JP2011064366A - Ion delivery unit and refrigerator including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ion delivery unit mixing positive ions with negative ions in a narrow space and to provide a refrigerator using the ion delivery unit. <P>SOLUTION: The ion delivery unit includes: a housing 41 having a suction port 41a and a blowout port 41b opened on a front face 41d covering the front face and an air flow passage 41f formed along the inner face of the front face 41d to interconnect the suction port 41a and the blowout port 41b; an ion delivery fan 42 comprising an axial flow fan of which the axial direction is arranged along the air flow passage 41f; and an ion generating device 86 which is arranged adjacent to the downstream side of the ion delivery fan 42 and in which a first ion generating part 86j facing the air flow passage 41f and generating positive ions and a second ion generating part 86k generating negative ions are juxtaposed in the direction orthogonal to the front face 41d. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ion delivery unit that generates and delivers ions and a refrigerator including the same.

  A conventional refrigerator is disclosed in Patent Document 1. In this refrigerator, an ion sending unit for sending ions is arranged on the ceiling surface of a refrigerator compartment for storing stored items in a refrigerator. The ion delivery unit is covered with a housing having a suction port that opens to the front surface and a blower port that opens to the lower surface of the rear end.

An air flow path formed in two upper and lower stages for connecting the suction port and the air outlet is provided in the housing. In the air flow path, an ion sending fan composed of a sirocco fan is arranged with the axial direction set up and down. An ion generator is disposed downstream of the ion delivery fan. The ion generator has an ion generating surface that generates positive ions composed of H ⁺ (H ₂ O) m and negative ions composed of O ₂ ⁻ (H ₂ O) n by applying an alternating voltage. Note that m and n are arbitrary natural numbers. In the ion generator, the longitudinal direction of the ion generation surface is installed along the air flow direction of the air flow path.

When the ion generator and the ion delivery fan are driven, the cold air in the refrigerator compartment flows into the housing of the ion delivery unit through the suction port. The cool air flowing into the housing and flowing through the air flow path includes positive ions and negative ions generated by the ion generator. Cold air containing positive ions and negative ions is blown out from the outlet into the refrigerator compartment, and both ions are mixed through the refrigerator compartment. A positive ion composed of H ⁺ (H ₂ O) m and a negative ion composed of O ₂ ⁻ (H ₂ O) n surround airborne bacteria and odor components and destroy them. Thereby, sterilization and odor removal in the refrigerator compartment can be performed.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-221160 (pages 5-7, FIG. 6)

  According to the conventional ion delivery unit, the exhaust of the ion delivery fan composed of a sirocco fan is in a substantially laminar flow state. As a result, positive ions and negative ions are carried by laminar cold air flowing through the air flow path, and are released into a refrigerating room having a large internal volume. At this time, a diffusion action by pressure dispersion due to the expansion of the space is added, and both ions are mixed before being distributed to the storage shelves through the refrigeration chamber.

  However, when positive ions and negative ions are delivered into a narrow space such as a narrow storage room or a storage case for storing stored items, the diffusion effect is reduced. For this reason, there was a problem that both ions were not sufficiently mixed and the bactericidal effect and the like by both ions were reduced.

  An object of this invention is to provide the ion sending unit which can mix a positive ion and a negative ion even if it installs in a narrow space, and a refrigerator using the same.

  In order to achieve the above object, an ion delivery unit according to the present invention has an air flow path that opens a suction port and a blower outlet in a front part that covers a front surface and connects the suction port and the blower outlet to an inner surface of the front part. An ion delivery fan comprising an axial flow fan arranged in the axial direction along the air flow path, and adjacent to the downstream side of the ion delivery fan and facing the air flow path An ion generator having a first ion generator that generates positive ions and a second ion generator that generates negative ions, wherein the first and second ion generators are arranged in parallel in a direction orthogonal to the front surface; It is characterized by having.

  According to this configuration, air flows into the housing from the suction port arranged in the front portion of the housing by driving the ion delivery fan, and flows through the air flow path along the front portion. Further, by driving the ion generator, positive ions and negative ions are generated from the first and second ion generators arranged in the direction perpendicular to the front portion and perpendicular to the air flow direction. The positive ions and the negative ions are mixed by the swirling airflow on the exhaust side of the ion delivery fan composed of the axial flow fan, and blown out from the blowout port arranged in the front portion.

  According to the present invention, in the ion delivery unit configured as described above, the ion delivery unit has a protrusion protruding into the air flow path from the inner surface of the front part on the downstream side of the ion delivery fan, An offset in a direction orthogonal to the front portion is provided between the first and second ion generating portions so that the middle point is away from the front portion.

  According to this configuration, a sufficient amount of positive ions and negative ions are sent out from the air outlet by an offset in which the ion sending fan is separated from the front part with respect to the projection part protruding into the air flow path from the front part and the ion generator. be able to.

  According to the present invention, in the ion delivery unit configured as described above, the upstream side of the protrusion is formed of an inclined surface.

  According to the present invention, in the ion delivery unit configured as described above, the rotation direction of the ion delivery fan is viewed from the downstream side so that the blades on the front side are away from the ion generator.

Further, according to the present invention, in the ion delivery unit having the above-described configuration, positive ions mainly composed of H ⁺ (H ₂ O) m (m is a natural number) are generated by the first ion generation unit, and O ₂ ^{− is} generated by the second ion generation unit. It is characterized by mainly generating negative ions composed of (H ₂ O) n (n is a natural number). According to this structure, the inside of the space where the ion delivery unit is arranged is sterilized by the ions blown out from the outlet, and ethylene generated from the vegetables and fruits is decomposed.

  The refrigerator of the present invention includes the ion delivery unit having the above-described configuration, and a storage case that is arranged in and out of the storage chamber and stores stored items, and the suction port and the outlet are in the storage case. It is characterized by the fact that it was arranged.

  According to the present invention, the air flow path is formed along the inner surface of the front portion of the housing where the suction port and the air outlet are open, and the axial direction is the downstream side of the ion delivery fan including the axial flow fan along the air flow path. Since the first and second ion generators are arranged orthogonal to the front part, the positive ions and negative ions generated by the first and second ion generators are easily mixed by the swirling airflow on the exhaust side of the ion delivery fan. Can be blown out from the outlet. As a result, positive ions and negative ions can be mixed and delivered from the ion delivery unit to a narrow space such as a narrow storage room or storage case. Therefore, a bactericidal effect and a deodorizing effect by positive ions and negative ions in a narrow space can be obtained.

The front view which shows the refrigerator of embodiment of this invention Front sectional drawing which shows the refrigerator of embodiment of this invention The perspective view which shows the state which opened the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator of embodiment of this invention The disassembled perspective view which shows the storage case of the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator of embodiment of this invention Side surface sectional view which shows the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator of embodiment of this invention Front sectional drawing which shows arrangement | positioning of the storage case and ion delivery unit of the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator of embodiment of this invention AA sectional view of FIG. The perspective view which shows the ion sending unit of the refrigerator of embodiment of this invention The front view which shows the ion sending unit of the refrigerator of embodiment of this invention The side view which shows the ion delivery unit of the refrigerator of embodiment of this invention The front view which shows the state which opened the cover part of the ion sending unit of the refrigerator of embodiment of this invention The perspective view which shows the state which excluded the cover part of the ion sending unit of the refrigerator of embodiment of this invention. The front view which shows the ion generator of the refrigerator of embodiment of this invention Side surface sectional drawing which shows the ion generator of the refrigerator of embodiment of this invention BB sectional view of FIG. C arrow view of FIG.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a refrigerator according to an embodiment. In the upper part of the refrigerator 1, a refrigerator compartment 2 in which stored items are refrigerated and opened and closed by doors 2 a and 2 b is arranged. A tank chamber 12, an accessory storage chamber 13, and a chilled chamber 14 are provided in the lower part of the refrigerator compartment 2.

  The tank chamber 12 stores a water tank 10 for ice making. The accessory storage chamber 13 is an isolation chamber isolated from the upper part of the refrigerator compartment 2, and stores small storage items such as eggs. The chilled chamber 14 is isolated from the upper part of the refrigerator compartment 2 and is kept at a lower temperature than the upper part of the refrigerator compartment 2.

  Below the refrigerating room 3, the freezing room 3 and the ice making room 5 are arranged via a heat insulating wall 7. The ice making chamber 5 is opened and closed by a door 5a, and water is supplied from a water tank 10 to make ice and store ice. The freezer compartment 3 stores stored items in a frozen state, and has an upper chamber 3c opened and closed by a door 3a and a lower chamber 3d opened and closed by a door 3b. The upper chamber 3c and the ice making chamber 5 are arranged side by side with a partition wall 11 therebetween. The upper chamber 3c and the ice making chamber 5 and the lower chamber 3d are partitioned by a partition wall 8 (see FIG. 2) provided at the front, and communicate with each other behind the partition wall 8.

  Below the freezer compartment 3, the vegetable compartment 4 is arranged via the heat insulation wall 9 (refer FIG. 2). The vegetable compartment 4 is opened and closed by a door 4a, and is maintained at a temperature higher than that of the refrigerator compartment 1 and suitable for refrigerated storage of vegetables and fruits.

  FIG. 2 shows a front sectional view of the refrigerator 1. A cool air passage 22 through which cool air flows is provided behind the refrigerator compartment 2. A cold air passage 21 communicating with the cold air passage 22 via a damper 25 is provided behind the freezing chamber 3 and the ice making chamber 5. A blower fan 24 is disposed in the upper part of the cool air passage 21. In the lower part of the cool air passage 21, a cooler chamber 21a that is widened to the left and right is provided, and a cooler 23 is disposed in the cooler chamber 21a. The cooler 23 is connected to a compressor (not shown) and disposed on the low temperature side of the refrigeration cycle, and generates heat by exchanging heat with the air flowing through the cool air passage 21.

  At the upper end of the cold air passage 22, a discharge port 2 c that faces the refrigerator compartment 2 is opened. The lower part of the cool air passage 22 branches immediately after the damper 25, and a discharge port 14a for discharging cool air to the chilled chamber 14 is provided. As a result, the cold air immediately after heat exchange with the cooler 23 is sent to the chilled chamber 14 so that the chilled chamber 14 is maintained at a lower temperature than the upper part of the refrigerator compartment 2. In addition, an outlet 2d through which the cold air in the refrigerator compartment 2 flows out opens on the back surface of the chilled chamber 14.

  A discharge port 3e that faces the freezer compartment 3 is opened at the upper part of the cooler chamber 21a, and a return port 3f that opens the cool air to the cool air passage 21 facing the cooler 20 is opened at the lower part. On the upper surface of the vegetable compartment 4, an inflow port 4b opens at one end in the left-right direction. A connecting passage 26 that connects the outlet 2d and the inlet 4b is provided on the side of the cold air passage 21. Further, an outlet 4 c that opens to the lower end of the cold air passage 21 is formed at the other end in the left-right direction of the upper surface of the vegetable compartment 4.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the door of the vegetable compartment 4 is opened. A storage case 30 including a vegetable case 31 and a fruit case 32 is arranged in the vegetable room 4. The vegetable case 31 is fixed to the door 4a of the vegetable compartment 4, and is put in and out by opening and closing the door 4a. The fruit case 32 covers the upper surface of the vegetable case 31, is integrated with the vegetable case 31, and is slidable back and forth.

  FIG. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of the storage case 30. The fruit case 32 has a peripheral edge 32 a that protrudes outward from the periphery of the opening surface, and the peripheral edge 32 a is installed on the side wall of the vegetable case 31. Thereby, the peripheral part 32a and the side wall of the vegetable case 31 slide, and the fruit case 32 slides. An opening 31 a that avoids interference with the sliding fruit case 32 is formed on the back wall of the vegetable case 31.

  The height of the vegetable case 31 to the lower surface of the fruit case 32 is larger than the depth of the fruit case 32. For this reason, the vegetable case 31 stores large leafy vegetables such as cabbage and Chinese cabbage. Since the upper surface of the vegetable case 31 is covered with the fruit case 32, drying due to the cold air is suppressed, and deterioration of foodstuffs due to drying is prevented.

  In the fruit case 32 whose upper surface is opened, small vegetables such as broccoli and fruits such as apples are stored. The fruit case 32 is arranged close to the heat insulating wall 9 (see FIG. 2) that forms the upper wall of the vegetable compartment 4, and the upper surface of the fruit case 32 is covered with the heat insulating wall 9. Thereby, the inflow of cold air from the upper surface of the fruit case 32 into the fruit case 32 is suppressed, and deterioration of the foodstuff due to drying in the fruit case 32 is prevented. Further, as will be described later, the cold air with high humidity in the fruit case 32 circulates through the ion delivery unit 40, so that the life of ions delivered from the ion delivery unit 40 can be extended.

  The peripheral part 32a of the fruit case 32 is provided with a notch 32b on the upper surface of the rear part. A stopper (not shown) projects from the heat insulating wall 9 above the notch 32b. The fruit case 32 slid rearward with respect to the vegetable case 31 comes into contact with a stopper at the front end of the notch 32b when the door 4a is closed. Thereby, the fruit case 32 moves relatively forward with respect to the vegetable case 31 moving backward, and the door 4a can be closed covering the vegetable case 31.

  FIG. 5 shows a side sectional view of the vegetable compartment 4. The inflow port 4b is arranged downward at the rear end of the vegetable compartment 4. An ion sending unit 40 for sending ions is attached in front of the inflow port 4b as will be described in detail later. The ion delivery unit 40 is provided from the heat insulating wall 9 to a position below the peripheral edge portion 32a of the fruit case 32. For this reason, the cold air flowing into the vegetable compartment 4 from the inflow port 4b flows through the rear of the ion delivery unit 40 and is guided below the peripheral edge portion 32a as indicated by an arrow D. Thereby, the inflow of cold air from the upper surface of the fruit case 32 into the fruit case 32 is further reduced.

  Further, a shielding portion 9 a extending in the front-rear direction is provided on the lower surface of the heat insulating wall 9. The shielding part 9a covers the side of the notch 32b of the fruit case 32 and closes the notch 32b. Thereby, the inflow of the cold air from the notch 32b into the fruit case 32 is reduced. Accordingly, drying in the fruit case 32 can be further suppressed. For this reason, the lifetime of the ions delivered from the ion delivery unit 40 can be extended. In addition, the stopper which contact | abuts the notch part 32b may be extended and formed, and the notch part 32b may be plugged up.

  FIG. 6 is a front sectional view showing the arrangement of the storage case 30 and the ion delivery unit 40 in the vegetable compartment 4. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. On the back wall of the fruit case 32, a rib 32c protruding downward is provided. The gap between the back wall of the fruit case 32 and the opening 31a (see FIG. 4) of the vegetable case 31 is covered by the rib 32c. Thereby, inflow of the cold air | gas in the vegetable case 31 is reduced, and deterioration of the foodstuff by drying can be prevented more.

  In addition, a cutout portion 32d is formed at the right end of the back wall of the fruit case 32. The cutout portion 32d is cut to a position lower than the cutout portion 32b (see FIG. 4). The inlet 41a and the outlet 41b of the ion delivery unit 40 are arranged facing the notch 32d.

  8, 9, and 10 show a perspective view, a front view, and a side view of the ion delivery unit 40, respectively. The ion delivery unit 40 is covered with a housing 41 made of a resin molded product. The housing 41 has a box-shaped main body portion 41c that opens on the front surface and a lid portion 41d (front surface portion) that covers the front surface of the main body portion 41c. The lid portion 41d is held by the main body portion 41c so as to be freely opened and closed by a hinge portion 41e provided at the lower end.

  A suction port 41a is opened at one end of the lid portion 41d in the left-right direction, and an air outlet 41b is opened at the other end. At this time, the suction port 41a is arranged outside, and the air outlet 41b is disposed between the suction port 41a and the outlet 4c (see FIG. 2).

  A lower portion of the front surface of the housing 41 is provided with a facing portion 41 h that faces the fruit case 32. The suction port 41a is formed so as to protrude forward with respect to the facing portion 41h, and is arranged close to the fruit case 32. Thereby, the damp cold air in the fruit case 32 can be taken into the housing 41, and the inflow of the dry cold air outside the fruit case 32 into the housing 41 can be suppressed.

  Moreover, the fruit case 32 has the inclination part 32e inclined in the corner of the rear end, and the suction inlet 41a inclines along the inclination part 32e. Thereby, the suction inlet 41a can be arranged closer to the inside of the fruit case 32.

  11 and 12 are a front view showing a state where the lid 41d of the ion delivery unit 40 is opened and a perspective view showing a state where the lid 41d is omitted. In the main body 41c of the housing 41, an air flow path 41f that connects the suction port 41a and the air outlet 41b in the horizontal direction is formed along the inner surface of the lid portion 41d. An ion delivery fan 42 is disposed in the air flow path 41f. An ion generator 86 is installed on the upper portion of the main body 41c so as to face the air flow path 41f on the downstream side of the ion delivery fan 42.

  13 and 14 show a front view and a side sectional view of the ion generator 86. The ion generator 86 is covered with a housing 86a made of an insulator, and needle-like discharge electrodes 86p and 86q are arranged apart from each other. An annular induction electrode 86e is disposed around the discharge electrodes 86p and 86q. The housing 86a is provided with a through hole 86b facing the discharge electrodes 86p and 86q. Thereby, the discharge electrodes 86p and 86q are exposed to the ion generation surface 86d facing the air flow path 41f.

  A positive or negative high voltage is applied to the discharge electrodes 86p and 86q with respect to the induction electrode 86e. As a result, positive ions are generated, for example, by corona discharge in the ion generation part 86j (first ion generation part) formed between the discharge electrode 86p and the induction electrode 86e. Further, negative ions are generated, for example, by corona discharge in an ion generator 86k (second ion generator) formed between the discharge electrode 86q and the induction electrode 86e.

A positive voltage is applied to one discharge electrode 86p, and ions generated by ionization combine with moisture in the air to generate positive cluster ions whose charges mainly consist of H ⁺ (H ₂ O) m. A negative voltage is applied to the other discharge electrode 86q, and ions generated by ionization combine with moisture in the air to generate negative cluster ions mainly composed of O ₂ ⁻ (H ₂ O) n. Here, m and n are arbitrary natural numbers. H ⁺ (H ₂ O) m and _{^{O 2 - (H 2 O)}} n surrounds these aggregated on the surface of the deposited bacteria floating bacteria, odor components, ethylene and depots generated from vegetables and fruits in the air .

Then, as shown in the formulas (1) to (3), active species [.OH] (hydroxyl radicals) and H ₂ O ₂ (hydrogen peroxide) are agglomerated and produced on the surface of a microorganism or the like by collision. Destroy airborne bacteria and odor components. Here, m ′ and n ′ are arbitrary natural numbers. Therefore, sterilization and odor removal in the fruit case 32 can be performed by generating positive ions and negative ions and discharging them from the air outlet 41b. Furthermore, it is possible to suppress degradation due to aging of the stored product by decomposing ethylene by ions.

H ⁺ (H ₂ O) m + O ₂ ⁻ (H ₂ O) n → OH + 1 / 2O ₂ + (m + n) H ₂ O (1)
_{^{H + (H 2 O) m}} + H + (H 2 O) m '+ O 2 - (H 2 O) n + O 2 - (H 2 O) n'
→ 2 OH + O ₂ + (m + m ′ + n + n ′) H ₂ O (2)
_{^{H + (H 2 O) m}} + H + (H 2 O) m '+ O 2 - (H 2 O) n + O 2 - (H 2 O) n'
→ H ₂ O ₂ + O ₂ + (m + m ′ + n + n ′) H ₂ O (3)

  The ion generator 86 includes needle-like discharge electrodes 86p and 86q and an induction electrode 86e, but may have other configurations. For example, an ion generator in which a planar discharge electrode is arranged on the ion generation surface 86d may be used. Moreover, the ion generator which has the acicular discharge electrodes 86p and 86q connected to the power supply part by the lead wire may be sufficient.

  FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. FIG. 16 shows a view in the direction of arrow C in FIG. The air inlet plate 41a and the air outlet 41b are respectively provided with wind direction plates 41j and 41k that regulate the flow direction of the cold air. The ion delivery fan 42 is composed of an axial fan covered with a rectangular housing in plan view, and is arranged horizontally in the axial direction along the air flow path 41f. Further, the rotation direction of the blades of the ion delivery fan 42 is clockwise (in the direction of arrow E) when viewed from the downstream side, and the blades on the lid 41d side rotate in a direction away from the ion generator 86.

  The ion generator 86 is adjacent to the downstream side of the ion delivery fan 42, and the ion generators 86j and 86k are arranged side by side in the direction (front-rear direction) orthogonal to the flow direction of the cold air facing the air flow path 41f. In the present embodiment, an ion generator 86j that generates positive ions is disposed forward, and an ion generator 86k that generates negative ions is disposed rearward. The ion generation part 86j may be arranged rearward and the ion generation part 86k may be arranged forward.

  A predetermined amount of offset F in the direction orthogonal to the lid 41d is provided between the midpoint of the ion generators 86j and 86k and the rotation center of the ion delivery fan 42. As a result, the ion delivery fan 42 is biased forward with respect to the ion generator 86.

  In addition, the lid 41d of the housing 41 is provided with a protrusion 41g that protrudes into the air flow path 41f on the downstream side of the ion generators 86j and 86k. The protruding portion 41g is formed in a mountain shape that faces the flow path and has a vertex biased to the downstream side. In this embodiment, the depth T of the protrusion 41g is 7 mm, the depth S of the mountain-shaped portion is 2 mm, and the width V of the downstream slope is about 4 mm. Further, the optimum values of the width W (hereinafter referred to as “the width of the protrusion 41g”) and the height H (see FIG. 11) of the slope on the upstream side of the protrusion 41g are determined as follows.

  Table 1 shows the results of examining the relationship among the offset F, the width W of the protrusion 41g and the height H of the protrusion 41g (see FIG. 11), and the concentration of ions ejected from the outlet 41b. The distance P between the discharge electrodes 86p, 86q is 38 mm, the blade diameter of the ion delivery fan 42 is 38 mm, the rotational speed of the ion delivery fan 42 is 1186 rpm, the depth T of the projection 41g is 7 mm, and 150 mm in front of the outlet 41b. The ion concentration is measured with an ion counter.

  According to Table 1, when the protrusion 41g is not provided, the ion concentration is low, and a sufficient amount of ions can be delivered by providing the protrusion 41g. Further, when the offset F is not provided, the ion concentration of positive ions generated from the front discharge electrode 86p becomes low. By providing the offset F, a sufficient amount of positive ions and negative ions can be delivered. Further, the width W and the height H of the protrusion 41g have optimum values with respect to the ion concentration, and are 18 mm and 28 mm, respectively, in this embodiment.

  In the refrigerator 1 having the above configuration, the refrigeration cycle is operated by driving the compressor, and the cooler 23 is maintained at a low temperature. The air flowing through the cool air passage 21 by driving the blower fan 24 exchanges heat with the cooler 23, and the cool air is discharged from the discharge port 3 e to the freezer compartment 3. The cold air discharged from the discharge port 3e flows through the freezer compartment 3 and the ice making chamber 5 and returns to the cooler 23 through the return port 3f. Thereby, the freezing room 3 and the ice making room 5 are cooled.

  When the damper 25 is opened, the cold air flowing through the cold air passage 21 flows into the cold air passage 22. The cold air flowing through the cold air passage 22 is discharged from the discharge port 2c to the refrigerator compartment 2. The cold air discharged from the discharge port 2c flows through the refrigerator compartment 2 and flows out from the outlet 2d. The cold air flowing out from the outlet 2d flows through the connecting passage 26 and flows into the vegetable compartment 4 through the inlet 4b. The cool air flowing in from the inflow port 4b behind the storage case 30 flows around the storage case 30 and returns to the cooler 23 through the outflow port 4c. Thereby, the refrigerator compartment 2 and the vegetable compartment 4 are cooled.

  Moreover, the ion generator 86 and the ion delivery fan 42 are driven, and the cold air in the fruit case 32 flows into the housing 41 of the ion delivery unit 40 through the suction port 41a. The cold air flowing into the housing 41 becomes a swirling airflow on the exhaust side of the ion delivery fan 42 and flows through the air flow path 41f. Positive ions and negative ions generated by the ion generator 86 are mixed by a swirling airflow. Then, cool air containing positive ions and negative ions is blown into the fruit case 32 from the blower outlet 41b.

  At this time, the air volume of the ion sending fan 42 is sufficiently smaller than the air volume of the blower fan 24. The fruit case 32 communicates with the inside of the vegetable compartment 4 through a minute gap with the heat insulating wall 9 and is maintained in a substantially sealed state. For this reason, the ions blown into the fruit case 32 are partially attracted in the direction of the outlet 4c due to a pressure difference caused by the flow of cold air flowing around the storage case 30 toward the outlet 4c. As a result, ions in the fruit case 32 circulate toward the outlet 4 c and are diffused in the fruit case 32.

  Thereby, the ethylene generated from the vegetables and fruits in the fruit case 32 can be decomposed to keep the freshness of the vegetables and fruits long. Further, since the moist cold air in the fruit case 32 is taken into the housing 41, the cluster ions are enlarged by water molecules. Thereby, the loss | disappearance of ion can be reduced and lifetime improvement can be aimed at.

  Moreover, the ion delivery unit 40 is distribute | arranged to the edge part of the fruit case 32, and the suction inlet 41a is distribute | arranged to the outer side of the blower outlet 41b. For this reason, the blower outlet 41b is arrange | positioned away from the side wall of the fruit case 32, and the ion which flows out ahead of the fruit case 32 along a side wall with cold air can be reduced. Therefore, the ion concentration in the fruit case 32 can be kept high.

  According to the present embodiment, the air flow path 41f is formed along the inner surface of the lid portion 41d (front surface) of the housing 41 where the suction port 41a and the air outlet 41b open, and the axial direction is the axial flow along the air flow path 41f. Since the ion generators 86j and 86k (first and second ion generators) are arranged at right angles to the lid 41d on the downstream side of the ion delivery fan 42, which is a fan, plus generated by the ion generators 86j and 86k. Ions and negative ions can be easily mixed by the swirling airflow on the exhaust side of the ion delivery fan 42 and blown out from the outlet 41b.

  As a result, positive ions and negative ions can be mixed and sent from the ion sending unit 40 to a narrow space formed by the fruit case 32. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a bactericidal effect and a deodorizing effect due to positive ions and negative ions in a narrow space, and to keep the freshness of the stored matter in the fruit case 32 by decomposing ethylene generated from vegetables and fruits. it can.

  In addition, since the longitudinal direction of the ion generator 86 provided with the ion generators 86j and 86k is orthogonal to the flow direction of the cold air, the channel length of the air channel 41f can be shortened. Therefore, the pressure loss of the ion delivery unit 40 can be reduced to save power.

  In addition, a protrusion 41g that protrudes from the inner surface of the lid 41d into the air flow path 41f is provided on the downstream side of the ion delivery fan 42, and between the rotation center of the ion delivery fan 42 and the midpoints of the ion generation parts 86j and 86k. Since the offset F in the direction orthogonal to the lid portion 41d is provided so that the midpoint is away from the lid portion 41d, a sufficient amount of positive ions and negative ions can be delivered.

  Further, since the upstream side of the protrusion 41g is formed of an inclined surface, the cool air along the lid 41d can be guided away from the lid 41d, and positive ions and negative ions can be mixed more reliably.

  Further, since the blades on the lid 41d side are separated from the ion generator 86 (arrow E) when the rotation direction of the ion delivery fan 42 is viewed from the downstream side, the ion generators 86j aligned in the direction orthogonal to the lid 41d. , 86 can be easily mixed.

Further, positive ions made of H ⁺ (H ₂ O) m are mainly generated by the ion generator 86j, and negative ions made of O ₂ ⁻ (H ₂ O) n are mainly generated by the ion generator 86k. Decomposition of ethylene can be easily realized.

  In the present embodiment, the ion delivery unit 40 may be provided in a storage chamber with a small volume such as a chilled chamber. Moreover, you may install the ion delivery unit 40 not only in the fruit case 32 but in the storage case distribute | arranged in each storage chamber facing the suction inlet 41a and the blower outlet 41b.

  According to this invention, it can utilize for the refrigerator etc. which preserve | save the stored article in a storage chamber.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerator 2 Refrigerating room 2c Outlet 2d Outlet 3 Freezing room 3e Outlet 3f Return port 4 Vegetable room 4b Inlet 4c Outlet 5 Ice making room 7, 9 Heat insulation wall 9a Shielding part 21, 22 Cold air passage 23 Cooler 24 Air blower Fan 25 Damper 26 Connection passage 30 Storage case 31 Vegetable case 31a Opening portion 32 Fruit case 32a Peripheral portion 32b, 32d Notch portion 32c Rib 40 Ion delivery unit 41 Housing 41a Suction port 41b Air outlet 41f Air channel 41g Protrusion 42 Ion Delivery fan 86 Ion generator 86p, 86q Discharge electrode 86e Induction electrode 86j, 86k Ion generator

Claims (6)

  A housing that forms an air flow path along the inner surface of the front section by opening a suction port and a blow-out port in a front portion that covers the front and connecting the suction port and the blow-out port, and along the air flow path Generates an ion sending fan comprising an axial flow fan arranged in the axial direction, a first ion generating unit that is adjacent to the downstream side of the ion sending fan and faces the air flow path, and generates negative ions. And an ion generator having the first and second ion generators arranged side by side in a direction orthogonal to the front part.   A protrusion projecting into the air flow path from the inner surface of the front portion on the downstream side of the ion delivery fan, and between the rotation center of the ion delivery fan and the midpoint of the first and second ion generators; The ion delivery unit according to claim 1, wherein an offset in a direction orthogonal to the front portion is provided so that the midpoint is separated from the front portion.   The ion delivery unit according to claim 2, wherein an upstream side of the protrusion is an inclined surface.   4. The ion delivery unit according to claim 2, wherein the front-side blades are separated from the ion generator when the rotation direction of the ion delivery fan is viewed from the downstream side. 5. The first ion generating part mainly generates positive ions composed of H ⁺ (H ₂ O) m (m is a natural number), and the second ion generating part is composed of O ₂ ⁻ (H ₂ O) n (n is a natural number). The ion delivery unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein negative ions are mainly generated.   The ion delivery unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, and a storage case that is arranged so as to be freely put into and out of a storage chamber and that stores a stored item, wherein the suction port and the outlet are connected to the storage case. A refrigerator characterized by being placed inside.

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