JP2001314288A - Humidifying structure of cooling case - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a structure of speedily and stably holding the humidity inside a refrigerating showcase in a target high humidity state. SOLUTION: This humidifier is provided with a water tank 2 in which a specified quantity of supplied water for humidification is stored, a metal pipe 3 connected to the water tank 2 on one end side, and having the water constantly at a specified level on the other end side, a heater disposed on the outer circumference of the metal pipe 3 to heat the water in the metal pipe 3 to be vaporized from the other end side, and a heat insulation member 7 disposed on the outer side to cover the heater 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a humidifying structure for a cooling case that can efficiently increase the humidity in the cooling case in order to maintain the quality of articles stored in the cooling case.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a cooling case, for example,
In the refrigerated showcase in which the confectionery and the like are stored, the atmosphere in the refrigerated showcase is set to a temperature of 0 to 10 ° C. in order to prevent a decrease in the quality (freshness) of the confectionery.
And the humidity must be maintained at 80% or more. For that purpose, a machine room is provided adjacent to the product storage room of the refrigerated showcase, and in the machine room,
A humidifier, a cooler, and the like are provided. The humidifier includes, for example, a humidifying dish to which a predetermined amount of water is supplied, and a heater for heating the humidifying dish to evaporate water. The cooler has a heat exchange unit, a cooling fan that blows the air cooled by the heat exchange unit to the product storage room,
A cooling fin provided at an air outlet of the cooling fan for rectifying the cooled air. The temperature and humidity of the humidifier and the cooler are controlled by a controller, and the controller controls the refrigerated showcase to have the appropriate atmosphere. Since the refrigerated showcase has a closed structure, the absolute amount of steam released by the humidifier is constant, but the surroundings of the cooling fins become saturated steam, which condenses on the fins and is drained as drain water. , A decrease in humidity was a problem. This problem is not limited to showcases for pastries, but is a common problem in cooling cases requiring high humidity. Therefore, using a refrigerator with a large cooling capacity, the room is cooled to the target temperature at a stretch and the cooling time is shortened to reduce the amount of dew condensation on the cooling fins. A method of minimizing the amount as much as possible, widening the area of the cooler to reduce the difference between the evaporation temperature of the refrigerant and the indoor temperature, controlling the cooling fan that sends cool air to the room, and combining these Configurations are possible. But,
Both have the drawback that the structure is complicated and the cost is high.

[0003]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made as a result of intensive research in view of the above circumstances, and its main problem is to stably maintain a low temperature and high humidity state in a cooling case. It is to provide a humidifying structure which can be easily performed.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, water is supplied through a conduit connected to a tank, and the opening is provided upright and the tip of the opening is configured to vaporize steam. And a heater for covering the outer periphery on the distal end side of the tubular member and heating the water in the tubular member, and a holding portion that incorporates the heater and holds the tubular member on the tubular member. Take steps. According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a technical means in which the holding portion is formed of a casing having an open top, and is filled with a heat insulating material to cover the tubular member and the heater.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a technical means in which the distal end side of the tubular member is formed so as to expand upward and is connected to the overflow pipe. Furthermore,
In the invention according to claim 4, a blowout prevention filter is provided at an opening of the holding portion above the distal end of the tubular member.
It has taken the technical measures.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment in which the humidifying structure of a cooling case of the present invention is applied to a refrigerated showcase will be described below with reference to the drawings. The refrigerated showcase 1 is supplied with water via a hose 3 as a conduit connected to the tank 2, and a hose 4 as an example of a holding portion is provided at a tip of the hose 3. A metal pipe 5 held by the casing 4 and representing an example of a tubular member is provided upright.

In the casing 4, a tubular heater 6 fitted outside the metal pipe 5 at a halfway position without a gap is attached, and the outside thereof is filled with a heat insulating material 7. Here, the water level in the metal pipe 5 is raised slightly above the upper end of the heater 6.

The metal pipe 5 in the illustrated example is made of a copper pipe and has a small diameter of about 6 mm to 15 mm (6 mm in the illustrated example). The lower end 5a of the metal pipe 5 is used for supplying water. Hose 3 is connected to this hose 3
Is connected to the discharge port of the tank 2. The tank 2 is set so that the water level of the metal pipe 5 is always maintained at a predetermined position, and water is supplied from a water supply unit (not shown).

Next, the upper end of the metal pipe 5 is formed in an opening 5b that gradually expands in a funnel-like shape with a larger diameter. Further, a cylindrical heater 6 (about 60 W in this embodiment) is provided in close contact with the metal pipe 3 at an intermediate position, and this heater 6 is connected to a heater power supply 6a and controlled by a controller. ing.
When power is supplied to the heater 6 in this state, the water inside the metal pipe 5 boils in about one minute to generate steam.

The heater 6 is held by the casing 4 together with the metal pipe 5, and a heat insulating material 7 is provided in the casing 4 so as to cover the casing 4 so that the heat of the heater 6 is not transmitted to the outside. Insulation is performed at the same time, so that the outside cold air is not transmitted to the heated portion of the metal pipe 5. In the vicinity of the water level position of the metal pipe 5, the temperature of the water or the metal pipe is detected so as not to be heated to a predetermined value or more, and if overheated, the power supply to the heater 6 is stopped via the controller. An overheat prevention sensor 8 is provided.

An opening 5b of a metal pipe is fitted in the upper part of the casing 4, and a drain pipe 9 is provided on the side. That is, the drain pipe 9 is attached to the opening 5b of the metal pipe 5 so that the drain pipe 9 can communicate with the upper end thereof. When water overflows from the tip of the opening 5b, it drains and escapes to the outside. .
Further, at the upper end of the opening of the casing 4, a blowout prevention filter 10 is stretched so as to face the opening 5 b of the metal pipe 5.

The steam heated and boiled by the heater 5 is discharged through a filter 10 into a showcase. If the boiling water tries to blow upward, it is prevented by the filter 10.

With the above structure, the humidifying structure is provided in the refrigerated showcase 1 together with a cooler and a fan and can be controlled by a controller. Then, the water from the tank 2 is maintained at a predetermined water level in the metal pipe 5.

Therefore, at the time of humidification, the metal pipe 5 is heated by the heater 6, and the water is heated through the metal pipe 5. Here, since the heater 6 is small and has a small calorific value, it is easy to control the generation and stop of steam.
It does not hinder cooling during cooling.

Therefore, the water in the metal pipe 5 can be immediately boiled even by the inexpensive heater 5 of about 60 W, and the steam can be discharged through the filter 10 into the case where the confectionery is displayed. it can.

Accordingly, the atmosphere of the refrigerated showcase can be quickly brought to the target high humidity (80%). The controller controls the heater 6 while detecting the humidity with a temperature / humidity meter provided in the room to maintain the high humidity state.

Here, since the metal pipe 5 has a narrow (small) cross-sectional area, convection hardly occurs in the pipe even when it is heated, and heating of the upper part of the pipe 5 is performed for a short time (about 1 minute in the embodiment). It can be done with. Since the temperature rise at the lower part of the pipe is small and does not become too hot, the water supply hose 4 connected to the metal pipe 5 can be made of a simple synthetic resin.

In the above embodiment, a refrigerated showcase of western confectionery is exemplified. However, in the present invention, a case for storing not only food but also any cooling case which requires humidification may be used. It may be. Further, the humidifying structure may be provided in a showcase or may be provided in a room separated from the humidifying structure. In other words, it goes without saying that various design changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0018]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The atmosphere in the cooling case can be quickly brought into a high humidity state, and the state can be stably maintained. Although a cooler and a humidifier heater coexist in the same refrigerator, the heater has a small size and a small heating value, so that generation and stop of steam can be easily controlled and does not hinder cooling. Since the humidification method is a boiling method, there is no spread of various germs and it is sanitary. Since the configuration is simple, the cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a humidifying structure of a refrigerated showcase.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Main body 2 ... Water tank 3 ... Hose 4 ... Casing 5 ... Metal pipe 6 ... Heater 7 ... Heat insulation material 9 ... Drainage pipe 10 ... Prevention of blowing Filter

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A tubular member which is supplied with water via a conduit connected to a tank, and which is erected and whose leading end is an opening for vaporizing water vapor, and a tubular member which covers an outer periphery on a distal end side of the tubular member. A humidifying structure for a cooling case, comprising: a heater for heating water in the inside; and a holding portion that incorporates the heater and holds the heater on a tubular member. 2. The humidifying structure for a cooling case according to claim 1, wherein the holding portion is formed of a casing having an open top, and is filled with a heat insulating material to cover the tubular member and the heater. 3. The humidifying structure for a cooling case according to claim 1, wherein a distal end side of the tubular member is formed so as to expand upward, and is connected to an overflow pipe. . 4. A humidifying structure for a cooling case according to claim 1, wherein a blow-off preventing filter is provided at an opening of the holding portion above a distal end of the tubular member.