JP2014070870A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to be notified by a state in which a manual setting of a set temperature shows a certain default.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to a refrigerator in which a core temperature control mode can be carried out in such a way that an operation of a cooling unit is controlled on the basis of a comparison between a cabin temperature detected by a cabin temperature sensor and a cabin set temperature to cool a storing chamber approximately to the cabin set temperature and the cooling operation is finished when a core temperature detected by a core temperature sensor is lowered to a core temperature set value. The refrigerator comprises: a set temperature propriety determination device 40 including a cabin set temperature taking part 41 for getting the cabin set temperature, a core temperature set value taking part 42 for taking the core temperature set value, a comparing part 43 for comparing the taken cabin set temperature with the core temperature set value to output an error signal when the cabin set temperature is higher than the cabin temperature set value; and an informing device 50 for informing that the set temperature is improper while receiving the error signal.

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator such as a rapid refrigerator.

  The rapid cooling cabinet is used for rapidly cooling the cooked food to a low temperature at which bacteria do not propagate and for subsequent storage. For example, the one described in Patent Document 1 is known. This is a structure in which a cooling device comprising a cooler and a cooling fan is provided on the side of a storage room in which food after cooking is stored to circulate and supply cold air to the storage room. As the cooling device is driven, the storage chamber is cooled and the driving and stopping of the cooling device are controlled based on the comparison between the internal temperature detected by the internal temperature sensor and the internal set temperature. Thus, the inside of the storage room is maintained substantially at the set temperature in the storage, and the stored food is rapidly cooled. On the other hand, a core temperature sensor is inserted into the stored food to detect the core temperature (internal temperature) of the food, and when the detected temperature falls to a predetermined core temperature set temperature, a predetermined rapid temperature is detected. The cooling operation is stopped by assuming that the cooling is completed. Such cooling operation control is referred to as a core temperature control mode.

When such a core temperature control mode is executed, the core temperature of the target food is determined to be approximately several degrees Celsius, whereas the core temperature of the food is not lower than the internal temperature. It is essential to set the internal set temperature lower than the core temperature set temperature. However, since the cooling rate may vary depending on the type of food, it is desirable to set the internal temperature and the core temperature setting separately for each type of food. A guide is presented, and the user manually sets the internal set temperature and the core temperature set temperature individually following the guide.
In addition, even if the type of food is the same, it may be necessary to change (adjust) the set temperature further depending on the amount of the food or when the cooling condition is adjusted to the user's preference. The temperature range itself tends to be widely adopted.

JP 2009-198026 A

By the way, in the quick cooler as described above, both the set temperature inside the chamber and the set temperature of the core temperature are set manually and the settable temperature range is wide. In the case of setting, there is a possibility that the principle is mistakenly mistaken and the internal set temperature is set higher than the core temperature set temperature. Then, as described above, the core temperature of the food does not become lower than the internal temperature, so that the core temperature of the food does not reach the core temperature set temperature and the cooling operation cannot be finished. In that case, depending on the wrong value of the set temperature in the warehouse, the food may be exposed to a dangerous temperature zone (a temperature zone where bacteria can easily propagate) for a long time.
The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to notify a user of a problem in the manual setting of the set temperature.

  The present invention provides a storage chamber for storing an object to be cooled, a cooling device for cooling the storage chamber, an internal temperature sensor for detecting the internal temperature of the storage chamber, and a core temperature of the object to be cooled. A core temperature sensor, and controlling the operation of the cooling device based on a comparison between the internal temperature detected by the internal temperature sensor and a preset internal temperature, and the storage chamber is substantially stored. Cooling capable of performing a cooling operation for cooling to an internal set temperature and executing a core temperature control mode in which the cooling operation is terminated when the core temperature detected by the core temperature sensor is lowered to a predetermined core temperature setting temperature. In the storage, the internal set temperature acquisition unit for acquiring the internal set temperature, the internal set temperature acquisition unit for acquiring the core temperature set temperature, and the acquired internal set temperature and core temperature set temperature are compared. When the chamber set temperature is higher than the core temperature set temperature Having a setting temperature suitability judging unit and a comparison unit for outputting a color signal, and a notification device for notifying that the setting temperature by receiving the error signal is improper, the characterized in that is provided.

When the internal set temperature and the core temperature set temperature are manually set, the two setting temperatures are compared in the comparison unit, and an error signal is output when the internal set temperature is higher than the core temperature set temperature. The notification device notifies that the set temperature is inappropriate by receiving the error signal.
It is possible to respond quickly to correction of the set temperature and prevent the inappropriate cooling operation from being executed.

The following configuration may also be used.
(1) When the suitability determination by the set temperature suitability determination device is executed after the start of the cooling operation, a cooling operation stop unit that stops the cooling operation in response to the error signal is provided.
If it is determined that the set temperature setting is inappropriate, if the cooling operation has already been started, the cooling operation is immediately stopped.

(2) A cooling operation prohibiting unit that receives the error signal and prohibits the start of the cooling operation is provided in which the suitability determination by the set temperature suitability determining device is executed before the start of the cooling operation.
If it is determined that the set temperature is set inappropriately before the cooling operation is started, the starting of the cooling operation is prohibited.

(3) In the cooling operation, the cooling device is initially controlled so as to maintain the set temperature in the cabinet, and a value higher than the set temperature in the cabinet determined based on the core temperature set temperature from the middle. The cooling device is controlled so as to maintain the auxiliary set temperature.
This can cope with a case where it is desired to cool the object to be cooled relatively slowly at the end of the cooling operation.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to notify the user of a situation where there is a problem in manual setting of the set temperature.

The front view which shows the internal structure of the quick refrigerator which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. Cross sectional view Time chart showing temperature transition in core temperature control mode Block diagram showing the control system for determining the suitability of the set temperature Flow chart of suitability judgment control

<Embodiment>
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, a quick refrigerator is illustrated.
The structure of the quick cooler will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cooler body 10 made of a heat insulating box is placed on the upper surface of the machine room 11, and the heat insulating door 12 is shaken in the front opening 10A. The right side when viewed from the front in the main body 10 is a storage room 13 for the food F, and the left side is an installation room 14 for the cooling unit 16. In the storage chamber 13, a pair of left and right tray receivers 15 are arranged to face each other, and a tray T containing food F is stored in a plurality of stages so that it can be taken in and out.

The cooling unit 16 is a unit in which a cooler 17 and a cooling fan 18 disposed in front of the cooler 17 are accommodated in a casing 19, and the installation room 14 is arranged with a space between the left side wall in the cabinet. It is installed inside. The cooler 17 is circulated and connected to a refrigeration apparatus (not shown) installed in the machine room 11 by a refrigerant pipe to form a known refrigeration circuit.
The cooling operation is performed by driving the refrigeration apparatus and the cooling fan 18. As shown by the arrow in FIG. 2, the air in the storage chamber 13 is sucked into the cooling unit 16 and passes through the cooler 17. Cold air is generated in between, and the cold air blown out to the back side of the cooling unit 16 divides into the front and back side surfaces of the cooling unit 16 and then circulates into the storage chamber 13 to generate a circulating flow. The food F put in the tray T is cooled.

In the rapid cooler of this embodiment, the “core temperature control mode” can be executed as the mode of the cooling control operation.
Therefore, an internal temperature sensor 21 that detects the internal temperature of the storage chamber 13 is provided on the side surface on the back side of the cooling unit 16. Further, a core temperature sensor 22 is provided, and this core temperature sensor 22 functions to detect the core temperature (internal temperature) of the food F inserted into the stored food F.

On the other hand, the core temperature set temperature Ts0 and the internal set temperature can be set manually. The internal set temperature includes the internal set temperature that is applied during the rapid cooling operation and the internal set temperature that is applied when performing the cold insulation operation following the rapid cooling operation. These are simply referred to as “in-chamber set temperature Ta0”, and those for cold storage operation are distinguished as “cold set temperature Tb0”.
An operation panel 30 is provided at the upper edge portion of the front opening 10A of the cooling body 10 and the operation panel 30 includes an internal set temperature Ta0, a cold storage internal set temperature Tb0, and a core temperature set temperature Ts0. In order to set the temperature manually, internal set temperature input units 31 and 32 and a core temperature set temperature input unit 33 are provided. The input internal set temperature Ta0, the cold storage internal set temperature Tb0, and the core temperature set temperature Ts0 are displayed on the temperature display units 34 and 35, respectively.

A basic control mode of the core temperature control mode of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
In this embodiment, the core temperature setting temperature Ts0 can be set in a range of “−30 ° C. to 30 ° C.”, for example, and is set to “3 ° C.” as an example. The chamber set temperature Ta0 is set to a temperature that is lower by several K to several tens K than the above-described core temperature set temperature Ts0, and can be set in the range of “−40 ° C. to 30 ° C.”. -20 ° C ". Note that the set temperature Tb0 in the cold storage is set to a temperature equal to or higher than the normal set temperature Ta0, and can be set, for example, in the range of “−30 ° C. to 30 ° C.”. As an example, the core temperature set temperature Ts0 Is set to “3 ° C.”.

When the cooling operation is started by turning on the cooling switch 38 provided on the operation panel 30, the internal temperature Ta detected by the internal temperature sensor 21 and the predetermined internal set temperature Ta0 (− By controlling the operation of the refrigeration system based on the comparison with 20 ° C., a first rapid cooling operation for cooling and holding the storage chamber 13 to the internal set temperature Ta0 is performed. During that time, the core temperature Ts of the food F is detected by the core temperature sensor 22, and the core temperature Ts is "3K" higher than the predetermined core temperature setting temperature Ts0 (3 ° C), and the switching temperature Ts1 (3 ° C + 3K = 6 ° C). (Timing A), the operation is switched to the second rapid cooling operation, where the detected internal temperature Ta is the auxiliary set temperature Ta1 (core temperature set temperature Ts0-3K: 3 ° C.-3K = 0 ° C.). By controlling the operation of the refrigeration system based on the comparison, the storage chamber 13 is maintained at the auxiliary set temperature Ta1. During this time, the food F is cooled relatively slowly, and when it is detected that the core temperature Ts of the food F has dropped to the core temperature set temperature Ts0 (3 ° C.) (timing B), the second rapid cooling operation is finished. .
Subsequently, the operation of the refrigeration apparatus is controlled based on a comparison between the internal temperature Ta similarly detected by the internal temperature sensor 21 and a predetermined cold-storage internal temperature Tb0. A cold insulation operation is performed to cool 13 to the set temperature Tb0 in the cold storage compartment.

  When performing the rapid cooling operation in the core temperature control mode as described above, the internal set temperature Ta0 and the core temperature set temperature Ts0 are both manually set individually, and the settable temperature range is wide. Therefore, when the user manually sets, there is a possibility that the internal set temperature Ta0 may be set higher than the core temperature set temperature Ts0. Then, since the core temperature Ts of the food F does not become lower than the internal temperature Ta, the core temperature Ts of the food F does not reach the core temperature set temperature Ts0 and the rapid cooling operation cannot be finished. Invite.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, a means is provided for notifying the user when the internal set temperature Ta0 and the core temperature set temperature Ts0 are input and set inappropriately. Therefore, a control system for determining whether the set temperature shown in FIG.
The control system includes a control unit 40 that includes a microcomputer and can execute a predetermined program. The control unit 40 corresponds to the set temperature suitability determination device of the present invention. On the input side of the control unit 40, a cooling operation detection unit 45 that detects whether or not the cooling operation has been started, specifically, whether or not the cooling switch 38 has been turned on, and the internal set temperature Ta0 are input. The internal set temperature input unit 31 is connected to the core temperature set temperature input unit 33 to which the core temperature set temperature Ts0 is input.
On the other hand, a notification lamp 50 and an operation stop unit 51 for disconnecting a cooling operation drive system are connected to the output side. As shown in FIG. 1, the notification lamp 50 is provided on the operation panel 30 described above.

  The controller 40 is provided with an internal set temperature acquisition unit 41, a core temperature set temperature acquisition unit 42, and a comparison unit 43. The internal set temperature acquisition unit 41 acquires the internal set temperature Ta0 input and set in the internal set temperature input unit 31 on condition that the operation start detection signal is received from the cooling operation detection unit 45. The core temperature set temperature acquisition unit 42 also acquires the core temperature set temperature Ts0 input and set in the core temperature set temperature input unit 33 on the condition that the operation start detection signal is received from the cooling operation detection unit 45. Fulfills the function.

The comparison unit 43 compares the in-compartment set temperature Ta0 and the core temperature set temperature Ts0 acquired by the in-compartment set temperature acquisition unit 41 and the core temperature set temperature acquisition unit 42, respectively. When the temperature setting temperature is Ts0 ", an error signal is output.
This error signal is output to the notification lamp 50 and the operation stop unit 51. When the notification lamp 50 receives an error signal, the lighting is controlled. When the operation stop unit 51 receives the error signal, the operation stop unit 51 functions to disconnect the drive system for the cooling operation.

Next, an example of the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When rapid cooling is performed by the rapid cooling cabinet, the set temperature Ta0 and the core temperature set temperature Ts0 are set in accordance with the type of food F to be cooled and other conditions, and the set temperature input unit 31 and the core are set respectively. The temperature is set in the temperature setting temperature input unit 33. When performing a cold insulation operation following the rapid cooling, the set temperature Tb0 in the cold compartment is also input and set.
When the set temperature is set, the hot food F after cooking is placed in the tray T and stored in the storage chamber 13, and the cooling switch 38 is turned on to perform rapid cooling.

When the cooling operation is started by turning on the cooling switch 38, step S1 in the flowchart of FIG. 5 becomes “Yes”, so that the internal set temperature acquisition unit 41 acquires the internal set temperature Ta0. At the same time (step S2), the core temperature set temperature Ts0 is acquired by the core temperature set temperature acquisition unit 42 (step S3).
Next, in step S4, the acquired in-compartment set temperature Ta0 and the core temperature set temperature Ts0 are compared by the comparison unit 43. If “in-compartment set temperature Ta0 ≦ core temperature set temperature Ts0”, In step S4, “No”), the cooling operation is continued in step S5, and as shown in FIG. 3, the rapid cooling operation and the cold insulation operation are executed.

On the other hand, when the comparison result of the comparison unit 43 in step S4 is “inside chamber set temperature Ta0> core temperature set temperature Ts0” (step S4 is “Yes”), an error signal is output. Then, in step S6, the notification lamp 50 is turned on in response to the error signal, that is, the user is notified that the settings of the set temperatures Ta0 and Ts0 are inappropriate. At the same time, in step S7, upon receiving the error signal, the drive system for the cooling operation is disconnected, that is, the cooling operation is stopped.
When the notification is made as described above, the in-house set temperature Ta0 and / or the core temperature set temperature Ts0, which have been erroneously input, are corrected or re-input while checking the temperature display units 34 and 35. After that, the cooling operation may be started again.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when there is a problem in the setting of the set temperature when the cooling operation start operation is performed, it is possible to immediately notify the user of this, so correction of the set temperature, etc. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an inappropriate cooling operation from being performed.
Since the cooling operation is forcibly stopped simultaneously with the notification to the user, it is not necessary to perform the operation of stopping the cooling operation every time when dealing with correction of the set temperature or the like.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
(1) In the above embodiment, the case where the suitability determination of the set temperature is performed immediately after the start of the cooling operation is illustrated. However, the suitability determination may be performed at the timing before starting the cooling operation, for example, when the input of the set temperature is completed. Good. In this case, if there is a problem in the setting of the set temperature, it is good to take measures to prohibit the start of the cooling operation while notifying it.
(2) When determining whether the set temperature is appropriate after the start of the cooling operation or before the start of the cooling operation, if there is a problem with the setting of the set temperature, the determination may be made only by notifying it. .

(3) The notification device is not limited to the notification lamp exemplified in the above embodiment, and may be another device such as a notification buzzer.
(4) In the above-described embodiment, the case where the rapid cooling is performed in two stages is illustrated. However, the cooling may be performed in three stages or more.
(5) The present invention is not limited to the quick cooler exemplified in the above embodiment, and can be widely applied to all coolers capable of executing the core temperature control mode.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Cooling body 13 ... Storage chamber 16 ... Cooling unit 21 ... Inside temperature sensor 22 ... Core temperature sensor 31 ... Inside temperature setting input part 33 ... Core temperature setting temperature input part 40 ... Control part (setting temperature suitability judging device 41 ... Set temperature acquisition unit 42 ... Core temperature setting temperature acquisition unit 43 ... Comparison unit 45 ... Cooling operation detection unit 50 ... Notification lamp (notification device) 51 ... Operation stop unit F ... Food (object to be cooled) Ta ... Internal temperature Ts ... Core temperature Ta0 ... Internal chamber set temperature Ta1 ... Auxiliary set temperature Ts0 ... Core temperature set temperature

Claims (4)

A storage chamber for storing the object to be cooled, a cooling device for cooling the storage room, an internal temperature sensor for detecting the internal temperature of the storage room, and a core temperature sensor for detecting the core temperature of the object to be cooled With
Cooling that cools the storage chamber to approximately the internal set temperature by controlling the operation of the cooling device based on a comparison between the internal temperature detected by the internal temperature sensor and a predetermined internal set temperature. In a refrigerator capable of performing a core temperature control mode in which the cooling operation is terminated when the core temperature detected by the core temperature sensor is lowered to a predetermined core temperature setting temperature,
The chamber setting temperature acquisition unit that acquires the chamber setting temperature, the core temperature setting temperature acquisition unit that acquires the core temperature setting temperature, and the acquired chamber setting temperature and the core temperature setting temperature are compared and set in the chamber A set temperature suitability determination device having a comparison unit that outputs an error signal when the temperature is higher than the core temperature set temperature;
A notification device that receives the error signal and notifies that the set temperature is inappropriate;
The refrigerator is characterized by comprising. 2. The cooling operation stop unit that receives the error signal and stops the cooling operation when the suitability determination by the set temperature suitability determining device is executed after the start of the cooling operation is provided. The listed refrigerator. In the configuration in which the suitability determination by the set temperature suitability determination device is executed before the start of the cooling operation, a cooling operation prohibiting unit is provided that receives the error signal and prohibits the start of the cooling operation. The refrigerator according to claim 1. In the cooling operation, the cooling device is initially controlled to maintain the internal set temperature, and the auxiliary set temperature that is higher than the internal set temperature determined based on the core temperature set temperature from the middle. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cooling device is controlled so as to maintain the temperature.

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