JP2008075913A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator comprising a temperature selective compartment to perform satisfactory low temperature cooking. <P>SOLUTION: This refrigerator comprises a cooler 17 generating cold air, storage compartments 2, 5, 6 for cooling and storing stored objects by the cold air generated by the cooler, and the temperature selective compartment 3 capable of switching an inside temperature between a low temperature side cooled by the cold air generated by the cooler 17 and a high temperature side of a temperature higher than a normal temperature by driving a heater 15, a far infrared ray generating portion 50 generating far infrared ray is formed in the temperature selective compartment 3 by coating a base material with an infrared ray generating substance such as charcoal and ceramics. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator including a temperature switching chamber that can be switched to a desired room temperature by a user.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a refrigerator that includes a temperature switching chamber in addition to a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment. This refrigerator includes a damper device that opens and closes a passage of cool air sent to the temperature switching chamber, and a heater that raises the temperature of the temperature switching chamber. Thereby, the room temperature of the temperature switching chamber can be switched to a desired low temperature range such as freezing, refrigeration, partial, chilled, etc. according to the user's application.

  In addition, a refrigerator is known in which a temperature switching chamber can be switched to a high temperature side higher than normal temperature by driving a heater. Thereby, heat insulation of a heating thing, warm cooking, etc. can be performed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-288440

  However, according to the conventional refrigerator in which the heater is provided in the temperature switching chamber, there is a problem that when the heater is energized in a sealed state, the temperature in the vicinity of the heater rises and the temperature distribution in the temperature switching chamber cannot be made uniform. In addition, when warming or warming cooking is performed by driving the heater, hot stored air is directly applied to the stored material, so that the stored material is dried. In addition, since the surface of the stored item becomes the same temperature as the warm air in a short time, the surface is burnt before the inside of the stored item is warmed. Therefore, there has been a problem that it is not possible to satisfactorily keep the stored items warm and cooked.

  An object of this invention is to provide the refrigerator provided with the temperature switching chamber which can make uniform temperature distribution and can perform favorable thermal insulation and warm cooking.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a cooler that generates cold air, a storage room that cools and stores a stored item by the cold air generated by the cooler, and a low temperature side that is cooled by the cold air generated by the cooler. And a temperature switching chamber in which the room temperature can be switched to a higher temperature side than room temperature by driving the heater, and a far infrared ray generator for generating far infrared rays is provided in the temperature switching chamber.

  According to this configuration, the cold air generated by the cooler is sent to the storage chamber, and the storage chamber is cooled. When the temperature switching chamber is switched to the low temperature side, the cool air generated by the cooler is guided to the temperature switching chamber and the temperature switching chamber is cooled. When the temperature switching chamber is switched to the high temperature side, the intrusion of cold air is blocked and the heater is driven to maintain the temperature higher than normal temperature. At this time, far-infrared rays are emitted from the far-infrared ray generator disposed in the temperature switching chamber, and the stored item is heated.

  In the refrigerator having the above-described configuration, the far-infrared ray generator may include a far-infrared ray-generating substance that emits far-infrared rays when heated. According to this configuration, for example, a far-infrared ray generating material such as ceramic, charcoal powder, bamboo charcoal powder, or silicon is disposed on the surface of a base material made of metal, a resin molded product, or the like. A far-infrared ray generating substance emits a large amount of far-infrared rays by heating.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that in the refrigerator having the above-described configuration, the temperature inside the temperature switching chamber on the high temperature side is set to 50 to 60 ° C.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that in the refrigerator having the above-described configuration, a storage container that opens upward and stores stored items is provided in the temperature switching chamber, and the far-infrared ray generator is disposed above the storage container. According to this configuration, the stored item in the storage container is heated from the far-infrared ray generator and is heated by the high-temperature air in the temperature switching chamber.

  Moreover, the present invention is characterized in that, in the refrigerator having the above-described configuration, the far-infrared ray generator is formed in a plate shape.

  Moreover, the present invention is characterized in that, in the refrigerator having the above-described configuration, the far-infrared ray generator is divided into a plurality of upper and lower parts. According to this configuration, for example, the far-infrared ray generator is disposed above and below the storage container.

  In the refrigerator configured as described above, the far-infrared ray generator is bridged between rails provided on both side walls of the temperature switching chamber, and the rails are provided in a plurality of stages. According to this configuration, the installation position of the far infrared ray generator can be varied in the vertical direction.

  In the refrigerator having the above-described configuration, the present invention further includes a temperature switching chamber blower that circulates the air in the temperature switching chamber, and the heater is disposed on the blowing side of the temperature switching chamber blower, and the blowing direction of the temperature switching chamber blower Is directed to the far infrared ray generator. According to this structure, the air sent out by the temperature switching chamber blower hits the far-infrared ray generator after being heated by the heater. Thereby, a far-infrared ray generation part is heated.

  According to the present invention, in the refrigerator configured as described above, the far-infrared ray generator is disposed at an upper portion of the temperature switching chamber, and a wind direction plate for changing a wind direction of the temperature switching chamber blower is provided, and the temperature switching chamber blower is configured to switch the temperature. When the chamber is on the high temperature side, it is blown out toward the far-infrared ray generator by the wind direction plate. According to this configuration, when the temperature switching chamber is on the high temperature side, air is sent from the wind direction plate toward the far-infrared ray generator disposed above to heat the far-infrared ray generator.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that in the refrigerator having the above-described configuration, the wind direction plate is formed of a member whose shape changes according to temperature. According to this structure, a wind direction board consists of a bimetal, a shape memory alloy, etc., and varies the wind direction of the air which blown off from the temperature switching room air blower according to temperature.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the refrigerator having the above-described configuration, when the temperature switching chamber is on a low temperature side, the air speed blown out by the temperature switching chamber blower is set to 1 m / second or less. According to this structure, since the air sent from the temperature switching chamber blower is low in speed, it is discharged from the wind direction plate and then descends by its own weight to cool the stored items.

  Moreover, the present invention is characterized in that in the refrigerator having the above-described configuration, an auxiliary heater is provided integrally with the far infrared ray generator. According to this configuration, the far infrared ray generator is maintained at a temperature higher than the temperature in the temperature switching chamber by driving the auxiliary heater.

  According to the present invention, since the far infrared ray generation unit is provided in the temperature switching chamber, the temperature switching chamber is heated by the heater and the far infrared ray generation unit. Therefore, the temperature distribution in the temperature switching chamber can be made uniform. Moreover, it can heat to the inside of a store thing in a short time, without directly applying warm air with a far infrared ray. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the stored product from being dried and the surface from being burnt and to perform good heat insulation and warm cooking.

  Further, according to the present invention, the far-infrared ray generating part has the far-infrared ray generating substance that radiates far infrared rays by heating, so that the far-infrared ray generating part can be easily realized.

  Further, according to the present invention, since the room temperature of the high temperature side temperature switching chamber is set to 50 to 60 ° C., a large amount of far infrared rays can be easily generated.

  Further, according to the present invention, since the far infrared ray generator is disposed above the storage container whose upper surface is opened, the stored matter in the storage container can be easily heated by the far infrared ray generator.

  Further, according to the present invention, since the far-infrared ray generating part is formed in a plate shape, the upper part of the storage container is covered with the plate-like far infrared ray generating part, and without applying cold air or hot air directly to the stored items in the storage container. Drying can be prevented.

  Moreover, according to this invention, since the far-infrared rays generation | occurrence | production part was divided | segmented into the upper and lower parts, the far-infrared rays supplied to a store | warehouse | chamber increase and it can perform more favorable cooking. In addition, the temperature distribution in the temperature switching chamber can be made more uniform.

  According to the present invention, since the rails provided on both side walls of the temperature switching chamber to bridge the far-infrared ray generating portion are provided in a plurality of levels, the far-infrared ray generating portion can be moved up and down. Thereby, a far-infrared ray generation part can be arranged in the vicinity of a storage container, a storage container can be plugged up, and drying of stored matter can be prevented. In addition, the far infrared ray generator can be arranged away from the storage container to make the temperature distribution in the temperature switching chamber uniform.

  Further, according to the present invention, the heater is arranged on the blowout side of the temperature switching chamber blower, and the blowing direction of the temperature switching chamber blower is directed to the far infrared ray generator, so that the air heated by the heater is immediately applied to the far infrared ray generator. Far infrared rays can be generated efficiently.

  Further, according to the present invention, the far-infrared ray generator is disposed at the upper part of the temperature switching chamber, and the temperature switching chamber blower blows upward toward the far-infrared ray generator by the wind direction plate at the high temperature side. It can be heated efficiently.

  Further, according to the present invention, the wind direction plate is made of a member whose shape changes according to the temperature, so that the wind direction plate can be easily changed without requiring a wind direction plate driving device.

  Further, according to the present invention, when the temperature switching chamber is on the low temperature side, the wind speed blown by the temperature switching chamber blower is set to 1 m / second or less, so that the cool air sent from the temperature switching chamber blower can be easily guided downward.

  Further, according to the present invention, since the auxiliary heater is integrally provided in the far infrared ray generator, more far infrared rays can be emitted while maintaining the far infrared ray generator at a high temperature.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are a front view and a right side view showing a refrigerator according to one embodiment. The refrigerator 1 is provided with a refrigerator compartment 2 in the upper stage, and a temperature switching room 3 and an ice making room 4 in the middle stage. A vegetable room 5 and a freezer room 6 are arranged in the lower stage of the refrigerator 1.

  The refrigerating room 2 has a double door and stores stored items in a refrigerator. The temperature switching chamber 3 is provided on the left side of the middle stage, and the room temperature can be switched by the user. The ice making chamber 4 is provided on the right side of the middle stage and performs ice making. The vegetable room 5 is provided on the lower left side and is maintained at a temperature suitable for vegetable storage (about 8 ° C.). The freezer compartment 6 is provided on the lower right side and communicates with the ice making compartment 4 to store the stored items in a frozen state.

  FIG. 3 is a right side sectional view of the refrigerator 1. The freezer compartment 6 and the ice making chamber 4 are provided with a storage container 11 for storing stored items. A similar storage container 11 is also provided in the vegetable room 5 and the temperature switching room 3. The refrigerator compartment 2 is provided with a plurality of storage shelves 41 on which stored items are placed. A storage pocket 42 is provided on the door of the refrigerator compartment 2. Thereby, the usability of the refrigerator 1 is improved. A chilled chamber 23 maintained at a chilled temperature zone (about 0 ° C.) is provided in the lower part of the refrigerator compartment 2.

  A cold air passage 31 is provided behind the freezer compartment 6, and a cooler 17 connected to the compressor 35 is disposed in the cold air passage 31. A cold air passage 32 communicating with the cold air passage 31 is provided behind the refrigerator compartment 2. A refrigerant such as isobutane is circulated by driving a compressor 35 connected to a condenser and an expander (both not shown) to operate a refrigeration cycle. Thereby, the cooler 17 on the low temperature side of the refrigeration cycle and the air flowing through the cold air passage 31 exchange heat to generate cold air.

  Moreover, the freezer compartment fan 18 and the refrigerator compartment fan 28 are each arrange | positioned in the cold air | gas channel | paths 31 and 32. As shown in FIG. As will be described in detail later, the cold air generated by the cooler 17 is supplied to the freezer compartment 6, the ice making chamber 4, the chilled chamber 23, and the temperature switching chamber 3 through the cold air passage 31 by driving the freezer compartment fan 18. The cold air is supplied to the refrigerator compartment 2 and the vegetable compartment 5 through the cold passage 32 by driving the refrigerator compartment fan 28.

  FIG. 4 is a right side sectional view showing the temperature switching chamber 3. The upper and lower surfaces of the temperature switching chamber 3 are insulated from the refrigerator compartment 2 and the vegetable compartment 5 by heat insulation walls 7 and 8. The side surface of the temperature switching chamber 3 is insulated from the ice making chamber 4 and the freezing chamber 6 by a heat insulating wall (not shown). The front surface of the temperature switching chamber 3 can be opened and closed by a rotating door 9. The back surface of the temperature switching chamber 3 is covered with a back plate 33. A far-infrared ray generating plate 50 (far-infrared ray generating part) is provided at the upper part of the temperature switching chamber 3.

  An inlet 33a through which air flows into the temperature switching chamber 3 is provided at the upper part of the back plate 33, and an outlet 33b through which air flows out from the temperature switching chamber 3 is provided at the lower part. The inflow port 33a is provided with a wind direction plate 33c for changing the air direction of a temperature switching chamber blower 14 to be described later. The wind direction plate 33c is made of a bimetal whose shape changes according to the temperature, and when the ambient temperature is low, the wind direction plate 33c is inclined so that the tip on the discharge side is directed downward.

  Further, when the ambient temperature rises, the tip of the discharge side of the wind direction plate 33c warps upward. Thereby, when the temperature of the temperature switching chamber 3 is low, the air flowing into the temperature switching chamber 3 is guided downward by the wind direction plate 33c. Further, when the temperature of the temperature switching chamber 3 is high, the air flowing into the temperature switching chamber 3 is guided toward the upper far infrared ray generation plate 50. Thereby, the far-infrared ray generating plate 50 is heated by high-temperature air.

  In addition, when the temperature switching chamber 3 is on the low temperature side, if the tip on the discharge side of the airflow direction plate 33c is set in a substantially horizontal direction, the cold air flows into the front of the temperature switching chamber 3. Thereby, the inside of the temperature switching chamber 3 is cooled uniformly, and a stored product can be cooled uniformly. That is, if the direction of the wind direction plate 33c is changed in different directions depending on the temperature zone of the temperature switching chamber 3, good cooling and heating can be performed in each temperature zone.

  For example, at the time of quick freezing, if the direction of the wind direction plate 33c is set downward so that cold air directly hits the stored item, the freezing can be performed quickly. As described above, the refrigeration temperature to refrigeration temperature region can be uniformly cooled with the direction of the wind direction plate 33c being substantially horizontal. When the wind direction plate 33c is directed to the far infrared ray generating plate 50 in the high temperature region, heating by far infrared rays can be performed.

  The wind direction plate 33c may be formed of a shape memory alloy whose shape changes according to temperature. In addition, a driving device for driving the wind direction plate 33c may be provided, and the wind direction plate 33c may be driven according to the temperature of the temperature switching chamber 3 to vary the wind direction. At this time, if the wind direction plate 33c is interlocked with a temperature switching chamber return damper 20 and a temperature switching chamber discharge damper 13 which will be described later, the drive motor can be shared.

  In the vicinity of the inflow port 33a and the outflow port 33b, temperature sensors 24 and 16 for detecting the temperature in the temperature switching chamber 3 are provided.

  An introduction ventilation path 12 is provided behind the back plate 33 and the heat insulating wall 10 that forms the outer wall. The introduction ventilation path 12 is provided with a temperature switching chamber discharge damper 13, and communicates with the cold air passage 31 to guide the cold air generated in the cooler 17 (see FIG. 3) to the temperature switching chamber 3. Moreover, the cool air path between the cooler 17 and the inflow side of the temperature switching chamber 3 is opened and closed by opening and closing the temperature switching chamber discharge damper 13, and the amount of air flowing into the temperature switching chamber 3 from the introduction ventilation path 12 is adjusted by the opening and closing amount. Is done.

  In the introduction ventilation path 12, a temperature switching chamber blower 14 is provided between the temperature switching chamber discharge damper 13 and the inflow port 33a. The cold air in the cold air passage 31 is easily guided to the temperature switching chamber 3 by driving the temperature switching chamber blower 14.

  A temperature switching chamber return damper 20 is provided behind the outlet 33b. The temperature switching chamber return damper 20 has openings 20a and 20b, and has a baffle 20c that opens and closes the other by rotation. When the opening 20b is opened, the air flowing out from the temperature switching chamber 3 is guided to the cooler 17 through the return air passage 19 (see FIG. 6) as indicated by an arrow F.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the opening 20 a is opened, the air flowing out from the temperature switching chamber 3 is guided to the intake side of the temperature switching chamber blower 14, and the cool air path between the outflow side of the temperature switching chamber 3 and the cooler 17. Is closed. Therefore, the air in the temperature switching chamber 3 can be circulated as shown by the arrow G by driving the temperature switching chamber blower 14, closing the opening 20 b and closing the temperature switching chamber return damper 20. Note that the temperature switching chamber blower 14 may be provided in the temperature switching chamber 3.

  A heater 15 is provided behind the inlet 33 a of the temperature switching chamber 3. The heater 15 is formed of a heat radiation type glass tube heater, and raises the temperature of the temperature switching chamber 3 by radiant heat released through the back plate 33. The heater 15 is disposed on the outlet side of the temperature switching chamber blower 14. Thereby, the surface temperature of the heater 15 can be lowered and safety can be improved. Further, the outlet 33b is provided with a temperature fuse 30 that cuts off the energization of the heater 15 when the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature.

  In the temperature switching chamber 3, a storage container 11 having a drawer-type upper surface on which stored items are placed is disposed. The far infrared ray generation plate 50 is disposed above the storage container 11. The far infrared ray generating plate 50 is provided with a far infrared ray generating substance on the surface of a base material made of aluminum, aluminum alloy, iron, stainless steel or the like.

  The far-infrared ray generating substance of the present embodiment is made of ceramic, charcoal powder, bamboo charcoal powder, silicon, or the like, and a substance that emits a large amount of far-infrared rays by heating is used. The far-infrared ray-generating substance layer is formed by applying a paint containing the far-infrared ray-generating substance to a substrate.

  The far infrared ray generating plate 50 may be formed of ceramic which is a far infrared ray generating substance. Moreover, you may form a base material with resin. Thereby, the far infrared ray generating plate 50 can be easily processed into a complicated shape. When a heat-resistant resin such as heat-resistant ABS or thermoplastic heat-resistant polyimide resin is used as the base material, the far-infrared ray generating plate 50 can withstand high temperatures (for example, 120 ° C.), and the wind direction plate 33c and the back plate 33 can be integrally formed. it can.

  Further, when the temperature of the temperature switching chamber 3 is high, air is sent from the temperature switching chamber blower 14 toward the far infrared ray generation plate 50 by the wind direction plate 33c. Thereby, the air heated by the heater 15 hits the far-infrared ray generating plate 50, and can generate far-infrared rays efficiently.

  The far infrared ray generation plate 50 is supported by rails 51 provided on both side walls of the temperature switching chamber 3. A concave portion 51 a is provided on the upper surface of the rail 51, and a convex portion 50 a is provided on the lower surface of the far infrared ray generation plate 50. The far infrared ray generating plate 50 is positioned by fitting the convex portion 50a into the concave portion 51a. A stopper may be provided on the rear portion of the side wall of the temperature switching chamber 3 so that the rear end of the far-infrared ray generating plate 50 abuts against the stopper to restrict the movement of the far-infrared ray generating plate 50 toward the back plate 33.

  A rail similar to the rail 51 may be provided above the far infrared ray generating plate 50 with a gap wider than the protruding amount of the convex portion 50a. Thereby, the rattling of the far-infrared ray generating plate 50 is regulated to some extent, the stability of the far-infrared ray generating plate 50 is improved, and a sense of security can be given to the user. If the gap is made minute in the vicinity of the back plate 33 of the far-infrared ray generating plate 50, it is possible to further regulate the backlash in the vertical direction. Further, when a spring-like pressing plate-like member that biases the upper surface of the far-infrared ray generating plate 50 downward is provided on the ceiling or side surface of the temperature switching chamber 3 by screwing or the like, the concave portion 51a and the convex portion 50a Mating is more reliable. Thereby, abnormal noise due to vibration or the like can be suppressed, and stability is further improved.

  A handle 50b bent downward is provided at the front of the far-infrared ray generating plate 50. Further, the height of the upper surface of the far infrared ray generation plate 50 is lower than the height of the upper surface of the opening 3 a on the front surface of the temperature switching chamber 3. Accordingly, when the handle 50b is pulled with a finger, the convex portion 50a can get over the concave portion 51a and the far infrared ray generating plate 50 can be pulled forward. Therefore, the far infrared ray generating plate 50 and the ceiling surface of the temperature switching chamber 3 can be cleaned, and the far infrared ray generating plate 50 and the temperature switching chamber 3 can be kept clean.

  In addition, if the engaging part which bent the front end of the handle part 50b about 1-3 mm in the perpendicular | vertical downward direction or the perpendicular | vertical direction with respect to an inclined surface is provided, it will become easy to catch the handle part 50b. Thereby, it becomes easy to pull out the far-infrared ray generating plate 50 to the near side. Further, if the engagement portion is provided at a part of the far-infrared ray generating plate 50 such as the left and right end portions and the central portion, the air flow in the temperature switching chamber 3 is not affected.

  The rail 51 may be omitted and the far infrared ray generating plate 50 may be screwed to the ceiling surface of the temperature switching chamber 3. That is, a boss having a screw hole screwed on the ceiling surface of the temperature switching chamber 3 is provided, and the far infrared ray generation plate 50 is provided with a through hole facing the boss, and a screw is inserted into the through hole and screwed into the boss. . At this time, it is preferable that the through hole is formed in a long hole and is formed in a keyhole shape in which a hole having a diameter larger than that of the screw head is formed at the end. Thereby, the far infrared ray generating plate 50 can be hooked on the screw, and the far infrared ray generating plate 50 can be slid and attached easily.

  Therefore, the far-infrared ray generating plate 50 and the temperature switching chamber 3 can be kept clean as described above. Further, the far infrared ray generation plate 50 can be arranged at a position higher than the upper end of the opening 3a, and the volume of the temperature switching chamber 3 can be secured widely. It is more desirable to provide a screw hole in the heat insulating wall 7 above the temperature switching chamber 3 because the far infrared ray generation plate 50 can be disposed closer to the ceiling side of the temperature switching chamber 3. In addition, you may position by providing the fitting part by an unevenness | corrugation between the far-infrared ray generating board 50 and the ceiling part of the temperature switching chamber 3. FIG.

  FIG. 6 shows a front sectional view of the vicinity of the middle stage of the refrigerator 1. A cold air passage 31 (see FIG. 3) behind the freezer compartment 6 opens at the upper front of the freezer compartment fan 18, and air is sent to the ice making chamber 4 by the freezer compartment fan 18. A freezer compartment damper 22 is provided below the freezer compartment 6 that communicates with the ice making compartment 4. A return ventilation path 21 (see FIG. 3) is provided in the lower rear part of the freezer compartment 6 to guide air to the cooler 17 via the freezer damper 22 and return to the cool air passage 31. The air volume of the cold air flowing out from the freezer compartment 6 is adjusted by opening and closing the freezer compartment damper 22.

  The upper part of the cold air passage 31 communicates with the cold air passage 32 via the refrigerator compartment damper 27. Further, the cold air passage 31 is branched and communicates with the chilled chamber 23 via the chilled chamber damper 25 and also communicates with the introduction ventilation path 12 (see FIG. 4) as described above.

  A refrigerator outlet (not shown) is opened at the lower back of the refrigerator compartment 2 and a vegetable compartment inlet (not shown) is provided in the vegetable compartment 5. The refrigerator compartment outlet and the vegetable compartment inlet are connected by a passage (not shown) passing through the back surface of the temperature switching chamber 3 so that the refrigerator compartment 2 and the vegetable compartment 5 communicate with each other.

  The temperature switching chamber return damper 20 is provided below the temperature switching chamber 3. Behind the temperature switching chamber 3 and the vegetable chamber 5 is provided a return ventilation path 19 that extends downward from the temperature switching chamber return damper 20 and communicates with the return ventilation path 21 (see FIG. 3). As described above, the air in the temperature switching chamber 3 is guided to the cooler 17 through the return ventilation paths 19 and 21 by opening the opening 20b (see FIG. 4) of the temperature switching chamber return damper 20. A vegetable room outlet (not shown) communicating with the return ventilation path 19 is provided on the back of the vegetable room 5.

  FIG. 7 is a cold air circuit diagram showing the flow of cold air in the refrigerator 1. The freezer compartment 6, the refrigerator compartment 2, and the temperature switching chamber 3 are each arranged in parallel. Further, the ice making room 4 is arranged in series with the freezing room 6, and the vegetable room 5 is arranged in series with the refrigerating room 2. The cold air generated by the cooler 17 is sent up to the ice making chamber 4 by raising the cold air passage 31 as shown by an arrow A (see FIG. 6) by driving the freezer compartment fan 18. The cold air sent to the ice making room 4 flows through the ice making room 4 and the freezing room 6 and flows out from the freezing room damper 22. And it returns to the cooler 17 via the return ventilation path 21. As a result, the ice making chamber 4 and the freezing chamber 6 are cooled.

  The cold air branched at the upper part of the cold air passage 31 on the exhaust side of the freezer compartment fan 18 by the drive of the refrigerating compartment blower 28 circulates through the cold air passage 32 through the cold compartment damper 27 as shown by an arrow B (see FIG. 6). And sent to the refrigerator compartment 2. Moreover, it is sent to the chilled chamber 23 as shown by an arrow C (see FIG. 6).

  These cold air flows through the refrigerator compartment 2 and the chilled compartment 23 and then flows into the vegetable compartment 5. The cold air flowing into the vegetable compartment 5 flows through the vegetable compartment 5 and returns to the cooler 17 through the return ventilation paths 19 and 21. Thereby, the inside of the refrigerator compartment 2 and the vegetable compartment 5 is cooled, and if it becomes preset temperature, the refrigerator compartment damper 27 and the chilled compartment damper 23 will be closed.

  Further, the cold air branched at the upper part of the cold air passage 31 on the exhaust side of the freezer compartment fan 18 by the drive of the temperature switching chamber blower 14 circulates through the introduction ventilation path 12 as shown by an arrow D (see FIG. 6), and the temperature It flows into the temperature switching chamber 3 through the switching chamber discharge damper 13. The cold air that has flowed into the temperature switching chamber 3 flows through the temperature switching chamber 3 and flows out of the temperature switching chamber return damper 20 as indicated by an arrow F (see FIG. 4). And as shown to the arrow E (refer FIG. 6), it returns to the cooler 17 via the return ventilation path 19 and 21. FIG. Thereby, the inside of the temperature switching chamber 3 is cooled.

  Since the cold air flowing into the temperature switching chamber 3 from the inflow port 33a is maintained at a low temperature (for example, −22 ° C.), the wind direction plate 33c made of bimetal is inclined so that the discharge-side tip is directed downward. As a result, the cold air is blown downward into the temperature switching chamber 3 from the inflow port 33a as indicated by an arrow J (see FIG. 4), and flows away from the far-infrared ray generation plate 50 downward. Thereafter, the cold air flowing forward descends along the door 9, flows through the bottom surface of the storage container 11, and flows out from the rear outlet 33 b.

  In the temperature switching chamber 3 on the low temperature side where the stored items are cooled and stored, the temperature of the cold air is negative, and the air speed of the temperature switching chamber blower 14 is 1 m / sec or less. Thus, the cold air is guided downward only by moving a short distance along the wind direction plate 33c inclined downward. Therefore, the cool air can be reliably guided downward. The blowing direction of the wind direction plate 33c may be fixed upward. Even in this case, by setting the wind speed to 1 m / second or less, the cool air after passing through the wind direction plate 33c is guided downward by its own weight.

  Since the cool air flows to the lower part of the temperature switching chamber 3 by blowing the cool air downward, the stored items arranged in the lower part can be efficiently cooled. In particular, when performing cryopreservation, the stored product can be frozen in a short time to increase the storage efficiency of the stored product. When the temperature switching chamber 3 is on the low temperature side where cold air in a negative temperature region flows in, the far-infrared energy generated by the far-infrared ray generating plate 50 is very small, and the cooling efficiency is not affected.

  Further, the far infrared ray generating plate 50 may be disposed so as to block the upper surface of the storage container 11, and cold air may be guided onto the upper surface of the far infrared ray generating plate 50 by a duct, a wind direction plate or the like. If it does in this way, the inside of the storage container 1 will be indirectly cooled via the far-infrared ray generating plate 50. Thereby, when the stored items such as vegetables are cooled and stored at an indoor temperature of the temperature switching chamber 3 of 8 ° C. or 3 ° C., the stored items are cooled without applying cold air of −18 to −10 ° C., for example. Accordingly, the stored product can be prevented from drying. At this time, a guide plate or a duct for guiding the cool air downward may be provided in the vicinity of the front portion of the far infrared ray generation plate 50. Thereby, it becomes easy for cold air to flow downward on the back side of the door 9.

  As described above, the temperature switching chamber 3 can switch the room temperature by a user's operation. The operation modes of the temperature switching chamber 3 are wine (8 ° C.), refrigeration (3 ° C.), chilled (0 ° C.), soft freezing (−8 ° C.), and freezing (−15 ° C.) depending on the temperature zone. Provided.

  Thus, the user can store the refrigerated product at a desired temperature by refrigeration or refrigeration. The room temperature can be switched by changing the amount of opening of the temperature switching chamber discharge damper 13. For example, the heater 15 may be energized to switch the temperature from the freezing room temperature to the refrigerated room temperature. Thereby, it can switch to desired room temperature rapidly.

  Further, by energizing the heater 15, the temperature of the temperature switching chamber 3 can be switched from the low temperature side where the stored items are cooled and stored to the high temperature side where the cooked heated food is temporarily kept warm or cooked. Since the growth temperature of the main food poisoning bacteria is 30 ° C. to 45 ° C., the indoor temperature on the high temperature side is preferably set to 50 ° C. or more in consideration of the tolerance of the heater capacity, the temperature distribution in the temperature switching chamber 3, and the like. Thereby, propagation of miscellaneous bacteria can be prevented.

  Moreover, since the heat-resistant temperature of the general resin parts used for a refrigerator is 80 degreeC, when the room temperature of a high temperature side shall be 80 degrees C or less, it can implement | achieve cheaply. In addition, in order to sterilize food poisoning bacteria, for example, in the case of enterohemorrhagic E. coli (pathogenic E. coli O157), heating at 75 ° C. for 1 minute is required. Therefore, it is more desirable to set the indoor temperature on the high temperature side to 75 ° C. to 80 ° C.

The following are the test results on the sterilization of food poisoning bacteria at 55 ° C. In the initial state, E. coli 2.4 × 10 ³ CFU / mL, Staphylococcus aureus 2.0 × 10 ³ CFU / mL, Salmonella 2.1 × 10 ³ CFU / mL, Vibrio parahaemolyticus 1.5 × 10 ³ CFU / ML, Cereus 4.0 × 10 ³ CFU / mL. This test sample was heated from 3 ° C. to 55 ° C. over 40 minutes, kept at 55 ° C. for 3.5 hours, then returned from 55 ° C. to 3 ° C. over 80 minutes, and the amount of each bacterium was examined again. As a result, all the bacteria were reduced to a level of 10 CFU / mL or less (not detected). Therefore, even if the set temperature on the high temperature side of the temperature switching chamber 3 is 55 ° C., there is a sufficient sterilization effect.

  Further, the far infrared ray generating material of the far infrared ray generating plate 50 emits a large amount of far infrared rays at 50 ° C. to 60 ° C. For this reason, when the room temperature on the high temperature side is set to 50 ° C. to 60 ° C., a heating effect by far infrared rays described later can be obtained with power saving.

  When the temperature switching chamber 3 is switched to the high temperature side, the air sent from the temperature switching chamber blower 14 is heated by the heater 15 and sent into the temperature switching chamber 3 from the inflow port 33a. At this time, the wind direction plate 33c warps upward by the contact with the heated air. For this reason, as shown by the arrow K (refer FIG. 5), the air sent out from the temperature switching chamber air blower 14 is blown out toward the far-infrared ray generating plate 50.

  The warm air hitting the far-infrared ray generating plate 50 flows along the lower surface of the far-infrared ray generating plate 50 and is guided obliquely downward along the front bent portion 50b. The warm air guided downward flows downward near the back side of the door 9, flows below the storage container 11, and flows out from the outlet 33 b on the back side. As a result, the stored items stored in the storage container 11 are not directly exposed to hot air, and the stored items such as meat and fish can be prevented from drying.

  The far infrared ray generating plate 50 is warmed by warm air, and far infrared rays corresponding to the increased temperature are generated. Thereby, the stored item in the temperature switching chamber 3 is efficiently warmed to the inside by the far infrared rays. Since the upper surface of the storage container 11 is opened, the stored item in the storage container 11 is warmed from above by infrared rays or far infrared rays radiated from the upper far infrared ray generation plate 50. Further, the stored item in the storage container 11 is indirectly warmed from below by the warm air flowing under the storage container 11. Therefore, the stored item in the storage container 11 is warmed up to the inside without uneven temperature.

  The far-infrared rays emitted from the far-infrared ray generating plate 50 give heat to the stored item in proportion to the difference between the fourth power of the absolute temperature of the far-infrared generating plate 50 and the fourth power of the absolute temperature of the stored item. The warm air gives the stored product an amount of heat proportional to the difference between the first power of the absolute temperature of the warm air and the first power of the absolute temperature of the stored material. Therefore, a high amount of heat is given to the stored item by far infrared rays, and quick cooking can be performed.

  Further, when the hot air is directly applied to the stored item and heated, only the surface of the stored item immediately becomes the same temperature as the hot air, so that the amount of heat delivered decreases early. Thereby, the heat by a warm air cannot be efficiently given to the inside of a store. In contrast, when far-infrared rays, which are electromagnetic waves, hit the storage, the molecules inside vibrate and the storage is warmed by this frictional heat. For this reason, it can heat uniformly from the surface of a store thing to the inside, and can keep warm efficiently. In addition, when the hot air is hot, the stored product can be baked with no unevenness.

  Furthermore, when hot hot air is directly applied to the stored item and heated, the stored item is dried, and only the surface immediately becomes the same temperature as the hot air, so the stored item may be burned before the inside is heated. On the other hand, even if the temperature of the far-infrared ray generating plate 50 is increased to a high temperature (for example, 120 ° C.), the high-temperature air does not directly contact the stored item. For this reason, it becomes possible to warm the stored product to the inside of the stored product without scorching.

  The far infrared ray generation plate 50 may be disposed at a position lowered to the vicinity of the upper end of the inflow port 33a, or the rear end of the far infrared ray generation plate 50 may be bent so as to be lowered to the vicinity of the upper end of the inflow port 33a. As a result, when the warm air blown from the outlet 33a is guided to the upper surface of the far-infrared ray generating plate 50, the stored item in the storage container 11 is indirectly heated without being exposed to the warm air. Thereby, drying of a store thing can be prevented. Hot air may be guided to the upper surface of the far infrared ray generating plate 50 by the wind direction plate 33c, and a duct or a guide plate may be provided. Further, a guide plate or duct for guiding the warm air downward may be provided in the vicinity of the front portion of the far infrared ray generation plate 50. This makes it easier for hot air to flow downward on the back side of the door 9.

  Moreover, the arrangement | positioning of the up-down direction of the far-infrared ray generating board 50 can be varied by arranging the several rail 51 in the up-down direction. Thereby, the far-infrared ray generating plate 50 can be disposed in the vicinity of the storage container 11 to more reliably close the storage container 11 and prevent the stored items from drying. Further, a stored item can be placed on the upper surface of the far-infrared ray generating plate 50 and used as a placement shelf. If the far infrared ray generation plate 50 is arranged away from the storage container 11, the temperature distribution in the temperature switching chamber 3 can be made uniform by the radiation of infrared rays and far infrared rays from the entire plate-like far infrared ray generation plate 50. A large stored item can be stored in the storage container 11.

  Further, an auxiliary heater such as a lead wire heater may be provided on the far-infrared ray generating plate 50, whereby the temperature of the far-infrared ray generating plate 50 is further increased (for example, 120) without overheating the inside of the temperature switching chamber 3. ° C). Therefore, a larger amount of infrared rays and far infrared rays can be generated. In this case, heat-resistant resin or metal is used for the portion that becomes the rail 51, and the far infrared ray generating plate 50 is formed so that the contact area with the rail 51 is reduced. For example, the left and right ends of the far-infrared ray generating plate 50 are bent at approximately 90 degrees, or an uneven shape is provided on the lower surface of the far-infrared ray generating plate 50.

  According to this embodiment, since the far infrared ray generation plate 50 is provided in the temperature switching chamber 3, the inside of the temperature switching chamber 3 is heated by the heater 15 and the far infrared ray generation plate 50. Therefore, the temperature distribution in the temperature switching chamber 3 can be made uniform. Moreover, it can heat to the inside of a store thing in a short time, without directly applying warm air with a far infrared ray. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the stored product from being dried and the surface from being burnt and to perform good heat insulation and warm cooking.

  Further, the far infrared ray generating plate 50 is disposed at the upper part of the temperature switching chamber 3, and the temperature switching chamber blower 14 is blown upward toward the far infrared ray generating plate 50 by the wind direction plate 33c when it is on the high temperature side. 50 can be efficiently heated.

  In the present embodiment, a support plate that supports the lower surface of the storage container 11 may be provided, and the support plate may be formed of the same infrared generation plate as described above. Thereby, a plurality of infrared ray generating plates are provided separately on the upper and lower sides. As a result, far-infrared rays are also given from the lower side of the storage container 11, and the stored item can be heated more efficiently.

  A damper may be provided at the outlet of the vegetable compartment 5. Thereby, when the temperature switching chamber 3 is switched from the high temperature side to the low temperature side, it is possible to prevent the hot air from the temperature switching chamber 3 from flowing backward into the vegetable chamber 5 by closing the damper. Further, when the freezer compartment fan 18 is stopped when the temperature switching chamber 3 is switched from the high temperature side to the low temperature side, the freezer compartment damper 22 is closed. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the hot air from flowing backward from the freezer damper 22 into the freezer compartment 6 by driving the temperature switching chamber blower 14.

  Moreover, although the freezer compartment 6 and the refrigerator compartment 2 are cooled with the cooler 17, you may provide the cooler for exclusive use of the refrigerator compartment 2 and the vegetable compartment 5 separately. At this time, the refrigerator 17 and the temperature switching chamber 3 can be cooled by the cooler 17.

  Moreover, although the freezer compartment 6 and the vegetable compartment 5 are juxtaposed in the left and right below the ice making chamber 4 and the temperature switching chamber 3 juxtaposed on the left and right, other arrangements may be employed. For example, the freezing room 6 may be provided below the ice making room 4 and the temperature switching room 3 arranged side by side, and the vegetable room 5 may be provided below the freezing room 6. Alternatively, the vegetable room 5 may be provided below the ice making room 4 and the temperature switching room 3 arranged side by side, and the freezing room 6 may be provided below the vegetable room 5.

  In addition, since the vegetable room 5 has a high cooling temperature, if the vegetable room 5 is provided below the temperature switching room 3, the heat from the temperature switching room 3 on the high temperature side to the vegetable room 5 is reduced even if the heat insulating wall 8 is thinned. Less delivery is required. Further, the vegetable room 5 can be indirectly cooled by the temperature switching room 3 on the low temperature side.

  The cooler 17 is composed of an evaporator of a refrigerant evaporation type refrigeration cycle, but a cooler composed of a low temperature part of another cooling method may be used. For example, even if it is a cooler using the Peltier effect of a Peltier element or a cooler using the low temperature part of a Stirling cycle refrigerator, the same effect as the above can be obtained.

  According to the present invention, it can be used for a refrigerator having a temperature switching chamber.

The front view which shows the refrigerator of embodiment of this invention The right view which shows the refrigerator of embodiment of this invention Sectional drawing of right side which shows the refrigerator of embodiment of this invention Cross section on the right side showing the temperature switching chamber on the low temperature side of the refrigerator of the embodiment of the present invention Cross section of the right side showing the temperature switching chamber on the high temperature side of the refrigerator of the embodiment of the present invention Front sectional drawing which shows the middle step part of the refrigerator of embodiment of this invention Cold air circuit diagram showing the flow of cold air in the refrigerator of the embodiment of the present invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerator 2 Refrigerating room 3 Temperature switching room 4 Ice making room 5 Vegetable room 6 Freezing room 9 Door 12 Introduction ventilation path 13 Temperature switching room discharge damper 14 Temperature switching room blower 15 Heater 17 Cooler 16, 24 Temperature sensor 18 Freezing room blower 19 , 21 Return ventilation path 20 Temperature switching room return damper 22 Freezer compartment damper 25 Chilled room damper 28 Refrigeration room blower 31, 32 Cold air passage 33 Back plate 33 a Inlet 33 b Outlet 33 c Airflow direction plate 35 Compressor 50 Far infrared ray generation plate 51 Rail

Claims (12)

  A cooler that generates cool air, a storage room that cools and stores stored items by the cool air generated by the cooler, a low temperature side that is cooled by the cool air generated by the cooler, and a high temperature that is higher than normal by driving the heater A refrigerator comprising: a temperature switching chamber capable of switching a room temperature on a side thereof; and a far-infrared ray generator for generating far infrared rays provided in the temperature switching chamber.   The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the far-infrared ray generator includes a far-infrared ray emitting substance that emits far infrared rays when heated.   The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the temperature of the temperature switching chamber on the high temperature side is set to 50 to 60 ° C.   4. The storage container for storing stored items by opening the top is provided in the temperature switching chamber, and the far-infrared ray generator is arranged above the storage container. The refrigerator described.   The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the far-infrared ray generator is formed in a plate shape.   The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the far-infrared ray generator is divided into a plurality of upper and lower parts.   The refrigerator according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the far-infrared ray generator is bridged between rails provided on both side walls of the temperature switching chamber, and the rails are provided in a plurality of stages up and down.   A temperature switching chamber blower that circulates the air in the temperature switching chamber is provided, the heater is arranged on the blowing side of the temperature switching chamber blower, and the blowing direction of the temperature switching chamber blower is directed to the far infrared ray generator. The refrigerator in any one of Claims 1-7 characterized by these.   The far-infrared ray generator is disposed at an upper portion of the temperature switching chamber, and a wind direction plate is provided to change a wind direction of the temperature switching chamber blower. The temperature switching chamber blower is provided by the wind direction plate when the temperature switching chamber is at a high temperature side. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the refrigerator blows out toward the far infrared ray generator.   The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the wind direction plate is made of a member whose shape changes according to temperature.   The refrigerator according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein when the temperature switching chamber is on a low temperature side, a wind speed blown out by the temperature switching chamber blower is set to 1 m / second or less.   The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein an auxiliary heater is provided integrally with the far infrared ray generator.

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