JP4749187B2 - Cooling storage - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cold storage such as a refrigerator that stores objects to be cooled, such as refrigerated foods and frozen foods, in a refrigerator.

  In a cooling storage such as a household refrigerator, quick freezing cannot be performed due to the cooling capacity of the refrigerator, and in general, freezing is performed slowly.

  Thus, if freezing is performed slowly, the ice crystal | crystallization of the water | moisture content in a foodstuff may become large and may destroy the cell membrane of a foodstuff. As a result, the umami component of food flows out as a drip when thawing.

Further, for example, there is a utility model in which the inside of the cooling storage is made an electrostatic field atmosphere so as not to freeze as in Utility Model Registration No. 3101162 (Patent Document 1). There is a need to. Therefore, power consumption increases and running cost increases.
Utility Model Registration No. 3101162

  The problem to be solved is that when the object to be cooled such as food is stored at a low temperature (below the solidification temperature), the ice crystals of water in the object to be cooled become large and destroy the cell membrane.

Cooling storage of the present invention, it is possible to irradiate ultrasonic waves towards the object to be cooled (28), comprising an ultrasonic generator can be changed to the intensity (31) the intensity of the irradiation, the freezing temperature The ultrasonic generator is operated at a high temperature zone to irradiate the object to be cooled with ultrasonic waves having a weak irradiation intensity , and then the ultrasonic generator is stopped and the temperature of the object to be cooled is set below the solidification temperature. also reduced, then the irradiated ultrasound robust illumination intensity to rapidly freezing than the irradiation intensity of the ultrasonic wave of the weak irradiation intensity toward the object to be cooled by operating the ultrasonic generator.

Further, non-contact temperature sensor (29) and for measuring the temperature of the object to be cooled, the controller signals the non-contact temperature sensor is input (36) is provided, ultrasonic weak radiation intensity from the ultrasonic generator Means for cooling the object to be cooled so that the temperature of the object to be cooled detected by the non-contact temperature sensor is maintained at a substantially constant temperature (17, 19, 22). May be controlled.

And a to-be-cooled object may be put in the store | warehouse | chamber (2) in the state accommodated in the airtight container (27).
The non-contact temperature sensor may be installed in the sealed container.

Furthermore, the sealed container may be protected by a cushion material (26) that blocks vibration from the cooling storage body.

  According to the present invention, the ultrasonic generator is operated in a temperature range higher than the solidification temperature to irradiate the object to be cooled with weak ultrasonic waves to subdivide the clusters in the object to be cooled, and then the ultrasonic generator Since the temperature of the object to be cooled is lower than the solidification temperature, the temperature of the object to be cooled is greatly reduced in a supercooled state where freezing is not performed, and then the ultrasonic generator is operated to operate the object to be cooled. Rapid freezing can be performed by irradiating strong ultrasonic waves toward. As a result, when the supercooled state is released by stimulation of strong ultrasonic irradiation, the object to be cooled can be rapidly frozen, and the water ice crystals in the object to be cooled are prevented from becoming large. Can do.

  Furthermore, a non-contact temperature sensor such as an infrared sensor that measures the temperature of the object to be cooled and a control device to which a signal of the non-contact temperature sensor is input are provided, and weak ultrasonic waves are emitted from the ultrasonic generator. In this case, the control device controls the means for cooling the object to be cooled so that the temperature of the object to be cooled detected by the non-contact temperature sensor is maintained at a substantially constant temperature. The temperature of the object to be cooled can be accurately measured without damaging the object, and the temperature of the object to be cooled is maintained at a substantially constant temperature, so that the entire object to be cooled is cooled to a substantially uniform temperature. can do.

And since the to-be-cooled object is stored in the closed container, it is placed in the warehouse, so that the object to be cooled is not directly exposed to wind, and the temperature difference between the inside and the surface of the to-be-cooled object is minimized. be able to. As a result, the object to be cooled can be brought to a uniform temperature, and the temperature of the object to be cooled can be measured more accurately.

In addition, since the non-contact temperature sensor is installed in the sealed container, the non-contact temperature sensor and the object to be cooled are not exposed to cold air, compared to the case where the non-contact temperature sensor is installed outside the container. The temperature of the object to be cooled can be measured more accurately without being affected by the above.

Furthermore, since the airtight container is protected by a cushioning material that cuts off vibrations from the cooling storage body, it is possible to prevent vibrations from equipment such as a compressor and a blower of the cooling storage from being applied to the object to be cooled as much as possible. Can do. As a result, when the object to be cooled is in a supercooled state, it is possible to prevent the object to be cooled from being inadvertently frozen by vibration from the device.

  When storing the object to be cooled, such as food, at a low temperature (below the solidification temperature), the object is to prevent as much as possible that the ice crystals of the water in the object to be cooled become large and the cell membrane is destroyed. An ultrasonic generator capable of irradiating strong and weak ultrasonic waves toward the object, and operating the ultrasonic generator in a temperature range higher than the solidification temperature to irradiate the object to be cooled with weak ultrasonic waves, and then The ultrasonic generator is stopped, the temperature of the object to be cooled is lowered below the solidification temperature, and then the ultrasonic generator is operated to irradiate the object to be cooled with strong ultrasonic waves to rapidly freeze. It was realized by letting.

  Next, an embodiment of the cooling storage according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the lower part of one embodiment of the cooling storage according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a time chart when the food is cooled. FIG. 3 is an input / output diagram of the control device. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for cooling the food. In FIG. 3, only main parts related to the cooling of the food are shown, and other parts not shown are also connected to the control device.

First, the overall configuration of the cooling storage will be described.
In FIG. 1, the main body of the refrigerator which is a cooling storage is comprised with the heat insulation box 1 which the front surface opened. The interior space of the heat insulation box 1, that is, the interior 2, is partitioned into a plurality by a substantially horizontal heat insulation partition wall 3. And the front opening of the heat insulation box 1 is obstruct | occluded so that opening and closing is possible by the heat insulation door (not shown).

  The cooler 16 and the cooler blower 17 are disposed in the ventilation duct 18. When the cooler blower 17 operates, the air cooled by the cooler 16 is supplied to the interior 2 from the air outlet 18a of the ventilation duct 18 as shown by the arrows, and the air in the interior 2 is It returns to the ventilation duct 18 from the inlet 18b of the ventilation duct 18, and is cooled by the cooler 16 while the air in the warehouse 2 circulates. The air volume of the cool air to the inside 2 is adjusted by the damper 19.

  Further, a machine room 21 is formed below the rear portion of the heat insulating box 1, and a compressor 22 and the like are disposed in the machine room 21. The compressor 22 constitutes a refrigeration cycle together with the above-described cooler 16 and a condenser (not shown). When the compressor 22 operates, the refrigerant circulates in the refrigeration cycle, and the temperature of the cooler 16 decreases.

  An airtight container 27 is placed on the shelf 24 in the warehouse 2 via a cushion material 26. The inner surface of the container 27 is not damaged, and a food product 28 such as meat, which is an object to be cooled, stored at a low temperature is stored in the container 27. In the container 27, a temperature sensor 29 for an object to be cooled, which is a non-contact temperature sensor such as an infrared sensor for measuring the temperature of the food 28, is provided. Further, the container 27 is provided with an ultrasonic generator 31 which is a cluster fragmentation device. The ultrasonic generator 31 irradiates the food 28 with ultrasonic waves. The intensity of this irradiation can be changed between strong and weak.

  In FIG. 3, the cooling storage is provided with a control device 36 for controlling equipment such as the refrigerator, the damper 19, and the ultrasonic generator 31 composed of the cooler blower 17 and the compressor 22. It has been. The control device 36 is configured by a microcomputer or the like, and in particular, a signal from the temperature sensor 29 for the object to be cooled is input regarding the cooling of the food 28. In addition, drive signals are output from the control device 36 to the cooler blower 17, the compressor 22, the damper 19, the ultrasonic generator 31, and the like. Various setting values are stored in the storage unit (EPROM, RAM, etc.) of the control device 36, and a timer is incorporated.

  Regarding the low temperature preservation of the food 28 of the cooling storage of this embodiment, the set value set in the storage unit of the control device 36 is a uniformization for cooling the food 28 to a substantially uniform temperature at a temperature higher than the solidification temperature. There are provided a set temperature for supercooling that gives a stimulus and rapidly freezes in a supercooled state lower than the set temperature for use and the solidification temperature, and a set temperature for cold preservation for storing the food 28. Note that the set temperature for cold insulation can be the same value as the set temperature for supercooling.

Next, the flow at the time of cooling the food 28 is demonstrated based on the time chart of FIG. 2, and the flowchart of FIG.
When the food 28 is cooled, the food 28 is stored in a container 27 and sealed. And this container 27 is mounted on the shelf 24 of the inside 2 via the cushion material 26. Next, the temperature sensor 29 for the object to be cooled and the ultrasonic generator 31 are connected to a power source (not shown) and the controller 36 by wire or wirelessly. Further, the control device 36 operates a refrigerator (means for cooling the object to be cooled) composed of the compressor 22, the cooler blower 17, and the like.

  In step 1, the control device 36 operates the ultrasonic generator 31 and goes to step 2.

  In step 2, the control device 36 is a damper as a means for cooling the object to be cooled so that the temperature of the food 28 detected by the object temperature sensor 29 becomes a set temperature for homogenization (for example, 2 ° C.). 19 is adjusted. At first, since the temperature of the food 28 is high, the opening degree of the damper 19 is large. However, as the temperature of the food substance 28 is lowered, the opening degree of the damper 19 becomes small. And when the foodstuff 28 becomes substantially uniform temperature, the opening degree of the damper 19 will be stabilized and will be in a substantially constant state. In step 3, if this constant state continues for a predetermined time, the control device 36 determines that the temperature has become substantially uniform up to the inside of the food 28, and goes to step 4.

  In step 4, the control device 36 stops the ultrasonic generator 31 and goes to step 5. In step 5, the control device 36 fully opens the damper 19, rapidly decreases the temperature of the food 28, and goes to step 6.

  In step 6, when the temperature of the food 28 detected by the to-be-cooled object temperature sensor 29 reaches the supercooling set temperature (for example, −10 ° C.), the control device 36 operates the ultrasonic generator 31. The ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic generator 31 at this time is stronger irradiation than that in step 1. Then, the food 28 rapidly freezes due to ultrasonic stimulation. Then go to step 7.

In step 7, the control device 36 adjusts the opening degree of the damper 19 so that the temperature of the food 28 detected by the temperature sensor 29 for the object to be cooled becomes a set temperature for cold preservation (for example, −9 ° C.). In step 8, the control device 36 stops the ultrasonic generator 31 and ends the irradiation of ultrasonic waves for a predetermined time.

In this way, the control device as the control means is 1) means for operating the ultrasonic generator in a temperature range higher than the solidification temperature and irradiating weak ultrasonic waves toward the object to be cooled, and 2) thereafter ultrasonic waves. Means for stopping the generator and lowering the temperature of the object to be cooled below the solidification temperature; 3) Next, means for operating the ultrasonic generator and irradiating the object to be cooled with strong ultrasonic waves for rapid freezing Etc.
In addition to the above means, the control means includes means for executing each process corresponding to each process to be executed. Further, it is not always necessary to have all the above means.

  In this embodiment, the moisture cluster of the food 28 is reduced by the ultrasonic generator 31 in a temperature range higher than the solidification temperature. By the way, if the food 28 has a large water cluster, the water easily solidifies with the large cluster as a nucleus. Therefore, when the temperature of the food 28 is lowered below the solidification temperature, the water starts to freeze immediately. And after that, since ice is slowly formed, the crystal of ice becomes large. On the other hand, when the ultrasonic wave is weakly irradiated as in this embodiment, even if the temperature of the food 28 is lowered below the solidification temperature, the moisture does not freeze easily and the temperature of the supercooled state is lowered. Can do. For this reason, when a stimulus (strong irradiation of ultrasonic waves) is applied to the supercooled food 28 and freezing is started, rapid freezing is performed with the cooling energy accumulated in the food 28 and the ice crystals are reduced.

As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to the said Example, A various change is performed within the range of the summary of this invention described in the claim. It is possible. Examples of modifications of the present invention are illustrated below.
(1) Although the intensity of ultrasonic irradiation from the ultrasonic generator 31 can be changed between strong and weak, the intensity of the irradiation can be changed continuously, and can be either strong or weak. It can also be changed only. If it can be changed continuously, the strength can be set to an optimum value according to the characteristics and weight of the object to be cooled.
(2) The object to be cooled is not necessarily the food 28.

(3) The order of the steps in each flowchart can be changed as appropriate.
(4) The control means is composed of a microcomputer, but other configurations are possible.
(5) The cooling of the food 28 can be selected as appropriate as long as the temperature of the food 28 can be stabilized, such as damper control or air flow control (that is, the air flow of the cooler blower 17 is controlled by the control device 36). It is. Moreover, if the temperature of the foodstuff 28 can be stabilized, the damper 19 and the air blower 17 for a cooler are not necessarily required.

(6) In order to make the food 28 a uniform temperature at a temperature slightly higher than the solidification temperature, in the above embodiment, the set temperature for homogenization is set. The temperature can be changed automatically or manually (operation of a setting button or the like). It is also possible to automatically determine whether or not the temperature of the food 28 has become uniform based on the cooling speed of the food 28 or the like. Furthermore, although the set temperature and the like are shown as examples, the set temperature and the like can be changed as appropriate.
(7) In order to set the frequency of the ultrasonic wave emitted from the ultrasonic wave generator 31 in step 1 to a value suitable for the food 28, the frequency of the ultrasonic wave emitted from the ultrasonic wave generator 31 is set automatically or manually. It is possible to change with.

(8) If the temperature sensor 29 for a to-be-cooled object can measure the temperature of the foodstuff 28, the structure and form can be selected suitably. However, it is preferable to use a non-contact temperature sensor such as an infrared sensor because the temperature of the food 28 can be accurately measured without damaging the food 28.
(9) Compared with the case where the ultrasonic wave is not irradiated, when the food item 28 is irradiated with the ultrasonic wave, even if the temperature of the food item 28 is lowered below the solidification temperature, the water is not frozen, and the temperature is in the supercooled state. If it can be lowered, it is not always necessary to prove that the moisture clusters of the food 28 are subdivided by ultrasonic irradiation.

  The ultrasonic generator can divide the clusters in the object to be cooled by irradiating the object to be cooled with weak ultrasonic waves in a temperature range higher than the solidification temperature. Since the object to be cooled is difficult to freeze due to the subdivision of the clusters, the object to be cooled can be cooled to a low temperature in a supercooled state, and then rapidly frozen by applying a strong ultrasonic stimulus. Therefore, it is most suitable to apply to the cooling storage which preserve | saves to-be-cooled objects, such as food, at low temperature.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the lower part of one embodiment of the cooling storage according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a time chart when the food is cooled. FIG. 3 is an input / output diagram of the control device. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for cooling the food.

Explanation of symbols

2 Inside 17 Fan for cooler (Means to cool the object to be cooled)
19 Damper (Means for cooling the object to be cooled)
22 Compressor (Means for cooling the object to be cooled)
26 Cushion material 27 Container 28 Food (object to be cooled)
29 Temperature sensor for object to be cooled (non-contact temperature sensor)
31 Ultrasonic generator 36 Control device

Claims (5)

An ultrasonic generator capable of irradiating ultrasonic waves toward the object to be cooled and capable of changing the intensity of the irradiation to strong or weak ,
The ultrasonic generator is operated in a temperature zone higher than the solidification temperature to irradiate the object to be cooled with ultrasonic waves of weak irradiation intensity , and then the ultrasonic generator is stopped and the temperature of the object to be cooled is decreased. than the freezing temperature is lowered, then the be rapidly frozen by ultrasonic irradiation of strong radiation intensity than the irradiation intensity of the ultrasonic wave of the weak irradiation intensity toward the object to be cooled by operating the ultrasonic generator Cooling storage that features. A non-contact temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the object to be cooled, and a control device to which a signal of the non-contact temperature sensor is input;
The control device is configured to maintain the temperature of the object to be cooled detected by the non-contact temperature sensor at a substantially constant temperature while irradiating the ultrasonic wave with the weak irradiation intensity from the ultrasonic generator. The cooling storage according to claim 1, wherein a means for cooling an object is controlled. The cooling storage according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the object to be cooled is placed in a warehouse in a state of being housed in an airtight container. The said non-contact temperature sensor is installed in the said airtight container, The cooling storehouse of Claim 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. 5. The cooling storage according to claim 3, wherein the sealed container is protected by a cushion material that blocks vibrations from the cooling storage body.

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