CN115956186A

CN115956186A - Refrigerator with a door

Info

Publication number: CN115956186A
Application number: CN202180050214.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 河杉翔伍; 浅川直也
Original assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Current assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-09-15
Filing date: 2021-08-05
Publication date: 2023-04-11
Also published as: WO2022059375A1; JP2022048437A; JP7474927B2; JP2024071754A

Abstract

The refrigerator of the present invention is characterized by comprising: a vegetable room; a vegetable container disposed in the vegetable compartment; and a humidifying box provided on a wall surface of the vegetable container, wherein a moisture absorbing and releasing member is provided inside the humidifying box, condensation occurs between the humidifying box and the wall surface, a receiving portion for allowing the moisture absorbing and releasing member to absorb moisture generated by the condensation is provided at a lower portion of the humidifying box, and the moisture absorbed by the moisture absorbing and releasing member is discharged from a gap provided at an upper portion of the humidifying box into the vegetable container.

Description

Refrigerator with a door

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a refrigerator including a humidifying box.

Background

Patent document 1 discloses a refrigerator that discharges moisture in a vegetable box to the outside when the refrigerator is in a high humidity state, and ensures that the moisture in the vegetable box does not run off when the refrigerator is in a low humidity state.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2014-800

Disclosure of Invention

In the refrigerator disclosed in patent document 1, when the refrigerator is in a low humidity state, moisture in the vegetable box is prevented from being lost, and the refrigerator cannot be humidified in the low humidity state.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a refrigerator capable of humidifying the inside of a vegetable container of a vegetable room.

The refrigerator of the present invention is characterized by comprising: a vegetable room; a vegetable container disposed in the vegetable compartment; and a humidifying box provided on a wall surface of the vegetable container, wherein a moisture absorbing and releasing member is provided in the humidifying box, dew condensation occurs between the humidifying box and the wall surface, a receiving portion for allowing the moisture absorbing and releasing member to absorb moisture generated by the dew condensation is provided in a lower portion of the humidifying box, and the moisture absorbed by the moisture absorbing and releasing member is discharged from a gap provided in an upper portion of the humidifying box into the vegetable container.

The refrigerator of the present invention can absorb moisture generated by dew condensation between the humidifying box and the wall surface of the vegetable container and discharge the moisture to the inside of the vegetable container. Therefore, the inside of the vegetable container can be humidified.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a vegetable compartment of the refrigerator according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the humidifying cartridge of embodiment 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a container for a vegetable compartment of a refrigerator according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the storage container when the humidification cartridge of embodiment 1 is attached.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the storage container when the humidification cartridge of embodiment 1 is attached.

Detailed Description

(knowledge and the like on which the present invention is based)

At the time of the present invention, the inventors have conceived a refrigerator that employs a technique capable of preventing rotting due to dew condensation while maintaining a high humidity state even when vegetables and fruits are stored in a vegetable box. Such a refrigerator is provided with a moisture-sensing and-transmitting device on a vegetable box, for example. The moisture sensing and permeating device is used to exhaust the moisture from the vegetable box to outside in case of high humidity state and to ensure the moisture in the vegetable box will not escape in case of low humidity state.

When the inside of the container containing many vegetables and the like is in a high-humidity state, the method of discharging moisture to the outside can suppress the risk of putrefaction due to dew condensation, which is useful. However, when the interior of the small-volume container for vegetables or the like is in a low humidity state, it is impossible to increase the humidity. Therefore, the inventors found that there is a problem that vegetables and the like become dry and the quality is degraded, and have arrived at the subject of the present invention in order to solve the problem.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a refrigerator that maintains the inside of a storage container in a high humidity state while suppressing the risk of putrefaction due to dew condensation.

The embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, unnecessary detailed description may sometimes be omitted. For example, detailed descriptions of known matters or repetitive descriptions of substantially the same structure may be omitted. This is to avoid over-verbosity in the description that follows, in order to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

Furthermore, the drawings and the following description are provided to facilitate a full understanding of the present invention by those skilled in the art, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

(embodiment mode 1)

Embodiment 1 will be described below with reference to fig. 1 to 6.

[1-1. Structure ]

In fig. 1 and 2, a heat-insulated box 2 of a refrigerator 1 is mainly composed of an outer box 3 using a steel plate; an inner case 4 molded from resin such as ABS; the space between the outer casing 3 and the inner casing 4 is filled with a foamed heat insulating material such as hard foamed urethane, and is divided into a plurality of storage chambers while insulating the space from the surroundings.

The refrigerator 1 includes a refrigerating chamber 5, a switching chamber 6, an ice making chamber 7, a vegetable chamber 8, and a freezing chamber 9.

A refrigerating compartment 5 as a first storage is provided in the uppermost part. A switching chamber 6 as a fourth storage chamber and an ice making chamber 7 as a fifth storage chamber are provided in parallel in the left and right in the lower portion of the refrigerating chamber 5. A vegetable compartment 8 as a second storage compartment is provided below the switching compartment 6 and the ice making compartment 7. A freezing chamber 9 as a third storage chamber is disposed at the lowermost portion.

The lower limit of the temperature at which freezing does not occur for cold storage is usually 1 to 5 ℃ in the refrigerating

room

5, and 2 to 7 ℃ in the vegetable room 8, which is the same as or slightly higher than the refrigerating room 5. The freezing chamber 9 is set in a freezing temperature range, and is usually set at-22 ℃ to-15 ℃ for cryopreservation. The freezing chamber 9 may be set to a low temperature of, for example, -30 ℃ or-25 ℃ in order to improve the frozen storage state. The switching chamber 6 can be switched from the refrigerating temperature range to a temperature range set in advance between the freezing temperature ranges, in addition to the refrigerating temperature range set at 1 to 5 ℃, the temperature range for vegetables set at 2 to 7 ℃, and the freezing temperature range set at-22 ℃ to-15 ℃ in general. The switching chamber 6 is a storage chamber provided in parallel with the ice making chamber 7 and including an independent door, and in many cases includes a drawer type door.

In the present embodiment, the switching room 6 is used as a storage room including a refrigerating temperature range and a freezing temperature range, but the refrigerating room 5 and the vegetable room 8 may be used as a storage room exclusively switching only the temperature range between the refrigerating and freezing temperatures, and the freezing room 9 may be used as a storage room. Alternatively, the storage chamber may be fixed to a specific temperature range.

The top surface of the heat insulating box 2 has a shape in which a recess is provided in a stepped manner toward the rear surface of the refrigerator 1. A machine chamber 2a is formed in the stepped recess. The machine chamber 2a houses high-pressure side components of the refrigeration cycle, such as the compressor 10 and a dryer (not shown) for removing moisture. That is, machine chamber 2a in which compressor 10 is disposed is formed to fit into the rear area of the uppermost portion in refrigerating chamber 5.

The machine room may be provided in a rear region of the storage room at the lowermost portion of the heat-insulating box 2 as in the conventional art. Refrigerator 1 may have a so-called intermediate cooling structure in which the arrangement of freezer compartment 9 and vegetable compartment 8 is replaced.

Cooling chamber 11 for generating cold air is provided inside vegetable chamber 8 and freezing chamber 9. Between vegetable compartment 8 and cooling compartment 11 or between freezing compartment 9 and cooling compartment 11, a conveyance air duct (not shown) for conveying cold air to each compartment having heat insulation properties and a rear partition wall 12 configured to partition each compartment into heat insulation properties are formed.

A cooler 13 is disposed in the cooling chamber 11. A cooling fan 14 is disposed in an upper space of the cooler 13, and blows the cold air cooled by the cooler 13 to the refrigerating compartment 5, the switching compartment 6, the ice making compartment 7, the vegetable compartment 8, and the freezing compartment 9 by a forced convection method. A radiant heater 15 made of glass tube is provided in a lower space of the cooler 13 for removing frost or ice attached to the cooler 13 and its periphery at the time of cooling. Further, a drain pan 16 for receiving defrosting water generated during defrosting is provided at a lower portion thereof. A drain pipe 17 is provided to penetrate from the deepest part to the outside of the storage. An evaporation pan 18 is provided outside the reservoir on the downstream side thereof.

In the vegetable compartment 8 are disposed: a lower storage container 20 mounted on a frame attached to the drawer door 19 of the vegetable compartment 8, and an upper storage container 21 mounted on the lower storage container 20.

An air passage for cool air discharged from discharge port 23 for vegetable compartment 8 formed in rear partition wall 12 is provided between upper storage container 21 and first partition wall 22 a. A vegetable compartment heater 24 for adjusting the temperature in the vegetable compartment 8 is disposed in the vicinity of the discharge port 23.

A space is also provided between the lower storage container 20 and the second partition wall 22b below the lower storage container 20, and a cool air passage is formed. A suction port 25 for the vegetable compartment 8 is provided in the vegetable compartment 8, and the suction port 25 cools the inside of the vegetable compartment 8 and returns the cooled air after heat exchange to the cooler 13. A temperature sensor 26 is provided in the vicinity of the suction port 25.

For purposes of illustration, fig. 2 and 3 schematically illustrate the humidification cartridge 28.

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the humidifying box 28. The humidifying box 28 includes a humidifying box front frame 37, a humidifying box rear frame 38, and a humidifying sheet 39 as an example of a moisture absorbing and releasing member. In the present embodiment, the moisture absorbing and releasing member refers to a member having a function of absorbing moisture and a function of releasing moisture. The humidifying box 28 may be configured by integrally forming a humidifying box front frame 37 and a humidifying box rear frame 38. In addition, the humidifying sheet 39 is provided inside the humidifying box 28.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the vegetable room. The humidifying sheet 39 has an absorbing portion 29, a discharging portion 30, and a conveying portion 31. The humidifying sheet 39 is integrally composed of the absorbing portion 29, the discharging portion 30, and the conveying portion 31. The humidifying box 28 is provided inside a wall surface defining the lower storage container 20. For example, the humidifying box 28 is provided on a wall surface to which the cool air discharged from the discharge port 23 is blown, among inner wall surfaces of the lower storage container 20. The outlet 23 is provided on the back surface of the vegetable compartment 8, and the humidifying box 28 is provided on the back surface of the lower storage container 20. The humidification cartridge 28 may be provided outside the wall surface of the vegetable container, not only inside the wall surface of the vegetable container.

The absorption portion 29 functions to absorb and store moisture generated by condensation in the lower storage container 20. Dew condensation occurs, for example, between the wall surface of the lower storage container 20 and the humidification cartridge 28. The lower side of the rear surface inside the lower storage container 20 is cooled to a temperature lower than the dew point temperature of the air in the lower storage container 20 by the cold air discharged from the discharge port 23, and dew condensation is likely to occur. The absorption portion 29 is provided below the back surface of the lower storage container 20 so as to absorb moisture generated by the condensation. In order to facilitate absorption of moisture generated by condensation, the absorption portion 29 is made of a fibrous material such as a nonwoven fabric, for example, and has a large surface area.

The drain 30 functions to drain the absorbed moisture into the lower storage container 20. Dry cold air discharged from the discharge port 23 is introduced into the lower storage container 20 through the gap between the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20. Therefore, the atmosphere around the upper side of the rear surface inside the lower storage container 20 has a lower humidity than the atmosphere around the absorption unit 29 and the transport unit 31. The drain 30 is provided on the upper side of the rear surface inside the lower storage container 20 so as to be able to drain the absorbed moisture. In addition, in order to easily discharge moisture, the discharge portion 30 is made of a fibrous material such as a nonwoven fabric, for example, and has a large surface area.

The transport unit 31 functions to move the moisture absorbed and accumulated in the absorption unit 29 to the discharge unit 30 by capillary force. Here, the capillary force is a force for generating a capillary phenomenon. The transport section 31 is provided at a position connecting the absorption section 29 and the discharge section 30. The conveying unit 31 is made of a fiber material such as a nonwoven fabric.

The humidifying box front frame 37 functions to protect the humidifying pieces 39. The humidifying box front frame 37 includes an opening portion 40. The humidifying box front frame 37 is made of resin.

The opening 40 is provided to discharge the absorbed moisture to the inside of the lower storage container 20. The opening 40 is provided so as to face the drain 30 on the upper side of the humidification cartridge front frame 37. The opening 40 is formed by a lattice-like gap and is formed by a plurality of ribs.

The humidifying-box rear frame 38 functions to protect the humidifying sheet 39, similarly to the humidifying-box front frame 37. The humidifier box back frame 38 includes an abutment 42. The humidifying box rear frame 38 is made of resin.

The receiving portion 42 is provided to allow the humidifying element 39 to absorb moisture generated by condensation in the lower storage container 20. The receiving portion 42 is provided at a lower portion of the humidifying box rear frame 38. The receiving portion 42 conveys the moisture generated by condensation on the inner wall surface of the lower storage container 20 to the absorbing portion 29. The receiving portion 42 is formed of a plurality of ribs having an inclination in the vertical direction. Each rib contacts with the inner side wall surface of the lower storage container 20. The receiving portion 42 may be formed of at least one rib having an inclination. Inclined means having an angle with respect to the horizontal.

In fig. 4 and 5, a specific structure of the humidifying cartridge 28 will be explained. Fig. 4 shows a mounting structure of the humidifying box 28 to the lower storage container 20.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the lower storage container 20. The humidifying box front frame 37 includes a pressing portion 33, an insertion portion 35, and a claw portion 41.

The push-down portion 33 is provided to be pushed down when the humidification case 28 is attached to the lower storage container 20 or when the humidification case 28 is detached from the lower storage container. The hold-down portion 33 is provided on the upper side of the humidifying cartridge front frame 37.

Two mounting holes 32 are provided in the upper portion of the lower storage container 20, and the claw portions 41 of the humidifying cartridges 28 are fitted into and fixed to the holes 32. At this time, in order to fix the lower side of the humidifying box 28, the insertion portion 35 of the humidifying box 28 is fitted into the groove portion 34 provided in advance on the back side of the bottom surface of the lower storage container 20. With these configurations, the operation of the user for removing and reattaching the humidification case 28 for cleaning or the like can be simplified, and the positional displacement of the humidification case 28 can be prevented.

Fig. 5 is a schematic view of the humidifying box 28 mounted on the lower storage container 20. A gap 36 for allowing air containing moisture inside the lower storage container 20 to flow is provided between the wall surface of the lower storage container 20 and the humidification cartridge 28.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the humidifying box 28 mounted on the lower storage container 20. The ribs constituting the receiving portion 42 are provided so as to be in surface contact with the inner wall of the lower storage container 20. This can suppress the risk of moisture generated by condensation in the lower storage container 20 from flowing into the bottom surface of the lower storage container 20.

[1-2. Actions ]

The operation and action of the refrigerator 1 configured as described above will be described below.

The operation of the humidification cartridges 28 of the refrigerator 1 for absorbing, moving, and discharging moisture generated by condensation will be described with reference to fig. 2 to 6. First, the operation of the refrigeration cycle will be described. The refrigeration cycle is operated based on a temperature set in the refrigerator and a signal from a control board (not shown) to perform a cooling operation. The high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged by the operation of the compressor 10 is condensed and liquefied to some extent in a condenser (not shown). Further, condensation and liquefaction are performed while preventing condensation of the refrigerator 1 via a side surface or a rear surface of the refrigerator 1, a refrigerant pipe (not shown) attached to a front opening of the refrigerator 1, and the like, and the condensed liquid reaches a capillary tube (not shown). Then, the pressure in the capillary tube is reduced while exchanging heat with a suction pipe (not shown) leading to the compressor 10, and the refrigerant is changed into a low-temperature low-pressure liquid refrigerant and reaches the cooler 13.

Here, the low-temperature low-pressure liquid refrigerant exchanges heat with the air in each storage compartment sent by the operation of the cooling fan 14, and the refrigerant in the cooler 13 evaporates and gasifies. At this time, cold air for cooling each storage compartment is generated in the cooling compartment 11.

The low-temperature cold air generated in cooling compartment 11 is adjusted by cooling damper 27, and the cold air is branched from cooling fan 14 to refrigerating compartment 5, switching compartment 6, ice making compartment 7, vegetable compartment 8, and freezing compartment 9 by using air passage or cooling damper 27 and cooled to the respective target temperature ranges.

The temperature of the air cooled to a temperature of usually-20 ℃ or lower in the cooler 13 rises to 2 to 7 ℃ on average in the vegetable room 8. Therefore, the average relative humidity of the air outside the lower storage container 20 and the upper storage container 21 in the vegetable room 8 is about 15 to 29% rh and dried. On the other hand, since the vegetables in the lower storage container 20 and the upper storage container 21 are physiologically active and the moisture is continuously evaporated during the storage, the humidity of the air in the lower storage container 20 and the upper storage container 21 becomes higher. The dry air at the outer peripheries of the lower storage container 20 and the upper storage container 21 and the high-humidity air inside the lower storage container 20 and the upper storage container 21 are replaced from the gap between the first partition wall 22a and the upper storage container 21 and the gap between the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20. Therefore, a part of the moisture is discharged from the lower storage container 20 and the upper storage container 21.

If the humidity in the lower storage container 20 becomes too high, dew condensation occurs, and if moisture generated by the dew condensation comes into contact with vegetables or the like, there is a risk that the vegetables or the like may rot. On the other hand, if the humidity in the lower storage container 20 becomes too low, there is a risk that the vegetables will be quickly evaporated and will be wilted. In consideration of the balance between the two risks, the 90 to 95% rh is set as a storage humidity suitable for a large amount of vegetables. In the present embodiment, the humidifying box 28 is provided to absorb and accumulate moisture generated by dew condensation in the lower storage container 20 in advance, thereby suppressing the risk of putrefaction. When the lower storage container 20 is in a low humidity state, the moisture stored in the lower storage container 20 is absorbed and discharged. Therefore, the risk of putrefaction due to dew condensation can be suppressed while maintaining the inside of the lower storage container 20 in a high humidity state.

In fig. 2, the humidification cartridge 28 absorbs moisture generated by dew condensation in the lower storage container 20 by the absorption portion 29, moves the absorbed moisture by the transfer portion 31, and discharges the moved moisture by the discharge portion 30. In fig. 6, the receiving portion 42 is formed of a plurality of ribs, and the tips of the ribs are disposed so as to be in surface contact with the inner wall of the lower storage container 20. Thus, the dew condensation occurring on the wall surface of the lower storage container 20 flows down from the wall surface, and flows into the humidifying sheet 39 through the ribs of the receiving portion 42. In fig. 6, 3 ribs are arranged in the vertical direction, and the second and third ribs receive dew condensation not received by the first rib.

Next, an operation of using the humidifying box 28, absorbing and storing moisture generated by condensation in the absorbing portion 29, transferring the absorbed moisture to the discharging portion 30 in the transfer portion 31, and discharging the transferred moisture in the discharging portion 30 will be described. In the case where vegetables are put into the lower receiving container 20, moisture is discharged from the vegetables every time a certain period of time passes. At this time, if a surface having a temperature lower than the dew point exists among the surfaces defining the lower storage container 20, dew condensation occurs on the surface.

The surface on which condensation occurs varies slightly depending on the design position of vegetable room 8, the operating conditions of the refrigerator, and the like. In this case, the cold air discharged from the discharge port 23 can be blown to a part of the rear surface of the lower storage container 20 which is relatively low in temperature, and condensation occurs. The upper side of the lower storage container 20 having a low density of vegetables is brought into a low humidity state by the influence of the intrusion of the dry cold air discharged from the discharge port 23. Therefore, the lower side of the lower storage container 20 having a high density of vegetables has a higher humidity than the upper side of the lower storage container 20, and therefore dew condensation is expected to occur on the lower side of the rear surface of the lower storage container 20.

At this time, the moisture generated by dew condensation in the lower storage container 20 can be absorbed and accumulated by providing the absorption portion 29 of the humidifying box 28 in the portion where dew condensation occurs. The moisture that has flowed into the humidifying sheet 39 through the absorbing portion 29 and absorbed and stored is moved to the drain portion 30 provided on the upper side of the back surface of the lower storage container 20 by the capillary force of the transporting portion 31. The periphery of the discharge portion 30 is also affected by the intrusion of the dry cold air discharged from the discharge port 23 as compared with the absorption portion 29 and the transport portion 31, and the convective low-humidity air flows therethrough. Therefore, the moisture moved to the drain portion 30 is discharged from the humidifying cartridge 28 here. In particular, the smaller the number of vegetables in the lower storage container 20, the greater the difference in humidity between the air in the lower storage container 20 and the atmosphere around the discharge portion 30. Therefore, the moisture is more actively discharged, and as a result, the lower storage container 20 can maintain a high humidity state without being affected by the amount of vegetables.

[1-3. Effect, etc. ]

As described above, in the present embodiment, the refrigerator 1 includes the vegetable compartment 8, the lower storage container 20, and the humidifying box 28. The humidifying sheet provided inside the humidifying cartridge 28 is integrally constituted by the absorption portion 29, the transport portion 31, and the discharge portion 30. When the lower storage container 20 is in a high humidity state due to a large amount of vegetables, first, moisture generated by condensation on the lower side of the back surface inside the lower storage container 20 is absorbed and stored by the absorption portion 29. Subsequently, the moisture absorbed by the transport unit 31 is moved to the discharge unit 30 by capillary force. Finally, when the lower storage container 20 is in a low humidity state, the moisture is discharged from the discharge portion 30 into the lower storage container 20.

In this case, the opening 40 is disposed above the lower storage container 20 and is formed by a lattice-like gap formed by a plurality of ribs. Thus, even when vegetables are stored in the lower storage container 20, the vegetables can be prevented from being placed near the drain portion 30, the efficiency of draining moisture can be maintained, and the vegetables can be prevented from contacting the humidifying sheet 39, and the humidifying sheet 39 can be prevented from being soiled, damaged, or the like.

The receiving portion 42 is configured such that a plurality of vertical ribs contact the inner side of the wall surface of the lower storage container 20. The moisture generated by condensation on the wall surface flows along the wall surface of the lower storage container 20. Even if the upper rib leaks moisture, the lower rib thereof can receive the moisture. The absorption efficiency of the moisture generated by condensation can be improved by moving the moisture from the wall surface of the lower storage container 20 to the absorption portion 29. This can prevent the vegetables from rotting due to water accumulated on the bottom surface of the lower storage container 20 due to the leak condensation. Further, since the receiving portion 42 is formed by a plurality of ribs, even when the humidification cartridge 28 is mounted on the lower storage container 20, warping of the wall surface of the lower storage container 20 occurring during molding can be easily corrected. This facilitates the contact of the ribs of the receiving portion 42 with the wall surface of the lower storage container 20, thereby improving the absorption efficiency.

According to the above-described effects, when the lower storage container 20 is in a low humidity state due to the intrusion of dry cold air or the reduction in the number of vegetables, moisture is supplied from the humidifying box 28 into the lower storage container 20 while maintaining the discharge efficiency, regardless of the storage condition of the vegetables. Therefore, the lower storage container 20 can maintain a high humidity state regardless of whether the amount of vegetables is large or small. In addition, the risk of rotting of the vegetables due to dew condensation can be suppressed.

In order to maintain freshness of vegetables, it is necessary to improve the sealing degree of the lower storage container 20. Here, the sealing degree refers to the degree of sealing. In order to improve the sealing performance of the lower storage container 20, if the gap between the lower storage container 20 and the upper storage container 21 is reduced, the replacement of dry cold air outside the lower storage container 20 and high-humidity air inside the lower storage container 20 is reduced. Therefore, dew condensation is likely to occur in the lower storage container 20. On the other hand, the humidification cartridge 28 can absorb moisture generated by dew condensation in the lower storage container 20, and therefore, the gap between the lower storage container 20 and the upper storage container 21 can be further reduced. Therefore, the sealing degree of the lower storage container 20 of the vegetable room 8 can be improved as compared with the conventional art, and the humidity in the lower storage container 20 can be made higher than in the conventional art.

In the present embodiment, the lower storage container 20 has been described as an example of the location where the humidifying box 28 is provided, but the location where the humidifying box 28 is provided is not limited to the lower storage container 20. As another example, the upper storage container 21 may be used.

This allows the moisture generated by condensation in the upper storage container 21 to be absorbed by the absorption portion 29 and to be discharged into the upper storage container 21 by the discharge portion 30. Therefore, the inside of the upper storage container 21 can be kept in a high humidity state, and the risk of putrefaction due to dew condensation can be suppressed.

(other embodiments)

As described above, embodiment 1 is explained as an example of the technique disclosed in the present application. However, the technique of the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to an embodiment in which a change, a replacement, an addition, an omission, or the like is made. Further, each of the components described in embodiment 1 may be combined to form a new embodiment.

Therefore, other embodiments are exemplified below.

In embodiment 1, the vegetable compartment has been described as an example of the location where the humidification case 28 is provided, but the location where the humidification case 28 is provided is not limited to the vegetable compartment. As another example, another storage chamber such as a refrigerator or freezer may be used. In addition, not only vegetables but also fruits or rice may be stored in the vegetable room.

In embodiment 1, a nonwoven fabric is described as an example of a material constituting the absorbent part 29. The absorption portion 29 may be a porous body capable of absorbing more water generated by condensation. Therefore, the absorbent member 29 is not limited to a fibrous material such as a nonwoven fabric. The absorption portion 29 is formed of a porous body, and has a large surface area, and can absorb and accumulate a large amount of water.

Therefore, a large amount of dew condensation water that may be generated when a large amount of vegetables is present can be absorbed, and the effect of suppressing the risk of dew condensation can be improved. Also, when the vegetables are reduced, it is helpful to increase the amount of moisture discharged from the discharging part 30, and it is easy to cope with the variation of the amount of vegetables. Accordingly, the time period in which the inside of the storage container can be kept in a high humidity state is increased, and therefore, the freshness of the vegetables can be maintained for a longer period of time.

In embodiment 1, a nonwoven fabric is described as an example of a material constituting the conveying section 31. The transport unit 31 may be any porous body that can transport the moisture absorbed by the absorption unit 29 to the discharge unit 30 by capillary force. Therefore, the conveying unit 31 is not limited to a fiber material such as nonwoven fabric. Since the conveying section 31 is formed of a porous body, a large amount of moisture absorbed by the absorbing section 29 can be moved to the discharging section 30 by the capillary force of the porous body.

Therefore, even when condensation occurs continuously, the moisture absorbed by the absorption portion 29 can be continuously moved. This can improve the absorption performance of the absorption portion 29 and suppress the risk of dew condensation in the storage container.

The member constituting the transport unit 31 may be a material having anisotropy in the direction in which moisture moves from the absorption unit 29 to the discharge unit 30. Since the transport unit 31 is made of an anisotropic material, the moisture moving in the transport unit 31 flows in a certain direction, and the moisture can be rapidly moved to the discharge unit 30 as a destination of movement.

Therefore, even when the moisture absorbed by the absorption portion 29 is excessive, the moisture can be promptly supplied to the discharge portion 30. This can improve the storage durability of the absorption portion 29, and can suppress the risk of moisture generated by condensation falling into the storage container in response to an increase or decrease in the number of vegetables.

The conveying unit 31 may be formed of a groove. This allows the water absorbed by the absorption portion 29 to move by the capillary force of the groove. Further, since the water can be moved only by providing the groove on the wall surface of the storage container, the trouble of providing a new member can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

In embodiment 1, a nonwoven fabric is described as an example of a material constituting the drain portion 30. The drain portion 30 may be a porous body that can drain more water generated by condensation. Therefore, the discharge unit 30 is not limited to a fiber material such as a nonwoven fabric. Since the discharge portion 30 is formed of a porous body, the surface area becomes large, and a large amount of moisture can be discharged.

Therefore, when the low humidity in the container is generated due to the fluctuation of the vegetable amount and the inflow of the dry cold air, a large amount of moisture can be discharged in a short time. This can suppress drying of vegetables and the like in the storage container, and can maintain freshness.

The cool air entering the storage container is air that is drier than the air in the storage container, and the moisture is discharged from the discharge portion 30, whereby the dry air flowing in can be humidified. Therefore, the contact of the dry air with the vegetables and the like can be suppressed, and the freshness of the vegetables and the like can be maintained for a long time. In addition, in order to improve the discharge performance of the discharge portion 30, the discharge portion 30 is provided in the inflow portion of the cold air, particularly, in a portion where the cold air flows into a turbulent flow, so that the discharge performance can be further improved.

In embodiment 1, the humidifying sheet 39 including the absorbing portion 29, the transporting portion 31, and the discharging portion 30 is described as an example of the moisture absorbing and releasing member. The absorbent portion 29, the transport portion 31, and the discharge portion 30 of the humidifying sheet 39 may be integrally formed of the same material. This simplifies the structure, compared with the case where the absorbing portion 29, the conveying portion 31, and the discharging portion 30 are made of different materials and different structures. Therefore, the number of assembly steps can be reduced, and cost reduction can be expected.

Further, the above embodiments are intended to exemplify the technique of the present invention, and various modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, and the like can be made within the scope of the claims and the equivalent thereof.

Industrial applicability

The present invention absorbs moisture generated by dew condensation in the storage container into the humidifying box and discharges the moisture into the storage container at a certain efficiency, thereby not only suppressing vegetable rot caused by dew condensation, but also maintaining the humidity in the storage container at a high humidity, so that the present invention can be applied not only to a refrigerator for home use or business use or a vegetable-dedicated storage, but also to distribution and storage applications requiring high-humidity preservation including articles other than vegetables.

Description of the reference numerals

1. Refrigerator with a door

8. Vegetable room

20. Lower layer storage container

21. Upper layer storage container

23. Discharge port

28. Humidification box

29. Absorption part

30. Discharge part

31. Conveying part

32. Hole part

33. Press the lower part

34. Trough part

35. Insertion part

36. Gap part

37. Front frame of humidifying box

38. Rear frame of humidification box

39 humidifying sheet (moisture absorption and releasing component)

40 opening part

41 claw part

42 a socket portion.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, comprising:

a vegetable room;

a vegetable container disposed in the vegetable room; and

a humidifying box arranged on the wall surface of the vegetable container,

a moisture absorption and release component is arranged in the humidification box,

dew condensation occurs between the humidifying box and the wall surface,

a receiving part for allowing the moisture absorbing and releasing member to absorb moisture generated by the dew condensation is provided at a lower part of the humidifying box,

the moisture absorbed by the moisture absorbing/releasing member is discharged into the vegetable container through a gap provided in an upper portion of the humidification case.

2. A refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the receiving part is composed of a plurality of ribs which are arranged in the vertical direction and have inclination.

3. A refrigerator as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that:

the vegetable compartment has an outlet port for discharging cold air,

the humidifying box is arranged on a wall surface on the inner side wall surface of the vegetable container, on which cold air discharged from the discharge port can be blown.