JPH067079A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the refrigerator capable of holding the freshness of vegetables for a long period of time even when the amount of the stored vegetables is a little, by holding the vegetable-storing container at a high humidity and simultaneously treating the vegetables with an electric field. CONSTITUTION:A lid 13 having a moisture-permeable membrane 13a is installed so as to cover the top face of a vegetable-storing container 12 whose top face is opened. A pair of needle-like electrodes 14 and a flat plate electrode 16, and a high voltage electric source 17 are arranged around the vegetable-storing container 12, the electrodes being vertically faced to each other. The refrigerator is provided with switches 19, 20 so as not to be connected to the high voltage electric source 17, when the door of the vegetable chamber is opened.

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 substantially sealed vegetable compartment in which vegetables can be stored fresh for a long period of time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as a method of storing vegetables in a refrigerator in a fresh state for a long period of time, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 21179/1990, a moisture permeable sheet and far-infrared radiation are provided at the top opening of a vegetable container. A method of attaching a moisture retaining sheet made of a non-moisture permeable binder mixed with die-shaped ceramic powder has been proposed.

A conventionally proposed vegetable storage container for a refrigerator will be described below. FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a conventionally proposed vegetable storage container for a refrigerator, and FIG.
It is an expanded sectional view which showed typically the portion surrounded by the -B line. Reference numeral 1 is a vegetable storage container, and 2 is a moisture retaining sheet including a moisture permeable sheet 3 and a print layer 4.
The moisture permeable sheet 3 is a woven fabric having strength and proper moisture permeability such as polyester taffeta and nylon taffeta, and the print layer 4 is a non-moisture permeable binder layer printed on the surface of the moisture permeable sheet 3.

The print layer 4 is formed so that concave portions having a predetermined shape such as a circle, a triangle and a quadrangle are appropriately distributed.
A rotary screen (not shown) having a predetermined printing area is used, and a non-moisture permeable binder is injected into the rotary screen (not shown) to print a pattern on the entire moisture permeable sheet 3. It is a binder layer formed by drying.

Acrylic binders, urethane binders, etc. are used as the non-moisture permeable binder, and powdery far infrared radiation type ceramics are mixed. By applying this non-moisture permeable binder onto the moisture permeable sheet 3, a low moisture permeable portion that reduces moisture transmission is formed on the moisture permeable sheet 3.

[0006] The vegetable storage container 1 is detachably arranged in a lower portion of a refrigerator (not shown).
An opening 5 is formed on the upper surface for taking in and out vegetables and the like. In this opening 5, a moisturizing sheet 2 that covers the opening 5
A lid 7 consisting of a rubber packing 6 made of vinyl chloride or the like arranged around the outside of the moisturizing sheet 2 is attached to the vegetable storage container 1 when the vegetable storage container 1 is stored in the lower part of the refrigerator compartment. The upper opening 5 of the storage container 1 is completely sealed by the lid 7.

The operation of the vegetable storage container of the refrigerator constructed as above will be described below. First,
Since the moisturizing sheet 2 is composed of the moisture permeable sheet 3 and the print layer 4, the moisture permeability of the moisturizing sheet 2 and the position through which the humidity permeates can be changed by appropriately changing the area of the print layer 4 and the design of the print. It can be changed freely.

If a print layer 4 made by mixing a powdery far-infrared radiation type ceramics with a non-moisture permeable binder is applied on the moisture permeable sheet 3, the moisture retaining sheet 2 controls the humidity as described above. In addition to having the function of enabling the above, the far-infrared radiation type ceramics forming the print layer 4 efficiently radiates far-infrared radiation at room temperature.

Therefore, when the vegetables are stored in the vegetable storage container 1, the moisture generated by the transpiration of the vegetables is appropriately controlled to keep the inside of the vegetable storage container 1 at a high humidity suitable for the vegetables. You can In addition, the far-infrared radiation type ceramic powder emits far-infrared rays at room temperature in the vegetable storage container 1
It was radiated to the inside and the effect of far-infrared rays could keep the freshness of vegetables for a long time.

[0010]

However, in the above-mentioned structure, since the inside of the vegetable storage container 1 is kept at a high humidity by the water evaporated from the vegetables, the vegetable storage container can be stored when the storage amount of the vegetables is small. It is not possible to keep high humidity inside 1 for a long time. Further, since the vegetable storage container 1 of the refrigerator has a low temperature, far infrared rays emitted from the far infrared ray emitting ceramic powder are extremely weak. Therefore, there has been a problem that vegetables cannot be freshly stored for a long time in the vegetable storage container of the refrigerator proposed hitherto.

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a refrigerator capable of keeping vegetables fresh for a long period of time by keeping the inside of a vegetable storage container at a high humidity and subjecting the vegetables to an electric field treatment, even when the storage amount of vegetables is small. The purpose is to

[0012]

In order to achieve this object, a refrigerator of the present invention is provided with a lid body having a moisture permeable membrane on an open top surface of a vegetable container, and the refrigerator is provided around a vegetable container which is substantially sealed. A needle-shaped electrode, a plate electrode facing the needle-shaped electrode, and a high-voltage power source are provided on the upper and lower sides or the left and right side surfaces.

Further, when the vegetable compartment door is open, the high voltage power supply is not energized.

[0014]

According to the refrigerator of the present invention, when the vegetable is stored in the vegetable storage container of the refrigerator, the excess water vapor evaporated from the vegetable is appropriately permeated to the outside by the moisture permeable film of the lid. Drying can be suppressed by keeping the inside of the vegetable storage container at an appropriate high humidity and subjecting the vegetables to an electric field for a predetermined time. Further, even when the storage amount of vegetables is small and the inside of the storage container cannot be kept at high humidity for a long period of time, the effect of the electric field treatment suppresses the drying of the vegetables for a long period of time and enables fresh storage.

When the vegetable compartment door is open, safety can be ensured by turning off the high voltage power supply by the switch.

[0016]

【Example】

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

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a vegetable compartment 8 of the refrigerator according to the present invention, which is provided at the bottom of the refrigerating compartment 9 and has a vegetable compartment 8.
The refrigerator compartment 9 is partitioned by a partition plate 10. The partition plate 10 is provided with vent holes 10a and 10b at the front and rear,
Cold air in the refrigerator compartment is circulated to the vegetable compartment 8.
The vegetable compartment 8 closely covers the door 11 and the vegetable storage container 12 that is opened and closed integrally with the door 11 and the top opening of the vegetable storage container 12 when the door 11 is closed. It is composed of a lid 13 provided. The lid 13 is partially made of a moisture permeable film 13a made of polyolefin or silicon.

The partition plate 1 above the moisture permeable membrane 13a.
One or a plurality of needle-shaped electrodes 14 are provided at 0, and a metal plate electrode 16 made of copper, aluminum, stainless steel or the like is provided in an inner box 15 below the bottom of the vegetable storage container 12. Further, a high voltage power supply 17 is provided in a back inner box 15 of the vegetable storage container 12, and the high voltage power supply 17 and the needle-shaped electrode 14 are provided.
The flat plate electrode 16 is connected by a high voltage line 18.

Furthermore, the vegetable storage container 1 is integrated with the door 11.
In order that the high-voltage power supply 17 can be energized only when 2 is stored, a switch 19 that contacts the door 11 and a switch 20 that contacts the vegetable storage container 12 are installed in the heat insulating box 21.
It is installed in.

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

First, when the vegetables are stored in the vegetable storage container 12, the moisture which is discharged from the vegetables themselves by the transpiration action causes high humidity in the substantially sealed vegetable storage container 12. Then, due to the action of the moisture permeable film 13a of the lid 13, the excess water vapor has a low humidity, and thus the refrigerating chamber 9
Since it is permeated through to, it is maintained at about 85 to 95% suitable for vegetables, so that the drying is suppressed.

On the other hand, the high-voltage power supply 17 is energized once a day for a predetermined time by a timer (not shown) control or the like, and a voltage of several kV is applied to the needle-shaped electrode 14, so that the needle-shaped electrode 14 and the flat plate are flattened. A high electric field is formed in the space of the electrode 16.
As a result, the vegetables in the vegetable storage container 12 are subjected to the electric field treatment once a day for a predetermined time, so that breathing is suppressed. This electric field treatment time may be a short time of several minutes to several tens of minutes (for keeping freshness of fruits and vegetables by electric field treatment, food distribution technology vol. 19, no. 2, p62 to p64,
1990, etc.).

As shown in FIG. 2, the high-voltage power supply 17 can be energized only when the vegetable storage container 12 is securely stored in the vegetable compartment 8 and the two switches 19 and 20 are closed. It is highly safe because it will be in a different state. The high voltage power supply 17 may be DC or AC.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the vegetable compartment 8
Is substantially sealed with a vegetable storage container 12 and a lid 13 having a moisture permeable membrane 13a, a needle electrode 14 is provided above the lid 13 and a flat plate electrode 16 is provided below the vegetable storage container 12, and the vegetable compartment 8 By arranging the high-voltage power supply 17 on the back, the vegetable storage container 1
By keeping the inside of 2 at a high humidity suitable for vegetables and treating the vegetables with a high electric field, it is possible to suppress the transpiration action and the breathing action and preserve the vegetables fresh for a long period of time.

In particular, when the amount of vegetables stored is small, the humidity becomes low and the drying becomes easy in a short period of time. However, even in such a case, the respiratory action is suppressed by the effect of the high electric field treatment, so that it is longer than before. The freshness of vegetables can be maintained.

The high-voltage power source 17 can be energized only when the vegetable storage container 12 is securely stored in the vegetable compartment 8 and the two switches 19 and 20 are closed. Since it is a thing, it is highly safe.

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

FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the vegetable compartment 22 of the refrigerator in the second embodiment, in which the door and the vegetable storage container are the same as those in FIG. One or a plurality of needle-like electrodes 23 and flat plate electrodes 24 are arranged facing each other on the surface of the heat insulating box 21 on the left and right sides of the vegetable storage container 12,
A high voltage power supply 25 is provided at the rear of the back surface of the vegetable storage container 12. The high-voltage power supply 25 includes a needle electrode 23 and a flat plate electrode 2
4 and the high voltage line 26.

Regarding the refrigerator configured 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, since the needle electrodes 23 and the plate electrodes 24 are fixed to the heat insulating boxes 21 on the left and right side surfaces of the vegetable storage container 12, the high voltage wire 26
Can be embedded in the heat insulating box 21 easily, and the insulation of the high voltage line 26 can be improved. Also,
The needle electrode 23 can also be firmly fixed.

[0031]

As described above, in the refrigerator of the present invention, the vegetable storage container having an open top surface, the lid having the moisture permeable membrane provided so as to cover the top surface, and the periphery of the vegetable storage container are provided. Since it has one or a plurality of needle-shaped electrodes and a flat plate electrode arranged, and a high-voltage power source for generating a high voltage in the needle-shaped electrodes, the inside of the vegetable storage container is kept at a high humidity suitable for vegetables. At the same time, by treating the vegetables with a high electric field, it is possible to suppress transpiration and respiration, and preserve the vegetables for a long period of time.

Particularly when the amount of vegetables stored is small, the humidity in the vegetable storage container becomes low in a short period of time, which facilitates drying.
Even in such a case, since the breathing action is suppressed by the effect of the high electric field treatment, the freshness of the vegetables can be maintained for a longer period of time than before.

Further, since the needle electrode and the flat plate electrode are arranged on the surface of the heat insulating box on the left and right sides of the vegetable storage container, all the high voltage lines connecting the both electrodes and the high voltage power source can be easily installed in the heat insulating box. Since it can be embedded in, it is possible to improve the insulation of the high voltage line.

When the vegetable compartment door is open,
A switch is provided to prevent the high-voltage power supply from being energized, and the electric field is processed only when the vegetable storage container is securely stored in the vegetable compartment. However, safety can be ensured.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a vegetable compartment of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a high voltage generating circuit provided in a vegetable compartment of a refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view of a vegetable compartment of a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a conventional vegetable storage container of a refrigerator.

5 is an enlarged sectional view schematically showing a portion surrounded by a line AB in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Vegetable Room Door 12 Vegetable Storage Container 13 Lid 13a Moisture Permeation Membrane 14 Needle-shaped Electrode 16 Plate Electrode 17 High Voltage Power Supply 19 Switch 20 Switch 20 21 Insulation Box 23 Needle-shaped Electrode 24 Plate Electrode 25 High Voltage Power Supply

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A vegetable storage container having an open top surface, a lid having a moisture permeable membrane provided so as to cover the top surface, and one or a plurality of needles arranged around the vegetable storage container. A refrigerator having an electrode, a plate electrode, and a high-voltage power supply that generates a high voltage on the needle electrode. 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the needle-shaped electrode is arranged above the lid and the plate electrode is arranged below the vegetable storage container. 3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the needle-shaped electrodes and the flat plate electrodes are arranged on the surfaces of the heat insulating boxes on the left and right sides of the vegetable storage container. 4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a switch so that the high voltage power supply is not energized when the vegetable compartment door is open.