JP2021092356A - refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a refrigerator which can radiate ultraviolet light at a proper amount set according to an environment in a storage room and efficiently inhibit proliferation of microorganisms, such as fungi, in the storage room.SOLUTION: A refrigerator 1 according to the invention includes: a vegetable room 400 that is a storage room for storing foods; a vegetable room thermistor 22 which detects temperature in the vegetable room 400; a vegetable room humidity sensor 23 which detects humidity in the vegetable room 400; and an ultraviolet light radiation device 10 which radiates light including a wavelength of an ultraviolet light region to an interior of the vegetable room 400. The ultraviolet light radiation device 10 changes a light radiation amount according to the temperature and humidity in the vegetable room 400.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a refrigerator.

The refrigerator is provided with a main body having a storage chamber having a heat insulating compartment, and the storage chamber has a plurality of compartments inside, and at least one of the plurality of compartments is provided with an LED as a light source having a wavelength in the ultraviolet region. Is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-003174

However, in a refrigerator as shown in Patent Document 1, the irradiation amount of ultraviolet light irradiating the inside of the storage chamber is not sufficiently considered. For this reason, it is not possible to irradiate ultraviolet light with an appropriate irradiation amount according to the ease of growth of microorganisms in the environment in the storage room, and there is a possibility that microorganisms such as fungi attached to vegetables and the like in the storage room will grow. .. In addition, unnecessary irradiation with ultraviolet light may cause extra energy consumption.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem. The purpose is to obtain a refrigerator capable of irradiating ultraviolet light with an appropriate irradiation amount according to the environment in the storage room and efficiently suppressing the growth of microorganisms such as fungi in the storage room.

The refrigerator according to the present invention includes a storage chamber for storing food, a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature in the storage chamber, a humidity detecting means for detecting the humidity in the storage chamber, and light including a wavelength in the ultraviolet light region. The ultraviolet irradiation means for irradiating the inside of the storage chamber is provided, and the ultraviolet irradiation means changes the irradiation amount of light according to the temperature and humidity of the storage chamber.

According to the refrigerator according to the present invention, it is possible to irradiate ultraviolet light with an appropriate irradiation amount according to the environment in the storage room, and it is possible to efficiently suppress the growth of microorganisms such as fungi in the storage room.

It is a front view of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a vertical sectional view of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control system of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flow chart which shows an example of the operation of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention.

A mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each figure, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be appropriately simplified or omitted. In the following description, for convenience, the positional relationship of each structure may be expressed with reference to the illustrated state. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and is free combination of each embodiment, modification of any component of each embodiment, or each of them, as long as the gist of the present invention is not deviated. Any component of the embodiment can be omitted.

Embodiment 1.
Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG. 1 is a front view of the refrigerator. FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the refrigerator. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a refrigerator control system. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an example of the operation of the refrigerator.

In the following, as a general rule, each direction is defined based on the time when the refrigerator 1 is installed in a usable state. In addition, the dimensions, positional relationships, shapes, and the like of the members constituting the refrigerator 1 shown by FIGS. 1 and 2 may not always completely match the actual ones. The configuration of the refrigerator 1 is not limited to that shown by FIGS. 1 and 2.

The refrigerator 1 according to this embodiment has a heat insulating box body 90. The heat insulating box body 90 has an outer box, an inner box, and a heat insulating material. The outer box is made of steel. The inner box is made of resin. The inner box is placed inside the outer box. The heat insulating material is, for example, urethane foam or the like, and is filled in the space between the outer box and the inner box. The storage space formed inside the heat insulating box 90 is divided into a plurality of storage chambers for storing and storing food by one or a plurality of partition members.

The front surface (front surface) of the heat insulating box body 90 is open. A storage space is formed inside the heat insulating box 90. The storage space is a space in which an object to be stored such as food is stored. The storage space formed inside the heat insulating box 90 is divided into a plurality of storage chambers for storing and storing food by one or a plurality of partition members. As an example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the refrigerator 1 includes a refrigerating room 100, a switching room 200, an ice making room 300, a vegetable room 400, and a freezing room 500 as a plurality of storage rooms. Each of these storage chambers is arranged in a heat insulating box body 90 in a four-stage structure in the vertical direction.

The refrigerating chamber 100 is arranged at the uppermost stage of the heat insulating box body 90. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of shelves are provided inside the refrigerator compartment 100 as an example. The inside of the refrigerator compartment 100 is partitioned into a plurality of spaces in the vertical direction by these shelves. The lowermost space partitioned by the shelf board in the refrigerating room 100 is a chilled room 110.

The chilled chamber 110 is a storage space having a lower temperature than the portion of the refrigerating chamber 100 other than the chilled chamber 110 and maintained at 0 ° C. or higher. Inside the chilled chamber 110, a chilled chamber storage case that can store food and the like is retractably stored. When the chilled chamber storage case is housed inside the chilled chamber 110, the chilled chamber is almost sealed. When the chilled chamber storage case is completely pulled out from the inside of the chilled chamber 110, the chilled chamber storage case can be removed from the chilled chamber 110 and the refrigerating chamber 100. That is, the chilled chamber storage case is detachably provided inside the refrigerating chamber 100.

The switching chamber 200 is arranged on one side below the refrigerating chamber 100 on the left and right sides. The temperature zone in the switching chamber 200 can be selectively switched to any one of a plurality of temperature zones. The plurality of temperature zones that can be selected as the temperature zone in the switching chamber 200 are, for example, a freezing temperature zone, a refrigerating temperature zone, a chilled temperature zone, a soft freezing temperature zone, and the like. The freezing temperature zone is, for example, a temperature zone of about -18 ° C. The refrigerating temperature zone is, for example, a temperature zone of about 5 ° C. The chilled temperature zone is, for example, a temperature zone of about 0 ° C. The soft freezing temperature zone is, for example, a temperature zone of about −7 ° C.

The ice making chamber 300 is arranged adjacent to the side of the switching chamber 200. The ice making chamber 300 is arranged in parallel with the switching chamber 200. That is, the ice making chamber 300 is arranged on the left and right other sides below the refrigerating chamber 100. The vegetable compartment 400 is arranged below the switching chamber 200 and the ice making chamber 300. In the vegetable compartment 400, for example, vegetables and a large-capacity PET bottle are stored. The freezing room 500 is arranged below the vegetable room 400. The freezing chamber 500 is arranged at the bottom of the heat insulating box body 90. The freezing chamber 500 is used when the stored object is stored frozen for a relatively long period of time.

A refrigerating room door 7 for opening and closing the refrigerating room 100 is provided on the front portion of the refrigerating room 100. The refrigerator compartment door 7 is, for example, a double door type rotary door. The double door type refrigerator compartment door 7 is composed of a right door 7a and a left door 7b. An operation panel 6 is provided on the outer surface of the refrigerator compartment door 7. In the configuration example shown in FIG. 1, the operation panel 6 is provided on the left door 7b.

The switching chamber 200, the ice making chamber 300, the vegetable compartment 400, and the freezing chamber 500 are opened and closed by, for example, drawer-type doors, respectively. These drawer-type doors can slide in the depth direction of the refrigerator 1 along rails formed horizontally on the left and right inner wall surfaces of each storage chamber. The user of the refrigerator 1 opens and closes the switching chamber 200, the ice making chamber 300, the vegetable compartment 400, and the freezing chamber 500 by sliding the drawer-type door.

Specifically, the vegetable compartment 400 is opened and closed by the vegetable compartment door 9. The refrigerator 1 includes a vegetable compartment door switch 21. The vegetable compartment door switch 21 is for detecting the open / closed state of the vegetable compartment door 9. The vegetable compartment door switch 21 is provided at a position facing the vegetable compartment door 9 at the edge of the front opening of the vegetable compartment 400. The vegetable compartment door switch 21 is, for example, a general magnet type switch. That is, the vegetable compartment door switch 21 of this example detects the proximity of the magnet embedded in the vegetable compartment door 9 by the reed switch installed in the heat insulating box 90 on the main body side of the refrigerator 1.

A vegetable compartment storage case that can store food and the like may be provided in the vegetable compartment 400. The vegetable compartment storage case is, for example, retractably stored in the vegetable compartment 400. In this case, the vegetable compartment storage case is supported by a frame provided on the vegetable compartment door 9. The vegetable compartment storage case is pulled out in conjunction with the vegetable compartment door 9.

The number of storage chambers provided in the refrigerator 1, the arrangement of the storage chambers, the configuration of the door for opening and closing the storage chambers, and the like are not limited to the examples described above. For example, the door for opening and closing the refrigerator compartment 100 may be a sliding type. Further, the door for opening and closing the switching chamber 200, the ice making chamber 300, the vegetable compartment 400 and the freezing chamber 500 may be rotary.

The refrigerator 1 includes a compressor 2, a cooler 3, a blower fan 4, an air passage 5, and the like as a freezing mechanism for cooling the air supplied to each storage chamber. The compressor 2 and the cooler 3 form a refrigeration cycle with a condenser, a squeezing device, and the like (not shown). The compressor 2 compresses and discharges the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle. The condenser condenses the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 2. The squeezing device expands the refrigerant flowing out of the condenser. The cooler 3 cools the air supplied to each storage chamber by the refrigerant expanded by the drawing device. The compressor 2 is arranged at the lower part on the back side of the refrigerator 1, for example, as shown in FIG.

The air passage 5 is for supplying the air cooled by the refrigeration cycle to each storage chamber. The air passage 5 is formed inside the heat insulating box body 90. The air passage 5 is arranged on the back side of the refrigerator 1, for example. The cooler 3 constituting the refrigeration cycle is installed in the air passage 5. Further, in the air passage 5, a blower fan 4 for sending the air cooled by the cooler 3 to each storage chamber is also installed.

When the blower fan 4 operates, the air cooled by the cooler 3, that is, cold air, is sent to the freezing chamber 500, the switching chamber 200, the ice making chamber 300, and the refrigerating chamber 100 through the air passage 5. As a result, each storage chamber of the freezing chamber 500, the switching chamber 200, the ice making chamber 300, and the refrigerating chamber 100 is cooled. Further, the cold air returned from the refrigerator compartment 100 is introduced into the vegetable compartment 400 through an air passage (not shown). As a result, the inside of the vegetable compartment 400 is cooled. The air that has passed through the vegetable compartment 400 is returned to the air passage 5 in which the cooler 3 is installed. The air returned into the air passage 5 is cooled again by the cooler 3 and circulates in the refrigerator 1.

Further, a damper is provided in the middle of the passage from the air passage 5 to each storage chamber. This damper is not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. By changing the open / closed state of each damper, the amount of cold air supplied to each storage chamber is adjusted. The amount of cold air supplied to the storage chamber is also adjusted by controlling the operation of the blower fan 4. Further, the temperature of the air supplied to each storage chamber is adjusted by controlling the operation of the compressor 2.

Each storage room is equipped with a thermistor that detects the internal temperature. The damper, the blower fan 4, and the compressor 2 described above are controlled based on the detection result of the thermistor. The damper, the blower fan 4, and the compressor 2 are controlled so that the temperature in each storage chamber becomes a preset set temperature. In this embodiment, the refrigeration cycle circuit including the compressor 2 and the cooler 3 provided as described above, the blower fan 4, the air passage 5, and the damper are examples of cooling means for cooling the inside of the storage chamber. is there.

Of the thermistors in each storage room, the vegetable room thermistor 22 is installed in the vegetable room 400. The vegetable compartment thermistor 22 is a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature inside the vegetable compartment 400. In the configuration example shown in FIG. 2, the vegetable compartment thermistor 22 is attached to the back surface inside the vegetable compartment 400. In addition, a vegetable room humidity sensor 23 is also attached to the back portion inside the vegetable room 400. The vegetable room humidity sensor 23 is a humidity detecting means for detecting the humidity in the vegetable room 400. The vegetable room thermistor 22 outputs a signal according to the detection result of the temperature in the vegetable room 400. Further, the vegetable room humidity sensor 23 outputs a signal according to the detection result of the humidity in the vegetable room 400.

The refrigerator 1 of this embodiment includes an ultraviolet irradiation device 10. The ultraviolet irradiation device 10 is attached to the back surface inside the vegetable compartment 400. The ultraviolet irradiation device 10 can irradiate the inside of the vegetable compartment 400, which is a storage chamber, with light. The light emitted by the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 is light including wavelengths in the ultraviolet light region. Specifically, the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 irradiates light having a wavelength of 315 nm or more and 400 nm or less, that is, so-called UV-A. In particular, it is preferable that the spectrum of the light irradiated by the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 has a peak in the wavelength range of 315 nm or more and 400 nm or less. The ultraviolet irradiation device 10 of this embodiment is an ultraviolet irradiation means for irradiating the inside of the vegetable compartment 400, which is a storage chamber, with light including a wavelength in the ultraviolet light region.

If there is a vegetable compartment storage case in the vegetable compartment 400, a window is provided in the vegetable compartment storage case. The window portion is arranged on the back surface of the vegetable compartment storage case at a portion facing the ultraviolet irradiation device 10. The ultraviolet irradiation device 10 can irradiate the inside of the vegetable compartment storage case with ultraviolet light through the window portion. A material having a property of transmitting ultraviolet light emitted from an ultraviolet irradiation device may be used for at least a portion corresponding to a window portion of the vegetable compartment storage case.

The position of the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 is not limited to the back surface in the vegetable compartment 400. If the vegetables in the vegetable compartment 400 can be irradiated with light containing ultraviolet rays, the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 may be installed on the ceiling surface, floor surface, or the like in the vegetable compartment 400. Further, the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 may be installed at a plurality of locations in the vegetable compartment 400.

The refrigerator 1 includes a control device 8. The control device 8 is provided on the upper portion of the refrigerator 1 on the back side, for example, as shown in FIG. The control device 8 is provided with a control circuit or the like for controlling the operation of the refrigerator 1. Each function of the control device 8 is realized by this control circuit.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram functionally showing the main configuration of the control system of the refrigerator 1 according to this embodiment. The control circuit of the control device 8 includes, for example, a processor 8a and a memory 8b. The control device 8 controls the refrigerator 1 by executing a preset process by the processor 8a executing the program stored in the memory 8b.

The processor 8a is also referred to as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a central processing unit, a processing unit, an arithmetic unit, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or a DSP. The memory 8b includes, for example, non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memories such as RAM, ROM, flash memory, EPROM and EEPROM, magnetic disks, flexible disks, optical disks, compact disks, mini disks, DVDs and the like.

The control circuit of the control device 8 may be formed as dedicated hardware, for example. A part of the control circuit of the control device 8 may be formed as dedicated hardware, and the control circuit may be provided with the processor 8a and the memory 8b. The control circuit, which is partially formed as dedicated hardware, includes, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof. To do.

The operation panel 6 includes an operation unit 6a and a display unit 6b. The operation unit 6a is an operation switch or the like for setting the cold insulation temperature or the like of each storage chamber. The display unit 6b is a liquid crystal display unit that displays various information such as the temperature of each storage chamber. The operation panel 6 may include a touch panel that also serves as an operation unit 6a and a display unit 6b. The operation unit 6a outputs a signal corresponding to the operation of the operation unit 6a by the user to the control device 8. Then, a signal from the operation unit 6a of the operation panel 6 is input to the control device 8. Further, the control device 8 outputs a display signal to the display unit 6b of the operation panel 6 to control the operation of the display unit 6b.

A signal is input to the control device 8 from a thermistor that detects the temperature inside each storage chamber including the vegetable chamber thermistor 22. A signal from the vegetable compartment door switch 21 is also input to the control device 8. Based on the input signal, the control device 8 executes a process of controlling the operation of the compressor 2 and the blower fan 4, the opening degree of each damper, and the like so that each storage chamber is maintained at a set temperature. To do. Note that FIG. 3 shows only the vegetable room thermistor 22 among the thermistors in each storage room.

A signal from the vegetable room humidity sensor 23 is also input to the control device 8. Then, the control device 8 outputs a control signal to the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 to control the light emitting operation of the ultraviolet irradiation device 10. In particular, the control device 8 of this embodiment changes the irradiation amount of light emitted from the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 based on the input signal from the vegetable room thermistor 22 and the input signal from the vegetable room humidity sensor 23. .. Therefore, the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 which is an ultraviolet irradiation means changes the amount of light irradiation according to the temperature and humidity in the vegetable chamber 400 which is a storage chamber.

Specifically, in the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment, the control device 8 changes the irradiation amount of light emitted from the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 depending on whether or not a preset determination condition is satisfied. Here, the determination condition is that the time during which the temperature in the vegetable compartment 400 is within the reference temperature range continues for the reference time or more, and the humidity in the vegetable compartment 400 is below the reference humidity.

Each reference value under this determination condition, that is, a reference temperature range, a reference time, and a reference humidity is preset. The reference temperature range is preset in a fixed range centered on the set temperature of the vegetable compartment 400. Specifically, for example, if the set temperature of the vegetable compartment 400 is 6 ° C., the reference temperature range is set in advance to 6 ° C. ± 2 ° C., that is, 4 ° C. or higher and 8 ° C. or lower. This reference temperature range can be changed by changing the set temperature of the vegetable compartment 400, for example, by operating the operation panel 6. However, the reference temperature range is set in advance in the sense that it is set prior to the determination of whether or not the determination condition by the control device 8 is satisfied. The reference time is, for example, 30 minutes. The reference humidity is, for example, 70% relative humidity.

The control device 8 controls the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 so that the irradiation amount of the light emitted from the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 becomes the first irradiation amount when the determination condition set in this way is not satisfied. Then, the control device 8 controls the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 so that the irradiation amount of the light emitted from the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 becomes the second irradiation amount when the above-mentioned determination condition is satisfied. The second irradiation dose is smaller than the first irradiation dose. Therefore, the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 which is an ultraviolet irradiation means irradiates the light of the first irradiation amount when the above-mentioned determination condition is not satisfied. Then, the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 irradiates a second irradiation amount of light smaller than the first irradiation amount when the above-mentioned determination condition is satisfied.

Specifically, for example, the first irradiation dose is 50 J / m ^ 2 · day or more and 10000 J / m ^ 2 · day or less, preferably 100 J / m ^ 2 · day or more and 10000 J / m ^ 2 · day or less, and more preferably. It is set to a value in the range of 200 J / m ^ 2 · day or more and 3000 J / m ^ 2 · day or less. The second irradiation dose is 10 J / m ^ 2 · day or more and 4000 J / m ^ 2 · day or less, preferably 10 J / m ^ 2 · day or more and 1000 J / m ^ 2 · day or less, and more preferably 10 J / m. It is set to a value in the range of ^ 2 · day or more and 300 J / m ^ 2 · day or less. The unit of the irradiation amount here is the amount of ultraviolet light energy per square meter and per day.

Here, the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 of this embodiment includes a UV-LED as a light source that emits ultraviolet rays. Then, in this embodiment, the control device 8 controls the input current value of the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 to the LED light source and the irradiation time of the light from the LED light source, thereby irradiating the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation device 10. Change the amount of light irradiation. The control device 8 may control not both the input current and the light irradiation time of the LED light source of the ultraviolet irradiation device 10, but only one of them. That is, the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 which is an ultraviolet irradiation means changes the irradiation amount of ultraviolet light by changing one or both of the input current and the light irradiation time.

Therefore, the control device 8 inputs the light emitted from the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 to the LED light source so that the irradiation amount of the light emitted from the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 becomes the first irradiation amount described above when the above-mentioned determination condition is not satisfied. Control one or both of the current value and the irradiation time of the light from the LED light source. Then, the control device 8 sets the input current value to the LED light source of the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 so that the irradiation amount of the light emitted from the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 becomes the second irradiation amount when the above-mentioned determination condition is satisfied. And one or both of the irradiation times of light from the LED light source are controlled.

In the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment, for example, the user operates the operation panel 6 to switch on / off the irradiation of ultraviolet light into the vegetable compartment 400. In this case, when the operation unit 6a of the operation panel 6 is turned on for ultraviolet light irradiation (UV irradiation), the control device 8 starts irradiation of ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet irradiation device 10. Further, when the operation unit 6a of the operation panel 6 is turned off from the ultraviolet light irradiation (UV irradiation), the control device 8 stops the irradiation of the ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet irradiation device 10.

Further, the control device 8 may automatically start and stop the irradiation of ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 according to the opening and closing of the vegetable compartment door 9. In this case, the control device 8 stops the irradiation of ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 while the vegetable room door switch 21 detects that the vegetable room door 9 is open. That is, under the control of the control device 8, the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 stops the irradiation of light while the vegetable room door switch 21 detects that the vegetable room door 9 is open.

Then, the control device 8 starts the irradiation of ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 after the vegetable room door switch 21 detects that the vegetable room door 9 is closed. That is, under the control of the control device 8, the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 starts irradiating light after the vegetable room door switch 21 detects that the vegetable room door 9 is closed. In addition, "the vegetable room door 9 is closed" here means that the vegetable room door 9 has changed from the open state to the closed state.

By doing so, the user does not forget to turn on / off the UV irradiation. Further, by starting the irradiation of the ultraviolet light after the vegetable room door switch 21 detects that the vegetable room door 9 is closed, the ultraviolet light is not irradiated in the state where the vegetable room door 9 is open. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the ultraviolet light from directly or reflecting and hitting the user.

Depending on the usage status of the refrigerator 1, vegetables may not be stored in the vegetable compartment 400, only PET bottles and the like may be stored, or only vegetables that can be consumed every day may be stored in the vegetable compartment 400. In such a case, since it is not necessary to irradiate the inside of the vegetable compartment 400 with ultraviolet rays, the user can operate the operation panel 6 to disable the function of irradiating the inside of the vegetable compartment 400 with ultraviolet light. You may.

Next, an example of the operation related to the ultraviolet light irradiation control from the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 included in the refrigerator 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. For example, when the operation unit 6a of the operation panel 6 is turned on for UV irradiation, first, in step S1, the control device 8 starts irradiation of ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet irradiation device 10. At this time, the control device 8 sets the input current value of the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 to the LED light source as the current value A1. Further, the control device 8 sets the irradiation time of the light from the LED light source to the time T1. The current value A1 and the time T1 are values adjusted so that the irradiation amount of the light emitted from the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 becomes the first irradiation amount described above.

In the following step S2, the control device 8 determines whether or not the temperature inside the refrigerator is stable, that is, whether or not the detected value of the temperature inside the vegetable compartment 400 by the vegetable compartment thermistor 22 is stable. Whether or not the temperature inside the refrigerator is stable is whether or not the time during which the temperature inside the vegetable chamber 400 is within the above-mentioned reference temperature range among the above-mentioned determination conditions continues for the above-mentioned reference time or longer. It corresponds to that.

When the time during which the temperature in the vegetable chamber 400 detected by the vegetable chamber thermistor 22 is within the above-mentioned reference temperature range does not continue for the above-mentioned reference time or more, the first irradiation amount from the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 in step S1. The operation of irradiating light with is continued. On the other hand, if the time during which the temperature in the vegetable chamber 400 detected by the vegetable chamber thermistor 22 is within the above-mentioned reference temperature range is continuously stable for the above-mentioned reference time or longer, the control device 8 is in the next step S3. Perform processing.

In step S3, the control device 8 determines whether or not the humidity in the vegetable room 400 detected by the vegetable room humidity sensor 23 is equal to or less than the above-mentioned reference humidity Rh1. When the humidity in the vegetable chamber 400 detected by the vegetable chamber humidity sensor 23 is not equal to or less than the above-mentioned reference humidity Rh1, the operation of irradiating light with the first irradiation amount from the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 in step S1 is continued. On the other hand, when the humidity in the vegetable room 400 detected by the vegetable room humidity sensor 23 is equal to or less than the above-mentioned reference humidity Rh1, the control device 8 performs the process of the next step S4.

In step S4, since the above-mentioned determination condition is satisfied, the control device 8 changes the input current value of the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 to the LED light source to the current value A2. Further, the control device 8 changes the irradiation time of the light from the LED light source to the time T2. The current value A2 and the time T2 are values adjusted so that the irradiation amount of the light emitted from the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 becomes the second irradiation amount described above.

In the following step S5, it is determined whether or not the operation unit 6a of the control device 8 and the operation panel 6 has been turned off by UV irradiation. If the UV irradiation off operation is not performed, the control device 8 returns to the determination process in step S3. If the UV irradiation is turned off, the control device 8 performs the process of the next step S6.

In step S6, the control device 8 stops the irradiation of ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet irradiation device 10. When step S6 is completed, the series of operations is completed.

Next, the expected action of the ultraviolet light irradiation from the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 as described above will be described. First, ultraviolet rays that are generally considered to have the effect of directly injuring and killing microorganisms such as fungi are ultraviolet rays in a relatively short wavelength region such as UV-B and UV-C. .. However, ultraviolet rays of these wavelengths have a great influence on the human body, and it is not desirable to use the refrigerator 1 in an exposed state in a space that the user of the refrigerator 1 is exposed to on a daily basis. On the other hand, UV-A, which has a longer wavelength than UV-B and UV-C, has an extremely small effect on the human body as compared with UV-B and UV-C. However, unlike UV-B and UV-C, which act directly on the bacteria, UV-A has the effect of strengthening the resistance of the vegetables themselves to the bacteria and suppressing the growth of the bacteria.

Here, most of the bacteria involved in food poisoning are classified as medium-temperature microorganisms. The optimum temperature for growth of medium-temperature microorganisms is 37 ° C, and the minimum temperature for growth is 5 to 7 ° C. The temperature of the environment for storing general vegetables at a low temperature, including the vegetable compartment 400 of the refrigerator 1, is about the same as the minimum growth temperature. Therefore, most of the bacteria related to food poisoning can grow even in the vegetable compartment 400 of the refrigerator 1.

In addition, the temperature of the vegetables is the outdoor outside air temperature or the living space temperature of a person at the time of purchase, and is considered to be 20 ° C. or higher. If this temperature continues for a long time, the growth of microorganisms is activated on the surface of vegetables and putrefaction progresses. When vegetables are put into the vegetable compartment 400, cooling starts, but the cooling proceeds slowly due to the heat capacity of the vegetables themselves. Therefore, the inside of the vegetable compartment 400 is not stable at the set temperature, and the vegetables in the vegetable compartment 400 are not sufficiently cooled, that is, the time during which the temperature in the vegetable compartment 400 is within the above-mentioned reference temperature range. However, in the situation where the vegetables in the vegetable compartment 400 are not sufficiently cooled for more than the above-mentioned reference time, the growth of microorganisms is more likely to proceed than in the situation where the vegetables in the vegetable compartment 400 are stable at the set temperature. ..

Environmental humidity also affects the growth of microorganisms. That is, if the humidity of the environment is low, the growth of microorganisms is suppressed. Specifically, although it depends on the type, a relative humidity of 70 to 80% or more is required for general mold to grow. However, the varieties that can cope with the drier state can grow even at a humidity of 60%.

Therefore, in the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment, the irradiation amount of ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 is changed according to the temperature and humidity in the vegetable chamber 400, so that the inside of the vegetable chamber 400, which is a storage chamber, is used. It is possible to irradiate ultraviolet light with an appropriate irradiation amount according to the ease of growth of microorganisms in the environment, suppress unnecessary ultraviolet light irradiation, reduce energy consumption, and reduce bacteria, etc. inside the storage chamber. The growth of microorganisms can be effectively suppressed. Then, it is possible to keep the inside of the refrigerator hygienic and improve the storage stability of food.

Further, by irradiating the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 with UV-A having a peak wavelength of 315 nm or more and 400 nm or less, deterioration of resin parts, food packaging materials, etc. in the vegetable compartment 400 can be prevented from occurring. That is, it is possible to suppress the growth of bacteria while suppressing the deterioration of the plastic resin and the like used for the refrigerator 1 and the packaging material of the stored items. Further, even if the ultraviolet light irradiated by the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 leaks to the outside from the vegetable compartment 400 which is opened and closed relatively frequently, the influence on the human body can be extremely reduced.

Further, the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 can irradiate different irradiation amounts of light with a single light source by changing the light irradiation amount by changing one or both of the input current and the light irradiation time. It is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost.

As the temperature detecting means described above, instead of the vegetable room thermistor 22, an infrared sensor capable of non-contactly detecting the temperature of the food in the vegetable room 400 is provided, and the temperature of the food in the vegetable room 400 detected by the infrared sensor is provided. May be used to determine the temperature stabilization condition of the above-mentioned determination condition. Further, the temperature stabilization condition may be determined by using the vegetable room thermistor 22 and the infrared sensor in combination.

Further, the configuration in which the irradiation amount of light from the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 described above is divided into two stages of the first irradiation amount and the second irradiation amount according to the determination conditions depends on the temperature and humidity in the vegetable chamber 400. This is an example of changing the irradiation dose. Therefore, not limited to this, for example, when both the temperature stabilization condition and the humidity condition of the above-mentioned determination condition are not satisfied for the irradiation amount of light from the ultraviolet irradiation device 10, only the temperature stabilization condition of the above-mentioned determination condition is satisfied. In this case, when only the humidity condition of the above-mentioned determination condition is satisfied, the change may be made in four stages when both the temperature stabilization condition and the humidity condition of the above-mentioned determination condition are satisfied.

Further, the above-mentioned second irradiation amount, that is, the input current value A2 of the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 and the irradiation time T2 may be adjusted according to the above-mentioned reference humidity Rh1 value of the above-mentioned determination condition. Specifically, for example, if the reference humidity Rh1 is set to a humidity such as a relative humidity of 40% where almost all microorganisms do not grow, the input current value A2 and the irradiation time T2 are set to 0, and the above-mentioned second irradiation amount is set to 0. That is, the irradiation of light from the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 can be stopped.

Further, the storage room in which the ultraviolet irradiation device 10 is installed is not limited to the vegetable room 400 illustrated in the above description. An ultraviolet irradiation device 10 may be provided in, for example, a refrigerating room 100, a chilled room 110, or the like, in addition to the storage room and the vegetable room 400 in which vegetables, fruits, and the like are permanently stored.

1 Refrigerator 2 Compressor 3 Cooler 4 Blower fan 5 Air passage 6 Operation panel 6a Operation unit 6b Display unit 7 Refrigerator room door 7a Right door 7b Left door 8 Control device 9 Vegetable room door 10 Ultraviolet irradiation device 21 Vegetable room door switch 22 Vegetable room Thermista 23 Vegetable room humidity sensor 90 Insulation box body 100 Refrigerator room 110 Chilled room 200 Switching room 300 Ice making room 400 Vegetable room 500 Freezer room

Claims (5)

A storage room for storing food and
A temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature in the storage chamber and
Humidity detecting means for detecting the humidity in the storage chamber and
An ultraviolet irradiation means for irradiating the inside of the storage chamber with light including a wavelength in the ultraviolet light region is provided.
The ultraviolet irradiation means is a refrigerator that changes the amount of light irradiation according to the temperature and humidity in the storage chamber. The ultraviolet irradiation means
When the preset judgment condition is not satisfied, the light of the first irradiation amount is irradiated, and the light is irradiated.
When the determination condition is satisfied, a second irradiation amount of light smaller than the first irradiation amount is irradiated, and the light is irradiated.
The determination condition is that the time during which the temperature in the storage chamber is within the preset reference temperature range continues for the preset reference time or longer, and the humidity in the storage chamber is equal to or lower than the preset reference humidity. The refrigerator according to claim 1. The first irradiation amount is 50 J / m ^ 2 · day or more and 10000 J / m ^ 2 · day or less.
The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the second irradiation amount is 10 J / m ^ 2 · day or more and 4000 J / m ^ 2 · day or less. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the ultraviolet irradiation means irradiates light having a peak wavelength of 315 nm or more and 400 nm or less. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the ultraviolet irradiation means changes the amount of light irradiation by changing one or both of the input current and the light irradiation time.

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