KR101712546B1 - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator having an aging-inhibiting function for allowing vegetables or fruits to be kept fresh for a long time, the refrigerator comprising: a main body; A vegetable room installed inside the main body; And an aging inhibiting device installed in the main body and releasing the cyclopropene derivative into the vegetable compartment.

Description

Refrigerator {Refrigerator}

The present invention relates to a structure for suppressing aging of food stored in a vegetable compartment.

Generally, a refrigerator is a household appliance for storing food at a low temperature. The refrigerator is divided into a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment according to the temperature of the compartment. The refrigerator compartment includes shelves for storing containers containing foods requiring refrigeration, and a vegetable compartment for storing vegetables and fruits.

On the other hand, when vegetables and fruits are kept for a long time, ethylene gas is generated after aging. However, the ethylene gas acts to promote aging of the food. Therefore, even if stored in a refrigerated storage space such as a vegetable room, the freshness of other foods stored together is lowered due to the ethylene gas generated in the food.

In order to solve these problems, much efforts have been made to suppress the aging of stored fruits and vegetables. In recent years, studies have been actively conducted on substances such as cyclopropene, 1-methylcyclopropene, etc., which are known as substances inhibiting the generation and action of ethylene. Since these cyclopropenes and 1-methylcyclopropene are present in a gaseous state at room temperature, no separate injection device is required, but they are chemically unstable. Therefore, if they are not stored at an extremely low temperature, There is a problem that characteristics are easily lost. A cyclopropene derivative generator for solving these problems and inhibiting the action of ethylene has been developed (see Korean Patent No. 10-0823872).

However, there are various problems in applying a structure such as the cyclopropene derivative generating apparatus disclosed in the above patent directly to a refrigerator. For example, there is a problem that the volume of the cyclopropene derivative generating apparatus, which is released in comparison with the volume of the refrigerator, especially the volume of the vegetable chamber, is relatively large, so that mounting is not easy.

In addition, the vegetable box accommodated in the vegetable room is installed so that it can be drawn in and out in the forward and backward directions. Therefore, there is a need for a structure that allows the cyclopropene material to be safely injected into a movable vegetable box.

In addition, there has been a problem that a user of the refrigerator must be able to easily perform the operation of periodically re-supplying the raw material for producing the cyclopropene derivative.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator which is applied to a vegetable room in which vegetables or fruits producing ethylene are stored, .

It is another object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator having a suppression device that allows a user of a refrigerator to easily refill a raw material for producing the cyclopropene derivative, thereby ensuring ease of use and durability.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator comprising: a main body; A vegetable room installed inside the main body; And an aging inhibiting device installed in the main body and releasing the cyclopropene derivative into the vegetable compartment.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator having the following advantages and effects.

First, since the structure of the aging suppressing device conventionally used for commercial purposes can be miniaturized and applied to a refrigerator, it can be easily used at home.

Second, since the precursor which is a raw material for generating the cyclopropene derivative that inhibits the action of ethylene is easily charged, there is an advantage that the aging suppression device can be used semi-permanently.

Third, when the aging suppression device is mounted on the refrigerator, the decrease in the internal volume of the refrigerator is minimized and the charging of the precursor is designed to be simple so that the ease of use and the utilization of the refrigerator are improved.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an internal structure of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an aging prevention apparatus mounted in a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing an aging prevention device installed in a vegetable room of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
4 is a partial perspective view showing the internal structure of a refrigerator compartment of a refrigerator equipped with an aging prevention device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along II of Figure 4;
6 is a partial perspective view showing the internal structure of a refrigerator compartment of a refrigerator equipped with an aging suppression device according to another embodiment of the present invention;
7 is a perspective view of a first container constituting an aging inhibiting device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in Fig.
FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing a cover placed above a vegetable room and a vegetable room according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. As an embodiment, a side-by-side type refrigerator is shown. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the embodiments of the present invention can be applied to all types of refrigerators having a vegetable room.

1, a refrigerator 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a cabinet 11 having a freezing chamber 111 and a refrigerating chamber 112 and a freezing chamber 111 having a freezing chamber 111 and a refrigerating chamber 112, And a freezing compartment door (12) and a refrigerating compartment door (13) that selectively open and close. In detail, the freezing chamber 111 and the refrigerating chamber 112 are partitioned by a mullion 113, and the refrigerator 112 or the freezing chamber 111 is provided with a shelf 14 in which food and other containers are placed. The refrigerator compartment 112 is provided with a vegetable compartment 30 in which vegetables and fruits are stored in a fresh state.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an aging prevention apparatus mounted on a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

The aging inhibiting device presented below may be the same as the principle of the device disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent No. 10-0823872. That is, the aging inhibiting device 20 comprises a first container 22 for storing a precursor of a cyclopropene derivative, a second storage 22 for storing a base or a fluorine ion material as a reaction reagent reacting with the precursor, A reaction vessel 24 in which a reaction reagent reacts with the cyclopropene precursor and a blowing unit 25 selectively provided to inject air into the reaction vessel 23 and a reaction vessel And an injection unit 26 for adhering the cyclopropene derivative produced in the step (23). However, in the present invention, the reaction vessel 24 and the second storage vessel 23 are accommodated in the main body 21 and are provided in the form of a single module. Alternatively, the blowing unit 25 may be provided in the main body 21), which is different from the above-mentioned registered patent.

The precursor to be stored in the first storage container 22 may be an allyl halide or an equivalent thereof. The reaction reagent stored in the second storage container 23 may be a basic or a fluorine ion material. The air blowing unit 25 may be a blowing fan, a pump, or a compressor.

The injection unit 26 may include a housing 261 and a filter 263 surrounded by a heating coil inside the housing 261. A nozzle 262 may be disposed on one side of the housing 261, .

The first storage vessel 22 is connected to the inlet side of the reaction vessel 24 of the main body 21 by a tube or the like and the injection unit 26 is connected to the outlet of the reaction vessel 24 by a tube, . The second storage vessel 23 is also fluidly connected to the inlet side of the reaction vessel 24. A valve is attached to either one of the tubes connected to the first storage container 22 and the second storage container 23 so that the supply of the reaction reagent to the precursor can be controlled by the control unit.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a state where an aging prevention device is installed in a vegetable room of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3, the vegetable compartment 30 of the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a vegetable box 32 in which vegetables and fruits are stored, a case 31 in which the vegetable box 32 is accommodated so as to be drawn out forward, ). A front cover 33 is provided on the front surface of the vegetable box 32. The front cover 23 can be injection-molded into the vegetable box 32 or rotated or separated by a separate member Can be provided.

A rail 321 is mounted on the outer circumferential surface of both sides of the vegetable box 32 and a rail guide 322 to which the rail 321 is slidably coupled is mounted on both sides of the case 31 have. The vegetable box 32 can be smoothly drawn forward from the case 31 by the rail structure.

A main body 21 of the aging suppressing device 20 and a spraying unit 26 are placed on the rear side of the case 31. [ A depression 322 is formed at the rear edge of the vegetable box 32 corresponding to the portion where the aging inhibitor 20 is placed. Therefore, when the vegetable box 32 is drawn into the case 31, interference between the rear surface of the vegetable box 32 and the aging suppression device 20 is prevented. A nozzle hole 323 through which the nozzle 262 of the injection unit 26 is inserted is formed on a rear wall surface of the vegetable box 32 forming the depression 322. The first storage container 22 is detached from the main body 21 and is installed at one side of the inside of the refrigerating chamber 112 so that the first storage container 22 is replaced or the first storage container 22 is replaced with a precursor . ≪ / RTI > The details of this will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing the internal structure of a refrigerator compartment of a refrigerator having an aging inhibiting device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I of FIG.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the first storage container 22 is detachably mounted on one side of the inner wall of the refrigerating chamber 112.

In detail, in one embodiment, the first storage container 22 may be mounted on a side wall of the refrigerating chamber 112, specifically, on one side of the mullion 113. For example, a receiver 40 is mounted on the side of the mullion 113 to receive the first storage container 22, and the first storage container 22 is detachably attached to the receiver 40 Can be inserted.

A tube 41 connecting the reaction vessel 24 of the main body 21 may be connected to the rear surface of the receiver 40. A connector 43 and a valve 42 are connected to the end of the tube 41. The connector 43 may protrude through the rear surface of the receiver 40. [ In addition, a discharge hole 221 through which the scraper connector 43 is inserted may be formed on the rear surface of the first storage container 22.

With this structure, when the first storage container 22 is completely inserted into the receiver 40, the connector 43 is fitted into the discharge hole 221. Then, the precursor stored in the first storage container 22 flows to the reaction container 24 along the connector 43 and the tube 41. [ However, depending on whether the valve 42 is open or closed, the precursor stored in the first storage container 22 may be selectively discharged. The opening and closing of the valve 42 can be controlled automatically by the control unit.

In another embodiment, the receiver 40 may be mounted to the rear wall of the refrigerating chamber 112, as shown in FIG. The tube extending from the receiver 40 to the main body 21 of the aging suppression device 20 is embedded in the wall surface of the refrigerating chamber 112 to prevent the refrigerating chamber door 13 from being exposed when the refrigerator compartment door 13 is opened can do.

As such, when the first storage container 22 is opened when the refrigerator compartment door 13 is opened, it is mounted at a position easily accessible to the user, and is detachably mounted, It becomes easy to replace or charge the precursor.

Here, as another embodiment of the replaceable first storage container 22, a thermal ink jet cartridge is available. Briefly, the thermal ink jet cartridge is a structure in which the ink is heated through the ink outlet portion and the ink is discharged through the ink outlet while changing into a bubble form. As such, the first storage vessel 22 may be in the form of a thermal ink jet cartridge and the precursor may be present in the liquid state within the first storage vessel 22. Then, the outlet portion of the first storage container 22 may be heated so that the precursor is discharged in a gaseous state.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view showing the internal structure of a refrigerating chamber of a refrigerator provided with an aging inhibiting device according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a first container constituting the aging suppressing device according to another embodiment of the present invention. And Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in Fig.

Referring to Figs. 6 to 8, the aging inhibition apparatus 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention is the same as the aging inhibition apparatus 20 described above in its constitution and action. However, the first storage container 50, in which the precursor is stored, is detachably received in a separate receiving space provided at the side of the vegetable compartment 30.
The spraying unit 26 of the aging suppression device 20 is disposed between the rear surface of the vegetable box 32 and the rear wall of the refrigerating compartment and the main body 21 is disposed between the side surface of the vegetable box 32 and the refrigerating compartment As shown in FIG. The first storage container (50) may be disposed in front of the main body (21).

The width of the vegetable compartment 30 is narrower than the width of the refrigerating compartment 112 and the space between the vegetable compartment 30 and the side surface of the refrigerating compartment 112 is smaller than the width of the refrigerating compartment 112, It is used as space. The first storage container 50 may be provided in a form similar to a cylindrical filter used in a refrigerator having a drinking water extracting function or a tap water direct-connection type ice maker.

 7, the first storage container 50 is provided with a cylindrical container 51 having a predetermined diameter and a predetermined length, and a second container 50 provided at one end of the container 51, And a knob 52 for gripping. At the other end of the container 51, a discharge hole 51 is formed. The discharge hole 51 has the same structure as the discharge hole 221 described previously. A spiral coupling rib 521 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the container 51. A depression or a rib having the same shape as that of the coupling rib 521 may be formed on the inner circumferential surface of the container accommodating portion into which the container 51 is inserted.

With such a configuration, the user inserts the first storage container 50 into the container accommodating portion provided at the side of the vegetable compartment 30. At this time, the user holds the knob 52 by hand and pushes it while rotating. Then, a fastening rib 521 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the container 51 is inserted into the groove formed in the inner circumferential surface of the container receiving groove or rotated while engaging with the rib, and inserted into the container receiving portion. When separating the first storage container 50, the knob 52 may be rotated while being rotated in the opposite direction.

 The main body 21 of the aging suppressing device 20 is located at the rear end of the container holding portion of the container 51. When the first storage container 22 is inserted into the container receiving portion, a connector (described above) formed at the inlet of the reaction container 24 of the main body 21 is inserted into the discharge hole (Not shown). In addition, the nozzle 262 of the injection unit 26 may be inserted through the backside of the vegetable box 32.

9 is an exploded perspective view showing a cover placed on the upper side of the vegetable room and the vegetable room according to the embodiment of the present invention.

9, a temperature sensor 62 for sensing the temperature inside the vegetable box 32 and a temperature sensor 62 for detecting the temperature inside the vegetable box 32 are disposed at one side of the vegetable box 32 constituting the vegetable room 30 according to the embodiment of the present invention. And an ethylene concentration sensor 63 for sensing the ethylene concentration in the inside of the reactor.

In detail, ethylene is generated while the vegetable or fruit is aged inside the vegetable box 32, and at the same time, the temperature inside the vegetable box 32 is increased. Therefore, depending on the temperature change sensed by the temperature sensor 62 or the ethylene concentration change sensed by the ethylene concentration sensor 63, the cyclopropene derivative such as 1-MCP may be appropriately injected into the vegetable box 32 .

A cover 311 made of a transparent glass material may be placed on the upper side of the case 31 that houses the vegetable box 32. The cover 311 is placed on the case 31 to prevent the case 31 from being broken or bent by the load of the food or container stored in the refrigerator.

Meanwhile, a display 60 and an input button 61 may be formed at the front end of the cover 311. In detail, the display 60 includes a temperature display unit 601 for displaying the temperature inside the vegetable box sensed by the temperature sensor 62, a concentration display unit 601 for displaying the concentration of ethylene detected by the ethylene concentration sensor 63, The display portion 602 may be formed.

In addition, the input button 61 may include an input button for allowing the user to manually input the cyclopropene derivative injection command.

With the above arrangement, the user of the refrigerator directly operates the aging suppression apparatus 20 or the control unit controls the aging control apparatus 20 (20) based on the sensed value transmitted from the temperature sensor 62 or the concentration sensor 63 To be controlled.

10 is a block diagram showing a control structure of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

10, a control system of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a control unit 100, an input unit 101 connected to the control unit 100 and capable of inputting an operation command by a user, A display unit 102 for displaying various information, an ethylene concentration sensing unit 103 for sensing the concentration of ethylene, a temperature sensing unit for sensing a vegetable room temperature, Comparison table data, and the like, and a timer 106 for determining the operation period of the aging-inhibiting apparatus 20. The aging-

The input unit 101 may be an input button 61 for inputting an operation command of the aging suppression apparatus 20. The display unit 102 may include a display 60 for displaying temperature and ethylene concentration in the vegetable chamber, Lt; / RTI > The ethylene concentration sensing unit 10 may be an ethylene concentration sensor 63 mounted inside the vegetable box 32. [ The vegetable room temperature sensing unit 104 may be a temperature sensor 62 installed inside the vegetable box 32.

According to the refrigerator having the above-described system configuration, the operation of the aging suppression device 20 can be controlled by the following method.

First, control using the ethylene concentration sensing unit 103 may be used.

In detail, the ethylene concentration value sensed by the ethylene concentration sensing unit 103 is transmitted to the controller 100, and the controller 100 compares the transmitted concentration value with the table stored in the memory 105. If it is determined that the detected ethylene concentration value is equal to or larger than the set value, the control unit can control the aging suppression apparatus 20 to operate. That is, the valve connected to the first storage container 22 and the second storage container 23 may be opened to generate and spray the cyclopropene derivative.

Second, the control using the temperature change value transmitted from the vegetable room temperature sensing unit 104 may be used.

In detail, the vegetable room temperature sensing unit 104 controls the temperature in the vegetable box 32 to be sensed at predetermined time intervals. Then, the sensed temperature value is transmitted to the controller, and the controller 100 compares the increased temperature change amount during the set time using the table data stored in the memory 105. [ If it is determined that the temperature change rate per unit time calculated from the actually sensed temperature value, that is, the temperature increase rate or the temperature increase rate, is higher than the set value, the cyclopropene derivative can be controlled to be generated and injected.

Third, control using the timer 106 may be used.

In detail, it is possible to control the aging suppression apparatus 20 to operate at predetermined time intervals while the timer 106 is operating. That is, the cyclopropene derivative can be continuously generated and injected at a predetermined time interval regardless of the temperature inside the vegetable box 32 or the ethylene concentration value.

In addition, the timer 106 can be used to control the operating time of the aging suppression device 20. [ In other words, it can be controlled by the timer 106 whether the operation of the aging suppression apparatus 20 is started and a certain period of time has elapsed.

The above aging inhibiting device 20 is provided in the refrigerator and the cyclopropene derivative is generated and injected from the aging inhibiting device 20 by the control method as described above so that the vegetables or fruits stored in the refrigerator It has the advantage of being kept fresh for a long time.

In addition, since the aging suppression device 20 is miniaturized in accordance with the structure of the refrigerator and the precursor is easily charged and replaced, the convenience of use of the refrigerator user is increased.

Claims (12)

A cabinet in which a refrigerating chamber is formed;
A vegetable box installed inside the refrigerating compartment; And
And an aging inhibiting device installed between the refrigerating compartment and the vegetable box for releasing the cyclopropene derivative into the vegetable box,
In the above aging inhibiting apparatus,
A first storage container for storing a precursor of the cyclopropene derivative;
A second storage container storing a reaction reagent reacting with the precursor, and a reaction container communicating with the second storage container to receive a reaction container in which the precursor reacts with the reaction reagent; And
And a spray unit for spraying the cyclopropene derivative produced in the reaction vessel into the vegetable box,
Wherein the spray unit is connected to one side of the body through a first tube, at least a portion of which extends into the vegetable box,
Wherein the first storage container is detachably connected to the other side of the main body through a second tube, and is detachably installed in the refrigerating chamber.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the first storage container comprises:
A cylindrical container inserted into a container accommodating portion formed outside the refrigerator compartment and sandwiched between a side wall of the vegetable box and a side wall of the refrigerator compartment; And
And a knob formed at one end of the container and exposed to the outside of the refrigerator compartment so as to be held by a user.
3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the outer peripheral surface of the container is formed with a helical coupling rib,
Wherein an inner circumferential surface of the container accommodating portion is formed with a depression having the same shape as the engaging rib. Claim 4 has been abandoned due to the setting registration fee. The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising a case provided in the refrigerating compartment so that the vegetable box can be drawn out to the front,
The second storage container and the main body are located inside the case,
Wherein the first storage container is located outside the case. delete delete Claim 7 has been abandoned due to the setting registration fee. The method according to claim 1,
A temperature sensor mounted inside the vegetable box for detecting the temperature inside the vegetable box; And / or
Further comprising an ethylene concentration sensor mounted within the vegetable box for sensing an ethylene concentration within the vegetable box. Claim 8 has been abandoned due to the setting registration fee. 8. The method of claim 7,
Further comprising a cover over the vegetable box,
And a display unit for displaying a temperature value sensed by the temperature sensor and / or an ethylene concentration value sensed by the ethylene concentration sensor is formed on a front surface of the cover. Claim 9 has been abandoned due to the setting registration fee. 8. The method of claim 7,
Wherein the spraying unit selectively injects the cyclopropene derivative into the vegetable box according to a change amount or a rate of change of a temperature value sensed by the temperature sensor. Claim 10 has been abandoned due to the setting registration fee. 8. The method of claim 7,
Wherein the spraying unit selectively injects the cyclopropene derivative into the vegetable box according to a concentration value of ethylene detected by the ethylene concentration sensor.
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