JP2009287819A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator capable of cooling and supercooling sectioned compartments with fine distribution, having superior controllability to a vegetable compartment, reducing cost and further reducing power consumption, in the refrigerator having the plurality of compartments and a duct for guiding cold air generated by a cooler to the sectioned compartments. <P>SOLUTION: This refrigerator has the plurality of compartments, and the duct 16 for guiding the cold air produced by the cooler 13 to the sectioned compartments 4, the duct 16 is divided into a duct for the direct cooling of the sectioned compartment 4 and a duct for indirect cooling, furthermore, a duct for guiding the cold air to the compartment 6 sectioned separately from the sectioned compartment is disposed, the flow is divided to the duct for indirect cooling of the sectioned compartment and the duct for cooling the compartment sectioned separately from the sectioned compartment by one air volume adjusting means, and air volumes to the duct for indirect cooling of the compartment and the duct for cooling the compartment are adjusted by the air volume adjusting means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a plurality of compartments and having a plurality of ducts for guiding cool air generated by a cooler to the compartments.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic front view of the conventional refrigerator shown in Patent Document 1 without a door.
In FIG. 11, reference numeral 1 denotes a refrigerator main body, and the refrigerator main body 1 includes a refrigerating room 2, a switching room 4 capable of switching a temperature zone, a vegetable room 6, and a freezing room 5. Reference numeral 14 denotes a cool air circulation fan that circulates cool air generated by the cooler 13 by the operation of the compressor to each chamber. Reference numeral 43 denotes a discharge duct to the refrigerating chamber 2, one end opening to the cooler 13 through the refrigerating chamber damper device 39 and the other end opening to the refrigerating chamber 2. Reference numeral 44 denotes a refrigerator compartment suction duct, one end of which opens into the refrigerator compartment 2 and the other end communicates with the vicinity of the lower portion of the cooler 13. Reference numeral 50 denotes a first switching chamber damper device that is provided in the middle of the refrigerating chamber suction duct 44 and that feeds a necessary amount of cold air to the switching chamber 4 when the switching chamber 4 is other than the refrigeration setting. Reference numeral 51 denotes a discharge duct of the switching chamber 4 when the switching chamber 4 is other than the refrigeration setting. One end of the switching chamber 4 is connected to the refrigerator compartment suction duct 44 via the first switching chamber damper device 50 and the other end is switched to the switching chamber 4. Is open. A suction duct 52 of the switching chamber 4 communicates with the refrigerator compartment suction duct 44. 53 is a vegetable room discharge duct (not shown), one end of which communicates with the refrigerator compartment damper device 39 and the other end opens into the vegetable room 6. Reference numeral 60 denotes a second switching chamber damper device for sending a necessary amount of cool air into the switching chamber 4 when the switching chamber 4 is set to be frozen. Reference numeral 61 denotes a switching chamber discharge duct when the switching chamber 4 is in a refrigeration setting. One end is opened near the cooler 13 via the second switching chamber damper device 60, and the other end is opened to the switching chamber 4. ing.

  The operation | movement and effect | action of the refrigerator shown by the prior art example of patent document 1 are demonstrated below. Part of the cold air that has passed through the cold room damper device 39 is discharged to the vegetable room 6 through the vegetable room discharge duct 53 and returned to the cooler 13 through the vegetable room suction duct 54 (not shown). The vegetable compartment 6 is maintained at 6 ° C. On the other hand, when the switching chamber 4 is set to be frozen, the second switching chamber damper device 60 is opened if the temperature in the switching chamber 4 is higher than the ON set temperature. If the temperature in the switching chamber 4 is lower than the off-set temperature, the second switching chamber damper device 60 is not opened. That is, the cold air cooled by the cooler 13 is discharged to the switching chamber 4 by the cooling air circulation fan 14 via the switching chamber discharge duct 61, returned to the cooler 13 by the switching chamber suction duct 52, and switched to the switching chamber 4. The temperature inside is maintained at about -18 ° C. On the other hand, when the switching chamber 4 is other than the refrigeration setting, the second switching chamber damper 60 is fully closed, and if the temperature in the switching chamber 4 is higher than the set temperature, the first switching chamber damper. If the device 50 is opened and the temperature in the switching chamber 4 is lower than the set temperature, the first switching chamber damper device 50 is not opened. That is, a part of the return cold air of the refrigerator compartment 4 is discharged to the discharge duct 51 of the switching chamber and returns to the cooler 13 through the switching chamber suction duct 52, so that the switching chamber 4 has each set temperature (in the refrigerator setting). 4 ° C. and 0 ° C. in the chilled setting).

FIG. 12 is a sectional side view of the vicinity of the supercooling chamber of the refrigerator disclosed in Patent Document 2. In FIG. 12, 4A is a rear discharge port, and 21 is a damper for direct cooling of the switching chamber. Reference numeral 20 denotes a switching chamber case lid, and a switching chamber temperature detecting means 19 is provided at the center thereof. A switching chamber case (supercooling container) 17 provided in the switching chamber (supercooling chamber) 4 is disposed. Although not shown, the switching chamber 4 is provided with a heater for supercooling control. Since the switching chamber case lid 20 is arranged in the switching chamber case 17, cold air does not flow directly into the switching chamber case 17, so that it has a function as an indirect cooling chamber, and the switching chamber temperature detection means 19 detects the switching chamber directly for cooling. The damper 21 is controlled to be opened and closed by a control means (not shown), thereby realizing supercooled refrigeration in the switching chamber 4.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-213319 (FIGS. 1 to 3, pages 5 to 6) JP 2007-271152 A (FIG. 6, pages 5 to 8)

  However, in the refrigerator of the technique of the conventional patent document 1, in order to indirectly cool the switching chamber 4 so as to eliminate the temperature unevenness, the return of the refrigerator compartment 2 is returned even if the second switching chamber damper device 60 is used. Since cold air is used, if the refrigerator compartment 2 continues to be high for a set temperature (for example, when the door is opened and closed frequently in summer), the refrigerator compartment device 39 is kept open, so it is set even if it is indirectly cooled. It becomes below the temperature. Further, even if the opening of the second switching chamber damper device 60 is made small so that indirect cooling can be performed, the refrigerator compartment damper 39 is kept closed if the refrigerator compartment 2 continues for a low time with respect to the set temperature. Since it becomes impossible to do so, there is a risk of poor quality such as poor cooling. Further, since the cooling of the vegetable compartment 6 is performed using the return air of the refrigerator compartment 2, the temperature of the vegetable compartment 6 cannot be controlled. A heat-retaining heater is necessary so that the temperature does not become 0 ° C. or less, and power consumption is wasted. If there is a vegetable room damper device (not shown) to control the temperature of the vegetable room 6, it is possible to control the temperature of the vegetable room 6, but the number of damper devices is for the switching room 4. The cost was increased to two, one for the refrigerator compartment 2 and one for the vegetable compartment.

  Moreover, in the refrigerator in the technique of the conventional patent document 2, although it is possible to implement | achieve the supercooling in the switching chamber 4, it is inferior to the cooling speed at the time of the normal cooling in the switching chamber 4, As a result, power consumption was wasted.

  Moreover, even if patent document 1 and patent document 2 are combined, it is possible to realize supercooling in the switching chamber 4, but waste of power consumption is unavoidable, and the cost increases, and the vegetable room The controllability cannot be improved.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and is divided in a refrigerator having a plurality of chambers and a duct for guiding cold air generated by a cooler to the partitioned chambers. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that is capable of fine cooling distribution and supercooling in a room, has excellent controllability in a vegetable room, is low in cost, and further reduces power consumption.

The refrigerator according to the present invention cools the surrounding air to generate cool air, the partitioned first chamber, the partitioned second chamber, and the cool air generated by the cooler to the first A first duct that leads to the chamber, and a second duct that guides the cold air to the second chamber, wherein the first duct directly cools the first chamber and the first chamber. An indirect cooling duct for indirect cooling, and the direct cooling duct is provided with a first air volume adjusting means for diverting the cold air to the indirect cooling duct and the second duct and A second air volume adjusting means for adjusting the air volume is provided.

  In addition, the refrigerator according to the present invention includes a first sensor that detects a food temperature in the first room, a second sensor that detects a temperature in the second room, and a temperature detected by the first sensor. And control means for controlling the first air volume adjusting means and the second air volume adjusting means, and the control means determines that the food temperature detected by the first sensor is higher than the predetermined temperature T11 ° C. If it is determined that the temperature detected by the second sensor is higher than the predetermined temperature T10 ° C., the first air volume adjusting unit is closed and the second air volume adjusting unit is opened by a predetermined angle θ1. Then, it is determined that the cold air is divided into both the indirect cooling duct of the first chamber and the cooling duct of the second chamber, and the food temperature detected by the first sensor is higher than the predetermined temperature T11 ° C. And by the second sensor When it is determined that the detected temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature T10 ° C., the first air volume adjusting unit is closed, the second air volume adjusting unit is opened by a predetermined angle θ2, and the cooling duct of the second chamber is opened. The cooling of the first chamber becomes indirect cooling by closing and flowing cool air only to the indirect cooling duct of the first chamber.

  In addition, the refrigerator according to the present invention includes a first sensor that detects a food temperature in the first room, a second sensor that detects a temperature in the second room, and a temperature detected by the first sensor. And a control means for controlling the first air volume adjusting means and the second air volume adjusting means, and the control means determines that the food temperature detected by the first sensor is higher than the predetermined temperature T0 ° C. If it is determined that the temperature detected by the second sensor is higher than the predetermined temperature T2 ° C., the first air volume adjusting unit is opened, and the second air volume adjusting unit is opened by the predetermined angle θ1. Then, it is determined that the cold air is diverted to both the indirect cooling duct of the first chamber and the cooling duct of the second chamber, and the food temperature detected by the first sensor is higher than the predetermined temperature T0 ° C. And detected by the second sensor When it is determined that the measured temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature T3 ° C., the first air volume adjusting means is opened and the second air volume adjusting means is closed so that the cool air does not flow to the cooling duct of the second chamber. By doing so, the cooling of the first chamber becomes the direct cooling.

According to the present invention, while controlling power consumption in a normal cooling use state, controlling the temperature while controlling the temperature of a vegetable room while controlling the temperature, the temperature distribution of a partitioned room (switching room) A refrigerator capable of storing high-quality food by reducing unevenness can be provided.

  In addition, according to the present invention, while controlling power consumption in a normal cooling use state, suppressing the cost, and controlling the temperature of the vegetable room finely, the compartmentalized room (switching room) Supercooled refrigeration can be enabled.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator showing Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the refrigerator showing the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a refrigerator main body. The refrigerator main body 1 includes a refrigerator compartment 2 at the top. An ice making chamber 3 and a switching chamber 4 are provided below the refrigerator compartment 2. The bottom of the refrigerator main body 1 is provided with a vegetable compartment 6, and the vegetable compartment 6 is provided with a freezing compartment 5. Of course, the arrangement of each chamber does not limit the present embodiment. Reference numeral 7 denotes a refrigerating room door 7 which can freely open and close the opening of the refrigerating room 2, 7A being a so-called kannon type door, such as a refrigerating room door left and 7B being a refrigerating room door right. Of course, a single door may be used instead of the Kannon door. An ice making chamber door 8 can freely open and close the opening of the ice making chamber 3, and a switching chamber door 9 can open and close the opening of the switching chamber 4 freely. 10 is a freezer compartment door that can freely open and close the opening of the freezer compartment 5, and 11 is a vegetable compartment door that can freely open and close the opening of the vegetable compartment 6. A compressor 12 is disposed at the bottom of the back of the refrigerator body 1. The compressor 12 is a component that constitutes the refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator body 1 and has an action of compressing the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle. The refrigerant compressed by the compressor 12 is condensed in a condenser (not shown). The condensed refrigerant is decompressed in a capillary tube (not shown). Reference numeral 13 denotes a cooler, which is one component constituting the refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator body 1. The decompressed refrigerant is evaporated in the cooler 13, and the gas around the cooler 13 is cooled by the endothermic action during the evaporation. Reference numeral 14 denotes a cool air circulation fan for blowing cool air cooled around the cooler 13 to each chamber of the refrigerator main body 1. Reference numeral 21 denotes a switching chamber direct cooling damper, which adjusts the amount of cool air blown into the switching chamber 4 by the cool air circulation fan 14. Reference numeral 16A denotes a switching chamber direct cooling air passage disposed downstream of the switching chamber direct cooling damper 21. Since the cold air that has passed through the switching chamber direct cooling air passage 21 is discharged into the switching chamber 4 from the rear discharge port 4A (not shown) of the switching chamber 4, the cold air is supplied to the switching chamber case 17 disposed in the switching chamber 4. It has a structure that flows directly.

  FIG. 3 is a side sectional view including indirect cooling of a refrigerator and a damper for a vegetable room showing the first embodiment of the present invention. The cross section of FIG. 3 has the same direction as the cross section of FIG. 2, but has a different cross sectional shape because the cross sectional position is different. FIG. 5 is a sectional side view of the vicinity of the switching chamber of the refrigerator showing the first embodiment of the present invention. 3 and 5, 31 is a switching chamber indirect cooling and vegetable room damper. 31A is the 1st baffle of the damper 31 for switching room indirect cooling and vegetable rooms. Reference numeral 31 </ b> B is an opening for the vegetable room of the indirect cooling of the switching room and the damper for the vegetable room, and the opening 31 </ b> B for the vegetable room is an inlet of an air passage (not shown) that guides cold air to the vegetable room 6. Each room arranged in the refrigerator body 1 is provided with a refrigerator temperature detecting means, an ice making room temperature detecting means, a switching room temperature detecting means, a freezing room temperature detecting means, and a vegetable room temperature detecting means (all of them). Not shown). Downstream of the switching room indirect cooling and vegetable room damper 31, a switching room indirect cooling air passage 16 </ b> B is arranged in the switching room ceiling heat insulation 18, and the passing cold air passes through the switching room ceiling heat insulation 18 in the switching room 4. It passes through the ceiling outlet 18A and flows into the switching chamber 4. Since the switching chamber case lid 20 is disposed in the switching chamber 4 and is disposed directly below the ceiling outlet 18 </ b> A, the cold air from the ceiling outlet 18 </ b> A flows into the switching chamber 4 indirectly. That is, the cool air from the ceiling outlet 18 </ b> A hits the switching chamber case lid 20, is dispersed in four directions on the upper surface of the switching chamber case lid 20, and slides on the switching chamber case lid 20. Through the gap to the switching chamber 4 almost uniformly. Reference numeral 19 denotes switching room temperature detecting means, for example, a thermistor.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a twin damper type switching chamber direct cooling damper 21 that can be driven by one motor, a switching chamber indirect cooling, and a vegetable chamber damper. When the first baffle 31 </ b> A is half open, the vegetable compartment opening 31 </ b> B is opened, so that cold air is guided to the vegetable compartment 6. When the first baffle 31 </ b> A is fully open, the vegetable room opening 31 </ b> B is closed, so that cold air is not guided to the vegetable room 6. Therefore, even when the switching chamber 4 is indirectly cooled, the temperature of the vegetable chamber 6 is controlled according to the set temperature. Of course, if the first baffle 31A is closed, there is no inflow of cold air into the vegetable room 6 and there is no inflow of cold air into the air passage 16B for indirect cooling of the switching room. The damper shown in FIG. 4 has the merit that it costs less as compared with the case of using separate motors.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration relating to control of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
In FIG. 6, reference numeral 71 denotes a control unit, which includes a microcomputer, a DSP, and the like. A memory 72 stores various data and tables. Reference numeral 73 denotes a ROM that stores programs executed by the control unit 71 and fixed data. Reference numeral 74 denotes an input / output bus, and information on all devices is exchanged with the control unit 71 via the input / output bus 74. Reference numeral 75 denotes damper motor driving means for driving a damper motor 81 that performs opening / closing operation of a baffle that is an air volume adjusting means of the switching chamber direct cooling damper 21 and the switching chamber indirect cooling and vegetable room damper 31. Reference numeral 76 denotes fan motor driving means for driving a fan motor 82 that rotates the circulation fan 14. Reference numeral 77 denotes compressor motor driving means for driving a compressor motor 83 that rotates the compressor 12. Reference numeral 78 denotes input control means, which converts the detection result of the thermistor 19 as switching room temperature detection means into a digital signal and sends it to the control unit 71. 79 is an input control means, which converts the detection result of the thermistor 23, which is a vegetable room temperature detection means, into a digital signal and sends it to the control unit 71.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit 71 related to control of the switching chamber direct cooling damper and switching chamber joint cooling and vegetable room damper during normal freezing of the refrigerator switching chamber according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In step S1, the control unit 71 determines whether or not the operation condition of the compressor 12 is satisfied. The operating condition of the compressor 12 is, for example, that the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means 23 in the freezer compartment 6 is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature. If NO is determined in step S1, the process returns to step S1. If it is determined as YES in step S1, the process proceeds to step S2. In step S2, the controller 71 determines whether or not the switching chamber thermistor 19 is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature T0 ° C. When the switching chamber thermistor 19 determines that the predetermined temperature T0 ° C. or lower in step S2, the control unit 71 returns to step S2. When the switching chamber thermistor 19 determines that the predetermined temperature T0 ° C. or higher in step S2, the control unit 71 proceeds to step S3. The controller 71 opens the switching chamber direct cooling damper 21 in step S3. After step S3, the process proceeds to step S4. In step S4, the controller 71 determines whether or not the switching chamber thermistor 19 is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature T1 ° C. If it is determined in step S4 that the switching chamber thermistor 19 is not equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature T1 ° C., the process returns to step S4. When the switching room thermistor 19 determines in step S4 that the temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature T1 ° C., the process proceeds to step S5.

  In step S5, the controller 71 closes the switching chamber direct cooling damper 21. Independent of steps S2 to S5, if YES is determined in step S1, the process proceeds to step S6. In step S6, the controller 71 determines whether or not the vegetable room thermistor (not shown) is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature T2 ° C. If a vegetable room thermistor (not shown) determines in step S6 that the predetermined temperature T2 ° C. or lower, the process returns to step S6. If the vegetable room thermistor (not shown) determines in step S6 that the temperature is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature T2 ° C., the process proceeds to step S7. In step S7, the controller 71 opens the vegetable room indirect cooling and vegetable room damper 31 by a predetermined angle θ0 °. After step S7, the process proceeds to step S8. Step S8 is a step of determining whether or not the vegetable room thermistor (not shown) is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature T3 ° C. If it is determined in step S8 that the vegetable room thermistor (not shown) is not below the predetermined temperature T3 ° C., the process returns to step S8. When the vegetable room thermistor (not shown) determines in step S8 that the temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature T3 ° C., the process proceeds to step S9. In step S9, the control unit 71 closes the switching room indirect cooling and the vegetable room damper 31.

  In step S7, the indirect cooling of the switching chamber and the vegetable room damper 31 are opened, so that the indirect cooling air passage to the switching chamber 4 is communicated. However, the switching is performed when the angle of the first baffle 31A is set shallower. Since the wind speed of the cool air that has passed through the room ceiling insulation 18 and is led to the ceiling blowout 18A falls, most of the cool air that has passed through the switching room indirect cooling and the vegetable room damper 31 flows into the opening 31B. Therefore, since the temperature influence on the switching chamber 4 is very small, the switching chamber 4 can be controlled only by the switching chamber direct cooling damper 21. According to the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, the temperature can be controlled without being influenced by the operation state of the switching chamber 4. Further, since the cold air that has passed through the switching chamber direct cooling damper 21 is directly blown into the switching chamber case 17, the switching chamber 4 can be efficiently cooled, so that waste of power consumption of the refrigerator body 1 can be suppressed.

  On the other hand, FIG. 8 shows the operation of the control unit 71 related to the control of the switching chamber direct cooling damper 21 and the switching chamber indirect cooling and the vegetable room damper 31 when the refrigerator switching chamber 4 in the first embodiment of the present invention is undercooled refrigeration. It is a flowchart to show. Supercooled refrigeration is a refrigeration mode that realizes a supercooled state. The supercooled state refers to a state in which the material is not frozen 100% despite being below the freezing point of the substance. Here, the freezing point refers to the temperature at which the substance begins to freeze. That is, the supercooled state is a state at which the temperature should start freezing but not frozen at all. For example, the freezing point of water is 0 ° C. This freezing point varies depending on the substance, and tends to be lower than 0 ° C. in foods having a high salt concentration and high sugar content. If the freezing after passing through the supercooled state or the cooled state is described as an example, the supercooled state means that when the water is cooled, it is in the state of 100% water even if it falls below the freezing point of 0 ° C. . The water that has entered the supercooled state can eventually be frozen and turned into ice, but this requires some kind of stimulation. This stimulus may be temperature or physical. Thus, although freezing can be started depending on the stimulus, the time from the supercooling state to the start of freezing is in units of several seconds and is instantaneous. However, the percentage of ice that freezes instantaneously at the start of this freezing is a few percent of the total, and further cooling time is required before it becomes 100% ice.

Here, the difference between normal freezing and supercooled freezing will be described in comparison. First, the main difference between normal freezing and supercooling freezing is whether or not a supercooled state is entered. In the case of normal freezing, when the freezing point is passed, freezing starts without entering the supercooling state.
Another major difference between normal freezing and supercooling freezing is the state at the start of freezing. Here, the phenomenon that occurs at the start of freezing will be explained using water in a plastic bottle as an example. In normal freezing, when freezing starts, the water near the surface of the plastic bottle begins to freeze. It becomes a state where thin ice is applied to the part, then the ice spreads toward the inside, and finally the whole freezes. Ice growth occurs mainly around ice nuclei in which water molecules form clusters of a certain size or more, and ice nucleation occurs at the start of freezing. Therefore, in the case of normal freezing, most ice nuclei are formed on the surface, and it can be said that ice grows from there to a portion that is in a water state.

On the other hand, in the case of supercooled freezing, ice nuclei are uniformly formed in the entire PET bottle when freezing starts. And because the ice grows in every part of the PET bottle, both inside and on the surface, the ice never grows in a certain direction.
The difference between normal freezing and freezing after completion of freezing is due to the difference in the cooling process. In normal freezing, large acicular ice crystals from the surface to the inside are formed, whereas in freezing freezing. Produces uniformly small granular ice crystals on the surface and inside.
Further, in the case of quick freezing, the state at the start of freezing and after the completion of freezing is the same as in the case of normal freezing in that it is quickly frozen by applying cold air to the surface. First, the temperature of the surface suddenly drops, so it begins to freeze from the surface. However, the difference from normal freezing is that the cooling rate to the inside increases, so that ice nuclei are more likely to form inside than normal freezing, and no larger ice crystals are formed than during normal freezing.
When considering food freezing, the size and shape of ice crystals after freezing has a significant effect on the quality of food when thawed. Since foods are almost always composed of cells, proteins, carbohydrates, etc., once their structure is destroyed by ice crystals, they often cannot be completely restored. Therefore, it can be said that freezing with good quality has been achieved if the size and shape of the ice crystals formed upon freezing does not destroy the original structure of the food.

  Next, the merit and novelty of freezing food by supercooled freezing will be described. The greatest merit of freezing food with supercooled freezing is that it can be frozen with good quality. As described above, in freezing after a supercooled state, the inside of the food is sufficiently cooled in the process of being supercooled, so that ice nuclei are uniformly formed throughout the food, and small granular ice is formed. Grows into crystals. In addition, the larger the difference between the minimum temperature reached in the supercooled state and the freezing point, the more ice nuclei formed at the start of freezing, resulting in finer ice crystals. Therefore, if the supercooling sufficiently occurs (the lower the temperature reached in the supercooled state), it becomes possible to maintain a state closer to that before freezing after freezing → thawing.

When considering the cooling of food and the size and shape of ice crystals, it has been conventionally performed to consider the passage time in the temperature zone of -1 ° C to -5 ° C, which is the maximum ice crystal formation zone. The idea is that ice crystals become smaller when passing through the maximum ice crystal formation zone in a short time.
In the case of supercooled refrigeration, it takes a long time to stay in the supercooled state in the temperature range (around -1 ° C to -10 ° C) including this maximum ice crystal formation zone. However, the supercooled state is a state that is not frozen. Therefore, in the supercooled state, the ice crystals after freezing do not become large even if this temperature zone passage time is long, and it is possible to make fine ice crystals. It is a completely new refrigeration method in that small ice crystals are formed by freezing in a temperature range around this including the maximum ice crystal temperature range, and freezing is performed with good quality. In addition, freezing starts when the supercooling state is released, and it completely freezes through a phase change state in which the temperature does not change, but if it has passed through the supercooling state, it will reach the maximum ice crystal formation zone in the subsequent freezing process. Even if it stays for a long time, it has been confirmed that ice crystals do not enlarge. Therefore, it can be said that this is also a novel refrigeration method.
If it has undergone supercooling, even if the subsequent freezing process takes a long time, there is little effect on the ice crystal state, but if it is frozen quickly when entering the freezing process, the possibility that the ice crystal will enlarge It can be further reduced, and it is possible to avoid food quality deterioration factors other than ice crystals.

  In addition, up to now, only the merit of freezing the food that has entered the supercooled state has been described, but it is not always necessary to freeze the food that has entered the supercooled state. The merit of maintaining the supercooled state is that the ice crystal is not frozen at all, although it is stored at a temperature below the freezing temperature, that is, at a temperature that would normally freeze. For this reason, the food structure is not affected by ice crystals at all while being stored at a low temperature. Although it is generally known that storage at a lower temperature is effective for preserving freshness in that it can suppress various chemical changes in food, both this low-temperature storage and unfrozen It can be said that it is a storage method that can achieve the merits of. There is no need to thaw the food. However, being in an unfrozen state also has a disadvantage. The fact that moisture in food is not frozen means that it can be used for bacterial growth and various chemical changes. Therefore, care must be taken in this regard rather than frozen ones. That is, in order to realize supercooled freezing, it is necessary to cool the food uniformly, and this can be achieved by indirect cooling as one means.

  Next, the flowchart of FIG. 8 will be described. In step S101, the supercooling mode starts. As the main means for starting the supercooling mode, a display panel and a switch (not shown) are provided, and the supercooling mode is started by the user operating these devices. After step S101, the controller 71 first closes the switching chamber direct cooling damper 21 in step S102. In order to realize supercooled freezing, the food in the switching chamber 4 is uniformly cooled by avoiding direct blowing of cold air into the switching chamber 4. After step S102, the process proceeds to step S103 for determining whether or not the compressor 12 is in operation. If it is determined in step S103 that the compressor 12 is stopped (NO), the process returns to step S102. If it is determined in step S103 that the compressor 12 is operating (YES), the process proceeds to step S104. In step S104, the controller 71 determines whether or not the detection result of the vegetable room thermistor 23 is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature T10 ° C. In step S104, if it is determined that the detection result of the vegetable room thermistor 23 is not equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature T10 ° C. (NO), the process proceeds to step S106. In step S106, the controller 71 controls the damper motor driving means 75 to open the switching chamber indirect cooling and vegetable room damper 31 by a predetermined angle θ11. For example, when θ11 is 90 °, the opening 31B of the indirect cooling of the switching chamber and the damper 31 for the vegetable compartment is closed by the first baffle 31A, so that cold air does not flow into the vegetable compartment 6 and is unnecessary. There is no cooling. If it is determined in step S104 that the detection result of the vegetable room thermistor 23 is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature T10 ° C. (YES), the process proceeds to step S105. In step S105, the controller 71 controls the damper motor driving means 75 so that the indirect cooling of the switching chamber and the vegetable chamber damper 31 are opened by a predetermined angle θ10. For example, when θ10 is 45 °, the opening 31B is not blocked by the baffle 31A of the indirect cooling of the switching chamber and the damper 31 for the vegetable chamber, so that the cold air is blown into the vegetable chamber 6. Therefore, the cooling of the vegetable room 6 can be controlled independently of the cooling of the switching room 4 regardless of which is determined in step S104. After step S105 and step S106, the process proceeds to step S107. In step S107, the controller 71 determines whether or not the detection result of the switching chamber thermistor 19 has become T11 ° C. or lower. If it is determined in step S107 that the detection result of the switching chamber thermistor 19 is T11 ° C. or higher (NO), the process returns to step S107. If it is determined in step S107 that the detection result of the switching chamber thermistor 19 is T11 ° C. or lower (YES), the process proceeds to step S108. In step S108, the control unit 71 controls the damper motor driving means 75 to open the switching chamber direct cooling damper 31. In step S108, supercooling is established by directly injecting cool air into the switching chamber 4 to stimulate food in the switching chamber 4. Incidentally, the predetermined temperature T11 ° C. is mainly the freezing point of meat and is about −5 ° C. Of course, it is not limited to this value. Depending on the size and shape of the meat, for example, if it is about 100 g of pork loin, it can be made 100% frozen and a high quality frozen state can be realized.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of the vicinity of the switching room of the refrigerator showing the second embodiment of the present invention. Moreover, FIG. 10 is a block diagram which shows the structure regarding control of the refrigerator which shows Embodiment 2 of this invention. 9 or 10, reference numeral 22 denotes an infrared sensor, which is used to measure the surface temperature of food in the switching chamber 4. As the installation location, the ceiling of the switching chamber 4 is suitable as a position where the inside of the switching chamber case 17 can be seen. Reference numeral 88 denotes input control means for converting temperature information detected by the infrared sensor 22 into a digital signal and sending it to the control unit 71.
In the present embodiment, since the infrared sensor 22 is used, a temperature closer to food can be detected as compared with the switching room thermistor 19 that detects the air temperature. Can be high. The temperature closer to the food can be detected because the switching chamber thermistor 19 only detects the immediate temperature of the switching chamber thermistor 19 whereas the infrared sensor 22 has a feature of detecting infrared rays emitted from the surface of a distant material. It is. Since the amount of infrared rays increases as the temperature increases, the temperature is measured by the amount of infrared rays to be detected. Although the role of the switching chamber thermistor 19 of the first embodiment is merely replaced with the infrared sensor 22, a temperature closer to food can be detected by the action of the infrared sensor 22, and the success rate of the supercooling freezing is increased. Is.
In this embodiment, the operation flowchart of the control means 71 is the same as that shown in FIGS.

It is a front view of the refrigerator which shows Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a sectional side view containing the switching chamber direct cooling damper of the refrigerator which shows Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a sectional side view including the switching room indirect cooling of the refrigerator which shows Embodiment 1 of this invention, and the damper for vegetable compartments. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a twin damper type switching direct cooling damper and switching room indirect cooling and vegetable room cooling damper mounted on the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a sectional side view of the switch room periphery of the refrigerator which shows Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure regarding control of the refrigerator which shows Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the control part 71 regarding control of the switching chamber direct cooling damper at the time of normal freezing of the refrigerator switching chamber in Embodiment 1 of this invention, switching room indirect cooling, and the vegetable room damper. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the control part 71 regarding the control of the switching chamber direct cooling damper 21 and the switching chamber indirect cooling, and the vegetable room damper 31 at the time of the supercooling freezing in the refrigerator switching chamber 4 in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a sectional side view of the switch chamber periphery of the refrigerator which shows Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure regarding control of the refrigerator which shows Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the schematic front view in the state without the door of the conventional refrigerator shown by patent document 1. FIG. It is a sectional side view of the periphery of the supercooling chamber of the refrigerator shown by patent document 2. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerator body, 2 refrigerator compartment, 3 ice making room, 4 switching room, 4A back discharge port, 5 freezer room, 6 vegetable room, 7 refrigerator compartment door, 7A refrigerator compartment door left, 7B refrigerator compartment door right, 8 ice compartment door , 9 Switching room door, 10 Freezing room door, 11 Vegetable room door, 12 Compressor, 13 Cooler, 14 Cooling air circulation fan, 16 Switching room cooling air path, 16A Switching room direct cooling air path, 16B Switching room Indirect cooling air path, 17 switching room case, 18 switching room ceiling insulation, 18A ceiling blowout, 19 switching room temperature detection means, 20 switching room case cover, 21 switching room direct cooling damper, 22 infrared sensor, 23 vegetable room temperature detection Means, 31 switching room indirect cooling and vegetable room damper, 31A first baffle, 31B vegetable room opening, 39 cold room damper device, 43 cold room discharge duct, 44 cold room suction duct, 5 0 first switching chamber damper device, 51 first switching chamber discharge duct, 52 switching chamber suction duct, 53 vegetable chamber discharge duct, 54 vegetable chamber suction duct, 60 second switching chamber damper device, 61 second switching Chamber discharge duct, 71 control unit, 72 memory, 73 ROM, 74 input / output bus, 75 damper motor driving means, 76 fan motor driving means, 77 compressor motor driving means, 78-80 input control means, 81 damper motor, 82 fan motor 83 Compressor motor.

Claims (9)

A cooler that cools the surrounding air to generate cool air;
A partitioned first chamber and a partitioned second chamber;
A first duct for guiding cold air generated by the cooler to the first chamber;
A second duct for guiding the cold air to the second chamber,
The first duct includes a direct cooling duct that directly cools the first chamber and an indirect cooling duct that indirectly cools the first chamber, and the direct cooling duct includes a first duct. An air volume adjusting means is provided,
A refrigerator comprising second air volume adjusting means for adjusting the air volume of each of the cold air that has been split into the indirect cooling duct and the second duct.   2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerator is a twin damper capable of driving the first air volume adjusting unit and the second air volume adjusting unit with a single motor.   The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first chamber is a switching chamber in which temperature can be switched.   The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second room is a vegetable room in which a set temperature is set higher than that of the first room. The first chamber includes a case and a lid member that covers the case,
5. The cooling according to claim 1, wherein the cooling of the first chamber becomes indirect cooling when the cold air from the indirect cooling duct hits the lid member before flowing into the first chamber. Refrigerator.   The second air volume adjusting means has two openings, one opening is connected to the indirect cooling duct of the first chamber, and the other is connected to the cooling duct of the second chamber. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 5. A first sensor for detecting a food temperature in the first room;
A second sensor for detecting the temperature in the second room;
Control means for controlling the first air volume adjusting means and the second air volume adjusting means based on the temperature detected by the first sensor;
The control means determines that the food temperature detected by the first sensor is higher than a predetermined temperature T11 ° C, and determines that the temperature detected by the second sensor is higher than a predetermined temperature T10 ° C. In this case, the first air volume adjusting means is closed, the second air volume adjusting means is opened by a predetermined angle θ1, and the indirect cooling duct of the first chamber is also used for cooling the second chamber. Cold air is divided into both ducts, and when it is determined that the food temperature detected by the first sensor is higher than the predetermined temperature T11 ° C., and the temperature detected by the second sensor is the predetermined temperature T10. When it is determined that the temperature is lower than ° C., the first air volume adjusting unit is closed, the second air volume adjusting unit is opened by a predetermined angle θ2, the cooling duct of the second chamber is closed, and the first air volume adjusting unit is closed. For indirect cooling of one chamber The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein cooling of the first chamber is indirect cooling by flowing cold air only through the duct. A first sensor for detecting a food temperature in the first room;
A second sensor for detecting the temperature in the second room;
Control means for controlling the first air volume adjusting means and the second air volume adjusting means based on the temperature detected by the first sensor;
The control means determines that the food temperature detected by the first sensor is higher than a predetermined temperature T0 ° C, and determines that the temperature detected by the second sensor is higher than a predetermined temperature T2 ° C. In this case, the first air volume adjusting means is opened, the second air volume adjusting means is opened by a predetermined angle θ1, and the indirect cooling duct of the first chamber is also used for cooling the second chamber. Cold air is divided into both ducts, and when it is determined that the food temperature detected by the first sensor is higher than the predetermined temperature T0 ° C., and the temperature detected by the second sensor is the predetermined temperature T3. When it is determined that the temperature is lower than ° C., by opening the first air volume adjusting means and closing the second air volume adjusting means so as not to flow cool air to the cooling duct of the second chamber, Cooling the first chamber The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the contact cooling.   The refrigerator according to claim 7 or 8, further comprising a third sensor that detects a temperature in the first room instead of the first sensor.

Images