JP2017026204A - Refrigerator and ultraviolet irradiation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator which can make ice with the reduced smell of chlorine.SOLUTION: The refrigerator has a water storage tank 25 that stores water for ice making, an ice making device 50, a water supply route that supplies the water for ice making from the water storage tank 25 to the ice making device 50, and an ultraviolet irradiation device 60 that irradiates the water for ice making on the water supply route.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a refrigerator and an ultraviolet irradiation device.

  Conventionally, it is known that ultraviolet rays have a sterilizing action. As a refrigerator utilizing this, a refrigerator is known in which defrosted water generated by defrosting a cooler is sterilized by irradiating it with ultraviolet light, and the sterilized water is made into a mist and discharged into a vegetable room (for example, Patent Document 1).

  It is also known that ultraviolet rays decompose free chlorine such as hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite ions (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP2012-241921A JP-A-4-363190

  By the way, tap water contains sodium hypochlorite for the purpose of disinfection. When sodium hypochlorite dissolves in water, free chlorine such as hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite ions is generated. These free chlorines have a strong oxidizing power and a bactericidal effect, but there is a problem that if they remain in tap water, they generate a odor of chalk. Therefore, if tap water is made into ice as it is, there is a problem that the ice and the water generated by melting the ice have a smell of lime.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator capable of making ice with suppressed odor and an ultraviolet irradiation device suitable for use in the refrigerator.

  The refrigerator of the embodiment includes a water storage tank for storing ice making water, an ice making device, a water supply path for supplying ice making water from the water storage tank to the ice making apparatus, and an ultraviolet irradiation device for irradiating the ice making water in the water supply path with ultraviolet light. With.

Sectional drawing of the refrigerator 10 of embodiment. The fragmentary sectional view near the vegetable compartment 31 of the refrigerator 10 of the embodiment. Sectional drawing of the ultraviolet irradiation device 60. FIG. The block diagram of the refrigerator 10 of embodiment. Flow chart of automatic ice making control. The fragmentary sectional view near the vegetable compartment 31 of the refrigerator 10 in which the ultraviolet irradiation device 60 is provided in the chilled compartment 23. The fragmentary sectional view of the vegetable compartment 31 vicinity of the refrigerator 10 with which the ultraviolet irradiation device 60 and the atomization apparatus 80 were provided in the storage chamber 34. FIG. Sectional drawing of the ultraviolet irradiation device 160 of the example of a change.

  This embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator 10 according to the present embodiment includes a refrigerator main body 12 in which an outer box that forms an outer shell of the refrigerator 10 and an inner box that forms a storage space inside are combined. Between the outer box and the inner box, a foam heat insulating material or the like is filled. The storage space inside the inner box is partitioned into an upper refrigeration space 20 and a lower refrigeration space 40.

  The refrigerated space 20 is a space that is cooled to a refrigeration temperature (for example, 2 to 3 ° C.). The inside of the refrigerated space 20 is partitioned into an upper refrigerated room 21 as a storage room and a lower vegetable room 31 as a storage room.

  A plurality of mounting shelves 22 are provided in the upper part of the refrigerator compartment 21. A chilled chamber 23 is provided at a location on the right side of the lower part in the refrigerator compartment 21. The inside of the chilled chamber 23 is a place that is kept at a particularly low temperature in the refrigerator compartment 21, and is a place where meat, fish, and the like are stored. A chilled container 24 is housed in the chilled chamber 23 so as to be freely drawn out. As shown in FIG. 2, a water storage tank 25 for storing ice-making water is provided at the lower left side of the refrigerator compartment 21 (the left side of the chilled chamber 23). The opening part of the refrigerator compartment 21 is obstruct | occluded by the refrigerator compartment door 26 provided rotatably by the hinge provided in the upper and lower sides of the one side.

  The water storage tank 25 is provided with a water supply pump 76 (see FIG. 4). The ice-making water in the water storage tank 25 is discharged by this water supply pump 76 to a discharge pipe 27 extending rearward of the water storage tank 25. The ice-making water that has passed through the discharge pipe 27 enters a water receiving case 28 disposed behind the water storage tank 25, and is sent from the water receiving case 28 to a water supply pipe 29 that extends toward the lower vegetable compartment 31.

  The opening of the vegetable compartment 31 is closed by a pull-out door 32. A vegetable container 33 is held on the back side of the pull-out door 32. The vegetable container 33 is configured to be pulled out integrally with the pull-out door 32. The open / close state of the drawer-type door 32 of the vegetable compartment 31 is preferably detectable by a door sensor 73 (see FIG. 4).

  A storage room 34 is provided above the vegetable container 33 in the vegetable room 31. The storage chamber 34 includes a holder 35 fixed to the upper wall of the vegetable chamber 31 and a storage container 36 that can be taken in and out from the front opening of the holder 35. The storage container 36 is of a drawer type, and its front surface also serves as the front door of the storage chamber 34. As shown in the drawing, when an ultraviolet irradiation device 60 described later is disposed behind the storage container 36 in the storage chamber 34, for example, the rear wall of the storage container 36 is formed to have a low height, thereby It is desirable that the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the irradiation device 60 reach the storage container 36. The storage chamber 34 may be an oxygen reduction chamber to which an oxygen reduction device is connected and the internal oxygen concentration can be reduced.

  It is desirable that the storage chamber 34 and the storage container 36 can be shielded so that they do not leak outside when ultraviolet rays are generated inside. For example, the storage chamber 34 and the storage container 36 are preferably made of a material that does not transmit ultraviolet rays. Further, it is desirable that the material does not deteriorate when exposed to ultraviolet rays. An example of such a material is a metal.

  The frozen space 40 is a space cooled to a freezing temperature (for example, −18 ° C. or lower). In the upper part of the freezing space 40, an ice making room 41 including an ice making device 50 and a small freezing room are provided side by side as viewed from the front. A freezing chamber 42 is provided in the lower part of the freezing space 40. The opening of the freezer compartment 42 is closed by a pull-out door 43. A storage container 44 is held on the back side of the pull-out door 43. The storage container 44 is configured to be pulled out integrally with the pull-out door 43. Another storage container may be provided above the storage container 44.

  The ice making device 50 includes a driving device 51 fixed to the upper wall of the ice making chamber 41, an ice tray 52 that is reversed by the driving device 51, and an ice storage amount detection lever 53 that is provided obliquely downward from the driving device 51. Prepare. The ice tray 52 is provided with a temperature sensor 56 (see FIG. 4). Above the ice tray 52, a water supply pipe 54 extending from the vegetable chamber 31 and penetrating the upper wall of the ice chamber 41 is open. An ice storage container 55 is arranged below the ice tray 52. The ice making water is supplied to the ice making tray 52 through the water supply pipe 54 and becomes ice in the ice making tray 52. When the ice is completed, the ice tray 52 is inverted, and the ice falls into the ice storage container 55. This is repeated and ice is stored in the ice storage container 55.

  The front opening of the ice making chamber 41 is closed by a pull-out door 57. The ice storage container 55 is configured to be pulled out integrally with the pull-out door 57.

  An ultraviolet irradiation device 60 is disposed at a rear position in the storage room 34 in the vegetable room 31. As shown in FIG. 3, the ultraviolet irradiation device 60 includes a liquid reservoir 61 and one ultraviolet lamp 62 provided in the liquid reservoir 61.

  The liquid storage container 61 is a container in which ice-making water is stored. The liquid reservoir 61 is made of a material that transmits ultraviolet rays. Further, it is desirable that the material does not deteriorate due to the transmission of ultraviolet rays. Examples of such desirable materials include quartz glass and fluororesin. A water supply port 63 and an air hole 64 are opened in the upper part of the liquid reservoir 61. A drain port 65 is opened at the bottom of the liquid reservoir 61. A water supply valve 66 is provided at the lower end of the drain port 65. A water supply pipe 29 extending from the refrigerator compartment 21 penetrates the upper wall of the storage chamber 34 and is connected to a water supply port 63 of the ultraviolet irradiation device 60 in the storage chamber 34. Further, the water supply pipe 54 leading to the ice making chamber 41 passes through the lower wall of the storage chamber 34 and is connected to the water supply valve 66 of the ultraviolet irradiation device 60 in the storage chamber 34. In this way, from the water storage tank 25 to the ice making device 50, the water supply pipes 29 and 54, the liquid reservoir 61 of the ultraviolet irradiation device 60, the discharge pipe 27 behind the water storage tank 25 and the water receiving case 28 are used. The water supply route is formed. The air hole 64 is a hole through which air enters and exits according to a change in the amount of ice-making water in the liquid storage container 61.

  The ultraviolet lamp 62 is turned on and off by a switch 67 (see FIG. 4) connected to a power source. Although the place where the ultraviolet lamp 62 is disposed is not limited, in the case of the present embodiment, the ultraviolet lamp 62 is provided at a place corresponding to the center of the liquid reservoir 61 in a plan view. Further, in the present embodiment, the drainage port 65 is provided at a location corresponding to the center of the liquid reservoir 61 in a plan view. Therefore, the ultraviolet lamp 62 is positioned above the drain port 65. The ultraviolet lamp 62 is covered with a protective tube 68. The protective tube 68 is made of the same material that transmits ultraviolet light as described above.

  In such an ultraviolet irradiation device 60, when the water supply valve 66 is closed, the ice-making water flowing from the water supply pipe 29 passes through the water supply port 63 and accumulates in the liquid storage container 61. When the ultraviolet lamp 62 is turned on in a state where a certain amount of ice-making water has accumulated in the liquid reservoir 61, the ice-making water in the liquid reservoir 61 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays. Then, free chlorine such as hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite ions contained in the ice making water is decomposed. Since the liquid storage container 61 is made of a material that transmits ultraviolet rays, the ultraviolet rays are also irradiated to a place around the ultraviolet irradiation device 60. Thereafter, when the ultraviolet lamp 62 is turned off and the water supply valve 66 is released, the ice making water in which free chlorine is decomposed is discharged from the drain port 65.

  As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 4, the refrigerator 10 includes a control unit 70 that controls the refrigeration cooler 71, the refrigeration cooler 72, and the like in order to maintain the temperature in the storage chamber. The control unit 70 includes a switch 67 of the ultraviolet lamp 62, a water supply valve 66 of the liquid reservoir 61, a water supply pump 76 provided in the water storage tank 25, a door sensor 73 of the vegetable compartment 31, a drive device 51 of the ice making device 50, and an ice making device. 50 ice storage amount detection lever 53, temperature sensor 56 for measuring the temperature of ice tray 52, and the like are also connected.

  The control unit 70 controls the flowchart of FIG. Note that this flowchart is an example of control, and the control unit 70 may perform control different from this flowchart.

  When the ice making start condition is satisfied, the control unit 70 starts automatic ice making control (S1). The conditions for starting ice making are not limited. For example, the controller 70 determines that the ice making start condition has been satisfied when a certain time has elapsed since the last time the water was supplied to the ice tray 52. It is assumed that the water for ice making irradiated with ultraviolet rays has already accumulated in the liquid reservoir 61 of the ultraviolet irradiation device 60 at the start of the automatic ice making control.

  When the automatic ice making control is started, the control unit 70 confirms whether or not the inside of the ice storage container 55 is full based on a signal from the ice storage amount detection lever 53 (S2). When the controller 70 determines that the ice storage container 55 is full (Yes in S2), the automatic ice making control is terminated without making ice (S8).

  On the other hand, when the controller 70 determines that the inside of the ice storage container 55 is not full (No in S2), the temperature sensor 56 checks whether or not the temperature of the ice tray 52 is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature (S3). When the temperature of the ice tray 52 is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature (Yes in S3), the control unit 70 determines that the ice-making water supplied to the ice tray 52 last time is completely ice, and drives the ice making device 50. An ice removing operation is performed to drive the device 51 and reverse the ice tray 52 (S4). As a result of the deicing operation, the ice already completed in the ice tray 52 falls into the ice storage container 55. When the temperature of the ice tray 52 is higher than the predetermined temperature (No in S3), the control unit 70 does not perform the ice removing operation until the temperature of the ice tray 52 becomes equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature.

  Next, the control unit 70 controls the water supply valve 66 to supply water to the ice tray 52 that has been emptied by the deicing operation (S5). Specifically, the control unit 70 releases the water supply valve 66 of the liquid storage container 61 and discharges the ice making water in the liquid storage container 61. The ice making water discharged at this time has already been irradiated with ultraviolet rays. The discharged ice making water is supplied to the ice making tray 52 through the water supply pipe 54. When the water supply to the ice tray 52 is finished, the control unit 70 closes the water supply valve 66.

  Subsequently, the control unit 70 supplies water to the ultraviolet irradiation device 60 (S6). Specifically, the control unit 70 drives a water supply pump 76 provided in the water storage tank 25 to discharge the ice making water in the water storage tank 25 to the discharge pipe 27. The ice-making water passes through the discharge pipe 27, the water receiving case 28, and the water supply pipe 29 and flows into the liquid reservoir 61 of the ultraviolet irradiation device 60. The ice-making water is blocked by the closed water supply valve 66 and accumulated in the liquid reservoir 61.

  When a predetermined amount of ice-making water is accumulated in the liquid reservoir 61, the controller 70 irradiates the ice-making water in the liquid reservoir 61 with ultraviolet rays (S7). Specifically, the control unit 70 turns on the switch 67 to turn on the ultraviolet lamp 62 to irradiate ultraviolet rays. For example, after irradiating ultraviolet rays for a predetermined time (for example, 30 to 60 minutes), the control unit 70 turns off the switch 67, turns off the ultraviolet lamp 62, and ends the ultraviolet irradiation.

  Here, when the door sensor 73 detects that the pull-out door 32 of the vegetable room 31 is opened while the ultraviolet lamp 62 is lit, the control unit 70 turns off the ultraviolet lamp 62 and interrupts the irradiation of ultraviolet rays. Is desirable. When the irradiation of ultraviolet rays is interrupted, it is desirable that the controller 70 turns on the ultraviolet lamp 62 and resumes the irradiation of ultraviolet rays after the door sensor 73 detects that the drawer type door 32 of the vegetable compartment 31 is closed. If the door sensor 73 detects that the pull-out door 32 of the vegetable compartment 31 is opened before starting the irradiation of the ultraviolet light, the ultraviolet light is detected until the door sensor 73 detects that the pull-out door 32 is closed. It is desirable not to start the irradiation.

  After the ultraviolet irradiation by the ultraviolet irradiation device 60 is completed, the control unit 70 returns the control to S2 in the flowchart, and repeats the above control until the inside of the ice storage container 55 is full (Yes in S2). When the inside of the ice storage container 55 is full (Yes in S2), the control unit 70 ends the automatic ice making control (S8).

  The effect of this embodiment will be described.

  In the above embodiment, since the ice making water is irradiated with ultraviolet rays in the water supply path from the water storage tank 25 to the ice making device 50 and the free chlorine contained in the ice making water is decomposed, the ice making water is supplied to the ice making tray 52. The odor is reduced. For this reason, the ice making device 50 makes ice with suppressed odor.

  Further, in the above embodiment, since ultraviolet rays can be transmitted from the inside of the liquid reservoir 61 that accommodates the ultraviolet lamp 62 to the outside, ultraviolet rays are irradiated to the stored items and air around the ultraviolet irradiation device 60. Therefore, the stored items and air around the ultraviolet irradiation device 60 can be sterilized. When vegetables are stored around the ultraviolet irradiation device 60, the vegetables are irradiated with ultraviolet rays. Then, active oxygen is generated in the skin of vegetables. In order to suppress this active oxygen, vegetables produce vitamins that are antioxidants. As a result, the vegetables have increased nutrients. In this way, ultraviolet rays are irradiated to ice-making water and at the same time the stored items and air are irradiated, so not only the decomposition of free chlorine contained in ice-making water, but also the sterilization of stored items and air, and stored items ( In particular, the effect of increasing nutrients of vegetables) can also be obtained. Also, since one ultraviolet lamp 62 can simultaneously irradiate the ice-making water and the surrounding stored items and air with ultraviolet rays, the ultraviolet lamp that irradiates the ice-making water with ultraviolet rays and another ultraviolet lamp that irradiates the stored items and air with ultraviolet rays. There is no need to provide two ultraviolet lamps. Therefore, in the refrigerator 10 of this embodiment, the decomposition | disassembly of the free chlorine contained in the water for ice making, the disinfection of air, etc., and cost reduction and space saving are compatible. Further, the opening / closing of the pull-out door 32 of the vegetable room 31 provided with the ultraviolet irradiation device 60 can be detected by the door sensor 73, and when the door sensor 73 detects that the pull-out door 32 is opened, the ultraviolet irradiation is performed. When is interrupted, it is possible to prevent the user from being irradiated with ultraviolet rays.

  Moreover, when the ultraviolet irradiation device 60 is provided in the storage room 34 in the vegetable room 31 as in the above-described embodiment, it is possible to select an item to be sterilized and put it in the storage room 34. Further, in the case where the storage chamber 34 shields ultraviolet rays, an object that is not desired to be irradiated with ultraviolet rays can be stored outside the storage chamber 34 so that it is not exposed to ultraviolet rays. In addition, when the storage chamber 34 is made of metal, the ultraviolet rays generated in the storage chamber 34 are reflected by the wall of the metal storage chamber 34, so that a lot of ultraviolet rays are applied to the stored items in the storage chamber 34 from various directions. Will be hit and the sterilization effect will increase.

  A modification of this embodiment will be described.

  In said embodiment, although the ultraviolet irradiation device 60 was arrange | positioned in the storage chamber 34 in the vegetable compartment 31, the place where the ultraviolet irradiation device 60 is arrange | positioned is not limited here.

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the ultraviolet irradiation device 60 may be disposed in the chilled chamber 23. If the liquid storage container 61 of the ultraviolet irradiation device 60 is made of a material that transmits ultraviolet light, the ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet lamp 62 passes through the liquid storage container 61 and is irradiated into the chilled chamber 23. Sanitize stored meat and fish. In this case, the chilled chamber 23 may be made of a material that does not transmit ultraviolet rays. Further, it is desirable that the material does not deteriorate when exposed to ultraviolet rays. An example of such a material is a metal.

  Note that it is desirable that a storage room is further provided in the storage chamber, and the ultraviolet irradiation device 60 is provided in the storage chamber, regardless of the storage chamber in which the ultraviolet irradiation device 60 is disposed. Here, the storage room is a partitioned compartment in the storage room. It is desirable that the storage chamber is opened and closed in order to put in and out the stored items. However, it may not be completely sealable. The chilled chamber 23 is also a storage chamber. It is desirable that the storage chamber is configured to shield the ultraviolet rays so that the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 60 do not leak outside the storage chamber.

  Further, regardless of the storage room where the ultraviolet irradiation device 60 is disposed, a door sensor that detects the opening of the door of the storage room is provided as in the above embodiment, and the door sensor opens the door. It is desirable to control so that the ultraviolet lamp 62 is extinguished when the light is detected.

  Further, in the case where the ultraviolet irradiation device 60 is provided in the storage chamber 34 in the vegetable room 31, when the ultraviolet light can be transmitted outside the liquid reservoir 61 of the ultraviolet irradiation device 60, as shown in FIG. An atomizing device 80 that supplies mist-like water droplets (mist) toward the inside of the chamber 34 may be provided in the storage chamber 34.

  The atomizing device 80 of FIG. 7 is provided with an ultrasonic vibrator 82 at the bottom of an atomizing water storage tank 81 for storing water. When an oscillation circuit (not shown) applies a voltage having a frequency of, for example, 20 to 100 kHz to the ultrasonic vibrator 82, the ultrasonic vibrator 82 is ultrasonically vibrated. Then, the ultrasonic wave propagates in the water in the atomizing water storage tank 81, the water atomizes on the water surface in the atomizing water storage tank 81, and a mist having a small particle size (for example, several μm to several tens μm). Occur. The mist generated in this way is discharged from the opening of the water tank 81 for atomization. The mist discharge destination is outside the liquid storage container 61 of the ultraviolet irradiation device 60 and is a place where the ultraviolet light transmitted to the outside of the liquid storage container 61 directly hits. The emitted mist is irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation device 60 to generate ozone-containing mist. Since ozone has a strong oxidizing power, the inside of the storage chamber 34 is sterilized by circulating the ozone-containing mist in the storage chamber 34. Since the ozone-containing mist circulates in places where the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation device 60 are not directly applied, such places are also sterilized.

  The structure of the atomizer is not limited to the above. For example, the atomization device may include a vibration plate in which a large number of fine holes are formed, an ultrasonic vibrator that ultrasonically vibrates the vibration plate, and a water supply device that supplies water to the vibration plate. In this case, when the diaphragm is vibrated by the ultrasonic vibrator, water that has reached the hole of the diaphragm receives pressure and becomes a mist having a small particle size (for example, several μm to several tens μm), Released.

  An electrostatic atomizer may be used instead of the ultrasonic atomizer. An electrostatic atomizer is an apparatus that generates mist by Rayleigh splitting of water in a negative electrode by applying a high voltage using an electrode supplied with water as a negative electrode. The mist generated by the electrostatic atomizer has a smaller particle size (for example, several nm to several tens of nm).

  When the atomizing device 80 is provided in the storage chamber 34, a mist circulation fan 85 may be further provided in the storage chamber 34. By rotating the mist circulation fan 85, the circulation of the ozone-containing mist is improved and the sterilization effect is enhanced. A mist circulation fan 85 may be provided on the side wall of the storage chamber 34 so that the ozone-containing mist generated in the storage chamber 34 circulates outside the storage chamber 34.

  In addition, the place where the atomization apparatus 80 is arrange | positioned may be anywhere as long as it can supply mist to the place irradiated with the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus 60. For example, when the ultraviolet irradiation device 60 is provided in the storage chamber 34 in the vegetable room 31, the atomization device 80 is provided outside the storage chamber 34 and supplies mist into the storage chamber 34. good. Further, when the ultraviolet irradiation device 60 is disposed in the chilled chamber 23 as in the above modification, it is desirable that the atomizing device 80 is also disposed in the chilled chamber 23. However, the atomizing device 80 may be disposed outside the chilled chamber 23, and the atomizing device 80 may supply mist toward the periphery of the ultraviolet irradiation device 60 in the chilled chamber 23.

  Further, the mist circulation fan 85 may be provided at a place where the circulation speed of the ozone-containing mist becomes faster or the direction of circulation of the ozone-containing mist changes compared to the case where there is no mist circulation fan 85. It ’s fine.

  Moreover, the structure of the ultraviolet irradiation device may not be the same as the structure of the ultraviolet irradiation device 60 of the above embodiment.

  An ultraviolet irradiation device 160 having a structure different from that of the above embodiment is shown in FIG. The ultraviolet irradiation device 160 includes a liquid storage container 161, a protective tube 168 disposed in the liquid storage container 161, and one ultraviolet lamp 162 housed inside the protective tube 168.

  The liquid storage container 161 is a container in which ice-making water is stored. A water supply port 163 is opened at the top of the liquid reservoir 161 and a drain port 165 is opened at the bottom. A water supply valve 166 is provided at the lower end of the drain port 165. Similarly to the liquid storage container 61 of the above embodiment, the water supply pipe 29 extending from the refrigerator compartment 21 is connected to the water supply port 163, and the water supply pipe 54 leading to the ice making chamber 41 is connected to the water supply valve 166. Therefore, the ice making water can flow in the liquid storage container 161. Further, when the water supply valve 166 is closed, the ice making water is stored in the liquid storage container 161. An air hole through which air enters and exits according to a change in the amount of ice-making water in the liquid storage container 161 may be provided in the upper part of the liquid storage container 161. Further, the liquid reservoir 161 may be made of a material that transmits ultraviolet rays.

  The collected cold air in the refrigerator flows in the protective tube 168. The structure for this is as follows.

  A hole different from the water supply port 163 is formed in the upper part of the liquid reservoir 161, and the cap 190 closes the hole. A protective tube 168 is fixed to the lower portion of the cap 190. The protective tube 168 has an opening on the upper side, and is fixed to the cap 190 so that the opening is closed by the cap 190. A hole is formed at the center of the cap 190, and one ultraviolet lamp 162 is inserted from the hole toward the inside of the protective tube 168. Accordingly, the ultraviolet lamp 162 is disposed in the liquid reservoir 161 while being covered with the protective tube 168. The protective tube 168 blocks the inner side and the outer side of the protective tube 168 in the liquid reservoir 161, and prevents ice-making water in the liquid reservoir 161 from entering the protective tube 168. Here, there is a gap between the inner surface of the protective tube 168 and the ultraviolet lamp 162. Further, the protective tube 68 is made of a material that transmits ultraviolet light, and preferably does not deteriorate by transmitting ultraviolet light, such as quartz glass or fluororesin.

  The cap 190 is further provided with an intake passage 191 and an exhaust passage 192. The intake passage 191 and the exhaust passage 192 communicate from the outside of the liquid reservoir 161 to the protective tube 168 in the liquid reservoir 161, respectively. One end of a tubular cold air supply pipe 193 is connected to the intake passage 191. The other end of the cold air supply pipe 193 is disposed at an appropriate location in the refrigerator. One end of a tubular cold air discharge pipe 194 is connected to the exhaust passage 192. An air pump 195 is connected to the other end of the cold air discharge pipe 194.

  When the controller 70 operates the air pump 195, the cold air in the refrigerator is sucked from the end of the cold air supply pipe 193, passes through the intake passage 191, and enters the protective pipe 168 in the liquid reservoir container 161. The cold air that has entered the protective tube 168 flows through the protective tube 168 while traveling around the ultraviolet lamp 162. The direction in which the cold air flows in the protective tube 168 is, for example, the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. Thereafter, the cold air passes through the exhaust passage 192, passes through the cold air discharge pipe 194, and is discharged from the air pump 195 into the refrigerator. In this way, cold air flows between the defrosting water in the liquid reservoir 161 and the ultraviolet lamp 162.

  In the ultraviolet irradiation device 160 having the above-described structure, the control unit 70 stores the ice-making water in the liquid storage container 161 or discharges it from the liquid storage container 161. Further, cool air is passed through the protective tube 168. The controller 70 may flow the cold air into the protective tube 168 only when, for example, a certain amount of ice-making water is accumulated in the liquid reservoir 161. In this way, the control unit 70 sets the ultraviolet lamp 162 in a state where the cold air flows inside the protective tube 168 in the liquid storage container 161 and the ice-making water is stored outside the protective tube 168 in the liquid storage container 161. Light up. Then, both the cold air in the protective tube 168 and the ice-making water outside the protective tube 168 are simultaneously irradiated with ultraviolet rays. Therefore, the decomposition of free chlorine contained in the ice making water and the sterilization of the cold air circulating in the refrigerator can be performed simultaneously. Further, since the ultraviolet lamp 162 is protected inside the protective tube 168, it is possible to prevent the ultraviolet lamp 162 from coming into contact with water and failing or deteriorating. Further, the space between the ultraviolet lamp 162 and the protective tube 168 can be effectively used as a cool air sterilization place.

  The above embodiment is an illustration and the scope of the invention is not limited to this. The above embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The above embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the inventions described in the claims and their equivalents.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Refrigerator, 12 ... Refrigerator main body, 20 ... Refrigerated space, 21 ... Refrigerated room, 22 ... Mounting shelf, 23 ... Chilled room, 24 ... Chilled container, 25 ... Water storage tank, 26 ... Cold room door, 27 ... Discharge pipe 28 ... Water receiving case, 29 ... Water supply pipe, 31 ... Vegetable room, 32 ... Pull-out door, 33 ... Vegetable container, 34 ... Storage room, 35 ... Holder, 36 ... Storage container, 40 ... Frozen space, 41 ... Ice making Chamber, 42 ... freezing room, 43 ... drawer door, 44 ... storage container, 50 ... ice making device, 51 ... drive device, 52 ... ice tray, 53 ... ice storage amount detection lever, 54 ... water supply pipe, 55 ... ice storage container, 56 ... Temperature sensor, 57 ... Pull-out door, 60 ... Ultraviolet irradiation device, 61 ... Liquid reservoir, 62 ... Ultraviolet lamp, 63 ... Water supply port, 64 ... Air hole, 65 ... Drain port, 66 ... Water supply valve, 67 ... Switch 68 ... Protection tube 70 ... Control unit 71 Refrigeration cooler, 72 ... Freezing cooler, 73 ... Door sensor, 76 ... Water supply pump, 80 ... Atomization device, 81 ... Atomization water tank, 82 ... Ultrasonic vibrator, 85 ... Mist circulation fan, 160 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Ultraviolet irradiation apparatus 161 ... Liquid reservoir, 162 ... Ultraviolet lamp, 163 ... Water supply port, 165 ... Drainage port, 166 ... Water supply valve, 168 ... Protection pipe, 190 ... Cap, 191 ... Intake passage, 192 ... Exhaust passage, 193 ... Cold air supply pipe, 194 ... Cold air discharge pipe, 195 ... Air pump

Claims (10)

  A refrigerator comprising: a water storage tank for storing ice making water; an ice making device; a water supply path for supplying ice making water from the water storage tank to the ice making apparatus; and an ultraviolet irradiation device for irradiating the ice making water in the water supply path with ultraviolet rays.   The ultraviolet irradiation device includes a liquid storage container for storing ice-making water in the middle of the water supply path, an ultraviolet lamp provided in the liquid storage container, damming up the ice-making water when closed, and storing the water in the liquid storage container for release. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a water supply valve that discharges water for ice making that is sometimes stored in the liquid storage container and supplies the ice making device with water.   The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein ultraviolet rays are transmitted from the inside of the liquid storage container to the outside.   The ultraviolet irradiation device is provided in a storage chamber, a door sensor is provided for detecting the opening of the door of the storage chamber provided with the ultraviolet irradiation device, and the ultraviolet lamp is turned off when the door sensor detects the opening of the door. The refrigerator according to claim 3.   The refrigerator according to claim 3 or 4, wherein a storage room is provided in the storage room, and the ultraviolet irradiation device is provided in the storage room.   The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the storage chamber shields ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation device.   An atomization device that supplies mist to the outside of the liquid reservoir is provided, and ozone-containing mist is generated by irradiating the mist supplied from the atomization device with ultraviolet rays. The refrigerator of any one of -6.   The refrigerator of Claim 7 provided with the fan which circulates the said ozone containing mist in a storage chamber.   An ultraviolet irradiation device that includes one ultraviolet lamp and that simultaneously irradiates water and air with ultraviolet rays using the single ultraviolet lamp.   The ultraviolet irradiation device according to claim 9, wherein the ultraviolet lamp is surrounded by a protective tube capable of transmitting ultraviolet light with a space therebetween, air flows through the protective tube, and water accumulates outside the protective tube.

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