JPS62198333A - Apparatus for storing perishables - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a fresh produce storage device that allows fresh produce such as vegetables and fruits to be stored for a long period of time at the production site or at the distribution stage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Refrigerated storage is a common means of storing perishables, but in addition to this, a longer term storage method is to store perishables by changing the air content within the storage. In other words,
The concentration of oxygen (02) in the storage chamber is reduced and carbon dioxide gas (
It is known that by increasing the concentration of Co2, it is possible to suppress the respiration of fresh produce and also to prevent chemical reactions such as decomposition and oxidation caused by microorganisms (hereinafter referred to as C).
(referred to as A storage).

CA storage M, (D oxygen (02) concentrated ff, carbon dioxide gas (
The percentage of Co2) concentration varies somewhat depending on the fresh produce being stored, but on average it is 6% oxygen, 5% carbon dioxide, and 9% nitrogen. In this way, the CA storage atmosphere has an oxygen concentration far below the 18% oxygen concentration required for human respiration.
If a person is exposed to this atmosphere, they will be deprived of oxygen within a few minutes and will have difficulty breathing, which can be dangerous. In the past, specialized managers were assigned to such facilities to ensure safety, but unforeseen accidents often occurred because the general public moved in and out of perishables.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, such an equipment management system in which everything is left to a manager is extremely inadequate, and there is no guarantee that an unexpected accident will occur at any time.

In view of the above three problems, the present invention provides a fresh food storage device that does not allow entry into the storage if the oxygen concentration within the storage is below a predetermined value.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the perishables storage device of the present invention includes a gas monitor that detects the gas concentration in the storage, and an entry prohibition display that lights up with the operation switch of the carbon dioxide gas control device. It is equipped with a lamp, an entry ready indicator lamp that lights up when the entry switch is pressed when entering the storage, and a contact that opens and closes at the set concentration provided on the gas monitor between the entry switch and the entry available indicator lamp. be.

Effect of the present invention With the above-described configuration, the entry prohibition indicator lamp lights up at the same time as the carbon dioxide gas control device operates, and
If the oxygen concentration in the storage is below a predetermined value, the entry prohibition indicator lamp will not turn off, and even if the entry switch is pressed, the entry permission indicator lamp will not light up. It is possible to completely eliminate unnecessary accidents such as entering a warehouse in an oxygen-deficient state where the oxygen concentration is below a predetermined value, resulting in difficulty in breathing due to the oxygen deficiency, and resulting in a dangerous situation.

EXAMPLE Hereinafter, a fresh food storage device according to an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In the figure, 1 is a storage such as a refrigerator for storing fresh food, and a compressor 2. Condenser 3° Evaporator 4. A cooling device 7 consisting of blowers 5 and 6 is mounted on the top. The storage 1 includes a carbon dioxide gas generating device 8 for filling the interior of the storage with carbon dioxide (CO2). Excess carbon dioxide (C) inside the refrigerator
A carbon dioxide gas control device 9' composed of a carbon dioxide gas adsorption device @9 that adsorbs O2) and maintains it at a constant concentration is connected. The carbon dioxide generator 8 is constructed between an inlet pipe 10 that introduces air into the storage 1 and an exhaust pipe 11 that discharges combustion gas into the storage 1, and includes a blower 12. Pulp 13° combustion furnace 14
．． It consists of a combustion exhaust gas cooler 15. Blower 1
2 is for introducing the air in the storage 1 into the combustion furnace 14 through the introduction pipe 10, cooling the combustion exhaust gas in the combustion furnace 14 with the cooler 16, and then circulating it into the storage 1 through the discharge pipe 11. The combustion furnace 14 also has an inner casing 17 having a ceramic tube 16 on its inner surface and an outer casing 1 having an air passage 18 formed between the inner casing 17 and the inner casing 17 for supplying secondary combustion air.
9, a grate 21 on which the solid fuel 20 is placed within the ceramic tube 16, and an ignition heater 22 that heats the air from the blower 12 to combust the solid combustion 20. The solid fuel 20 is of high purity carbon such as charcoal, and upon combustion, the combustion exhaust gas becomes only carbon dioxide (Co2) and nitrogen (N2) due to the reaction of C+020N2-Co2+N2, which is introduced into the storage 1. It is something. 23 is a pulp for introducing air for combustion assistance from the outside air.

On the other hand, the carbon dioxide adsorption device 9 determines that the gas composition in the storage 1 is N2; 79%, Co2;
6%, 02; 5% Ic'lx, predetermined (7) value, e.g., t, N2; 90%, Co2;
ts%, 02; To make it 6%, excess carbon dioxide (
This is for adsorbing Co2) and discharging it outside the storage 1. An inlet pipe 26.26 is connected to the two adsorbers 24.25 so that the gas in the storage chamber 1 is alternately circulated. Discharge pipe 27° Blower 28. It is composed of pulps 29 to 36.

The adsorbent 24.25 is filled with adsorbent 37.38, which adsorbs carbon dioxide gas (C02), and when the adsorption capacity decreases, the heater 4o provided on the discharge side of the blower 39
Heating the pulp, the hot air passes through the pulp 33.35 to the adsorber 24
．． Air is blown through an inlet pipe 41 led to the pulp 25, carbon dioxide is desorbed, and the carbon dioxide gas is discharged to the atmosphere through an exhaust pipe 42 led to the atmosphere via pulps 34 and 36. For example, when the absorber 24 is performing an adsorption action and the adsorber 26 is performing a desorption action, the pulps 29, 30, 33, 34 are open, the pulps 31, 32, 35, 36 are closed, and the blower 28 is
The excess carbon dioxide (Co2) in the storage 1 is passed through the adsorbent 37 of the adsorber 24 to adsorb carbon dioxide and returned to the storage 1, while the outside air heated by the heater 40 by the blower 39 is , the adsorbent 38 of the adsorber 25
This process desorbs carbon dioxide gas. 43 is a connecting pipe that connects the discharge pipe 11 and the introduction pipe 2.6.

44, 45, 46 are valves, respectively, including a discharge pipe 11° and an inlet pipe 26. It is provided in the connecting pipe 43 to change the circulation path. 47 and 48 are controllers for controlling the motor rotation speeds of the blowers 12 and 28 degrees, and the respective motor rotation speeds are determined based on the signal from the gas monitor 49 that detects the gas concentration in the storage chamber 1. In other words, the controller 47 controls the blower 1 in inverse proportion to the decrease in oxygen (O2) concentration.
The controller 48 is configured to increase the rotation speed of the blower 28 by 20 degrees, and the controller 48 is configured to maintain the normal rotation speed at the initial stage of storage, and to increase the rotation speed of the blower 28 during storage. 49' is storage 1
It is a door that closes off the front side of the main body, and is attached to the main body with a hinge 5o. 61 is an electric lock attached to the storage 1 on the side opposite to the hinge 60, and is composed of a motor 62 and a locking piece 53. This locking piece 63 is provided in the heat insulating material of the storage 1, and is configured to move in conjunction with the rotating shaft of the motor 620. Reference numeral 64 denotes a receiving portion which is positioned opposite to the locking piece 53 and fixed to the door 49', and the locking piece 63 is inserted into the lock hole 55 provided on the side of the locking piece 63 to lock the door. Reference numerals 56 and 57 indicate opening/closing contacts a and b provided on the electric lock, which open and close in conjunction with the locking piece 63. 68 is an operation switch, which operates relay A59. 6o is relay A
59, which is normally open and connected to the motor 62 via contact a. 61 is a stocking switch;
It is connected to a relay 863 via a contact 62 provided on the gas monitor 49 that opens and closes depending on the oxygen concentration per day.

A contact 64 (normally open) of a relay B63 is connected to the motor 62 via a contact b57.

65 is entry prohibition display U/P L1, and relay B63
Contact 6 of relay As9 (normally open)
7 (normally open). 68 is OK to enter the room 2
L2 is connected to the power source via contact 69 (normally open) of relay B63.

Regarding the fresh food storage device configured as described above, the first
The operation will be explained with reference to FIGS.

The atmosphere inside storage 1 was initially N2;79C, O2;21
q6, and when the carbon dioxide generator 8 is operated, the air inside the warehouse is introduced from the introduction pipe 10 by the blower 12, passes through the pulp 13, is introduced into the combustion furnace 14, is heated by the ignition heater 22, and becomes solid. Provided for combustion of fuel 2o. Due to the reaction of C+ 02 + N2-CO2+N2, the exhaust gas becomes only carbon dioxide gas (C02) and nitrogen (N2), and after being cooled by the cooler 16, it is circulated into the storage 1 through the discharge pipe 11. Regarding the gas composition in the storage 1, oxygen (02) decreases by 9 degrees and carbon dioxide (Co2) increases by f5 degrees. 2
After 30 minutes, N2; 79%, Co2;
ai%, 02; 16chi, the predetermined value, N2:
9%, CO2; 6ch, 0□; 6I%, the gas monitor 49 detects that carbon dioxide (CO2) has reached the predetermined 5%, the pulp 44 closes, and at the same time the pulp 46 closes. The exhaust gas is introduced into the carbon dioxide adsorption device 9 through the connecting pipe 43. At the same time as the pulp 44 is closed, the valves 29 and 30 are opened, and the blower 28 introduces CO2 into the adsorber 24, and the adsorbent 37 absorbs carbon dioxide (Co2).
) is adsorbed and only nitrogen (N2) is returned to the storage 1 through the exhaust pipe 27. The adsorbers 24 and 25 alternately repeat an adsorption action and a desorption action, and continuously adsorb carbon dioxide gas (Co2) in one of the adsorbers. Therefore, the carbon dioxide concentration in the storage 1 is maintained at 6%. On the other hand, the oxygen (02) concentration decreases because it is being used for combustion during that time, and reaches the predetermined ts% after 16 hours. The gas monitor 49 detects this and stops the carbon dioxide gas generator 8. Now, the predetermined gas concentration N2 in the storage 1 is 9o%.

CO2: 15%, 02; 5% fx
k ta a6 storage EX wo bFJk &. oxygen (02)
At the same time as the concentration of 5% is detected, the valve 46 closes, and the valve 4
5 is open. Thereafter, when the carbon dioxide (CO2) generated by the respiration of fresh food stored in the storage 1 exceeds a predetermined value of 5, the gas monitor 49 detects it and activates the carbon dioxide adsorption device 9 to remove the carbon dioxide. Adsorb until a predetermined value is reached.

Next, the operation of the electric lock 61 will be explained.

When the operation switch 68 is initially closed, the relay A69 is energized and at the same time the contact 60°67 of the relay A59 - normally open is closed. When the contact point 6o is closed, the motor 62 is driven, and the lock piece 63 is moved in the direction of insertion into the lock hole 6s provided in the receiving part 64. At this time, the contact besr, which had been open due to the locking piece 63, is closed, the contact a68 is changed from closed to open, and the motor 62 is stopped. Also relay A6
When the contact point 67 of No. 9 changes from open to closed, the entry prohibition indicator lamp L166 is energized, indicating that entry is prohibited. As described above, when the OA storage operation is started, the oxygen concentration in the storage 1 begins to decrease. When the oxygen concentration becomes 18% or less, which is an oxygen deficiency state, this is detected by the gas monitor 49, and the contact 62 (normally open), which is provided in advance at the oxygen 1lj1 degree 18 point of the gas monitor 49, is opened.

Next, when storage is finished and you want to take out the perishables in the storage 1, turn on the warehousing switch 61, and the exhaust fan (not shown) will be activated to exhaust the gas in the storage 1 and introduce outside air at the same time. As a result, the oxygen concentration in the storage 1 returns to the state of the outside air and increases. When the gas monitor 49 detects this and the oxygen concentration exceeds 18%, the contact 62
changes from open to closed again. At this time, the relay B63 is energized, the contacts 64 change from open to closed, and the motor 62 is energized.Since the motor 62 is configured to rotate in the opposite direction at this time, the lock piece 53 moves in the direction of coming out of the lock hole 66. , can be unlocked. Further, the locking piece 53 changes the contact b57 from closed to open, and the contact a56 changes from open to closed, and the motor 62 stops. At the same time as relay Be3 is energized, contact 69
changes from open to closed, the room entry OK indicator lamp L268 is energized, indicating that it is OK to enter the room. However, if the oxygen concentration in the storage chamber 1 has not yet reached 18 g or higher, the contact 82 remains open, but no one will accidentally enter the oxygen-deficient storage chamber 1, ensuring work safety. is possible.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention includes a gas monitor that detects the gas concentration in the storage, a prohibition indicator lamp that is turned on by the operation switch of the carbon dioxide gas control device, and a warning lamp that is turned on by the entry switch that is pressed when entering the storage. 2 indicators indicating that you can enter the room,
By providing a contact that opens and closes at the set concentration provided on the gas monitor between the entry switch and the entry permission indicator lamp, the entry prohibition indicator lamp lights up at the same time as the carbon dioxide gas control device operates, and the If the oxygen concentration is below a predetermined value, the entry prohibition indicator lamp will not turn off, and even if the entry switch is pressed, the entry permission indicator lamp will not light up. This will completely eliminate unexpected accidents such as food being mistakenly stored in an oxygen-deficient state, resulting in difficulty in breathing due to the lack of oxygen, resulting in a dangerous situation. Figure 1 is a structural diagram of a fresh produce storage device in an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a diagram of changes in gas components in the refrigerator due to the same device, Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view seen from the top of the storage, Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the electric lock and receiver before and after operation, and Fig. 6 The figure is an electric circuit diagram mainly showing the operation of the electric lock, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the entire storage, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an entry prohibited indicator lamp and an entry allowed indicator lamp.

1...Storage, 9'...Carbon dioxide control device, 49...Gas monitor, 68...
・Operation switch, 61... Warehousing switch, 62
...Contact point, 66...Entry prohibited indicator lamp, 68...Entry allowed indicator lamp.

Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao / 11 or 1 person Figure 2 Figure 5

Claims (1)

[Claims] A storage for storing perishables, a carbon dioxide gas control device for controlling the concentration of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the storage to predetermined values, a gas monitor for detecting the gas concentration in the storage, and operation of the carbon dioxide gas control device. A setting is provided on the gas monitor between the entry switch and the entry allowed indicator lamp, comprising an entry prohibited indicator lamp that is lit by a switch and an entry allowed indicator lamp that is lit by an entry switch that is pressed when entering the storage. A perishables storage device characterized by intervening contacts that open and close depending on oxygen concentration.