JP6745432B2 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly to a vegetable compartment cooling structure of the refrigerator.

Generally, a household refrigerator is configured by providing a plurality of storage rooms having different temperature bands, for example, a refrigerator room, a vegetable room, and a freezer room in a refrigerator body. The layout of the refrigerating room, the vegetable room, and the freezing room is roughly divided into two according to the actual conditions of use by the user, one of which is a type in which the freezing room is arranged in the upper and lower approximately central part of the refrigerator body that is most easily used by the user. The other is a type where a vegetable compartment is placed in the same part.

Refrigerators of the type in which a freezer compartment is arranged in the central portion above and below the refrigerator body have become the mainstream of today's refrigerators, and are convenient for users who frequently use frozen foods due to changes in lifestyle. Therefore, a large number have been proposed (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

FIG. 29 shows a refrigerator described in Patent Document 1, which has a refrigerating room 101 at the upper part of a refrigerator main body 100 and a vegetable room 102 at the lower part, and in the upper and lower substantially central portions of the refrigerator main body 100 between these two rooms. A freezer compartment 103 is arranged. And this refrigerator is provided with a cooling chamber 104 on the back surface thereof across the vegetable compartment 102 and the freezing compartment 103 of the refrigerator main body 100, and a cooler 105 and a cooling fan 106 are arranged in this cooling chamber 104. The generated cool air is supplied to the refrigerating compartment 101, the vegetable compartment 103, and the freezing compartment 102 by the cooling fan 106 and circulated, and the food stored in each of these compartments is cooled and stored.

In addition, a refrigerator of a type in which a vegetable compartment is arranged at a substantially central portion above and below the refrigerator main body is abbreviated as a middle vegetable refrigerator, and it is proposed that it is convenient for users who mainly use for putting in and out vegetables, etc. Reference 2).

FIG. 30 shows a refrigerator described in Patent Document 2, which has a refrigerating room 201 in an upper part of a refrigerator main body 200 and a freezing room 202 in a lower part thereof, and the refrigerator book 200 between the both rooms is substantially vertical. A vegetable compartment 203 is arranged in the central portion. In the same manner as described above, this refrigerator is also provided with a cooling chamber 204 on the back side of the freezing chamber 202 and the vegetable chamber 203 of the refrigerator main body 200, and a cooler 205 and a cooling fan 206 are arranged in the cooling chamber 204. The cool air generated by the cooler 205 is supplied to the refrigerating compartment 201, the vegetable compartment 203, and the freezing compartment 202 by the cooling fan 206 and circulated, and the food stored in each of these compartments is cooled and stored.

In any of the above types of refrigerators, the cold air generated in the cooling chamber is circulated to the vegetable compartment via the refrigerating compartment, and the circulating cold air cools and stores the vegetables stored in the vegetable compartment.

JP, 2010-60258, A JP, 9-113109, A

However, in both of the above-described conventional refrigerator-cooled vegetable compartment cooling configurations, dew condensation may occur in the vegetable compartments 103 and 203 during cold storage of vegetables. There was a problem that the stored vegetables were deteriorated.

That is, the vegetable compartments 103 and 203 receive cold radiation from the cooling compartments 104 and 204 located on the rear surface thereof, and when the cooling air circulation by the cooling fans 106 and 206 is stopped, the cold radiation from the cooling compartments 104 and 204 is generated. Therefore, the temperature near the back surfaces of the vegetable compartments 103 and 203 is likely to be lowered, and on the other hand, the temperature on the door side of the vegetable compartments 103 and 203 tends to rise due to the influence of the outside temperature, and a temperature difference occurs between the two. Therefore, dew condensation had occurred.

Further, even when the cooling air is being circulated by the cooling fan, the cooling air supplied to the vegetable compartments 103 and 203 is diverted from the cooling air returned from the refrigerating compartment, and is therefore supplied to the vegetable compartment. Not only is the amount supplied, but the flow in the vegetable compartment is also weak. Therefore, in the summer when the outside air temperature becomes high, or when a large number of vegetables or large vegetables such as cabbage are temporarily stored in the vegetable compartments 103 and 203, the heat of the outside air and the heat of the vegetables are increased. Due to the influence, the temperature in the vicinity of the door and the vicinity of the vegetables rises, and a temperature difference is inevitably generated between the vicinity of the back of the vegetable compartment where the temperature is lowered by the cold radiation from the cooling compartments 104 and 204, so that the cold air in the vegetable compartment is the wall surface of the vegetable storage case It started to condense.

Also, in summer, when the outside temperature and the temperature of purchased vegetables tend to be relatively high, the temperature inside the vegetable room tends to be high, and as a result, vegetables can be stored in a sufficiently cooled state. At the same time, there is a risk that the vegetables will deteriorate more quickly and at the same time give the user the impression that the refrigerator cannot cool down, and reduce the reliability of the refrigerator.

Particularly in recent refrigerators, large-sized PET bottles and packs of drinking water, tea, and juices are being stored in the vegetable compartments 103 and 203, and the PET bottles and the like are at room temperature compared to vegetables. Since it has a large amount of heat and has a large heat capacity, when it is stored in the vegetable compartments 103, 203, immediately after the storage, it is affected by the heat of vegetables and PET bottles, etc. The temperature difference between and tends to be large, and the problem of vegetable deterioration due to the condensation of cold air in the vegetables and the problem of insufficient cooling in the summer tended to become apparent.

Further, in the refrigerator which is abbreviated as middle vegetable, the bottom surface of the vegetable compartment 203 also receives cold radiation from the freezing compartment 202 located therebelow, and thus the vegetable compartment 203 is synergistic with the cold radiation from the freezing compartment 202. It was easy to lower the temperature near the lower part of the back of 203, and the problem of vegetable deterioration due to the condensation of cold air in the vegetable room and the problem of insufficient cooling in the summer were likely to become apparent.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that can cool and store vegetables and the like in a vegetable compartment.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the refrigerator of the present invention is provided in a vegetable compartment, a cold air inlet provided in the vegetable compartment to supply cold air to the vegetable compartment, and a position overlapping the cold air inlet when viewed from the front of the refrigerator. When the temperature of the vegetable compartment is appropriate, the controller drives the vegetable compartment fan under a predetermined condition to control the temperature of the vegetable compartment. Is high, the control means drives the vegetable compartment fan more frequently than when the temperature of the vegetable compartment is appropriate . Further, in order to achieve the above object, the refrigerator of the present invention has a vegetable compartment, a cold air inlet provided in the vegetable compartment for supplying cold air to the vegetable compartment, and a position overlapping the cold air inlet when viewed from the front of the refrigerator. A vegetable compartment fan provided and control means for controlling the operation of the vegetable compartment fan are provided. When the temperature of the vegetable compartment is at an appropriate temperature, the control means drives the vegetable compartment fan in the first mode to When the temperature of the room is high, the control means drives the vegetable compartment fan in the second mode, and in the first mode and the second mode, the vegetable compartment fan is driven and the vegetable compartment fan is stopped. This is a mode in which the period is repeated, and the period during which the vegetable compartment fan is driven in the second mode is longer than the period during which the vegetable compartment fan is driven in the first mode.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a refrigerator in which vegetables can be cooled and stored in good condition.

Front view of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention The front view when the door of the refrigerator in the first embodiment is opened. The AA sectional view of FIG. 2 which shows the refrigerator in the same Embodiment 1. FIG. The BB sectional view of FIG. 2 which shows the refrigerator in the same Embodiment 1. FIG. Half-cut perspective view of the refrigerator in the first embodiment Schematic sectional view for explaining the cold air flow of the refrigerator in the first embodiment The schematic front view explaining the cold air flow of the refrigerator in the same Embodiment 1. The perspective view explaining the cold air flow of the cooling chamber back surface part of the refrigerator in the same Embodiment 1. The principal part expanded sectional view of FIG. 3 which shows the refrigerator in the same Embodiment 1. Schematic sectional view for explaining the flow of cold air in FIG. The principal part expanded sectional view of FIG. 4 which shows the refrigerator in the same Embodiment 1. FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the cold air flow in FIG. The enlarged front view which shows the vegetable compartment and freezer compartment of the refrigerator in the same Embodiment 1. FIG. 13 is an enlarged front view showing a cooling fan and a cooler installed on the back of the vegetable compartment and the freezer compartment of the refrigerator shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing rear wall portions of a vegetable compartment and a freezer compartment of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment. FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a back partition wall block forming a rear wall portion of the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator shown in FIG. FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the back partition wall block that constitutes the back wall portion of the vegetable compartment shown in FIG. FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a block forming a rear wall portion of the freezer compartment shown in FIG. A perspective view of a partition plate and a cooling fan that partition a refrigerator storage room and a vegetable compartment in the first embodiment The perspective view which shows the vegetable storage case of the refrigerator in the same Embodiment 1. Control block diagram of the refrigerator in the first embodiment The flowchart explaining the vegetable compartment cooling operation of the refrigerator in the same Embodiment 1. The timing chart figure which shows operation|movement when the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator in Embodiment 1 is temperature-equalized by cold air circulation. The timing chart figure which shows the cooling operation|movement at the time of cooling the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator in FIG. The timing chart figure which shows the temperature equalization and cooling operation by cold air circulation when the temperature of the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator in the same Embodiment 1 is higher than a predetermined temperature. The timing chart figure which shows the cooling condition of the vegetable compartment controlled by control of the refrigerator in the same Embodiment 1. The perspective view explaining the cold air flow of the cooling chamber back surface part of the refrigerator in the same Embodiment 2. Schematic sectional view for explaining the cold air flow in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator in the second embodiment Schematic sectional view of a conventional refrigerator Schematic cross-sectional view of another conventional refrigerator

A first invention is a cooling fan for circulating cold air in a refrigerating compartment, a vegetable compartment, and a freezing compartment, a vegetable compartment fan for taking cold air into the vegetable compartment and circulating the cool air in the vegetable compartment separately from the cooling fan, And a controller for controlling the vegetable compartment fan, the controller performs a timer control operation to drive the vegetable compartment fan at a predetermined time when the vegetable compartment is within a predetermined temperature range, and the temperature of the vegetable compartment. When the temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature range, the temperature control operation for driving the vegetable compartment fan is performed for a time set based on the vegetable compartment temperature.

As a result, in this refrigerator, when the vegetable compartment is stable within the predetermined temperature range, the vegetable compartment fan is rotated for a predetermined time to forcibly circulate the cold air in the vegetable compartment and to reduce the temperature difference in the vegetable compartment caused by the cold radiation from the cooling compartment. While eliminating the dew condensation and suppressing the occurrence of dew condensation, by rotating the vegetable compartment fan for a long time set according to the vegetable compartment temperature during a transition to a temperature higher than a predetermined temperature range, the amount of cold air taken into the vegetable compartment is increased. The increased cold air and the low-temperature cold air near the lower part of the back surface, which has been cooled by the cold radiation from the cooling chamber, can be efficiently used as the cooling source to cool and maintain the vegetable compartment at a low temperature. Moreover, when the temperature in the vegetable compartment is stable within the predetermined temperature range, the rotation of the vegetable compartment fan is controlled for a predetermined time, so there is a possibility that the temperature of the vegetable compartment is constantly detected to control the rotation of the vegetable compartment fan. The temperature control variation due to the temperature detection delay can be reduced, the temperature in the vegetable compartment can be stabilized, and the vegetables can be cooled and stored in a good state.

In a second aspect based on the first aspect, the control unit sets the vegetable compartment fan drive time during timer control operation based on the outside air temperature.

As a result, the driving time of the vegetable compartment fan can be optimized according to the outside temperature, and the vegetable compartment fan can be rotated without excess or deficiency even if the outside temperature fluctuates. Even in this case, reliable and efficient cooling and dew condensation prevention can be achieved according to the outside air temperature.

3rd invention is a 1st or 2nd invention, Comprising: The said control part correct|amends the vegetable compartment fan drive time at the time of temperature control operation|movement based on the vegetable compartment temperature, and is longer than the time set by timer control operation. It is configured to drive the vegetable compartment fan.

As a result, the vegetable compartment fan rotates for a long time according to the temperature of the vegetable compartment during a transition in which the temperature of the vegetable compartment becomes higher than the predetermined temperature range due to the loading and unloading of vegetables, etc. The amount of cold air taken in can be increased, and the vegetable compartment can be reliably and quickly cooled to a predetermined temperature range.

In a fourth aspect based on the first to third aspects, the controller is configured to forcibly stop the vegetable compartment fan when the temperature of the vegetable compartment is low outside a predetermined temperature range.

With this, when the temperature of the vegetable compartment is lower than the predetermined temperature range, the temperature difference is small, and the risk of dew condensation is low, the vegetable compartment fan is stopped to suppress unnecessary power consumption due to rotation of the vegetable compartment fan, Good cooling storage can be realized.

In a fifth aspect based on the first to fourth aspects, the control section is configured to forcibly stop the vegetable compartment fan while the compressor for generating cold air is stopped.

As a result, it is possible to prevent the vegetable room fan from rotating and the user's suspicion of its operating noise during cooling operation stoppage, when the compressor is stopped, and to prevent the reliability of the refrigerator from being impaired. it can.

6th invention is a 1st-4th invention, Comprising: The said control part forcibly makes a vegetable compartment fan a stop state when the operation stop of the compressor for cold air generation is within a fixed time, and a stop state is When the time exceeds a certain time, the vegetable compartment fan is driven based on the timer control operation.

As a result, when the compressor is stopped, that is, the cooling operation is stopped, the vegetable compartment is lower than the predetermined temperature range, and the temperature difference is small, the vegetable compartment fan is stopped to consume unnecessary power by rotating the vegetable compartment fan. At the same time, when the vegetable compartment fan is stopped for a long time and a temperature difference occurs due to cold radiation from the cooling compartment in the vegetable compartment, the vegetable compartment fan is rotated to eliminate the temperature difference and suppress the occurrence of dew condensation. Therefore, vegetables can be satisfactorily cooled and stored while always preventing dew condensation at any time.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, in this embodiment, a refrigerator of a type abbreviated as a so-called middle vegetable will be described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this.

(Embodiment 1)
1 is a front view of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment when a door is opened, and FIG. 3 is a view of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment. 2 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 2 showing the refrigerator in the first embodiment, FIG. 5 is a half perspective view of the refrigerator in the first embodiment, and FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the flow of cold air in the refrigerator in FIG. 1, FIG. 7 is a schematic front view illustrating the flow of cold air in the refrigerator in the first embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a rear portion of the cooling chamber of the refrigerator in the first embodiment. 9 is a perspective view for explaining the cold air flow, FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of FIG. 3 showing the refrigerator in the first embodiment, and FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the cold air flow in FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an essential part of FIG. 4 showing the refrigerator in the first embodiment, FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the cold air flow in FIG. 11, and FIG. 13 is a vegetable compartment of the refrigerator in the first embodiment. 14 is an enlarged front view showing the freezing compartment, FIG. 14 is an enlarged front view showing the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 13 and the cooling fan and the cooler installed on the back of the freezing compartment, and FIG. 15 is the same as the first embodiment. FIG. 16 is an enlarged perspective view showing the back wall portions of the vegetable compartment and the freezing compartment of the refrigerator, FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the back partition wall block which constitutes the back wall portion of the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 15, and FIG. 17 is the same figure. 16 is an exploded perspective view of a back partition wall block that constitutes the rear wall portion of the vegetable compartment shown in FIG. 16, FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the block that constitutes the rear wall portion of the freezer compartment shown in FIG. 16, and FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a partition plate and a cooling fan for partitioning the storage room and the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator in the first embodiment, FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing the vegetable storage case of the refrigerator in the first embodiment, and FIG. 21 is the same in the first embodiment. FIG. 22 is a control block diagram of the refrigerator, FIG. 22 is a flow chart for explaining the vegetable compartment cooling operation of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 23 is a diagram when the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment is soaked by cold air circulation. FIG. 24 is a timing chart showing the operation, FIG. 24 is a timing chart showing the cooling operation when cooling the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment while soaking the temperature of the vegetable compartment by cooling air circulation, and FIG. 25 is the first embodiment. FIG. 26 is a timing chart showing the temperature equalization and cooling operation by cold air circulation when the temperature of the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator is higher than a predetermined temperature. FIG. 26 shows the cooling situation of the vegetable compartment controlled by the control of the refrigerator in the first embodiment. It is a timing chart figure to show.

First, the entire configuration of the refrigerator will be described.

<Refrigerator body configuration>
1 to 6, the refrigerator according to the present embodiment includes a refrigerator main body 1 having an open front, and the refrigerator main body 1 includes an outer box 2 mainly using a steel plate as shown in FIG. 3 and the like. It is composed of an inner box 3 formed of a hard resin such as ABS, and a foamed heat insulating material 4 such as hard foamed urethane foam-filled between the outer box 2 and the inner box 3. The refrigerator body 1 is divided into a plurality of storage chambers by a partition plate 5.6. The refrigerator body 1 has a refrigerating compartment 7 at the top, a vegetable compartment 8 below the refrigerating compartment 7, and a freezing compartment at the bottom. 9 are arranged, and it is a refrigerator in the middle vegetable room type. The front opening of each storage chamber is closed by a door 10, a door 11 and a door 12 so as to be openable and closable.

A machine room 14 is provided in the upper rear area of the refrigerator body 1. The machine room 14 accommodates high-pressure side components of the refrigeration cycle such as a compressor 15 and a dryer (not shown) for removing water.

In addition, a cooling chamber 16 that generates cold air is provided on the back surface of the refrigerator body 1. This cooling chamber 16 is formed from the rear surface of the freezing chamber 9 to the lower rear surface of the vegetable compartment 8, and a back partition wall body 17 having heat insulation properties such as styrofoam is provided between the cooling compartment 16 and the vegetable compartment 8. Insulation partition.

A cooler 18 is arranged in the cooling chamber 16, and a cooling fan 19 is arranged above the cooler 18. The cooling fan 19 cools each room by forcibly circulating the cool air cooled by the cooler 18 through the refrigerating room 7, the vegetable room 8 and the freezing room 9. For example, the refrigerating compartment 7 is cooled to a temperature of 1°C to 5°C at which food is not frozen, and the vegetable compartment 8 is cooled to a temperature of 2°C to 7°C which is equal to or slightly higher than the refrigerating compartment 7. Further, the freezer compartment 9 is normally cooled to a freezing temperature range of -22°C to -15°C for freezing storage, and in some cases, for improving the frozen storage state, for example, a low temperature of -30°C or -25°C. It may be cooled to.

As shown in FIG. 19, the cooling fan 19 is attached to a partition plate 6 that partitions the vegetable compartment 8 and the cooling compartment 16 and sets the partition plate 6 in the inner box 3 of the refrigerator body 1. In this state, the cooling fan 19 is located in a portion facing the back surface of the vegetable compartment 8 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, and blows cool air toward the back partition wall 17 that partitions the vegetable compartment 8. It brings strong cold radiation to the lower back of the vegetable compartment.

Further, in the lower space of the cooler 18, as shown in FIG. 9 and the like, a defrost heater 28 for defrosting the frost and ice adhering to the cooler 18 or its periphery is arranged. A drain pan 29 for receiving defrost water generated during defrost is arranged below the defrost heater 28, and the defrost water is discharged from the deepest portion of the drain pan 29 to an evaporation tray outside the storage via a drain tube (not shown). It is like this.

Next, the cold air circulation configuration will be described.

<Cold air circulation passage configuration>
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the cooling chamber 16 for generating cold air is provided with a cooling fan 19 in a cooling chamber cold air transfer passage 30 formed between the back partition wall 17 and the refrigerator body 1 described above. The downstream side is open, and cool air is blown to each chamber via the cooling chamber cool air carrying path 30.

The upper part of the cooling room cold air conveying path 30 is a cold storage cold air passage 32 formed in a substantially central portion of the rear surface of the cold storage room 7 via a cold storage room damper 31 as shown in FIGS. Is in communication with. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a refrigerating cool air return passage 33 from the refrigerating chamber 7 is adjacently provided on the side of the refrigerating cool air outgoing passage 32, and a lower portion thereof communicates with the vegetable compartment 8 and the cooling compartment 16. There is.

As shown in FIG. 7, the refrigerating compartment 7 is provided with a refrigerating cool air inlet 35 of the refrigerating cool air going passage 32 at an appropriate place on the upper back wall thereof, and a refrigerating cool air opening to the refrigerating cool air returning passage 33 at a proper place of the lower back wall thereof. A return port 36 is provided, and cold air from the cooling chamber 16 is supplied to the cold storage cold air passage 32 via the cold storage chamber damper 31 and is supplied to the cold storage chamber 7 from the cold storage cold air inlet 35. On the other hand, the cold air after cooling the refrigerating compartment is supplied from the refrigerating cool air returning port 36 to the vegetable compartment 8 through the refrigerating cool air returning passage 33 and circulates to the cooling compartment 16. Further, a partial chamber is provided in the lower part of the refrigerating chamber 7 as described later, and as shown in FIG. 8, the partial chamber damper 31a, the partial chamber cool air outgoing passage 32a, the partial chamber cold air inlet are provided in the partial chamber. Cold air is supplied through 35a.

In this embodiment, as is clear from FIG. 8, the cooling chamber cold air conveying passage 30, the cold storage cold air outgoing passage 32, and the partial chamber cold air outgoing passage 32a are provided on the back surface of the inner partition wall 17 and the partition plate 6. There is formed a forward passage 37 which communicates with the refrigerating/cooling air return passage 33 and the return passage 38 which communicates with the vegetable compartment 8 and the cooling compartment 16, and the refrigerating compartment damper 31 and the like are provided in the forward passage 37. There is.

Further, a communication passage 39 is formed between the cold storage cold air passage 32 and the cold storage cold air return passage 33 so that a part of the low temperature cold air flowing through the cold storage cold air passage 32 is directly mixed into the cold storage cold air return passage 33. Is configured.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, a cold air return duct 40 is provided on the rear surface of the freezing chamber 9 and extends downwardly on the side of the cooler 18 of the cooling chamber 16, and the upper part of the cold air return duct 40 is used for the above return. The lower part of the vegetable compartment 8 communicates with the vegetable compartment 8 through the passage 38 and opens in the vicinity of the lower part of the cooling compartment 16. Cooled air after cooling the vegetable compartment 8 is opened through the return passage 38 and the cold air return duct 40. From the cooling chamber 16 to the cooling chamber 16.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10, the freezing chamber 9 has a freezing/cooling air inlet 42 communicating with the lower part of the cooling chamber cold air conveying path 30 on the rear surface of the back partition wall body 17 in the upper part of the rear wall body 41, and the cooling chamber in the lower part. A freezing/cooling air return port 43 that opens to the lower part of the cooling chamber 16 is formed, and cooling air from the cooling chamber 16 is supplied from the lower part of the cooling chamber cooling air conveying path 30 via the cooling/cooling air inlet 42, and the cooling air after cooling the cooling chamber is frozen. It circulates to the cooling chamber 16 via the cold air return port 43.

<Vegetable room composition>
As shown in FIG. 7, FIG. 8 and FIG. 12, the vegetable compartment 8 is a portion on the left or right side of the back wall, which is the lower portion of the right side portion when viewed from the front in this embodiment, and is located from the refrigerated cold air return passage 33. In the return passage 38, only one vegetable cold air inlet/outlet 44 is provided. As shown in FIG. 8, the vegetable cold air inlet/outlet 44 is provided above the lower end of the bell mouth opening of the cooling fan 19, and when the cooling fan 19 is stopped, the low temperature cold air in the cooling chamber 16 returns to the cold air return duct. When the reverse flow is made through 40 and the return passage 38, it does not flow into the vegetable compartment 8 through the vegetable cold air inlet/outlet 44.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, a vegetable compartment passage portion 50 is vertically provided in the vegetable compartment 8 at the front position of the cold air return passage 38 by utilizing the back partition wall 17 on the rear surface of the vegetable compartment 8. It is formed vertically. The vegetable chamber passage portion 50 has an upper portion communicating with the first vegetable cold air suction port 47 of the first passage 47a in the front-rear direction provided in the upper portion of the vegetable chamber 8 and a lower portion communicating with the vegetable cold air inlet/outlet port 44.

In addition, in the vegetable compartment 8, a vegetable compartment fan 53 including a propeller fan and the like is arranged at a portion facing the vegetable cold air inlet/outlet 44. The vegetable chamber fan 53 is arranged in an offset state so that its central axis is located below the central axis of the vegetable cold air inlet/outlet port 44. Further, the vegetable compartment fan 53 is located in front of the vegetable cold air inlet/outlet 44, and is installed so that the vegetable compartment fan 53 and the vegetable cold air inlet/outlet 44 overlap with each other when viewed from the front. Note that it is effective to increase the opening area of the vegetable cold air inlet/outlet 44 when the cooling amount of the vegetable compartment 8 is large and to reduce the opening area of the vegetable cold air inlet/outlet 44 when the cooling amount may be small. Also in this case, the lower end of the vegetable cold air inlet/outlet 44 is provided at a position lower than the upper end of the vegetable compartment fan 53 so as to overlap with the front and rear.

Further, in the vegetable compartment 8 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, FIG. 16 and the like, at a diagonal position of the vegetable cold air inlet/outlet port 44, which is the upper portion of the inner partition wall 17 which is the inner surface thereof. The second vegetable cold air suction port 51 is provided at the upper portion, that is, on the left back upper side in this embodiment, and the second passage 51a having the second vegetable cold air suction port 51 is also shown in FIG. As described above, it communicates with the upper portion of the vegetable chamber passage portion 50.

FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the vegetable compartment passage portion 50, the second vegetable cold air suction port 51, and the back partition wall body 17 forming the second vegetable cold air suction port 51. 50 is formed between a front partition plate 17a and a rear partition plate 17b which are polymerized via styrofoam (not shown), and the upper end portion 50a thereof is formed in the first passage 47a and the second passage 51a. It is open. Further, as described above, the vegetable compartment fan 53 is incorporated in the lower portion of the vegetable compartment passage portion 50, and the air outlet 54 thereof is opened into the vegetable compartment 8 so that the cold air from the vegetable cold air inlet/outlet 44 and The vegetable compartment cold air from the first vegetable cold air suction port 47 and the second vegetable cold air suction port 51 is blown into the vegetable room 8.

A vegetable storage case 48 is arranged in the vegetable compartment 8 as shown in FIG. 11, and the vegetable storage case 48 includes a lower vegetable storage case 49a mounted on the frame of the door 11 and a lower vegetable. It comprises an upper vegetable storage case 49b placed on the storage case 49a. A space is provided in the vegetable compartment 8 between the vegetable storage case 48 and the inner peripheral wall surface of the partition plate 6 and the vegetable compartment 8 thereunder, and the space is an air passage through which cold air from the vegetable cold air inlet/outlet 44 flows. Is composed of.

In addition, the upper opening edge of the upper vegetable storage case 49b of the vegetable storage case 48 is located in a portion close to the partition plate 5 in the upper portion of the vegetable compartment 8 and above the vegetable cold air inlet/outlet port 44, and The cold air from the entrance/exit 44 is configured not to directly enter the upper-stage vegetable storage case 49b and the lower-stage vegetable storage case 49a of the vegetable storage case 48. A lid that closes the upper vegetable storage case 49b may be provided at the upper opening to more reliably prevent cold air from entering the vegetable storage case 48.

The lower vegetable storage case 49a is divided into left and right by a case partition plate 58 as shown in FIG. 21, and the side opposite to the vegetable cold air inlet/outlet 44, in this embodiment, the right side portion is made deeper by one step to make a plastic bottle. It is used as a non-vegetable storage part (hereinafter referred to as a storage part for PET bottles) 59 such as a pack or a pack. The container 59 for storing PET bottles and the like may partition the inside of the vegetable compartment 8 into front and rear portions, and the front portion thereof may serve as a container for storing PET bottles and the like.

<Refrigerator configuration>
As shown in FIG. 4 and the like, the refrigerating compartment 7 has a plurality of storage shelves 60 inside and a partial compartment 61 capable of cooling to a semi-freezing temperature zone. A mouth 36 (see FIG. 7 for both) is provided. An operating section 62 for setting the internal temperature of each room, ice making, rapid cooling, and the like is arranged at an appropriate place on the side wall of the refrigerating room 7.

<Freezer compartment configuration>
Further, as already described with reference to FIG. 10, the freezing chamber 9 is provided with a freezing/cooling air inlet 42 communicating with a lower portion of the cooling chamber cold air conveying path 30 on the back surface of the inner partition wall 17 at the upper portion of the inner wall, and further at the back. A freezing/cooling air return port 43 communicating with the cooling chamber 16 is formed in the lower portion of the wall. Although not shown in the structural diagram, the freezer compartment damper 34 may be incorporated in an appropriate place in the passage from the cooling room 16 to the freezer compartment 9. The freezing room 9 is also provided with a freezing room case 63 mounted on the frame of the door 12 as shown in FIG. 4 and the like, and an ice making device 64 is provided above the freezing room case 63. It has been incorporated.

Next, the control configuration of this refrigerator will be described.

<Control configuration>
FIG. 21 shows a control block diagram in the refrigerator of the present embodiment, in which 65 is a refrigerating room temperature detecting means, 66 is a vegetable room temperature detecting means, 67 is a freezing room temperature detecting means, and 68 is an outside air temperature detecting means. It is formed of a thermistor, and is installed in a proper place of the refrigerator compartment 7, the vegetable compartment 8, the freezer compartment 9 and the refrigerator body 1, respectively. Reference numeral 69 denotes a control unit for integrally controlling the entire refrigerator, which is constituted by a microcomputer or the like, and which is based on the outputs from the refrigerating compartment temperature detecting means 65 and the freezing compartment temperature detecting means 67 in accordance with control software installed in advance in the refrigerating compartment. The damper 31 and the freezer compartment damper 34 are controlled to be opened and closed, and the compressor 15 and the cooling fan 19 are driven to control each chamber to a set temperature. Further, the control section 69 controls the operation of the vegetable compartment fan 53 incorporated in the vegetable compartment passage section 50 of the vegetable compartment 8 based on the outputs from the refrigerating compartment temperature detecting means 65, the vegetable compartment temperature detecting means 66, and the outside air temperature detecting means 68. It is supposed to do. The details will be described later.

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

First, the operation of the refrigeration cycle will be described.

The refrigerating cycle is operated by the signal from the control unit 69 according to the set temperature in the refrigerator, and the cooling operation is performed. The high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged by the operation of the compressor 15 is condensed and liquefied to some extent by a condenser (not shown), and further, a refrigerant pipe (not shown) disposed on the side surface or the back surface of the refrigerator or the front opening of the refrigerator. No.) and the like to condense and liquefy while preventing condensation in the refrigerator, and reach the capillary tube (not shown). Thereafter, the capillary tube is decompressed while exchanging heat with a suction pipe (not shown) to the compressor 15 to become a low-temperature low-pressure liquid refrigerant and reaches the cooler 18 in the cooling chamber. Here, the refrigerant in the cooler 18 is evaporated and vaporized, and cold air for cooling each storage chamber is generated in the cooling chamber 16 having the cooler 18.

Next, the cooling operation by the cold air circulation will be described.

The low-temperature cold air generated in the cooling chamber 16 is sent to the refrigerating chamber 7 and the freezing chamber 9 from the cooling chamber cold air conveying path 30 by the cooling fan 19, and the cold air supplied to the refrigerating chamber 7 cools the refrigerating chamber 7. After that, a part of the returned cool air is supplied to the vegetable compartment 8 and each compartment is cooled to the set temperature. Then, the cool air after cooling each chamber returns to the cooling chamber 16 again, is cooled by the cooler 18, and is circulated to each chamber by the cooling fan 19. Further, in the supply of cold air to each of the above-mentioned chambers, the control unit 69 operates/stops the compressor 15 and the cooling fan 19 based on the temperatures detected by the refrigerating compartment temperature detecting means 65 and the freezing compartment temperature detecting means 67, and the refrigerating compartment damper 31. The open/close control of the freezer compartment damper 34 is performed so that each compartment is maintained in the set temperature range.

Next, the cooling operation of the vegetable compartment 8 will be described.

The vegetable compartment 8 is cooled by the cold air after cooling the refrigerating compartment being supplied from the vegetable cold air inlet/outlet 44 provided in the cold air return passage 38 as shown in FIG. Since this cold air has only one vegetable cold air inlet/outlet 44 provided in the vegetable compartment 8, the vegetable compartment 8 and the return passage generated by the blowing of the cooling fan 19 during the operation of the cooling fan 19, that is, during the cooling operation. The cold air in the vegetable compartment gradually flows into the vegetable compartment 8 due to the pressure difference between the vegetable compartment 38 and the vegetable compartment 8 and flows through the space between the vegetable storage case 48 and the inner peripheral wall of the vegetable compartment 8. Vegetables, plastic bottles, etc. stored in the storage case 48 are indirectly cooled from the outer circumference of the case, flow out from the vegetable cold air inlet/outlet 44 to the return passage 38, and circulate from the cold air return duct 40 to the cooling chamber 16. To do.

Therefore, the cold air flowing in and out of the vegetable compartment 8 is gentler and the amount thereof is relatively smaller than that in the case where the cold air inlets and outlets are separately provided. Therefore, the amount of cold air in the vegetable compartment 8 is slightly changed, and most of the cold air remains in the vegetable compartment 8. That is, the cold air in the vegetable compartment 8 is maintained in a high humidity state including the moisture evaporated from the vegetables. Therefore, compared to the case where a large amount of cold air in the vegetable compartment 8 is circulated and replaced, it is possible to greatly reduce the deterioration due to drying of the vegetables, and it is possible to cool and store the vegetables in a much better condition than before. ing.

On the other hand, in the refrigerator shown in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the vegetable compartment fan 53 is provided in the lower portion of the vegetable compartment passage portion 50 of the vegetable compartment 8 facing the vegetable cold air inlet/outlet 44. When the vegetable compartment fan 53 rotates during the cooling operation, most of the return cool air flowing through the return passage 38 is sucked from the vegetable cold air inlet 44 into the vegetable compartment passage portion 50, and the vegetables are discharged from the outlet 54 of the vegetable compartment fan 53. It is supplied toward the rear surface of the lower vegetable storage case 49a in the chamber 8.

Here, in this embodiment, since the vegetable compartment fan 53 is in an offset state with the vegetable cold air inlet/outlet port 44, the opening/closing of the cold air performed through the vegetable cold air inlet/outlet port 44 has one vegetable cold air inlet/outlet port 44. However, it becomes relatively smooth, and reliable suction and intake becomes possible. That is, as shown by (X) and (Y) in FIG. 12, in the portion near the lower end of the vegetable cold air inlet/outlet port 44 (the lower portion in FIG. 12) near the central axis of the vegetable room fan 53, the cold air is shown by X. At the portion near the upper end of the vegetable cold air inlet/outlet port 44 (upper part in FIG. 12) that flows inward and is far from the central axis of the vegetable room fan 53, as shown by Y, the cold air is clearly divided so as to flow out from the vegetable room 8. become. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the inflow and outflow of cold air from being disturbed even at one vegetable cold air inlet/outlet port 44, resulting in a shortage of cold air intake, resulting in insufficient intake of cold air and reliably sucking in cold air from the inside of the return passage 38 to suck in the vegetable compartment fan. It can be supplied into the vegetable compartment 8 from the air outlet 54 of 53.

Even in this case, since there is only one cold air inlet/outlet, the amount of cold air in the vegetable compartment is less than that in the case where separate cold air inlets/outlets are provided, and the inside of the vegetable compartment 8 is kept in a high humidity state to dry the vegetables. The deterioration prevention effect is maintained.

As described above, the cold air taken into the vegetable compartment 8 and supplied toward the vegetable storage case 48 of the vegetable compartment 8 passes through the space between the vegetable storage case 48 and the bottom and inner peripheral walls of the vegetable compartment 8. It flows faster than the flow when it is circulated by the blowing pressure of the cooling fan 19, and as described above, it circulates from the vegetable cold air inlet/outlet 44 to the cooling chamber 16 via the return passage 38. At that time, the cold air other than the cold air which returns to the cooling chamber 16 and circulates, the first vegetable cold air suction port 47 and the second vegetable cold air suction port 51 provided in the upper part of the vegetable chamber 8 are used to pass the first passage 47a and the second cold air. To the vegetable compartment fan 53 through the vegetable compartment passage portion 50 communicating with these passages, and again from the air outlet 54 of the vegetable compartment fan 53 to the vegetable storage case 48 in the vegetable compartment 8. Is supplied to the vegetable compartment 8 and diffuses and circulates in the vegetable compartment 8.

Next, the prevention of dew condensation in the vegetable compartment 8 will be described.

Although the vegetable compartment 8 is cooled as described above, it receives cold radiation from the cooling compartment 16 located on the back surface and the freezing compartment 9 located below, and as in the conventional case, it is easy to lower the temperature near the lower part of the rear surface. .. In particular, the cold radiation from the cooling chamber 16 is strong, and the cooling radiation to the rear surface of the vegetable compartment 8 is not limited to the cooling chamber 16 itself, but the cooling chamber cold air transfer path 30 zone from the cooling chamber 16 to the refrigerator chamber damper 31 is the cooling chamber. The cooling chamber temperature range is in the same cryogenic zone as that of 16, and strong cooling radiation is received at the portion facing the cooling chamber temperature zone up to the refrigerating chamber damper 31, and this portion is easily cooled.

The lowering of the temperature near the lower part of the back of the vegetable compartment due to the cold radiation is eliminated by diffusing and circulating the cool air in the vegetable compartment 8 by driving the vegetable compartment fan 53 in both the cooling operation and the cooling stop. To do. That is, when the vegetable compartment fan 53 is driven, the cold air in the vegetable compartment 8 diffuses and circulates as described above, and the diffused and circulated cold air disperses the temperature, thereby suppressing a decrease in temperature. More specifically, the cold air in the vegetable compartment 8 is diffused and circulated by the vegetable compartment fan 53, and the diffused and circulated cold air radiates cold radiation from the cooling compartment temperature zone located on the back surface of the vegetable compartment 8 and downward. The temperature near the lower part of the back of the vegetable compartment, which is likely to be lowered by cold radiation from the freezing compartment 9 located therein, is diffused into the vegetable compartment 8 to lower the temperature in the vegetable compartment 8 to cool the inside of the vegetable compartment 8 and at the same time the rear surface of the vegetable compartment. Suppresses extremely low temperatures and temperature differences near the bottom to prevent condensation.

When all the chambers are below the set temperature and the operation of the compressor 15 and the cooling fan 19 is stopped, all the cool air eliminates the pressure difference attached to the cooling fan 19 until then, and the density difference caused by the temperature difference is generated. Begins to flow to the equilibrium state. In this case, since the pressure in the freezing chamber 9 is the second highest next to the cooling chamber cold air conveying passage 30, the cold air in the cooling chamber cold air conveying passage 30, the cooling chamber 16 and the freezing chamber 9 continues to expand until the pressure difference is eliminated. At this time, since the cold air in the freezing chamber 9 and the cooling chamber 16 is relatively low in temperature and has a high density and is accumulated in these chambers, at least the cold air in the cooling chamber cold air conveying path 30 flows downward, and is the most Cold air will reach the height of the cold cooling chamber 16. Here, since the cold cold air is filled in the cooling chamber 16 and the freezing chamber 9, the cold air flowing down flows to the cold air return passage 38 connected to the cooling chamber 16 via the freezing chamber 9. The upper end of the cool air that flows back through the return passage 38 and collects in the cooling chamber 16, that is, reaches the height of the lower end of the cooling fan 19 that opens above the cooling chamber 16.

In this embodiment, since the lower end of the vegetable cold air inlet/outlet 44 is installed higher than the height of the bell mouth lower end of the cooling fan 19, it is possible to prevent the backflowing cold air from flowing into the vegetable compartment 8 from the vegetable cold air inlet/outlet 44. As a result, it is possible to prevent the vegetable compartment 8 from being locally cooled by the backflow cold air, and to prevent dew condensation, freezing, or overcooling in the vegetable compartment 8, so that deterioration of the preserved vegetables can be prevented.

As described above, this refrigerator prevents the occurrence of dew condensation due to the local lowering of the temperature of the vegetable compartment 8 both during the cooling operation and when the cooling is stopped. Therefore, the cooler 18 for generating the cool air is enlarged to increase the cooling chamber. Even if the refrigerator 16 is a large-scale refrigerator with a large capacity and extends over the freezing compartment 9 and the vegetable compartment 8, it is possible to suppress dew condensation due to cold radiation from the cooling compartment 16. Therefore, in refrigerators in all areas from small capacity refrigerators with large capacity to large capacity refrigerators with high capacity, deterioration of vegetables due to dew condensation water generated by cold radiation from the cooling chamber 16 can be suppressed, and vegetables can be cooled and stored in good condition. It will be possible. Moreover, this refrigerator is a middle vegetable compartment type refrigerator in which the vegetable compartment 8 is provided in the upper and lower substantially central portions of the refrigerator main body 1 between the refrigerating compartment 7 and the freezing compartment 9, so that the condensation is not generated as described above. This is effective because it can prevent the vegetables from being cooled and stored in a good state and enhance the usability of the user who mainly uses the vegetables and the like for taking in and out.

Next, cooling and dew condensation prevention control of the vegetable compartment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart for explaining the cooling operation of the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator in the first embodiment, FIG. 23 is a timing chart showing the operation when the vegetable compartment is soaked by cold air circulation, and FIG. 24 is the vegetable compartment. FIG. 25 is a timing chart showing a cooling operation when cooling is being performed while the temperature of the vegetable compartment is being equalized by the cold air circulation. FIG. 25 is a timing chart showing the temperature equalization and cooling operation by the cold air circulation when the temperature of the vegetable compartment is higher than a predetermined temperature. FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing an example of an actual cooling situation of the vegetable compartment.

As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 22, this refrigerator first determines whether cooling operation is possible based on the temperature of the refrigerating room 7 or the freezing room 9 (S1), that is, the compressor 15 and the cooling fan 19 as in the ordinary refrigerator. Determine whether to drive. For example, when the temperature of the freezer compartment 9 is equal to or higher than the set temperature, the control unit 69 drives the compressor 15 and the cooling fan 19 based on the output from the freezer compartment temperature detecting means 67, and the freezer compartment damper 34 and the refrigerator compartment damper 31. And the partial chamber damper (hereinafter, for simplification of description, the refrigerating chamber damper 31 that controls the supply of cold air to the vegetable chamber 8 which is the subject of the present invention will be described as an example) and the cool air generated by the cooler 18 is opened. Is supplied to the vegetable compartment 8 together with the freezing compartment 9, the refrigerating compartment 7, etc., and the refrigerating compartment 7, the vegetable compartment 8, and the freezing compartment 9 are cooled. At this time, as described above, the vegetable compartment 8 is gently cooled by the intake of cold air by the blow of the cooling fan 19.

Next, after the cooling operation availability determination (S1), the outside air temperature is taken in to determine the outside air temperature state (S2), and the drive time of the vegetable compartment fan 53 that is initially set based on the determined temperature result (ON drive time). And OFF time) are temperature-corrected and set as a timer drive time (S3). For example, the timer drive time is set such that the fan drive time is lengthened in the summer when the outside air temperature is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature, and is shortened in the winter when the temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature.

Next, the temperature of the vegetable compartment is taken in, and it is determined whether or not this is within the temperature range when cooling is stable, that is, within a predetermined temperature range determined in advance by design (S4). If it is within the predetermined temperature range, timer control operation (S5) to go into.

On the other hand, if it is determined in the step (S4) that the temperature of the vegetable compartment is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature range, for example, the temperature at a transitional time when the temperature of the vegetable compartment is high due to taking in and out of vegetables, the temperature control operation (S6) is started.

Further, if the temperature is within the predetermined temperature range, the temperature in the vegetable compartment 8 is sufficiently low, and the control unit 69 sets the vegetable compartment fan 53 to the stopped state (S14). As a result, it is possible to rotate the vegetable compartment fan 53, suppress wasteful power consumption, and realize favorable cooling storage of vegetables.

Next, the timer control operation (S5) will be described.

When the timer control operation (S5) is started, it is first confirmed whether or not the cooling operation is being performed, that is, whether the compressor 15 and the cooling fan 19 are being operated (S8).

If it is not in operation, the vegetable compartment fan 53 is stopped (S14). As a result, it is possible to prevent the user from feeling distrustful because the vegetable compartment fan 53 rotates and the sound is heard even though the refrigerator is not operating.

If the refrigerator compartment damper 31 is opened next during operation, that is, the refrigerator compartment damper 31 is opened and the cool air from the cooling compartment 16 is supplied to the refrigerator compartment 7 and the vegetable compartment 8 to cool these compartments. It is confirmed whether or not (S9).

When the refrigerating compartment damper 31 is closed and the cooling of the refrigerating compartment 7 and the vegetable compartment 8 is stopped, the temperature equalizing operation (S10) for preventing dew condensation in the vegetable compartment is performed based on the timer driving time. In the temperature equalizing operation when the refrigerator compartment damper 31 is closed, no cold air is flowing through the return passage 38, so as described above, the rotation of the vegetable compartment fan 53 causes the cold air in the vegetable compartment 8 to be kept in the vegetable compartment 8. By circulating it, the temperature difference in the vegetable compartment is eliminated and dew condensation is suppressed.

Although not shown, the soaking operation is performed even when the refrigerating compartment temperature and the vegetable compartment temperature are always low and the refrigerating compartment damper 31 does not open continuously for a certain time or longer, and the vegetable compartment based on the timer drive time. The fan 53 is driven to prevent condensation. That is, the control unit 69 forcibly brings the vegetable compartment fan 53 into the stopped state when the operation of the compressor for generating cold air is stopped within a certain time, and when the stopped state continues for a certain time or longer, based on the timer control operation. The vegetable compartment fan 53 is also driven.

Here, since the temperature equalizing operation controls the rotation of the vegetable compartment fan 53 at a predetermined time, it tends to occur when the temperature in the vegetable compartment 8 is constantly detected to control the rotation of the vegetable compartment fan 53. Variations in temperature control due to temperature detection delay can be reduced, the temperature in the vegetable compartment 8 can be stabilized, and vegetables can be cooled and stored in a good state.

In addition, since the vegetable compartment fan 53 is driven during the temperature equalizing operation (S10) in the timer control operation (S5) for the time set in consideration of the outside air temperature in step (S3), the door side Even if the amount of heat from the outside air received from the etc. changes, the cold air in the vegetable compartment can be circulated in just proportion to this. Thereby, the temperature in the vegetable compartment can be surely equalized, and the dew condensation caused by the temperature difference in the vegetable compartment can be reliably and efficiently suppressed.

FIG. 23 shows the driving state of the vegetable compartment fan 53 and the temperature state of the vegetable compartment 8 during temperature equalization by this timer control operation. When the compressor 15 is operating and the refrigerating compartment damper 31 is closed, the vegetable compartment fan 53 is shown. Rotates, and the temperature in the vegetable compartment 8 is equalized to a substantially constant temperature without causing variations due to temperature detection delay and the like. As a result, it is possible to reliably suppress the dew condensation caused by the temperature difference in the vegetable compartment 8.

On the other hand, as a result of the operation state confirmation in the step (S8), if the refrigerator compartment damper 31 is open and the vegetable compartment 8 and the like are being cooled, the vegetable compartment fan 53 is further driven together with the above-mentioned drive for temperature equalization. The drive for cooling is also performed to perform the cooling + soaking operation (S12) of the vegetable compartment 8. In this cooling+soaking operation, as described above, the cold air flowing in the return passage 38 is positively sucked and taken in by the rotation of the vegetable room fan 53, and is circulated in the vegetable room 8 together with the cold air in the vegetable room. The inside of the vegetable compartment 8 is cooled while the temperature inside the vegetable compartment 8 is controlled to prevent the occurrence of dew condensation.

FIG. 24 shows a driving state of the vegetable compartment fan 53 at the time of cooling+temperature equalization by the timer control operation, and the rotation for cooling and the rotation for temperature equalization are performed for a predetermined constant timer driving time (S13a). Thereby, the inside of the vegetable compartment 8 is cooled and maintained within a predetermined temperature range, and the cold air in the vegetable compartment is prevented from being circulated as described above to cause a large temperature difference in the vegetable compartment, thereby suppressing the occurrence of dew condensation.

Here, the vegetable compartment fan 53 is also driven during the cooling+soaking operation (S12) in the timer control operation (S5) for the time set in consideration of the outside air temperature in step (S3). (S13a). Therefore, as in the case of the temperature equalizing operation, the cold air in the vegetable compartment can be circulated without excess or deficiency depending on the amount of radiant heat from the outside air received from the door side, etc. It can be taken in. As a result, the temperature inside the vegetable compartment can be reliably equalized to prevent dew condensation due to the temperature difference from occurring reliably and efficiently, and the inside of the vegetable compartment 8 can be reliably kept within the predetermined temperature range without being affected by the outside air temperature. Cooling can be maintained inside. Moreover, since the rotation of the vegetable compartment fan 53 is further controlled at the time determined by the timer control operation, it tends to occur when the temperature in the vegetable compartment 8 is constantly detected to control the rotation of the vegetable compartment fan 53. Variations in temperature control due to temperature detection delay can be reduced, and the temperature in the vegetable compartment 8 can be stabilized and the vegetables can be cooled and stored in good condition.

Next, the temperature control operation (S6) will be described.

When the temperature control operation is started (S6), the cooling timer driving time among the timer driving times set in the step (S3) is further corrected according to the temperature of the vegetable compartment 8 and set as the cooling temperature driving time. (S7).

Then, as in the timer control operation (S5), it is confirmed whether the cooling operation is being performed, that is, whether the compressor 15 and the cooling fan 19 are operating (S8).

In this case, since the determination of the temperature of the vegetable compartment in step (S4) is not less than the predetermined temperature range, the compressor 15 and the cooling fan 19 are naturally operating, and after that, whether the refrigerator compartment damper 31 is open, that is, the refrigeration compartment The room damper 31 is opened to supply the cool air from the cooling room 16 to the refrigerating room 7 and the vegetable room 8 to check whether or not each of these rooms is being cooled (S9). Since the determination of the temperature of the vegetable compartment in) is above the predetermined temperature range, the compressor 15 and the cooling fan 19 are in operation, the refrigerator compartment damper 31 is open and cooling, and the vegetable compartment fan 53 is driven. The chamber 8 is cooled and the temperature is equalized (S12).

Here, the driving of the vegetable compartment fan 53 in the cooling+equalizing operation (S12) in the temperature control operation (S6) is based on the cooling temperature drive time corrected based on the vegetable compartment temperature in the step (S7). When the cooling temperature driving time has elapsed (S13b), the operation is stopped (S14). That is, when the temperature rises due to the outside air entering by opening the vegetable compartment by loading and unloading vegetables and the like, the cooling temperature drive time set based on the temperature in the vegetable compartment is rotated and stopped. Therefore, it is possible to surely and quickly cool the vegetable compartment to a predetermined temperature, and to equalize the temperature of the vegetable compartment to prevent dew condensation.

FIG. 25 shows a driving state of the vegetable compartment fan 53 by the temperature control operation (S6). The cooling time for cooling the vegetable compartment performed in addition to the temperature equalizing time for equalizing the temperature of the vegetable compartment is shown as follows. The length of the vegetable compartment fan 53 increases according to the temperature of the compartment 8, and the vegetable compartment fan 53 rotates for an optimum time according to the temperature of the vegetable compartment 8 (S13b). As a result, the amount of cold air taken into the vegetable compartment can be increased and the interior of the vegetable compartment 8 can be cooled surely and quickly, and at the same time, the temperature inside the vegetable compartment can be equalized and the occurrence of dew condensation can be prevented. In this case, by increasing the driving time of the vegetable compartment fan 53 and simultaneously increasing the rotation speed or increasing the rotation speed only, the amount of cold air taken into the vegetable compartment is increased to bring the vegetable compartment 8 to a predetermined temperature in a shorter time. Can be cooled down to be effective.

FIG. 26 is a timing chart showing an example of the cooling situation of the vegetable compartment when controlled by the control of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 26, when the temperature in the vegetable compartment 8 is within a predetermined temperature range that is a stable temperature state (X), the vegetable compartment fan 53 is cooled for the timer control operation time defined in step (S3) and When the vegetable compartment 8 is opened to take out vegetables and the like and the temperature of the vegetable compartment becomes high (Y) during a transitional period (Y), the vegetable compartment fan 53 is driven according to the temperature of the vegetable compartment. The cooling time becomes longer and the vegetable compartment 8 is cooled efficiently, and as the temperature of the vegetable compartment decreases, the cooling time for driving the vegetable compartment fan 53 becomes shorter and the temperature of the vegetable compartment is stable at the end. When the temperature is within the predetermined temperature range (X), the timer control operation time determined in step (S3) is returned to cool and soak the vegetable compartment.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 27 is a perspective view for explaining the cool air flow in the rear part of the cooling chamber of the refrigerator in the second embodiment, and FIG. 28 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the cool air flow in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator in the second embodiment.

The refrigerator according to the second embodiment has a vegetable cold air inlet 45 and a vegetable cold air return port 46 separately provided instead of the vegetable cold air inlet/outlet 44 described in the first embodiment. That is, the vegetable cold air inlet 45 is provided in the vegetable chamber 8 and the vegetable cold air return port 46 is provided at a position above the vegetable cold air inlet 45, for example, near the confluence of the first passage 47a, the second passage 51a and the vegetable chamber passage portion 50. It is provided.

The rest of the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment including the control, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.

In the case of the second embodiment, the cold air into the vegetable compartment is the cold air in the cold air return passage 38 from the vegetable cold air inlet 45, and the cold air in the vegetable compartment 8 is from the vegetable cold air return opening 46 to the cold air return passage 38. And spill. Therefore, as compared with the case where the cold air enters and exits from one vegetable cold air inlet/outlet 44, the cold air comes in and out more smoothly, and more cold air flows into the vegetable compartment 8, and the cold air is efficiently taken into the vegetable compartment 8 The inside can be cooled strongly. Therefore, it is effective, for example, in a refrigerator in which the vegetable compartment 8 is located at the lowermost portion of the refrigerator body and the bottom of the vegetable compartment 8 receives heat radiation from the outside air and is unlikely to lower the temperature.

Other functions and effects are the same as those in the first embodiment except that the cold air enters and leaves the vegetable cold air inlet/outlet 44 to suppress the dry deterioration of the vegetables, and the description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, the refrigerator of each of the above-described embodiments has a configuration in which the vegetable compartment is arranged between the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment, and there is no heat absorption amount from the refrigerating compartment/freezing compartment of the vegetable compartment so that the stored food in the vegetable compartment The temperature of the vegetable room is stable except when replacing. Therefore, the temperature of the vegetable compartment is stable.When the temperature of the vegetable compartment is within the predetermined temperature range, it suffices to perform the timer-controlled operation to drive the vegetable compartment fan, and the temperature of the vegetable compartment rises sharply due to the replacement of stored items. When the temperature of the vegetable compartment is higher than the predetermined temperature range, the vegetable compartment can be cooled by performing the temperature control operation that drives the vegetable compartment fan for the time set based on the temperature of the vegetable compartment, and the optimal temperature control of the vegetable compartment can be realized. ..

And the refrigerator of each of the above-mentioned embodiments can suppress the generation of dew condensation due to the temperature difference in the vegetable compartment and can cool and maintain the vegetable compartment at a low temperature at the same time, and can always cool and store the vegetables in a good state. However, since this refrigerator also has the following effects regarding the cooling of the vegetable compartment, this will be described below.

First, in this embodiment, since the vegetable compartment fan 53 circulates the cool air toward the outer periphery of the lower vegetable storage case 49a and the upper vegetable storage case 49b of the vegetable storage case 48, the cold air circulated by the vegetable compartment fan 53 is in the lower stage. It is possible to prevent the vegetables from entering the vegetable storage case 49a and the upper vegetable storage case 49b from flowing between the vegetables, and prevent the dry deterioration of the vegetables, which tends to occur due to the cold air flowing between the vegetables, to be fresh and good. The vegetables can be stored in a cold state.

Particularly, in this embodiment, the first vegetable cold air suction port 47 which also serves as a cold air suction port for diffusing or circulating in the vegetable chamber is provided above the vegetable storage case 48 constituted by the lower vegetable storage case 49a and the upper vegetable storage case 49b. Since the second vegetable cold air suction port 51 is provided, the cold air circulating in the vegetable compartment 8 does not enter the vegetable storage case 48 composed of the lower vegetable storage case 49a and the upper vegetable storage case 49b, and is kept in the first state. The vegetable cold air suction port 47 and the second vegetable cold air suction port 51 are made to flow, and it is possible to more reliably prevent the vegetables from drying and deteriorating and to cool and store the vegetables in a fresh and good state. This can be further increased by bringing the upper opening edge of the upper vegetable storage case 49b closer to the partition plate 5 which also serves as the vegetable room ceiling surface, and can be further effectively increased by providing a lid for covering the upper surface opening. You can

In addition, since the vegetable compartment fan 53 is located below the upper opening edge of the vegetable compartment 48 configured by the lower vegetable compartment 49a and the upper vegetable compartment 49b, the vegetable compartment fan 53 blows air from the vegetable compartment fan 53. The cold air circulates in the vegetable storage case 48, particularly around the bottom surface and lower periphery of the lower stage vegetable storage case 49a. Therefore, the cold air circulated by the vegetable compartment fan 53 becomes more difficult to enter the vegetable storage case 48, and the dry deterioration of the vegetables caused by the cold air entering the vegetable storage case 48 and being circulated is ensured also from this point. It can be prevented, and the vegetables can be stored under cooling in a fresher and better condition.

In addition, in this embodiment, the vegetable storage case 48 partitions the inside of the lower vegetable storage case 49a into left and right parts, and a non-vegetable storage part 59 such as a plastic bottle or a pack (hereinafter referred to as a storage part 59 for a plastic bottle, etc.) is provided on one side thereof. Is provided, and a vegetable compartment fan 53 is provided in the rear portion of the vegetable compartment on the side of the PET bottle storage section 59, so that cold air in the vegetable compartment is circulated toward the PET bottle storage section 59. Therefore, the cold air from the vegetable compartment fan 53 is intensively circulated around the PET bottle storage section 59, and the PET bottles, packs, etc. stored in the PET bottle storage section 59 can be efficiently cooled. You can Drinking water such as PET bottles and packs stored in the storage portion 59 such as PET bottles is particularly effective because it has a larger heat capacity than vegetables and is difficult to cool. The rise can be efficiently suppressed, the dew formation can be effectively prevented, and at the same time, the vegetables can be well preserved.

In particular, in this embodiment, the first vegetable cold air suction port 47 provided in the vegetable compartment 8 together with the vegetable compartment fan 53 is also provided in the portion of the vegetable storage case 48 on the side of the storage portion 59 such as the PET bottle. This is effective because the cool air from the vegetable compartment fan 53 can be more efficiently and intensively circulated in the storage portion such as the PET bottle.

In addition, since the second vegetable cold air suction port 51 also serving as another suction port for circulating the cold air in the vegetable chamber 8 is provided in the upper portion of the vegetable chamber substantially diagonally to the vegetable chamber fan 53, The cold air from the vegetable compartment fan 53 circulates forward through the bottom surface of the storage part 59 such as the PET bottle of the vegetable storage case 48 while diagonally traversing the inside of the vegetable compartment 8 to cool the second vegetable cold air in the upper portion of the vegetable compartment. As it flows to the suction port 51, it is composed of a lower vegetable storage case 49a and an upper vegetable storage case 49b while preventing cold air from entering the vegetable compartment case consisting of the lower vegetable storage case 49a and the upper vegetable storage case 49b. Cold air can be circulated in a wide range around the vegetable case, and the vegetables and PET bottles can be effectively cooled.

In addition, in this refrigerator, a communication passage 39 is formed between the cold storage cold air passage 32 and the cold storage cold air return passage 33, and when the vegetable compartment fan 53 rotates, the suction force of the cooling fan cools the cold storage cold air passage 32. Fresh cold air is mixed into the refrigerated cold air return passage 33, and is supplied from the vegetable cold air inlet/outlet 44 into the vegetable compartment 8 through the return passage 38. That is, the vegetable compartment 8 is cooled by the return cool air having a relatively high temperature after cooling the refrigerating compartment from the refrigerating compartment 7, but in this refrigerator, the cold air after the refrigerating compartment is cooled by the rotation of the vegetable compartment fan 53. Fresh cold air having a low temperature is mixed with the cold air to cool the vegetable compartment 8 with the cold air. Therefore, the vegetable compartment 8 can be effectively cooled, and the vegetable compartment 8 can be reliably cooled even when the cooling load condition is bad, such as when a large amount of vegetables and PET bottles are temporarily stored. be able to. Further, the amount of low-temperature fresh cold air taken in through the communication passage 39 can be increased by increasing the rotation speed of the vegetable compartment fan 53, and a large amount of ordinary temperature PET bottles having a large heat capacity in the summer were stored. Even at times, it can be cooled reliably. Moreover, since the vegetable compartment 8 can be reliably cooled, the occurrence of dew condensation due to cold radiation from the cooling compartment 16 can be efficiently suppressed, and the vegetables can be cooled and stored in a good state.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the configurations described in the above embodiments are shown as an example for carrying out the present invention, and various modifications can be made within the scope of achieving the object of the present invention. Needless to say.

For example, in the present embodiment, the vegetable compartment fan 53 is divided into the temperature-equalizing operation and the cooling operation separately, but the temperature-equalizing operation and the cooling operation are performed in one continuous time. It may be performed.

Further, the temperature correction of the vegetable compartment fan drive time performed when the temperature of the vegetable compartment 8 is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature is described as being performed only for the cooling drive time, but this is also performed together with the temperature equalization drive time. However, it may be appropriately selected.

Further, the cooling/cooling stop of the vegetable compartment, that is, the supply/stop of the cold air to the vegetable compartment 8 is performed by using the refrigerator compartment damper 31, but the vegetable compartment damper dedicated to the vegetable compartment is provided to supply/stop. May be performed. In that case, (S9) shown in each of the above-described embodiments may be set as “open vegetable compartment damper?”.

Also, as the refrigerator, the middle vegetable type refrigerator in which the vegetable compartment 8 is provided between the refrigerating compartment 7 and the freezing compartment 9 has been described as an example, but this is a refrigerator in which the vegetable compartment 8 is at the bottom. However, it is sufficient that the cooling chamber 16 is installed across the back surfaces of the vegetable compartment 8 and the freezing compartment 9.

The refrigerator according to the present invention is capable of suppressing the occurrence of dew condensation in the vegetable compartment and keeping the vegetable compartment cooled at a low temperature at the same time, and can be a highly reliable refrigerator that cools and preserves vegetables in a good state for household use. Of course, it can be widely applied to commercial refrigerators.

1 Refrigerator Main Body 7 Refrigerator Room 8 Vegetable Room 9 Freezer Room 10, 11, 12 Door 15 Compressor 16 Cooling Room 17 Back Partition Wall 18 Cooler 19 Cooling Fan 25 Cooling Air Return Passage 30 Cooling Room Cooling Air Transfer Path 31 Refrigeration Room damper 32 Refrigerated cold air return passage 33 Refrigerated cold air return passage 34 Refrigerator damper 35 Refrigerated cold air inlet 36 Refrigerated cold air return port 37 Forward passage 38 Return passage 39 Communication passage 40 Cold air return duct 42 Refrigerated cold air inlet 43 Refrigerated cold air return port 44 Vegetable cold air Doorway 46 Vegetable cold air return port 47 First vegetable cold air intake port 47a First passage 48 Vegetable storage case 49a Lower vegetable storage case 49b Upper vegetable storage case 50 Vegetable chamber passage 51 Second vegetable cold air inlet 51a Second Passage 52 Second cold air circulation 53 Vegetable room fan 59 Non-vegetable storage (storage for PET bottles, etc.)
65 refrigerating room temperature detecting means 66 vegetable room temperature detecting means 67 freezing room temperature detecting means 68 outside air temperature detecting means 69 control section

Claims (7)

A refrigerator,
A vegetable room,
A cold air inlet provided in the vegetable compartment, which supplies cold air to the vegetable compartment,
A vegetable compartment fan provided at a position overlapping the cold air inlet when viewed from the front of the refrigerator,
A control means for controlling the operation of the vegetable compartment fan,
When the temperature of the vegetable compartment is an appropriate temperature, the control means drives the vegetable compartment fan under a predetermined condition, and when the temperature of the vegetable compartment is high, the control means controls the temperature of the vegetable compartment to be high. A refrigerator characterized in that the vegetable compartment fan is driven more frequently than when the temperature is appropriate. A refrigerator,
A vegetable room,
A cold air inlet provided in the vegetable compartment, which supplies cold air to the vegetable compartment,
A vegetable compartment fan provided at a position overlapping the cold air inlet when viewed from the front of the refrigerator,
A control means for controlling the operation of the vegetable compartment fan,
When the temperature of the vegetable compartment is a suitable temperature, the control means drives the vegetable compartment fan in the first mode, and when the temperature of the vegetable compartment is high, the control means operates in the second mode. Drive the vegetable compartment fan,
The first mode and the second mode are modes in which a period in which the vegetable compartment fan is driven and a period in which the vegetable compartment fan is stopped are repeated, and a period in which the vegetable compartment fan is driven in the second mode. Is longer than the period in which the vegetable compartment fan is driven in the first mode. The case where the temperature of the vegetable compartment is a suitable temperature is a case where the temperature of the vegetable compartment is within a predetermined range, and the case where the temperature of the vegetable compartment is high, the temperature of the vegetable compartment is the predetermined temperature. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the refrigerator is higher than the range. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the control unit does not drive the vegetable compartment fan when the temperature of the vegetable compartment is low. The case where the temperature of the vegetable compartment is a suitable temperature is a case where the temperature of the vegetable compartment is within a predetermined range, and the case where the temperature of the vegetable compartment is high, the temperature of the vegetable compartment is the predetermined temperature. 5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the temperature of the vegetable compartment is lower than the predetermined range, and the case where the temperature of the vegetable compartment is low is a case where the temperature of the vegetable compartment is lower than the predetermined range. A refrigerating compartment is provided at the top of the refrigerator, a freezing compartment is provided at the bottom of the refrigerator, and the vegetable compartment is provided below the refrigerating compartment and above the freezing compartment. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 5. Further comprising a return passage for circulating the cold air in the refrigerating compartment in the cooling compartment,
The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the cold air inlet is provided in the return passage.

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