JP2003240418A - Humidifier for refrigerating showcase - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively raise humidity of air within a case main body and to minimize drying of goods displayed within the case main body, in a refrigerating showcase. <P>SOLUTION: This refrigerating showcase has the case main body 1 for displaying goods at the inside and a cooling unit 2 in which a cooler 23 and a cooling fan 22 are equipped at the inside, air within the case main body 1 is sucked by rotation of the cooling fan 22, and the air is blown into the case main body 1 after cooling the air in the cooler 23. A humidifier 3 having a structure in which many thin plate shaped evaporation bodies 34 made of evaporation paper or cloth, etc., for instance, are arranged side and side at prescribed intervals is installed in series with the cooler 23 of the cooling unit 2 and air flow in states of lower end parts of the evaporation bodies 23 soaked into condensed water condensed and separated from air. The condensed water permeating into the whole of the evaporation bodies 34 by a capillary phenomenon by the air flow flowing among each of the evaporation bodies 34 by rotating and driving the cooling fan 22 is forcedly evaporated to be humidified. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a humidifying device for a refrigerated showcase.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A refrigerated showcase for internally displaying refrigerated food is a case that is made of transparent material such as glass so that it can be seen from the outside at least from the upper surface to the front, and is equipped with a shelf for displaying products and a lighting device. It is composed of a main body, a cooling unit provided in the lower part of the case main body, and a base box (a refrigeration cycle component such as a compressor and a condenser and a drive device for driving the refrigeration cycle and the like are provided therein) provided further below the main body. It is generally done. The cooling unit includes a cooler (evaporator) for a refrigeration cycle and a cooling fan inside a cooling duct having an inlet and an outlet for sucking air in the case body and an outlet for discharging cooling air into the case body. The air inside the case body is sucked in through the suction port by the rotation drive of the cooling fan, cooled by the cooler, and then discharged into the case body through the blowout port, and the cool air discharged from the blowout port. Is circulated in the case body and sucked into the cooling duct through the suction port, and the forced circulation of the air keeps the inside of the case body at a predetermined temperature (refrigeration temperature). There is.

[0003]

In the refrigerated showcase as described above, it is important to obtain a stable internal temperature without variation and to smoothly carry out goods (displayed goods) in and out. Of course, it is also important to minimize the drying of the products displayed in the case body. In particular, when the displayed products are Western confectionery, how to prevent drying is one of the most important issues.

In order to prevent the product from drying, a method of incorporating an ultrasonic type humidifier in the refrigerator has been conventionally adopted, but this humidifier utilizes ultrasonic vibration to make water into fine droplets. Since it is only scattered inside, it is not very effective for increasing humidity, and there is a problem that water droplets adhere to the inner wall of the case body and products, and it is difficult to say that humidification by this measure is appropriate. have.

Further, there has been a humidifier of a type in which water (hot water) is evaporated using a heater, but an intense heat source is put in the refrigerator, and even if the heat of the heat source can be shut off, Since the evaporated vapor itself has a large amount of heat energy, it causes a temperature rise in the case body, which causes a problem that the original function of the refrigerating showcase of keeping the case body at a predetermined refrigeration temperature is hindered. .

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which can cope with the above-mentioned conventional problems and can minimize the drying of products by a very simple measure.

[0007]

According to the present invention, a case main body for displaying products, a cooler and a cooling fan are provided inside, and the air in the case main body is sucked by the rotational driving of the cooling fan. In a refrigerating showcase having a cooling unit that is blown out into the case body after being cooled by a cooler, a humidifier having a structure in which a plurality of thin plate-like evaporators made of, for example, evaporating paper or cloth are arranged in parallel at predetermined intervals. A vessel
With the lower end portion of the evaporator immersed in the condensed water condensed and separated from the air, the evaporator is installed in series with the cooler of the cooling unit and the air flow, and each is driven by the rotation of the cooling fan. Condensed water that has permeated the entire evaporator is evaporated and humidified by the air flow flowing between the evaporators.

As described above, when the lower end portion of the thin plate-like evaporator is immersed in the condensed water, the condensed water permeates the whole of the evaporator due to the capillary phenomenon, and forced evaporation by ventilation in a low air temperature environment. Since it effectively evaporates, the humidity in the case body increases significantly, and it is possible to minimize the drying of the products displayed in the case body, such as Western confectionery.

Further, the humidifier installation portion is formed in the cooler cover of the cooling unit, and the humidifier arranged in a cassette shape is installed on the humidifier installation portion so that the humidifier can be detached and installed. Is extremely easy, and maintenance such as cleaning, checking, and replacement of the humidifier is very easy.

Further, since the condensed water condensed and separated by the cooler is used to perform the humidification by forced evaporation by the ventilation of the cooling fan, almost no special space for installing the humidifier is required. Moreover, the cost required for humidification is very small, and the economic effect is great.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a concrete example of a refrigerating showcase equipped with a humidifying device according to the present invention. Figure 1
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a case body whose upper surface 11, front surface 12 and left and right side surfaces 13 are formed of transparent plates such as glass, and a rear surface 14 is a door for putting in and taking out displayed products. Equipped with shelves for displaying products and lighting equipment.

At the bottom of the floor plate 15 of the case body 1,
The cooling unit 2 is installed. A base box 4 is provided below the cooling unit 2. In the base box 4, a refrigeration cycle component such as a compressor and a condenser, a drive device for driving these components, and the like are built in.

The cooling unit 2 includes a cooling fan 22 and a cooler (evaporator) inside a cooling duct 21 in the front-rear direction.
23 is built in, and the rotation of the cooling fan 22 causes the air in the case body 1 to be sucked into the cooling duct 21 from the suction port 16 at the front end of the floor plate 15 and to pass through the cooler 23. Cooled air (cool air) is discharged into the case main body 1 from the air outlet 17 at the rear end of the floor plate 15, and the cold air is circulated in the case main body 1 and sucked in through the intake port 16. As in the conventional refrigerating showcase, the inside of the case body is kept at a predetermined temperature (refrigerating temperature) by such forced circulation of air.

The refrigeration cycle including the refrigeration cycle components such as the compressor, the condenser and the cooler (evaporator) and the operation thereof are well known in refrigerators and refrigeration showcases. Illustration and detailed description are omitted.

In the present invention, a humidifier 3 to be described later is installed in the cooling duct 21 of the cooling unit 2 so that the cool air sufficiently humidified by the humidifier 3 is blown into the case body 1 from the air outlet 17. It was done.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the humidifier 3 is a thin plate made of evaporative paper (which may be cloth) having an excellent evaporating function in a frame body composed of a top plate 31, a bottom plate 32 and columns 33. It has a cassette structure in which a large number of evaporating bodies 34 are juxtaposed at a predetermined interval, and an opening 24a provided on the upper surface of the cooler cover 24 covering the cooler 23 and a condensed water pool 24b recessed on the lower surface. A humidifier installation portion is formed, and by fitting the humidifier 3 into the upstream side position by the airflow of the cooler 23 through the opening 24a, the lower end portion of the evaporator 34 is placed in the condensed water pool 24b of a predetermined depth. It is set in a state of being immersed in the condensed water accumulated in. Then, the floor plate 15 is removed, and the humidifier 3 can be easily removed by pulling it upward with the handle 31a provided on the top plate 31, and the maintenance such as cleaning, confirmation, and replacement of the humidifier 3 is easy. You can do it.

The bottom surface of the cooler cover 24 normally receives the condensed water which is condensed and separated from the air by being cooled by the cooler and is discharged to the outside by the drain pipe. However, in the present invention, as described above, the condensate pool 24b having a predetermined depth is provided in the bottom surface of the cooler cover 24 at a position (humidifier installation section) facing the opening 24a, and the drain port 24c is provided with a condensate pool. It has a structure in which condensed water of a predetermined depth is always held due to the height, and when the lower end portion of the evaporator 34 is immersed in the condensed water, the condensed water permeates the entire evaporator 34 by a capillary phenomenon. , Each evaporator 3
The air flow passing between 4 effectively evaporates and humidifies the air. Although the humidified air is cooled by the cooler 23, the moisture in the air is condensed and separated. However, since the humidification by the humidifier 3 is originally forced evaporation by ventilation in a low air temperature environment, cooling is performed. Separation of condensed water in the unit 23 is much smaller than the humidification amount in the previous stage, and the outlet 17
The humidity of the cold air blown out from the air will rise significantly.

In the above-described embodiment, the humidifier 3 is upstream of the air flow of the cooler 23, that is, the cooling fan 22 and the cooler 23.
It shows an example installed between and. This is because if the humidifier 3 is installed on the downstream side of the cooler 23, the humidifier 3 may freeze. Therefore, when there is no fear of freezing of the humidifier 3, the humidifier 3 may be installed on the downstream side by the air flow of the cooler 23, and if the humidifier 3 is installed on the downstream side of the cooler 23, air will flow. The moisturizing effect of is further improved.

The humidifying device according to the present invention is not limited to the one illustrated in FIG. 1, but can be applied to any type of refrigerating showcase having at least a case body and a cooling unit.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, a humidifier having a cassette structure in which a large number of thin plate-like evaporators made of evaporative paper or cloth are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval is used as a cooler of a cooling unit. With a very simple measure that installs in series with, the humidity of the blown cool air that blows through the cooling unit into the case body is greatly increased, and the drying of products such as Western confectionery displayed in the case body is minimized. Is something that can be done.

Further, since the condensate water condensed and separated in the cooler is used to perform the humidification by forced evaporation by the ventilation of the cooling fan, there is almost no need for a special space for installing the humidifier, In addition, the cost required for humidification is extremely small, and the practical effect is very large.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an essential part showing an example of a refrigerating showcase equipped with a humidifying device according to the present invention.

2 shows the details of the humidifier installation part of FIG. 1,
(A) is a plan view, (B) is a front view, and (C) is a side view.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing details of the humidifier shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
(A) is a plan view, (B) is a front view, and (C) is a side view.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 case body 2 cooling units 3 humidifier 4 base box 11 upper surface 12 front 13 sides 14 Rear 15 floor board 16 suction port 17 Outlet 21 Cooling duct 22 Cooling fan 23 Cooler (evaporator) 24 Cooler cover 24a opening 24b Condensed water pool 24c drain port 31 Top plate 32 Bottom plate 33 props 34 Evaporator

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A case main body for displaying a product inside, a cooler and a cooling fan provided inside, and the air in the case main body is sucked by the rotational driving of the cooling fan to cool the case by the cooler. In a refrigerating showcase having a cooling unit for blowing out into the main body, a humidifier having a structure in which a large number of thin plate-like evaporators are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval is used, and the lower end portion of the evaporators is condensed and separated from the air. Installed in series with the cooler of the cooling unit and the air flow in a state of being immersed in the condensed water, the evaporator is driven by the air flow flowing between the evaporators by rotating the cooling fan. A humidifying device for a refrigerating showcase, characterized in that condensed water that has permeated the whole is evaporated and humidified. 2. The refrigerating showcase according to claim 1, wherein the humidifier is detachably installed in a humidifier installation portion formed in a cooler case that covers the cooler of the cooling unit. Condensed water reservoir for keeping condensed water at a predetermined depth is recessed in the bottom part of the humidifier, and the lower end portion of the evaporator of the humidifier installed in the humidifier installation portion is immersed in the condensed water accumulated in the condensed water reservoir. A humidifying device for a refrigerated showcase, which is configured as described above. 3. The refrigerating showcase according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the humidifier is installed on the upstream side in the air flow of the cooler of the cooling unit, and the air flows through the humidifier and then through the cooler. A humidifying device for a refrigerating showcase, which is configured to be cooled by being cooled. 4. The refrigerating showcase according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the humidifier includes a thin plate-shaped evaporator made of evaporated paper or cloth in a frame body composed of a top plate, a bottom plate and a support. A humidifying device for a refrigerating showcase, characterized in that the humidifying device has a structure in which a large number are arranged in parallel at predetermined intervals.