JP5251230B2 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly to a refrigerator in which cold air circulates between a storage room and a cooling means.

  In recent years, since various foods in various regions are stored in refrigerators, the need for deodorization and sterilization of foods stored in refrigerators is very high.・ For the purpose of deodorization, development of sterilization / deodorization equipment using various methods is in progress.

  As a conventional sterilization apparatus, there is a sterilization apparatus that disposes a filter in an air passage and performs sterilization / deodorization in the air passing through the filter (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Moreover, as a conventional sterilization apparatus using a photocatalyst, a filter-like member carrying titanium oxide is irradiated with ultraviolet rays, and an organic substance in the refrigerator is oxidized and decomposed by using a photocatalytic reaction. There are several methods, such as those that deodorize.

  Hereinafter, the conventional sterilization apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 14 is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of a conventional refrigerator in which a sterilization apparatus is mounted on the return air suction portion of the refrigerator compartment.

  The sterilization apparatus shown in FIG. 14 includes a sterilization filter 1, a deodorization filter 2, and an attachment frame 3. Here, the sterilization filter 1 is formed by mixing a zeolite composed of oxides of silicon, aluminum, sodium and the like into a honeycomb shape, and has a cell count of 100 to 250 cells / in 2 in relation to ventilation resistance. An aperture ratio of 70 to 80% and a thickness of about 8 mm are used.

  The deodorizing filter 2 is kneaded with manganese oxide and silicon or aluminum oxide and molded into a honeycomb shape. In this case, the number of cells and the aperture ratio are often almost the same as those of the sterilizing filter. The sterilizing filter 1 and the deodorizing filter 2 are integrally fixed by a mounting frame 3.

  In FIG. 14, a freezer compartment 5 is disposed at the top of the refrigerator, a refrigerator compartment 6 is disposed below the refrigerator compartment 5, and a cooler 11 is disposed on the back of the refrigerator compartment 5 and refrigerator compartment 6. Further, a cool air passage 9 is disposed in the heat insulating portion 8 between the freezer compartment 5 and the refrigerator compartment 6, and the cool air passage 9 has a deodorizing filter 1 on the suction portion 7 side and a deodorizing side on the back side of the disinfecting filter 1. The filter 2 is integrally provided.

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

  A part of the cold air generated by the cooler 11 flows into the freezer compartment 5, and a part of it flows into the refrigerator compartment 6 and other storage rooms below. The cold air circulated through each part goes from the return air suction part 7 to the cooler 11 through the cold air passage 9. At this time, the wind speed in the cool air passage 9 is about 0.5 m / sec.

  The cold air passing through the cold air passage 9 is sterilized and deodorized by a sterilization apparatus. Specifically, first, bacteria and mold spores are captured together with dust and dust by the sterilization filter 1, and chemical changes of odorous components are advanced by the deodorization filter 2 to perform deodorization.

As described above, downsizing is achieved by combining deodorizing and sterilizing filters, and by disposing the sterilizing / deodorizing filter in the cool air passage, sterilization / deodorizing can be efficiently performed with respect to the entire atmosphere in the refrigerator. . Therefore, a clean refrigerator free from germs and bad odor can be realized.
JP-A-5-157444

  However, in the above-described conventional configuration, the sterilization / deodorization filter is disposed so as to block the inside of the cool air return air passage, and therefore the air passage resistance in the longitudinal passage of the cold air is obtained. Therefore, in order to obtain a cooling performance equivalent to that without the filter, it is necessary to increase the ability of the fan 10 for forcibly circulating the cool air.

  However, increasing the fan's ability is not desirable because it goes against noise and energy saving problems.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems, and provides a refrigerator that can effectively eliminate bacteria and deodorize while suppressing pressure loss in the circulation path of cold air as much as possible. It is intended to provide.

In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the refrigerator of the present invention is constituted by a heat insulating material, a box body that forms a storage chamber therein, a door body that is attached to an opening of the box body so as to be openable and closable, Cooling means for cooling the air in the box body to generate cold air, a cold air circulation path for circulating the cold air between the storage chamber and the cooling means by a fan, and a photocatalyst supported in the cold air circulation path A sterilization apparatus having a carrier and irradiation means, and the carrier is arranged at a position facing the plurality of LEDs and arranged so that the cold air is blown from the left and right of the carrier. The carrier is irradiated with excitation light that excites the photocatalyst during a period in which the cold air flows around the carrier.

Thus , according to the refrigerator of the present invention, the cool air can be sterilized and deodorized efficiently by irradiating the support with excitation light during the period when the cool air flows around the support. In addition, it is possible to prevent the irradiation unit from being lit at all times, thereby saving energy and extending the lifetime of the irradiation unit.

  Further, the irradiating means is configured such that the ON / OFF of the power source for irradiating the excitation light of the irradiating means is synchronized with the ON / OFF of the power source for rotating the fan. The carrier may be irradiated with the excitation light during a period in which cool air is flowing around.

  Thereby, for example, when the sterilization apparatus is installed in a duct constituting a part of the cold air circulation path, only when the cold air forcedly sent by the fan flows around the carrier, The support is irradiated with excitation light.

  That is, the carrier is irradiated with excitation light only during the period when the cool air can be sterilized and deodorized most effectively, so that the cool air can be sterilized and deodorized more efficiently and effectively.

  Further, the irradiating means may further irradiate the carrier with the excitation light during a period in which the door is opened even when the fan is not rotating.

  In this way, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of condensation on the carrier and the irradiating means by irradiating the carrier with excitation light during the period when the door is open, which is a period during which outside air easily flows into the refrigerator. Can do.

  By suppressing the occurrence of condensation, it is possible to improve the reliability of the sterilization apparatus and the sterilization and deodorization efficiency.

  Further, the irradiating means may be configured such that the power source for the irradiation of the excitation light of the irradiating means is in a state where the door body is closed and the power source for rotational driving of the fan is OFF. It is only OFF, and it is ON in other cases, so that the excitation light is irradiated to the carrier during the period when the fan is rotating and the door is opened. Good.

  In this way, by controlling the ON / OFF of the irradiation means according to the combination of the ON / OFF of the fan and the opening / closing of the door body, it is possible to efficiently prevent the occurrence of condensation in the sterilization apparatus. Cold air can be sterilized and deodorized.

  In addition, the refrigerator of the present invention further includes a duct that exists outside the storage chamber and forms a part of the cool air circulation path, and a damper that shuts off the inflow of cool air from the duct into the storage chamber. The sterilization apparatus is mounted in the storage chamber, and the irradiating means is turned on when the damper is open, and the irradiating means is turned on for the excitation light, and the damper is closed. In this case, the excitation light may be applied to the carrier during a period in which cold air flows around the carrier by turning off the power supply.

  In this way, when the power of the irradiation means is turned on and off in synchronization with the opening and closing of the damper, the damper is in an open state, and the cool air flowing into the storage chamber flows around the carrier. Only the support is irradiated with excitation light.

  That is, the carrier is irradiated with excitation light only during the period when the cool air can be sterilized and deodorized most effectively, so that the cool air can be sterilized and deodorized more efficiently and effectively.

  The irradiating means may irradiate the support with the excitation light by a light-emitting diode (LED).

  Thereby, generation | occurrence | production of the unnecessary heat | fever by a disinfection apparatus can be suppressed. In addition, power consumption by the sterilization apparatus can be reduced.

  Moreover, this invention is realizable also as a microbe elimination method which makes operation | movement of the characteristic structure part with which the refrigerator of this invention is provided as a step.

  The refrigerator according to the present invention efficiently disposes the disinfection device at a position where the air passage resistance is hardly affected, maintains the circulation efficiency of the cold air, and controls the irradiation time of the excitation light by the irradiation unit. It is possible to sterilize and deodorize the cold air circulating inside. Furthermore, by protecting the sterilization apparatus from dew condensation, it is possible to suppress a decrease in sterilization / deodorization ability.

  Next, a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a front view of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator 100 according to the first embodiment is a refrigerator including a door that is a double door type door, and includes a plurality of storage compartments in a heat insulating box 101 that is a box body. Yes.

  The compartment of the refrigerator 100 is referred to as a refrigeration room 102, an ice making room 105, a switching room 106 that can change the temperature inside the ice making room 105, a vegetable room 104, a freezing room 103, and the like depending on its function (cooling temperature). The

  At the front opening of the refrigerator compartment 102, a rotary heat insulating door 107 filled with foam heat insulating material such as urethane is provided.

  The ice making chamber 105, the switching chamber 106, the vegetable chamber 104, and the freezing chamber 103 are each provided with a heat insulating plate 108 serving as a front plate for drawing.

  FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state cut along A-A in FIG. 1.

  The heat insulating box 101 is a box formed by filling a heat insulating material such as hard foamed urethane between the outer box and the inner box. This heat insulation box 101 insulates the inside of the heat insulation box 101 from the periphery.

  The refrigerator compartment 102 is a storage compartment maintained at a temperature that does not freeze for refrigerated storage. The lower limit of the specific temperature is usually set at 1 to 5 ° C.

  Further, a sterilization apparatus 200 is installed in the refrigeration chamber 102 to sterilize and deodorize the cold air discharged to the refrigeration chamber 102. Thereby, the cold air circulating in the refrigerator 100 is sterilized and deodorized. A specific configuration of the sterilization apparatus 200 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The vegetable room 104 is a storage room that is set to a temperature that is equal to or slightly higher than that of the refrigerator room 102. Specifically, it is set at 2 ° C to 7 ° C. In addition, it is possible to maintain the freshness of leafy vegetables for a long time, so that it becomes low temperature.

  The freezer compartment 103 is a storage room set in a freezing temperature zone. Specifically, although it is normally set at −22 to −18 ° C. for frozen storage, it may be set at a low temperature of −30 or −25 ° C., for example, in order to improve the frozen storage state.

  The switching chamber 106 can be switched from a refrigeration temperature zone to a refrigeration temperature zone according to the use by an operation panel (not shown) attached to the refrigerator 100.

  The ice making room 105 is a storage room for storing ice made by an ice making machine (not shown) provided inside the refrigerator 100. Although the ice making chamber 105 is not shown in FIG. 2, it exists in the back of the switching chamber 106 in FIG. 2 (see FIG. 1).

  The top surface portion of the heat insulating box 101 is formed with a recess 113 so as to be stepped toward the back of the refrigerator 100, and includes a first top surface portion 111 and a second top surface portion 112. The step-shaped recess 113 houses components such as the compressor 114 and a dryer (not shown) for removing moisture, as well as components on the high-pressure side of the refrigeration cycle.

  That is, the recess 113 in which the compressor 114 is disposed is formed by biting into the uppermost rear region in the refrigerator compartment 102. Therefore, the compressor 114 is not disposed in the rear region of the lowermost storage chamber of the heat insulating box 101 that has been generally used conventionally.

  On the back surfaces of the freezing room 103 and the vegetable room 104, a cooling room 115 is provided in such a manner as to straddle both rooms. The cooling chamber 115 is partitioned from the freezer compartment 103 and the vegetable compartment 104 by a first partition 116 having heat insulation as a partition wall. Moreover, between the freezer compartment 103 and the vegetable compartment 104, the 2nd partition 117 which has the heat insulation as a heat insulation partition wall is arrange | positioned.

  Since the first partition 116 and the second partition 117 are parts that are assembled after foaming of the heat insulating box body 101, polystyrene foam is usually used as a heat insulating material. Further, a highly heat insulating vacuum heat insulating material may be inserted to further reduce the thickness of the partition structure.

  In addition, the ice partition 105 and the third partition 118 which is the top surface of the switching chamber 106 and the fourth partition 119 on the bottom surface of the ice making chamber 105 and the switching chamber 106 which are arranged in parallel are integrally formed of the same foam heat insulating material as the heat insulating box 101.

  The cooling chamber 115 includes an evaporator 120 as a cooling means. In addition, the cooling chamber 115 is arranged vertically in the vertical direction across the freezing chamber 103 and the vegetable chamber 104. However, the cooling chamber 115 is arranged so that the area facing the vegetable chamber 104 is smaller than the area facing the freezing chamber 103. This is because the cooling chamber 115 has the lowest temperature in the refrigerator 100, and thus the influence of the low temperature state on the vegetable chamber 104 is reduced.

  A cooling fan 121, which is a fan, is disposed in the upper space of the evaporator 120. The cooling fan 121 blows the cool air cooled by the evaporator 120 and forcibly convects the cool air to each storage chamber.

  Inside the refrigerator 100, a circulation path for forcibly circulating cool air is formed. Specifically, the cold air cooled by the evaporator 120 is forced into a blowing state by the cooling fan 121 and is carried to each room through a duct provided between each storage room and the heat insulating box 101. Heat is exchanged in the chamber and returned to the evaporator 120 through the suction duct.

  Note that the cooling air is circulated by one cooling fan 121.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a duct configuration which is a part of a cold air circulation path.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the refrigerator 100 has a refrigerator compartment 102 / vegetable compartment 104 path through which relatively high temperature cold air circulates, an ice making room 105 path, freezer room 103 path, and switching room through which relatively low temperature cold air circulates. 106 routes exist.

  Below, the outline | summary of the circulation path | route of the cold air in the refrigerator 100 is demonstrated.

  The cold air cooled by the evaporator 120 is sent to the refrigerator compartment 102. However, the cool air cooled by the evaporator 120 is cooled to a temperature that can sufficiently cope with the freezer compartment 103. Therefore, if cold air is blown into the refrigerating chamber 102 as it is, the refrigerating chamber 102 becomes too low in temperature. Therefore, a twin damper 128 that is a damper capable of controlling the insertion of the cold air is provided in the cold air circulation path including the refrigerator compartment 102.

  That is, the cold air cooled by the evaporator 120 is controlled to be inserted by the twin damper 128 and does not always circulate through the path of the refrigerator compartment 102 and the vegetable compartment 104. Further, when the entire refrigerator 100 is sufficiently cooled, the rotation of the cooling fan 121 is stopped and the circulation of the cold air is also stopped. At this time, the cooling cycle, that is, the compressor 114 is also stopped.

  The cold air cooled by the evaporator 120 passes through a refrigerating chamber discharge duct 129a called a cold air circulation path or duct as needed, and is discharged to the refrigerating chamber 102 through a discharge port 130 opened at the upper portion of the refrigerating chamber 102. . A part of the cold air discharged from the discharge port 130 is supplemented and decomposed by the sterilization apparatus 200 with odor components and bacteria, and discharged into the refrigerator compartment 102.

  The cold air that has passed through the refrigerator compartment 102 is sucked into the recovery port 131 that opens at the bottom of the refrigerator compartment 102. Next, the cold air sucked into the collection port 131 is discharged into the vegetable compartment 104. Finally, the cold air that has passed through the vegetable compartment 104 returns to the evaporator 120 again.

  In the ice making chamber 105 and the switching chamber 106, the circulation of the cold air is controlled by a damper for intermittently controlling the discharged cold air, and the temperature of each chamber is controlled. Each of the refrigerator compartment 102, the ice making compartment 105, and the switching compartment 106 is equipped with a temperature sensor (not shown) for controlling the internal temperature, and a control board 122 (see FIG. 2) attached to the back of the refrigerator 100. ) Controls the opening and closing of the damper.

  That is, when the temperature sensor is higher than a preset first temperature, the damper is opened, and when the temperature sensor is lower than the second temperature, the damper is closed to adjust the internal temperature to a predetermined temperature.

  The ice making room damper 123 for intermittently controlling the ice making room 105 is installed in the upper part of the cooling room 115, and the cool air blown from the cooling fan 121 passes through the ice making room damper 123 and the ice making room discharge duct 124a in the ice making room 105. After being discharged and heat exchanged, it returns to the evaporator 120 via the ice making chamber return duct 124b.

  The twin damper 128 includes a refrigeration compartment flap 125 for intermittently injecting cold air into the refrigeration chamber 102, a switching chamber flap 126 for intermittently injecting cold air into the switching chamber 106, and a motor unit 127 for driving these flaps. And. The twin damper 128 is installed around the back of the ice making chamber 105 and the switching chamber 106.

  The above is the basic configuration of the refrigerator 100 of the present embodiment.

  Next, the sterilization apparatus 200 that is a characteristic component of the refrigerator of the present invention will be described.

  4 (A) and 4 (B) are schematic diagrams showing the configuration of the sterilization apparatus 200 in the embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the sterilization apparatus 200, and FIG. 4B is a top view of the sterilization apparatus 200. In FIG. 4A, the left outlet 130 is omitted for the sake of illustration.

  The sterilization apparatus 200 is an apparatus capable of forcibly sterilizing bacteria, spores and the like present in the cold air and decomposing organic substances present in the cold air to realize deodorization. And the irradiation unit 202 that irradiates the carrier 201 with excitation light that excites the photocatalyst.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 4 (A) and 4 (B), a recess 203 having a front opening is provided between the left and right discharge ports 130 at the upper end of the refrigerator compartment 102. . The recessed portion 203 is provided in front of a stepped recess 113 to which the compressor 114 and the like are attached.

  The portion is an invalid space that does not become a storage space, and by providing the recessed portion 203 for attaching the sterilization apparatus 200 to the portion, sterilization can be performed without sacrificing the storage space in the refrigerator compartment 102. The device 200 can be attached.

  Branch walls 130 a for branching cold air are provided on both side walls of the recessed portion 203. As shown by the arrow in FIG. 4B, a part of the cold air discharged into the refrigerator compartment 102 is introduced into the sterilization apparatus 200 by the branch port 130a.

  The irradiation unit 202 is an apparatus including an LED 202a that can emit light including a wavelength that can excite the photocatalyst. The irradiation unit 202 in the present embodiment is configured by a single substrate (hereinafter referred to as “LED substrate”) in which three LEDs 202a are embedded so as to form a row, and the LED substrate is the light of the LED 202a. Is arranged so that it can irradiate toward the front carrier 201.

  Note that the light projecting direction of the LED 202a has directivity and spreads at a predetermined solid angle. Therefore, the distance between the LED 202a and the carrier 201 is set to a distance that allows the light from the LED 202a to be evenly applied to the surface with the largest area (hereinafter referred to as “main surface”) of the carrier 201.

  In addition, the irradiation part 202 may be comprised with the some LED board. However, the number of parts related to the sterilization apparatus 200 can be reduced by configuring the irradiation unit 202 with one LED substrate as in the present embodiment.

  The front opening of the recessed portion 203 is covered with a cover member 205 having heat insulating performance. The cover member 205 is a plate-like member that is curved so as to bulge in the direction of the refrigerator compartment 102.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, the cover member 205 is such that a part of the center portion protrudes from the front surface of the back wall of the refrigerator compartment 102 (the chain line in the drawing). Due to the curve of the cover member 205, a gap is generated between the front surface of the back wall of the refrigerator compartment 102 and the cover member 205. The clearance forms a communication hole 207 that communicates the inside of the sterilization apparatus 200 and the refrigerator compartment 102 in the vertical direction.

  With this communication hole 207, the cold air introduced into the recessed portion 203 is discharged from the communication hole 207. In addition, when the cooling fan 121 is stopped and the forced circulation of the cold air is not performed, the cold air in the cold storage chamber 102 passes through the communication hole 207 and the inside of the sterilization apparatus 200 due to natural convection of the cold air in the cold storage chamber 102. It is supposed to go in and out.

  The upper edge 205a and the lower edge 205a of the cover member 205 are semi-transparent frosted glass, and a part of the light from the plurality of LEDs 202a passes outside through the upper edge 205a and the lower edge 205a of the cover member 205. It is a leak.

  That is, the plurality of LEDs 202a also serve as illumination in the refrigerator compartment 102.

  The cover member 205 protects the carrier 201 attached to the refrigerator compartment 102 and the irradiation unit 202 from condensation. That is, in the refrigerator compartment 102, every time the heat insulating door 107 is opened, moist air is introduced from the outside of the refrigerator 100. Therefore, if there is no cover member 205, the carrier 201 and the irradiation unit 202 having a temperature lower than the outside temperature are applied. The moist air is in direct contact, and condensation tends to occur.

  Therefore, the cover member 205 prevents external air from coming into direct contact with the carrier 201 and the irradiation unit 202, and avoids condensation. Further, the heat insulating performance of the cover member 205 prevents condensation of the cover member 205 itself.

  Furthermore, the heat | fever radiated | emitted at the time of lighting of LED202a suppresses generation | occurrence | production of the dew condensation of the support body 201 and an LED board.

  The carrier 201 is a resin product made of a porous material that can come into contact with a large amount of cold air, and is a filter-like product formed by intertwining fibers in which a photocatalyst is kneaded. Further, the shape thereof is a flat plate shape as shown in the perspective view and the top view, and a resin that can transmit light that is easily excited by the photocatalyst is used as the base resin.

  A photocatalyst is a catalyst that can be sterilized by irradiating light of a specific wavelength or decomposing and deodorizing odorous components (such as organic substances) in the cold air. It is a substance that is considered to be capable of activating (eg, ionizing or radicalizing) the component and sterilizing or deodorizing based on this.

  Specifically, titanium oxide can be illustrated as a photocatalyst. The wavelength of light necessary for the titanium oxide to perform functions such as sterilization is 380 nm. Moreover, silver oxide can also be illustrated. The wavelength of light necessary for the silver oxide to perform functions such as sterilization is a blue region of visible light of about 400 nm to 580 nm.

  When the photocatalyst is titanium oxide, for example, a UV-LED that emits UV light of 380 nm is employed as the LED 202a. When the photocatalyst is silver oxide, for example, an LED that emits blue light in the visible light region is employed.

  The carrier 201 is held at the tip of a support member 206 that protrudes rearward from the back surface of the cover member 205. The carrier 201 is held so that the main surface is a vertical surface, the main surface is opposed to the irradiation unit 202, and light from the LED 202a is efficiently irradiated. Further, the front surface of the carrier 201 is supported by a plurality of protrusions 208 provided on the back surface of the cover member 205.

  Thereby, the photocatalyst carried on the carrier 201 can be excited efficiently. Further, even when the carrier 201 is condensed, the moisture condensed on the surface having the largest area is pulled downward by gravity and the portion having the largest area is cut off. Therefore, it is possible to sterilize and deodorize the cold air branched without being disturbed by the dewed water by the photocatalyst. Further, the protrusions 208 hold the support 201 without being bent due to pressure from cold air, gravity, or the like, and it is possible to avoid the occurrence of shadows or the like on the irradiation light.

  In addition, the carrier 201 is supported in parallel with the traveling direction of the cool air discharged from the left and right branch ports 130a. That is, the carrier 201 is arranged in the refrigerator 100 so as to suppress the air path resistance as much as possible.

  In addition, cold air is blown to the support 201 from the left and right, and the flow of cool air from the left and right is disturbed on the support 201. Thereby, the contact frequency with respect to the cold carrier 201 increases, and the deodorization rate and the sterilization rate are improved.

  In the sterilization apparatus 200 configured as described above, the irradiation unit 202 does not always irradiate the carrier 201 with excitation light, but turns on and off the power source for excitation light irradiation, that is, the LED 202a. ON and OFF are controlled.

  5A, 5B, and 5C are diagrams illustrating an example of lighting control of the LED 202a.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the ON and OFF of the LED 202a is synchronized with the ON and OFF of the power source for driving the cooling fan 121 to rotate.

  That is, the effective power of the sterilization and deodorizing effect by the sterilization apparatus 200 is ensured by turning on the LED 202a while the cooling fan 121 is rotating. This is particularly effective when the sterilization apparatus 200 is installed in a duct as will be described later.

  Moreover, during the period when the cooling fan 121 is not rotating, turning off the LED 202a can save power of the sterilization apparatus 200 and extend the life of the LED 202a.

  Even if the cooling fan 121 is not rotating, the support 201 may be irradiated with excitation light during the period when the heat insulating door 107 is opened, as shown in FIG.

  In the refrigerator 100, when the heat insulating door 107 is opened, the cooling fan 121 is stopped in order to suppress the inflow of wet and high temperature outside air into the refrigerator compartment 102 as much as possible.

  However, even if the cooling fan 121 is stopped, the inflow of outside air cannot be completely prevented. Therefore, when the sterilization apparatus 200 is installed in the refrigerator compartment 102 as in the present embodiment, the carrier 201 and the LED substrate may be condensed.

  Therefore, even when the cooling fan 121 is not rotating, the LED 202a is turned on and turned on. Thereby, generation | occurrence | production of dew condensation can be suppressed.

  Specifically, the power supply for the irradiation of the excitation light of the irradiation unit 202 is turned off only when the heat insulating door 107 is closed and the power supply for rotating the cooling fan 121 is turned off. In other cases, the lighting control of the LED 202a shown in FIG.

  By such control, the excitation light is irradiated to the carrier 201 during the period when the cooling fan 121 is rotating and the period when the heat insulating door 107 is opened.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 5C, the ON / OFF of the LED 202a is controlled in synchronization with the opening / closing of the damper that controls the inflow of cold air into the refrigerating room 102, that is, the refrigerating room flap 125. Good.

  Specifically, the LED 202a is turned on when the cold room flap 125 for intermittently injecting cold air into the cold room 102 is open. Further, when the refrigerator compartment flap 125 is closed, the LED 202a is turned off.

  Further, the ON / OFF of the LED 202a may be controlled based on the ON / OFF of the cooling fan 121 and the opening / closing of the refrigerator compartment flap 125.

  Specifically, the LED 202a is turned on only when the power supply for rotating the cooling fan 121 is turned on and the refrigerator compartment flap 125 is open, and the LED 202a is turned off during other periods. It may be.

  By controlling the lighting of the LED 202a in this way, it is possible to irradiate the carrier 201 with excitation light during the period when the cool air is flowing around the carrier 201, and to extend the life of the LED 202a. it can.

  The lighting control of the various LEDs 202a described above is performed by the control board 122.

  In the present embodiment, the irradiation unit 202 irradiates the support 201 with excitation light by the LED 202a. However, the light source is not limited to the LED as long as it can irradiate the carrier 201 with excitation light.

  In the present embodiment, the sterilization apparatus 200 is installed in the refrigerator compartment 102 as shown in FIG. However, the installation location of the sterilization apparatus 200 is not limited to the refrigerator compartment 102 as long as it is in the cold air circulation path.

  Further, the positional relationship between the plurality of LEDs 202a and the carrier 201 is not limited to the positional relationship shown in FIG. 4, and there is an advantageous effect obtained by placing the other LEDs in another positional relationship. Furthermore, there is a technique for improving the sterilization and deodorizing effect of the sterilization apparatus 200.

  Therefore, another specific example of the installation position of the sterilization apparatus 200 will be described below.

  For example, the sterilization apparatus 200 can be installed in a duct that forms part of the cold air circulation path. Since the inside of the duct is less susceptible to the influence of outside air than the storage room, it is advantageous in that the LED substrate and the carrier 201 are less likely to condense.

  FIGS. 6A, 6 </ b> B, and 6 </ b> C are diagrams illustrating examples of installation positions when the sterilization apparatus 200 is installed in a duct.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, a sterilization apparatus 200 may be installed in the vicinity of a position where cold air branches left and right in the refrigerating room discharge duct 129a. By installing the sterilization apparatus 200 at this location, the sterilized and deodorized cold air is evenly discharged into the refrigerator compartment 102 from the left and right discharge ports 130.

  Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 6B, a sterilization apparatus 200 may be installed in the vicinity of the discharge port 130 in the refrigerating room discharge duct 129a. By installing the sterilization apparatus 200 in this place, it is possible to perform sterilization and deodorization of the cold air immediately before the cold air circulating in the refrigerator 100 blows out into the refrigerator compartment 102. That is, clean cold air can be blown into the refrigerator compartment 102.

  6A and 6B, the disinfection device 200 is installed in a direction in which the carrier 201 is in front and the irradiation unit 202 is in the back, or vice versa. Not necessarily.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 6C, the sterilization apparatus 200 may be installed so that the carrier 201 is on the left side and the irradiation unit 202 is on the right side. Or you may install so that it may be the reverse.

  That is, the installation position in the duct of the sterilization apparatus 200 may be appropriately determined according to the size and shape of the duct. For example, the sterilization apparatus 200 may be disposed not in the refrigerating room discharge duct 129a but in a refrigerating room return duct 129b called a cold air circulation path or duct.

  6B and 6C, the sterilization apparatus 200 is disposed only in the vicinity of the left discharge port 130, but the sterilization apparatus 200 is disposed only in the vicinity of the right discharge port 130. May be. Furthermore, you may arrange | position the microbe elimination apparatus 200 in both right and left.

  In the above, the example of the arrangement | positioning position in the case of arrange | positioning the microbe elimination apparatus 200 in a duct was demonstrated using FIG. 6 (A)-FIG. 6 (C).

  Here, since the sterilization apparatus 200 includes the irradiation unit 202 that irradiates the carrier 201 with excitation light, when installed in the refrigeration room 102, as described above, the illumination in the refrigeration room 102 is used. Also works.

  Further, when the sterilization apparatus 200 is installed in the duct, there is an effect of suppressing the occurrence of dew condensation on the LED substrate and the carrier 201 as described above.

  Therefore, only a part of the plurality of LEDs 202a included in the sterilization apparatus 200 is accommodated in the duct, and the other is disposed at a position where the inside of the refrigerator compartment 102 can be illuminated. It is possible to perform sterilization and deodorization of cold air while suppressing the above, and to function as illumination of the refrigerator compartment 102.

  Then, next, the case where the sterilization apparatus 200 is installed so that only some of the plurality of LEDs 202a exist in the duct and the other LEDs 202a exist in positions that illuminate the storage chamber will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an installation position of the sterilization apparatus 200 when only some of the plurality of LEDs 202a are present in the duct.

  Specifically, as shown in the cross-sectional view on the right side of FIG. 7, the LED substrate exists over the inside and outside of the refrigerator compartment discharge duct 129 a, and two of the three LEDs 202 a are provided in the refrigerator compartment discharge duct 129 a. Exists within. A carrier 201 is disposed at a position facing these two LEDs 202a.

  Further, one LED 202a existing outside the discharge duct 129a for the refrigerator compartment is disposed at a position where the inside of the refrigerator compartment 102 can be illuminated, and a transparent window plate 204 is provided on the inner wall portion of the refrigerator compartment 102 in front of the LED 202a. Is provided.

  By disposing the sterilization apparatus 200 in such a position and adopting such a configuration, the sterilization apparatus 200 performs sterilization and deodorization of cold air while suppressing the occurrence of dew condensation. Can also work.

  As described above, the sterilization apparatus 200 includes a plurality of LEDs 202a. Therefore, the brightness of each LED 202a may be varied, and the carrier 201 may be disposed at a position facing the LED 202a having a high brightness.

  Thereby, the disinfection effect by the support 201 can be made effective while extending the life of the LED 202a having low luminance.

  Further, the LED 202a having a low luminance contributes to an increase in the ambient temperature around the carrier 201 and is useful for suppressing the occurrence of condensation even when the catalyst cannot be excited much.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the sterilization apparatus 200 when the high-luminance LED 202a is arranged at the center of the row of the LEDs 202a. In addition, the sterilization apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 8 is arrange | positioned at the upper part in the refrigerator compartment 102, as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the LED 202a having a high luminance is arranged in the center in a row composed of a plurality of LEDs 202a. Further, the carrier 201 having a width narrower than the width of the row is arranged at a position facing the vicinity of the center of the row.

  Thereby, the sterilization apparatus 200 becomes a left-right symmetric structure as shown in the figure.

  That is, by arranging the plurality of LEDs 202a and the carrier 201 in this manner, in addition to the above effects, when cold air is blown into the sterilization apparatus 200 from both the left and right sides, the cold air from both can be efficiently sterilized.

  In addition, since the carrier 201 does not exist in front of the LEDs 202a with low luminance on the left and right, these LEDs 202a can further exhibit a function as illumination in the refrigerator compartment 102.

  For example, when titanium oxide is supported as a catalyst on the support, the LED 202a that emits ultraviolet light that is invisible light is disposed in the vicinity of the center of the row of LEDs 202a. In addition, an LED that emits visible light is disposed outside the vicinity of the center.

  The above arrangement will be described with reference to FIG. 8. An LED 202a that emits ultraviolet light is arranged at the center of the row, and LEDs that emit visible light are arranged on the left and right of the LED 202a.

  Further, a carrier 201 having a width shorter than the width of the row of the LEDs 202a is disposed at a position facing the LEDs 202a that emit ultraviolet rays.

  As a result, the central LED 202a can excite the titanium oxide supported by the carrier 201, and the left and right LEDs 202a can function as illumination in the refrigerator compartment 102.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the sterilization apparatus 200 when the low-luminance LED 202a is arranged at the center of the row of the LEDs 202a. In addition, the sterilization apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 9 is arrange | positioned in the duct.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the LED 202a having a low luminance is arranged in the center in a row composed of a plurality of LEDs 202a. Further, the carrier 201 having a width smaller than the width of the row is arranged at a position facing the position excluding the vicinity of the center of the row. That is, the carrier 201 is disposed at a position facing the LED 202a having high luminance.

  By arranging the plurality of LEDs 202a and the carrier 201 in this manner, the disposition position of the screw 210 for attaching the carrier 201 in the refrigerator 100 can be provided in the center of the sterilization apparatus 200 as shown in the figure. it can.

  That is, by arranging the plurality of LEDs 202a and the carrier 201 in this way, in addition to the above effects, the carrier 201 can be installed in a duct with a good balance and with a small number of parts.

  In FIG. 9, there are two carriers 201, but any one carrier 201 may be used. In this case, only the LED 202a facing the carrier 201 needs to have high luminance. Moreover, the structure which attaches the center vicinity of the support body 201 of the magnitude | size about the magnitude | size which the two support bodies 201 shown in the figure couple | bonded to a duct inner wall etc. with the screw | thread 210 may be sufficient.

  4 and 8 described above, the irradiation direction of the excitation light of the LED 202a is substantially perpendicular to the plate-shaped carrier 201. However, the LED 202a may irradiate the support 201 with excitation light from an oblique direction.

  FIG. 10 is a layout diagram of the LEDs 202a and the carrier 201 in the case where the irradiation direction of the excitation light (represented by an alternate long and short dash line; the same in FIG. 11) is perpendicular to the carrier 201.

  Specifically, in FIG. 10, the sterilization apparatus 200 is installed in a duct having a width of W. For clarity of explanation, the positional relationship between one LED 202a and the carrier 201 is shown.

  Here, the LED 202a is characterized by having directivity in the above-described light projecting direction and a relatively narrow irradiation angle. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 10, when the LED 202a and the carrier 201 are arranged to face each other in a narrow duct, the carrier 201 cannot be entirely contained in the irradiation region.

  Specifically, the LED 202a can irradiate excitation light only to the main surface of the flat support 201, that is, less than a predetermined region on the upper surface of the support 201 in FIG.

  Further, in this way, when the irradiation region is widened while maintaining the irradiation direction of the excitation light perpendicular to the carrier 201, it is conceivable to increase the distance between the LED 202a and the carrier 201. However, such a long distance cannot be secured in the duct.

  Regardless of whether or not it is inside the duct, the catalyst excitation effect by the excitation light is reduced by increasing the distance between the LED 202a and the carrier 201.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, the LED 202a is arranged so as to irradiate the carrier 201 with excitation light from an oblique direction.

  Specifically, the LED 202a is provided at a position facing the direction in which the irradiation direction of the excitation light is not perpendicular to the main surface of the carrier 201 and other than the center of the main surface.

  Thereby, although the LED 202a and the carrier 201 are installed in the duct having the same width W as in FIG. 10, the entire area of the main surface can be accommodated in the irradiation area.

  Further, the distance between the LED 202a and the carrier 201 is the same as that shown in FIG. 10, although the distance between the right end of the carrier 201 and the LED 202a in FIG. Yes, it does not significantly reduce the effect of exciting the catalyst.

  Moreover, since the ratio of the light receiving region in the surface area of the carrier 201 is improved, the sterilization and deodorizing effects of the carrier 201 as a whole are improved.

  In addition, in FIG. 11, LED202a is installed so that the whole area | region of a main surface may be stored in the irradiation area | region. However, you may install LED202a so that more than the predetermined ratio of a main surface, for example, 80% or more may be accommodated in an irradiation area | region.

  For example, the relative installation position of the LED 202a with respect to the carrier 201 may be determined based on 40% or more of the surface area of the carrier 201.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 11, when the LED 202a is installed obliquely, a wider area in the surface area of the carrier 201 is used as the irradiation area than when the excitation light is irradiated perpendicularly to the main surface as shown in FIG. Install it to fit.

  Moreover, although FIG. 11 demonstrated one LED 202a, you may install several LED202a so that more than the predetermined ratio of a main surface may be settled in those irradiation areas.

  For example, the entire area of the main surface may be accommodated in the irradiation area by irradiating excitation light obliquely from each of the two LEDs 202a to one carrier 201.

  In the present embodiment, the carrier 201 has a flat plate shape, that is, a rectangular parallelepiped shape with a small thickness. Therefore, paying attention to the main surface, which is a surface with a large area, the main surface is irradiated with more excitation light to improve the sterilization and deodorization efficiency.

  However, it is also conceivable that the area of the side surface other than the main surface of the support 201, that is, the side surfaces that are the front, back, left, and right surfaces of the support 201 in FIG. That is, a case where the thickness of the flat plate-like carrier 201 is relatively large is also conceivable.

  In that case, you may arrange | position 1 or more LED202a so that a main surface and each side surface may be stored in an irradiation area | region. Furthermore, in FIG. 11, when the main surface corresponding to the lower surface of the carrier 201 can be irradiated with the excitation light, an LED 202a for irradiating the main surface with the excitation light may be disposed.

  11 shows the case where the sterilization apparatus 200 is installed in the duct. However, if the relative positional relationship between the LED 202a and the carrier 201 is the positional relationship as shown in FIG. Regardless of where the microbial device 200 is installed, the effect of efficiently sterilizing and deodorizing cold air in a narrow space is exhibited.

  However, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, when the LED 202a is on the upper side and the carrier 201 is on the lower side, there are the following specific effects.

  That is, when the carrier 201 is condensed, the water droplets do not flow into the LED substrate, and the reliability of the sterilization apparatus 200 can be maintained.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 12, when the LED 202a is at the bottom and the carrier 201 is at the top, the following specific effects are obtained.

  That is, the occurrence of dew condensation on the carrier 201 can be effectively suppressed by natural convection due to heat generated from the LED 202a.

  As described above, the support 201 is a filter that is formed by entanglement of fibers in which a photocatalyst is kneaded, and a resin that can easily excite the photocatalyst is used as the base resin. ing.

  That is, some percent of the excitation light irradiated to the carrier 201 is transmitted through the carrier 201. Therefore, the sterilization apparatus 200 may include a reflecting plate that reflects the excitation light dropped from the carrier 201 and enters the carrier 201.

  Thereby, the disinfection and the deodorizing effect with respect to the cold air by the disinfection apparatus 200 can be improved.

  FIGS. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating an installation example of the reflection plate 211 and a state of reflection of excitation light by the reflection plate.

  As shown in FIG. 13A, a reflector 211 is installed on the opposite side of the irradiation unit 202 with the carrier 201 interposed therebetween.

  In addition, the material of the reflecting plate 211 may be a material that can reflect excitation light, such as a mirror or a metal plate, and is not limited to a specific material.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 13B, the excitation light irradiated from the LED 202a and transmitted through the carrier 201 is reflected by the reflector 211 and is incident on the carrier 201 again.

  Therefore, the catalyst supported on the carrier 201 can be excited more efficiently than when the reflector 211 is not provided, and the sterilization and deodorization efficiency is improved.

  In FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B, the carrier 201 and the reflection plate 211 are installed adjacent to each other. However, you may install the support body 201 and the reflecting plate 211 apart.

  That is, the distance between the carrier 201 and the reflection plate 211 may be a distance that allows the excitation light transmitted through the carrier 201 to be reflected by the reflection plate 211 and incident again on the carrier 201.

  As described above, the refrigerator of the present invention can efficiently sterilize and deodorize cold air by irradiating the carrier 201 with excitation light during the period when the cold air flows around the carrier 201. In addition, it is possible to prevent the irradiation unit from being lit at all times, thereby saving energy and extending the lifetime of the irradiation unit.

  Further, since the power ON / OFF for the irradiation of the excitation light of the irradiation unit 202 which is the irradiation means is synchronized with the power ON / OFF for the rotation driving of the fan, The carrier 201 may be irradiated with excitation light during a period in which cold air is flowing.

  Thereby, for example, when the sterilization apparatus 200 is installed in a duct constituting a part of the cold air circulation path, only when the cold air forcedly sent by the fan flows around the carrier. Then, the support 201 is irradiated with excitation light.

  That is, excitation light is irradiated to the carrier 201 only during a period during which cool air can be sterilized and deodorized most effectively, so that cool air can be sterilized and deodorized more efficiently and effectively.

Moreover, the irradiation part 202 which is an illumination means may irradiate the support body 201 with excitation light during the period when the door body is opened, even when the cooling fan 121 is not rotating.

  In this way, when the support body 201 is irradiated with excitation light during the period when the door body is open, which is a period in which outside air easily flows into the refrigerator, dew condensation occurs on the support body 201 and the irradiation unit 202. Can be suppressed.

  By suppressing the occurrence of condensation, the reliability of the sterilization apparatus 200 and the sterilization and deodorization efficiency can be improved.

  The irradiation unit 202 is OFF only when the power source for excitation light irradiation is in a state where the door is closed and the power source for rotational driving of the cooling fan 121 is OFF, In other cases, the carrier 201 may be irradiated with excitation light during the period when the cooling fan 121 is rotating and the period when the door is opened.

  In this way, by controlling the ON and OFF of the power of the irradiation means according to the combination of ON and OFF of the cooling fan 121 and the opening and closing of the door body, while suppressing the occurrence of condensation in the sterilization apparatus 200, Cool air can be sterilized and deodorized efficiently.

  The refrigerator of the present invention further includes a damper that can be opened and closed so as to be able to open and close the inflow of cold air from a duct that exists outside the storage chamber and forms a part of the cold air circulation path. The irradiation unit 202, which is attached indoors and is an irradiation means, is configured such that when the damper is in an open state, the power for excitation light irradiation is turned on, and when the damper is in a closed state, the power is turned off. The carrier 201 may be irradiated with excitation light during a period in which cool air flows around the carrier 201.

  Thus, the period when the damper is in the open state and the cold air flowing into the storage chamber flows around the carrier 201 by turning on and off the irradiation means in synchronization with the opening and closing of the damper. Only the excitation light is irradiated to the carrier 201.

  That is, excitation light is irradiated to the carrier 201 only during a period during which cool air can be sterilized and deodorized most effectively, so that cool air can be sterilized and deodorized more efficiently and effectively.

  The irradiating means may irradiate the support 201 with excitation light by light-emitting-diode (LED).

  Thereby, generation | occurrence | production of the unnecessary heat | fever by the microbe elimination apparatus 200 can be suppressed. In addition, the amount of power consumed by the sterilization apparatus 200 can be reduced.

  Moreover, it can also be realized as a sterilization method in which the operation of the characteristic components included in the refrigerator of the present invention is a step.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can efficiently increase the sterilization capacity of a refrigerator and can be applied to uses such as food storage.

The front view of the refrigerator of Embodiment 1 of this invention Vertical sectional view of the refrigerator of the same embodiment The figure showing the duct structure which is a part of the circulation path | route of the cold air in the refrigerator of the embodiment Schematic diagram showing the configuration of the sterilization apparatus in the same embodiment The figure which shows the example of the lighting control of LED in the embodiment The figure which shows the example of the installation position at the time of installing the disinfection apparatus in the same embodiment in a duct The figure which shows the example of the installation position of a disinfection apparatus when only some of several LED in the same embodiment exists in a duct The figure which shows the structure outline | summary of the disinfection apparatus at the time of arrange | positioning LED with high brightness | luminance in the same embodiment in the center of the row | line | column of LED. The figure which shows the structure outline | summary of the disinfection apparatus at the time of arrange | positioning LED with low brightness | luminance in the embodiment in the center of the row | line | column of LED. Arrangement of LED and carrier when the irradiation direction of excitation light is perpendicular to the carrier in the same embodiment Arrangement of LED and carrier when the irradiation direction of excitation light is oblique to the carrier in the same embodiment Arrangement of LED and carrier when the direction of excitation light irradiation is oblique with respect to the carrier, the LED is below, and the carrier is above and below in the same embodiment The figure which shows the example of installation of the reflecting plate in the same embodiment, and the mode of reflection of the excitation light by a reflecting plate Partial vertical sectional view of a conventional refrigerator

Explanation of symbols

100 refrigerator 101 heat insulation box (box body)
107 Insulated door (door)
115 Cooling chamber 120 Evaporator (cooling means)
121 Cooling fan 128 Twin damper (damper)
129a Discharge duct for cold room (Cooling air circulation path / duct)
129b Return duct for cold room (Cooling air circulation path / duct)
200 Disinfection device 201 Carrier 202 Irradiation unit (irradiation means)
202a LED

Claims (6)

A box body that is formed of a heat insulating material and forms a storage chamber therein; a door body that is openably and closably attached to an opening of the box body; and a cooling means that cools air in the box body and generates cold air; A cool air circulation path for circulating the cold air between the storage chamber and the cooling means by means of a fan , a sterilization apparatus comprising a carrier on which a photocatalyst is carried in the cold air circulation path, and an irradiation means, The carrier is arranged at a position facing the plurality of LEDs and is arranged so that the cold air is blown from the left and right of the carrier, and the cold air flows around the carrier during the period when the cold air flows. A refrigerator characterized in that excitation light for exciting a photocatalyst is applied to the carrier .   The irradiating means is configured such that the ON / OFF of the power for irradiating the excitation light of the irradiating means is synchronized with the ON / OFF of the power for rotating the fan. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the carrier is irradiated with the excitation light during a period when the fan is rotating, which is a period during which cold air flows.   2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the irradiation unit further irradiates the carrier with the excitation light during a period in which the door is opened even when the fan is not rotating.   The irradiating means is OFF only when the power for irradiating the excitation light of the irradiating means is in a state in which the door is closed and the power for rotating the fan is OFF. In other cases, the excitation light is applied to the carrier during a period in which the fan is rotating and a period in which the door is opened. The refrigerator described. Furthermore, a duct that exists outside the storage chamber and constitutes a part of the cold air circulation path, and a damper that shuts off the inflow of the cold air from the duct into the storage chamber so as to be openable and closable, The irradiating means is mounted in the storage chamber, and when the damper is in an open state, the power supply for irradiating the excitation light of the irradiating means is ON, and when the damper is in a closed state, the power source is 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the excitation light is applied to the carrier during a period in which cold air flows around the carrier by being turned off.   The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the irradiation unit irradiates the support with the excitation light using an LED.