JPWO2018147253A1 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

The refrigerator includes a storage chamber (8), a storage container (20) stored in the storage chamber (8), a dew condensation sensor (26) for detecting dew condensation inside the storage container (20), and a dew condensation detection sensor. And a controller that reduces the humidity inside the storage container (20) when dew condensation is detected.

Description

  The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator including a dew condensation detection unit.

  In recent years, with the growing concern for the environment and increased interest in economics, in order to eliminate the waste of food that is discarded without being eaten due to deterioration due to the passage of the storage period, only the diversification of the storage temperature of the refrigerator Therefore, there is a need for a function that suppresses deterioration of stored food. In particular, in order to maintain the freshness of vegetables, in addition to storing at low temperature, it is necessary to store in an appropriate humidity state. If the humidity is too low, the vegetables will dry and wilt, and the structure of the cell walls will change and soften, impairing the texture. On the other hand, if the humidity is too high, condensation occurs on the surface of the vegetables, and mold grows there, and bacteria grows on small scratches on the surface, so that decay proceeds. For many vegetables, storage at a relative humidity of 90 to 95% (hereinafter, relative humidity is expressed as RH) is ideal.

  For humidity control, in the refrigerator for home use, the vegetable storage container in the vegetable room is almost sealed, and indirectly cools with the cool air circulating around the outer periphery of the sealed container, or only a part of the cool air is introduced into the sealed container to prevent drying. The method such as not to do is adopted. However, such humidity control is an eventual control, and depending on the amount or type of stored vegetables, it is difficult to maintain an appropriate humidity state necessary for long-term storage.

  There is a refrigerator that detects the humidity in the storage container and changes the area of the storage container opening that is the water vapor discharge unit according to the detected humidity in response to the problem of maintaining the appropriate humidity state (for example, Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 17: shows the longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vegetable compartment of the conventional refrigerator described in patent document 1. As shown in FIG. In FIG. 17, the storage container 101 has a substantially sealed configuration. The storage container 101 has a variable opening 102 having a variable opening area. The storage container 101 includes a humidity detection unit 103 and a temperature detection unit 104. The temperature of the wall surface of the storage container 101 is calculated from the temperature and humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 103 and the temperature detection unit 104 in the storage container 101 so that the humidity in the storage container 101 falls within the target humidity range. The variable opening 102 is opened to exceed the dew point temperature. With such a configuration, the target humidity is realized while preventing condensation on the vegetables and the wall surface of the storage container 101.

  However, in the conventional configuration as described above, the accuracy of a general humidity detection unit is generally reduced by 90% RH or more and generally includes an error of ± 5% RH or more. For this reason, it has the subject that it is difficult to keep the humidity in a storage container in the target 90-95% RH range.

  As a result, among the stored vegetables, there are problems such as drying of those with a high transpiration rate or condensation at the place where humid air stays, promoting the decay of vegetables. doing.

Japanese Patent No. 5787955

  The present disclosure has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a refrigerator that detects in advance a situation where condensation is likely to occur in a storage container and maintains a low temperature and high humidity without causing condensation in the storage container. To do. Moreover, the refrigerator which preserve | saves preservation | saves, such as vegetables with higher quality, also suppresses condensation and drying of the vegetables to accommodate.

  Specifically, a refrigerator according to an example of the present disclosure includes a storage chamber, a storage container stored in the storage chamber, a dew condensation sensor that detects dew condensation inside the storage container, and a dew condensation sensor that detects dew condensation. And a controller for lowering the humidity in the storage container. The dew condensation sensor is cooled to a temperature lower than that inside the storage container.

  With such a configuration, it is possible to detect in advance a situation in which condensation is likely to occur in the storage container. In addition, by reducing the humidity in the storage container when a situation where condensation is likely to occur in the storage container is detected, the storage container is kept in a high humidity state while preventing condensation from forming in the storage container. It becomes possible to keep.

  Moreover, in the refrigerator according to an example of the present disclosure, the control unit may be configured to introduce dry air into the storage container to reduce the humidity inside the storage container.

  With such a configuration, it is possible to reduce the humidity inside the storage container using dry air outside the storage container.

  Moreover, the refrigerator according to an example of the present disclosure may further include an opening that can be opened and closed in the storage container. In this case, when detecting a situation in which condensation is likely to occur in the storage container, the control unit may be configured to introduce dry air into the storage container by opening the opening.

  With such a configuration, dry air outside the storage container can be introduced into the storage container through the opened opening.

  Moreover, in the refrigerator according to an example of the present disclosure, when the dew condensation sensor does not detect dew condensation, the control unit may be configured to close the opening.

  With such a configuration, the humidity inside the storage container can be prevented from excessively decreasing.

  In the refrigerator according to an example of the present disclosure, the dew condensation sensor may be further provided with a heat generating unit. In this case, when the dew condensation sensor detects dew condensation, the control unit may be configured to start energization of the power generation unit.

  With such a configuration, the condensation generated in the condensation sensor can be quickly removed.

  In the refrigerator according to an example of the present disclosure, the control unit may be configured to stop energization of the heat generating unit when the dew condensation sensor stops detecting dew condensation.

  With such a configuration, an increase in temperature in the storage container can be prevented. Further, with such a configuration, power consumption can be suppressed and energy saving can be achieved.

  Moreover, the refrigerator according to an example of the present disclosure may further include a cooler that generates cold air to be sent to the storage container. In this case, the dew condensation sensor may be configured to be cooled by cold air generated by the cooler.

  With such a configuration, it is possible to make the dew condensation sensor cooler than the inside of the storage container with a simple configuration in which the cool air generated by the cooler is used.

  Moreover, in the refrigerator according to an example of the present disclosure, the storage room may be configured as a vegetable room.

  With such a configuration, it is possible to keep the inside of the storage container in a high-humidity state while preventing condensation from forming in the storage container in the storage container of the vegetable room in which vegetables that vaporize water vapor are stored. Become.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the vegetable room of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the humidity response characteristics of the dew condensation detection unit and the conventional humidity detection unit used in the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a control flowchart of the refrigerator in the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view when the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure is closed. FIG. 7 is a control block diagram of the refrigerator in the second embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 is a control flowchart after the door opening / closing of the vegetable compartment according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 9 is a water vapor discharge control flowchart of the vegetable compartment according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is a water vapor discharge control sequence diagram of the vegetable compartment according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 11 is another water vapor discharge control flowchart of the vegetable room according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the vegetable compartment according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 13 is a control flowchart of the vegetable compartment according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 14 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the vegetable compartment according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 15 is a rear view of the storage container according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 16 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the vegetable compartment according to the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 17 is a longitudinal sectional view of a vegetable room of a conventional refrigerator.

  Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the vegetable room of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the humidity response characteristics of the dew condensation detection unit and the conventional humidity detection unit used in the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure includes a heat insulating box 2. The heat insulation box 2 is filled and foamed in a space between the outer box 3 and the inner box 4, and an outer box 3 mainly made of a steel plate, an inner box 4 molded of a resin such as ABS, and the like. It consists of foam insulation such as urethane foam. The heat insulation box 2 is insulated from the surrounding atmosphere, and the inside is divided into a plurality of storage rooms.

  A refrigerator compartment 5 as a first storage compartment is provided at the top of the heat insulation box 2. Below the refrigerating room 5, a switching room 6 as a fourth storage room and an ice making room 7 as a fifth storage room are provided side by side on the left and right sides. Below the switching room 6 and the ice making room 7, a vegetable room 8 is provided as a second storage room. A freezing room 9 as a third storage room is arranged at the lowermost part of the heat insulating box 2.

  The refrigerator compartment 5 is normally set to 1 ° C. to 5 ° C. with the lower limit of the temperature at which it does not freeze for refrigerated storage. The vegetable room 8 is set to 2 ° C. to 7 ° C., which is equal to or slightly higher than the temperature of the refrigerator room 5. The freezer compartment 9 is set in a freezing temperature zone, and is usually set at −22 ° C. to −15 ° C. for frozen storage. The freezer compartment 9 may be set at a low temperature of, for example, −30 ° C. or −25 ° C. in order to improve the frozen storage state. The switching chamber 6 has a refrigeration temperature zone set at 1 ° C to 5 ° C, a vegetable temperature zone set at 2 ° C to 7 ° C, and a freezing temperature zone usually set at -22 ° C to -15 ° C. In addition, it is possible to switch to a preset temperature range between the refrigeration temperature range and the freezing temperature range. The switching chamber 6 is a storage chamber provided with an independent door, which is provided in parallel with the ice making chamber 7, and is often provided with a drawer-type door.

  In the present embodiment, the switching chamber 6 is illustrated as a storage chamber that can be switched to a desired temperature range in the temperature range from the refrigeration temperature range to the refrigeration temperature range. Alternatively, the freezing may be left to the vegetable room 8 and the freezing room 9 may be configured as a storage room specialized for switching only between the refrigeration temperature zone and the freezing temperature zone. Moreover, the switching chamber 6 may be comprised as a storage chamber fixed to the specific temperature range.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the top surface portion of the heat insulating box 2 has a shape in which dents are provided stepwise toward the back side of the refrigerator 1. A machine room 2a is formed in the stepped recess. The machine room 2a accommodates a compressor 10 and high-pressure side components of the refrigeration cycle such as a dryer (not shown) for removing moisture. In other words, the machine room 2 a in which the compressor 10 is disposed is formed so as to bite into the inside of the refrigerator compartment 5 at the uppermost rear part of the heat insulating box 2.

  In addition, in the present embodiment, the matters relating to the main part of the present disclosure described below are that a machine room is provided in the rear region of the lowermost storage room of the heat insulation box 2 that has been conventionally general, and a compressor is provided there. The present invention can also be applied to a refrigerator in which 10 is arranged. Moreover, the refrigerator 1 of this indication may be a refrigerator which has the structure of what is called a mid freezer by which arrangement | positioning of the freezer compartment 9 and the vegetable compartment 8 was replaced (refer Embodiment 5 mentioned later).

  As shown in FIG. 1, a cooling chamber 11 for generating cold air is provided on the back side of the vegetable chamber 8 and the freezing chamber 9. Between the vegetable room 8 and the cooling room 11 or between the freezing room 9 and the cooling room 11, a cold air conveying air passage (not shown) to each room having heat insulation properties, and the respective rooms are insulated. A rear partition wall 12 configured for this purpose is configured.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a cooler 13 is disposed in the cooling chamber 11. In the space above the cooler 13 in the cooling chamber 11, cold air cooled by the cooler 13 by the forced convection method is blown to the refrigerator room 5, the switching room 6, the ice making room 7, the vegetable room 8, and the freezer room 9. A cooling fan 14 is disposed. In the space below the cooler 13 in the cooling chamber 11, a radiant heater 15 made of a glass tube is provided for defrosting the frost and ice adhering to the cooler 13 and its periphery during cooling. Further below that, there are provided a drain pan 16 for receiving defrost water generated at the time of defrosting, and a drain tube 17 penetrating from the deepest portion of the drain pan 16 to the outside of the chamber. An evaporating dish 18 is provided outside the refrigerator on the downstream side of the drain tube 17.

  In the vegetable compartment 8, a lower storage container 20 placed on a frame attached to the drawer door 19 of the vegetable compartment 8 and an upper storage container 21 placed on the lower storage container 20 are arranged. . With the drawer door 19 closed, a lid 22 for mainly sealing the upper storage container 21 is held by the first partition wall 23 and the inner box 4 provided at the top of the vegetable compartment 8. (See FIG. 1).

  As shown in FIG. 2, an air passage for cold air discharged from the discharge port 24 for the vegetable compartment 8 disposed in the back partition wall 12 is provided between the lid 22 and the first partition wall 23. It has been. A cooling member 25 is embedded in the rear partition wall 12 near the vegetable compartment 8. One end of the cooling member 25 is bonded to the cooling chamber 11. A dew condensation sensor 26 is attached to the other end of the cooling member 25.

  Furthermore, a space is also provided between the lower storage container 20 and the second partition wall 27 below the lower storage container 20, and a cold air passage is provided (see FIG. 2). The lower part of the back partition wall 12 provided in the back side of the vegetable compartment 8 is provided with a suction port for the vegetable compartment 8 for cooling the inside of the vegetable compartment 8 and returning the heat-exchanged cold air to the cooler 13. ing.

  The rear partition wall 12 separates the cooling chamber 11 from the surface made of a resin such as ABS. Moreover, the back partition wall 12 is comprised with the heat insulating material comprised by the polystyrene foam etc. for ensuring heat insulation.

  Next, the configuration near the dew condensation sensor 26 will be described in a little more detail.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the cooling member 25 having one end bonded to the cooling chamber 11 is provided so as to penetrate the back partition wall 12 having heat insulation properties. A dew condensation sensor 26 is thermally fixed to the other end of the cooling member 25. Specifically, the cooling member 25 is fixed to the surface of the wiring board of the dew condensation sensor 26 on which a component is not mounted via, for example, a heat dissipation silicon sheet or a high thermal conductive resin material that absorbs shock. Furthermore, it is better if the cooling member 25 is physically fixed to the wiring board of the dew condensation sensor 26 by screwing or the like. The cooling member 25 is preferably made of a material having extremely high heat conductivity, and is preferably a metal such as aluminum and a highly heat conductive resin molded product.

  The dew condensation sensor 26 includes a dew condensation detection element, a heat generating part 26a, and a detection circuit part (not shown) mounted on a wiring board. In the dew condensation detection element, the larger the change in physical quantity between the dry state without water adhesion and the dew condensation state with water adhesion, the better. In the present embodiment, a mixture of a hygroscopic resin such as polyamide and a conductive powder such as carbon is used. As shown in FIG. 3, in general, only the resin used for the capacitive humidity sensor has a low response to humidity change at a high humidity of 90% RH or more, and distinguishes between high humidity and dew condensation. Is impossible. In this regard, if the mixture of the present disclosure is used, the hygroscopic resin swells greatly at the time of dew condensation, and the contact rate between the conductors can be very small, so that the resistance value change at the time of drying and dew condensation is greatly Can be changed. For example, a resistance value of several kΩ in a normal dry state becomes a high resistance of several hundred kΩ when dew condensation occurs, and can be regarded as a change amount of 100 times or more. Thereby, it is possible to discriminate between a non-condensing state and a dew condensation occurrence state.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a dew condensation sensor chamber 29 communicating with the lower storage container 20 is provided on the back side of the lower storage container 20. A sensor insertion port member 30 having an opening size larger than the outer shape of the dew condensation sensor 26 is attached to a portion of the dew condensation sensor chamber 29 that contacts the dew condensation sensor 26. The dew condensation sensor 26 is configured so that the dew condensation sensor 26 is installed inside the lower storage container 20 when the drawer door 19 is closed. If a rubber grommet or the like having a radial slit is used as the sensor insertion port member 30, the impact with the condensation sensor 26 when the condensation sensor 26 is inserted is reduced, and the condensation sensor after the condensation sensor 26 is inserted. The airtightness of the chamber 29 can be ensured.

  About the refrigerator 1 comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below.

  First, the operation of the refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator 1 will be described. The refrigeration cycle is operated by the signal from the control board (not shown) according to the set temperature in the cabinet, and the cooling operation is performed. The high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged by the operation of the compressor 10 is condensed and liquefied to some extent by a condenser (not shown). The refrigerant further condenses and liquefies while preventing condensation in the refrigerator 1 through a refrigerant pipe (not shown) disposed in the side and rear surfaces of the refrigerator 1 and the front opening of the refrigerator 1, and the capillary tube (see FIG. (Not shown). The condensed and liquefied refrigerant is then depressurized in the capillary tube while exchanging heat with a suction pipe (not shown) to the compressor 10 and reaches a cooler 13 as a low-temperature and low-pressure liquid refrigerant.

  Here, the low-temperature and low-pressure liquid refrigerant exchanges heat with the air in each storage chamber being conveyed by the operation of the cooling fan 14, and the refrigerant in the cooler 13 evaporates. At this time, cold air for cooling each storage chamber is generated in the cooling chamber 11.

  The low-temperature cold air generated in the cooling chamber 11 is diverted from the cooling fan 14 to the refrigerating chamber 5, the switching chamber 6, the ice making chamber 7, the vegetable chamber 8, and the freezing chamber 9 using the air path and the cooling damper 31. The The amount of cool air supplied to each storage room is adjusted by the cooling damper 31 so that each storage room is cooled to the respective target temperature zone.

  In the vegetable compartment 8, the air after cooling the refrigerator compartment 5 is provided in the middle of the refrigerator compartment return air path for circulating the air after cooling the refrigerator compartment 5 to the cooler 13. The liquid is discharged from the discharge port 24 and supplied. The air discharged from the discharge port 24 flows to the outer peripheries of the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20 to indirectly cool the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20, and then the suction port 28 for the vegetable compartment 8. To return to the cooler 13 again to be cooled. A heating unit 33 for heating the circulating air is provided upstream of the discharge port 24 (see FIG. 2).

  The air cooled to below −20 ° C. in the cooler 13 normally rises in temperature to 2 to 7 ° C. in the vegetable room 8, and therefore the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20 in the vegetable room 8. The outside air (outer container space 34) is dry with an average relative humidity of about 15 to 30% RH. On the other hand, the vegetables inside the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20 have physiological activity during storage and continue to evaporate moisture, so the air inside the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20 is high. Humidity. When the vegetables are stored and stored in the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20 and the temperature and humidity become stable, the refrigerator 1 around the vegetable room 8 is stored in the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage in descending order of humidity. The inside of the container 20 is divided into three zones: storage container outer space 34> cooling chamber 11. From the gap between the lid 22 and the upper storage container 21 and the clearance between the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20, the dry air in the outer space 34, the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20. The humidity is discharged from the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20 by replacing the high-humidity air inside. The discharge of humidity is promoted when the cooling damper 31 is opened and the dry air is discharged into the vegetable compartment 8.

  If the transpirated humidity is not discharged out of the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20, condensation occurs, and if this comes in contact with vegetables, there is a risk that microorganisms increase and water rot occurs. Further, if the water vapor discharge becomes excessive, the humidity inside the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20 is too low, and there is a concern that the transpiration of vegetables is promoted and deflated. Considering the balance of both risks, 90-95% RH is considered a suitable storage humidity for many vegetables. In the present embodiment, the inside of the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20 is moderately humidity-controlled using the dew condensation sensor 26 that is a dew condensation detection unit, the cooling damper 31 that is a water vapor discharge unit, and the heating unit 33. By doing so, a high humidity state without condensation is maintained.

  Next, an operation for detecting condensation in advance using the condensation sensor 26 will be described. The cooling member 25 having one end bonded to the cooling chamber 11 is cooled by cold air and cools the dew condensation sensor 26 by heat conduction. When the dew condensation sensor 26 is cooled, the dew condensation detection element in the dew condensation sensor 26 is also cooled, and becomes lower than the environmental temperature in the lower storage container 20. Therefore, when the lower storage container 20 changes in humidity, the dew condensation detection element is lower in temperature and lower in dew point than the air in the lower storage container 20, so that it is earlier (in advance) than in the lower storage container 20. Condensation can be detected. As a specific example, in the case where the inside of the vegetable compartment 8 is set to 6 ° C., in order to detect the relative humidity 95% RH, the temperature of the dew condensation detection element may be set to 5.3 ° C. Adjustment of structural hardware surfaces such as the volume of the cooling member 25, the contact thermal conductivity with the cooling chamber 11, and the contact thermal conductivity between the cooling member 25 and the dew condensation sensor 26, and the cooling time of the cooling member 25 ( The desired dew point temperature can be accommodated by adjusting in terms of control software such as the cooling fan 14 operation time) and the detection timing of the dew condensation sensor 26 from the start of cooling.

  Next, a method for starting water vapor discharge based on the dew condensation detection result of the dew condensation sensor 26 will be described. FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of the refrigerator in the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a control flowchart of the refrigerator in the first embodiment. The control unit 50 controls the operations of the cooling damper 31 and the heating unit 33 which are the water vapor discharge unit in the present embodiment based on the detection results of the temperature sensor 32 (see FIG. 2) and the dew condensation sensor 26, and the vegetable compartment 8 The temperature and humidity are adjusted (see Fig. 2).

  As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, first, the control unit 50 determines whether or not the vegetable compartment 8 needs to be cooled based on the detection result of the temperature sensor 32 (STEP 1). When it is determined that cooling is necessary, the controller 50 opens the cooling damper 31 and adjusts the temperature of the vegetable compartment 8 within a predetermined range (STEP 2 to STEP 4). After the temperature adjustment is completed, the condensation sensor 26 detects condensation in advance (STEP 5). When dew condensation is detected in advance, the cooling damper 31 is opened and the circulating air is heated by the heating unit 33 (STEP 6), thereby introducing the dry air into the vegetable compartment 8 to discharge water vapor. Since only the opening operation of the cooling damper 31 causes the temperature of the vegetable compartment 8 to fall below the target value, the heating unit 33 is simultaneously operated to adjust the temperature. The reason for adjusting the temperature before adjusting the humidity is that the temperature has a greater influence on the freshness than the humidity, including the transpiration of vegetables and respiration. For example, comparing the transpiration (drying) risks at 20 ° C and 5 ° C at the same 90% RH, there is a vapor pressure difference of about 1.8 mmHg between the vegetable surface and air at 20 ° C, whereas at 5 ° C Since there is only about 0.7 mmHg, the risk of transpiration is reduced by about 60%. In addition, by reducing the temperature from 20 ° C. to 5 ° C., the respiration rate of many vegetables can be reduced to about 1/10, and consumption of sugar and organic acids as respiration substrates can be suppressed to maintain the taste. it can.

  When a predetermined time has elapsed after the start of the water vapor discharge (Y in STEP 7), the dew condensation sensor 26 detects the dew condensation in advance (STEP 8). When the dew condensation is detected in advance, the control unit 50 continues the water vapor discharge, and when it is not detected, stops the water vapor discharge (STEP 9). As another stop control method, in addition to the dew condensation sensor 26, a humidity sensor (not shown) is installed in the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20, or in the vegetable compartment 8 or in the suction port 28. When the humidity sensor falls below a threshold value (for example, 80% RH) that can be accurately detected, the water vapor discharge may be stopped.

  As described above, by controlling temperature adjustment and water vapor discharge, the temperature and humidity inside the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20 can be maintained within the target range, and the freshness of the vegetables can be maintained longer. can do.

  Further, in the description of the present embodiment, the case where the dew condensation sensor 26 is provided in the lower storage container 20 has been described, but the upper storage container 21 may be provided. Furthermore, not only the vegetable room 8 but also a case where a storage room dedicated to high humidity is provided, it can be applied by applying the same configuration and concept of operation.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view when the vegetable room of the refrigerator according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure is closed. FIG. 7 is a control block diagram of the refrigerator in the second embodiment of the present disclosure. Since the configuration and operation of the refrigerator 1 in the second embodiment of the present disclosure have many parts common to the configuration and operation of the refrigerator 1 in the first embodiment, the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment are used for the common parts. Detailed description will be omitted, and different parts will be mainly described below.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the refrigerator 1 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, the left side, the right side, the front side, and the rear side of the upper surface of the lid body 22 and the upper storage container 21 with the drawer door 19 closed. A soft material such as rubber packing is provided on the upper surface of the lid 22 or the upper storage container 21 so as to be in close contact with each other. Further, the lower side storage in which food is stored in the boundary between the left side, the right side, the front side, and the rear side of the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20 so as not to contact when the upper storage container 21 operates. The gap is filled with the above materials so that the moisture of the container 20 does not escape. Further, the upper storage container 21 has a plurality of vent holes in a part of the bottom surface overlapping the lower storage container 20. Due to the vent, the humidity inside the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20 is made uniform. When the water vapor discharge unit described later is operated, the air flowing into the uppermost storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20 with the highest humidity becomes the air in the storage container outer space 34 having the intermediate humidity, and the cooling with the lowest humidity. The humidity fluctuation can be moderately suppressed as compared with the case where the chamber 11 air flows in. With such a configuration, when the water vapor discharge unit is operated, the humidity inside the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20 is drastically reduced, thereby reducing the risk that leafy vegetables such as leafy vegetables are stretched. Can do.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, the lower storage container 20 of the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment includes an internal storage container 35 with a vent having a mesh-like hole on a plurality of surfaces. The inner storage container 35 is provided so as to have a predetermined distance between the inner storage container 20 and the inner surface of the lower storage container 20.

  In addition, a vegetable room fan 36 that stirs the air in the storage container outer space 34 is provided on the back of the vegetable room 8. Since the air volume of the vegetable compartment fan 36 is sufficiently larger than the air volume of the circulating air flowing in from the discharge port 24, the air temperature in the outer space 34 of the storage container is substantially uniform both when the cooling damper 31 is opened and closed. Can be. Further, when the drawer door 19 is closed and the flap 38 described later is closed, the stirring air does not flow into the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20. As another temperature equalization means, the back surface or the whole of the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20 may be made of a metal such as aluminum having high thermal conductivity. Moreover, you may branch and arrange the discharge outlet 24 in the several location in the vegetable compartment 8 (not shown).

  Furthermore, the variable opening 37 which is a water vapor | steam discharge part of this Embodiment is provided in the back side of the vegetable compartment 8. The variable opening 37 includes a cylindrical casing having a ventilation path inside, a flap 38 that opens the casing to the back side, and a drive mechanism (not shown) that drives the flap 38. A connection portion 39 is provided on the back surface of the lower storage container 20 so that the variable opening 37 and the lower storage container 20 communicate with each other by closing the drawer door 19. A mesh-shaped vent is provided in the connection portion 39 on the back surface of the lower storage container 20. By closing the flap 38 when the drawer door 19 is closed, the lower storage container 20 is substantially sealed. Further, when the flap 38 is opened, the lower storage container 20 communicates with the storage container outer space 34. With such a configuration, it is possible to variably control the degree of water vapor discharge between the lower storage container 20 and the storage container outer space 34 without connecting a harness for supplying electric power to the lower storage container 20. . Since there is no harness connection, it becomes possible for the user to remove the lower storage container 20 from the heat insulation box 2 and wash it, thereby improving maintainability. Further, the flap 38 may be configured such that the degree of opening and closing or the opening and closing angle can be adjusted so that multi-stage partial opening and closing is possible. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent a rapid decrease in humidity when the flap 38 is opened. In addition, with such a configuration, when the water vapor discharge unit is operated, the humidity inside the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20 is drastically reduced, and there is a risk that vegetables that are easy to dry such as leaf vegetables may wither. Can be reduced.

  As another variable opening mode, a diaphragm blade (not shown) that changes the opening area by changing the overlapping degree of a plurality of thin plates may be used instead of the flap 38. Alternatively, instead of the variable opening 37, the upper storage container 21 is pushed forward or upward to change the degree of sealing with the lower storage container 20, so that the gap at the boundary between the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20 is changed. A plunger mechanism (not shown) that can be changed may be provided on the back of the vegetable compartment 8.

  A moisture absorbing / releasing material 40 may be provided in the variable opening 37. Examples of the moisture absorbing / releasing material 40 include those in which a porous mineral such as zeolite is fixed on the surface of a nonwoven fabric, a material in which a hygroscopic resin such as acrylic acid is embedded in the nonwoven fabric, and a hydrophilic functional group is modified. Cellulose with increased hygroscopicity. When the flap 38 is closed, the moisture evaporated from the vegetables is absorbed, and when the flap 38 is opened, the humidity evaporated from the vegetables is released to the outer space 34 of the storage container. By providing the moisture absorbing / releasing material 40, when the flap 38 is opened, the humidity in the lower storage container 20 is drastically decreased and the vegetables are dried, or when the flap 38 is closed, the lower storage container. It plays the role which prevents that the humidity in 20 rises rapidly and dew condensation occurs.

  About the refrigerator 1 comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below.

  The inside of the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20 has a problem that the distribution of temperature and humidity tends to be non-uniform and it is difficult to detect the representative value with the single dew condensation sensor 26. In this Embodiment, in order to solve the said subject, the vegetable compartment fan 36 which is a temperature-equalizing part, and the internal storage container 35 which is a humidity-equalizing part are provided. Hereinafter, the operation of the vegetable compartment fan 36 that is a temperature-uniforming unit and the internal storage container 35 that is a humidity-equalizing unit will be described. Without the temperature-equalizing unit, the vegetable room 8 has a low temperature on the back side where the discharge port 24 and the cooler 13 are located, and a relatively high temperature on the door side and the side surface where heat enters. The wall surfaces and the inside of the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20 also have a similar temperature distribution. If a non-uniform distribution of temperature exists in the vegetable room 8, the physiological activity of the vegetables in the high temperature part in the vegetable room 8 is promoted and the transpiration rate increases. Condensation occurs on the walls and the surface of the cold vegetables when the transpirated humidity moves to the low temperature part by diffusion and convection. In such a situation with partial dew condensation, even if water vapor is discharged by a single dew condensation sensor, the problem that partial dew condensation remains or the high temperature part becomes dry is not solved. On the other hand, when the temperature distribution on the wall surfaces of the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20 is eliminated by the temperature equalization unit, local transpiration promotion and dew condensation inside the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20 can be prevented. Therefore, by controlling the humidity by the dew condensation sensor 26 and the variable opening 37, the vegetables placed anywhere in the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20 are kept at high humidity without causing dew condensation. Is possible.

  Next, without the internal storage container 35, when the user stores a large amount of vegetables with respect to the volume of the lower storage container 20, the volume of vegetables restricts the diffusion and convection of air in the lower storage container 20, and humidity. May be spatially non-uniformly distributed. For example, it is conceivable that the humidity may be high near leafy vegetables having a high transpiration rate, and the humidity may be relatively low near root vegetables having a low transpiration rate. In such a case, the average humidity of the lower storage container 20 and the upper storage container 21 can be measured even if the condensation sensor 26 is provided at one location in the condensation sensor chamber 29 provided on the back surface of the lower storage container 20. I can't. On the other hand, if the internal storage container 35 maintains a gap of a predetermined distance between the vegetables and the inner surface of the lower storage container 20, even when a large amount of vegetables is stored in the lower storage container 20, the lower storage container Air diffusion within 20 is not impeded. Furthermore, the average humidity can be measured by providing the dew condensation sensor 26 at a position communicating with the gap. Therefore, with such a configuration, even if a single dew condensation sensor 26 is provided for a relatively large storage container volume, it is possible to detect dew condensation in advance corresponding to typical humidity. In the present embodiment, an example in which the internal storage container 35 is provided in the lower storage container 20 is shown, but the same effect can be expected even if the internal storage container 35 is provided in the upper storage container 21.

  Next, the operation of the refrigerator 1 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure immediately after adding vegetables will be described. FIG. 7 is a control block diagram of the refrigerator in the second embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 is a control flowchart after the opening / closing detection of the drawer door 19 of the vegetable room of the refrigerator in the second embodiment of the present disclosure. Based on the detection results of the temperature sensor 32, the dew condensation sensor 26, and the door opening / closing sensor, the control unit 50 performs the operations of the cooling damper 31, the vegetable compartment fan 36, the variable opening 37, and the heating unit 26a of the dew condensation sensor 26. Control. As shown in FIG. 8, when the controller 50 detects the opening / closing of the drawer door 19 by the door opening / closing sensor, the controller 50 determines the input of the thermal load based on the detection information of the temperature sensor 32 (STEP 11). When the thermal load is applied (Y in STEP 11), the rate of temperature decrease when the cooling damper 31 is opened is relatively small, and when the thermal load is not applied (N in STEP 11), the temperature The rate of decline is relatively large. The controller 50 determines whether or not a thermal load has been applied using a thermal load determination threshold that has been obtained in advance through experiments or the like. When it is determined that the heat load has been input (Y in STEP 11), both the variable opening 37 and the cooling damper 31 are opened (STEP 12), and low-temperature circulating air is actively introduced into the lower storage container 20, Cool the input vegetables quickly. At this time, the vegetable compartment fan 36 may be operated. In this case, the freshness maintenance effect of vegetables becomes high by giving priority to cooling of vegetables over prevention of drying of vegetables by circulating air. After a predetermined time has elapsed since opening of the variable opening 37 and the cooling damper 31 (STEP 13), the control unit 50 closes the cooling damper 31 (STEP 14), and determines completion of cooling based on detection information of the temperature sensor 32. (STEP 15). If the input heat load is not reduced to the predetermined temperature of the vegetable room, the temperature increase rate is relatively fast. The completion of cooling is determined by obtaining a threshold (predetermined temperature) for determining completion of cooling in advance through experiments or the like. When the input heat load is reduced to the predetermined temperature of the vegetable compartment and it is determined that the cooling is completed (Y in STEP 15), the control unit 50 closes the variable opening 37 (STEP 16). On the other hand, if it is determined in STEP 11 that no heat load has been applied, the variable opening 37 is immediately closed. In this case, there is a possibility that the outside air that flows in by opening and closing the door is cooled and condensed in the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20, but a small amount of temporary condensation occurs. Since it is negligible, the control unit 50 does not detect condensation in advance or discharge water vapor. In addition, when the door is opened and closed more than a predetermined frequency, the control unit 50 may be configured to perform prior detection of dew condensation and water vapor discharge.

  Next, the humidity control operation of the refrigerator 1 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. FIG. 9 is a water vapor discharge control flowchart of the refrigerator in the second embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is a water vapor discharge control sequence diagram of the refrigerator according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9, it is assumed that cooling of the input vegetables (flowchart of FIG. 8) and temperature adjustment of the vegetable compartment 8 (corresponding to STEP 1 to STEP 4 of FIG. 5) have already been completed. In the humidity control of the refrigerator 1, the control unit 50 turns on the vegetable compartment fan 36 (STEP 21), operates the vegetable compartment fan 36 for a predetermined time (STEP 22), and then performs precondensation detection with the condensation sensor 26 ( (STEP 23). If dew condensation is detected in advance (Y in STEP 23), if the cooling damper 31 is closed (Y in STEP 24), the variable opening 37 is opened, the humidity in the lower storage container 20 is diffused, and stored by natural convection. It discharges | emits to the space 34 outside a container (STEP25). At the same time, the control unit 50 stops (OFF) the vegetable compartment fan 36 to prevent air of intermediate humidity in the outer space 34 of the storage container from suddenly flowing into the lower storage container 20. Prevent drying of vegetables. At the same time, the control unit 50 starts energization (ON) of the heat generating unit 26a of the dew condensation sensor 26, and dries the wetting of the dew condensation detection element (not shown). After a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the operation of STEP 25 (STEP 26), the control unit 50 stops (OFF) the heat generating unit 26a (STEP 27), and if the cooling damper 31 is closed (Y in STEP 28), dew condensation is performed in advance again. Detect (STEP 29). If dew condensation is not detected (N in STEP 29), the control unit 50 closes the variable opening 37 and stops water vapor discharge (STEP 30). At the same time, the controller 50 starts (ON) the vegetable compartment fan 36 and returns to STEP 22 (STEP 30). In STEP 24, when the cooling damper is open (N in STEP 24), the control unit 50 postpones steam discharge (postponement from timing A to timing B in FIG. 10). If the cooling damper is open in STEP 28 (N in STEP 28), the control unit 50 closes the variable opening 37 and immediately stops the water vapor discharge (STEP 30). These controls are intended to prevent the circulating air having the lowest humidity from flowing into the lower storage container 20 and drying the vegetables. As described above, it is possible to prevent condensation while preventing drying of vegetables by discharging water vapor while performing control to prevent a rapid decrease in humidity in the lower storage container 20.

  In order to reduce the opening / closing frequency of the variable opening 37 in order to extend the durability time of the flap 38, the control shown in the water vapor discharge control flowchart shown in FIG. 11 may be used. That is, after the steam is discharged for a predetermined time (STEP 21 to STEP 26 in FIG. 11), in STEP 31, the control unit 50 causes the sensor to cool strongly and lowers the temperature of the dew condensation detection element of the dew condensation sensor 26 from the normal level. As a specific example of the sensor strong cooling, there is a method of increasing the rotational speed of the compressor 10. When the temperature of the dew condensation detection element is lowered, dew condensation occurs even when the lower storage container 20 has a lower humidity than usual (for example, when the temperature in the lower storage container 20 is 6 ° C., the dew condensation sensor 26 is set to 4.5 ° C. When it is cooled down, condensation occurs even at 90% RH), and the threshold humidity for stopping the water vapor discharge is reduced. For this reason, the width of the threshold value for starting and stopping the water vapor discharge is expanded, and the opening and closing frequency of the flap is reduced.

  Note that STEP 21 to STEP 30 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 11 are the same as STEP 21 to STEP 30 shown in FIG.

  Next, humidity control under the operating condition of the refrigerator 1 in the non-steady state will be described. In situations where the vegetable compartment 8 is not cooled to a predetermined temperature, such as immediately after power is turned on, cooling is prioritized over humidity control operation. The control unit 50 opens the variable opening 37 so that the cool air is directly introduced into the lower storage container 20 in the same manner as immediately after the heat load is applied. In addition, during the predetermined time after defrosting and after defrosting, the cooling chamber 11 is filled with high temperature and high humidity air, so the control unit 50 stops the cooling fan 14 and turns on the cooling damper 31. Close and close the variable opening 37.

  Next, the case where the refrigerator 1 learns and predicts the time zone when the drawer door 19 of the vegetable compartment 8 is opened and closed and combines this with the humidity control of the vegetable compartment 8 will be described. Based on the detection result of the open / close sensor (not shown) of the drawer door 19 and the built-in timer and calendar information, the control unit 50 learns and predicts the day of the week and the time period when the opening frequency is high. During times when the doors are frequently opened and closed, water vapor contained in the outside air tends to enter the lower storage container 20 to cause dew condensation. Therefore, in order to prevent the occurrence of dew condensation, the humidity in the lower storage container 20 is usually in advance. The humidity in the lower storage container 20 is controlled to be lower. As information for learning prediction, the heat load input determination information described in FIG. 7 and the door opening / closing information of other storage rooms may be used. In addition, an infrared sensor that detects the presence of a person around the refrigerator 1, an illuminance sensor that detects a change in illuminance, a sound sensor that detects sound information, and a radio wave detection unit that detects various radio waves transmitted from a mobile phone It may be provided and a time zone with many door opening and closing may be predicted based on such information.

  The refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment has the following characteristics as compared with the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment. First, it is possible to detect typical humidity information of the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20 by a single dew condensation sensor 26 by the temperature-uniforming section and the humidity-control section. Further, by improving the sealing degree of the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20, intermediate humidity air is stored in the storage container outer space 34, and the opening timing of the variable opening 37 is set as the opening timing of the cooling damper 31. By avoiding overlapping, controlling the opening and closing of the flaps 38 in multiple stages, and providing the moisture absorbing / releasing material 40, the risk of drying vegetables during steam discharge can be reduced. Moreover, by making the water vapor discharge part independent of the cooling damper 31 as the variable opening 37, it is possible to operate by switching between the priority of the food rapid cooling operation and the priority of humidity control.

(Embodiment 3)
Next, the refrigerator 1 according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

  FIG. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the vegetable room of the refrigerator in the third embodiment of the present disclosure. Since the configuration and operation of the refrigerator 1 according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure have many common parts with the configuration and operation of the refrigerator 1 according to the first and second embodiments, the common parts are described in the first and second embodiments. Detailed description will be omitted by using the same reference numerals as those in the second embodiment, and the following description will be focused on different parts.

  As shown in FIG. 12, in the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment, the dew condensation sensor 26 is provided in the dew condensation sensor chamber 29. The dew condensation sensor 26 is fed by the non-contact power feeding device 41 and transmits detection information to the control unit 50 as a radio wave. A blow-out port 42 that penetrates the cooling chamber 11 is provided at a position of the rear partition wall 12 facing the dew condensation sensor 26. The dew condensation sensor 26 is cooled by the cool air coming out from the outlet 42. With such a configuration, the cooling member 25 (see FIG. 2) and the sensor insertion port member 30 (see FIG. 6) are unnecessary, and when the drawer door 19 is closed, there is no resistance to penetrate the dew condensation sensor 26, and the door is smoothly closed. And the door can be opened. In addition, since the cold air coming out from the outlet 42 does not directly hit the main body of the lower storage container 20, there is no risk that the inner surface of the lower storage container 20 is condensed by the cold air.

  The flap 38 of the present embodiment is made of a ferromagnetic material and is normally closed by a spring or the like. The flap 38 is opened by energizing the electromagnet 43 provided on the back of the vegetable compartment 8 at a position facing the flap 38. Compared with the variable opening 37 of the second embodiment, when the drawer door 19 is closed, there is no resistance to penetrate the connecting portion 39 (see FIG. 6), and smooth closing and opening of the door are possible.

  The moisture absorbing / releasing material 40 is provided on the flap 38 in the variable opening 37. In general, moisture absorption / release materials can promote moisture release by increasing the temperature or equilibrating with dry air. By disposing the moisture absorbing / releasing material 40 so that the moisture absorbing / releasing material 40 approaches the radiant heater 15 when the flap 38 is opened, moisture release can be promoted by receiving heat from the radiant heater 15. . Further, when the flap 38 is opened, the vegetable compartment fan 36 can be turned on to promote moisture release.

  About the refrigerator 1 comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below.

  FIG. 13 is a humidity control flowchart of the vegetable room of the refrigerator according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure. STEP 31 to STEP 34 in FIG. 13 are the same as STEP 21 to STEP 24 in FIG. 9, respectively.

  When the area of the variable opening 37 is small with respect to the volume and depth of the lower storage container 20, when the variable opening 37 is opened, the vicinity of the variable opening 37 of the lower storage container 20 and the drawer door 19 side The difference in humidity is likely to occur. Even if the opening and closing of the variable opening 37 is controlled in such a state, there is a high risk that condensation will occur on the drawer door 19 side and that the vegetables will dry near the variable opening 37. According to the humidity control of the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 13, the humidity distribution in the lower storage container 20 can be improved in such a case. In the humidity control of the present embodiment, the vegetable compartment fan 36 is not stopped when the variable opening 37 is opened (STEP 35 in FIG. 13) (see STEP 25 in FIG. 9 and STEP 35 in FIG. 13). The refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment is configured such that the distance between the vegetable compartment fan 36 and the variable opening 37 is smaller than that of the refrigerator 1 of the second embodiment (see FIGS. 6 and 12). Comparison). With such a configuration, the air in the lower storage container 20 can be stirred more efficiently. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the humidity distribution in the lower storage container 20 is more efficiently made uniform, and the air around the vegetables is high without condensation regardless of the position in the lower storage container 20. It becomes possible to keep humidity. Note that STEP 36 to STEP 38 in FIG. 13 are the same as STEP 26, STEP 28, and STEP 29 in FIG. 9, respectively. As described above, in the humidity control of the present embodiment, the vegetable compartment fan 36 is not stopped when the variable opening 37 is opened (STEP 35 in FIG. 13). Therefore, in STEP 39 in FIG. 13, the vegetable compartment fan 36 is ON. The heat generating part 26a is turned off.

(Embodiment 4)
Next, the refrigerator 1 according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

  14 and 15 are longitudinal sectional views of the vegetable compartment in the refrigerator according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. Since the configuration and operation of the refrigerator 1 according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure have many parts common to the configuration and operation of the refrigerator 1 according to the first to third embodiments, the common parts are described in the first to first embodiments. Detailed description will be omitted by using the same reference numerals as those in the third embodiment, and the following description will be focused on different parts.

  In the refrigerator 1 according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure, the top surface of the vegetable room 8, more specifically, the inner surface of the lid body 22 of the lower storage container 20 is the highest in a part thereof as shown in FIG. It has a part (the highest part), and the other part has a structure inclined toward the highest part. Vaporized from the vegetables is heated due to the heat generated by the respiratory heat of the vegetables, and is higher than the average temperature in the lower storage container 20. Therefore, by natural convection, the steam in the lower storage container 20 moves along the inner surface of the inclined lid body 22 as indicated by an arrow Z in FIG. 15, and finally gathers at the highest portion. At the highest part of the inner surface of the lid 22, the vapor in the lower storage container 20 gathers, and the humidity is most likely to increase, so that condensation is likely to occur. Therefore, it is preferable that the dew condensation sensor 26 is provided at or near the highest part of the inner surface of the lid 22.

  The water vapor discharge part in the present embodiment is configured by an electrolytic dehumidifier 44 composed of a membrane-like solid electrolyte and electrodes (see FIG. 14). The electrolysis type dehumidifier 44 decomposes water molecules present on one side of the membrane into an electrolyte by electrolysis, then moves it to the opposite side of the membrane and releases it again as water molecules. By using the electrolytic dehumidifier 44 in the water vapor discharge section, only the humidity can be selectively discharged. The electrolytic dehumidifier 44 is suitable for a case where it is not desired to leak gas components other than humidity and other particulate components from the lower storage container 20. Further, since the operation of the electrolytic dehumidifier 44 can be controlled by energization, it is suitable for the case where it is desired to finely adjust the control with good response. In the present embodiment, the electrolytic dehumidifying device 44 is fed by the non-contact power feeding device 41 provided on the heat insulating box 2 side. With such a configuration, the lower storage container 20 does not need to be physically connected to the heat insulating box 2 by a harness or the like. Therefore, with such a configuration, it is easier to remove the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20 compared to the case where a connection by a harness is required, and the maintainability is good.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 15, it is preferable that the dew condensation sensor 26 and the electrolytic dehumidifier 44 are provided as far as possible on the back surface of the lower storage container 20. With such a configuration, the detection result by the dew condensation sensor 26 reflects a more overall situation of the lower storage container 20. Although not limited to the electrolytic dehumidifier 44, any water vapor discharge unit is common, but during the water vapor discharge, the humidity is lower than the average of the lower storage container 20 near the water vapor discharge unit. For this reason, if the dew condensation sensor 26 is disposed near the water vapor discharge unit, there is a possibility that dew condensation will occur at some other location in the lower storage container 20. Therefore, it is better to avoid disposing the dew condensation sensor 26 near the water vapor discharge part.

(Embodiment 5)
Next, the refrigerator 1 according to the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

  FIG. 16 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the vegetable room of the refrigerator in the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. The vegetable compartment 58 in the refrigerator 1 according to the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure is provided at the position of the lowermost freezer compartment 9 in the refrigerator 1 in FIG. 1 (the configuration of the so-called mid freezer described in the first embodiment). Having a refrigerator). Further, in the refrigerator 1 according to the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure, the cooling chamber is not provided in the back surface portion but is provided in the upper portion of the back surface (not illustrated). Since the configuration and operation of the refrigerator 1 in the present embodiment are many in common with the refrigerator 1 in the first to fourth embodiments, the common parts have the same reference numerals as those in the first to fourth embodiments. Detailed description will be omitted with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 16, in the refrigerator 1 according to the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure, the cooling member 25 is provided directly below the discharge port 24 and between the discharge port 24 and the vegetable compartment fan 36. The circulating air from the cooling chamber discharged from the discharge port 24 comes into contact with the cooling member 25 before being mixed with the air in the storage container outer space 34 by the vegetable room fan 36. Since the discharged circulating air is at a lower temperature than the storage container outer space 34, the cooling member 25 is maintained at a temperature lower than that of the storage container outer space 34. In this way, the cooling member 25 cools the dew condensation sensor 26 without coming into contact with the cooling chamber, and enables the pre-detection of dew condensation.

  The configurations and functions in the first to fifth embodiments described above should not be construed as being implemented only in the aspects exemplified in the respective embodiments, but the configurations and functions in different embodiments. A refrigerator in which a plurality of (operations) are implemented is also included in the scope of the present disclosure. For example, a refrigerator in which the configuration of the dew condensation sensor chamber 29 of Embodiment 1 (see FIG. 2) and the configuration of the flap 38 of Embodiment 3 (see FIG. 12) are combined is also within the scope of the present disclosure. included.

  As described above, the present disclosure provides a refrigerator including a dew condensation sensor that can detect dew condensation in advance without being complicatedly configured with a plurality of components. Thus, the present disclosure can be applied not only to household or commercial refrigerators or vegetable storages, but also to distribution storages and warehouses that require high-humidity storage including foods other than vegetables.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerator 2 Heat insulation box 2a Machine room 3 Outer box 4 Inner box 5 Refrigeration room 6 Switching room 7 Ice making room 8,58 Vegetable room (storage room)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 9 Freezing chamber 10 Compressor 11 Cooling chamber 12 Rear partition wall 13 Cooler 14 Cooling fan 15 Radiant heater 16 Drain pan 17 Drain tube 18 Evaporating dish 19 Drawer door 20 Lower storage container (storage chamber)
21 Upper storage container (storage room)
22 Lid body 23 1st partition wall 24 Discharge port 25 Cooling member (cooling transmission part)
26 Condensation sensor (condensation detector)
26a Heat generation portion 27 Second partition wall 28 Suction port 29 Dew condensation sensor chamber 30 Sensor insertion port member 31 Cooling damper (cooling portion)
32 Temperature sensor 33 Heating part 34 Storage container outer space 35 Internal storage container (humidity-reducing part)
36 Vegetable room fan (soaking part)
37 Variable opening (water vapor discharge part)
38 Flap 39 Connecting part 40 Moisture absorbing / releasing material 41 Non-contact power feeding device 42 Air outlet 43 Electromagnet 44 Electrolytic dehumidifier (water vapor discharging part)
50 Control unit

Claims (8)

A storage chamber, a storage container stored in the storage chamber, a dew condensation sensor that detects dew condensation inside the storage container, and a humidity inside the storage container when the dew condensation sensor detects the dew condensation. A control unit for lowering,
The said condensation sensor is a refrigerator cooled so that it may become colder than the said inside of the said storage container. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to introduce dry air into the storage container to reduce the humidity inside the storage container. The storage container is further provided with an openable / closable opening,
The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein when the dew condensation sensor detects the dew condensation, the control unit opens the opening to introduce the dry air into the storage container. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein when the dew condensation sensor does not detect the dew condensation, the control unit is configured to close the opening. The dew condensation sensor is further provided with a heat generating part,
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein when the dew condensation sensor detects the dew condensation, the control unit is configured to start energization of the heat generating unit. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein when the dew condensation sensor stops detecting the dew condensation, the control unit is configured to stop energization of the heat generating unit. A cooler for generating cool air to be sent to the storage container;
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the dew condensation sensor is configured to be cooled by the cold air generated by the cooler. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the storage room is a vegetable room.