JPH0660785B2 - Food storage container for refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a refrigerator food storage container, and more particularly to a refrigerator food storage container suitable for preventing the growth of mold, yeast, and bacteria.

[Conventional technology]

A conventional refrigerator emits steam generated from substances having a sterilizing property such as alcohol or chlorine dioxide to prevent mold.
It was to prevent bacteria and deodorize.

Incidentally, one related to this type of refrigerator is, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 58-9692.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

Steam Prior art has indicated that alcohol and chlorine dioxide are not sufficient against common molds and bacteria. Furthermore, if the concentration in the air is increased, there is a possibility that the cause of solvent cracking of the plastic material forming the refrigerator inner box and the corrosion of metals such as copper aluminum may be promoted. Further, when the once adsorbed substance is evaporated, the bactericidal effect is insufficient because the evaporation rate is initially high but the amount of evaporation gradually decreases.

An object of the present invention is to provide a food storage container for a refrigerator in which the growth of molds, yeasts, bacteria and other microorganisms attached to the food storage container is suppressed and the freshness of the food is maintained for a long period of time.

[Means for solving problems]

The above object is achieved in a food storage container for a refrigerator, which is composed of a case made of a plastic material and molded, wherein the plastic material contains n-butyl p-oxybenzoate or propyl p-oxybenzoate. .

[Action]

The fungicide in the plastic material gradually comes out on the surface of the plastic material through the talc and titanium dioxide mixed in the plastic material. Also, due to the halo effect of the fungicide itself, it has the function of suppressing the growth of fungi even if some nutrients are attached to the surface.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of a freezer-refrigerator, which has a freezer chamber 2, a refrigerating chamber 3, an ice temperature chilled chamber 4, a refrigerated chilled chamber 5, and a vegetable chamber 6 inside. 7
Is an ice temperature chilled case for storing food in the ice temperature chilled room,
Reference numeral 8 denotes a refrigerated chilled case in which foods stored in the refrigerated chilled chamber are put. Reference numeral 9 is a cooler, and 10 is a fan for circulating cold air.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a temperature adjusting damper section for distributing cold air.
The freezer compartment 2 is kept at -18 ° C, the refrigerator compartment 3 is kept at 4 ° C, and the bottom vegetable compartment 6 is kept at 6 ° C. Especially when frozen with fresh food, it has a bad texture and spoils the taste, but -1 ℃ in the ice temperature chilled chamber 4 for storing tuna, bonito sashimi, beef, etc. The chilled chilled room 5 that holds raw vegetables and raw noodles is +
Hold at 1 ° C. Cold air is distributed to the ice temperature chilled chamber 4 and the refrigerated chilled chamber 5 through a cool air ventilation passage 12 provided on the back of the refrigerator and kept at their respective temperatures. The ice temperature chilled case 7 and the refrigerated chilled case 8 are made of polypropylene resin, polystyrene resin, or the like. If the surface of the constituent material in each of the above cases is in a clean state, no mold or bacterial growth is observed. However, when foods adhere to the surface, the adhered substances serve as a nutrient source, and fungi and bacteria that are resistant to low temperatures brought from the distribution channel of foods propagate. Even if there is a substance serving as a nutritional source on the surface of the plastic, the fungicide chemically damages the organisms of fungi and bacteria in the nutritional source, and induces cytoplasm. It reacts with the enzyme protein and inhibits its activity, depriving it of its vitality.

The antifungal agent must have the following conditions: (1) Penetration of surface deposits to provide antifungal effect. (2) It has a residual effect of penetrating the surface. (3) Mold against a wide range of molds and fungi,
Must be antibacterial. (4) Highly safe for the human body. (5) Do not adversely affect the strength of the plastic. (6) Easy to use and inexpensive. It is necessary that various conditions such as P-Oxybenzoic acid n is used as an antifungal agent satisfying the above conditions for various antifungal materials.
-I found butyl. An example of the fungicide n-butyl p-oxybenzoate will be described in detail. 95 parts of polypropylene natural material and 5 parts of n-butyl paraoxybenzoate were mixed by a mixer and extruded. Using a machine, cut it into thin rods to cut into pellets, and use the pellets to make 94 parts of polypropylene natural material and 5 pieces of talc.
Add 1 part to 1 part and mix well to make an ice temperature chilled case by injection molding. Next, change the injection mold and make a refrigerated chilled case. The test piece is cut out from several places of the prepared container, and the fungicidal and antibacterial effect is exhibited by testing the antifungal and antibacterial effects against various fungi and representative bacteria. This test product contained n-butyl p-oxybenzoate at a concentration of 0.1%, but in the same manner, a case of 1% concentration was made, and its fungicidal and antibacterial effect was tested, while its strength was measured.
There is no practical problem. Even if the above-mentioned fungicide is not directly kneaded into the material of the case but a sheet kneaded with the fungicide is attached to the inside of the case, there is a fungicidal action. Also, the same effect can be obtained by making a sludge kneaded with an antifungal and antibacterial agent and placing it on the bottom of a fresh food storage case. In addition to the above, p-
Similar effects can be obtained by converting propyl oxybenzoate.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a fungicide consisting of n-butyl p-oxybenzoate or propyl p-oxybenzoate is added to ABS, styrene, polypropylene at 0.1-1.0%.
Blending was performed to form an inner box for a refrigerator, a door liner, an ice temperature chilled case, a refrigerated chilled case, and a vegetable case.

As a result, an effect was recognized with a formulation of 0.1%, and 0.5% to 1.
If 0% is added, the growth of mold will be greatly suppressed. For bacteria, the effect appears at 0.5%, and 1.0% is sufficient.

As another embodiment, the ice temperature chilled case 6 is a transparent styrene resin, the refrigerated chilled case 7 is a white styrene resin,
The vegetable case 8 is made of white polypropylene resin. When a fungicide is added to these cases, it must be uniformly dispersed in every part of the cases. For this purpose, n-butyl p-oxybenzoate or propyl p-oxybenzoate was added to the base resin in an amount corresponding to 0.1 to 1.0% by weight, which was thoroughly mixed with a mixer and heated with an extruder. It is melted, stirred with a screw, extruded into a thin rod shape, cut into pellets, and then subjected to injection molding.

Surface permeability is a necessary property for maintaining the antifungal effect for a long period of time, but since white refrigerated chilled case 7 and vegetable case 8 contain titanium oxide as a pigment, the antifungal agent is Although it will penetrate into the surface, talc used as a reinforcing material should be
Fill 5%. On the other hand, in a transparent styrene resin like the ice temperature chilled case 6, 0.5 to 1.0% of an amphoteric activator metal salt or a cationic activator is blended.

According to this example, the fungicide is uniformly dispersed in each part of the molded product. As a result of measuring the characteristic absorption by collecting samples from the front, back and both sides of the vegetable container by infrared spectroscopy, the variation in the concentration of the fungicide is within 5%.

Regarding the sustainability of the effect, fine particles of titanium oxide or talc are dispersed in the resin of white styrene resin or polypropylene resin, so that the surface penetration of the antifungal agent proceeds through them. The effect is not deteriorated even by the result of conducting the fungus resistance test after continuing the surface cleaning with water. Even when the amphoteric activator metal salt is added to the transparent styrene resin,
It has the same effect.

As another embodiment, a natural material 10 made of styrene resin is used.
0 part, n-butyl p-oxybenzoate or propyl p-oxybenzoate 1 part and glycerin fatty acid ester 0.
Mix 5 parts with a mixer and make a vegetable container by injection molding. The glycerin fatty acid ester blended in the styrene resin is usually added as a mold release agent for improving the mold releasability of the molded product from the mold at the time of injection molding. Glycerin aliphatic ester
The presence of 0.5% plays a role in promoting surface penetration of the fungicide. The p-oxybenzoic acid ester is effective when it is present in an amount of 0.1% or more, but its effect on the physical properties and the moldability of the p-oxybenzoic acid ester are reduced. Regarding safety, p-oxybenzoic acid ester is specified as a food additive and there is no problem.

When the molds in the vegetable containers were detected for 3 months by incorporating the vegetable containers molded according to the examples in the refrigerator, the molds with the addition of the fungicide were compared with those without the mold. It was revealed that the number of molds was greatly reduced.

According to this example, since the glycerin fatty acid ester blended in the styrene resin bleeds out to the surface, the surface penetration of the fungicide slightly progresses, and the effect continues for a long time. The glycerin fatty acid ester has the effect of not impairing the transparency even when added to the transparent styrene resin.

As another example, n-butyl p-oxybenzoate or propyl p-oxybenzoate 50 parts, coloring pigment 4
Mix 0 parts and 10 parts of metal soap well with a mixer,
The n-butyl p-oxybenzoate is heated to a melting point of 60 [deg.] C. or higher to granulate it by friction heat resulting from the mixing, and then cooled to form granular pellets, which are used as master batches. This master batch is made of polypropylene-natural material 94
Parts and 5 parts of talc are mixed in an amount corresponding to 1 part and mixed well to make a vegetable container by injection molding.

The talc blended with polypropylene is usually added to improve the rigidity.
-When a fungicide such as oxybenzoic acid ester is added, the presence of 5 to 6% of talc plays a role of promoting surface penetration of the fungicide.

Further, the metal soap blended in the granular master batch plays a role of uniformly branching the antifungal agent and the coloring pigment into the polypropylene resin at the time of injection molding. The p-oxybenzoic acid ester exerts its effect when it is present in an amount of 0.1% or more, but its effect on the physical properties and the moldability of the p-oxybenzoic acid ester are deteriorated, so the p-oxybenzoic acid ester needs to be 1% or less. Regarding safety, p-oxybenzoic acid ester is designated as a food additive and has no problem.

When the molds in the vegetable containers were detected for 3 months by incorporating the vegetable containers molded according to the examples in the refrigerator, the molds with the addition of the fungicide were compared with those without the mold. It was revealed that the number of molds was greatly reduced.

According to this example, since the temperature at which the granular master batch is made is 60 ° C. low, there is almost no transpiration amount of the fungicide p-oxybenzoic acid ester during the production of the master batch, which is economical and the final molded product is economical. Since the addition amount of can be added without loss, the antifungal effect is also improved. In addition, because the granular master batch production uses friction heat due to mixing with a mixer and does not use a resin as a binder,
Since a high-concentration fungicide and a high-concentration color pigment can be blended at the same time, the manufacturing process can be simplified and the power consumption can be reduced, which is economical. Further, it is characterized in that the antifungal agent and the color pigment are uniformly branched in the polypropylene resin by the metal soap compounded in the granular master batch. Further, since fine particles of an inorganic component such as talc and titanium oxide mixed in polypropylene are dispersed, surface penetration of the antifungal agent slightly progresses, and the effect continues for a long time.

〔The invention's effect〕

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the fungus | microbe of the fungus | microbe and fungus | microbe which adheres to a foodstuff from the distribution channel of the stored food, and the fungus | fung-proof of the said n-butyl paraoxy benzoate removes vitality by a bacteriostatic effect, and prevents reproduction of the microbe itself. You can In addition, it is possible to prevent the odor of organic acids and the like excreted by microorganisms, and the effect of maintaining the high freshness of stored food is great.

[Brief description of drawings]

The figure is a vertical sectional view of a refrigerator-freezer. 1 ... Main body of refrigerator / freezer, 2 ... Freezer, 3 ... Refrigerator, 4
… Ice temperature chilled room, 5… Refrigerated chilled room, 6… Vegetable room, 7…
Ice temperature chilled case, 8 ... Refrigerated chilled case, 9 ... Cooler, 10 ... Fan for cold air circulation, 11 ... Damper for temperature adjustment, 12 ... Cold air ventilation passage.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Kameda Miyakichi 800, Tomita, Ohira-cho, Shimotsuga-gun, Tochigi Hitachi Co., Ltd. Tochigi Plant (72) Kinya Uchida, 800, Tomita, Ohira-cho, Shimotsuga-gun, Tochigi Hitachi, Ltd. Tochigi factory

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A food storage container for a refrigerator comprising a case formed of plastics material, wherein the plastics material contains n-butyl p-oxybenzoate or propyl p-oxybenzoate. Food storage container for refrigerator.