selected for the chilling partition, for the refrigerator according to the embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of execution modes of normal control and low-temperature control in a case where a normal cooling mode is selected for a high-temperature switching zone and a low-temperature chilling mode is selected for a chilling zone, for a refrigerator according to an embodiment.

Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an example of execution modes of high-temperature control and low-temperature control in a case where a high-temperature switching mode is selected for a high-temperature switching zone and a low-temperature chilling mode is selected for a chilling zone, for a refrigerator according to an embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of control contents executed by the control device for the refrigerator according to the embodiment.

Fig. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the periphery of a high-temperature switching zone in an example in which a camera is used as a storage detection unit for a refrigerator according to an embodiment.

Fig. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of a high-temperature switching zone in an example in which a photoelectric sensor or a laser sensor is used as a storage detection unit for a refrigerator according to an embodiment.

Fig. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the periphery of a high-temperature switching zone in an example in which a weight is used as a storage detection portion for a refrigerator according to an embodiment.

Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the structure around the refrigerator compartment for a refrigerator according to a modification.

Fig. 15 is a diagram showing an example of an operation mode for a refrigerator compartment and a temperature zone in the operation mode for a refrigerator according to a modification.

Description of the reference numerals

10 … Refrigerator, 11 … refrigerator compartment, 19 … blower, 23 … normal refrigerator compartment, 24 … high temperature switch compartment, 24 … chilled compartment, 40 … control device, 50 … refrigerator, 51 … refrigerator compartment (storage compartment, high temperature switch compartment)

Detailed Description

A refrigerator according to an embodiment will be described below with reference to fig. 1 to 13.

The refrigerator 10 shown in fig. 1 is configured to have a plurality of storage chambers in a heat-insulating box 20 as a refrigerator main body in a vertically long rectangular box shape having an opening at a front surface. In the following description, the opening side of the heat-insulating box 20 is the front surface side of the refrigerator 10, and the opposite side to the opening side is the back surface side of the refrigerator 10. Further, the vertical direction of the gravity direction in the case where the refrigerator 10 is set on the floor in the posture of fig. 1 is referred to as the vertical direction of the refrigerator 10. The left-right direction in the case of viewing the refrigerator 10 of fig. 1 from the front side is defined as the left-right direction of the refrigerator 10.

As shown in fig. 1, the refrigerator 10 is mainly constituted by a heat-insulating box 20. The heat insulating box 20 is constituted by a box body having an open front surface, and has a plurality of storage compartments therein. The heat insulation box 20 is formed by providing a member having high heat insulation such as foamed polyurethane or a vacuum insulation panel in each wall portion constituting the box. The heat-insulating box 20 includes, as a plurality of storage compartments for storing stored articles, a refrigerating compartment 11, a vegetable compartment 12, an ice-making compartment 13, a small freezing compartment 14, and a freezing compartment 15, for example. The refrigerating chamber 11 and the vegetable chamber 12 are storage chambers with refrigerating temperature ranges. The ice making chamber 13, the small freezing chamber 14, and the freezing chamber 15 are storage chambers having freezing temperature ranges.

In this case, the refrigerating temperature zone and the freezing temperature zone are temperature zones suitable for refrigerating or freezing foods and the like and storing them, and are temperature zones set in advance when the refrigerator 10 is operated by being set already when the refrigerator 10 leaves a factory or by being set arbitrarily by a user when the refrigerator 10 is operated. In the case of the present embodiment, the refrigerating temperature range is set to, for example, 3 to 5 ℃ which is a common refrigerating temperature range. The freezing temperature range is set to be, for example, -18 ℃ or lower, which is a common freezing temperature range.

The refrigerating compartment 11 is provided at the uppermost portion of the heat insulation box 20. The vegetable compartment 12 is disposed below the refrigerating compartment 11. The ice making chamber 13 and the small freezing chamber 14 are disposed below the vegetable chamber 12 and side by side. The freezing chamber 15 is provided below the ice making chamber 13 and the small freezing chamber 14, i.e., at the lowermost portion of the heat insulating box 20.

The refrigerator 10 includes refrigerating compartment doors 111 and 112, a vegetable compartment door 121, an ice making compartment door 131, a small freezing compartment door 141, and a freezing compartment door 151. The refrigerating compartment doors 111 and 112 are, for example, hinged-open doors that open and close the front opening of the refrigerating compartment 11. The vegetable compartment door 121, the ice making compartment door 131, the small freezing compartment door 141, and the freezing compartment door 151 are all drawer type doors, and open and close the front side openings of the vegetable compartment 12, the ice making compartment 13, the small freezing compartment 14, and the freezing compartment 15, respectively.

In this case, as shown in fig. 2, the vegetable room 12 has a drawer type storage box 122. Further, the storage box 122 is attached to the vegetable compartment door 121, and is configured to be removable and attachable integrally with the vegetable compartment door 121. Similarly, the ice making chamber 13, the small freezing chamber 14, and the freezing chamber 15 also have a not-shown storage box that can be taken out and put in integrally with the ice making chamber door 131, the small freezing chamber door 141, and the freezing chamber door 151, respectively.

As shown in fig. 2, the heat-insulating box 20 has a heat-insulating partition wall 21 and a non-heat-insulating partition wall 22 inside. The heat-insulating partition wall 21 partitions the refrigerating chamber 11 and the vegetable chamber 12 in the refrigerating temperature range and the ice making chamber 13, the small freezing chamber 14 and the freezing chamber 15 in the freezing temperature range in a heat-insulating state in the vertical direction. The non-heat-insulating partition wall 22 partitions the refrigerating chamber 11 and the vegetable chamber 12 in the vertical direction in a non-heat-insulating manner in the refrigerating chamber 11 and the vegetable chamber 12 in the refrigerating temperature zone.

The refrigerator 10 has a normal refrigerating compartment 23, a high temperature switching compartment 24, and a chilling compartment 25 inside the refrigerating compartment 11 as shown in fig. 2. The cold storage partition 23, the high temperature switching partition 24, and the chill partition 25 are normally partitions in which the inside of the cold storage chamber 11, which is a storage chamber in a cold storage temperature zone, is partitioned by a member having no heat insulation property, such as the shelves 31, 32, 33, and 34, or the storage box 35. In this case, the shelves 31, 32, 33, 34 and the storage box 35 are made of, for example, resin, glass, or the like, and do not have high heat insulation properties such as foamed polyurethane, vacuum insulation panels, or the like. That is, the cold storage partition 23, the high temperature switching partition 24, and the chill partition 25 are not separated from each other by a member having heat insulation properties.

Typically, the cold storage zone 23 is disposed in a different zone than the high temperature switching zone 24 and the chilled zone 25, and typically the cold storage zone 23 is maintained at the cold storage temperature zone shown in fig. 4. Typically, the refrigerated section 23 is disposed below the high temperature switch section 24 and above the chilled section 25. In the case of the present embodiment, the volume of the refrigerated partition 23 is generally greater than the high temperature switch partition 24 and the chilled partition 25. That is, in the case of the present embodiment, the volumes of the normal cold storage partition 23, the high temperature switching partition 24, and the normal cold storage partition 23 among the quench partition 25 are set to be maximum.

The high temperature switching partition 24 is provided in a part or all of the partitions in the refrigerator compartment 11. In the case of the present embodiment, the high-temperature switching partition 24 is provided in a part of the refrigerating chamber 11. In addition, the refrigerating chamber 11 may be provided with the high-temperature switching section 24 instead of the normal refrigerating section 23 and the chilling section 25. In the case of the present embodiment, the high temperature switching partition 24 is provided at the uppermost portion of the refrigerating chamber 11. That is, the high temperature switch section 24 is disposed above the normal refrigerated section 23 and the chilled section 25. In this case, the high-temperature switching partition 24 is a space sandwiched between the uppermost shelf 31 and the top plate 113 in the refrigerator compartment 11.

The refrigerator 10 is provided with a shutter 36 as shown in fig. 2. The shutter 36 partitions the inside and the outside of the high-temperature switching section 24 to be openable and closable. In the case of the present embodiment, the shutter 36 is provided near the front end portion of the high-temperature switching zone 24, that is, the front end portion of the uppermost shelf 31. In the state where the shutter 36 is closed, it is possible to suppress the flow of warm air in the high-temperature switching partition 24 out of the normal refrigerating partition 23, and to suppress the flow of cool air in the normal refrigerating partition 23 into the high-temperature switching partition 24. Therefore, in the case where the high-temperature switching partition 24 is used as a partition of the cooling temperature zone, the shutter 36 is opened. On the other hand, in the case where the high-temperature switching zone 24 is used as a zone of the high-temperature zone, the shutter 36 is closed.

The chilled compartment 25 is disposed in a partial partition of the refrigerated compartment 11. In the case of the present embodiment, the chill section 25 is disposed at the lowermost portion of the fresh food compartment 11. That is, the chill section 25 is disposed below the normal cool storage section 23 and the high temperature switch section 24. In this case, the chill section 25 is a space sandwiched between the lowermost shelf 34 and the bottom of the refrigerator compartment 11, in this case, the non-heat-insulating partition wall 22, or a space in which the storage box 35 can be taken out and placed into the space.

The refrigerator 10 includes a refrigeration chiller 16 shown in fig. 2 and a compressor 17 shown in fig. 3. In the present embodiment, the refrigeration chiller 16 and the compressor 17 constitute a refrigeration cycle together with a refrigeration chiller, a condenser, an evaporator, a switching valve, and the like, which are not shown. In this case, the refrigeration cycle causes the refrigeration chiller 16 to generate cool air for cooling the refrigerating compartment 11 and the vegetable compartment 12 in the refrigeration temperature range by switching the switching valve to the refrigeration chiller 16 side and supplying the refrigerant to the refrigeration chiller 16 side. The refrigeration cycle is configured to supply the refrigerant to the side of the refrigeration chiller by switching the switching valve to the side of the refrigeration chiller, thereby causing the refrigeration chiller, not shown, to generate cool air for cooling the ice making chamber 13, the small freezing chamber 14, and the freezing chamber 15 in the freezing temperature zone. Further, the cold air for cooling the refrigerating chamber 11, the vegetable chamber 12, the ice making chamber 13, the small freezing chamber 14, and the freezing chamber 15 in the refrigerating temperature range may be generated by 1 cooler.

As shown in fig. 2, the refrigerator 10 includes a duct 18 and a blower 19. The duct 18 is provided on the back side of the refrigerator compartment 11 and the vegetable compartment 12, and accommodates the refrigeration chiller 16 therein. The duct 18 forms an air blowing path for supplying cool air generated by the refrigeration chiller 16 to the refrigerator compartment 11 and the vegetable compartment 12. A blower 19 is disposed within the duct 18. The blower 19 has the following functions: the air in the vegetable room 12 is sucked into the duct 18, passed through the refrigeration chiller 16, and sent to the normal refrigeration compartment 23, the high-temperature switching compartment 24, and the chilling compartment 25.

The cold air duct 18 has a return port 181 and a plurality of blow-out ports 182, 183, 184. The return port 181 is formed by opening a portion of the lower side of the duct 18 to the vegetable room 12. A plurality of blowouts 182, 183, 184 communicate within the conduit 18 with either the high temperature switch section 24 or the normally chilled section 23 or chilled section 25.

In the case of the present embodiment, the upper-stage blowout port 182 provided at the uppermost portion of the duct 18 communicates with the high-temperature switching zone 24. The lower layer blowout port 184 provided at the lowermost portion of the duct 18 communicates with the chill section 25. Further, a middle layer outlet 183 provided between the upper layer outlet 182 and the lower layer outlet 184 communicates with the normal refrigerating compartment 23.

The air flowing into the duct 18 from the vegetable room 12 through the return port 181 by the air blowing action of the blower 19 flows through the duct 18 and passes through the refrigeration chiller 16. Further, the air having passed through the refrigeration chiller 16 is blown out from the lower layer blowout port 184 toward the chilled partition 25. Then, a part of the air that remains in the air flowing through the duct 18 without flowing out from the lower layer blowout port 184 toward the chilled compartment 25 is blown out from the middle layer blowout port 183 toward the normal chilled compartment 23. Further, of the air flowing through the duct 18, the air that has not been blown out from the middle-layer air outlet 183 toward the normal refrigerating partition 23 and remains is blown out from the upper-layer air outlet 182 toward the high-temperature switching partition 24.

As shown in fig. 3, the refrigerator 10 includes a control device 40, an operation panel 41, and a communication unit 42. The control device 40 is mainly composed of a microcomputer having a memory area 402 such as a CPU401, a ROM, a RAM, and a nonvolatile memory. The control device 40 manages the overall operation of the refrigerator 10. The compressor 17 or the blower 19 is electrically connected to the control device 40, and is driven and controlled by the control device 40.

The operation panel 41 is electrically connected to the control device 40. The operation panel 41 has a function of receiving an operation from a user and also receiving control from the control device 40 to change various settings such as the operation contents of the refrigerator 10 and display the settings. In the present embodiment, the operation panel 41 has an input unit for electrostatic touch, for example. Further, the operation panel 41 is incorporated in one or both of the refrigerating chamber doors 111 and 112, for example. The operation panel 41 includes, for example, a display unit including an LED lamp, a liquid crystal, or the like, a buzzer, a speaker, or the like capable of sounding a sound, or emitting a voice.

The communication unit 42 is configured to be connectable to an electric communication line 92 such as the internet or a mobile phone line network via an external router 91. As a result, the communication unit 42 can be communicably connected to an external device, that is, an information terminal 93 such as a smart phone, a tablet, a personal computer, or a server 94 provided in an enterprise or the like, for example, via the router 91 and the electric communication line 92. In this case, the communication unit 42 may be directly connected to the information terminal 93 or the like by wired or wireless. The communication unit 42 can receive an instruction from the control device 40 and transmit various information such as the operation state of the refrigerator 10 to the information terminal 93 or the server 94 as an external device. The communication unit 42 can receive various instructions from the information terminal 93, the server 94, and the like.

As shown in fig. 3, the refrigerator 10 includes a normal refrigeration compartment temperature sensor 43, a high-temperature switching compartment temperature sensor 44, a chilled compartment temperature sensor 45, and a storage detection unit 46. The normal refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 43 has a function of measuring the temperature in the normal refrigerator compartment 23. The high-temperature switching zone temperature sensor 44 has a function of measuring the temperature inside the high-temperature switching zone 24. The chilled zone temperature sensor 45 has the function of measuring the temperature within the chilled zone 25.

The storage detection unit 46 has a function of detecting whether or not the storage object is stored in the high-temperature switching section 24. In this case, the storage detection unit 46 may be configured by a mechanical, optical, or electrical sensor having a function of detecting opening and closing of the shutter 36, a function of detecting presence or passage of an object in the high-temperature switching section 24, or a function of measuring a weight of an object stored in the high-temperature switching section 24. The storage detection unit 46 may be constituted by, for example, a button provided on the operation panel 41 or a specific operation. The storage detection unit 46 may be configured to detect whether or not an object is present in the high-temperature switching section 24 using, for example, a camera or an acoustic wave. The normal cold storage partition temperature sensor 43, the high temperature switching partition temperature sensor 44, the chilled partition temperature sensor 45, and the storage detection unit 46 are electrically connected to the control device 40, respectively, and the detection results of the respective sensors are transmitted to the control device 40.

The control device 40 controls a switching valve of a refrigerating cycle, not shown, and controls the compressor 17 or the blower 19, thereby controlling the supply of cool air to the respective refrigerating chambers 11, vegetable chambers 12, ice making chambers 13, small freezing chambers 14, 15. In the case of the present embodiment, the control device 40 alternately performs cooling of the refrigerating chamber 11 and the vegetable chamber 12 in the refrigerating temperature zone and cooling of the ice making chamber 13, the small freezing chamber 14 and the freezing chamber 15 in the freezing temperature zone. For example, the control device 40 alternately performs cooling of the refrigerating chamber 11 and the vegetable chamber 12 in a refrigerating temperature zone for 60 minutes and cooling of the ice making chamber 13 and the small freezing chamber 14 and the freezing chamber 15 in a freezing temperature zone for 40 minutes.

As the operation mode for adjusting the temperature in the refrigerator compartment 11, the refrigerator 10 includes a normal operation mode and a high-temperature switching mode for the high-temperature switching partition 24, and includes a normal chilling mode and a low-temperature chilling mode for the chilling partition 25. That is, the control device 40 can switch between the normal cooling mode and the high-temperature switching mode for the high-temperature switching partition 24 as shown in fig. 4. Also, the control device 40 is capable of switching between the normal quench mode and the low temperature quench mode for the quench zone 25. Each mode is switched by, for example, a user operating the operation panel 41. The control device 40 maintains the normal refrigeration zone 23 at a refrigeration temperature range of, for example, 3 to 5 ℃ regardless of the mode set in the high-temperature switching zone 24 and the chilling zone 25.

The normal cooling mode is a mode in which the temperature in the high-temperature switching zone 24 is maintained in a normal cooling temperature zone, for example, a temperature zone of 3 to 5 ℃. The high temperature switching mode is a mode in which the temperature in the high temperature switching section 24 is maintained at a high temperature zone higher than the refrigerating temperature zone. In this case, the high temperature range can be set to a temperature range that can suppress the β -formation of starch and suppress the deterioration of the flavor of the cooked food, specifically, to an arbitrary temperature range that can be set by the user in a range of 5 to 15 ℃. Therefore, the high-temperature switching section 24 can be referred to as a middle food compartment or middle food section for storing so-called middle food.

The normal quenching mode is a mode in which the temperature in the quenching zone 25 is maintained in a normal quenching temperature zone, for example, a temperature zone of 1 to 3 ℃. Further, the low-temperature chilling mode is a mode in which the temperature in the chilled zone 25 is maintained at a low-temperature chilling temperature zone lower than a normal chilling temperature zone. In this case, the low-temperature chilling temperature zone is set to a temperature at which the storage material is about to freeze, for example, to a level of 0 ℃ to 1 ℃.

The control device 40 can adjust the temperature ranges of the respective zones 23, 24, 25 by adjusting the temperature or the supply amount of the cold air to the respective zones 23, 24, 25. In the case of the present embodiment, the control device 40 adjusts the temperature or the supply amount of the cool air to the zones 23, 24, 25 by adjusting the rotation speed of the compressor 17 or the air supply amount of the blower 19, for example, thereby executing the respective modes described above.

Specifically, the control device 40 can execute normal control, high temperature control, and low temperature control. The normal control is control for maintaining the normal refrigeration zone 23 and the high-temperature switching zone 24 at a refrigeration temperature zone of 3 ℃ to 5 ℃ and maintaining the chilling zone 25 at a normal chilling temperature zone of 1 ℃ to 3 ℃ by supplying cool air to the normal refrigeration zone 23, the high-temperature switching zone 24, and the chilling zone 25. In the present embodiment, the rotation speed of the compressor 17 and the air volume of the blower 19 are based on this normal control. In this case, in fig. 5, the rotation speed of the compressor 17 and the air volume of the blower 19 in the normal control are indicated as "medium". In this normal control, the control device 40 controls the rotation speed of the compressor 17 so that the temperature of the refrigeration chiller 16 is, for example, about 1 ℃.

The high temperature control is control for maintaining the high temperature switching section 24 at a high temperature range of 5 to 15 ℃ by reducing or stopping the supply of cool air or supplying air having a temperature higher than that of cool air supplied in the normal control, as compared with the case of executing the normal control, with respect to the high temperature switching section 24. In the case of the present embodiment, the control device 40 stops the rotation speed of the compressor 17 by performing the high temperature control, and increases the air blowing amount of the blower 19 as compared with the case of the normal control.

When the high temperature control is performed and the compressor 17 is stopped to eliminate the supply of the refrigerant to the refrigeration chiller 16, the temperature of the refrigeration chiller 16 increases to a temperature close to the outside atmosphere, for example, 10 to 20 ℃. Further, by increasing the air flow rate of the blower 19, most of the warm air around the refrigeration chiller 16 is conveyed upward of the duct 18 and blown out from the upper layer air outlet 182 into the high temperature switching zone 24. Thereby, the temperature within the high temperature switching section 24 is maintained at a high temperature zone.

On the other hand, the cool air existing in the high temperature switching section 24 before the high temperature control is performed is pushed out toward the normal refrigerating section 23 from, for example, the gap between the shutter 36 and the shelf 31 by the air blown by the blower 19 whose high temperature control is increased. Further, the cool air flowing out from the high temperature switching section 24 is then lowered by the weight of the cool air. Thus, the normal cold storage partition 23 and the chilled partition 25 provided below the high temperature switching partition 24 are cooled for a certain period of time even after the compressor 17 is stopped by performing high temperature control.

The low temperature control is control to maintain the chill section 25 at a low temperature chill temperature zone, for example, 0 ℃ to 1 ℃ lower than the normal chill temperature zone by increasing the supply of the cold air or supplying the cold air having a temperature lower than that of the cold air supplied in the normal control to the chill section 25 than when the normal control is performed. In the case of the present embodiment, by executing the low temperature control, the control device 40 increases the rotation speed of the compressor 17 and reduces or stops the air blowing amount of the blower 19 as compared with the case of the normal control.

In the low-temperature control, the control device 40 increases the rotation speed of the compressor 17 so that the temperature of the refrigeration chiller 16 is, for example, around-1 ℃. Further, if the air blowing amount by the blower 19 is reduced or the air blowing is stopped, the cool air generated by the refrigeration chiller 16 does not rise in the duct 18 by the weight of the cool air but stays below. As a result, it is possible to suppress the excessive cold air from being supplied to the normal refrigeration compartment 23 or the high-temperature switching compartment 24 provided above the chill compartment 25, and to easily supply the cold air to the lowermost chill compartment 25 provided in the refrigerating chamber 11. By performing the low temperature control in this way, it is possible to suppress excessive cooling of the normal refrigerating partition 23 and the high temperature switching partition 24, and to maintain the chilling partition 25 in a low temperature chilling temperature zone lower than that in the normal chilling mode.

As shown in fig. 5, the control device 40 performs the above-described normal control, high-temperature control, and low-temperature control in combination according to the selection state of the normal refrigeration mode or the high-temperature switching mode for the high-temperature switching zone 24 and the selection state of the normal chilling mode or the low-temperature chilling mode for the chilling zone 25.

Specific control contents in each mode will be described with reference to fig. 6 to 9. In fig. 6 to 9, the horizontal axis represents time. In fig. 6 to 9, the vertical axis represents the capability of changing the temperature in each of the zones 23, 24, 25 to a target temperature zone in each control, and the farther from the horizontal axis means the capability is higher.

As shown in fig. 5, when neither the high temperature switching mode nor the low temperature chilling mode is performed, that is, when the normal cooling mode is selected for the high temperature switching partition 24 and the normal chilling mode is selected for the chilling partition 25, the control device 40 continues the normal control for only a certain period of time as shown in fig. 6. Thus, the normal refrigerating section 23 and the high-temperature switching section 24 are maintained at a refrigerating temperature range of 3 to 5 ℃ and the chilling section 25 is maintained at a normal chilling temperature range of 1 to 3 ℃.

Further, when the high temperature switching mode is performed and the low temperature chilling mode is not performed, that is, when the high temperature switching mode is selected for the high temperature switching partition 24 and the normal chilling mode is selected for the chilling partition 25, the control device 40 alternately and repeatedly performs the normal control and the high temperature control at a predetermined cycle, respectively, as shown in fig. 7. Thus, the normal refrigerating section 23 is maintained at a refrigerating temperature range of 3 to 5 ℃, the high-temperature switching section 24 is maintained at a high temperature range set in a range of 5 to 15 ℃, and the chilling section 25 is maintained at a normal chilling temperature range of 1 to 3 ℃.

Further, when the high temperature switching mode is not performed and the low temperature chilling mode is performed, that is, when the normal cooling mode is selected for the high temperature switching partition 24 and the low temperature chilling mode is selected for the chilling partition 25, the control device 40 alternately and repeatedly performs the normal control and the low temperature control at a predetermined cycle as shown in fig. 8. Thus, the refrigerating section 23 and the high-temperature switching section 24 are maintained at a refrigerating temperature range of 3 to 5 ℃ and the chilling section 25 is maintained at a low-temperature chilling temperature range of 0 to 1 ℃.

Further, when both the high temperature switching mode and the low temperature chilling mode are performed, that is, when the high temperature switching mode is selected for the high temperature switching partition 24 and the low temperature chilling mode is selected for the chilling partition 25, the control device 40 alternately and repeatedly performs the high temperature control and the low temperature control at a predetermined cycle as shown in fig. 9. Thus, the refrigerating section 23 is normally maintained at a refrigerating temperature range of 3 to 5 ℃, the high-temperature switching section 24 is maintained at a high temperature range set in a range of 5 to 15 ℃, and the chilling section 25 is maintained at a low-temperature chilling temperature range of 0 to 1 ℃.

Here, in the case of controlling in a direction to decrease the temperature of each of the zones 23, 24, 25, the control device 40 increases the rotation speed of the compressor 17 to decrease the temperature of the refrigeration chiller 16, thereby decreasing the temperature of the cold air supplied to each of the zones 23, 24, 25. On the other hand, in the case of controlling in a direction to increase the temperature of each of the zones 23, 24, 25, the control device 40 decreases the temperature of the refrigeration chiller 16 by decreasing or stopping the rotation speed of the compressor 17, but in this case, the temperature increase of the refrigeration chiller 16 depends on the external atmosphere or the like. Therefore, the refrigerator 10 can perform active control with respect to the control of lowering the temperature of each of the partitions 23, 24, 25, but the control with respect to the control of lowering the temperature of each of the partitions 23, 24, 25 is likely to be relatively passive control. That is, in general, the refrigerator 10 is superior in cooling control and inferior in active temperature increase control for the refrigerator compartment 11, the vegetable compartment 12, the ice making compartment 13, the small freezing compartment 14, and the freezing compartment 15.

Therefore, when the two controls for maintaining the respective partitions 23, 24, and 25 in the different temperature bands are repeatedly executed, the control device 40 extends the execution period in 1 cycle of the control of the one having a higher temperature and shortens the execution period in 1 cycle of the control of the one having a lower temperature. That is, the control period of the refrigerator 10 to ensure a good cooling direction is short, and the control period to ensure that the refrigerator 10 does not good cooling suppressing or in a direction to raise the temperature is long. Thus, even when the respective partitions 23, 24, and 25 are maintained in different temperature ranges, the temperatures in the respective partitions 23, 24, and 25 can be maintained at the set temperature ranges with high accuracy.

Specifically, when the high-temperature switching mode is selected for the high-temperature switching zone 24 and the normal-quench mode is selected for the quench zone 25, and the high-temperature control and the normal control are alternately executed as shown in fig. 7, the control device 40 sets the execution period T2 of the high-temperature control, which is the control with a higher temperature, longer than the execution period T1 of the normal control, which is the control with a lower temperature, in 1 cycle of the high-temperature control and the normal control.

When the normal cooling mode is selected for the high-temperature switching zone 24 and the low-temperature chilling mode is selected for the chilling zone 25 and the normal control and the low-temperature control are alternately executed as shown in fig. 8, the control device 40 sets the execution period T4 of the normal control, which is the control with a higher temperature, longer than the execution period T3 of the low-temperature control, which is the control with a lower temperature, in 1 cycle of the normal control and the low-temperature control.

Further, when the high-temperature switching mode is selected for the high-temperature switching zone 24 and the low-temperature chilling mode is selected for the chilling zone 25 and the high-temperature control and the low-temperature control are alternately executed as shown in fig. 9, the control device 40 sets the execution period T6 of the high-temperature control, which is the control of the higher temperature, longer than the execution period T5 of the low-temperature control, which is the control of the lower temperature, in 1 cycle of the high-temperature control and the low-temperature control. This enables precise control of the temperatures of the respective partitions 23, 24, 25.

In this case, the control device 40 controls the high temperature in a direction to further increase the temperature of the high temperature switching partition 24 and sets the execution period T6 of the high temperature control in 1 cycle to be shorter than the case where the high temperature switching mode is executed without executing the low temperature chilling mode. In this case, for example, in a state where the compressor 17 is stopped, the control device 40 further increases the air volume of the blower 19 as compared with a case where the high-temperature switching mode is performed and the normal chilling mode is performed. Thus, the temperature of the high-temperature switching partition 24 is likely to rise when both the high-temperature switching mode and the low-temperature chilling mode are executed, as compared with when the high-temperature switching mode is executed without executing the low-temperature chilling mode.

In this case, as shown in fig. 9 and 7, the execution period T6 per 1 cycle of the high temperature control in the case where the high temperature switching mode and the low temperature chilling mode are simultaneously executed is set to be shorter than the execution period T2 per 1 cycle of the high temperature control in the case where the high temperature switching mode is executed without executing the low temperature chilling mode. Further, as shown in fig. 9 and 8, the execution period T5 per 1 cycle of the low temperature control in the case where the high temperature switching mode and the low temperature chilling mode are simultaneously executed is set shorter than the execution period T3 per 1 cycle of the high temperature control in the case where the low temperature chilling mode is executed without executing the high temperature switching mode.

That is, in the case of the present embodiment, the period t5+t6 of 1 cycle in which the high temperature control and the low temperature control in the case of the high temperature switching mode and the low temperature chilling mode are simultaneously performed is shorter than the period t1+t2 of 1 cycle in the case where the high temperature switching mode is performed without performing the low temperature chilling mode, that is, in the case where the high temperature control and the normal control are alternately performed as shown in fig. 7. Further, the period t5+t6 of 1 cycle in which the high temperature control and the low temperature control in the high temperature switching mode and the low temperature chilling mode are simultaneously performed is shorter than the period t3+t4 of 1 cycle in which the normal control and the low temperature control are alternately performed as shown in fig. 8 in the case where the low temperature chilling mode is performed without performing the high temperature switching mode. Accordingly, the temperature control inside the high-temperature switching zone 24 and the chilling zone 25 can be alternately performed at short intervals, and therefore the internal temperatures of the high-temperature switching zone 24 and the chilling zone 25 can be maintained with high accuracy.

In the present embodiment, the control device 40 can execute management control for managing the storage period of the food stored in the high-temperature switching section 24. In this case, for example, the storage area 402 stores a management control program. Further, by executing the management control program in the CPU401, the control device 40 executes management control.

When the control device 40 executes the management control, it is determined in step S11 shown in fig. 10 whether or not the food is stored in the high-temperature switching section 24 based on the detection result of the storage detection unit 46. For example, if the storage detection unit 46 is a member that detects the opening and closing of the shutter 36, such as an opening and closing sensor, for example, the control device 40 determines that the food is stored in the high-temperature switching zone 24 when the storage detection unit 46 detects the opening and closing of the shutter 36.

The storage detection unit 46 is configured by, for example, a device that can acquire 2-dimensional information such as a camera, a device that can acquire 3-dimensional information such as a Time of Flight (ToF) sensor, or the like, as shown in fig. 11. When the storage detection unit 46 is configured by a camera or a TOF sensor, the storage detection unit 46 desirably uses the entire high-temperature switching section 24 as an imaging range as much as possible. In this case, the control device 40 performs image processing on the image or video captured by the storage detection unit 46, and determines, based on the result of the image processing, whether the food is stored in the high-temperature switching section 24 or the food is taken out from the high-temperature switching section 24.

The storage detection unit 46 is configured by, for example, a member such as a photosensor or a laser sensor that detects the presence of an object by reflecting or blocking light or laser light. In this case, the storage detection unit 46 may be disposed, for example, on the top plate 113 so that the optical axis is oriented in the vertical direction, or may be disposed, for example, on the left and right wall surfaces so that the optical axis is oriented in the left and right horizontal directions. In this case, the control device 40 determines that the food is stored in the high-temperature switching section 24 when the state of the light or laser light output from the storage detection unit 46 is changed from the state of not being reflected or not being blocked to the state of being reflected or blocked. When the state of the light or laser light output from the storage detection unit 46 is changed from the reflected or blocked state to the non-reflected or blocked state, the control device 40 determines that the food or the like is taken out from the high-temperature switching section 24.

In this case, at least 1 storage detector 46 may be provided, but a plurality may be arranged along the depth direction of the high-temperature switching section 24 as shown in fig. 12, for example. Accordingly, the dead space of the storage detection unit 46 can be reduced, and the control device 40 can detect the removal and the placement of food or the like over a wide range of the high-temperature switching section 24.

The storage detection unit 46 may be a weight, for example, as shown in fig. 13. In this case, the control device 40 determines that the food is stored in the high-temperature switching zone 24 when the weight measured by the storage detection unit 46 increases. When the weight measured by the storage detection unit 46 is reduced, the control device 40 determines that the food is taken out from the high-temperature switching section 24.

When the storage of the food in the high-temperature switching section 24 is not detected (step S11), the control device 40 repeats step S11. Further, when the storage of the food in the high-temperature switching section 24 is detected (yes in step S11), the control device 40 transitions the process to step S12. The control device 40 executes the housing notification process in step S12. The storage notifying process is a process of notifying the user that the food is stored in the high-temperature switching section 24. The control device 40 performs the storage notifying process, for example, by making a sound from the operation panel 41 or displaying the sound, and notifies the user of the storage of the food in the high-temperature switching section 24.

Next, the control device 40 transitions the process to step S13, and determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the detection of the storage of the food product in the high temperature switching partition 24. The predetermined time period can be arbitrarily set by the user, for example, a period of several hours to several days, depending on the food product.

When a predetermined time has not elapsed since the detection of the storage of the food in the high-temperature switching section 24 (no in step S13), the control device 40 repeats step S13 until a predetermined period of time has elapsed. Further, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the storage of the food in the high-temperature switching section 24 was detected (yes in step S13), the control device 40 transitions the process to step S14 and executes the notice notification process.

Note that the notification process is a process of notifying the user that a predetermined time has elapsed since the food was stored in the high-temperature switching section 24 without being taken out of the high-temperature switching section 24. The control device 40 performs the attention notification processing, for example, the sound is emitted from the operation panel 41 or the display is performed, so as to notify the user that a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the food was stored in the high-temperature switching section 24.

In this case, regarding the storage notification processing in step S12 and the attention notification processing in step S14, for example, a case where food is stored in the high-temperature switching section 24, a case where a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the storage of the food, or the like may be displayed on the information terminal 93 of the user via the communication unit 42. In this case, the following can be used as the notification mode. That is, for example, a calendar may be displayed on the information terminal 93 of the user, and a date on which a food is put and a date on which the food should be taken out are displayed on the calendar. The date on which the food is placed and the date on which the food should be taken out may be displayed in time series on the user's information terminal 93, for example.

According to the above-described embodiment, the refrigerator includes the refrigerating chamber 11 which is a storage chamber capable of being maintained in a refrigerating temperature zone, and the control device 40 which controls the supply of cool air to the refrigerating chamber 11. The refrigerating compartment 11 has a high temperature switching partition 24. The high temperature switching section 24 is provided in part or all of the inside of the refrigerating chamber 11, and is configured to be capable of switching to a refrigerating temperature zone and a high temperature zone having a temperature higher than the refrigerating temperature zone. Further, the control device 40 can perform normal control and high temperature control for switching the high temperature switching section 24. The normal control is to supply cool air to the high temperature switching section 24 and maintain the high temperature switching section 24 in a refrigerating temperature zone. The high temperature control is a control for reducing or stopping the supply of cool air or supplying air having a higher temperature than the cool air supplied in the normal control to the high temperature switching section 24 than in the normal control, and maintaining the high temperature switching section 24 in the high temperature zone.

Accordingly, the refrigerator 10 can switch the high temperature switching zone 24 into a zone of a refrigerating temperature zone and a zone of a high temperature zone. Thus, the high-temperature switching partition 24 can be generally used as a partition of the refrigerating temperature zone, and the high-temperature switching partition 24 can be switched to a partition of the high-temperature zone as needed. Further, the user stores the cooked food such as meal or bread in the high-temperature switching section 24 switched to the high-temperature zone, thereby suppressing deterioration of the flavor of the food and storing the food in a delicious state.

The high-temperature switching partition 24 is provided in a part of the refrigerating compartment 11. The refrigerated compartment 11 also has a generally refrigerated partition 23. The normal cooling partition 23 is a partition provided in the cooling chamber 11 in a different region from the high temperature switching partition and maintained at a cooling temperature zone. Further, the control device 40 can switch between the normal cooling mode and the high-temperature switching mode. The normal cooling mode is a mode in which the high-temperature switching section 24 and the normal cooling section 23 are maintained at a cooling temperature zone by performing normal control. The high temperature switching mode is a mode in which the high temperature switching section 24 is maintained at a high temperature zone and the normal refrigerating section 23 is maintained at a refrigerating temperature zone by performing high temperature control.

Accordingly, when the normal cooling mode is executed, the normal cooling partition 23 and the high-temperature switching partition 24 can be utilized as storage partitions of the cooling temperature zone. When the high-temperature switching mode is executed, the normal refrigeration partition 23 can be used as a storage partition of the refrigeration temperature zone, and the high-temperature switching partition 24 can be used as a storage partition of the high-temperature zone. Therefore, when the high-temperature switching mode is executed, it is possible to store both the refrigerated product suitable for storage in the refrigeration temperature zone and the cooked food product suitable for storage in the high-temperature zone, for example, in the refrigeration compartment 11. As a result, the user's convenience can be improved.

And, the refrigerator compartment 11 also has a chill section 25. The chill section 25 is a section provided in the refrigerating chamber 11 in a different region from the high temperature switching section 24 and the normal refrigerating section 23, and is maintained in a chill temperature zone lower than the refrigerating temperature zone. And, the usual control includes control to maintain the quench zone 25 at a usual quench temperature by supplying cool air to the quench zone 25. Further, the control device 40 is also capable of performing low temperature control and also capable of performing a low temperature quench mode.

The low temperature control is control to increase the supply of cold air or supply cold air having a lower temperature than the cold air supplied in the normal control for the quench zone 25 than when the normal control is performed, thereby maintaining the quench zone 25 at a low temperature quench temperature zone lower than the normal quench temperature zone. Further, the low temperature quench mode is a mode in which the quench zone 25 is maintained at a low temperature quench temperature zone and the usual refrigerated zone 23 is maintained at a refrigerated temperature zone by performing low temperature control.

Accordingly, the refrigerator 10 has a chilled partition 25 within the fresh food compartment 11 that is maintained at a chilled temperature zone that is lower than the fresh food temperature zone. Further, the refrigerator 10 can maintain the quench zone 25 at a low-temperature quench temperature zone lower than a normal quench temperature zone by executing a low-temperature quench mode. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, since the plurality of temperature zones are provided in the refrigerator compartment 11, the refrigerator compartment can be stored in a temperature zone suitable for the storage.

When the high temperature switching mode is performed without performing the low temperature chilling mode, the control device 40 performs the high temperature control without performing the low temperature control. Accordingly, in the case where only the high temperature switching mode is performed, the control device 40 performs the high temperature control without performing the low temperature control, whereby the high temperature switching partition 24 can be prevented from being cooled by the low temperature control. As a result, the high-temperature switching zone 24 can be maintained at a high temperature zone with high accuracy.

When the low temperature chilling mode is performed without performing the high temperature switching mode, the control device 40 performs the low temperature control without performing the high temperature control. Accordingly, in the case where only the low temperature quench mode is performed, the control device 40 performs the low temperature control without performing the high temperature control, whereby the quench zone 25 can be prevented from being warmed up by the high temperature control. As a result, the inside of the chill section 25 can be maintained at a low-temperature chill temperature zone with high accuracy.

When both the high temperature switching mode and the low temperature chilling mode are executed, the control device 40 alternately executes the high temperature control and the low temperature control at a predetermined cycle. Accordingly, the normal cooling zone 23, the high temperature switching zone 24, and the chilling zone 25 can be maintained at different temperature ranges without separating the normal cooling zone 23, the high temperature switching zone 24, and the chilling zone 25 from each other by a member having heat insulation properties. This makes it possible to realize the normal cold storage partition 23, the high temperature switching partition 24, and the chilled partition 25 with a simple structure and at low cost.

Here, as described above, the refrigerator 10 is more excellent in the low temperature control in the high temperature control and the low temperature control due to the nature of the refrigeration cycle. That is, in the case of comparing the high temperature control and the low temperature control, the temperature can be converged to the target temperature in a shorter time in the low temperature control than in the high temperature control. Therefore, when both the high temperature switching mode and the low temperature chilling mode are executed, the control device 40 alternately executes the high temperature control and the low temperature control in different predetermined cycles, respectively, and makes the execution period of the high temperature control longer in 1 cycle than the execution period of the low temperature control.

Accordingly, in the case where both the high temperature switching mode and the low temperature chilling mode are executed, the refrigerator 10 makes the execution period of each 1 cycle of the relatively weak high temperature control longer than the execution period of the low temperature control, whereby the temperature control of the high temperature switching zone 24 by the high temperature control can be performed more precisely.

When both the high temperature switching mode and the low temperature chilling mode are executed, the control device 40 alternately executes the high temperature control and the low temperature control at different predetermined periods, and controls the low temperature control in a direction to further lower the temperature of the chilled zone 25 and makes the execution period of the low temperature control shorter than the high temperature control in 1 period, compared to the case where the low temperature chilling mode is executed without executing the high temperature switching mode. Accordingly, the low temperature control and the high temperature control can be alternately and repeatedly performed in a short time. Therefore, when the high-temperature switching zone 24 is maintained at a high temperature zone and the chilling zone 25 is maintained at a low-temperature chilling temperature, both can be temperature-controlled with high accuracy.

When both the high temperature switching mode and the low temperature chilling mode are executed, the control device 40 alternately executes the high temperature control and the low temperature control at different predetermined periods, and controls the high temperature control in a direction to further increase the temperature of the high temperature switching partition 24 and makes the execution period of the high temperature control shorter than the low temperature control in 1 period, as compared with the case where the high temperature switching mode is executed without executing the low temperature chilling mode. Thereby, the low temperature control and the high temperature control can be alternately and repeatedly performed in a short time. Therefore, when the high-temperature switching zone 24 is maintained at a high temperature zone and the chilling zone 25 is maintained at a low-temperature chilling temperature, both can be temperature-controlled with high accuracy.

The refrigerator 10 further includes a blower 19 for supplying cool air into the refrigerator compartment 11. Further, the control device 40 can control the driving of the blower 19, and when the high temperature switching mode is executed, control to increase the blowing amount of the blower 19 is executed as compared with the case where the high temperature switching mode is not executed. In this case, the rotation speed of the compressor 17 is preferably reduced or stopped as compared with the normal cooling mode. Accordingly, for example, without using a heater or the like for heating the high-temperature switching section 24, air warmer than the cool air supplied in the normal cooling mode can be supplied to the high-temperature switching section 24, and therefore, the inside of the high-temperature switching section 24 can be easily maintained at a high temperature zone.

Further, the control device 40 performs control to reduce the air blowing amount of the blower 19 when the low temperature chilling mode is performed, as compared with when the low temperature chilling mode is not performed. In this case, the rotation speed of the compressor 17 is preferably increased as compared with that in the normal cooling mode. Accordingly, cold air that is cooler than cold air supplied in the normal quench mode can be supplied to the quench zone 25, and therefore the inside of the quench zone 25 can be easily maintained at a low-temperature quench temperature zone.

The position of the high-temperature switching section 24 is not limited to the configuration of the embodiment described above. For example, the high-temperature switching partition 24 may be provided at the middle position of the refrigerating chamber 11, that is, at the position of the normal refrigerating partition 23 in the above embodiment. The high-temperature switching zone 24 may be provided at a lower position of the refrigerating chamber 11, that is, at the position of the chill zone 25 in the above embodiment.

(Modification)

A modification of the above embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 14 and 15. This modification is an example in which all the sections of the refrigerating compartment are set to the high-temperature switching sections. The refrigerator 50 shown in fig. 14 is a so-called 1-door refrigerator, and includes a heat-insulating box 60 instead of the heat-insulating box 20 according to the above embodiment. The heat-insulating box 60 is constituted by a box having an open front surface, and is constituted by providing a member having high heat-insulating properties such as foamed polyurethane or a vacuum insulation panel in each wall portion constituting the box. The heat insulating box 60 has a refrigerating chamber 51 as a storage chamber for storing stored articles. Further, the refrigerator 50 includes a plurality of shelves 37. The respective shelves 37 separate the refrigerating chamber 51 in the up-down direction in the same manner as the shelves 31, 32, 33, 34 of the above embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the entire refrigerating chamber 51 is set to a high-temperature switching zone. Therefore, the refrigerator 50 of the present embodiment can switch the temperature in the refrigerating chamber 51 to a refrigerating temperature zone and a high temperature zone as shown in fig. 15. In this case, when the normal cooling mode is executed, the control device 40 continues the normal control for a certain period of time as shown in fig. 6. Thus, the entire inside of the refrigerating chamber 51 is maintained at a refrigerating temperature range of 3 to 5 ℃. When the high temperature switching mode is executed, the high temperature control and the normal control are alternately executed at a predetermined cycle as shown in fig. 6. Accordingly, the entire inside of the refrigerating chamber 51 is maintained at a high temperature range set within a range of 5 to 15 ℃. The same operational effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained according to this modification.

The above embodiments are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The above-described novel embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The present embodiment and its modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

Claims (7)

1. A refrigerator is provided with:

a storage compartment capable of being maintained at a predetermined refrigeration temperature zone; and

A control device for controlling the supply of cool air to the storage chamber,

The storage chamber has a high temperature switching section provided in a part or all of the storage chamber and capable of switching between the refrigerating temperature zone and a high temperature zone having a temperature higher than the refrigerating temperature zone,

The control device can execute:

A normal control for supplying cool air to the high-temperature switching section to maintain the high-temperature switching section in the refrigerating temperature zone; and

The high temperature switching section is maintained in high temperature control in the high temperature zone by reducing or stopping the supply of cool air or supplying air having a temperature higher than that of cool air supplied by the normal control as compared with the case of executing the normal control,

The high temperature switching partition is provided in a part of the storage chamber,

The storage chamber further has a normal refrigerating partition provided in the storage chamber in a different partition from the high temperature switching partition and maintained in the refrigerating temperature zone,

The control device can switch execution:

A normal cooling mode in which the high-temperature switching section and the normal cooling section are maintained in the cooling temperature zone by executing the normal control; and

A high temperature switching mode for maintaining the high temperature switching section in the high temperature zone and maintaining the normal refrigerating section in the refrigerating temperature zone by executing the high temperature control,

The storage chamber further includes a chilling section provided in the storage chamber in a different section from the high-temperature switching section and the normal refrigerating section and maintained in a chilling temperature zone lower than the refrigerating temperature zone,

The normal control includes control of maintaining the chill section at a normal chill temperature zone by supplying cool air to the chill section,

The control device described above is also capable of performing low-temperature control as follows: for the above-mentioned chilled partition, the supply of cold air or the supply of cold air having a temperature lower than that of cold air supplied by the above-mentioned normal control is increased as compared with when the above-mentioned normal control is performed, so that the above-mentioned chilled partition is maintained at a low-temperature chilled temperature zone lower than the above-mentioned normal chilled temperature zone,

The control device can also execute the following low-temperature chilling mode: maintaining the chilled zone at the low temperature chilled temperature zone and the normally refrigerated zone at the refrigerated temperature zone by performing the low temperature control,

The control device alternately executes the high temperature control and the low temperature control at different predetermined periods, and makes the execution period of the high temperature control longer than the low temperature control in 1 period when executing both the high temperature switching mode and the low temperature chilling mode.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein,

The control device executes the high-temperature control without executing the low-temperature control when executing the high-temperature switching mode without executing the low-temperature chilling mode.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1 or 2, wherein,

The control device executes the low-temperature control without executing the high-temperature control when executing the low-temperature chilling mode without executing the high-temperature switching mode.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein,

The control device alternately executes the high temperature control and the low temperature control at different predetermined periods when both the high temperature switching mode and the low temperature chilling mode are executed, and controls the low temperature control in a direction to further lower the temperature of the chilled zone and makes the execution period of the low temperature control shorter than the high temperature control in 1 period, compared with the case where the low temperature chilling mode is executed without executing the high temperature switching mode.

5. The refrigerator of claim 1 or 4, wherein,

The control device executes the high-temperature control and the low-temperature control in different cycles when executing both the high-temperature switching mode and the low-temperature chilling mode, and shortens the execution period of the high-temperature control in 1 cycle by controlling the high-temperature control in a direction to further raise the temperature of the high-temperature switching zone as compared with a case where the high-temperature switching mode is executed without executing the low-temperature chilling mode.

6. The refrigerator of claim 1 or 2, wherein,

Further comprises a blower for supplying cool air into the storage chamber,

The control device can control the driving of the blower, and when the high temperature switching mode is executed, the control device can control the blower to increase the blowing amount of the blower compared with the case of not executing the high temperature switching mode.

7. The refrigerator of claim 1 or 2, wherein,

Further comprises a blower for supplying cool air into the storage chamber,

The control device can control the driving of the blower, and when the low-temperature chilling mode is executed, the control device can control the blower to reduce the blowing amount of the blower compared with the case of not executing the low-temperature chilling mode.