JP2006296212A - Egg sterilizer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an egg sterilizer having improved sterilization and antibacterial effects through using a light source applying ultraviolet light making eggs stored in an egg storage cabinet generate active oxygen or short-wavelength visible light to the eggs to excite fluorescence of porphyrin adhering to shells of the eggs to generate active oxygen. <P>SOLUTION: The egg sterilizer applies ultraviolet light or short-wavelength visible light from the light source 12 set in the egg storage cabinet 8 to the eggs 11 stored in the egg storage cabinet 8 to excite fluorescence of porphyrin adhering to the shells of the eggs 11 so as to generate active oxygen 13. The active oxygen 13 enables sterilization and prevention of microorganisms adhering to the eggs 11 so as to keep them fresh. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention uses a light source that irradiates ultraviolet light that generates active oxygen or visible light having a short wavelength to eggs stored in an egg storage, to excite porphyrin that adheres to eggshell, The present invention relates to an egg sterilization apparatus that sterilizes and antibacterials the surface of an egg.

A conventional refrigerator with an egg case has a refrigerator body and a plurality of rooms including a refrigerator compartment, which are provided with doors that can be opened and closed, and the refrigerator compartment door is provided with an egg storage. Yes.
The egg is stored in a state where the egg is fitted in the egg fixing portion which is a hole of the egg case in the egg storage, and the egg can be taken in and out by opening the door of the egg storage.
The egg storage door has a colorimetric window for observing the egg, and a UV cut film is attached to the colorimetric window.
In addition, an ultraviolet lamp for irradiating the egg with light is provided inside the egg storage, and the ultraviolet lamp is interlocked with the opening / closing operation of the egg storage door, It is configured to light up only when it is on, that is, when the door is closed.

The ultraviolet lamp also includes 365 nm for exciting the autofluorescence of porphyrin adhering to the egg surface and short wavelength ultraviolet light having a bactericidal effect.
Accordingly, when the egg storage door is closed, the ultraviolet lamp is lit and the freshness of the egg can be observed through the UV cut film of the colorimetric window.
That is, eggs with high freshness emit fluorescent light more red, and those with low freshness appear white, so the freshness of the egg can be confirmed from the autofluorescence of the egg. In addition, since the ultraviolet lamp also includes a wavelength having a bactericidal effect, the eggs can be stored hygienically. And if the door of the egg storage is opened, the ultraviolet lamp is turned off (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-98475 A (first page, FIG. 2)

  In conventional refrigerators with egg cases, eggs stored in an egg storage are checked and sterilized by irradiating them with ultraviolet rays from an ultraviolet lamp. It is harmful and needs to be taken into consideration for its handling and disposal after use (the lamp contains mercury). Also, the ultraviolet lamp consumes a lot of power and is large, so there are restrictions on the location when it is installed in the egg storage. There was a problem that there was.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and by using a light source that irradiates ultraviolet light or short wavelength visible light that generates active oxygen to an egg stored in an egg storage, the eggshell is attached. An object of the present invention is to provide an egg sterilization apparatus having high antibacterial effect by sterilizing and producing active oxygen by exciting the porphyrin of the above.

  An egg sterilization apparatus according to the present invention is provided in an egg case for storing an egg installed in an egg storage and an egg storage, and irradiates the egg with ultraviolet light or short-wave visible light. And a light source.

  As described above, in the egg sterilization apparatus according to the present invention, ultraviolet light or short-wavelength visible light is applied to the egg stored in the egg storage from the light source installed in the egg storage. By exciting the porphyrin used to generate active oxygen, it is possible to sterilize and antibacterial bacteria and microorganisms attached to the egg by the active oxygen, so that the freshness of the egg can be maintained. .

Embodiment 1 FIG.
1 is a front view showing a refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of the refrigerator, FIG. 3A is a side view showing an egg storage in the refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator, FIG. (B) is a side view which shows the state which pulled out the egg case of the egg storage of the refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator.
1 to 3, the refrigerator body 1 includes a refrigerator compartment 2, an ice compartment 3, and a select compartment 4, a vegetable compartment 5, and a freezer compartment 6 that can be used as a refrigerator compartment or a freezer compartment depending on the application. Each room is provided, and an egg storage room 8 is provided in the refrigerator compartment 2.

An egg case 9 is provided in the lower part of the egg storage room 8 so as to be freely accessible, and an LED light source 12 for irradiating the egg 11 placed in the egg case 9 is provided in the upper part.
The egg case 9 includes a flat egg case frame 10 having egg fixing portions 10a as holes in which ten eggs 11 are placed in two rows. A handle 9a is provided on the egg case 9 and is a handle for pulling or pushing the egg case 9 forward.
In the first embodiment, an egg storage chamber 8 provided in the refrigerator compartment 2 includes an egg case 9 and an LED light source 12 to constitute an egg sterilizer.

Operation | movement of the egg sterilizer of Embodiment 1 of this invention comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated.
The LED light source 12 provided in the upper part of the egg storage chamber 8 is in a wavelength range of 365 to 380 nm, for example, with respect to the egg 11 stored in a semi-fixed state in the egg fixing portion 10a of the egg case 9 in the egg storage chamber 8. By irradiating ultraviolet rays having a narrow wavelength bandwidth at any wavelength, porphyrin attached to the eggshell is excited and active oxygen 13 is generated.
Since the active oxygen 13 can sterilize and antibacterial bacteria and microorganisms adhering to the eggshell, it is possible to suppress a decrease in freshness caused by these. At this time, the porphyrin is excited in the egg 11 to express autofluorescence.

In the first embodiment, the porphyrin attached to the eggshell is excited by irradiating the egg 11 placed in the egg case 9 of the egg storage room 8 with ultraviolet light having a wavelength having a narrow wavelength bandwidth. The active oxygen 13 is generated, and the active oxygen can be used to sterilize and antibacterial bacteria and microorganisms attached to the egg, thereby suppressing a decrease in freshness caused by these.
The ultraviolet light having a narrow wavelength band irradiated by the LED light source 12 is not an ultraviolet light having a dangerous wavelength like a conventional ultraviolet lamp, so that the freshness of the egg can be maintained in a safe environment and the power consumption is small. It is small, does not contain mercury, and is environmentally friendly when discarded.

Further, the LED light source 12 does not necessarily need to be continuously irradiated. For example, since there is an operation of pulling the egg case 9 forward and then pushing it in, the LED light source 12 is turned on by turning on the switch at this push-in timing, Energy can be saved by irradiating for a certain period of time.
Further, the LED light source 12 may be turned on by an on operation of pressing a separately provided switch, or the LED light source 12 may be turned on using another means.
Moreover, if an aluminum foil is affixed on the inner wall of the egg case 9, the entire egg can be irradiated by irregularly reflecting light, and the effect is further enhanced.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
4 is a side view showing an egg storage in the refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an egg case frame of the egg case in the egg storage.
In the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the overlapping components is omitted.
In the second embodiment, two LED light sources 14 are attached to the outside of the back surface of the egg storage chamber 8, and the end side wall on the back surface of the egg case 9 to be taken in and out of the egg storage chamber 8 corresponds to the LED light source 14. The light guide part 15 which penetrates this edge part side wall is provided in the position to perform.
Further, the end surface of the egg case frame 10 of the egg case 9 is subjected to a shielding process (for example, application of a black paint, application of a light shielding member) except for a portion other than the portion where the light guide unit 15 is located, thereby shielding the light. A portion 16 is formed.

Operation | movement of the egg sterilizer of Embodiment 2 of this invention comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated.
Ultraviolet light having a narrow wavelength band emitted from the two LED light sources 14 attached to the outside of the back surface of the egg storage chamber 8 passes through the light guide 15 provided on the end side wall of the egg case 9 and then the egg case frame 10. It is irradiated to the end face of.
Since the light shielding portion 16 is formed on the end face of the egg case frame 10 except for the portion where the light guide portion 15 is located, the ultraviolet rays that have entered the egg case frame 10 are irregularly reflected inside the egg case frame, and the egg case frame Since the entire surface excluding the 92 egg fixing portions 10 a becomes the surface light emitting portion 17, the entire egg 11 placed on the egg fixing portion 10 a of the egg case frame 10 is evenly irradiated. Therefore, active oxygen 13 can be generated over the entire eggshell of the egg 11, sterilization and antibacterial performance can be enhanced, and a decrease in egg freshness can be suppressed.

In the second embodiment, the entire surface of the egg case frame 10 is the surface light emitting portion 17. However, the light shielding portion 16 is provided on one surface of the egg case frame 10, and the other surface of the egg case frame 10 is provided. May be used as the surface light emitting unit 17.
Further, light shielding treatment, for example, application of a black paint or pasting of a light shielding member is performed on both the front and back surfaces of the egg case frame 10 excluding the opening end face of the egg fixing portion 10a of the egg case frame 10. By forming the light shielding part 16, only the opening end face of the egg fixing part 10a becomes a surface light emitting part, and the emission efficiency is increased, and the sterilization and antibacterial performance are further enhanced.
In the second embodiment, two LED light sources 14 are used. However, one or a plurality of LED light sources 14 may be used, and the number of LED light sources 14 depends on the size of the egg case 9 or the LED light sources. 14 depends on the amount of light.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
FIG. 6: is a side view which shows the storage of the egg of the refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention.
The third embodiment should be referred to as a modification of the first embodiment. In the third embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the duplicated configuration is omitted.
In the second embodiment, the photocatalyst portion 18 is provided on the surface of the egg case frame 10 of the egg case 9 on which the LED light source 12 emits ultraviolet light.

Operation | movement of the egg sterilizer of Embodiment 3 of this invention comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated.
Compared with the egg 11 stored in the egg fixing portion 10a of the egg case 9 in the egg storage chamber 8 in a semi-fixed state, the LED light source 12 provided in the upper part of the egg storage chamber 8 has a wavelength with a narrow wavelength band. , The porphyrin attached to the eggshell is excited and active oxygen 13 is generated.

At this time, since the ultraviolet rays of the LED light source 12 are irradiated not only on the egg 11 but also on the egg case frame 10 having the egg fixing part 10a and provided with the photocatalyst part 18, the photocatalyst part 18 of the egg case frame 10 is also active. Since oxygen 13 is generated, bacteria and microorganisms attached to the shell of egg 11 and egg case 9 can be sterilized and antibacterial by these active oxygens 13, so that sterilization and antibacterial performance can be further enhanced. Even if the freshness of the egg 11 is reduced and porphyrin is reduced, the egg 11 can be surely sterilized and antibacterial.
Further, when combined with the second embodiment, the egg case frame 10 becomes the surface light emitting portion 17, so that the irradiation area of the egg is enlarged, and the sterilization and antibacterial performance can be further enhanced.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
FIG. 7: is a side view which shows the storage of the egg of the refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention.
In the fourth embodiment, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the overlapping components is omitted.
In the fourth embodiment, a humidifying device 20 is provided in the egg storage room 8 to humidify the room.
The humidifier 20 includes a water supply tank 21 installed outside the egg storage room 8, a water supply pump 23 that sucks up water 22 stored in the water supply tank 21, and water sucked up by the water supply pump 23. A water supply pipe 24 for supplying water to the storage room 8 and a humidification filter 25 provided in the upper part of the egg storage room 8 and supplied with water from the water supply pipe 24 to humidify the egg storage room 8. Yes.

The operation of the egg sterilizer according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention configured as described above will be described.
The humidifier 20 sucks up the water 22 in the water supply tank 21 with a pump 23 and guides it to the humidifying filter 25 through the water supply pipe 24. The humidifying filter 25 sprays water into the egg storage chamber 8 in the form of a mist to humidify it. A space around the egg 11 placed in the egg case 9 in the egg storage chamber 8 is defined as a high-humidity space 28.
The reason why the egg storage chamber 8 is made to be a high-humidity space 28 is that the egg 11 breathes through the eggshell, and the moisture inside the eggs 11 is gradually released from the fine holes in the eggshell. With this release, the weight of the egg itself decreases and the freshness decreases, but this is to suppress this moisture transpiration.

In the fourth embodiment, the freshness of the egg 11 is maintained by making the space around the egg 11 placed in the egg case 9 in the egg storage room 8 using the humidifier 20 into the high-humidity space 28, and the LED 11 The active oxygen 13 is generated by irradiating the light source 12 with ultraviolet rays, and bacteria and microorganisms adhering to the shell of the egg 11 are sterilized and antibacterial.
When combined with the third embodiment, the photocatalyst portion 18 is provided on the surface of the egg case frame 10, and the sterilization and antibacterial performance can be further enhanced by the active oxygen 13 caused by the photocatalyst portion 18.

Embodiment 5. FIG.
FIG. 8: is a side view which shows the egg storage of the refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 5 of this invention.
In the fifth embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the overlapping components is omitted.
In the fifth embodiment, the egg storage chamber 8 is provided with a decompression device 30 for decompressing the interior of the egg.
This decompression device 30 reciprocates in the cylinder 32, a check valve 31 provided on the side wall of the egg storage chamber 8, a cylinder 32 attached to the side wall of the egg storage chamber 8 so as to be connected to the check valve 31. It comprises a moving piston 33 and a grip portion 34 provided on the piston 33 and exposed to the outside.

The operation of the egg sterilizer according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention configured as described above will be described.
When the piston 33 is reciprocated in the cylinder 32 by operating the grip portion 34, the decompression device 30 discharges the air in the egg storage chamber 8 to the outside via the check valve 31. The inside of the storage chamber 8 is decompressed to form a decompressed space 35.
The reason why the decompression space 35 is set in the egg storage chamber 8 is that the egg 11 is breathing as described above, taking oxygen from the eggshell and exhausting carbon dioxide through the eggshell as well. This is because the consumption of nutrients can be suppressed by suppressing the pressure by reducing the pressure.

In the fifth embodiment, the respiration rate of the egg is suppressed by reducing the pressure in the egg storage chamber 8 having the egg case 9 on which the egg 11 is placed using the pressure reducing device 30 to form the pressure reducing space 35. In addition, it has sterilization by porphyrin and antibacterial effect, and as a result, the freshness of eggs can be maintained.
In addition, all the said Embodiment 1-5 demonstrated that the egg storage 8 provided in the refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator main body had the egg case 9 and the LED light source 12, and comprised the egg sterilizer. However, the egg storage 8 is not necessarily limited to the refrigerator, and may be an independent egg storage 8. The egg storage 8 includes an egg case 9 and an LED light source. Needless to say, the egg sterilization apparatus is composed of 12.

The front view which shows the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. The side view of the refrigerator. (A) is a side view which shows the egg storage of the refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator, (b) is a side view which shows the state which pulled out the egg case of the egg storage of the refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator. The side view which shows the storage of the egg of the refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. The perspective view which shows the egg case frame of the egg case of the storage of the egg. The side view which shows the storage of the egg of the refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. The side view which shows the storage of the egg of the refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention. The side view which shows the storage of the egg of the refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 5 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Refrigerator body, 2 refrigerator compartment, 3 ice compartment, 4 select room, 5 vegetable room, 6 freezer compartment, 7 door, 8 egg storage, 9 egg case, 9a handle, 10 egg case frame, 10a egg fixing part, 11 Egg, 12 LED light source, 13 Active oxygen.

Claims (8)

  An egg case for storing an egg installed in an egg storage, and a light source provided in the egg storage for irradiating ultraviolet light or short wavelength visible light toward the egg Egg sterilizer.   2. The egg sterilization apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source is an LED light source that outputs light having a wavelength included in a predetermined wavelength band and having a narrow wavelength bandwidth.   The egg case is provided with a flat egg case frame having an egg fixing portion having an opening for fixing and placing an egg therein, and a light guide unit provided with the light source penetrating through the end side wall of the egg case. It was installed so as to irradiate, and a light shielding part was provided on the end face of the egg case frame except for the part where the light source irradiates via the light guide part, and the surface of the egg case frame was formed as a surface light emitting part. The egg sterilizer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the above.   The egg sterilizer according to claim 3, wherein a light shielding part is provided on at least one surface of the egg case frame, and the other surface of the egg case frame is formed as a surface light emitting part.   The egg sterilizer according to claim 3, wherein a light shielding part is provided on a surface of the egg case frame excluding the egg fixing part, and an opening end surface of the egg fixing part is formed as a surface light emitting part.   The egg sterilizer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a photocatalyst portion is provided on a surface of an egg case frame of the egg case.   The egg sterilizer according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the egg storage is provided with humidifying means for making the inside of the egg storage highly humid. The egg sterilizer according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the egg storage is provided with decompression means for reducing the pressure in the egg storage.

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