JPH06257924A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a refrigerator having a high voltage processing function in order to improve quality of storing and quality of defreezing of foods, in particular, raw fresh meats and fishes and the like. CONSTITUTION:A part of or all freezing chamber is applied as an electrical field processing chamber 11. A pair of needle-like electrode 21, flat plate electrode 22 opposing in a vertical orientation from each other and a high voltage power source 23 are arranged around the processing chamber 11. In the case that a door 15 of the electrical field processing chamber 11 is kept open, a device 25 is provided in such a manner that the high voltage power source 23 is not electrically energized. In addition, there is provided a time control means 29 for electrically energizing the high voltage power source 23 only when a storing of food 30 is detected by a food storing sensor means 28.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a high-voltage treatment function for improving the storage quality of foods, particularly fresh meat and aquatic seafood.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as a refrigerator having a high voltage processing function, as disclosed in JP-A-2-257867, frozen foods are applied with an anion by a high-voltage induction electrostatic method to -3.degree. A method of thawing within a temperature of 3 ° C has been proposed.

A conventionally proposed method for thawing food in a refrigerator will be described below. FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a conventionally proposed refrigerator, 1 is a high-voltage power supply, 2 is a refrigerator, and 3 is a refrigerator.
Is an inner box, 4 is a heat insulating material, 5 is a frozen product, and 6 is an inside. The secondary side one pole of the high voltage power source 1 is insulated, and only the other one pole is connected to the electrically conductive inner box 3 such as stainless steel so that the anion electrons due to electrostatic induction can be applied. At that time, the interior 6 and the shelves are connected by a clasp and are in a conductive state. The secondary voltage of the high voltage power supply 1 is designed to be 5 kV to 20 kV.

In the refrigerator constructed as described above,
The defrosting method will be described below. First of all, the temperature of the inside 6
It is set to 3 ° C. to 3 ° C., the frozen product 5 to be thawed is placed on a shelf, and a switch (not shown) of the high voltage power source 1 is turned on to start the thawing.

Therefore, the frozen product 5 can be quickly and evenly thawed by receiving an anion electron due to electrostatic induction. In addition, the sterilizing effect is excellent and the drip amount can be reduced.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned configuration, the inner box 3 of the refrigerator needs to be made of a metal material such as stainless steel, which increases the cost. Also,
The effect disappears unless the anion electron is applied to the frozen product 5 directly. Therefore, in order to bring out the effect, the frozen product 5 needs to be brought into contact with the inner box 3 and it is necessary to continuously energize during thawing. . Furthermore, even if the frozen product 5 is put in a plastic container having no electrical conductivity and thawed, no effect is obtained. Therefore, there is a problem that the refrigerator of the conventionally proposed defrosting method has various restrictions and is inconvenient to use.

In view of the above problems, the present invention improves frozen storage quality by applying a method in which an anion electron is not directly applied to a frozen product but a food is kept at a high electric field for a short time immediately before and during freezing and then frozen. An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator capable of suppressing drip at the time of thawing without performing a quick freezing process and without being restricted by the packaging condition of food, the type of container, and the like.

[0008]

In order to achieve this object, a refrigerator of the present invention has an electric field treatment chamber in a part or whole of a freezing chamber, and needle electrodes on the upper and lower sides or left and right side faces around the electric field treatment chamber. And a flat plate electrode facing the needle electrode and a high-voltage power supply.

Further, when the processing chamber door is open, the high voltage power supply is not energized.

Further, a control means is provided so as to energize the high voltage power source for a predetermined time only when the food storage detecting means detects the food storage.

[0011]

The refrigerator of the present invention has the above-mentioned structure, and is subjected to a high electric field treatment for a short time before or during freezing, without being restricted by the packaging condition of the food, the type of the container, etc. Frozen storage quality (such as suppressing drying) and thawing quality (such as suppressing drip) can be improved.

Further, when the electric field processing chamber door is in an open state, safety can be ensured by not energizing the high-voltage power supply with the switch.

Furthermore, by providing a food storage detecting means and energizing the high-voltage power supply for a predetermined time only when the storage of food is detected, the electric field can be automatically processed, which is convenient.

[0014]

【Example】

(Embodiment 1) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 7 denotes a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is a freezer compartment 8, a refrigerating compartment 9, a vegetable compartment 10, and an electric field treatment compartment 11 provided in a part of the freezer compartment 8. It is configured. Each room has doors 12, 13, 14, and 15 and forms a closed space surrounded by a heat insulating box 16 of the main body. Reference numeral 17 is an air passage, 18 is a heat exchanger, 19 is a fan for sending cool air to each chamber, and 20 is a compressor.

In the electric field treatment chamber 11, one or a plurality of needle-like electrodes 21 are arranged on the top surface, and a flat plate electrode 22 made of metal such as copper, aluminum or stainless steel is arranged on the bottom surface. A high-voltage power supply 23 is provided on the back of the top surface, and the high-voltage power supply 23, the needle electrode 21 and the flat plate electrode 22 are connected to each other by the high-voltage wire 2.
4 are connected.

Further, a limit switch 25 that contacts the door 15 is placed in the processing chamber 11 so that the high voltage power supply 23 can be energized only when the door 15 of the electric field processing chamber 11 is closed. It is located in the front part of the bottom of the.

Further, a weight sensor 26 is arranged on the bottom surface of the electric field processing chamber 11. Reference numeral 27 denotes a door open / close determination means, which determines the open / closed state of the door 15 of the electric field processing chamber 11 in response to a signal from the limit switch 25. Reference numeral 28 denotes a food storage detecting means, which determines the storage status of food according to the signal from the weight sensor 26. Further, 29 is a CPU as a time control means, which is operated by a program stored in a storage circuit (not shown) as is well known, and the high voltage is output by output signals from the door open / close determination means 27 and the food storage detection means 28. The power supply to the power source 23 is controlled.

Regarding the refrigerator configured as described above,
The operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

First, when the purchased food (meat, seafood, etc.) 30 is stored in the electric field processing chamber 11 by opening the door 15 of the electric field processing chamber 11, the signal from the limit switch 25 is read and the door 15 is opened. The open / closed state of is determined (step S1). If the door 15 is open, the CPU
Reference numeral 29 keeps the relay (not shown) of the high-voltage power supply 23 in an open state, and keeps the high-voltage power supply 23 OFF (step S2).

When the door 15 is in the closed state,
Next, the signal from the weight sensor 26 is read, and the food 30
The storage state of is determined (step S3). If after opening the door 15 and closing the door 15 again without inserting anything for some reason, it is judged that there is no food storage, and the CP
U29 keeps the high-voltage power supply 23 in the OFF state as it is (step S4).

When the food 30 is stored in a predetermined place, the CPU 29 relays the high voltage power supply 23 (not shown).
Is turned on, a high voltage of several kV is applied to the needle electrode 21 for a predetermined time, a high electric field is formed in the space between the needle electrode 21 and the plate electrode 22, and the food 30 is subjected to an electric field treatment for a predetermined time ( For the electric field treatment of food, see "Science Asahi" 19
1984, July issue, etc.).

The electric field processed food 30 is
Suppression of drying during storage and drip when taken out and thawed after storage for a certain period of time are suppressed, and the outflow of umami components and nutritional components can be prevented. The principle by which this drip is suppressed has not yet been clarified, but it is considered that the electric field treatment enhances the bond between water molecules in the food and the food tissue and enhances water retention.

Further, the high voltage power supply 23 can be energized only when the door 15 of the electric field processing chamber 11 is closed and the limit switch 25 is closed, so that the safety is high. The high voltage power supply 23 may be DC or AC.

Further, since the weight sensor 26 can automatically subject the food to the electric field for a predetermined time only by putting the food into the electric field treatment chamber 11, it is convenient.

Further, unlike the conventional method, since there is no restriction on the packaging state of the food 30 and the type of container, even if the food 30 is stored while being placed on a plastic or ceramic dish having no electric conductivity, The effect of various electric field treatment appears. Furthermore,
Since it is not necessary to make the inner wall of the electric field processing chamber 11 entirely of a metallic material such as stainless steel, the cost is lower than that of the conventional method.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the freezer compartment 8
An electric field treatment chamber 11 is provided in a part of the electric field treatment chamber, a needle electrode 21 is provided on the top surface of the electric field treatment chamber 11, and a flat plate electrode 22 made of metal such as copper, aluminum or stainless steel is provided on the bottom surface, and the top surface back portion is provided. By arranging the high-voltage power supply 23, the food immediately before freezing is subjected to an electric field treatment and then frozen, so that it is possible to significantly suppress dryness during frozen storage and drip outflow during thawing.

The high voltage power supply 23 can be energized only when the door 15 of the electric field processing chamber 11 is closed and the limit switch 25 is closed. Is high.

Further, since the weight sensor 26 can automatically process the electric field only by storing the food, it is convenient. The weight sensor 26 may detect the presence of food by another sensor such as an infrared sensor.

(Embodiment 2) Next, regarding the second embodiment,
This will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the freezer compartment 31 of the refrigerator according to the second embodiment, and 32 is an electric field treatment room provided in a part of the freezer compartment 31. The structure of the heat exchanger and the control means are the same as those in FIG.

33 is an adiabatic partition wall, and 34 is an electric field treatment chamber 32.
, 35 is a limit switch for detecting opening and closing of the door. Then, one or a plurality of needle electrodes 36 are arranged on the surface of the heat insulating box 16 on the right side, and a flat plate electrode 37 is arranged on the surface of the heat insulating partition wall 33 on the left side so as to face each other.
A high voltage power supply 38 is provided on the rear side of the rear surface of 2. High voltage power supply 3
Reference numeral 8 is connected to the needle electrode 36 and the flat plate electrode 37 by a high voltage wire 39. Reference numeral 40 denotes a CPU provided on the back surface of the heat insulating box 16 as time control means.

Regarding the refrigerator constructed as described above,
Since the operation is the same as that of the first embodiment, its explanation is omitted.

As described above, unlike the first embodiment, the needle electrode 36 and the flat plate electrode 37 are fixed to the heat insulating wall surfaces 16 and 33 on the left and right side surfaces of the electric field processing chamber 32, and therefore the high voltage wire 39 is used. Can be easily embedded in the heat insulating layer, and the insulation of the high voltage wire 39 can be improved. Also, the needle electrode 36 can be firmly fixed.
Other effects of the control means are similar to those of the first embodiment.

[0036]

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As described above, in the refrigerator of the present invention, a part or the whole of the freezing compartment is used as an electric field treatment chamber, and one or a plurality of needle-shaped electrodes and the opposing electrodes are disposed in the treatment chamber. Since it has a flat plate electrode and a high-voltage power supply that generates a high voltage on the needle-shaped electrode, unlike the conventional example, it is possible to easily perform an electric field treatment without being restricted by the packaging condition or container of food. By applying an electric field immediately before freezing or during freezing, it suppresses the drying during storage and the drip outflow of frozen food when taken out and thawed after storage for a certain period of time, and the outflow of umami and nutritional ingredients. It can be prevented.

Further, since the needle electrode and the flat plate electrode are arranged on the surfaces of the heat insulating walls facing each other in the electric field treatment chamber, all the high voltage wires connecting the both electrodes and the high voltage power source can be easily arranged in the heat insulating layer. Since it can be embedded, the insulation of the high voltage line can be improved.

Further, when the door of the electric field processing chamber is in an open state, a control means is provided so as not to energize the high voltage power supply, so that the electric field can be processed only when the door is closed. The safety can be ensured even if the high voltage electrode is touched by hand.

Further, since the control means is provided so as to energize the high voltage power source for a predetermined time only when the food storage detecting means detects the storage of the food, the electric field is automatically processed just by storing the food. Because it can be used, it is easy to use.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a first embodiment of a refrigerator according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the refrigerator according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a conventional refrigerator.

[Explanation of symbols]

 8 Freezing Room 11 Electric Field Treatment Room 15 Electric Field Treatment Room Door 16 Insulation Box 21 Needle-shaped Electrode 22 Plate Electrode 23 High Voltage Power Supply 25 Limit Switch 26 Weight Sensor 28 Food Storage Detecting Means 29 CPU 33 Insulation Partition Wall 34 Electric Field Treatment Room Door 35 Limit switch 36 Needle-shaped electrode 37 Plate electrode 38 High-voltage power supply 40 CPU

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A part or all of a freezing chamber is used as an electric field treatment chamber, and one or a plurality of needle-shaped electrodes in the treatment chamber, a flat plate electrode facing the needle-shaped electrodes, and the needle-shaped electrode. A refrigerator having a high-voltage power supply for generating a high voltage. 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the needle electrode is arranged above the processing chamber, and the plate electrode is arranged below. 3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the needle-shaped electrode and the flat plate electrode are arranged on the surfaces of the heat insulating walls facing each other in the electric field treatment chamber. 4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a control means so that the high voltage power supply is not energized when the door of the electric field processing chamber is in an open state. 5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising time control means for energizing the high-voltage power supply for a predetermined time only when food storage detection means detects food storage.