JP2009041883A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator with a vegetable container disposed in a refrigerating chamber, capable of blowing cold air containing sufficient moisture into the vegetable container. <P>SOLUTION: The vegetable container 14 is disposed in the refrigerating chamber 3. During humid operation, a refrigerator fan 22 blows air and a V-damper 26 is released, with refrigerant supply stopped to a refrigerator cooler 21. Highly humid cold air blown by the fan 22 is sent directly to the vegetable container 14 through a V-duct 25. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator that performs a defrosting operation in which a blowing unit is operated in a state where supply of a refrigerant to a cooler is stopped during a defrosting operation.

Conventionally, when the defrosting of the refrigerator for cooling the refrigerator compartment and the vegetable compartment is performed so that the vegetables stored in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator are not dried, the air containing moisture is driven by driving the blower fan. The vegetable room is blown (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-504662 A

By the way, by arranging the vegetable container in the refrigerator compartment, when the refrigerator door is opened, the vegetables stored in the vegetable container can be confirmed at a glance and the vegetables can be easily taken out from the vegetable container. A refrigerator has been proposed.
In the case of this type of refrigerator, since the vegetable container is arranged in the refrigerator compartment, the vegetable container also contains moisture by blowing cold air containing moisture to the refrigerator compartment when the refrigeration cooler is defrosted. You can blow cool air.
However, since the cold air containing moisture blown into the refrigerator compartment diffuses throughout the refrigerator compartment, it is not possible to blow cold air containing sufficient moisture in the vegetable container, and the vegetables stored in the vegetable container May dry out.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a refrigerator capable of blowing cold air containing sufficient moisture in a vegetable container in a configuration in which the vegetable container is arranged in a refrigerator compartment. is there.

  The present invention includes a refrigeration cooler that is cooled in a refrigerant supply state, a refrigeration blower that blows cold air cooled by the refrigeration cooler to a refrigeration chamber, and supplies the refrigerant to the refrigeration cooler during refrigeration operation. A refrigerator having a control means for operating the refrigeration blower to operate the refrigeration blower and operate the refrigeration blower in a state where supply of the refrigerant to the refrigeration cooler is stopped during the defrosting operation. The vegetable container disposed in the refrigeration room, a first duct for directly guiding the cold air blown by the refrigeration blower means to the vegetable container, and a first opening / closing means for opening and closing the first duct, The control means closes the first opening / closing means during the refrigeration cooling operation and opens the first opening / closing means during the defrosting operation.

According to the present invention, in the operating state of the refrigeration blower, the cold air cooled by the refrigeration cooler is blown to the refrigeration room, so that the refrigeration room can be cooled. At this time, the vegetable container arrange | positioned in the refrigerator compartment can also be cooled simultaneously.
At the time of defrosting the refrigeration cooler, the refrigeration cooler is defrosted in a state where the refrigeration blower is operated, so that moist cold air is blown into the refrigeration chamber. At this time, since the control means opens the first opening / closing means, the moist air is directly blown to the vegetable container through the first duct. Thereby, high humidity cold air can be blown into the vegetable container. In addition, since the first opening / closing means is closed during the refrigeration cooling operation, it is possible to prevent the dried cold air from being blown into the vegetable container.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the refrigerator. In FIG. 3, the refrigerator 1 includes a refrigerator main body 2 in which a refrigerator room 3, an ice making room 4, a switching room 5, and a freezer room 6 provided on the left and right are formed in this order as storage rooms. The refrigerator body 2 is formed by filling a heat insulating material between an outer box made of steel plate and an inner box made of resin, and the inside of the inner box is partitioned adiabatically so that the refrigerator compartment 3, the ice making room 4, A switching chamber 5 and a freezing chamber 6 are respectively formed.

  The refrigerator compartment 3 is closed with a double door 7, and the ice making chamber 4, the switching chamber 5, and the freezer compartment 6 are closed with doors 8 to 10 constituting the front portion of the drawer-type container. The door 7 is provided with a push-type door operation unit 11 and is automatically opened when the door 7 is pushed forward by a solenoid (not shown) by a pressing operation on the door operation unit 11. Yes. One door 7 is provided with an operation panel 12. The door 7 can be opened and closed manually.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the refrigerator 1 with the door 7 removed and the side wall of the refrigerator compartment 3 broken away. In FIG. 4, a plurality of shelves 13 are disposed in the refrigerator compartment 3, a vegetable container 14 is disposed below the shelf 13, and a chilled container (corresponding to a specific low temperature chamber) 15 is disposed below the vegetable container 14. Arranged to be possible. A water tank 16 for an automatic ice making device is disposed on the side of the chilled container 15. A partition plate 17 is disposed on the upper surface of the vegetable container 14 so that the cold air blown into the refrigerator compartment 3 does not directly hit the vegetables stored in the vegetable container 14.

  FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator 1 schematically showing a refrigeration cooler room (hereinafter referred to as an R-eva room), and FIG. 2 is a side view of the refrigerator 1 showing a cross-section of the refrigeration room 3. In these FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the R-evaporation chamber 18 has a passage shape that is directed in the vertical direction in the figure by being partitioned by a partition 19 on both sides, and from the lower side in the figure, the deodorizing / sterilizing device 20, refrigeration A cooler (hereinafter referred to as “R EVA”) 21 and a refrigeration fan (hereinafter referred to as “R fan” and “refrigeration blower”) 22 are sequentially arranged. A suction port 23 is formed in the lower part of the back wall 3 a of the refrigerator compartment 3, and the R fan 22 passes through the R evaporation chamber 18 in the upward direction in the drawing in the operating state of the R fan 22. A flow of cool air blown to the air is generated.

  Blower ducts 24 partitioned by a partition 19 are formed on both left and right sides of the R chamber 18, and the cool air blown in the left and right directions by the R fan 22 passes through the blower duct 24 in the downward direction in the figure. ing. A plurality of air outlets (not shown) are formed on the front surface of the air duct 24 (the inner wall 3a of the refrigerator compartment 3), and cold air is uniformly blown out from the air outlet to the entire refrigerator compartment 3.

  Here, a vegetable container duct (hereinafter referred to as a V duct, which corresponds to the first duct) 25 is disposed in the air duct 24, and its suction port 25 a is located above the R chamber 18 (from the R fan 22). The air outlet 25 b faces the vegetable container 14. A vegetable container damper (hereinafter referred to as V damper, corresponding to first opening / closing means) 26 is provided at the inlet of the V duct 25, and the V duct 25 is opened and closed by the V damper 26.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the refrigerator compartment 3 showing the wall surface of the refrigerator 1 in a broken state. As shown in FIG. 5, a chilled duct 27 having a container-like tip is connected to the lower portion of the air duct 24 so that the cold air passing through the air duct 24 is directly blown out to the chilled container 15 through the chilled duct 27. It has become.

  A refrigeration cooler (hereinafter referred to as “F”) 28 and a refrigeration fan (hereinafter referred to as “F fan” and “refrigeration blower”) 29 are disposed on the back of the ice making chamber 4 and the switching chamber 5, and a control device (corresponding to the control means). ) In response to an instruction from 30 (see FIG. 1), a cooler to which refrigerant is supplied is switched by a switching valve (corresponding to switching means) 31, and a corresponding fan is rotated. In addition to controlling the operation of the refrigeration cycle system, the control device 30 controls the opening and closing of the V damper 26 as will be described later.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control device 30 that controls the refrigeration cycle system. As shown in FIG. 6, when the operation starts, the control device 30 performs cooling room cooling (hereinafter referred to as R cooling) (A1). That is, the refrigerant is supplied to the R evaporator 21 by the switching valve 31 and cooled. Next, the V damper 26 is closed (A2), and the R fan 22 is rotated (A3. Thereby, the cold air cooled by the R evaporator 21 is blown to the refrigerating room 3 by the R fan 22, so that the refrigerating room The rotation speed of the R fan 22 is adjusted according to the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 3, and the R fan 22 is stopped when the door 7 of the refrigerator compartment 6 is opened.

Since the cold air blown by the R fan 22 is blown to the entire refrigerator compartment 3, the food stored in each shelf 13 of the refrigerator compartment 3 can be cooled. In this case, since the upper surface of the vegetable container 14 is covered with the partition plate 17, the dry cold air blown into the refrigerator compartment 3 is not directly blown to the vegetables stored in the vegetable container 14, and the vegetables are dried. There is no end to it.
The chilled container 15 is blown by the cold air that has passed through the air duct 24 and the chilled duct 27, and the chilled container 15 is a container with the front face closed and has a high cooling efficiency, so the temperature is higher than that of the refrigerator compartment 3. It becomes low, and it becomes a state with a little low humidity of about 0-1 degreeC.

  Next, the control device 30 determines whether or not the transfer condition for the freezer compartment cooling (hereinafter referred to as “F cooling”) is satisfied (A4), and if the temperature of the freezer compartment 6 exceeds the set temperature, the F cooler transfer condition is satisfied. It is determined that it has been established (A4: YES), the R cooling is stopped by switching the switching valve 31, and the F cooling is started (A5). That is, the refrigerant is supplied to the F EVA 28 by the switching valve 31 and cooled. Next, the F fan 29 is rotated (A6). Thereby, since the cold air cooled by the F-evaporator 28 is blown to the freezer compartment 6, the ice making chamber 4, and the switching chamber 5, these storage chambers are cooled. The rotation speed of the F fan 29 is adjusted according to the temperature of the freezer compartment 6 and stops when the door 10 of the freezer compartment 6 is opened.

  Here, when the F cooling is performed as described above, the control device 30 rotates the R fan 22 (A7) to execute the defrosting operation. Thereby, the frost adhering to the R-evapor 21 evaporates, and high-humidity cold air is sent to the refrigerator compartment 3. At this time, since the V damper 26 is opened (A8), high-humidity cold air is directly blown to the vegetable container 14 (see FIG. 1), and the inside of the vegetable container 14 can be made high humidity.

Next, the control device 30 determines whether or not the R cooling transition condition is satisfied (A9), or whether or not the defrosting end condition is satisfied when the temperature of the R evaporator 21 reaches a predetermined temperature (A10).
When the R cooling transition condition is satisfied (A9: YES), the F fan 29 is stopped (A11), and after the F cooling is stopped (A12), the process proceeds to step A1.
By the above operation, each shelf 13 of the refrigerator compartment 3 maintains an average humidity of about 70% at about 1-2 ° C., and the vegetable container 14 becomes high humidity in a temperature range of 2-3 ° C. It becomes possible to perform temperature management and humidity management individually in the refrigerator compartment 3.

  According to such an embodiment, the refrigeration cycle system is provided with the R eva 21 and the F eva 28, and the frost adhering to the R eva 21 is defrosted by rotating the R fan 22, and the cold air containing moisture is removed. In a configuration in which a so-called moisture operation is performed in which the humidity inside the refrigerator is ensured by blowing it into the refrigerator compartment 3, high-humidity cold air is directly blown out to the vegetable container 14 through the V duct 25. Thus, different temperature and humidity management is possible, and the vegetables stored in the vegetable container 14 can be prevented from drying.

Further, during the F cooling operation, since the refrigerant is not supplied to the R EVA 21, the cold air having a temperature suitable for storing vegetables can be blown to the vegetable container 14 by operating the R fan 22.
Further, during the R cooling operation, since the refrigerant is supplied to the R evaporator 21, by operating the R fan 22, cold air having a temperature suitable for low-temperature storage can be blown to the chilled container 15. In this case, since the cold air blown by the R fan 22 is dry, the humidity in the vegetable container 14 can be kept high by not sending the air to the vegetable container 14.

(Second embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. The second embodiment is characterized in that the temperature (0 to 1 ° C.) of the chilled container 15 is surely ensured.

  In 1st Example, since it is comprised so that cold air may be ventilated to the chilled container 15 through the ventilation duct 24 and the chilled duct 27 which have the several blower outlet, air flow rate is reduced by the ventilation pressure of cold air falling. There is a concern that the temperature of the chilled container 15 does not become a temperature clearly lower than the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 3.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, a tilt duct (corresponding to the second duct) 41 is arranged along the V duct 25 described in the first embodiment in FIG. 7 schematically showing the R evaporation chamber 18. The chilled duct 41 is an alternative to the chilled duct 27 of the first embodiment, and the inlet portion is provided at a position for receiving air from the R fan 22 in the same manner as the inlet portion of the V duct 25, and the outlet portion is a chilled duct. It is provided to face the container 15. A chilled damper (corresponding to a second opening / closing means) 42 is provided at the inlet of the chilled duct 41 so as to open and close the chilled duct 41 in accordance with a command from the control device 30.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control device 30. The same steps as those in FIG. 6 showing the first embodiment are denoted by the same steps, and the description thereof is omitted. In FIG. 8, the control device 30 opens the chilled damper 42 when R cooling is started (B1), and closes the chilled damper 42 when R cooling is finished (B2). Thereby, the cold air is blown to the chilled container 15 through the R-eva 21 in a cooled state by supplying the refrigerant.

  According to such an embodiment, since the cold air is directly blown to the chilled container 15 through the chilled duct 41 during the R cooling, the temperature (0 to 1 ° C.) of the chilled container 15 is clearly lower than that of the refrigerator compartment 3. As a method of using the chilled container 15, it is possible to use the chilled container 15 in a temperature range clearly lower than the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 3, and the chilled container 15 can be effectively used. In this case, the settable temperature range of the chilled container 15 can be expanded by controlling the opening and closing of the tilt damper 42 according to the set temperature of the chilled container 15.

  It should be noted that the chilled damper 42 may be prioritized to cool so that the cool air is blown directly to the chilled container 15 by opening it during moist operation. However, as in this embodiment, the vegetable container 14 is supplied with high-humidity cold air. It is desirable to give priority to keeping the vegetable container 14 in high humidity by supplying.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The third embodiment is characterized in that an air curtain is formed on the front surface of the vegetable container 14.
In FIG. 9 showing the longitudinal side of the refrigerator compartment 3, a flat air curtain duct 51 is provided on the entire lower surface of the partition plate 17 covering the upper surface of the vegetable container 14, and the cold air blown by the R fan 22 is provided. It passes through the air curtain duct 51 and blows out to the front of the vegetable container 14.

  At the time of R cooling, an air curtain is formed on the front surface of the vegetable container 14 by the cold air blown out from the air curtain duct 51. Therefore, the high humidity cold air blown to the vegetable container 14 at the time of F cooling escapes to the outside of the vegetable container 14. Can be prevented. Since such an effect is the same even when the door 7 of the refrigerator compartment 3 is opened, the vegetables stored in the vegetable container 14 can be stored in a high humidity environment.

  According to such an example, since it was configured to form a cold air curtain on the front surface of the vegetable container 14 during R cooling, the escape of high humidity cold air in the vegetable container 14 can be suppressed, Allows long-term storage of vegetables.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be modified or expanded as follows.
In the case of a refrigerator with one cooler, the cooler blown by the R fan 22 may be directly blown out to the vegetable container 14 with the compressor stopped and the refrigerant to the cooler stopped.

A plurality of ducts for directly blowing cool air may be provided in the vegetable container 14.
A humidity sensor may be arranged in the vegetable container 14, and the V damper 26 may be controlled to open and close based on the measurement result of the humidity sensor.
The upper surface of the vegetable container 14 may be covered with an openable lid. In this case, the lid may be automatically opened as the door 7 of the refrigerator compartment 3 is opened.

The front view of the refrigerator which fractures | ruptures and shows the back wall of the refrigerator compartment in 1st Example of this invention Side view of a refrigerator with the refrigerator compartment broken away Front view of refrigerator A perspective view of the refrigerator showing the wall surface of the refrigerator compartment broken. A perspective view of the refrigerator compartment shown broken. Flow chart showing operation of control device FIG. 1 equivalent view showing a second embodiment of the present invention. 6 equivalent diagram FIG. 2 equivalent view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

  In the drawings, 1 is a refrigerator, 3 is a refrigerated room, 14 is a vegetable container, 15 is a chilled container (specific cold room), 21 is an Reva (refrigerated cooler), 22 is an R fan (refrigerated air blower), and 25 is a V Duct (first duct), 26 is a V damper (first opening / closing means), 28 is an F EVA (refrigeration cooler), 29 is an F fan (refrigeration blower means), 30 is a control device (control means), 31 is a switch A valve (switching means), 41 is a tilt duct (second duct), 42 is a tilt damper (second opening / closing means), and 51 is an air curtain duct.

Claims (4)

A refrigeration cooler that is cooled in a supply state of the refrigerant, a refrigeration blower that blows cold air cooled by the refrigeration cooler to the refrigeration chamber, and the refrigerant is supplied to the refrigeration cooler during the refrigeration operation. In a refrigerator comprising a control means for operating a refrigeration blower, and performing a defrosting operation for operating the refrigeration blower in a state where supply of refrigerant to the refrigeration cooler is stopped during a defrosting operation,
A vegetable container disposed in the refrigerator compartment;
A first duct that directly guides the cold air blown by the refrigeration blower to the vegetable container;
First opening and closing means for opening and closing the first duct;
The refrigerator is characterized in that the control means closes the first opening / closing means during the refrigeration cooling operation and opens the first opening / closing means during the defrosting operation. A refrigeration cooler that is cooled in a refrigerant supply state;
Freezing air blowing means for blowing cold air cooled by the freezing cooler into a freezing chamber;
Switching means for switching to supply a refrigerant to the refrigeration cooler during the refrigeration cooling operation, and to supply a refrigerant to the refrigeration cooler during the refrigeration cooling operation,
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein, when the defrosting operation is performed, the control unit opens the first opening / closing unit in a state where the refrigerant is supplied to the refrigeration cooler by the switching unit. A specific low temperature chamber provided in the refrigerator compartment;
A second duct that directly guides the cold air blown by the refrigeration blower to the specific low temperature chamber;
Second opening and closing means for opening and closing the second duct,
The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control means opens the second opening / closing means during the refrigeration cooling operation.   The said control means opens the said 1st opening / closing means in the operation state of the said refrigeration ventilation means at the time of the said freezing cooling operation, and opens the said 2nd opening / closing means at the time of the said refrigeration cooling operation. refrigerator.

Images