JP2000283646A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator capable of storing vegetables for a long period without decreasing freshness of the vegetables. SOLUTION: A humidity control plate 23 made of a porous ceramic material is provided on from the bottom to an upper part of the rear of e.g. a vegetable room 8, and an upper part of the humidity control plate 23 is extended to an upper part of the rear of a cooling device 11A provided on a cooling-air generating room 10A above the vegetable room 8, and a heat-insulating material 25 for preventing the humidity control plate 23 from freezing is provided between the humidity control plate 23 and the cooling device 11A. Thereby the structure can lead defrosting-generated water flowing down from the cooling device 11A to the vegetable room 8 at a time of defrosting by absorption to the humidity control plate 23 and retain the inside of the refrigerating room 8 in high humidity.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator and, more particularly, to an apparatus for storing vegetables in a fresh state for a long time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A refrigerator is provided with a vegetable compartment for storing fruits and vegetables, and a vegetable case which can be taken in and out of the refrigerator (with the door). By the way, in order to store vegetables for a long period of time, it is necessary to keep the inside of the vegetable case at high humidity (around 90%), but the refrigerator has a cooler for generating cool air, Moisture is condensed and frozen on the surface of the cooler in the process of circulating cool air, and is discharged outside the refrigerator during defrosting, so that the interior of the refrigerator is always dry. Therefore, in a conventional refrigerator, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, a lid 22 for sealing the vegetable case 21 is provided in the vegetable room, or the humidity control plate 30 made of a hygroscopic resin material is provided on the lid 22.
And the humidity in the vegetable case 21 is adjusted.

[0003]

By the way, the lid which covers the vegetable case has both a heat insulating partition for dividing the upper refrigerator compartment and the lower vegetable compartment, and a special one as shown in FIG. In some cases, the lid 22 is provided. However, in the former case, it is difficult to keep the inside of the vegetable case at high humidity because it is structurally difficult to seal the vegetable case. In addition, even in the latter case, the moisture emitted from the vegetables is used to adjust the humidity in the vegetable case, so when the amount of stored vegetables is small, the humidity becomes insufficient, and the freshness of the vegetables decreases rapidly. was there. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator capable of more appropriately adjusting the humidity in a vegetable room.

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has a vegetable compartment formed in a heat insulating box body, an upper surface opened in the vegetable compartment, and a vegetable case which can be taken in and out. And a refrigerator provided with a lid that covers the vegetable case, wherein the lid is provided with a humidity control plate made of a porous ceramic material for adjusting the humidity in the vegetable case.

[0005] As a second means, an ethylene permeable membrane for releasing ethylene gas generated in the vegetable case is provided on the lid.

[0006] As a third means, a refrigerator is provided in which a vegetable compartment is formed in an insulated box body, an upper surface is opened in the vegetable compartment, a vegetable case which can be taken in and out, and a lid which covers the vegetable case are provided. In the above, the humidity control plate is provided at least on the bottom surface of the vegetable compartment.

As a fourth means, a rear portion of the humidity control plate laid on the bottom of the vegetable compartment extends to a lower front portion of a cooler provided in a cool air generation chamber lower than the vegetable compartment, Further, it is configured to extend to the rear upper part of the cooler.

[0008] As a fifth means, the humidity control plate is laid from the bottom of the vegetable compartment to the upper rear thereof,
The upper end of the tuning wet plate is extended to the upper rear part of the cooler provided in the cold air generation chamber at a position higher than the vegetable room.

As a sixth means, the rear part of the humidity control plate laid on the bottom surface of the vegetable compartment is extended to the upper rear part of the cooler provided in the cool air generation chamber behind the vegetable compartment. And

[0010] In each of the fourth, fifth and sixth means, a heat insulating material is provided between the cooler and the humidity control plate extending to the upper rear portion of the cooler. I do.

[0011]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
This will be described with reference to FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a cold air forced circulation refrigerator. FIG. 1 (A) has only one cooler, and (B) and (C) have two coolers. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a heat insulating box comprising an outer box 2 made of a steel plate, an inner box 3 made of a synthetic resin, a heat insulating material 4, and the like. The inner box 3 is partitioned by heat insulating partition members 5 and 6, etc., and a refrigerator compartment 7 is formed at an upper portion, a vegetable compartment 8 is formed at a center, and a freezing compartment 9 is formed at a lower portion. An ice making chamber 9A and a switching chamber 9B capable of switching the temperature are provided on the left and right of the upper part of the chamber 9.

Further, in the heat insulating box 1 shown in FIG. 1A, a cool air generating chamber 10 is provided behind the vegetable room 8 and the freezing room 9, and a cooler 11 and a cool air generated by the cooler 11 are provided therein. Is sent to each of the above-mentioned chambers 7 to 9, and a compressor 14 and the like are arranged in a machine room 13 at a lower rear portion. On the other hand, in the heat insulating box 1 shown in (B), the cold room 7A is provided behind the cold room 7 and the cold room 7A is provided.
11A and blower 12A corresponding to the vegetable room 8
And a cooler 11B dedicated to the freezing room 9 and a blower 12B are housed in another cold air generating room 10B provided behind the freezing room 9. Further, in the heat insulating box 1 shown in (C), a cooler generation chamber 10C provided behind the vegetable compartment 8 has a cooler 11 corresponding to the refrigerator compartment 7 and the vegetable compartment 8.
A and a blower 12A are accommodated, and a cooler 11B and a blower 12B dedicated to the freezing room 9 are housed in another cold air generation room 10B provided behind the freezing room 9.

Reference numerals 15 to 20 denote doors. The vegetable compartment 8 is supported by a frame-like support 16a integrated with the door 16 in the vegetable compartment 8, and can be freely taken in and out as the door 16 is opened and closed. The lid 22 covers the upper opening surface of the vegetable case 21. The freezer 9
The doors 17 and 18 are also provided with containers (not shown) that can be taken in and out as they open and close.

Hereinafter, the vegetable compartment 8 and the lid 22 of the vegetable case 21 which are features of the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
And a humidity control plate 23 made of a porous ceramic material for adjusting the humidity in the vegetable case 21 is provided on the lid 22 covering the vegetable case 21. If the humidity in the vegetable case 21 rises excessively, the humidity is controlled. The plate 23 absorbs excess water (moisture), and conversely, when the humidity in the vegetable compartment 8 drops below the state necessary for storing vegetables, the absorbed moisture is released into the vegetable case 21. Inside is always kept at a moderate humidity.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, which is characterized in that the humidity control plate 23 and the ethylene permeable membrane 24 described above are provided side by side on the lid 22. With such a configuration, ethylene gas generated in the vegetable case 21 can be released while the humidity in the vegetable case 21 is kept at an appropriate level by the humidity control plate 23.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, in which a humidity control plate 23 made of the porous ceramic material is provided on the surface of the heat insulating partition 6 serving as the bottom of the vegetable compartment 8. The moisture flowing into the vegetable compartment 8 with the opening and closing of the door 16 is adsorbed on the humidity control plate 23 to prevent the humidity inside the vegetable case 21 from lowering.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
In this embodiment, a humidity control plate 23 is laid on the bottom of the vegetable compartment 8 and a rear portion of the humidity control plate 23 is attached to the vegetable compartment 8.
The cold air generation chamber 10 at a lower position extends to the lower front part of the cooler 11 provided in the “corresponding to the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1A”, and further extends to the upper rear part of the cooler 11. It is characterized in that a heat insulating material 25 for preventing freezing of the humidity control plate 23 is provided between the humidity control plate 23 and the cooler 11, and with such a configuration, in the third embodiment, In addition to the operation of the humidity control plate 23 described above, defrost water flowing down from the cooler 11 at the time of defrosting is adsorbed on the humidity control plate 23, and a part of the water is desorbed from the vegetable compartment 8
, And when the cooling operation is started, cool air of high humidity circulates in the vegetable room 8 and the like.

FIG. 6 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
3 and lay the upper end of the synchronized wet plate 23 in the vegetable compartment 8
The cool air generation chamber 10A at a higher position extends to the rear upper portion of the cooler 11A provided in the "corresponding to the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1 (B)", and the space between the humidity control plate 23 and the cooler 11A is adjusted. It is characterized by providing a heat insulating material 25 for preventing the freezing of the wet plate 23. With such a configuration, the defrost water adsorbed at the time of defrost can be guided to the bottom of the vegetable compartment 8. ,
The humidity of the vegetable room 8 can be increased.

FIG. 7 shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention, in which a humidity control plate 23 is laid on the bottom surface of the vegetable compartment 8 and the rear part of the humidity control plate 23 is cooled by cold air behind the vegetable compartment 8. It extends to the rear upper part of the cooler 11A provided in the generation chamber “corresponding to the refrigerator 10c shown in FIG. 1 (C)”, and the humidity control plate 23 is It is characterized in that a heat insulating material 25 for preventing freezing is provided. With such a configuration, the defrost water adsorbed at the time of defrost is removed from the vegetable compartment 8.
Can be guided to the bottom, and the vegetable room 8 can be kept at a high humidity. Of the multiple embodiments described above, those shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7 allow the interior of the vegetable room to be at a high humidity, so that the lid and the vegetable case are hermetically sealed. It works more effectively on those that are structurally inadequate and tend to dry inside the vegetable case.

[0020]

According to the refrigerator constructed as described above, the humidity in the vegetable case is always kept at an appropriate level by the action of the humidity control plate, so that the dew does not adhere to the case. In the case where an ethylene-permeable membrane is used in combination with the lid, ethylene gas harmful to vegetables is released to the outside of the case by the action of the ethylene-permeable membrane, so that vegetables and fruits can be stored for a long time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a plurality of embodiments of a refrigerator according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a vegetable case and a lid thereof according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a vegetable case and a lid thereof according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a main part of a refrigerator showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are a perspective view showing a main part of a refrigerator according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.

FIG. 6 is a sectional perspective view of a main part of a refrigerator showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional perspective view of a main part of a refrigerator showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a vegetable case and its lid showing a conventional example.

[Description of Signs] 1 Insulated box 6 Insulated partition 7 Refrigerated room 8 Vegetable room 9 Freezer room 10 Cold air generation room 10A Cold air generation room 10B Cold air generation room 10C Cold air generation room 11 Cooler 11A Cooler 11B Cooler 21 Vegetable case 22 Lid 23 Humidity control plate 24 Ethylene permeable membrane 25 Insulation material

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A refrigerator comprising a vegetable compartment formed in an insulated box body, an upper surface opened in the vegetable compartment, a removable vegetable case, and a lid covering the vegetable case.
Refrigerator characterized in that a humidity control plate made of a porous ceramic material for adjusting humidity in a vegetable case is provided on the lid. 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the lid is provided with an ethylene permeable membrane for discharging ethylene gas generated in the vegetable case. 3. A refrigerator comprising a vegetable compartment formed in an insulated box body, an upper surface opened in the vegetable compartment, a removable vegetable case, and a lid covering the vegetable case.
A refrigerator provided with a humidity control plate made of a porous ceramic material on at least a bottom surface of the vegetable compartment. 4. A rear part of the humidity control plate laid on the bottom surface of the vegetable compartment extends to a lower front part of a cooler provided in a cool air generating chamber at a lower position than the vegetable compartment, and further behind the cooler. 4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the refrigerator extends to the upper part. 5. The humidifying plate is laid from the bottom surface to the upper rear surface of the vegetable compartment, and the upper end of the tuned moisture plate is extended to a rear upper portion of a cooler provided in a cool air generation chamber higher than the vegetable compartment. 4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the refrigerator is extended. 6. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein a rear portion of the humidity control plate laid on the bottom surface of the vegetable compartment extends to an upper rear portion of a cooler provided in a cool air generation chamber behind the vegetable compartment. . 7. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein a heat insulating material is provided between the cooler and the humidity control plate extending to an upper rear portion of the cooler.