KR101316468B1 - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

It is to provide a refrigerator which can prevent oxidative deterioration of nutrients in food stored in a reduced pressure storage chamber and prevention of corruption by microorganisms for a long time.
The refrigerator outputs a control signal to the cooling device 180 and the cooling device 180 for controlling the temperature of the reduced pressure storage room 24 to the set temperature, and controls the temperature of the reduced pressure storage room 24 to the set temperature. Apparatus 100 is provided. When the decompression storage chamber 24 is not used for a predetermined period, the control device 100 sets the set temperature of the decompression storage chamber 24 to a second temperature lower than the first temperature from the first temperature (for example, the chilled temperature). (For example refrigeration temperature).

Description

Refrigerator {REFRIGERATOR}

TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a refrigerator. Specifically, It is related with the refrigerator provided with a pressure storage room.

As a conventional refrigerator, there is one described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-58670 (Patent Document 1). This refrigerator controls a food storage container to a low oxygen state, and maintains the freshness of the food inside a container.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-58670

In the refrigerator described in the above-mentioned patent document, since the food stored in the storage container can be indirectly cooled in a reduced pressure state, it is effective for preventing oxidation deterioration and drying prevention of food. However, even if it is stored for a long time even in an ice-temperature temperature range, it is thought that quality deteriorates. Thus, for example, if a user forgets to store food such as meat or fish in a storage container for about a week due to various circumstances, deterioration of the quality proceeds and the food must be disposed of. do.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator in which the ease of use can be improved by automatically changing the set temperature of the decompression storage chamber in accordance with the use situation.

In order to solve the said subject, the refrigerator which concerns on this invention is a refrigerator provided with the pressure reduction storage room for storing by pressure lower than atmospheric pressure, The cooling device for controlling the temperature of a pressure reduction storage room to a preset temperature, and a control signal to a cooling device And a control device for adjusting the temperature of the decompression storage chamber to the set temperature, wherein the control device changes the set temperature of the decompression storage chamber when a predetermined condition set in advance is satisfied.

The control apparatus sets the set temperature of the decompression storage chamber to the first temperature which is the chilled temperature or the refrigerating temperature, and when predetermined conditions are satisfied, the control apparatus sets the set temperature of the decompression storage chamber to the second temperature which is a freezing temperature lower than the first temperature. Change it.

The predetermined condition can be set as the food is not used for a predetermined period after the food is stored in the reduced pressure storage chamber. The control apparatus determines, based on the information from the predetermined apparatus, whether the decompression storage chamber has not been used for a predetermined period, and when it is determined that the decompression storage chamber has not been used for a predetermined period, the control unit sets the set temperature of the decompression storage chamber from the first temperature to the second temperature. Change to temperature.

As the predetermined device, for example, a pressure detector for detecting the pressure in the decompression storage chamber, an open / close switch for detecting the opening / closing of a door that covers the opening of the decompression storage chamber so as to be openable and the like can be used.

According to the present invention, the set temperature of the decompression storage chamber can be automatically changed in accordance with the use situation, thereby improving the ease of use.

1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to the present embodiment.
2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the refrigerator.
3 is a front view of a state in which a door of the refrigerator body is removed.
4 is a longitudinal sectional view near the decompression storage chamber of the quick freezing chamber.
5 is a perspective view of the vicinity of a reduced pressure storage chamber of the quick freezing chamber.
6 is a perspective view of the storage container of the decompression storage chamber viewed from the upper left side.
Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the reinforcing glass plate and the annular packing of the decompression storage chamber.
8 is a perspective view of the door of the decompression storage chamber viewed from the back side;
9 is a sectional perspective view of the decompression storage chamber.
The perspective view which looked at the storage container of a pressure reduction storage room from the upper left side.
11 is an explanatory diagram of a control structure for automatically changing a set temperature of a reduced pressure storage chamber.
12 is a graph showing the value of vitamin C measured in the case of frozen in a conventional method and frozen in vacuum.
Fig. 13 is a graph showing the amount of vitamin C measured after 3 days, 10 days, and 2 weeks after storing lemon at chilled temperature and frozen temperature.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, as described in detail below, the use situation of the refrigerator (in detail, the use situation of the decompression storage chamber in the refrigerator) is determined, and the set temperature of the decompression storage chamber is automatically changed in accordance with the use situation.

≪ Embodiment 1 >

First, the entire refrigerator will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. 1 is a front view of the refrigerator of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a central longitudinal cross-sectional view of the refrigerator of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a front view of a state where the door of the refrigerator main body of FIG. 1 is removed.

The refrigerator comprises a refrigerator main body 1 and a plurality of doors 6 to 10. The refrigerator main body 1 is comprised with the urethane foam heat insulating material 13 and the vacuum heat insulating material (not shown) between the outer box 11 made of steel sheets, and the inner box 12 made of resin. The refrigerator has a plurality of storage chambers in the order of the refrigerating chamber 2, the freezing chambers 3 and 4, and the vegetable chamber 5 from above. In other words, the refrigerating chamber 2 is partitioned at the top and the vegetable chamber 5 is arranged at the bottom. Between the refrigerating chamber 2 and the vegetable chamber 5, the freezing chambers 3 and 4 partitioned by these two chambers 2 and 5 and heat-insulated are arrange | positioned. The refrigerating compartment 2 and the vegetable compartment 5 are storage compartments of a refrigerating temperature zone, and the freezing compartments 3 and 4 are storage compartments of a freezing temperature range of 0 degrees or less (for example, a temperature range of about -20 to -18 degrees). . In addition, the freezing chamber 3 is divided into an ice making chamber 3a and a quick freezing chamber 3b, and is provided with a reduced pressure storage chamber 24 in the quick freezing chamber 3b. These storage chambers 2 to 5 are partitioned by partition walls 34, 35, and 36.

On the front surface of the refrigerator main body 1, the doors 6-10 which close the opening part of the front surface of the storage chambers 2-5 are provided. The refrigerating compartment door 6 is a door which closes the front opening part of the refrigerating compartment 2. The ice making room door 7 is a door which closes the front opening part of the ice making room 3a. The quick freezer compartment door 8 is a door that closes the front opening of the quick freezer compartment 3b. The freezer compartment door 9 is a door that closes the front opening of the freezer compartment 4. The vegetable chamber door 10 is a door which closes the front surface opening part of the vegetable chamber 5. The refrigerating compartment door 6 is comprised by the opening-type door known as what is called a double door open type. Each door of the ice-making chamber 3a, the quick freezing chamber 3b, the freezing chamber 4, and the vegetable chamber 5 is comprised by the drawer-type door, and the container in a storage chamber is taken out with the drawer-type door.

The refrigerator main body 1 is provided with the refrigeration cycle 180 (refer FIG. 11) as a "cooling apparatus." The refrigeration cycle 180 is connected to, for example, the compressor 14, the condenser (not shown), the capillary tube (not shown), the evaporator 15, and the compressor 14 in order. , Consists of. The compressor (14) and the condenser are installed in a machine room provided on the lower side of the rear surface of the refrigerator main body (1). The evaporator 15 is installed in a cooler room provided behind the freezing chambers 3, 4. A blowing fan 16 is provided above the evaporator 15 in the cooler chamber.

The cold air cooled by the evaporator 15 is sent to each storage chamber of the refrigerating chamber 2, the ice making chamber 3a, the quick freezing chamber 3b, the freezing chamber 4 and the vegetable chamber 5 by the blowing fan 16, Lose. Specifically, the cold air sent by the blower fan 16 is sent to the storage chamber of the refrigerator temperature range of the refrigerator compartment 2 and the vegetable compartment 5 via the damper apparatus which can be opened and closed, and the other part is an ice-making chamber ( 3a), the quick freezing chamber 3b and the freezing chamber 4 are sent to a storage chamber. That is, the damper apparatus which can be opened and closed is a selection means which selectably distributes the cold air from a cooling chamber to one or both of the refrigeration discharge port to the storage compartment of a refrigerating temperature zone, and the freezer discharge port to the storage compartment of a refrigeration temperature zone.

The cold air sent to each of the storage compartments of the refrigerating compartment 2, the ice making compartment 3a, the quick freezing compartment 3b, the freezing compartment 4, and the vegetable compartment 5 by the blower fan 16 cools each storage compartment, It is returned to the cooler chamber through the return passage. Thus, the refrigerator of this embodiment has the circulation structure of cold air, and keeps each storage chamber 2-5 at an appropriate temperature.

In the refrigerating compartment 2, the shelf 17-20 of several steps comprised from a transparent board is provided so that removal is possible. The lowermost shelf 20 is provided in contact with the rear surface and both side surfaces of the inner box 12, and partitions the lowermost space 21 which is the lower space from the upper space. The chilled chamber 2a is provided in the lowest space 21. Moreover, the door pocket 25-27 of several steps is provided in each refrigerator compartment door 6 inside. These door pockets 25 to 27 are provided to protrude into the refrigerating chamber 2 in a state where the refrigerating chamber door 6 is closed.

With reference to FIG. 2, the arrangement | positioning of the apparatus in the quick freezing chamber 3b is demonstrated. In the quick freezing chamber 3b, the decompression storage chamber 24 is arrange | positioned. A compartment is provided between the ice-making chamber 3a and another compartment is also provided between the freezing chamber 4, and an independent space is formed. The damper provided on the rear surface of the quick freezing chamber 3b is capable of switching the temperature. Since the drawer-type door is attached to the quick freezing chamber 3b, cold air is difficult to relief. Therefore, it is easy to keep the quick freezing chamber 3b at a low temperature.

The user can easily take out the food tray 60 (refer FIG. 4) in the decompression storage chamber 24 only by opening the quick freezing chamber door 6. As shown in FIG. At the bottom of the food tray 60, a cool storage material 80 is provided. When the food | coolant of temperature higher than the temperature (setting temperature) in the pressure reduction storage chamber 24 is stored in the pressure reduction storage chamber 24, the heat storage material 80 cools the food to a preset temperature quickly, and maintains the freshness of a food. will be.

As shown in FIG. 5, the vacuum pump 29 which is an example of a means for decompressing the pressure reduction storage chamber 24 is arrange | positioned at the back side of the pressure reduction storage chamber 24. As shown in FIG. The vacuum pump 29 can be easily connected to the pump connection part 42i (refer FIG. 6) provided in the side surface of the pressure reduction storage chamber 24 via the conduit 29a (refer FIG. 5). Moreover, by taking out the storage case 23 (refer FIG. 3), the vacuum pump 29 can be easily maintained from the front.

5-7, the structure of the pressure reduction storage chamber 24 is demonstrated. 5 is a perspective view of the decompression storage chamber 24, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the storage container 42 of the decompression storage chamber 24 viewed from above, and FIG. 7 is a reinforcement glass plate and the annular packing of the decompression storage chamber 24. It is a perspective view.

The decompression storage chamber 24 is, for example, a box-shaped storage container 42 having an opening and closing opening 42a for food in and out, a pressure-reducing storage door 50 for opening and closing the opening and closing opening 42a for food, and a storage container. The food tray 60 carried in and out of 42 is provided.

In the storage container 42, a space surrounded by the reduced pressure storage compartment door 50 and the food tray 60 is formed by closing the opening / closing portion 42a for food in / out with the reduced pressure storage compartment door 50. This space is formed as the low pressure space 41 which is decompressed by the vacuum pump 29. The food tray 60 is provided in the back side of the pressure reduction storage door 50, and can move back and forth with movement of the pressure reduction storage door 50. As shown in FIG.

The storage container 42 is made of a resin-like outer shell having excellent chemical resistance, impact resistance and moldability, a glass plate 43 (for example, tempered glass) made of transparent tempered glass, and a plate-like member made of metal such as steel sheet. 44 and the door engaging member 48 made of resin are provided.

The outer periphery of the storage container 42 has the basic shape of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped, the opening part 42a for food carrying in / out is formed in the front surface, and the glass plate loading opening 42b is formed in the upper surface. The outer reinforcing rib 42f protrudes and is formed in the outer surface of the side wall 42c, the bottom wall 42d, and the back wall 42e which comprise this outer edge, in order to improve the strength of an outer edge.

As shown in FIG. 7, the glass plate 43 is hermetically stacked in the glass plate stacking opening 42b via an annular packing 45, and forms an upper wall of the storage container 42. . The glass plate 43 is provided with the strength for preventing the glass plate loading opening 42b from being deformed inward by the negative pressure in the storage container 42. Moreover, by providing the transparent glass plate 43 on the upper surface of the storage container 42, a user can look inside the pressure reduction storage chamber 24, without opening the pressure reduction storage door 50. As shown in FIG.

The plate-like member 44 is formed to prevent both side walls 42c and the bottom wall 42d and the back wall 42e of the storage container 42 from being deformed by negative pressure in the storage container 42. It is provided so that it may extend along the side wall 42c, the bottom wall 42d, and the back wall 42e.

The storage container 42 is formed in the shape of a box having an opening 42a for carrying in and out of food from a resin material, and on both side walls 42c, the bottom wall 42d and the back wall 42e, a metal plate member ( 44) is installed. Therefore, compared with the case where the whole storage container 42 is formed with a metal plate, manufacturing cost can be reduced. In addition, since the storage container 42 is formed of a resin material, the installation structure and the like can be simplified.

5, 8, 9, and 10, the decompression storage chamber door 50 will be described. 8 is a perspective view of the rear side of the reduced pressure storage chamber door 50.

The pressure reduction storage door 50 includes, for example, a door body 51, a door handle 52, a sealed release valve 53, a rubber indicator 54, and a magnet gasket 55. It is comprised. The door main body 51 is formed of the resin material excellent in chemical-resistance, impact resistance, and moldability. The magnet gasket 55 seals the storage container 42 in an airtight manner and improves hermeticity.

As shown in FIG. 9, the door engagement member 48 is provided in the upper surface of the opening-and-extraction opening 42a. The door engaging member 48 is a c-shaped portion 48a housed in a recess formed in the upper surface of the food-loading opening and closing portion 42a, and a door engaging hook portion 48b extending forward from the c-shaped portion 48a. Is molded integrally. The door engaging hook 48b is set to a width substantially equal to the width of the door handle 52, and is coupled to the front and rear positioning upper end 51e (see Fig. 8).

When opening the decompression storage room door 50, when the user pulls the door handle 52, the door handle 52 rotates upward with respect to the hinge part (not shown), and the upper part of the door handle 52 Push up the door engaging hook 48b. As a result, the engagement between the door engaging hook portion 48b and the front and rear positioning upper end portion 51e is displaced. When the user also pulls the door handle 52, the pressure storage compartment door 50 can be opened.

The pressure reduction storage door 50 is connected to the link mechanism 70 (refer FIG. 10), and is rotatable and movable back and forth. The door handle 52 is provided with a valve 53 for releasing the sealed state. The valve 53 releases the sealed state of the storage container 42 and brings the pressure in the storage container 42 close to atmospheric pressure so that even a user with a weak finger force can easily open and close the door 50. It is for. The pressure inside the storage container 42 is slightly reduced (for example, about 0.8 atmosphere) by the operation of the vacuum pump 29 or by cooling and shrinking the accommodated food and air. Therefore, in order to open the door 50 of the storage container 42 of a pressure reduction state, a force is required. Therefore, in this embodiment, the valve 53 for introducing atmospheric pressure into the storage container 42 is provided.

The door main body 51 has an appearance almost identical to that of the opening 42a of the storage container 42, and includes the handle recess 51a, the handle hinge support 51c, the link mechanism connecting portion 51d, and the front and rear. The positioning upper end 51e, the front-back positioning lower end 51f, etc. are provided.

The operation of the decompression storage chamber 24 will be described. 9 is a sectional perspective view of the reduced pressure storage chamber. When opening the door main body 51, a user puts a finger in the handle recessed part 51a in the state of FIG. 5, and pulls the lower part of the door handle 52. As shown in FIG. As a result, the sealed state release valve 53 is operated to release the sealed state of the decompression storage chamber 24. Therefore, even if the user is not particularly conscious, at the beginning of the opening operation of the door main body 51, the sealed state of the decompression storage chamber 24 can be released.

In addition, when the user pulls the door handle 52, the upper link side 70a (see Fig. 5) is pulled forward through the door body 51. Thereby, the connection part of the upper link side 70a and the rear link side 70d is moved forward and downward along the inclination of the upper support part 42k for links, and the door main body 51 will be inclined. Thereby, the front-back positioning lower end part 51f of the door main body 51 of FIG. 8 opens from the front-back positioning groove 34a of the partition wall 34 of FIG. 4, and draws out the door main body 51 to the front. It becomes possible.

In addition, when the user pulls the door handle 52, the upper link side 70a is pulled forward through the door body 51. Thereby, the door switch 130 (refer FIG. 11) which is arrange | positioned near the upper link side 70a and detects the opening / closing state of the door main body 51 of the pressure reduction storage chamber 24 is carried out by the pressure reduction storage chamber 24 of FIG. The open state of the door main body 51 is detected.

In addition, when the user pulls the door handle 52, the door body 51 is pulled out together with the link mechanism 70 and the food tray 60 in an inclined state. As a result, the upper surface of the food tray 60 is opened. The user can carry in and out food from the food tray 60.

The above series of operations are executed only by the user pulling the door handle 52. The user does not need to be particularly conscious and puts effort into use, and the ease of use is good.

In addition, when closing the door main body 51, in the state of FIG. 10, the user presses the upper part of the door handle 52, and the operation | movement opposite to the opening operation mentioned above is performed. The door switch 130 detects that the door main body 51 of the decompression storage chamber 24 is closed.

5 and 10, the link mechanism 70 will be described. 10 is a perspective view of the decompression chamber door 50 withdrawn forward. The link mechanism 70 is disposed between the side surfaces of the adjacent quick freezing chamber 3b and the side surfaces of the storage container 42.

With reference to FIG. 11, temperature control of the pressure reduction storage chamber 24 is demonstrated. The control device 100 for controlling the operation of the refrigerator can be configured, for example, as a microcomputer system.

The pressure switch 110, the optical sensor 120, the pressure reduction chamber door switch 130, the operation switch 150, the temperature sensor 160, and the like are connected to the input side of the control device 100, for example. In some cases, a HEMS (Home Energy Management System) 170, which will be described later, may be connected to the control device 100.

To the output side of the control device 100, for example, a vacuum pump 29, a refrigeration cycle 180, an operation panel (not shown), and the like are connected.

When the predetermined condition set previously is satisfied, the control apparatus 100 automatically changes the set temperature of the pressure reduction storage chamber 24 from a 1st temperature to a 2nd temperature. The first temperature is, for example, chilled temperature or refrigerated temperature. The second temperature is a refrigeration temperature set to a value lower than the first temperature.

As an example of the predetermined conditions, the food is stored in the decompression storage chamber 24 and not used for a predetermined period of time (for example, opening and closing the quick freezer compartment door 6 after depressurizing the food into the decompression storage chamber 24, decompression storage chamber). A state in which operation from the user such as opening / closing of the door 60, carrying in / out of food, or the like has been absent for a certain time. If the decompression storage chamber 24 has not been used for a predetermined period of time, there is a possibility that the quality of the food stored therein deteriorates, making it impossible to withstand food.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the decompression storage chamber 24 has not been used for a predetermined period, the set temperature of the decompression storage chamber 24 is lowered to the freezing temperature, and the long-term storage mode (freezing temperature) can be changed from the freshness maintenance priority mode (child temperature). To.

Whether or not the decompression storage chamber 24 has not been used for a predetermined period can be known from the information from the predetermined apparatus. As an example, the control apparatus 100 can know whether the door 50 of the pressure reduction storage chamber 24 was opened or closed from the detection signal of the pressure switch 110. This is because when the door 50 is opened or closed, the pressure in the decompression storage chamber 24 is changed, and the pressure change is detected by the pressure switch 110.

As another example of detecting that the decompression storage chamber 24 has not been used for a predetermined period, a signal of the optical sensor 120 may be used. The optical sensor 120 can be installed on the surface of the refrigerator, for example, and outputs a signal corresponding to the light around the refrigerator. The control device 100 can determine whether the user is at home or absent based on the signal from the optical sensor 120. Although the position varies depending on the window position and the like of the place where the refrigerator is installed, when the user is absent due to travel or business trip, the brightness of the surroundings where the refrigerator is placed is smaller than when the user is at home. Therefore, by managing the history data of the signal output from the optical sensor 120, or referring to the output of the calendar timer installed in the control device 100, it is possible to determine whether the user is at home. When the user determines that the member is absent for a predetermined period, the control device 100 assumes that the reduced pressure storage chamber 24 has not been used for a predetermined period, and lowers the set temperature of the reduced pressure storage chamber 24 to the freezing temperature.

As another example of detecting that the decompression storage chamber 24 has not been used for a predetermined period, a signal of the door switch 130 for detecting the opening and closing of the decompression storage chamber door 50 may be used.

In addition, you may determine whether a user is at home based on the signal from the door switch 140 for detecting opening and closing of each door 6-10 of a refrigerator. As described with respect to the optical sensor 120, when it is determined that the user is absent for a predetermined period, the control apparatus 100 determines that the decompression storage chamber 24 has not been used for a predetermined period, and thus sets the pressure reduction storage chamber 24. The temperature is lowered to the freezing temperature.

Moreover, you may determine whether a user is at home based on the operation state of the operation switch 150 for making various settings to a refrigerator. Also in this case, similarly to the above, when the user determines that the user is absent for a predetermined period, the control device 100 determines that the decompression storage chamber 24 has not been used for a predetermined period.

In addition, by receiving a signal from the HEMS 170, a change in power consumption of the building in which the refrigerator is installed can be known. If the user is absent, the power consumption is small and does not change much throughout the day and night. Therefore, the control apparatus 100 can determine whether the user is absent for a predetermined period of time based on the signal from the HEMS 170.

In addition, although illustration is abbreviate | omitted, in addition to the said method, the structure which uses the signal from the human body detection sensor for detecting the opening / closing state of the entrance door of the building in which the refrigerator is placed, and the human body in the building may be used, for example.

The operation of the control device 100 will be described. The controller 100 controls the temperature by setting the set temperature of the decompression storage chamber 24 as a chilled temperature or a refrigerated temperature (S10). The control apparatus 100 acquires information (signal) from any one or some of predetermined apparatuses 110-170 (S11). The control apparatus 100 determines whether the decompression storage chamber 24 has not been used for a predetermined period of time based on the acquired information (S12). When it is determined that the decompression storage chamber 24 has not been used for a predetermined period (S12: YES), the control device 100 lowers the set temperature of the decompression storage chamber 24 to the freezing temperature (S13).

In this embodiment configured as described above, when the decompression storage chamber 24 is not used for a predetermined period of time, the set temperature is automatically lowered, so that deterioration of the quality of the food in the decompression storage chamber 24 can be suppressed, thereby enabling long-term storage. Let's do it. Therefore, waste of the discarded food can be reduced, and the convenience of use is also improved.

With reference to FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, the preservation effect of a refrigerator is demonstrated. First, the effect of vacuum freezing is demonstrated, referring FIG. Fig. 12 is a graph showing the values of vitamin C measured when the litigation bond was frozen by a conventional freezing method and when frozen in vacuum.

Bar graph 84 shows vitamin C when litigation was preserved and frozen in a vacuum container at a deep freezing temperature. Bar graph 85 shows vitamin C when the litter is stored and frozen in a vacuum container at a normal freezing temperature. Bar graph 86 shows vitamin C when the litigation was frozen in the deep freezing mode. Bar graph 87 shows the amount of vitamin C when the litigation was frozen in the normal freezing mode. In addition, it was preserve | saved at the time of freezing, and thawed was put into boiling water for 1 minute and thawed.

As shown in FIG. 12, the most vitamin C residual amount is a case where a vacuum container is made into the deep freezing temperature (graph 84). The next largest amount of vitamin C remaining is in the case where the vacuum vessel is usually at a freezing temperature (graph 85). The next large amount of vitamin C remaining is in the case of deep freezing (graph 86). The smallest amount of vitamin C remaining is usually in the case of freezing (graph 87).

From this, it can be seen that the freezing by vacuum is higher than the freezing by atmospheric pressure, so that the holding effect of the nutrient component is higher. It is considered that this is because indirect cooling by freezing in a vacuum results in less temperature fluctuation, and therefore, moisture in food is hard to come off and freshness is maintained. In addition, although the chemical reaction is delayed at the freezing temperature, since the oxygen is less in the vacuum state, it can be seen that the effect of suppressing the oxidation reaction of the food and maintaining the freshness is increased.

In addition, since quick freezing has a higher vitamin C holding effect than freezing, it can be seen that the quick freezing has a higher holding effect of the nutritional component. Therefore, by providing a member having a high thermal conductivity or a cool storage material 80 in the vacuum container, the cooling rate can be improved in indirect cooling, and it is possible to quickly pass around -1 to -5 degrees in the maximum ice crystal forming temperature range. . Thereby, cell destruction by ice crystals can be suppressed and freshness deterioration by the enzyme reaction of a food can be reduced.

With reference to FIG. 13, the relationship between the storage period and the amount of nutrient components remaining in the freezing temperature range and the chilled temperature range will be described. FIG. 13 is a graph showing the amount of vitamin C measured after 3 days, 10 days, and 2 weeks after storing lemon at chilled temperature and freezing temperature.

The broken line graph 89 of FIG. 13 shows the time change of the vitamin C amount when the vacuum container is kept at chilled temperature and lemon is preserve | saved. The broken line graph 89 shows the time change of the vitamin C amount when the vacuum container is hold | maintained in the freezing temperature range (-18 degree | times), and lemon is preserve | saved. In addition, the horizontal axis O of the graph has shown the vitamin C amount of the lemon of the early stage before preservation.

As can be seen from FIG. 13, after three days, the amount of vitamin C is greater in the chilled temperature than in the freezing temperature. However, after 10 days, the amount of vitamin C at chilled temperature and the amount of vitamin C at freezing temperature are similar. After two weeks, the amount of remaining vitamin C increases in the one stored at the freezing temperature than the one stored at the chilled temperature.

When stored at a freezing temperature, the water is frozen and destroys the cells of the plant material. Therefore, the reaction between the vitamin C degrading enzyme and vitamin C is activated, so that the vitamin C decreases even if the storage period is short. On the other hand, since the freezing is not accompanied at chilled temperature, the decomposition reaction of vitamin C is suppressed by the cell membrane. Moreover, since the oxidation reaction is suppressed by vacuum preservation, the decomposition rate of vitamin C decreases and the preservation property increases.

However, as the preservation temperature is higher, the growth of microorganisms proceeds, and as the day passes, the decomposition reaction of vitamin C by the microorganism is accelerated. In addition, as the moisture of the food is increased, the foodstuffs wither, the strength of maintaining the water-soluble vitamin C is weakened, and the remaining amount of vitamin C is reduced.

On the other hand, in the case of refrigeration, since the space temperature is low, the speed of the chemical reaction is slowed. In addition, the reaction of most microorganisms stops below -12 degrees, and microbial propagation is suppressed. Therefore, after 10 days, the result is the same as the storage at chilled temperature. In addition, when the storage days are extended and two weeks have elapsed, the loss of vitamin C is less than that stored at the chilled temperature than that stored at the frozen temperature.

From this point, for example, in the case of relatively short storage days within one week, the food is set at the chilled temperature which is the lowest storage temperature within the range in which the food does not freeze. It turned out that it is desirable to set it to the freezing temperature which freezes and preserves.

Therefore, the preservation within a predetermined period of time is set to the chilled temperature, and when stored for a predetermined period or more, by switching to the freezing temperature, it is possible to further enhance the nutritional component retention effect of the food.

In addition, even if the user forgets the existence of the food in storage, since the temperature is automatically lowered to the long-term storage mode, the waste of the food can be reduced and further savings can be achieved.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, as described above, the decompression storage chamber 24 is installed in the quick freezing chamber 3b, and a mechanism for switching between chilled temperature and freezing temperature is provided, and the change in storage at chilled temperature is changed for a predetermined period or more. If it is determined that there is no, the switch is made from chilled temperature to freezing temperature.

1: Refrigerator body
2: Refrigerator
2a: chilled thread
3: freezer
3a: Ice making room
3b: quick freezer
4: freezer
5: vegetable room
6: refrigerator door
7: ice-making door
8: deep freezer door
9: freezer door
10: vegetable room door
11: outer box
12: inner box
13: foam insulation
14: compressor
15: evaporator
16: blower fan
17-20: shelf
21: lowest space
22: ice-making tank
23: storage case
24: decompression storage room
25 to 27: door pocket
28: ice making pump
29: vacuum pump
100: Control device
110: pressure switch
120: light sensor
130: decompression store door switch
140: refrigerator door switch
150: operation switch
160: temperature sensor
170: HEMS

Claims (6)

A refrigerator having a decompression storage room for storing at a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure,
A cooling device for controlling the temperature of the decompression storage chamber to a set temperature;
A control device for outputting a control signal to the cooling device to adjust the temperature of the decompression storage chamber to a set temperature;
The control device is configured to change the set temperature of the decompression storage chamber when a predetermined condition set in advance is satisfied, and sets the set temperature of the decompression storage chamber to a first temperature which is a chilled temperature or a refrigerating temperature. When predetermined conditions are satisfied, it is a structure which changes the set temperature of the said pressure reduction storage room to the 2nd temperature which is a freezing temperature lower than the said 1st temperature,
The predetermined condition is that the food was not used for a predetermined period after storing the food in the decompression storage room,
The control apparatus determines, based on information from a predetermined device, whether the decompression storage chamber has not been used for the predetermined period, and when it is determined that the decompression storage chamber has not been used for the predetermined period, the control unit sets the set temperature of the decompression storage chamber. Changing from said first temperature to said second temperature,
Refrigerator. delete delete The said predetermined device is a pressure detection part for detecting the pressure of the said pressure reduction storage chamber,
And the control device determines whether the decompression storage chamber has not been used for the predetermined period, based on the pressure detected by the pressure detection unit. The said predetermined device is an opening / closing switch for detecting opening / closing of the door which covers the opening part of the said pressure reduction storage compartment so that opening and closing is possible,
And the control device determines whether the decompression storage chamber has not been used for the predetermined period, based on the open / close detection signal from the open / close switch. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the decompression storage chamber is provided with a heat-conducting member for conducting heat storage material or heat to the wall of the decompression storage chamber.

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