JPH10132447A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To restrict growth of micro-organism in stored food and effectively keep freshness of perishable foods by a method wherein some chemicals restricting decay of food such as anti-bacteria agent and anti-mold agent having a volatile characteristic are arranged within a storing warehouse. SOLUTION: Antibacteria and anti-mold agents 12a, 12b having a volatile characteristic are arranged within a vegetable chamber 4 for storing vegetables, and a chilled chamber 5 for storing perishable foods such as meats and fishes or the like. Due to this face, growth of bacteria or molds adhering to the foods is restricted so as to enable freshness of the foods to be kept for a long period of time. The anti-bacteria and anti-mold agents are required to show a safety characteristic against a human body and an effect of anti-bacterial over a wide range of bacterial and molds and isothiocyanate esters which are extracts of roots of a Japanese horseradish or seeds of mustard of the like are suitable. As isothiocyanate esters, there are provided isothiocyanate allyl and isothiocyanate methyl, for example.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator mainly used in ordinary households, and more particularly to a refrigerator which suppresses the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, yeasts and molds in a food storage section and maintains the freshness of preserved foods. It is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, freshness of fresh foods in refrigerators is mainly controlled by controlling the humidity and the atmosphere such as storage of CA for fruits and vegetables, and temperature control such as freezing and micro-freezing for meat. ing. However, in the case of fruits and vegetables, long-term storage is difficult only by adjusting the humidity, and CA
For storage, the equipment becomes large-scale, such as requiring a device for generating carbon dioxide. Meat cannot be stored satisfactorily when frozen, as the quality after thawing is reduced.

On the other hand, an antibacterial agent,
There is a method of kneading an agent such as a fungicide and suppressing the growth of microorganisms in the food storage section, thereby preventing fresh food from spoiling and performing long-term storage.

[0004] To prevent the growth of microorganisms in the food storage section of the refrigerator, an inorganic antibacterial agent or an organic antifungal agent is kneaded into a plastic molded body constituting the food storage section.
The main method is to suppress the growth of microorganisms by dissolving the antibacterial agent or by the halo effect of the fungicide. In addition,
As related to this kind of technology, inorganic antibacterial agents include those described in, for example, JP-A-63-83576, and organic antifungal agents described in JP-A-6-73196.

[0005]

According to the above-mentioned conventional technique, in a food container for a refrigerator having a plastic molded body as a case, silver or a silver compound inorganic antibacterial agent contained in the plastic molded body is gradually eluted. The produced silver ions act on the cells of the microorganism to cause growth disorders, thereby exhibiting an antibacterial effect. On the other hand, the organic fungicide, p-benzoic acid esters, and the like contained in the plastic molded product gradually emerge on the surface of the plastic molded product, and exhibit a fungicidal effect by the halo effect.

However, these contact-type drugs have a problem that the effect cannot be expected because the elution of silver ions of the antibacterial agent and the release of the antifungal agent on the surface of the plastic molded article are very small. In addition, since these antibacterial agents and antifungal agents are contained in the plastic molded product, even if the growth of bacteria in and around the place in contact with the surface of the plastic molded product can be suppressed, it should be preserved. Since the growth of bacteria in fresh food cannot be suppressed, there is a problem that a freshness maintaining effect cannot be expected.

[0007] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve such a conventional problem, and to provide a refrigerator capable of effectively maintaining freshness of fresh food by suppressing the growth of microorganisms in preserved food. It is intended to be.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The refrigerator of the present invention has been made to achieve the above object, and the invention according to claim 1 is a dedicated storage for storing fresh food such as vegetables and meat for each foodstuff. In the refrigerator having (1), an agent for suppressing food decay, such as a volatile antibacterial agent and a fungicide, is disposed in the storage.

Further, the invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that an agent for suppressing food spoilage, such as a volatile antibacterial agent or a fungicide, is disposed in the cool air ventilation passage. And Claim 3
In the invention described, a thin layer of a chemical that suppresses food spoilage, such as a volatile antibacterial agent or an antifungal agent, is formed on the surface of a plastic molded body on which a food is placed or stored.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect or the second or third aspect, the volatile antibacterial agent, antifungal agent and the like are composed of isothiocyanates. It is a thing. further,
The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 4,
Isothiocyanates are clathrated with clathrate compounds that open with water.

Further, the invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claim 5, wherein the inclusion drug containing the isothiocyanate is dispersed in an adsorbent having adsorption and desorption properties.

The refrigerator according to the present invention has the above configuration.
The described invention is a refrigerator having a dedicated storage for storing fresh foods such as vegetables and meat for each foodstuff, wherein an antibacterial agent having a volatile property, a fungicide and the like, an agent for suppressing food spoilage, By installing the inside of the storage, the medicine can be uniformly and gradually released in the storage as a gas, the spoilage of fresh food in the storage by microorganisms can be suppressed, and long-term storage can be achieved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an agent for suppressing food spoilage, such as an antibacterial agent and a fungicide having a volatile property, is installed in a cool air passage so that the agent can be efficiently converted into gas in the refrigerator. As a result, it is possible to release the food by microorganisms.

The invention according to claim 3 provides a plastic molded body on which a food is placed or stored, on the surface of which a thin layer of an agent for suppressing food spoilage, such as a volatile antibacterial agent or a fungicide, is provided. By the formation, the growth of microorganisms on the surface of the food can be suppressed, and the growth of microorganisms on the contact surface between the food and the plastic molded body and the surface of the plastic molded body can be suppressed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a drug such as an antibacterial agent and a fungicide having volatility is constituted by isothiocyanate esters, whereby the first or second or third or third aspect of the present invention is used. In addition to the function of the invention of
Since it is an antibacterial and antifungal agent, which is an extract from natural foods, it is possible to store foods more safely and for a long period of time.

Further, according to the invention of claim 5, in addition to the effect of claim 4, by isolating the isothiocyanates with a clathrate compound that opens with water.
Uniform sustained release can be achieved, and a stable effect of suppressing the growth of microorganisms can be obtained.

Further, according to the invention of claim 6, the clathrate containing the isothiocyanates is dispersed in an adsorbent having adsorption and desorption properties to add the function of the invention of claim 5. Thus, the atmospheric concentration of the isothiocyanates in the refrigerator can be suppressed to be substantially constant, and a stable effect of suppressing microorganisms can be obtained over a long period of time.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a refrigerator according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of a refrigerator-freezer showing a first embodiment of the refrigerator of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of a refrigerator-freezer, which includes a freezer compartment 2, a refrigerator compartment 3, and a vegetable compartment 4 therein. Further, a chilled room 5 for storing meat, fish and the like is provided inside the refrigerator compartment 3. 6 is a heat exchanger for cooling,
7 is a fan for circulating cool air, 8 is a damper for temperature control for distributing cool air, 9 is a compressor, 10 is an evaporating dish for evaporating defrost water, 11 is a polyurethane foam of a heat insulating material, and 12a and 12b are It is a volatile antibacterial and antifungal agent that prevents food spoilage.

The operation of the compressor 9 cools the heat exchanger 6, and the inside of the refrigerator is cooled by the cool air circulation fan 7. At this time, the cold air is distributed by the damper 8 for temperature control, the freezing room 2 is at 18 ° C., the cold room 3 is at 3 to 5 ° C.,
The vegetable room 4 is maintained at 6 to 7 ° C, and the chilled room 5 is maintained at 0 to 1 ° C. The cool air that has cooled each storage room is a cool air duct 13a,
After being sent to the heat exchanger 6 and cooled through 13b, it circulates again in the refrigerator.

As described above, the vegetable compartment 4 and the chilled compartment 5 have a substantially closed structure in order to prevent drying of the preserved food, and are cooled through the wall surface of the preserver. It is indirectly cooled.

In the refrigerator constructed as described above, fresh foods to be preserved include bacteria and fungi that have previously adhered to the foods, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, blue mold, and black mold. Decay due to proliferation of Aspergillus and the like progresses. On the other hand, if the refrigerator is used for a long period of time, the walls inside the refrigerator and the tray on which the food is placed will be contaminated with food, and bacteria and mold that have propagated on the contaminants will
It floats inside the refrigerator with cold air and adheres to food, reducing the freshness of the food.

According to the present embodiment, volatile antibacterial and antifungal agents 12a and 12 are provided in the vegetable compartment 4 for storing vegetables and the chilled compartment 5 for storing fresh food such as meat and fish.
Since b is installed, the growth of bacteria and mold attached to the food is suppressed, and the freshness of the food can be maintained for a long time.

As the above-mentioned volatile antibacterial and antifungal agents,
Isothiocyanates, which are components extracted from horseradish roots and mustard seeds, are necessary because they must be safe for the human body and have antibacterial effects against a wide range of bacteria and mold. ing. Examples of the isothiocyanates include allyl isothiocyanate, methyl isothiocyanate, ethyl isothiocyanate, butyl isothiocyanate, and phenyl isothiocyanate. Allyl isothiocyanate, which has excellent antibacterial and antifungal effects, is effective.

Next, a second embodiment of the refrigerator of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, 2 is a freezing room, 3 is a refrigerator room,
12c is a volatile antibacterial and antifungal agent, 13b is a cold air duct on the refrigerator compartment side, and 14 is a partition plate of the freezer compartment. The operation of the refrigerator-freezer according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

In the refrigerator configured as described above, the fresh food to be preserved is the decay of the food due to the growth of bacteria and fungi that have previously adhered to the food, or bacteria and fungi that float inside the refrigerator with cold air. Or a decrease in freshness. However, according to the present embodiment, the cold air duct 13b is provided with a volatile antibacterial and antifungal agent 12b.
c, the volatile antibacterial and antifungal agent 12
c, for example, allyl isothiocyanate volatilizes throughout the refrigerator with the flow of cold air, and the amplification of bacteria and mold attached to the food is suppressed, and the freshness of the food can be maintained for a long time.

At this time, even in the vegetable room for storing vegetables and the chilled room for storing fresh foods such as meat and fish, the steam which the volatile antibacterial and antifungal agent 12c has volatilized has a substantially closed structure. , Gradually enter the vegetable room or chilled room, and can exhibit a freshness maintaining effect.

Next, a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a main part of a plastic molded body used in a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 3, 15 is a plastic molded product, 16 is a thin film containing a volatile antibacterial and antifungal agent, 1
7 is a volatile antibacterial and antifungal agent, and 18 is a preserved food.

A plastic molded body such as a door liner, a food liner, a shelf and a container for storing food used in a refrigerator is made of an ABS resin, a polystyrene resin, a high-impact polystyrene resin, a polypropylene resin, or the like.

If the surface of each of these constituent materials is in a clean state, bacteria, molds and the like will not grow, but if contaminants such as foods adhere to the surface, bacteria, molds, etc. will be formed using the adherents as a nutrient source. Grows. By configuring the plastic molded body as shown in FIG. 3, a volatile antibacterial agent, a volatile gas of a fungicide can be efficiently supplied to the atmosphere in the refrigerator, and it acts reliably on food. A stable antibacterial and antifungal effect can be imparted to food. Further, according to the present embodiment, the antibacterial and antifungal effects can be imparted to the back side of the food, that is, the contact surface between the food and the plastic molded body.

Next, an embodiment of a volatile antibacterial and antifungal agent will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of a volatile antibacterial and antifungal agent showing a fourth embodiment of the refrigerator of the present invention. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 20 denotes a volatile antibacterial and antifungal agent, 21 denotes a clathrate compound that opens by moisture, and 22 denotes an adsorbent having adsorption and desorption properties.

In the present embodiment, the volatile antibacterial and antifungal agent 20 is allyl isothiocyanate, the clathrate compound 21 which is opened by moisture is cyclodextrin, and the adsorbent 22 having adsorption and desorption properties is amorphous calcium phosphate. is there. Examples of the cyclodextrin include α
-Cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin, γ
-There are cyclodextrins, but here β-cyclodextrin is the enemy.

In the above-described configuration, by including allyl isothiocyanate 20 in cyclodextrin 21, when moisture is present, cyclodextrin 21 is opened, and allyl isothiocyanate 20 starts volatilizing. When the allyl isothiocyanate 20 volatilized in the refrigerator is high,
When the concentration of allyl isothiocyanate adsorbed on the amorphous calcium phosphate 22 is low, the allyl isothiocyanate adsorbed on the amorphous calcium phosphate 22 is desorbed, so that the concentration of allyl isothiocyanate in the refrigerator can be kept almost constant. .

FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b) show the antibacterial and antifungal properties of allyl isothiocyanate measured.

As shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), an excellent bactericidal or bacteriostatic effect is exhibited against any bacteria and mold.

[0038]

Since the refrigerator of the present invention has the above-described structure, the invention according to claim 1 is to install a chemical for suppressing food spoilage, such as a volatile antibacterial agent and a fungicide. This makes it possible to uniformly release the drug as a gas in a sustained manner, thereby suppressing the decay of fresh food in the storage by microorganisms, and enabling long-term storage.

Further, the invention according to the second aspect of the present invention is to install a chemical, such as a volatile antibacterial agent and a fungicide, which suppresses food spoilage in a cool air ventilation passage, so that the chemical can be efficiently converted into gas in the refrigerator. As a result, it is possible to release the food by microorganisms.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a thin layer of an agent for suppressing food spoilage, such as a volatile antibacterial agent or an antifungal agent, is provided on the surface of a plastic molded article on which a food is placed or stored. By the formation, the growth of microorganisms on the surface of the food can be suppressed, and the growth of microorganisms on the contact surface between the food and the plastic molded body and the surface of the plastic molded body can be suppressed.

The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that a drug such as an antibacterial agent or a fungicide having volatility is composed of isothiocyanates, thereby making it possible to provide the agent. In addition to the function of the invention of
Since it is an antibacterial and antifungal agent, which is an extract from natural foods, it is possible to store foods more safely and for a long period of time.

Further, in the invention according to claim 5, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 4, a uniform sustained release is achieved by enclosing the isothiocyanate with a clathrate compound that is opened by moisture. It is possible to obtain a stable effect of suppressing the growth of microorganisms.

Further, according to the invention of claim 6, the inclusion agent containing the isothiocyanate is dispersed in an adsorbent having adsorbing and desorbing properties, whereby the effect of the invention of claim 5 is added. As a result, the atmospheric concentration of the isothiocyanates in the refrigerator can be controlled to be substantially constant, and a stable microorganism control effect can be obtained over a long period of time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the refrigerator of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a plastic molded body according to a third embodiment of the refrigerator of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of an antibacterial and antifungal agent in a fourth embodiment of the refrigerator of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the performance of an antibacterial and antifungal agent in a refrigerator according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body 2 Freezer room 3 Refrigerator room 4 Vegetable room 5 Chilled room 12a, 12b Antibacterial and antifungal agent 13b Cold air duct 15 Plastic molded body 16 Antibacterial and antifungal thin film 17 Antibacterial and antifungal agent 20 Allyl isothioianate 21 Cyclodextrin 22 Amorphous calcium phosphate

(72) Inventor Nobue Yamamoto 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Inside Sharp Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takeo Abe 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Sharp Co., Ltd.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A refrigerator having a storage for storing fresh foods such as vegetables and meat, wherein an agent for suppressing food spoilage, such as a volatile antibacterial agent and a fungicide, is provided in the storage. A refrigerator characterized by: 2. A refrigerator having a storage for storing fresh food such as vegetables and meat, wherein an agent for suppressing food spoilage, such as a volatile antibacterial agent and a fungicide, is disposed in the cool air passage. A refrigerator characterized by the following. 3. In a refrigerator having a storage for storing fresh food such as vegetables and meat, a surface of a plastic molded product on which the food is placed or stored, such as a volatile antibacterial agent, a fungicide, or the like. A refrigerator characterized by forming a thin layer of a chemical that inhibits decay. 4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the antibacterial agent has a volatile property,
A refrigerator characterized in that a drug such as a fungicide is composed of isothiocyanates. 5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the isothiocyanates are included with an inclusion compound that opens with water. 6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein an isothiocyanate ester is dispersed in an adsorbent having adsorption and desorption properties.