JP2001221565A - Cold storage showcase - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent various germs or mildew from being bred in a cold storage showcase. SOLUTION: A microorganism breeding preventing device 16 is installed in a ventilation passage 3 for circulating a cold air. The device 16 has a plasma generator 16b for generating an ozone or an active oxygen by generating a plasma in a circulating cold air, and a discharge unit 16a for radiating electrons radiated from the cold air to the ozone or an active oxygen by corona discharging to generate an electron wind containing negative ion, oxygen radical of a high concentration and ozone of an ultra-low concentration. The electron wind has a sterilizing action. The wind is diffused together with the circulating cold air in the passage 3 and a commodity display chamber 2 to kill various germs or mildew floating in and adhering to the showcase to prevent a putrefaction of a food 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerated showcase for displaying food, and more particularly to a refrigerated showcase having a function of preventing the growth of microorganisms and having a deodorizing function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a conventional open showcase (hereinafter simply referred to as a showcase) having the above functions. In FIG. 3, the showcase is
Two layers of inner and outer ventilation paths 3 and 4 are provided around a product display room 2 having a product outlet 1 on the front side, and both sides of the ventilation paths 3 and 4 are opposed to each other with the product outlet 1 interposed therebetween. , Air outlets 5, 6 and air inlets 7, 8 are provided, respectively. A blower fan 9 and a cooler (evaporator) 10 are installed in the inside ventilation passage 3, and a cooler 10
The air cooled in step (1) is circulated by the blower fan 9 as shown by the white arrow, and forms an air curtain at the product outlet 1. In the outer ventilation path 4, only a similar ventilation fan, which is not visible in the drawing and is overlapped with the ventilation fan 9, is installed. The air not cooled by the ventilation fan circulates as shown by the arrow, and the protective air is supplied to the product outlet 1. Form a curtain.
In the merchandise display room 2, foods 12 are placed and displayed on shelves 11 provided in multiple stages, and are cooled by cool air circulating around the merchandise display room 2. Part of the circulating cold air enters the product display room 2 through the small holes 13 on the back surface of the product display room 2, and enters the product display room 2 by being entangled from the air curtain of the product outlet 1, and directly cools the food 12.

Conventionally, in such a showcase, antibacterial and antifungal treatment is applied to the wall surfaces of the commodity display room 2 and the ventilation passage 3, or a filter 14 is installed in the ventilation passage 3 as shown in the drawing to circulate cool air. Through this, the intrusion of various bacteria into the product display room 2 is prevented, and the propagation of microorganisms is prevented. Also,
As shown in the figure, there is a lamp in which a germicidal lamp 15 is provided or a light deodorizing catalyst is provided.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional showcase, the germicidal and fungicidal effect diminishes with the passage of time, and germs grow, and germs and air passages adhered to the food itself. There is a problem that it is difficult to remove mold and the like attached to the surface. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an effect of preventing the growth of germs and fungi to every corner in a showcase without lowering the germicidal and fungicidal effects.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a device for preventing the growth of microorganisms in a ventilation path, and the device for preventing the growth of microorganisms is capable of removing ozone and active oxygen in circulating cool air. At the same time, the ozone and the active oxygen are irradiated with electrons to generate an electronic wind containing high-concentration negative ions, oxygen radicals and extremely low-concentration ozone, thereby performing sterilization and deodorization (claim 1). . Ozone and active oxygen are preferably generated by generating plasma in circulating cool air (Claim 2), and electrons are preferably emitted by corona discharge in circulating cool air (Claim 3).

The apparatus for preventing the growth of microorganisms can be installed near the air outlet (claim 4), or can be installed near the air suction port (claim 5). When the ventilation passage is provided in two or more layers, it is preferable that the microorganism growth preventing device is disposed in the innermost ventilation passage (claim 6).

[0007]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a showcase showing an embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same reference numerals are used for portions corresponding to the conventional example, and description of the same components is omitted. In FIG. 1, the point different from the conventional one is that a microorganism propagation preventing device 16 is provided near the air suction port 7 in the inside ventilation passage 3 through which cool air circulates. Here, the microorganism propagation prevention device 16 includes a discharge unit 16a that generates corona discharge in air, and a plasma generation unit 16b that generates plasma. Discharge unit 16a
Causes electrons to be emitted from the air by corona discharge in the circulating cold air, and the electrons are emitted to the plasma generating unit 16b. On the other hand, the plasma generation unit 16b generates ozone and active oxygen in the plasma region, and the ozone and active oxygen are converted into oxygen radicals by being irradiated with electrons. As a result, the microbial propagation prevention device 16 generates an electronic wind (negative ion wind) containing high concentration of negative ions, oxygen radicals and extremely low concentration of ozone.

The electronic wind has a bactericidal power and a deodorizing power, is passed through the ventilation path 3 by the blower fan 9, and removes bacteria and mold floating and adhering in the ventilation path 3. Suppress proliferation. Furthermore, the electronic wind is applied to the small holes 1 on the back of the product display room 2.
3 or into the product display room 2 by entanglement of a cool air curtain, and floats in the display room and food 12.
It acts on germs and molds attached to sterilize and deodorize. Ozone has a strong oxidizing power and has a bactericidal action, but its concentration is 0.
It is considered to be harmful to health if it is 1 ppm or more, and 0.
If the content is 2 ppm or more, the food may be discolored or generate an odor. On the other hand, in the microorganism propagation prevention device 16, the ozone generated in the plasma generation unit 16b is almost converted into oxygen radicals by the irradiation of electrons, and the ozone concentration is 0.001 ppm or less, and there is no adverse effect on the human body and food.

In a showcase having two or more air passages, it is preferable to install the microorganism propagation preventing device 16 in the innermost air passage 3 as shown in the figure. Thereby, the outflow of the electronic wind having sterilizing power from the product outlet 1 is prevented by the outer air curtain, and the electronic wind can be guided to the ventilation passage 3 and the product display room 2 without waste. Also, in FIG. 1, the microorganism propagation prevention device 16 is
It may be installed near the air outlet 5. FIG. 1 shows an example of a showcase having an open front surface, but a microbial propagation prevention device 16 can be installed in a flat type showcase as shown in FIG.

[0010]

As described above, according to the present invention, a device for preventing the growth of microorganisms that generates an electronic wind containing high concentration of negative ions, oxygen radicals and extremely low concentration of ozone is provided in the showcase ventilation path. Accordingly, it is possible to guide the electronic wind having a strong sterilizing and deodorizing power to every corner of the showcase, and to effectively suppress the growth of bacteria and fungi floating and adhering to the ventilation path and the product display room.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a showcase showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a showcase showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a showcase showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Product outlet 2 Product display room 3 Ventilation path 4 Ventilation path 5 Air outlet 7 Air suction port 9 Blower fan 10 Cooler 12 Food 16 Microbial propagation prevention device 16a Discharge unit 16b Plasma generation unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G09F 5/00 G09F 5/00 A

Claims (6)

[Claims] An air passage is provided surrounding a commodity display room having a commodity outlet, and an air outlet and an air inlet are provided at both ends of the ventilation path so as to face each other with the commodity outlet interposed therebetween. In a refrigerated showcase that cools and stores food displayed in the product display room with cold air that circulates through the ventilation path and forms an air curtain at the product outlet, generating ozone and active oxygen in the circulated cold air At the same time, the ozone and the active oxygen are irradiated with electrons to generate an electron wind containing high-concentration negative ions, oxygen radicals and extremely low-concentration ozone. A refrigerated showcase that was installed in 2. The refrigerated showcase according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus for preventing the growth of microorganisms generates ozone and active oxygen by generating plasma in the circulating cold air. 3. The refrigerated showcase according to claim 1, wherein the microorganism propagation preventing device emits electrons by corona discharge in the circulating cold air. 4. The refrigerated showcase according to claim 1, wherein the microorganism propagation preventing device is installed near the air outlet. 5. The refrigerated showcase according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus for preventing the growth of microorganisms is installed near the air inlet. 6. The refrigerated showcase according to claim 1, wherein, when the air passage is provided in two or more layers, the microorganism growth preventing device is installed in an innermost air passage.