JP2011033296A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve problems of a conventional composition that a light source and a filter need to be arranged at a place where a user cannot see an ultraviolet ray for avoiding influence of the ultraviolet ray on a human body (eyes and skin), as the ultraviolet ray is used as the light source of photocatalyst exciting, which considerably restricts the installation place, and inevitably, that the maintenance works are often difficult when failure that the light source does not light occurs due to disconnection, etc. <P>SOLUTION: A refrigerator includes a compression chamber provided with a compressor for compressing a coolant, a condenser where the compressed coolant radiates heat, a cooling chamber provided with a cooler where the coolant which has radiated the heat absorbs the heat, a storage chamber having a door, a blower for feeding cold air of the cooling chamber to the storage chamber via an air passage, a filter for carrying a visible light response type photocatalyst provided in the air passage, and a light source installed at a position where light is irradiated to the filter for irradiating visible light including light having wavelength for exciting the visible light response type photocatalyst. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to purification of air in a refrigerator.

  In recent years, due to the diversification of food materials and the enhancement of food safety, there are very high needs for deodorizing and disinfecting techniques in refrigerators and high-quality preservation techniques for foods.

  As a conventional deodorizing and sterilizing apparatus in a refrigerator, a method of irradiating a filter carrying titanium oxide as a photocatalyst with ultraviolet rays and oxidizing and decomposing organic substances in the refrigerator using a photocatalytic reaction is used. (For example, see Patent Document 1)

JP 2003-42644 A

  In the conventional configuration, ultraviolet light is used as a light source for photocatalytic excitation, so it is necessary to place a light source and a filter in a place where the user cannot see the ultraviolet light in order to avoid the influence of ultraviolet light on the human body (eyes and skin). There were many restrictions on the installation location. Also, there are many cases where so-called maintenance work is difficult, for example, when a failure occurs in which the light source does not light due to disconnection or the like.

  This invention is made in order to solve such a subject, and is providing the refrigerator which has few restrictions of an installation place first, and was excellent in maintainability.

  A compression chamber provided with a compressor for compressing the refrigerant, a condenser for radiating heat of the compressed refrigerant, a cooling chamber for providing a cooler for absorbing heat of the radiated refrigerant, a storage chamber having a door, and a storage chamber A blower that sends cooling air in the cooling chamber through the air passage, a filter carrying a visible light responsive photocatalyst provided in the air passage, and a visible light responsive type provided at a position where the filter is irradiated with light. A light source that emits visible light including light having a wavelength that excites the photocatalyst.

  By adopting the configuration of the present invention, a light source that excites the photocatalyst is used as illumination for illuminating the storage room, or the photocatalyst itself is provided on the door side of the storage room, that is, a place that may be directly visible to the user. Can do.

It is sectional drawing of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is an internal perspective view of the air purification unit which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. 1 is an assembly diagram of an air purification unit and a back plate according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. It is a wind-path block diagram concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the switching chamber which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a component block diagram of the movable sensor part of the switching chamber which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is an airflow system diagram of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is an airflow system diagram of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
1 is a sectional view of a refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an internal perspective view of an air purification unit according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an air according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an air channel configuration diagram according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  The refrigerator 1 includes a refrigerator compartment 2 at the top, a switching compartment 3 below it, a freezer compartment 4 below it, and a vegetable compartment 5 at the bottom. The refrigerator compartment 2 is opened and closed by a door 6 provided on the front side, The switching chamber 3 is opened / closed by a door 7 provided on the front side, the freezer compartment 4 is opened / closed by a door 8 provided on the front side, and the vegetable chamber 5 is opened / closed by a door 9 provided on the front side. A cooling chamber 10 is provided in the middle part on the back side of the refrigerator 1, a compressor 11 is provided below the cooling chamber 10, and a back side air passage installation part of the refrigerator compartment 2 is provided above the cooling chamber 10. 12 is provided.

  In the refrigerating chamber 2, four shelf plates 13, 14, 15, and 16 are provided from the top for placing objects, and these are disposed so as to contact the back plate 17. In the first embodiment, four shelf boards are provided, and a drawer 19 is installed between the bottom shelf board 16 and the bottom surface 18 of the refrigerator compartment 2. The presence or absence of 19 can be changed as appropriate.

  A drawer 20 is provided in the switching chamber 3 where the user can select a room temperature over a wide range, a drawer 21 is provided in the freezer compartment 4, and a drawer 22 is provided in the vegetable compartment 5. ing.

  A cooler 23 connected to the compressor 11 by piping is provided in the cooling chamber 10. A blower 24 having a fan that is rotated by a built-in motor is provided above the cooler 23. Is provided with a heater 25.

  If a room in which the compressor 11 is provided is a compressor chamber 26, a drain pan 27 is installed above the compressor 11 in the compressor chamber 26. The upper portion of the compressor chamber 26 and the lower portion of the cooling chamber 10 communicate with each other via a pipe 28.

  An air passage through which cold air passes and an air purification unit 29 are provided in the rear side air passage installation section 12 of the refrigerator compartment 2. FIG. 2 shows the structure of the air purification unit 29 in detail. The air purification unit 29 is roughly divided into two configurations: an upper space portion 30 and a lower space portion 31. The upper space portion 30 has a structure in which cold air flows inside a housing 32 that forms this space portion. Inlet ports 33a and 33b are provided below the side surfaces, and outlet ports 34a and 34b are provided above the side surfaces. (In FIG. 2, the description of the inflow port 33b and the outflow port 34b is omitted). A mounting portion 35 protrudes from the housing 32 at a position between the inlet ports 33a and 33b and the outlet ports 34a and 34b of the upper space portion 30. By installing a filter 36 on the mounting portion 35, the upper space The part 30 is divided into two parts. A light source 37 is provided in a space portion where the inflow port 33 is arranged in the upper space portion 30 divided by the attachment portion 35 and the filter 36. Since the light source 37 is built in, the housing 32 is made of a material that transmits light.

  The lead wire 38 of the light source 37 extends to the lower space portion 31 and is connected to the connector 39 at the lower space portion 31. Further, a temperature sensor 40 is also provided in the lower space 31, and the lead wire 41 of the temperature sensor 40 is combined with the lead wire 38 of the light source 37 and connected to the connector 39. This connector 39 is directly connected to the main body wiring (not shown) of the refrigerator 1. In this way, by integrating the light source 37 and the temperature sensor 40 where the connectors are originally required into one connector 39, the number of parts is reduced, the cost is reduced, and the air purification to the refrigerator 1 is performed. The unit 29 can be attached and connected easily.

  FIG. 3 shows an assembling method of the back plate 17 when the air purification unit 29 is attached. The air purification unit 29 is positioned between the back surface inside the refrigerator compartment 2 and the back plate 17, and the casing 32 of the air purification unit 29 faces the window portion 42 provided on the back plate 17. It is like that.

  FIG. 4 shows the air path configuration provided on the back plate 17 of the refrigerator compartment 2. The back side air passage installation section 12 is formed by installing the air passage in such a manner that the surface on which the air passage is provided faces the back side of the refrigerator 1. The basic structure of the back plate 17 includes a panel 43 provided with a plurality of outlets for blowing out cool air to the refrigerator compartment 2, and a foamed polystyrene having a groove formed on the panel 43. Although not shown, the duct component 44 and a seal member that closes the opening of the groove of the duct component 44 to form a duct (air passage) are included. In this figure, the relationship between the air path and the air purification unit 29 is shown by showing a state in which the air purification unit 29 is attached to the back plate 17, and will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  The air passages are air passages 45 communicating with the cooling chamber 10 (not shown in FIG. 4), and air passages 46 and 47 separated from the air passage 45 on the right and left sides. The air path further branched from the air path 46 (referred to as air paths 48, 49, 50 in order from the branch side) and the air path further branched out from the air path 47 (in order from the branch side). 51, 52, 53), the right air passage 54a through which the cold air flowing into the air purification unit flows, the left air passage 54b through which the cold air flowing into the air purification unit flows, and the cold air flowing out from the air purification unit 29 The right air passage 55a through which the air flows and the left air passage 55b through which the cold air flowing out from the air purification unit 29 flows. Of these, the air passage 48 is provided with an air outlet 56, and an air outlet 57 having the same height as the air outlet 51 is provided at the tip of the air passage 51. Similarly, air outlets 58 and 59 are provided at the ends of the air passages 49 and 52, and air outlets 60 and 61 are provided at the ends of the air passages 50 and 53. Further, the air outlet of the air passage 55a also serves as the air outlet 62 of the air passage 46, and the air outlet of the air passage 55b also serves as the air outlet 63 of the air passage 47. The air paths 55a and 55b may be connected to the air outlets 62 and 63 to the refrigerator compartment 2 after rejoining the air paths 46 and 47. By doing so, the ability of the filter 36 can be brought out while minimizing the pressure loss effect of the main flow of the cooling chamber cooling air passage.

  It demonstrates still in detail focusing on the flow of the cool air into the refrigerator compartment 2 of the refrigerator 1 comprised as mentioned above. As shown in FIG. 1, the temperature of the air in the cooling chamber 10 is lowered by a refrigeration cycle including a compressor 11, a condenser (not shown), and a cooler 23 that functions as an evaporator. This low-temperature air, that is, cold air is sent to each chamber by the blower 24. Of these, the cool air toward the refrigerating room 2 flows into the back side air passage installation unit 12 after the flow rate is adjusted by the refrigerating room damper 64 according to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 40. As shown in FIG. 4, the rear side air passage installation section 12 flows through the air passage 46 and the air passage 47 branched from the air passage 45 provided on the downstream side of the refrigerator compartment damper 64, and each branch provided in the middle. The cold air is divided into the air passages 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53 and flows out from the outlets 62, 63 into the refrigerator compartment 2. The cold air from these branch air passages flows into the refrigerator compartment 2 from the outlets 56 and 57 provided at substantially the same height as seen from the inside of the refrigerator compartment 2 so that, for example, the food on the shelf 16 is evenly cooled. It has become. Similarly, the air outlets 58 and 59 and the air outlets 60 and 61 provided at substantially the same height as viewed from the inside of the refrigerator compartment 2 also cool foods and the like on each shelf. In addition, since there is a refrigerator of a system in which the height of the shelf can be changed, the branched air passages 56 to 61 do not always have a blowout opening at the center of the shelf and the shelf.

  On the other hand, a part of the cold air flowing through the air passages 50 and 53 flows into the refrigerator compartment 2 from the outlets 60 and 61 described above, while the other flows through the air passages 54a and 54b and the inlets 33a and 33b of the air purification unit 29. The purified cold air flowing into the interior flows through the air passages 55a and 55b, and flows into the refrigerator compartment 2 from the outlets 62 and 63 together with the cold air flowing from the air passages 46 and 49.

  Thus, the air purification unit 29 communicated with the air passages 54a and 54b further ahead of the air outlets 60 and 61 of the air passages 50 and 53 branched from the main air passages 46 and 47, so that the filter 36 is clogged, Even if a problem such as displacement of the filter 36 occurs, the cooling capacity in the refrigerator is secured.

  The mechanism for purifying the cold air by the air purification unit 29 is as follows. The cold air that has flowed into the upper space 30 from the inlets 33 a and 33 b provided on the two opposing side surfaces of the housing 32 of the air purification unit 29 passes through the filter 36, so that bacteria and odor components are removed. A light source 37 composed of LEDs is provided on the upstream side of the cold air flow as viewed from the filter 36. The light source 37 has several roles, one of which is the display of the purification ability by the filter 36. The substance carried on the filter 36 is a visible light responsive photocatalyst. A visible light responsive photocatalyst is different from a photocatalyst activated only with light of a general ultraviolet wavelength, and a component in cold air is activated (for example, ionization or radicalization) even with light of a visible region wavelength. is there. As a result, bacteria and odor components (organic substances) are oxidatively decomposed. Specific examples include titanium oxide doped with nitrogen and oxygen partially substituted with nitrogen, and titanium oxide compounded with a compound such as platinum or iron. That is, among the substances carried on the filter 36 by the light source 37, the visible light responsive photocatalyst is particularly activated. Further, the filter 36 may carry an antioxidant. Antioxidant means that the antioxidant itself is oxidized to suppress the oxidation of the object to be adhered. Examples of antioxidants intended for food include L-ascorbic acid, rosemary extract and the like Can be illustrated. Among these, at least one or more of them are supported by the filter 36, and by passing cold air, the antioxidant is desorbed from the filter, released into the refrigerator compartment 2, reaches the stored food, and inhibits oxidation of the food. An effect can be obtained.

  In addition, the filter 36 is a honeycomb formed by gathering organic nonwoven fabrics into a cotton shape, a pleated shape obtained by stretching the organic nonwoven fabrics into a sheet shape, or by sintering a support on inorganic ceramics. The base material and the form such as a corrugated material can be arbitrarily selected and determined depending on the wind path pressure loss or the light irradiation range / transmittance.

  Another function of the light source 37 is a function as illumination. As described above, in the air purification unit 29, the curved surface of the casing 32 made of a material that transmits light from the window portion 42 covered with the transparent decorative cover of the back plate 17 is exposed in the refrigerator compartment 2. Therefore, the rear side in the refrigerator compartment 2 is widely illuminated. In general, the lighting in the refrigerator compartment is often provided on the ceiling surface or on the side surface in order to increase the irradiation possible range. Although it may be provided in the back of the refrigerator compartment, in that case, the irradiation range is expanded by providing illumination from the top to the bottom of the refrigerator compartment. In the invention of this embodiment, the light source 3 is provided slightly above the central part of the rear wall of the refrigerator compartment, but this is auxiliary illumination. The main lighting will be provided on the ceiling and sides. Thus, by providing auxiliary lighting on the back side in the refrigerator compartment 2, it is possible to easily see foods and the like placed in the back of the room, but in addition, the color of the back plate 17 can be changed. There is also a function to express accurately. In general, when a product is displayed at a home electronics department, in order to make the product appear more attractive, a dedicated lighting device is often installed around the product so that light can be applied to the product from various angles. Especially in the case of recent refrigerators, not only the appearance but also the arrangement and color of the storage room such as the refrigerator compartment are attracting attention, so lighting for illuminating the interior of the refrigerator is installed separately, making it brighter than the case of only the interior lighting The number of cases displayed in the state is increasing. For this reason, there are many cases where it seems darker than when viewed at the store when it is used only at the interior lighting after purchase. Just by brightening the periphery of the back plate 17 with an auxiliary light source 37 as in the invention described in this embodiment, it is possible to illuminate the storage room with light and darkness that is almost the same as the way it looks at the storefront. Can be reduced.

  The light source 37 needs to be able to emit light including a wavelength that can obtain excitation of the visible light responsive photocatalyst carried on the filter 36. Specifically, an LED that emits blue light (having a wavelength of about 470 nm) can be exemplified. The light source 37 may be any light source as long as it can emit a predetermined amount of light having a wavelength capable of exciting the catalyst, and may be a white LED (by a combination of blue and yellow, for example). There are no particular restrictions on the number of light sources, and in order to emit a predetermined amount of light, for example, a plurality of LEDs can be mounted, and the emission colors of the LEDs can be a combination of different colors. As a specific configuration of the light source 37, a substrate on which chip-shaped LEDs are mounted is held in a predetermined position by fitting a groove or the like in a cylindrical case formed of a transparent or light-transmitting resin or the like, The lead wire 38 is taken out from the transparent case open end, and the open end is hermetically sealed with a sealing member having a high water-stopping property and measures taken to prevent LED breakage due to condensation or freezing can be exemplified.

  In the refrigerator 1 having such a configuration, the compressor 11 and the blower 24 have a predetermined temperature based on the detection result of the temperature sensor 67a provided in the freezer compartment 4 by the control board 66 provided on the back surface. The operation state is controlled, and the switching chamber damper 68 is controlled so as to reach a predetermined temperature based on the detection result of the temperature sensor 67b provided in the switching chamber 3.

  The flow of purified cold air in the refrigerator compartment 1 is as follows. The cold air coming out of the outlets 62 and 63 flows between the shelf 13 and the ceiling surface of the refrigerator compartment 2 and flows toward the door 6 side. And if it collides with the door 6, it will change direction to the flow which goes to the bottom face 18 of the refrigerator compartment 2, and will be sent to the vegetable compartment 5 from the cold air return port 65 provided in the bottom face.

  When the door 6 is opened by forming the flow of cool air from the top to the bottom along the door 6 with the cool air blown out from the uppermost outlets 62 and 63 and closing the door 6 in this way. The cold air that leaks out and the user smells or bathes in the body becomes purified. In addition, since the air purification unit 29 is provided in the air passage for blowing the cold air, the cold air immediately after the purification is blown out from the outlets 62 and 63, so that it is more hygienic than when a purification mechanism is provided in the cold air return air passage. High efficiency. In the invention according to this embodiment, the purified cool air is blown out from the uppermost outlets 62 and 63, but it may not be the uppermost stage depending on the size of the refrigerator.

  Further, by applying a visible light responsive photocatalyst to the filter 36 and using visible light as the light source 37 for catalyst excitation, even if the light from the light source 37 is exposed in the refrigerator compartment 2, there is a concern about the influence on food and the human body. Therefore, it is possible to arrange the light source 37 at a position where the user can visually recognize the lighting of the light source 37 for catalyst excitation. As a result, the light from the light source 37 can be used as illumination for the storage room, the appearance of stored food can be improved, and the failure and recognition of the light source 37 can be easily recognized. In addition, the labor and efficiency of maintenance and replacement work in the event of a light source failure can be improved. Further, when an anti-oxidant is carried on the filter 36, the anti-oxidant is released and the probability of reaching the stored food increases, and therefore the anti-oxidation action of the food increases.

  The flow of the cool air described above is in a state in which the door 6 is closed, but the control of the amount of cool air and the light source 37 is classified into three patterns. In the first pattern, when the opening of the door 6 is detected by means for detecting the open / closed state of the door 6 (not shown), the light source 37 is turned on and the blower 24 is stopped. The lighting of the light source 37 corresponding to the opening operation of the door 6 is intended to make it easier for the user to see the food in the refrigerator compartment 2. However, when an antioxidant is carried on the filter 36 at the same time, the blower 24 is stopped to minimize the antioxidant sprayed in the refrigerator compartment from flowing out together with the cool air inside the refrigerator. be able to. In addition, when the door 6 opens, the cool air temperature inside the cabinet rises, the density of air passing through the filter 36 increases, and the amount of bacteria and odorous components adsorbed on the filter 36 tends to increase, but the light source 37 is turned on. The catalyst is excited to promote the decomposition of bacteria and odorous components in the filter 36, while the blower 24 is stopped and the amount of cold air passing through the filter 36 is suppressed to remove the bacteria and odorous components. To reduce.

  In the second pattern, when control is performed to stop the compressor 11 based on the detection result of the temperature sensor 67, the drain pan 27 is melted by energizing the heater 25 in the vicinity of the cooler 23 to melt the frost attached to the cooler 23. If the blower is stopped or the damper is closed when the water is collected and vaporized by exhaust heat during operation of the compressor 11 (during the so-called defrosting operation), the internal cold air temperature rises. During this time, the light source 37 emits light, so that desorption of bacteria and odorous components from the filter 36 is suppressed. It is possible to combine the first pattern and the second pattern.

  In the third pattern, when the opening of the door 6 is detected by means for detecting the open / closed state of the door 6 (not shown), the light source 37 is turned on and the blower 24 is put into an operating state. The lighting of the light source 37 corresponding to the opening operation of the door 6 is to make it easy for the user to see food in the refrigerator compartment 2, and to stop the blower 24 if it is opened and closed for a short time. This is because there are many cases that do not reach. Therefore, the first pattern and the third pattern may be switched depending on the opening time of the door 6 by providing the control board 66 with a timer function.

  It is possible to combine these first to third patterns as long as there is no contradiction.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
5 is a cross-sectional view of a switching chamber according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a component configuration diagram of a movable sensor portion of the switching chamber according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In addition, the same number is attached | subjected to the structure which has the same function as Embodiment 1. FIG.

  In the switching chamber 3, a wind path through which the cool air from the cooling chamber 10 passes is provided on the back side, and a switching chamber damper 68 is provided at a branch point of the air path. The switching chamber damper 68 is formed on the ceiling surface of the switching chamber 3, passes through the drawer 20, and blows into the room in front of the door 7. A rear air passage baffle 72 provided in a rear air passage 71 that blows out into the drawer 20 from the rear surface. These baffles are twin duct dampers that can be opened and closed independently by a driving unit 73. is there. Although not shown in the figure, the air volume is adjusted by opening and closing the baffle of the damper according to the setting in the switching chamber 3 selected by the user by an outside operation panel or the like, and is controlled to a predetermined set temperature. By adopting such an air path configuration, for example, after the food is added, the food is cooled while adjusting the cooling capacity in accordance with the operation of the outside operation panel of the user, and the water in the food is in a supercooled state, Later, by increasing the cooling capacity, it becomes possible to give a low-temperature stimulus, to release the supercooling, and to freeze. Furthermore, by determining the stable storage state and suppressing the cooling air flow to the minimum necessary amount, the fluctuation range of the food and the ambient temperature is minimized as much as possible, the food is frozen, the food is frozen, dried, It can also be stored frozen to prevent oxidation.

  The ceiling air passage 69 is provided with a blowout port 74 in the middle of the air passage near the door 7 of the switching chamber 3, and further, a blowout port 75 is provided at the tip of the air passage. A filter 76 is provided in the air passage from the air outlet 74 to the air outlet 75, and this portion of the air passage is referred to as a deodorizing air passage 77. A drive unit 78 is provided on the ceiling surface between the outlet 75 of the deodorizing air passage 77 and the door 7.

  The configuration of the drive unit 78 will be described with reference to FIG. The outer shell of the drive unit 78 includes a cylindrical portion 81 having two parallel window portions 79 and 80 and a lid 82. In the cylindrical portion 81, a light source 83 configured by mounting a chip LED and a temperature sensor 84 including an infrared sensor for detecting the temperature in the drawer 20 are accommodated at positions facing the window portions 79 and 80, respectively. . The temperature sensor 84 is fitted to the temperature sensor holding member 85, and the temperature sensor holding member 85 is connected to the output shaft of the motor 86. On the other hand, the light source 83 is fitted to a light source holding member 87 formed of a transparent or light-transmitting resin material, and is connected to the temperature sensor holding member 85. The motor 86 is driven within a predetermined angle range by, for example, a stepping motor. By driving the shaft of the motor 86, the temperature sensor 84 and the light source 83 can be driven simultaneously. The lead wires of the light source 83, the temperature sensor 84, and the motor 86 are collected in one connector 88 and connected to the main body wiring of the refrigerator 1 by this connector. The temperature sensor 84 detects the temperature of the food with an infrared sensor, but by processing together with the detection result of the temperature sensor 67b that measures the air temperature in the switching chamber 3, more accurate temperature detection is possible. Become. For example, after food is added, the food is cooled while adjusting the cooling capacity in accordance with the user's operation on the outside operation panel, and the water in the food is brought into a supercooled state. Further, the switching chamber may be configured to increase the success rate of the supercooling release and the high-quality freezing to be frozen. The drive unit 78 can be rotated by an angle indicated by a double arrow in FIG. 5, so that the temperature sensor 84 can detect the temperature of the entire region of the drawer 20. In addition, since the drive unit 78 can rotate at a wide angle as described above, even when an LED having a strong directivity is used as a light source, light reaches a wide range in the switching chamber 3 and the visibility of the user can be improved.

  By such a light source 83 provided in the drive unit 78, the visible light responsive catalyst carried on the filter 76 is excited and the decomposition of germs and odor components in the cold air passing through the filter 76 is promoted. Further, since the antioxidant is also carried on the filter 76, the antioxidant is also released.

  Since the purified cool air outlet 75 is provided on the ceiling surface, particularly near the door 7 as described above, the cool air blown out from the outlet 75 closes the door 7 along the door 7 from the top to the bottom. The cold air that leaks out when the door 7 is opened and the user smells or bathes in the body is purified. In addition, since the filter 76 is provided in the air passage for blowing the cold air, the cold air immediately after purification is blown out from the outlet 75, so that the hygiene efficiency is higher than the case where the purification mechanism is provided in the cold air return air passage. high.

  As for the lighting operation of the light source 83, several patterns are conceivable as in the first embodiment. For example, the light is turned on while the compressor is stopped and the defrosting operation is performed. When the light source 83 is turned on, the catalyst is excited by directing the straight axis of the light source 83 toward the filter 76 by the operation of the drive unit 78. Thus, bacteria and odor components (organic substances) can be oxidatively decomposed. Furthermore, it is also possible to enhance the visual effect as illumination in the drawer 20 by irradiating the linear axis of the light source 83 in the direction of the drawer 20 except for the irradiation period of the filter 76.

  In addition, it is assumed that food having a temperature higher than room temperature has been placed when it is detected that relatively high temperature food or the like has been placed in the switching chamber 3 and the entire room temperature has increased, or when the door 7 is opened or closed. For example, as described above, the temperature sensor 84 can be rotated within the predetermined angle range and the light source 83 can be turned on. In this way, the temperature sensor 84 can detect the room temperature in the switching chamber 3 in a wide range, and food or the like whose temperature is higher than the room temperature is lowered to the ambient temperature by the catalyst of the filter 76 excited by the light source 83. It is more effective because it can oxidize and decompose bacteria and odor components (organic substances).

Embodiment 3 FIG.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a refrigerator according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In this embodiment, a refrigerator provided with both the refrigerating room of Embodiment 1 and the switching room of Embodiment 2 is illustrated. In addition, about the structure which has already been demonstrated by the Embodiment 1 and 2 until now, the same number is attached | subjected and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The cold air purified by the air purification unit 29 in the refrigerator 1 is blown out from the uppermost outlets 62 and 63 of the refrigerating chamber 2 toward a door (not shown), and a flow of cold air is formed downward along the door. The The cold air reaching the bottom surface 18 of the refrigerator compartment 2 is sent from the cold air return port 65 to the vegetable compartment 5 through the return air passage. On the other hand, in this figure, since the drive unit 78 is in front, it cannot be seen, but the cold air purified by the filter 76 of the deodorizing air passage 77 provided at the upper part of the switching chamber 3 blows out from the outlet 75 toward the door (not shown). Thus, a cold air flow is formed along the door. An ice making chamber 89 is provided next to the switching chamber 3.

  Thus, the filter and the light source of the present invention are installed in all the storage rooms such as the refrigerating room 2 and the switching room 3 so as to form a flow of purified air purified from the upper part to the lower part on the door side of each room. Anyway. In this case, lighting of each light source and control of the operation operation of the compressor may be performed based on the idea detailed in the first embodiment.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
FIG. 8 is an air path system diagram of a refrigerator according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is an air path system diagram of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. FIG. 8 shows that the refrigerator and switching room are provided with the filter and light source described in the first to third embodiments of the present invention, and their arrangement, configuration, and operation are the same as those described in the first to third embodiments. The description is omitted. A deodorizing and sterilizing filter 90 is provided in the cold air circulation air passage of the refrigerator. The deodorizing and disinfecting filter 90 carries, for example, deodorizing and disinfecting components such as manganese oxide, copper oxide, silver, and platinum. In addition, the base material and form of the filter are not particularly defined and can be arbitrarily selected. Thereby, it becomes the specification by which the deodorizing bacteria elimination performance was improved over the whole refrigerator. FIG. 9 shows an installation example of the deodorizing and sterilizing filter 90 in a refrigerator not equipped with a switching chamber. After cooling the refrigerated room and the vegetable room, it is provided in the air path that returns to the cooler, and specializes in the storage room in the plus temperature zone where the risk of bacterial growth is relatively high, improving the deodorization and sterilization performance It is a thing.

  Note that, for example, deodorizing and disinfecting components such as manganese oxide, copper oxide, silver, and platinum carried on the deodorizing and disinfecting filter 90 are combined with the visible light responsive photocatalyst in the filter regardless of the embodiment. It can also be supported. Thereby, for example, even when the light source is turned off, it is possible to obtain a deodorizing and sterilizing effect and to provide a refrigerator with improved deodorizing and sterilizing performance.

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator technology.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerator, 2 Refrigerating room, 3 Switching room, 4 Freezing room, 5 Vegetable room, 6 Door, 7 Door, 8 Door, 9 Door, 10 Cooling room, 11 Compressor, 12 Back side air path installation part, 13 Shelf board , 14 shelves, 15 shelves, 16 shelves, 17 back plates, 18 bottom, 19 drawers, 20 drawers, 21 drawers, 22 drawers, 23 coolers, 24 blowers, 25 heaters, 26 compressor chambers, 27 drain pans, 28 piping, 29 air purification unit, 30 upper space part, 31 lower space part, 32 housing, 33a inlet, 33b inlet, 34a outlet, 34b outlet, 35 mounting part, 36 filter, 37 light source, 38 Lead wire, 39 Connector, 40 Temperature sensor, 41 Lead wire, 42 Window part, 43 Panel 44 air ducts, 45 air passages, 46 air passages, 47 air passages, 48 air passages, 49 air passages, 50 air passages, 51 air passages, 52 air passages, 53 air passages, 54a air passages, 54b air passages, 55a Airway, 55b Airway, 56 Outlet, 57 Outlet, 58 Outlet, 59 Outlet, 60 Outlet, 61 Outlet, 62 Outlet, 63 Outlet, 64 Cold Room Damper, 65 Cold Air Return, 66 Control board, 67a Temperature sensor, 67b Temperature sensor, 68 Switching room damper, 69 Ceiling airway, 70 Ceiling airway baffle, 71 Back airway, 72 Back airway baffle, 73 Drive part, 74 Outlet, 75 Outlet , 76 filter, 77 deodorizing air passage, 78 drive unit, 79 window, 80 window part, 81 cylinder part, 82 lid body, 83 light source, 84 temperature sensor, 85 temperature sensor holding member, 86 motor, 87 light source holding member, 89 ice making chamber, 90 deodorizing filter.

Claims (8)

A compression chamber provided with a compressor for compressing the refrigerant;
A condenser from which the compressed refrigerant dissipates heat;
A cooling chamber provided with a cooler that absorbs heat from the radiated refrigerant;
A storage room having a door;
A blower for sending cold air of the cooling chamber to the storage chamber via an air passage;
A filter carrying a visible light responsive photocatalyst provided in the air path;
A refrigerator provided with a light source that is provided at a position where the filter is irradiated with light and that emits visible light including light having a wavelength that excites the visible light responsive photocatalyst.   The air passage is formed between the back plate and the outer wall of the storage chamber, the filter and the light source are accommodated in the same unit, the unit is provided in the middle of the air passage, and the window is provided on the back plate. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the interior of the storage room can be irradiated with light.   The air path is provided from the back of the ceiling toward the door, the light source is provided on the ceiling of the storage room, the filter is provided in the vicinity of the outlet provided on the door side of the air path, and the light from the light source is A refrigerator characterized by irradiating the filter.   The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein a temperature sensor and a light source are rotatably provided on a ceiling in the storage chamber, and the light source emits light when the temperature sensor rotates.   5. A blowout port for an air passage is provided at an upper portion of the storage chamber, and the cold air blown out from the blowout port flows along the door from the upper portion to the lower portion of the storage chamber. The refrigerator in any one.   6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein when the door is opened, the light source emits light and the blower is stopped.   6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a temperature sensor is provided in the storage chamber, and the light source is caused to emit light when the compressor is stopped based on a value of the temperature sensor.   The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the light source emits light during defrosting and the blower is stopped.

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