CN113494816A

CN113494816A - Refrigerator with a door

Info

Publication number: CN113494816A
Application number: CN202110115250.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 高桥由纪
Original assignee: Toshiba Lifestyle Products and Services Corp
Current assignee: Toshiba Lifestyle Products and Services Corp
Priority date: 2020-03-18
Filing date: 2021-01-28
Publication date: 2021-10-12
Anticipated expiration: 2041-01-28
Also published as: JP2021148352A; JP7465686B2

Abstract

A refrigerator capable of deliciously storing even cooked food such as rice or bread. The refrigerator is provided with: a storage compartment capable of being maintained in a predetermined refrigerated temperature zone; and a control device for controlling the supply of cold air to the storage chamber. The storage chamber has a high-temperature switching section which is provided in a part or all of the storage chamber and is switchable 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 executing: normal control for supplying cold air to the high temperature switching section to maintain the high temperature switching section in a refrigerating temperature zone; and a high temperature control for maintaining the high temperature switching section in a high temperature zone by reducing or stopping the supply of the cold air or supplying air having a temperature higher than that of the cold air supplied by the normal control to the high temperature switching section than when the normal control is executed.

Description

Refrigerator with a door

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a refrigerator.

Background

In recent years, due to the increase of families of two-workers, there have been increasing the types of eating, so-called chinese food, which is a form of eating at home by buying a finished food cooked at home and taking it home or selling it. Such food to be eaten is consumed in a relatively short period of time after purchase, but may be stored for about half a day to several days depending on the case. Therefore, there is an increasing demand for preserving such cooked food products in a palatable manner.

Here, the reason why the cooked rice or bread deteriorates in flavor over time is that: starch contained in rice or bread is converted into α -form immediately after cooking, but is converted into β -form with the passage of time. The beta formation of starch is most likely to progress in a state where the surface of starch is in a liquid phase, i.e., at 2 ℃ to 4 ℃.

In a conventional refrigerator, a refrigerating temperature range of 3 to 5 ℃ or a so-called chilling temperature range of 0 to 3 ℃ is maintained in a refrigerating chamber in order to store fresh foods and the like for a longer period of time. Therefore, when cooked food is stored in a conventional refrigerator, β -formation of starch is promoted, and the flavor is adversely impaired. Therefore, the conventional refrigerator is not suitable for preserving cooked food.

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

Disclosure of Invention

Therefore, a refrigerator capable of storing cooked food such as rice and bread with good taste is provided.

The refrigerator of the embodiment is provided with: a storage compartment capable of being maintained in a predetermined refrigerated temperature zone; and a control device for controlling the supply of cold air to the storage chamber. The storage chamber has a high temperature switching section which is provided in a part or all of the storage chamber and is switchable between the refrigerating temperature zone and a high temperature zone having a temperature higher than the refrigerating temperature zone. The control device can execute: normal control for supplying cold air to the high temperature switching section to maintain the high temperature switching section at the refrigerating temperature zone; and a high temperature control for maintaining the high temperature switching section in the high temperature zone by reducing or stopping supply of cold air or supplying air having a temperature higher than that of cold air supplied by the normal control to the high temperature switching section than that in the normal control.

Effects of the invention

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

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing 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 around a refrigerating chamber of a refrigerator according to an embodiment.

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

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

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of control contents in a case where each operation mode is executed 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 the normal refrigeration mode is selected for the high-temperature switch zone and the normal chilling mode is selected for the chilling zone, in the refrigerator according to the embodiment.

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

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

Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the control content 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 partition 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 periphery of a high-temperature-switching section in an example in which a photoelectric sensor or a laser sensor is used as a storage detection unit in a refrigerator according to an embodiment.

Fig. 13 is a partial sectional view showing the periphery of the high temperature switch section in an example in which a weight is used as a storage detection unit in the refrigerator according to the embodiment.

Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a structure around a refrigerating chamber of a refrigerator according to a modification.

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

Description of the reference numerals

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

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to an embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 13.

The refrigerator 10 shown in fig. 1 has a plurality of storage chambers in a heat insulating box 20 as a refrigerator main body in a rectangular box shape having a long rectangular shape with an open front surface. In the following description, the opening side of the heat insulating box 20 is defined as the front side of the refrigerator 10, and the opposite side to the opening side is defined as the back side of the refrigerator 10. The vertical direction with respect to the gravity direction when the refrigerator 10 is installed on the floor in the posture of fig. 1 is defined as the vertical direction of the refrigerator 10. The left-right direction of the refrigerator 10 in fig. 1 is the left-right direction of the refrigerator 10 when viewed from the front side.

As shown in fig. 1, the refrigerator 10 is mainly constituted by a heat insulating box 20. The heat-insulating box 20 is formed of a box having an open front surface and has a plurality of storage compartments therein. The heat-insulating box 20 is formed by disposing members having high heat-insulating properties such as foamed polyurethane and vacuum insulation panels in each wall portion constituting the box. The heat-insulating box 20 includes, for example, a refrigerating compartment 11, a vegetable compartment 12, an ice-making compartment 13, a small freezing compartment 14, and a freezing compartment 15 as a plurality of storage compartments for storing stored items. The refrigerating chamber 11 and the vegetable chamber 12 are storage chambers of a refrigerating temperature range. Ice making compartment 13, small freezing compartment 14, and freezing compartment 15 are storage compartments of 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 are temperature zones that are set in advance when the refrigerator 10 is operated by setting them at the time of shipment of the refrigerator 10 or setting them 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 ℃. The freezing temperature range is set to, for example, minus 18 ℃ or lower, which is a common freezing temperature range.

The refrigerating chamber 11 is provided at the uppermost portion of the heat-insulated box 20. The vegetable compartment 12 is disposed below the refrigerating compartment 11. Ice making compartment 13 and small freezing compartment 14 are provided below vegetable compartment 12 and are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. 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 is provided with refrigerating

compartment doors

111, 112, a vegetable compartment door 121, an ice making compartment door 131, a mini-freezer compartment door 141, and a freezer compartment door 151. The refrigerating

compartment doors

111 and 112 are, for example, two-piece hinged openable doors, and open and close the front opening of the refrigerating compartment 11. Vegetable compartment door 121, ice making compartment door 131, freezer compartment door 141, and freezer compartment door 151 are drawer type doors that open and close the front openings of vegetable compartment 12, ice making compartment 13, freezer compartment 14, and freezer compartment 15, respectively.

In this case, as shown in fig. 2, the vegetable room 12 has a drawer type storage box 122. The storage box 122 is attached to the vegetable compartment door 121 and configured to be able to be taken out and put in integrally with the vegetable compartment door 121. Similarly, ice making chamber 13, freezer compartment 14, and freezer compartment 15 each have a storage box, not shown, that can be taken out and put in and out of ice making chamber door 131, freezer compartment door 141, and freezer compartment door 151.

The heat-insulating box 20 has a heat-insulating partition wall 21 and a non-heat-insulating partition wall 22 inside as shown in fig. 2. The heat-insulating partition wall 21 vertically partitions the

storage compartments

11, 12 of the refrigerating temperature zone and the

storage compartments

13, 14, 15 of the freezing temperature zone in a heat-insulating state. The non-heat-insulating partition wall 22 vertically partitions the refrigerating chamber 11 and the vegetable chamber 12 in the

storage chambers

11 and 12 in the refrigerating temperature range so as not to insulate heat.

The refrigerator 10 has a normal refrigeration zone 23, a high temperature switching zone 24, and a chilling zone 25 inside the refrigerating chamber 11 as shown in fig. 2. The normal refrigeration section 23, the high temperature switching section 24, and the chilling section 25 are sections formed by partitioning the inside of the refrigeration compartment 11, which is a storage compartment of a refrigeration temperature zone, by members having no heat insulation property, such as

shelves

31, 32, 33, and 34, or a 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, a vacuum insulation panel, or the like. That is, the normal refrigeration zone 23, the high-temperature switching zone 24, and the chilling zone 25 are not separated from each other by a member having heat insulation properties.

The normal refrigeration zone 23 is disposed in a zone different from the high temperature switch zone 24 and the quench zone 25, and the normal refrigeration zone 23 is maintained within a refrigeration temperature band as shown in fig. 4. Typically the refrigerated partition 23 is disposed below the high temperature switch partition 24 and above the quench partition 25. In the case of the present embodiment, the volume of the refrigerating zone 23 is generally larger than the high-temperature switching zone 24 and the chilling zone 25. That is, in the present embodiment, the volume of the normal refrigeration compartment 23 among the normal refrigeration compartment 23, the high-temperature switching compartment 24, and the quench compartment 25 is set to be the maximum.

The high temperature switching compartment 24 is provided in a part of or all of the compartments in the refrigerator compartment 11. In the present embodiment, the high temperature switching compartment 24 is provided in a part of the refrigerating compartment 11. In addition, the refrigerating compartment 11 may be provided with all of the refrigerating compartment 11 as the high temperature switching compartment 24 without providing the normal refrigerating compartment 23 and the chilling compartment 25. In the present embodiment, the high-temperature-switching compartment 24 is provided at the uppermost portion of the refrigerating compartment 11. That is, the high temperature switch zone 24 is disposed above the normal refrigeration zone 23 and the quench zone 25. In this case, the high-temperature switching compartment 24 is a space sandwiched between the shelf 31 at the uppermost layer and the top plate 113 in the refrigerating 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 compartment 24 so as to be openable and closable. In the present embodiment, the shutter 36 is provided near the front end of the uppermost shelf 31, which is the front end of the high-temperature switching compartment 24. In the state where the shutter 36 is closed, it is possible to suppress the warm air in the high temperature switching compartment 24 from flowing out to the normal refrigeration compartment 23 side, and to suppress the cold air in the normal refrigeration compartment 23 from flowing into the high temperature switching compartment 24. Therefore, when the high temperature switch sub-section 24 is used as a sub-section of the refrigerating temperature zone, the shutter 36 is opened. On the other hand, when the high temperature switch compartment 24 is used as a compartment of the high temperature zone, the shutter 36 is closed.

The quench zone 25 is provided in a partial zone within the refrigerated compartment 11. In the case of the present embodiment, the quench zone 25 is disposed at the lowermost portion of the refrigerated compartment 11. That is, the quench zone 25 is disposed below the normal refrigeration zone 23 and the high temperature switch zone 24. In this case, the chill zone 25 is a space sandwiched between the shelf 34 of the lowermost layer and the bottom of the refrigerating chamber 11, in this case, the non-heat insulating partition wall 22, or a space in the storage box 35 that can be taken in and out of the space.

The refrigerator 10 includes a cooler 16 for cold storage shown in fig. 2 and a compressor 17 shown in fig. 3. In the present embodiment, the refrigerating cooler 16 and the compressor 17 constitute a refrigeration cycle together with a refrigerating cooler, a condenser, an evaporator, a switching valve, and the like, which are not shown. In this case, in the refrigeration cycle, the switching valve is switched to the side of the refrigerating cooler 16 to supply the refrigerant to the side of the refrigerating cooler 16, thereby causing the refrigerating cooler 16 to generate cold air for cooling the

storage chambers

11 and 12 of the refrigerating temperature zone. In the refrigeration cycle, the switching valve is switched to the refrigeration chiller side to supply the refrigerant to the refrigeration chiller side, thereby causing the refrigeration chiller, not shown, to generate cold air for cooling the

storage chambers

13, 14, and 15 of the refrigeration temperature range. Further, it is also possible to form a configuration in which 1 cooler generates cold air for cooling the

storage chambers

11 and 12 of the refrigerating temperature zone and the

storage chambers

13, 14, and 15 of the freezing temperature zone.

As shown in fig. 2, the refrigerator 10 includes a duct 18 and a blower 19. Duct 18 is provided on the back sides of refrigerating room 11 and vegetable room 12, and accommodates refrigerating cooler 16 therein. Duct 18 forms an air flow path for supplying cold air generated by cooler 16 for cold storage to refrigerating room 11 and vegetable room 12. A blower 19 is provided in the duct 18. The blower 19 has the following functions: air in the vegetable room 12 is sucked into the duct 18, and the sucked air is passed through the cooler 16 for refrigeration and sent to the normal refrigeration zone 23, the high temperature switch zone 24, and the chilling zone 25.

The cold air duct 18 has a return port 181 and a plurality of

air outlet 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 compartment 12. The plurality of blow-off

ports

182, 183, 184 communicate the inside of the duct 18 with either the high-temperature switch zone 24 or the normal refrigeration zone 23 or the quench zone 25.

In the present embodiment, the upper stage air outlet 182 provided at the uppermost portion of the duct 18 communicates with the high temperature-switching compartment 24. The lower layer blow-off port 184 provided at the lowermost portion of the duct 18 communicates with the quench zone 25. Further, the middle air outlet 183 provided between the upper air outlet 182 and the lower air outlet 184 communicates with the normal refrigeration compartment 23.

The air flowing into the duct 18 from the vegetable compartment 12 through the return port 181 by the blowing action of the blower 19 flows through the duct 18 and passes through the cooler 16 for cold storage. The air having passed through the cooler 16 for cold storage is blown out from the lower layer blowing port 184 toward the quench zone 25. Then, a part of the air remaining in the air flowing through the duct 18 without flowing out from the lower-stage blow-out port 184 toward the chill zone 25 is blown out from the middle-stage blow-out port 183 toward the normal-refrigeration zone 23. Further, of the air flowing through the duct 18, the air remaining after failing to be blown out from the middle-stage air outlet 183 toward the normal refrigeration compartment 23 is blown out from the upper-stage air outlet 182 toward the high-temperature switching compartment 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 configured by a microcomputer having a storage area 402 such as a CPU401, ROM, RAM, and nonvolatile memory. The control device 40 manages the operation of the entire 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 changing or displaying various settings such as operation contents of the refrigerator 10 by receiving an operation from a user and receiving a control from the control device 40. In the present embodiment, the operation panel 41 includes, for example, an electrostatic touch type input unit. Further, the operation panel 41 is built in one or both of the refrigerating

chamber doors

111 and 112, for example. The operation panel 41 includes, for example, a display unit formed of 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 electrical communication line 92 such as the internet or a cellular telephone line network via an external router 91. Thus, the communication unit 42 can be connected to an external device, for example, an information terminal 93 such as a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer, or a server 94 installed in a business or the like, so as to be able to communicate therewith, 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 wire 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 chilling-compartment temperature sensor 45, and a storage detection unit 46. The normal refrigeration section temperature sensor 43 has a function of measuring the temperature in the normal refrigeration section 23. The high temperature switch compartment temperature sensor 44 has a function of measuring the temperature in the high temperature switch compartment 24. The quench zone temperature sensor 45 has a function of measuring the temperature within the quench zone 25.

The storage detection unit 46 has a function of detecting whether or not a storage is stored in the high-temperature switching compartment 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 compartment 24, a function of measuring the weight of an object stored in the high-temperature switching compartment 24, or the like. The storage detection unit 46 may be configured by, for example, a button provided on the operation panel 41 or a specific operation. The housing detection unit 46 may be configured to detect whether or not an object is present in the high temperature switching compartment 24, for example, using a camera or a sound wave. The normal refrigeration compartment temperature sensor 43, the high temperature switching compartment temperature sensor 44, the chilling compartment temperature sensor 45, and the storage detection unit 46 are electrically connected to the control device 40, and the detection results of the sensors are transmitted to the control device 40.

The control device 40 controls a switching valve of a refrigeration cycle, not shown, and controls the compressor 17 and the blower 19 to control the supply of cold air to the

storage chambers

11, 12, 13, 14, and 15. In the case of the present embodiment, the control device 40 alternately performs cooling of the storage compartments 11, 12 in the cold storage temperature range and cooling of the storage compartments 13, 14, 15 in the freezing temperature range. For example, the control device 40 alternately performs cooling of the

storage rooms

11, 12 in the refrigerating temperature zone for 60 minutes and cooling of the

storage rooms

13, 14, 15 in the freezing temperature zone for 40 minutes.

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

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

The normal quench mode is a mode in which the temperature in the quench sub-zone 25 is maintained in a normal quench 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 chilling zone 25 is maintained in a low-temperature chilling temperature zone lower than the normal chilling temperature zone. In this case, the low-temperature chilling temperature zone is set to a temperature at which the stored material is about to freeze, for example, 0 to 1 ℃.

The control device 40 can adjust the temperature zones of the

respective compartments

23, 24, and 25 by adjusting the temperature or the supply amount of the cold air to the

respective compartments

23, 24, and 25. In the present embodiment, the control device 40 executes the above-described modes by adjusting the temperature or the supply amount of the cold air to the

partitions

23, 24, and 25 by adjusting, for example, the rotation speed of the compressor 17 or the air blowing amount of the blower 19.

Specifically, the control device 40 can execute normal control, high temperature control, and low temperature control. The normal control is a control of maintaining the normal refrigeration zone 23 and the high temperature switch zone 24 in a refrigeration temperature zone of 3 to 5 ℃ and maintaining the chilling zone 25 in a normal chilling temperature zone of 1 to 3 ℃ by supplying cold air to the normal refrigeration zone 23, the high temperature switch zone 24, and the chilling zone 25. In the present embodiment, the rotation speed of the compressor 17 and the air blowing amount of the blower 19 are based on the normal control. In this case, in fig. 5, the rotation speed of the compressor 17 and the air blowing amount of the blower 19 in the normal control are both indicated as "medium". In the 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 a control for maintaining the high temperature switching compartment 24 in a high temperature zone of 5 to 15 ℃ by reducing or stopping the supply of cold air or supplying air having a temperature higher than that of cold air supplied in the normal control to the high temperature switching compartment 24 than in the normal control. In the case of the present embodiment, the control device 40 stops the rotation speed of the compressor 17 by executing 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 compressor 17 is stopped by the execution of the high temperature control and the supply of the refrigerant to the refrigerating cooler 16 is lost, the temperature of the refrigerating cooler 16 rises to a temperature close to the outside air, for example, around 10 to 20 ℃. Further, by increasing the amount of air blown by the blower 19, most of the warm air around the refrigerating cooler 16 is conveyed to the upper side of the duct 18 and blown out from the upper stage air outlet 182 into the high temperature switching compartment 24. Thereby, the temperature in the high-temperature switching zone 24 is maintained in the high-temperature zone.

On the other hand, the cold air existing in the high temperature switching compartment 24 before the high temperature control is executed is pushed out toward the normal refrigeration compartment 23 from, for example, a gap between the shutter 36 and the shelf 31 by the air blowing of the blower 19 increased by the high temperature control. Further, the cold air flowing out of the high temperature switching compartment 24 is then dropped by the weight of the cold air. Thus, the normal refrigeration zone 23 and the chilling zone 25 provided below the high-temperature switch zone 24 are cooled for a certain period of time even after the high-temperature control is executed to stop the compressor 17.

The low-temperature control is control of maintaining the quench zone 25 in a low-temperature quench temperature zone, for example, 0 ℃ to 1 ℃, lower than the normal quench temperature zone, by increasing the supply of cold air or supplying cold air having a lower temperature than that supplied in the normal control, for the quench zone 25, as compared to when the normal control is performed. In the case of the present embodiment, the control device 40 executes the low temperature control to increase the rotation speed of the compressor 17 and reduce or stop the air blowing amount of the blower 19 compared to the case of the normal control.

In the low temperature control, the controller 40 increases the rotation speed of the compressor 17 so that the temperature of the cooler 16 for cold storage becomes, for example, about-1 ℃. Further, when the amount of air blown by the blower 19 is reduced or the air blowing is stopped, the cold air generated by the cold storage cooler 16 stays below the duct 18 without rising due to the weight of the cold air. As a result, it is possible to suppress the supply of excessive cold air to the normal refrigeration section 23 or the high temperature-switching section 24 provided above the chilling section 25, and to easily supply cold air to the chilling section 25 provided at the lowermost portion in the refrigeration compartment 11. By performing the low-temperature control in this manner, it is possible to suppress excessive cooling of the normal refrigeration partition 23 and the high-temperature switching partition 24, and to maintain the chiller partition 25 in a low-temperature chiller temperature zone lower than that in the normal chiller mode.

As shown in fig. 5, the control device 40 performs the normal control, the high temperature control, and the 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 switch 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 capacity for changing the temperature in each

zone

23, 24, 25 to the target temperature zone in each control, and the more distant from the horizontal axis means the higher capacity.

As shown in fig. 5, when neither of the high-temperature switching mode and the low-temperature chilling mode is executed, that is, when the normal refrigeration mode is selected for the high-temperature switching zone 24 and the normal chilling mode is selected for the chilling zone 25, the control device 40 continues the normal control for a certain period of time as shown in fig. 6. Thus, the normal refrigeration zone 23 and the high-temperature switch zone 24 are maintained in a refrigeration temperature zone of 3 to 5 ℃, and the chilling zone 25 is maintained in a normal chilling temperature zone of 1 to 3 ℃.

When the high-temperature switching mode is executed and the low-temperature chilling mode is not executed, that is, when the high-temperature switching mode is selected for the high-temperature switching zone 24 and the normal chilling mode is selected for the chilling zone 25, the control device 40 alternately and repeatedly executes the normal control and the high-temperature control at a constant cycle, as shown in fig. 7. Thus, the normal refrigeration zone 23 is maintained in a refrigeration temperature zone of 3 to 5 ℃, the high temperature switch zone 24 is maintained in a high temperature zone set in a range of 5 to 15 ℃, and the chiller zone 25 is maintained in a normal chiller temperature zone of 1 to 3 ℃.

When the high-temperature switching mode is not executed and the low-temperature chilling mode is executed, that is, when the normal refrigeration mode is selected for the high-temperature switching zone 24 and the low-temperature chilling mode is selected for the chilling zone 25, the control device 40 repeatedly and alternately executes the normal control and the low-temperature control at a constant cycle as shown in fig. 8. Thus, the normal refrigeration zone 23 and the high-temperature switch zone 24 are maintained in a refrigeration temperature zone of 3 to 5 ℃, and the chilling zone 25 is maintained in a low-temperature chilling temperature zone of 0 to 1 ℃.

Further, when both the high-temperature switching mode and the low-temperature chilling mode are executed, that is, 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, the controller 40 alternately and repeatedly executes the high-temperature control and the low-temperature control at a constant cycle as shown in fig. 9. Thus, the normal refrigeration zone 23 is maintained in a refrigeration temperature zone of 3 to 5 ℃, the high temperature switch zone 24 is maintained in a high temperature zone set in a range of 5 to 15 ℃, and the chilling zone 25 is maintained in a low temperature chilling temperature zone of 0 to 1 ℃.

Here, in the case of control in a direction to lower the temperature of each of the

partitions

23, 24, and 25, the control device 40 lowers the temperature of the cold storage cooler 16 by increasing the rotation speed of the compressor 17, thereby lowering the temperature of the cold air supplied to each of the

partitions

23, 24, and 25. On the other hand, in the case of the control in the direction of increasing the temperature of each of the

compartments

23, 24, 25, the control device 40 decreases the temperature of the refrigerating cooler 16 by decreasing or stopping the rotation speed of the compressor 17, but in this case, the temperature of the refrigerating cooler 16 increases depending on the outside air or the like. Therefore, the refrigerator 10 can actively control the direction of decreasing the temperature of each of the

sections

23, 24, and 25, but the control of the direction of decreasing the temperature of each of the

sections

23, 24, and 25 is likely to be relatively passive control. That is, the refrigerator 10 is generally good at controlling the cooling of the

storage chambers

11, 12, 13, 14, and 15, but is not good at controlling the active temperature rise.

Therefore, when two controls for maintaining the

respective zones

23, 24, and 25 in different temperature zones are repeatedly executed, the control device 40 extends the execution period of the control having the higher temperature in 1 cycle and shortens the execution period of the control having the lower temperature in 1 cycle. That is, the control period in which the refrigerator 10 ensures the cooling direction excelling is short, and the control period in which the refrigerator 10 ensures the suppression of cooling or the direction of increasing the temperature not excelling is long. Thus, even when the temperature ranges of the

respective zones

23, 24, and 25 are maintained in different temperature ranges, the temperatures in the

respective zones

23, 24, and 25 can be maintained in 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 chilling mode is selected for the chilling zone 25, and the high-temperature control and the normal control are alternately executed as shown in fig. 7, the controller 40 sets the execution period T2 of the high-temperature control, which is the control having the higher temperature, to be longer than the execution period T1 of the normal control, which is the control having the lower temperature, in 1 cycle of the high-temperature control and the normal control.

When the normal refrigeration mode is selected for the high-temperature-switched 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 having the higher temperature, to be longer than the execution period T3 of the low-temperature control, which is the control having the 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 with the higher temperature, to be longer than the execution period T5 of the low-temperature control, which is the control with the lower temperature, in 1 cycle of the high-temperature control and the low-temperature control. This enables the temperature of each of the

partitions

23, 24, and 25 to be precisely controlled.

In this case, the control device 40 sets the high-temperature control to the direction of further increasing the temperature of the high-temperature switching sub-section 24 and sets the execution period T6 of the high-temperature control in 1 cycle shorter than the case where the low-temperature chilling mode is not executed and the high-temperature switching mode is executed. In this case, for example, in a state where the compressor 17 is stopped, the controller 40 further increases the air volume of the blower 19 than in a case where the high-temperature switching mode is executed and the normal chilling mode is executed. Thus, the temperature of the high-temperature switching zone 24 is more likely to rise when both the high-temperature switching mode and the low-temperature chilling mode are executed than 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 for each 1 cycle of the high-temperature control in the case where the high-temperature mode and the low-temperature chilling mode are executed simultaneously is set to be shorter than the execution period T2 for each 1 cycle of the high-temperature control in the case where the high-temperature mode is executed without executing the low-temperature chilling mode. Further, as shown in fig. 9 and 8, the execution period T5 for each 1 cycle of the low-temperature control in the case where the high-temperature switching mode and the low-temperature chilling mode are executed simultaneously is set shorter than the execution period T3 for each 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 of the high temperature control and the low temperature control in the case where the high temperature switching mode and the low temperature chilling mode are simultaneously executed is shorter than the period T1+ T2 of 1 cycle in the case where the high temperature switching mode is not executed, that is, the high temperature control and the normal control are alternately executed as shown in fig. 7. Also, the period T5+ T6 of 1 cycle of the high-temperature control and the low-temperature control in the case where the high-temperature switching mode and the low-temperature chilling mode are simultaneously executed is shorter than the period T3+ T4 of 1 cycle in the case where the low-temperature chilling mode is executed without executing the high-temperature switching mode, that is, the normal control and the low-temperature control are alternately executed as shown in fig. 8. As a result, the temperature control inside the high-temperature switching zone 24 and the quench zone 25 can be alternately performed at short intervals, and therefore the internal temperatures of the high-temperature switching zone 24 and the quench 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 items stored in the high-temperature switch compartment 24. In this case, the storage area 402 stores a management control program, for example. Further, the CPU401 executes a management control program, whereby the control device 40 executes management control.

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

The storage detection unit 46 may be configured by, for example, a device that acquires 2-dimensional information such as a camera or a device that acquires 3-dimensional information such as a ToF (Time of Flight) sensor as shown in fig. 11. In the case where the storage detection section 46 is configured by a camera or a TOF sensor, it is desirable that the storage detection section 46 takes the entire high temperature switching segment 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 whether food is stored in the high temperature switching section 24 or whether food is taken out from the high temperature switching section 24 based on the result of the image processing.

The housing detection unit 46 may be configured by a member that detects the presence of an object by reflection or interruption of light or laser light, such as a photoelectric sensor or a laser sensor. 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 compartment 24 when the state of the light or the laser beam output from the storage detection portion 46 is changed from the non-reflected or non-blocked state to the reflected or blocked state. When the state of the light or the laser beam output from the storage detection unit 46 is changed from the state of being reflected or blocked to the state of being not reflected or blocked, 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 of storage detectors may be arranged along the depth direction of the high temperature switch compartment 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 taking in and out of the food or the like over a wide range of the high-temperature switching compartment 24.

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

If the control device 40 does not detect the storage of the food in the high temperature switch compartment 24 (step S11), it repeats step S11. Further, when the storage of the food in the high temperature switch zone 24 is detected (yes in step S11), the control device 40 shifts the process to step S12. The control device 40 executes the storage notification process in step S12. The storage notification process is a process of notifying the user that food is stored in the high-temperature switching compartment 24. The control device 40 notifies the user that food is stored in the high temperature switch compartment 24 by executing the storage notification processing, for example, by making a sound or displaying a display on the operation panel 41.

Next, the control device 40 shifts the process to step S13, and determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the detection of the storage of the food item in the high-temperature switch compartment 24. The predetermined time can be arbitrarily set by the user, for example, on the order of hours to days, depending on the food.

If the predetermined time has not elapsed since the detection of the storage of the food item in the high-temperature switch compartment 24 (no in step S13), the control device 40 repeats step S13 until the predetermined period elapses. Further, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the detection of the storage of the food item in the high temperature switch compartment 24 (yes in step S13), the control device 40 shifts the process to step S14 to execute the attention notifying process.

Note that the notification processing is processing for notifying the user that a predetermined time has elapsed since the food item was stored in the high-temperature switch compartment 24 without being taken out of the high-temperature switch compartment 24. The control device 40 executes the attention notifying process, for example, by making a sound from the operation panel 41 or displaying the sound, thereby notifying the user that a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the food is stored in the high-temperature switching compartment 24.

In this case, the storage notification processing of step S12 and the attention notification processing of step S14 may be displayed on the user' S information terminal 93 via the communication unit 42, for example, such as when food is stored in the high temperature switch zone 24 or when a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the food was stored. In this case, the notification mode may be as follows. That is, for example, a calendar may be displayed on the information terminal 93 of the user, and the date when the food is put in and the date when the food should be taken out may be displayed on the calendar. The date when the food is put in and the date when 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 refrigerating room 11 which is a storage room capable of maintaining a refrigerating temperature zone, and control device 40 which controls supply of cold air to refrigerating room 11. The refrigerating compartment 11 has a high temperature switching section 24. The high temperature switch section 24 is provided in a part or all of the refrigerating compartment 11 and is configured to be switchable between a refrigerating temperature zone and a high temperature zone having a temperature higher than the refrigerating temperature zone. Further, the control device 40 can switch between the normal control and the high-temperature control for the high-temperature switch zone 24. The normal control is a control of supplying cold air to the high temperature switching compartment 24 and maintaining the high temperature switching compartment 24 at the refrigerating temperature zone. The high temperature control is a control for reducing or stopping the supply of the cold air to the high temperature-switching compartment 24 as compared with the time of executing the normal control, or supplying air having a temperature higher than the cold air supplied in the normal control to maintain the high temperature-switching compartment 24 in the high temperature zone.

Accordingly, the refrigerator 10 can switch the high temperature switch section 24 between the section of the refrigerating temperature zone and the section of the high temperature zone. Thus, the high-temperature-switched sub-area 24 can be normally used as a sub-area of the refrigerating temperature zone, and the high-temperature-switched sub-area 24 can be switched to a sub-area of the high-temperature zone as needed. Further, by storing cooked food such as rice or bread in the high temperature switching section 24 switched to the high temperature zone, the user can suppress deterioration of the flavor of the food and store the food in a delicious state.

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

Accordingly, when the normal refrigeration mode is executed, the normal refrigeration section 23 and the high temperature switching section 24 can be used as storage sections of the refrigeration temperature zone. When the high-temperature switching mode is executed, the normal refrigeration section 23 can be used as a storage section of the refrigeration temperature zone, and the high-temperature switching section 24 can be used as a storage section of the high-temperature zone. Therefore, when the high temperature switching mode is executed, the refrigerated product suitable for the storage in the refrigerating temperature zone and, for example, the cooked food suitable for the storage in the high temperature zone can be stored in refrigerating room 11 at the same time. As a result, improvement in user convenience can be achieved.

Also, the refrigerated compartment 11 also has a quench zone 25. The chilling zone 25 is a zone that is provided in the refrigerating chamber 11 in a different zone from the high-temperature switching zone 24 and the normal refrigerating zone 23 and is maintained in a chilling temperature zone lower than the refrigerating temperature zone. Also, the general control includes control to maintain the quench zone 25 at a general quench temperature by supplying cold gas toward 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 chilling mode.

The low-temperature control is control for the quench zone 25 to increase the supply of cold air as compared to when the normal control is performed or to supply cold air of a lower temperature than that supplied in the normal control so as to maintain the quench zone 25 in a low-temperature quench temperature zone lower than the normal quench temperature zone. In turn, the low temperature chilling mode is a mode in which the chilling zone 25 is maintained in a low temperature chilling temperature zone and the normal refrigeration zone 23 is maintained in a refrigeration temperature zone by performing low temperature control.

Accordingly, the refrigerator 10 has a chilling zone 25 maintained at a chilling temperature band lower than the refrigerating temperature band within the refrigerating chamber 11. Furthermore, the refrigerator 10 is able to maintain the quench zone 25 in a lower low temperature quench temperature band than the normal quench temperature band by performing the low temperature quench mode. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, since a plurality of temperature zones are provided in the refrigerating compartment 11, it is possible to store the food in a temperature zone suitable for the stored food.

When the high-temperature switching mode is executed without executing the low-temperature chilling mode, control device 40 executes the high-temperature control without executing the low-temperature control. Accordingly, when only the high temperature switching mode is executed, the control device 40 executes the high temperature control without executing the low temperature control, thereby preventing the high temperature switching zone 24 from being cooled by the low temperature control. As a result, the high-temperature-switching compartment 24 can be maintained at a high temperature zone with high accuracy.

When the high-temperature switching mode is not executed and the low-temperature chilling mode is executed, control device 40 executes the low-temperature control without executing the high-temperature control. Accordingly, in the case where only the low-temperature chilling mode is executed, the control device 40 executes the low-temperature control without executing the high-temperature control, whereby it is possible to prevent the temperature of the chiller partition 25 from being increased due to the high-temperature control. As a result, the interior of quench zone 25 can be maintained at a low quench temperature band with high accuracy.

When both the high-temperature switching mode and the low-temperature chilling mode are executed, the controller 40 alternately executes the high-temperature control and the low-temperature control at a predetermined cycle. Accordingly, the normal refrigeration zone 23, the high temperature switch zone 24, and the chilling zone 25 can be maintained in different temperature zones without partitioning the normal refrigeration zone 23, the high temperature switch zone 24, and the chilling zone 25 by members having heat insulation properties. Thus, the normal refrigeration zone 23, the high-temperature switch zone 24, and the quench zone 25 can be realized with a simple structure and at low cost.

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

Accordingly, in the case where both the high-temperature switching mode and the low-temperature chilling mode are executed, the refrigerator 10 can perform the temperature control of the high-temperature switching zone 24 by the high-temperature control more precisely by making the execution period per 1 cycle of the less-skilled high-temperature control longer than the execution period of the low-temperature control.

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, and controls the low-temperature control in a direction to further reduce the temperature of the chiller section 25 and makes the execution period of the low-temperature control in 1 cycle shorter than the high-temperature control, as compared with 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 executed in a short time. Therefore, when the high-temperature switch zone 24 is maintained in the high-temperature zone and the quench zone 25 is maintained at the low-temperature quench temperature, both of them can be temperature-controlled with high accuracy.

Further, when both the high-temperature 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 cycles, and controls the high-temperature control in a direction to further increase the temperature of the high-temperature switching sub-section 24 and shortens the execution period of the high-temperature control in 1 cycle to be shorter than the low-temperature control, as compared with a case where the high-temperature mode is executed without executing the low-temperature chilling mode. This makes it possible to alternately and repeatedly execute the low-temperature control and the high-temperature control in a short time. Therefore, when the high-temperature switch zone 24 is maintained in the high-temperature zone and the quench zone 25 is maintained at the low-temperature quench temperature, both of them can be temperature-controlled with high accuracy.

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

Further, when the low-temperature chilling mode is executed, the control device 40 executes control for reducing the air blowing amount of the blower 19 as compared with the case where the low-temperature chilling mode is not executed. In this case, the rotation speed of the compressor 17 is preferably increased as compared to that in the normal refrigeration mode. Accordingly, since cold air that is cooler than cold air supplied in the normal chilling mode can be supplied to the chilling partition 25, the inside of the chilling partition 25 can be easily maintained in the low-temperature chilling temperature zone.

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

(modification example)

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 as 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 of the above embodiment. The heat-insulating box 60 is formed of a box having an open front surface, and is formed 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 includes a refrigerating chamber 51 as a storage chamber for storing stored materials. Further, the refrigerator 50 includes a plurality of shelves 37. Like the

shelves

31, 32, 33, and 34 of the above-described embodiment, each shelf 37 vertically partitions the inside of the refrigerator compartment 51.

In the present embodiment, the entire refrigerating compartment 51 is set as the high-temperature switching section. Therefore, as shown in fig. 15, the refrigerator 50 of the present embodiment can switch the temperature in the refrigerating chamber 51 between a refrigerating temperature zone and a high temperature zone. In this case, when the normal refrigeration mode is executed, the control device 40 continues the normal control for a certain period of time as shown in fig. 6. In this way, the entire inside of refrigerating room 51 is maintained in a refrigerating temperature zone 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 constant cycle as shown in fig. 6. Thereby, the entire inside of refrigerating room 51 is maintained in a high temperature zone set in the 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 merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The above-described new embodiments can be implemented in various other ways, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The present embodiment and modifications thereof 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

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 cold air to the storage chamber,

the storage chamber has a high temperature switching section which is provided in a part or the whole of the storage chamber and is 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:

normal control for supplying cold air to the high temperature switching section to maintain the high temperature switching section at the refrigerating temperature zone; and

and a high temperature control for maintaining the high temperature switching section in the high temperature zone by reducing or stopping supply of cold air or supplying air having a temperature higher than that of cold air supplied by the normal control to the high temperature switching section than that in the normal control.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1,

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

the storage chamber further includes a normal refrigeration section provided in the storage chamber in a section different from the high-temperature switching section and maintained in the refrigeration temperature zone,

the control device can switch execution:

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

and a high temperature switching mode in which the high temperature switching section is maintained in the high temperature zone and the normal refrigeration section is maintained in the refrigeration temperature zone by performing the high temperature control.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2,

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 refrigeration section and maintained in a chilling temperature zone lower than the refrigeration temperature zone,

the general control includes a control to maintain the quench zone in a general quench temperature band by supplying cold gas to the quench zone,

the control device can also execute low-temperature control as follows: for the chilling partition, increasing supply of cold air or supplying cold air having a lower temperature than the cold air supplied by the normal control than when the normal control is performed, thereby maintaining the chilling partition in a low-temperature chilling temperature zone lower than the normal chilling temperature zone,

the control device may further execute a low-temperature chilling mode including: maintaining the chiller zone at the low-temperature chiller temperature band and the normal refrigeration zone at the refrigeration temperature band by performing the low-temperature control.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3,

the control device executes the high temperature control without executing the low temperature control when the high temperature switching mode is executed without executing the low temperature chilling mode.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 3 or 4,

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

6. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 3 to 5,

the control device alternately executes the high temperature control and the low temperature control at predetermined cycles when executing both the high temperature switching mode and the low temperature chilling mode.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 6,

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

8. The refrigerator according to claim 6 or 7,

the control device alternately executes the high temperature control and the low temperature control in different predetermined cycles 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 chilling zone and makes an execution period of the low temperature control in 1 cycle shorter than the high temperature control, as compared with a case where the low temperature chilling mode is executed without executing the high temperature switching mode.

9. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 6 to 8,

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 by 1 cycle in a direction to further increase the temperature of the high temperature switching zone as compared with a case where executing the high temperature switching mode without executing the low temperature chilling mode.

10. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 3 to 9,

further comprises a blower for supplying cold 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 executes control for increasing the air volume of the blower compared with a case where the high-temperature switching mode is not executed.

11. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 3 to 10,

further comprises a blower for supplying cold 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 execute the control of reducing the air volume of the blower compared with the case of not executing the low-temperature chilling mode.