JP2002195714A - Storage method and device in low-temperature warehouse - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a storage method and device for storing unpolished rice under optimum conditions in a storehouse for storing grain or the like at a low temperature. SOLUTION: A compressor 11 is started only in prescribed time M1 after stopping, a circulation fan 17 is stopped after being delayed from the stop of the compressor 11 by a prescribed time M3, and the delay time M3 of the circulation fan 17 is set shorter than the minimum stop time M1 of the compressor 11. Also, the operation is executed once per several times, when the compressor 11 stops. Then, the circulation fan 17 is driven intermittently at least once, until the compressor 11 is restarted. By increasing the relative working rate of the circulation fan 17, humidity can be maintained in the middle of low humidity and high humidity.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a low-temperature storage for storing brown rice and vegetables for a long period of time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of apparatus includes a storage room for storing articles requiring low-temperature storage, a cooling unit for supplying cool air into the storage room to cool the storage, and detecting the temperature in the storage room. And a cooling unit that is operated / operated based on the internal temperature detected by the temperature sensor.
2. Description of the Related Art There is known an apparatus that is stopped and cooled to a temperature and a humidity suitable for storing articles stored in a storage. Temperature control in such a device drives the compressor when the temperature in the storage detected by the temperature sensor is higher than the set temperature,
When it is low, it is performed by stopping the compressor. Also,
To adjust the humidity, drive the circulation fan to increase the humidity and vaporize the frost adhering to the cooler and reduce it to the inside of the refrigerator.To reduce the humidity, stop the circulation fan and collect the frost adhering to the cooler. It is done by that. Therefore, in such a device, it is possible to select whether to make the inside of the refrigerator high humidity or low humidity. In the high humidity mode, the circulation fan is driven regardless of driving / stopping the compressor. In the low humidity mode, the circulation fan is driven / stopped in synchronization with driving / stopping of the compressor.

[0003] With such an operation, the humidity inside the refrigerator is 80% in the high humidity mode, and the humidity inside the refrigerator is 60% in the low humidity mode.
It is possible to However, when storing brown rice, it is considered desirable to store the rice at a temperature of 13 ° C. and a humidity of 70% in consideration of the quality of the rice and the occurrence of pests and mold. In a low-temperature storage, it is particularly difficult to obtain an environment with a humidity of 70%. Accordingly, the present applicant has previously proposed Japanese Patent Application No. 9-165332. This is such that the stop of the circulation fan is delayed for a predetermined time from the stop of the compressor.

[0004]

However, such an apparatus has the following problems. I. In a hot and humid atmosphere such as in summer, a phenomenon occurs in which the compressor stop time is shorter than the circulation fan delay time. Then, the circulation fan continues to drive without stopping,
As a result, the inside of the refrigerator is in a high humidity state. B. If the delay time of the circulation fan is too short, the reduction of the humidity becomes insufficient and the humidity becomes low. C. The amount of brown rice stored decreases throughout the year, so there are cases where other items (such as beer) are stored in the reduced space, but the temperature is too high in the brown rice only mode. In addition, when the temperature setting is lowered, the number of times the compressor is started increases, and unless the circulation fan is operated in each case, the inside of the refrigerator becomes humid, which is not suitable for storing brown rice. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve these problems and to provide a storage method and apparatus in a low-temperature storage that can create an optimal state for storing brown rice.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a storage room for storing objects to be stored, a cooling unit for cooling the storage room, and detecting a temperature in the storage room. A low-temperature storage that has a temperature sensor and drives / stops the compressor / cooling air circulation fan of the cooling unit based on the internal temperature detected by the temperature sensor. The circulation fan is not restarted until the elapse, and the circulation fan is stopped with a delay of a predetermined time M3 from the stop of the compressor, and the delay time M3 of the circulation fan is set to the minimum stop time M1 of the compressor.
And a storage mode in which the storage method is set.

An operation of stopping the circulating fan with a delay of a predetermined time M3 after the compressor stops is executed once every several times the compressor stops, and the delay time M3 of the circulating fan is reduced by the compressor. And a storage mode in which the storage method is set to be shorter than the minimum stop time M1.

In the storage mode, the circulation fan is intermittently driven at least once before the compressor is restarted, and the relative operation rate of the circulation fan is increased to reduce the humidity. It is designed so that it can be held between low humidity and high humidity.

[0008]

When the storage mode in the present invention is executed, the circulation fan stops after M3 time has elapsed since the compressor stopped. While the circulating fan is operating, frost on the cooler is returned to the inside of the refrigerator as cool air and raises the humidity, so the humidification is higher than in the low humidity mode where the circulating fan is stopped in synchronization with the compressor. A lower humidity condition is obtained than in the high humidity mode in which the circulation fan is kept operating regardless of the operation of the machine.

Further, the condition for storing brown rice is a temperature setting of not so low as 13 ° C., so that the frequency of operation of the compressor is low, and the humidity may be slightly lowered when the operation is linked with the operation of the compressor. Therefore, once every several times the compressor stops (here, once every two times), the circulating fan is stopped after M3 hours have passed since the compressor stopped.
An environment suitable for storing brown rice can be obtained.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view showing a low-temperature storage according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front sectional view showing the inside of the storage. Reference numeral 1 denotes a low-temperature storage main body, and five surfaces except the front surface are insulated panels 2a to 2a.
The storage room 2 is formed in a box shape having a predetermined capacity by 2e, and a cooling room 3 formed above the storage room 2 and having a built-in cooling unit. The heat insulating panels 2a to 2e are formed by foam-filling a heat insulating material such as urethane into a space surrounded by the outer skin and the inner skin.

Of these, a pair of left and right side panels 2a, 2
A first panel frame f1 is formed at a lower end and a rear end of the rear panel 2b and a lower end of the rear panel 2c. And a second panel frame f2 that is unevenly coupled to the second panel frame f2. The first panel frame f1 forms two concave portions f1a and f1b and one convex portion f1c in about half of the portion located inside the panel, and the second panel frame f2 is formed of the first panel frame f2.
The concave portion f2a into which the convex portion f1c of the panel frame f1 fits, and the convex portion f2 into which the second concave portion f1b of the first panel frame f1 fits.
b is formed. Thus, the panels are connected at right angles by connecting the panel frames. In addition, it is preferable that the convex part and the concave part of each panel frame have a semi-spherical cross section in order to make the panel frame hardly affected by the internal pressure when filling the heat insulating material.

Reference numerals 4 and 4 denote doors attached to the front opening of the storage room 2, comprising two double doors which are opened and closed substantially in the vertical center of the front surface of the main body. The gasket packing 5 which adheres tightly is attached. FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view of the door 4. The door 4 is also formed by foaming and filling a heat insulating material such as urethane into a space surrounded by the outer skin and the inner skin, similarly to the above-mentioned heat insulating panels. The gasket packing 5 includes an arrow-shaped fixing portion 5a fitted to the door 4, a magnet chamber 5b in which the magnet 6 is housed, and an inner elastic piece for connecting the fixing portion 5a and the magnet chamber 5b to form a space s1. 5c, an outer elastic piece 5d, and partition pieces 5e, 5 forming two layers of spaces s2, s3 outside the inner elastic piece 5c.
f, and two fins 5g extending from the partition piece 5f to the back of the door,
5h. Thereby, in the gasket packing 5, the spaces s1, formed by the respective elastic pieces are formed.
In addition to s2 and s3, the fins 5g and 5h abut against the back surface of the door to form two more spaces, so that it is possible to prevent cold air from leaking in the refrigerator with the five-layer sealed space.

The mating portion of each door 4 is sealed by a door mating member 7 fixed to one of the door back surfaces. The door matching member 7 has a front surface made of a synthetic resin such as vinyl chloride, and is formed by surrounding the outer periphery with a rigid material so as to have a square shape in a plane, and filling the inside with a heat insulating material. In addition, at the joint between the doors 4, a seal molding 8 made of synthetic resin is formed so as to protrude, and serves to prevent invasion of outside air and to prevent condensation due to heat conduction.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a rib formed in the vertical direction of the inner wall surface of the storage room 2 for improving the circulation of cool air, eliminating the inconvenience of brown rice bags coming into contact with the wall surface of the storage room and generating mold, and reinforcing the entire storage room. It is functioning. Reference numeral 10 denotes a shelf plate which is detachably supported and fixed to a notch 9a of a rib 9 provided on a side wall surface. This shelf plate 10 is unnecessary when brown rice bags are stored to a predetermined capacity when brown rice is stored. However, as shown by a dotted line in FIG. 2, the shelf plate 10 is not needed between the side panels 2a and 2b of the storage room 2. By mounting it with the surface facing the front, it can be used as a cargo collapse prevention card.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a cooling unit incorporated in the cooling chamber 3, and FIG. 5 is a plan view. The cooling unit is
This is a known refrigeration cycle in which a compressor 11, a condenser 12, a dryer 13, a capillary tube 14, and a cooler 15 are sequentially arranged so as to form a closed loop. Reference numeral 16 denotes a heat radiating fan that exhausts heat generated in the condenser 12 to the outside of the cooling chamber 3. 17 is a circulation fan of the storage room 2,
The air sucked from the suction port 18 opened in the top panel 2e of the storage room 2 and cooled through the cooler 15 is circulated again into the storage room 2 from the supply port 19 arranged in parallel with the suction port 18. It is to let. A duct 20 having an L-shaped cross section is attached to the supply port 19 so that the flow of cool air is regulated. With such a configuration, the compressor 11
The refrigerant circulates through the refrigeration cycle by the operation of, and cooler 15 is cooled. By the operation of the circulation fan 17, the air in the storage room 2 circulates while passing through the cooler 15, exchanges heat with the air in the storage room 2, and cools the inside of the storage room 2.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a temperature sensor attached to the cooler 15 for relatively detecting the temperature in the storage room 2. Reference numeral 22 denotes a drain pan attached to a lower portion of the cooler 15, which receives frost melted from the cooler 15. Reference numeral 23 denotes an evaporating dish, which is connected to the drain pan 22 via a hose 24 and stores water droplets received by the drain pan 22. A high-temperature pipe 25 from the compressor 11 to the condenser 12 is passed through the evaporating dish 23, and a bellows-shaped folded nonwoven fabric 2 for sucking up the stored drain water is passed through the evaporating dish 23.
6 and the exhaust of the radiating fan 16 is
6 are arranged to act. Thereby, the high temperature pipe 2
5 directly heats the drain water stored in the evaporating dish 23 by the heat of 5
The function of indirectly dissipating the hot air of No. 6 is achieved, and the drain water stored in the evaporating dish 23 evaporates.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a control system of the present invention. Reference numeral 27 denotes a control unit which includes a microcomputer having a CPU 28, a memory 29, and an input / output port 30, and executes a program stored in the memory 29 in response to an input from an operation panel 31 provided on the front of the cooling chamber 3. The cooling unit 11 performs various cooling operations, and operates / stops the compressor 11 in accordance with the temperature in the storage chamber 2 mainly detected by the temperature sensor 21, thereby controlling the operations of the heat radiation fan 16 and the circulation fan 17. .

The operation panel 31 has a temperature display section 32 for displaying the temperature in the storage room 2, a power supply lamp 33 for indicating whether or not the power supply is being energized, a warning lamp 34 for lighting when various errors occur, and a defrosting apparatus. A defrost lamp 35 indicating that the operation is in progress, a power switch 36, a temperature adjustment switch 37 for adjusting an arbitrary set temperature, and a "high humidity" key 38 for selecting a high humidity mode suitable for storing vegetables and the like. "Low humidity" key 39 for selecting a low humidity mode suitable for storage of root vegetables
And a brown rice key 40 for selecting brown rice mode,
A juice / beer / brown rice key 41 suitable for storing beer or the like in combination with brown rice and lamps 42 to 45 corresponding to each mode key are provided. In addition, the temperature display part 32
In a state where the inside of the refrigerator has not yet changed from the ambient temperature in the early stage of use, the temperature in the storage room 2 detected by the temperature sensor 21 is displayed as it is. For example, 13 in brown rice mode
° C), and "dF" during the defrosting operation described later.

The operation of the present invention having such a configuration will be described. FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing the operation timing of each device, and FIG. 8 is a set temperature in each mode.
It is a control table showing target humidity and defrosting operation timing. still,
Each numerical value shown here is based on verification by the present applicant, is merely for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and is not interpreted as being particularly limited, and does not depart from the gist of the present application. It can be appropriately selected within the range.

When the power switch 36 is turned on, the power lamp 33 and the initially set brown rice lamp 44 are turned on.
From this state, the desired internal temperature is set by using the temperature control switch 37, or the desired mode is selected by using each mode key, so that the setting is made according to the user's convenience. First, the circulation fan 17
Are driven, and the compressor 11 and the radiating fan 16 are driven after a predetermined time M1 has elapsed. This is because, for example, when the power supply is shut down
This is a function for preventing the inside of the compressor 1 from being restarted from a high pressure state. When the compressor is stopped, it is not restarted until the start suspension time M1 elapses. According to the verification of the present applicant, this activation suspension time M
In the case of No. 1, it was confirmed that about 3 minutes was sufficient.

When the compressor 11 and the heat radiating fan 16 start driving after the elapse of the start suspension time M1, the temperature sensor 21
, The temperature in the storage room 2 is detected, and the temperature is displayed on the temperature display section 32. As a result, when the detected temperature T is higher than the upper target temperature Ta, the compressor 11 is operated to perform a cooling operation, thereby cooling the inside of the refrigerator to the lower target temperature Tb. When the refrigerant circulates through the refrigeration cycle with the operation of the compressor 11, the cooler 15 is cooled. By operating the circulation fan 17 from this state, the air in the storage room 2 convects, the air cooled by the cooler 15 is supplied into the storage room 2 and the moisture contained in the air in the storage room is removed. Partly cooler 15
Will adhere to the surface of the surface as frost.

When the temperature T detected by the temperature sensor 21 becomes lower than the lower target temperature Tb, the compressor 11 is stopped, and the cooling of the refrigerator is stopped until the temperature becomes higher than the upper target temperature Ta. When the compressor 11 stops, the cooler does not cool down and the attached frost begins to melt, but if the circulating fan 17 continues to operate at this time, the vaporized moisture will be returned to the storage chamber 2 again. Conversely, when the circulation fan 17 is stopped, it is melted into the drain pan 22 and stored in the evaporating dish 23 through the hose 24 to lower the humidity in the storage chamber 2.
The target temperatures Ta and Tb in this temperature control are set to stabilize the set temperature in each mode within a range of ± t ° C.

Since the humidity in each storage mode is determined by changing the operation timing of the circulation fan 17, the subsequent operation will be described for each storage mode. ○ High humidity mode When the high humidity mode is set, the circulation fan 17 is always operated regardless of the operation / stop of the compressor 11. By such an operation, frost is less likely to adhere to the cooler 15, and the humidity in the storage room can be kept high. As a result, the inside of the refrigerator is kept at a humidity of about 75 to 85%. When the compressor 11 has been stopped for a predetermined time (for example, one hour) or more, the circulation fan is also stopped to save energy and prevent noise.

○ Low humidity mode If the low humidity mode is set, the circulation fan 17 is stopped with a delay of M2 time after the compressor 11 is stopped. Thereafter, the circulation fan 17 is started in synchronization with the start of the compressor 11, and the circulation fan 17 is stopped with a delay of M2 time every time the compressor 11 is stopped. With such an operation,
The moisture recovery rate in the storage room is increased, and the humidity in the storage room can be kept low. Moreover, the circulation fan 17
Is stopped slightly after the stop of the compressor 11, the amount of frost sticking to the cooler 15 can be reduced, and the performance of the cooler 15 is not impaired. As a result, the inside of the refrigerator is kept at a humidity of about 50 to 60%.
According to the verification by the present applicant, when the stop delay time M2 of the circulation fan in the low humidity mode is set to about 90 seconds shorter than the minimum stop time M1 of the compressor 11, the humidity in the refrigerator can be reduced to 50 to 100 in any season. It could be maintained at 60%.

○ Brown rice mode When the brown rice mode is set, the circulation fan 17 is stopped by delaying the compressor 11 for M3 hours, and after a lapse of a predetermined time M4 from the stop of the circulation fan 17, the compressor 11
The circulation fan 17 is operated for M5 hours irrespective of the operation of. At this time, the circulation fan stop delay time M3 is set shorter than the minimum stop time M1 of the compressor 11, so that the circulation fan 17 is stopped at least once while the compressor is stopped. Thereafter, the circulation fan 17 is started in synchronization with the start of the compressor 11, and this operation is performed once every several times (here, once every two times) when the compressor 11 stops. That is, by stopping the circulation fan 17 at least once while the compressor 11 is stopped, the operation rate of the circulation fan is made lower than in the high humidity mode, while the compressor 11 is stopped. By driving the circulation fan 17 intermittently, the relative operation rate of the circulation fan 17 is made higher than that in the low humidity mode, and the inside of the storage room 2 is kept at the intermediate humidity between the high humidity mode and the low humidity mode. is there. As a result, the inside of the refrigerator was
It is kept at about 0 to 70%. If the compressor 11 restarts after the minimum stop time M1 has elapsed during the intermittent operation of the circulation fan 17 during the time M5, the circulation fan 17 operates
5, the operation is continued, and thereafter the above control is executed in conjunction with the compressor 11. According to the verification by the present applicant, the stop delay time M3 in the brown rice mode is set to two.
If the stop time M4 is set to about 2 minutes and the intermittent operation time M5 is set to about 3 minutes, the humidity inside
It could be kept at 0-70%.

Juice / Beer / Brown Rice Mode When the juice / beer / brown rice mode is set, the basic operation is the same as that of the brown rice mode,
Since the initial setting temperature is set lower (5 ° C.) than the brown rice mode (13 ° C.) so as to be suitable for storing beer, the operation frequency of the compressor 11 increases. The circulation fan 1
7, the operation rate of the circulation fan 1 must be higher than that of the brown rice mode, and the humidity in the refrigerator must be adjusted.
7 for a predetermined time M4 after the circulation fan 17 is stopped.
After the lapse of time, regardless of the operation of the compressor 11, the circulation fan 1
7 is operated for M5 time every time the compressor 11 stops. As a result, the inside of the refrigerator was
It could be maintained at about 70%.

During the operation of each of the storage modes, the radiator fan 16 of the condenser is started in synchronization with the start of the compressor 11 regardless of the set mode. It operates so as to be delayed and stopped. The delay time M6 is set to promote the evaporation of the drain water stored in the evaporating dish, and is set to about one minute. As a result, the evaporation of the drain water in the evaporating dish was greatly promoted. In addition, the radiation fan 16
After a certain period of time (here, 50 hours) has elapsed since the power switch was turned on, the duty ratio is reduced to about 90% to save energy and reduce noise. However, during the defrosting operation to be described later, the motor is driven at a duty ratio of 100%.

Each storage mode is executed as described above, and is always executed so as to keep the inside of the refrigerator in an appropriate state. Now, in each mode, the defrosting operation is performed at a constant cycle.
In the initial operation state just after the power is turned on,
In each mode, the defrosting operation is performed after a predetermined time (here, 4 hours), and thereafter, the defrosting operation is performed in each mode at a predetermined cycle. That is, in the low humidity mode in which frost easily forms on the cooler, defrosting is performed in a short cycle, and in the high humidity mode in which frost does not easily form, defrosting is performed in a long cycle. Defrosting operation is
The compressor 11 is stopped, and the radiating fan 16 and the circulation fan 17 are stopped.
Is operated continuously for a fixed time (30 minutes).
When the circulation fan 17 is driven, the frost on the cooler melts out and is collected from the drain pan into the evaporating dish. And
The drain water collected in the evaporating dish is evaporated by driving the radiating fan 16.

As described above, in the low-temperature storage of the present invention, the operation of each device such as the compressor, the circulation fan, and the radiating fan is made independent by the mounting of the control unit, and the control according to the use environment and the condition in the storage is performed. Is now possible. Since the exclusive mode is set according to the article to be stored, the user can easily set the mode according to the object to be stored.

[0030]

As described above, the present invention is configured to set the time during which the compressor cannot be restarted, to set the time to stop the circulating fan after the compressor is stopped from being stopped, and to set the time to stop the compressor. With a storage mode suitable for storing brown rice shorter than the delay time of the circulation fan, the circulation fan continues to operate without stopping even in a hot and humid atmosphere such as in summer, resulting in a result. The interior of the refrigerator can be prevented from becoming a high humidity state, and the compressor can also secure the minimum stop time, so that it can start from a high pressure state and prevent an electrical failure (such as a blown fuse). .

The circulating fan is provided with a storage mode in which the compressor is stopped once every several times when the compressor is stopped, so that the environment of 13 ° C.-70% necessary for storing brown rice is ensured. The circulating fan is not driven to a state close to high humidity. Further, in the storage mode, the circulating fan is intermittently driven at least once before the compressor is restarted. Therefore, the operating rate of the circulating fan is set at an intermediate level between the low humidity mode and the high humidity mode. , And the reduction of humidity becomes insufficient, and the state does not become low.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing a low-temperature storage according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front internal sectional view of the storage.

FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view of a door 4 of the storage.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a cooling unit of the storage.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a cooling unit of the storage.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a control system of the storage unit.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing the operation of the storage.

FIG. 8 is a setting table showing setting values in each storage mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Storage Room 3 Cooling Room 11 Compressor 15 Cooler 17 Circulation Fan 21 Temperature Sensor

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3L045 AA02 BA01 CA02 DA02 EA01 LA05 LA07 LA09 MA02 MA12 NA03 NA16 PA02 PA04

Claims (5)

[Claims] A storage unit for storing an object to be stored; a cooling unit for cooling the storage room; and a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature in the storage room. In a low-temperature storage in which the compressor / cooling air circulation fan of the cooling unit is driven / stopped, the compressor is stopped and is not restarted until a predetermined time M1 has elapsed. The compressor is stopped after a predetermined time M3 delay from the stop, and the delay time M3 of the circulation fan is set to the minimum stop time M of the compressor.
A storage method in a cold storage shorter than one. 2. The low-temperature storage according to claim 1, wherein the operation of stopping the circulating fan with a delay of a predetermined time M3 after the compressor stops is executed once every several times when the compressor stops. Storage method. 3. A storage room accommodating an object to be stored, a cooling unit for cooling the storage room, and a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature in the storage room. In a low-temperature storage in which the compressor / cooling air circulation fan of the cooling unit is driven / stopped, the compressor does not restart until a predetermined time M1 elapses after the compressor stops, and the circulation fan stops the compressor. A storage mode in which a delay time M3 of the circulation fan is stopped after being delayed for a predetermined time M3 from the minimum stop time M1 of the compressor. 4. A storage mode in which an operation of stopping the circulation fan by delaying a predetermined time M3 after stopping the compressor and stopping the circulation fan is performed once every several times the compressor stops. Item 4. The low-temperature storage according to Item 3. 5. The low-temperature storage according to claim 2, wherein the circulation fan is intermittently driven at least once before the compressor is restarted.