JP2011220662A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that in a refrigerator that sprays mist containing OH radicals using a mist spray device, mist can be efficiently supplied to a storage chamber where the mist device is installed, but it is not easily supplied to other storage chambers.SOLUTION: The mist spray device is installed in a particular storage chamber of the refrigerator, and an indirect supply unit is installed in storage chambers other than a particular storage chamber for indirectly supplying the mist generated by the mist spraying device so that direct spraying is performed for directly supplying the mist to the storage chamber where the mist device is installed, and indirect spraying is performed for indirectly supplying the mist to the storage chambers where the mist device is not installed. Thus, increase in molds and microorganisms such as bacteria, yeasts and viruses adhered to walls of all the storage chambers in the refrigerator and to surfaces of foods and the like is suppressed. Malodorous components in the air are decomposed, and a deodorization effect is achieved.

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator in which an atomizer is installed in a storage room space.

  In recent years, there has been an increasing need for sterilization of refrigerators and stored foods and food containers, and deodorization of refrigerator air.

Conventionally, as a refrigerator equipped with a function that meets this need, bactericidal or antibacterial treated water is supplied to the storage room in the form of a mist using an ultrasonic atomizer, and the mist components are stored in the storage room walls and preserved. The sterilization of the surface of foods and food containers that are being performed and the deodorization of refrigerator air are performed. (For example, see Patent Document 1)
8 and 9 show a refrigerator provided with a conventional mist generating device described in Patent Document 1. FIG.

As shown in the figure, the vegetable compartment 7 is provided in the lower part of the refrigerator main body R, and the front opening thereof is closed by a drawer door D2 that can be freely opened and closed. Moreover, the vegetable compartment 7 is partitioned off from the upper refrigerator compartment (not shown) by a partition plate (not shown).

  A fixed hanger (not shown) is fixed to the drawer door D2, and a vegetable container 7B for storing food such as vegetables is mounted on the fixed hanger. The vegetable room 7 has an ultrasonic vibrator 8 as a mist generating device, an ozone generator (not shown) near the refrigerator, and a water supply path (not shown) directly connected to the water supply, an ozone water supply path (not shown). ing. The ozone water supply path is led to the vegetable room and connected to the ultrasonic atomizer 8.

  The operation of the refrigerator configured as described above will be described below.

  Ozone generated by the ozone generator is brought into contact with water to become ozone water as treated water. The generated ozone water is guided to the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator, atomized into mist by the ultrasonic vibrator 8, and sprayed to the vegetable compartment. With this atomized ozone water mist, it is possible to perform antibacterial action of bacteria adhering to the surface of the warehouse wall or food in the vegetable compartment 7 of the refrigerator, or to deodorize the air in the vegetable compartment 7.

JP 2000-220949 A

  However, in the above conventional configuration, sterilizing and antibacterial mist can be supplied only to the vegetable room in which the mist generating device is installed. Although it is possible to perform antibacterial activities of attached bacteria, mist cannot be supplied to other storage rooms that are not equipped with a mist generating device. There was a problem that antibacterial bacteria attached to the surface and deodorization of air could not be performed.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and easily supplies mist to a storage room not equipped with a mist device, and molds attached to the surfaces of all storage rooms of the refrigerator or the surface of food, etc. The purpose is to suppress the increase of microorganisms such as bacterial yeast and viruses, decompose malodorous components of air, and deodorize them.

  In the refrigerator according to the present invention, the heat insulating box is supplied to the storage room, the storage room partitioned by the partition wall, the cooling room for generating the cold air for cooling the storage room, the air passage for conveying the cold air, and the storage room. A mist spraying device for generating mist, and the storage chamber includes a specific storage chamber provided with the mist spraying device and a storage chamber other than the specific storage chamber, and the specific storage chamber Directly supplies the mist generated by the mist spraying device and indirectly supplies the mist generated by the mist spraying device provided in the specific storage chamber to a storage chamber other than the specific storage chamber. A supply means is provided.

  As a result, the storage room with the mist device can supply mist directly, and the storage room without the mist device can supply mist indirectly. It is possible to suppress the increase of microorganisms such as molds, bacterial yeasts, and viruses attached to the surface of the storage wall of the room or food, and to decompose the malodorous component of the air.

  The present invention provides a refrigerator with improved antibacterial properties by supplying mist components having antibacterial action and deodorizing action to all storage rooms of the refrigerator.

Front view of the refrigerator in Embodiment 1 of the present invention The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the refrigerator in Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure which showed the bacteria elimination effect in BOX which assumed the refrigerator in Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure which showed the microbe elimination effect in BOX which assumed the refrigerator in Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure which showed the antiviral effect in BOX which assumed the refrigerator in Embodiment 1 of this invention Longitudinal sectional view of the refrigerator in the second embodiment of the present invention The perspective view of the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator in Embodiment 2 of this invention Main part schematic explanation perspective view of conventional refrigerator General mechanism explanation perspective view of vegetable room of conventional refrigerator

  In the refrigerator according to the first aspect of the invention, the heat insulating box includes a storage room partitioned by a partition wall, a cooling room for generating cold air for cooling the storage room, an air passage through which the cold air is conveyed, and the storage room A mist spraying device for generating mist to be supplied to the storage chamber, wherein the storage chamber includes a plurality of storage chambers including a specific storage chamber provided with the mist spraying device and a storage chamber other than the specific storage chamber. In addition, the mist generated by the mist spraying device is directly supplied to the specific storage chamber, and the mist generated by the mist spraying device provided in the specific storage chamber to a storage chamber other than the specific storage chamber. It is provided with the indirect supply means which supplies indirectly.

  As a result, the storage room with the mist device can supply mist directly, and the storage room without the mist device can supply mist indirectly. It is possible to suppress the increase of microorganisms such as molds, bacterial yeasts and viruses attached to the walls of rooms and foods, and to decompose malodorous components of air.

  The refrigerator according to a second aspect of the invention is characterized in that the indirect supply means has the air passage and supplies mist indirectly through the air passage.

  As a result, since the air path of the refrigeration cycle can be used without installing a special device in the refrigerator, the number of parts of the refrigerator can be reduced and the space of the refrigerator can be used effectively.

  In the refrigerator according to a third aspect of the present invention, the air passage has a suction air passage for returning cold air from the specific storage chamber to the outside of the specific storage chamber, the indirect supply means has the suction air passage, and the suction air The mist is indirectly supplied by adding the mist to the cold air conveyed through the path.

  As a result, by adding the mist directly to the cold air conveyed through the air passage, the mist can be supplied more effectively than the specific storage room in the previous period.

  A refrigerator according to a fourth aspect of the present invention has a discharge air passage for conveying cold air from the cooling chamber to the storage chamber in order to cool the storage chamber by a refrigeration cycle, and the indirect supply means has a discharge air passage for the refrigeration cycle. The mist is indirectly supplied when the supply of the cold air is stopped.

  As a result, since the mist is supplied when the supply of cold air is stopped, the mist can be supplied more positively to a specific storage chamber.

  The refrigerator according to a fifth aspect of the invention is characterized in that the indirect supply means is a mist-only air passage that mainly supplies mist independently of the air passage through which the cold air is conveyed.

  As a result, it was decided to transport the mist indirectly through the dedicated air passage without using the air passage of the refrigeration cycle. Since it can be supplied, the mist can be supplied indirectly more efficiently.

  The refrigerator of the sixth invention is characterized in that the indirect supply means is provided in the vicinity of the mist spraying device.

  As a result, when it is desired to indirectly spray the mist to other than the specific storage chamber, the mist can be quickly supplied to the indirect spraying device in the vicinity of the mist spraying device. It became possible to supply.

  A refrigerator according to a seventh aspect of the invention is characterized in that the indirect supply means includes mist distribution means for switching presence / absence of mist supply to a storage room other than the specific storage room.

  As a result, the amount of mist supplied to the storage chamber can be controlled by using a diversion means according to the necessity of mist.

  The refrigerator according to an eighth aspect of the present invention includes a mist-dedicated section provided with a mist spraying device in an independent section that is different from the storage space for storing food in the specific storage chamber.

Thereby, the mist generated from the mist generating device can be temporarily stored in the mist-dedicated section, and the mist stored efficiently without mist disappearing in the food stored in the storage room or the like is the air path of the refrigeration cycle. It is now possible to easily supply mist to all storage chambers via the discharge air passage and the suction air passage using the cold air flow of the refrigeration cycle. It can suppress the increase of microorganisms such as mold, bacterial yeast and viruses adhering to the storage wall of all storage rooms of refrigerators and the surface of food, and decomposes and deodorizes the malodorous components of the storage room air. I was able to do it.

  The refrigerator of the ninth aspect of the invention is characterized in that the storage compartment storing the food partitioned in the specific storage compartment and the storage compartment is a mist spraying compartment provided with a mist spraying device.

  Thereby, since the mist can be actively supplied to the food stored in the mist spraying section, when there is a food that wants to actively suppress microorganisms attached to the surface of the food more actively, the mist spraying is performed. The increase in microorganisms can be suppressed by storing food in the mist spraying section provided with the device.

  The refrigerator according to a tenth aspect of the invention is characterized in that the mist exclusive section is independent of the discharge air passage and the suction air passage and communicates with the discharge air passage or the suction air passage. .

  As a result, the mist dedicated space is not provided in the discharge air passage or the suction air passage, so that the cold air circulation in the refrigeration cycle is not hindered, and the mist exclusive space or the discharge air passage is connected. As a result, mist can be supplied to the air passage more efficiently.

  The refrigerator according to an eleventh aspect of the invention is characterized in that the mist exclusive section is independent of the discharge air passage and the suction air passage and communicates with the discharge air passage or the suction air passage. .

  Accordingly, when the storage chamber is cooled by the refrigeration cycle, the mist is supplied from the mist-dedicated section to the suction air passage so that the chill cycle of the refrigeration cycle is used to separate the storage chamber from the specific storage chamber. In addition to being able to supply mist to other than the specific storage chambers, when the storage chambers are not cooled by the refrigeration cycle, the mist stored in the mist-dedicated compartment via the suction air passage is used. Since it can be supplied to the storage room, mist can be supplied to the storage room even when cooling is not circulated in the refrigerator by the refrigeration cycle. Mist can be supplied to each storage room of the refrigerator well.

  In a refrigerator according to a twelfth aspect, the mist-dedicated section is provided on the rear side of the storage room top surface.

Thereby, when each storage room is not cooled by the refrigeration cycle, the mist stored in the mist dedicated section provided on the top surface of the storage room is naturally diffused using its own weight,
Thus, the mist can be supplied to the entire storage chamber, and mist can be supplied to the storage chamber more efficiently.

  In a refrigerator according to a thirteenth aspect, the mist-dedicated section is provided with an opening on a surface in contact with the storage chamber.

Thus, regardless of whether or not each storage chamber is cooled by the refrigeration cycle, the mist stored in the mist dedicated section passes through the opening provided on the surface in contact with the storage chamber. Since the mist can be supplied to the storage chamber, the mist can be supplied to the storage chamber more efficiently.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a section when the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is cut left and right.

  In the figure, a heat insulating box 101 which is a refrigerator main body of the refrigerator 100 includes an outer box 102 mainly using a steel plate, an inner box 103 formed of a resin such as ABS, and the outer box 102 and the inner box 103. It is comprised with foaming heat insulating materials, such as hard foaming urethane etc. which are foam-filled in the space of this, is heat-insulated with the circumference | surroundings, and is thermally insulated by the partition wall in the several storage chamber. A refrigeration chamber 104 as a first storage chamber is provided at the top, and a switching chamber 105 as a fourth storage chamber and an ice making chamber 106 as a fifth storage chamber are provided side by side below the refrigeration chamber 104. A freezing room 107 as a second storage room is arranged below the chamber 105 and the ice making room 106, and a vegetable room 108 as a third storage room is arranged at the bottom.

  The refrigerated room 104 is normally set to 1 ° C. to 5 ° C. at the lower limit of the temperature at which it does not freeze for refrigerated storage, and the vegetable room 108 is set to 2 ° C. to 7 ° C., which is set to a temperature that is equal to or slightly higher than the refrigerated room 104. The freezer compartment 107 is set in a freezing temperature zone, and is usually set at −22 ° C. to −15 ° C. for frozen storage, but for example, −30 ° C. or −25 ° C. to improve the frozen storage state. It may be set at a low temperature.

  The switching chamber 105 is not only refrigerated set at 1 ° C to 5 ° C, vegetable set at 2 ° C to 7 ° C, and frozen temperature range normally set at -22 ° C to -15 ° C. It is possible to switch to a preset temperature range between the freezing temperature ranges. The switching chamber 105 is a storage chamber provided with an independent door arranged in parallel with the ice making chamber 106, and is often provided with a drawer-type door.

  In this embodiment, the switching chamber 105 is a storage room including the temperature range of refrigeration and freezing. However, the refrigeration is performed by the refrigeration room 104 and the vegetable room 108, and the freezing is performed by the freezing room 107. A storage room specialized for switching only the temperature zone in the middle of freezing may be used. Moreover, the storage room fixed to the specific temperature range may be sufficient.

  The ice making chamber 106 creates ice with an automatic ice maker (not shown) provided in the upper part of the room with water sent from a water storage tank (not shown) in the refrigerated room 104, and an ice storage container ( (Not shown).

  The top surface portion of the heat insulating box 101 has a stepped recess shape toward the back of the refrigerator. A machine chamber 101a is formed in the stepped recess, and the compressor 109, moisture is formed in the machine chamber 101a. Houses high pressure side components of the refrigeration cycle such as a dryer (not shown) for removal. That is, the machine room 101 a in which the compressor 109 is disposed is formed by biting into the uppermost rear region in the refrigerator compartment 104.

  By providing the machine room 101a in the rear region of the uppermost storage room of the heat insulation box 101 that is difficult to reach and is a dead space, the compressor 109 is arranged, so that the user can use the heat insulation box in a conventional refrigerator. The space in the machine room at the bottom of the body 101 can be effectively converted as the storage room capacity, and the storage performance and usability can be greatly improved.

In the present embodiment, the matter relating to the main part of the invention described below is a type in which a compressor room is provided by providing a machine room in the rear region of the lowermost storage room of the heat insulating box 101, which has been generally used conventionally. It may be applied to other refrigerators.

  A cooling chamber 110 for generating cold air is provided on the back of the vegetable chamber 108 and the freezing chamber 107. The cooling chamber 110 and each storage chamber are provided with a discharge air passage 141 for conveying cold air and a suction air passage 142 for returning the cold air from each storage chamber to the cooling chamber. The vegetable room discharge air passage 141 a discharges cold air to the vegetable room, and the vegetable room suction air passage 142 is provided in the vegetable room 108.

  In the cooling chamber 110, a cooler 112 is disposed, and in the upper space of the cooler 112, the cold air cooled by the cooler 112 by a forced convection method is stored in the refrigerating chamber 104, the switching chamber 105, the ice making chamber 106, and vegetables. A cooling fan 113 for blowing air to the chamber 108 and the freezing chamber 107 is disposed.

  Further, the cold air cooled by the cooler 112 in the cooling chamber 110 passes through the vegetable chamber discharge air passage 141a and is sent to the vegetable chamber 108 by the cooling fan 113, and a damper 130 is provided in the middle of the vegetable chamber discharge air passage 141a. Is provided.

  In the vegetable compartment 108, a lower storage container 119 placed on a frame attached to the drawer door 118 of the vegetable compartment 108 and an upper storage container 120 placed on the lower storage container 119 are arranged.

  Further, in the lower part of the back of the vegetable compartment 108, the cold air cooled by the cooler 112 passes through the vegetable compartment discharge air passage 141 a and is discharged, and the discharged cold air is discharged to the cooling chamber 110. A vegetable room suction port 142a for returning and a vegetable room suction port 144 are provided as the suction port.

  It should be noted that the matters relating to the main part of the invention described below in the present embodiment may be applied to a refrigerator that is opened and closed by a frame attached to a door and a rail provided in an inner box, which has been conventionally common. I do not care.

  A mist spraying device 131 is provided on the top of the vegetable compartment 108. The vegetable compartment 108 has a structure in which mist is sprayed directly from the mist spraying device 131.

  Further, the vegetable room 108 is provided with a mist transporting path 146 that is an indirect supply path through which the mist supplied from the mist spraying device 131 can be indirectly supplied to the refrigeration room 104, the switching room 105, the ice making room 106, and the freezing room 107. The mist passes through the mist transporting path 146 and is indirectly sprayed.

  The mist transporting path 146 is provided with a mist suction port for sucking mist generated from the mist spraying device 131 into the mist transporting path 146, and is sucked into the refrigeration chamber 104, the switching chamber 105, the ice making chamber 106, and the freezing chamber 107. A mist discharge port for discharging the mist is provided.

  Further, the mist transporting path 146 is provided with a fan 147 as a diversion control means for distributing mist sprayed indirectly to the vegetable compartment 108, the refrigerator compartment 104, the switching compartment 105, the ice making compartment 106, and the freezing compartment 107. . The amount of mist sprayed directly onto the vegetable compartment 108 and the amount of mist indirectly sprayed onto the refrigerator compartment 104, the switching chamber 105, the ice making compartment 106, and the freezer compartment 107 can be adjusted by the air volume of the fan. In addition, a damper 148 serving as a mist distribution means for distributing mist sprayed indirectly is provided at the mist discharge port to the switching chamber 105, the ice making chamber 106, and the freezing chamber 107. By opening and closing the damper, the amount of mist distributed to the refrigerator compartment 104, the switching compartment 105, the ice making compartment 106, and the freezing compartment 107 can be adjusted.

  The mist generated from the mist spraying device 131 is generated by electrostatic atomization. Furthermore, since this mist is generated by an electrostatic atomization method, it contains OH radicals and ozone. Therefore, it is possible to suppress an increase in the number of microorganisms such as mold, yeast, and viruses adhering to the surface of the food material, food container, and the like stored in each storage room due to these strong oxidizing powers Has the function of

  Furthermore, since the mist comes into contact with air containing odor generated from food stored in the refrigerator 100, the odor component is oxidized and decomposed by OH radicals and ozone contained in the mist. Has the function to obtain.

  About the refrigerator 100 of this Embodiment comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below.

  First, the operation of the refrigeration cycle will be described. The refrigeration cycle is operated by a signal from a control board (not shown) according to the set temperature in the cabinet, and the cooling operation is performed. The high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged by the operation of the compressor 109 is condensed to some extent by a condenser (not shown), and further, the side or back of the refrigerator main body (heat insulating box 101), or the refrigerator main body (heat insulating box 101). ) Is condensed and liquefied while preventing condensation of the refrigerator main body (heat insulating box body 101) through a refrigerant pipe (not shown) disposed in the front opening of the) and reaches a capillary tube (not shown). After that, the capillary tube is depressurized while exchanging heat with a suction pipe (not shown) to the compressor 109 to become a low-temperature and low-pressure liquid refrigerant and reaches the cooler 112.

  Here, the low-temperature and low-pressure liquid refrigerant is transported through the discharge air passage 141 to each storage chamber transported by the operation of the cooling fan 113 and exchanges heat with the air in each storage chamber, and the refrigerant in the cooler 112 is evaporated. To do. At this time, cool air for cooling each storage chamber in the cooling chamber 110 is generated. The low-temperature cold air is diverted from the cooling fan 113 to the refrigerating room 104, the switching room 105, the ice making room 106, the vegetable room 108, and the freezing room 107 using an air passage or a damper 130, and cooled to the respective target temperature zones.

  The vegetable compartment 108 is cooled by the cold air cooled by the cooler 112, but the cold air that cools the vegetable compartment 108 is blown by the cooling fan 113, passes through the discharge air passage 141, and is separated from the middle of the discharge air passage 141. It passes through the vegetable room damper 130a through the retained vegetable room discharge air passage 141a and flows into the vegetable room 108 from the vegetable room discharge port 143. The cold air flowing into the vegetable compartment 108 circulates around the outer periphery of the lower storage container 119, cools the lower storage container 119, is sucked in through the vegetable compartment suction port 144, passes through the vegetable compartment suction air passage 142a, and then enters the cooling chamber. Return to 110 again. Although the vegetable compartment 108 is cooled by the operation of this refrigeration cycle, when a temperature sensor (not shown) installed in the vegetable compartment 108 detects a temperature below the target temperature range, the vegetable compartment damper 130a is closed, Control is performed to stop the flow of cold air into the vegetable compartment 108.

  At this time, the mist spraying device 131 is controlled to spray the mist directly onto the vegetable compartment 108. Furthermore, the fan 147 which is a mist distribution means is operated to suck the mist generated from the mist spraying device 131 from the mist suction port to the mist transporting path 146, and the mist in the refrigerator compartment 104, the switching chamber 105, the ice making chamber 106 and the freezing compartment 107 It is indirectly sprayed from the discharge port to each storage room. As a result, the refrigerator 100 is supplied to the refrigerator compartment 104, the switching room 105, the ice making room 106, the vegetable room 108, and the freezing room 107. In this way, mist is supplied to all the storage rooms of the refrigerator.

Since ozone contained in mist has a strong oxidizing power, the one with the highest ozone concentration works better for antibacterial action against microorganisms such as mold, bacteria and viruses, and has a greater ability to decompose odorous components. Therefore, it works favorably for deodorizing effect, but on the other hand, because the refrigerator user is disgusted by the unique ozone odor and is harmful to the human body, from the refrigerator user's standpoint, it is better to have a concentration as low as possible .

  Therefore, when the relationship between the antibacterial effect of ozone concentration and the ozone odor was confirmed in advance, the ozone concentration had a sterilization rate of 99% at a concentration of 5 ppb or higher, and on the other hand, when the concentration reached 30 ppb, It turned out that it is the odor tolerance limit value of the refrigerator user. Furthermore, when the ozone concentration reached 80 ppb or more, it was confirmed by a prior BOX test that ozone gives general damage to vegetables. From the above confirmation results, the mist farming degree supplied from the mist dedicated section 150 controls the amount of mist generated by controlling the mist spraying device 131, and the ozone concentration in each storage compartment section of the refrigerator is 5 ppb to 30 ppb. Control is performed to be as follows. For this reason, the mist which reached | attained each store room is not worried about an ozone odor with respect to a refrigerator user, exhibiting a microbe elimination effect.

  Furthermore, the sterilization effect in Escherichia coli, the mold sterilization effect, and the virus sterilization effect in BOX assuming each storage room of the refrigerator are shown below.

  FIG. 3 shows the result of confirming the sterilization effect of Escherichia coli, which is a typical bacterial species, in a BOX assuming a refrigerator storage room.

  The test conditions were a BOX capacity of about 70 L, a BOX temperature of about 5 ° C., and a BOX relative humidity of 90% R.D. After setting H or higher, the mist spraying device 131 was installed in the BOX and operated at an operation rate of 30 minutes ON-30 minutes OFF. In addition, as a control, the same test was performed using a mist sprayed by an ultrasonic atomizer instead of the mist sprayer 131 under the BOX condition.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, the ultrasonic atomizer has a sterilization rate of less than 30%, whereas when atomized by the mist sprayer 131, 95% or more in 3 days, 7 days Thus, it was found to have a high antibacterial effect of 99% or more.

  Next, FIG. 4 shows the result of confirming the sterilization effect of black mold, which is a mold representative fungus species, in a BOX assuming a vegetable room of a refrigerator.

  The test conditions were a BOX capacity of about 70 L, a BOX temperature of about 5 ° C., and a BOX relative humidity of 90% R.D. After setting to H or higher, the mist spraying device 131 was installed in the BOX. As a control, the same test was performed with the mist spraying device 131 removed. The test mold was sprayed so that the number of the initial floating mold was 1000 or more / 100 L · Air. The number of bacteria was measured by an air sampler suction method.

  As shown in FIG. 4, 99% sterilization effect is obtained with respect to the control condition after the electrostatic atomizer of this embodiment is operated for 60 minutes. The sterilization effect was confirmed also against the floating bacteria.

  Next, the result of having confirmed the antiviral effect of the electrostatic atomizer of this Embodiment 1 in the BOX test in FIG. 5 is shown.

  The test conditions were a BOX capacity of about 30 L, a BOX internal temperature of room temperature, and a BOX relative humidity of 90% R.D. After setting to H or higher, the mist spraying device 131 of the first form of the actual machine was installed in the BOX and operated at an operation rate of 30 minutes ON-30 minutes OFF. As a control, the same test was performed with the mist spraying device 131 removed. Virus inactivation was compared by logarithm of 50% tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50). The smaller the logarithmic value of TCID50 is, the higher the virus inactivation rate is. If the LogTCID50 value is 2 or more, it can be said that there is a significant difference.

  From this test result, when the electrostatic atomizer 214 of the second embodiment is operated for 2 hours, there is a difference of 2 or more at the LogTCID 50 / ml with respect to the initial and control (blank), and thus the virus inactivation effect It was confirmed that there is.

  Although not shown, the same sterilizing effect as that of Escherichia coli is obtained against Staphylococcus aureus that is resistant to drying and inhabits the refrigerator cabinet through human hands. In addition, it is clear that a high sterilization effect is obtained for pathogens such as O-157, MRSA, and influenza virus, and thus it is clear that the bacterium has a high sterilization effect against a wide range of bacterial species such as bacteria, molds and viruses. became.

  On the other hand, radicals generated simultaneously with ozone from the mist spraying device are controlled so that the amount supplied to each storage chamber is 10 to 50 μmol / L. Radicals, like ozone, are harmful substances for living organisms in large quantities, but in small quantities, they activate biological defense reactions and produce a large amount of antioxidants such as carotene and vitamins, contributing to resistance enhancement. At a concentration of 10 to 50 μmol / L, it is a concentration that causes cell destruction for microorganisms, but it is not a concentration that adversely affects vegetables, but rather an increase in nutrients due to a biological defense reaction can be expected.

  In experiments, it has been confirmed that when the amount of radicals is 100 μmol / L or more, cell damage of lettuce occurs and the quality deteriorates. In addition, it has been confirmed that the antibacterial activity is 2.0 or more at 10 μmol / L or more for microbial control. Therefore, it can be said that the amount of radicals is preferably about 10 to 50 μmol / L, judging from both the antibacterial effect and the preservability of vegetables.

  In this way, the mist sprayed in the vegetable compartment 108 is electrically attached to the surface of the vegetable and fruit that is positively charged in the vegetable compartment 108 and the inner wall surface of the vegetable compartment 108, and becomes a minute recess on the surface of the vegetable and fruit. The mold, bacteria, yeast and virus that intrude into the recesses are peeled off by the internal pressure energy of fine mist, and oxidative decomposition is removed by the oxidative decomposition action of ozone and OH radicals. On the other hand, it penetrates into fine holes in the wall surface, and similarly, dirt and harmful substances inside the holes are lifted and decomposed and removed by ozone oxidation decomposition.

  In addition, by electrostatically adding to the mist, water molecules in the mist are radicalized to generate OH radicals. In addition to the oxidizing power of ozone, the oxidizing power of OH radicals can cause bacteria, mold, yeast, viruses, etc. The ability of decomposing microorganisms can be improved.

  In the above experiment, evaluation was performed on behalf of the vegetable room 108 which is the highest temperature range, but since the effect is exhibited at the highest temperature range, the refrigerator compartment which is a temperature range lower than the vegetable room 108 The same effect can be obtained in the storage chamber 104 or the like.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, by providing the vegetable compartment 108 with the mist spraying device 131, the mist can be directly sprayed onto the vegetable compartment 108, and further, the mist transporting means serving as the mist supply means. By providing the path 146, the mist can be indirectly sprayed to the refrigeration chamber 104, the switching chamber 105, the ice making chamber 106, and the freezing chamber 107 through the mist transporting path 146. It is possible to suppress the increase of microorganisms such as molds, bacterial yeasts and viruses attached to the walls of rooms and foods, and to decompose malodorous components of air.

  The direct spray of mist in the present embodiment is a spray in a state in which the storage chamber and the mist dedicated section are provided in one part of the storage chamber and are always in communication with each other through an opening or the like. It is set as the spray in the state which supplies mist to the store room in the place distant from the mist exclusive area via wind paths, such as the conveyance path 146.

  Here, the damper 148 is not always necessary, and the amount of mist distribution can be adjusted by the opening area of the mist discharge port.

  Further, the mist transporting path 146 has the same effect even when an air path of a refrigeration cycle is used, and the mist can be indirectly sprayed to the refrigerating chamber 104, the switching chamber 105, the ice making chamber 106, and the freezing chamber 107.

  In this case, since the mist transporting path 146 is not specially installed, the number of parts of the refrigerator can be reduced and the refrigerator space can be effectively used. Further, the fan 147 serving as the mist diversion means also has an effect of diverting the mist in the same manner as the cooling fan 113 for circulating the cold air in the refrigeration cycle. Furthermore, even if the damper 148 serving as the mist distribution means is used as the vegetable compartment damper 130, it has the effect of distributing the mist. In this case, since the circulation of the cold air of the refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator is used, it is not necessary to provide a special means for indirectly spraying the mist, so that the refrigerator parts can be reduced and the refrigerator space can be effectively used. it can.

  Further, by providing the mist transporting path 146 in the vicinity of the mist spraying device 131, it becomes possible to efficiently supply the mist generated from the mist spraying device 131 to the mist transporting path 146, and it becomes easier to spray indirectly. Have

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a vegetable room in the refrigerator according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

  In addition, although description is abbreviate | omitted about the part which can apply the structure similar to Embodiment 1, and the same technical idea, unless there is a malfunction by combining this Embodiment with the structure of Embodiment 1, and implementing it. , Can be applied in combination.

  In the figure, a lower space of the cooler 112 is provided with a radiant heater 114 made of a glass tube for defrosting the frost and ice adhering to the cooler 112 and its surroundings during cooling, and further generated at the lower portion thereof during the defrosting. A drain pan 115 for receiving defrosted water, a drain tube 116 penetrating from the deepest part to the outside of the warehouse are configured, and an evaporating dish 117 is configured outside the downstream side of the warehouse.

  In addition, a mist dedicated section 150 is provided on the top of the vegetable compartment 108. In this mist-dedicated section, a mist-dedicated section opening 151 is provided as an opening on the surface in contact with the vegetable compartment 108. Further, the mist dedicated section 150 has a structure installed in a state where the mist dedicated section 150 is connected to the vegetable room suction air passage 142 a by the mist dedicated section connecting portion 152. (See FIG. 3) Further, a mist spraying device 131 is provided in the mist dedicated section 150, and the mist generated from the mist spraying device 131 is stored in the mist dedicated section 150.

  The mist stored in the mist dedicated section 150 is configured to be supplied to the vegetable room suction air passage 142a through the mist dedicated section connecting portion 152. Further, the mist is also supplied to the vegetable compartment 108 through the mist dedicated section opening 151.

  About the refrigerator 100 of this Embodiment comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below.

The operation of the refrigeration cycle will be described. The refrigeration cycle is operated by a signal from a control board (not shown) according to the set temperature in the cabinet, and the cooling operation is performed. The high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged by the operation of the compressor 109 is condensed to some extent by a condenser (not shown), and further, the side or back of the refrigerator main body (heat insulating box 101), or the refrigerator main body (heat insulating box 101). ) Is condensed and liquefied while preventing condensation of the refrigerator main body (heat insulating box body 101) through a refrigerant pipe (not shown) disposed in the front opening of the) and reaches a capillary tube (not shown). After that, the capillary tube is depressurized while exchanging heat with a suction pipe (not shown) to the compressor 109 to become a low-temperature and low-pressure liquid refrigerant and reaches the cooler 112.

  Here, the low-temperature and low-pressure liquid refrigerant is transported through the cold discharge air passage 141 to each storage chamber that is transported by the operation of the cooling fan 113 and exchanges heat with the air in each storage chamber, and the refrigerant in the cooler 112 evaporates. Vaporize. At this time, cool air for cooling each storage chamber in the cooling chamber 110 is generated. The low-temperature cold air is diverted from the cooling fan 113 to the refrigerating room 104, the switching room 105, the ice making room 106, the vegetable room 108, and the freezing room 107 using an air passage or a damper 130, and cooled to the respective target temperature zones.

  The vegetable compartment 108 is cooled by the cold air cooled by the cooler 112, but the cold air that cools the vegetable compartment 108 is blown by the cooling fan 113, passes through the discharge air passage 141, and is separated from the middle of the discharge air passage 141. It passes through the vegetable room damper 130a through the retained vegetable room discharge air passage 141a and flows into the vegetable room 108 from the vegetable room discharge port 143. The cold air flowing into the vegetable compartment 108 circulates around the outer periphery of the lower storage container 119, cools the lower storage container 119, is sucked in through the vegetable compartment suction port 144, passes through the vegetable compartment suction air passage 142a, and then enters the cooling chamber. Return to 110 again. Although the vegetable compartment 108 is cooled by the operation of this refrigeration cycle, when a temperature sensor (not shown) installed in the vegetable compartment 108 detects a temperature below the target temperature range, the vegetable compartment damper 130a is closed, Control is performed to stop the flow of cold air into the vegetable compartment 108.

  At this time, the mist spraying device 131 is controlled to store the mist in the mist dedicated section 150. For this reason, the mist stored in the mist dedicated section 150 provided in one section in the vegetable compartment 108 passes directly to the vegetable compartment 108 via the mist dedicated compartment opening 151 without passing through the air passage outside the storage compartment. Sprayed. On the other hand, in the case of indirect spraying, it is also supplied to the vegetable compartment suction port 144 via the mist dedicated section connecting portion 152.

  On the other hand, when the vegetable compartment 108 is being cooled by the refrigeration cycle, the mist is supplied from the mist exclusive compartment 150 to the vegetable compartment intake air passage 142a via the mist exclusive compartment connecting portion 152. The mist flows into the cooling chamber 110. And it will be supplied to the refrigerator compartment 104, the switching room 105, the ice making room 106, the vegetable compartment 108, and the freezer compartment 107 which are each storage room of the refrigerator 100 from the cooling room 110 by a cooling fan, and it will indirectly spray. Become.

  While this refrigeration cycle is in operation and cold air is flowing into the vegetable compartment 108, the mist is actively and indirectly sprayed to each storage compartment of the refrigerator 100 other than the vegetable compartment 108, and the vegetable compartment becomes a temperature below the objective temperature range and the vegetable compartment. When the inflow of cold air to 108 stops, the mist is positively sprayed directly into the vegetable compartment 108. In this way, the mist is sprayed directly and indirectly from the mist dedicated section 150 to each storage chamber.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the mist spraying device 131 is provided by providing the mist spraying dedicated section 150 with the mist spraying dedicated section opening and further adjoining the vegetable room suction air passage 142a. The mist sprayed from can be efficiently sprayed directly onto the vegetable compartment 108, and further can be indirectly sprayed onto the refrigerator compartment 104, the switching compartment 105, the ice making compartment 106, the vegetable compartment 108, and the freezer compartment 107 by a refrigeration cycle. As a result, the oxidation of OH radicals and ozone contained in the mist increases the number of microorganisms such as mold, bacterial yeast, and viruses attached to the wall surfaces, air, and vegetable surfaces of all refrigerator storage rooms. Can be suppressed, and malodorous components can be decomposed.

  Here, in the second embodiment, the mist exclusive section 150 is configured to be adjacent to the vegetable room suction air passage 142a. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the same may be provided in the vicinity of the vegetable room suction port 144. It is a thing that works.

  As described above, in the refrigerator according to the present invention, the mist supplied from the mist generating device is directly sprayed to a specific storage room provided with the mist spraying device, and indirectly to a storage room other than the specific storage room. By providing the supply means, it becomes possible to spray indirectly, it becomes possible to supply the mist to all the storage rooms of the refrigerator, and the wall surfaces in the chambers of all the storage rooms by the fine mist containing OH radicals It is possible to suppress an increase in the number of microorganisms such as mold, bacterial yeast, and viruses attached to the air or vegetable surface.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Refrigerator 101 Heat insulation box 104 Refrigeration room 105 Switching room 106 Ice making room 107 Freezing room 108 Vegetable room 109 Compressor 110 Cooling room 112 Cooler 113 Cooling fan 118 Door 119 Lower storage container 120 Upper storage container 130 Damper 131 Mist sprayer 141 Discharge air path 141a Vegetable room discharge air path 142 Suction air path 142a Vegetable room suction air path 143 Vegetable room discharge port 144 Vegetable room suction port 146 Indirect supply means (mist transport path)
147 Mist diversion means (fan)
148 Mist diversion means (damper)
150 Mist dedicated section 151 Mist dedicated section opening 152 Mist dedicated section connecting section

Claims (13)

The heat insulating box includes a storage chamber partitioned by a partition wall, a cooling chamber that generates cool air for cooling the storage chamber, an air passage through which the cool air is conveyed, and a mist that generates mist to be supplied to the storage chamber. A spraying device, and the storage chamber includes a specific storage chamber provided with the mist spraying device and a storage chamber other than the specific storage chamber, and the specific storage chamber is provided with the mist spraying device. Indirect supply means for directly supplying the generated mist and indirectly supplying the mist generated by the mist spraying device provided in the specific storage chamber to a storage chamber other than the specific storage chamber. Features a refrigerator. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the indirect supply means includes the air passage and supplies mist indirectly through the air passage. The air passage has a suction air passage for returning cold air from the specific storage chamber to the outside of the specific storage chamber,
The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the indirect supply unit includes the suction air passage, and supplies the mist indirectly by adding the mist to the cold air conveyed through the suction air passage. . In order to cool the storage chamber by a refrigeration cycle, it has a discharge air passage for conveying cold air from the cooling chamber to the storage chamber, the indirect supply means has a discharge air passage for a refrigeration cycle, and the supply of the cold air is stopped The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the mist is supplied indirectly when the refrigerator is operating. 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the indirect supply means is a mist-only air passage that mainly supplies mist independently of an air passage through which the cold air is conveyed. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the indirect supply means is provided in the vicinity of the mist spraying device. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the indirect supply unit includes a mist distribution unit that switches presence / absence of mist supply to a storage chamber other than the specific storage chamber. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a mist-dedicated section provided with a mist spraying device in an independent section that is different from a storage space for storing food in the specific storage chamber. 5. The mist spraying section provided with a mist spraying device is used as the storage section for storing the food partitioned in the specific storage chamber and the storage chamber. 5. refrigerator. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the mist exclusive section is independent of the discharge air passage and the suction air passage and communicates with the discharge air passage or the suction air passage. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the mist exclusive section is provided in the vicinity of the suction air passage. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the mist spray-dedicated space is provided on the rear side of the top surface of the storage room. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the mist spraying exclusive space is provided with an opening on a surface in contact with the storage compartment in the storage chamber.