RU2445558C2 - Refrigerator and sterilisation device - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: personal use articles.

SUBSTANCE: refrigerator includes a storage compartment for food, a door, a cooling device made to cool the air inside the main heat-insulating housing, a holder, which is located in the compartment for food storage and on which the photocatalyst is placed, the unit of radiation for radiation of the holder with the inducing light, which induces the photocatalyst, the blowing air unit made a way as to force to blow cold air inside the compartment for storage food in the direction of the holder, a housing which accommodates the said device for blowing air and the said device of irradiation, the inlet provided in the body and brought forward; and the outlet which is provided in said housing and turned back. Sterilisation device includes a main insulating housing, which holds a storage compartment for food, a door, a cooling device made in a way as to cool the air inside the said primary insulation housing, a holder on which the photocatalyst is mounted, an irradiation device for irradiating the said holder with the inducing light, which induces the photocatalyst, a unit of purge air flow, a device for creation the flowing channel. The holder, the irradiating device and device for purge air from inside are attached to the device of formation flowing channel.

EFFECT: use of this group of inventions enables to deodorise effectively and sterilise the interior of the refrigerator.

51 cl, 40 dwg

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a refrigerator that cools the air inside a food storage compartment, directly or indirectly, and, in particular, relates to a refrigerator and a sterilization device that can sterilize and deodorize the interior of a food storage compartment.

State of the art

Traditionally, for a compact refrigerator and for a refrigerator used in Europe and other arid zones, taking measures against the drip condensation formed in the food storage compartment is not considered as a very important point, and thus, the widely used method is a direct cooling method, in which a direct cooling panel or the like used to cool air in the food storage compartment. For example, Patent Reference 1 describes a refrigerator using a direct cooling method.

Figure 1 is a drawing showing a schematic rear view of a refrigerator with a removed heat-insulating portion.

As shown in the drawing, the refrigerator 100 includes a cooling tube 21 having a serpentine shape inside the rear wall of the food storage compartment. The air inside the food storage compartment is cooled directly with a liquid refrigerant circulating at low temperature inside the cooling tube 21.

In addition, Patent Reference 2 describes a refrigerator in which the proliferation of bacteria and mold in a food storage compartment is suppressed.

Figure 2 is a view in section of a refrigerator with the function of suppressing the spread of bacteria and mold.

As shown in the drawing, in the refrigerator 100, sheet 22 containing a volatile organic antibacterial substance is attached to the ceiling of the food storage compartment. Thus, the sheet is intended to suppress the spread of bacteria and mold in the food storage compartment by gradually evaporating the volatile organic antibacterial substance from the sheet 22.

On the other hand, recently, since various products from various zones are stored in the refrigerator, the need to remove odors generated by these products stored in the refrigerator and the need to sterilize the interior of the refrigerator are very high. Thus, the sterilization and deodorizing device was actively developed for the purpose of deodorizing and sterilizing the interior of the refrigerator. A conventional sterilization and deodorizing device deodorizes and sterilizes the air passing through a filter made in the air channel. In addition, the conventional photocatalytic deodorization and sterilization technology consists in irradiating a filter containing titanium oxide with an ultraviolet light to thereby induce a photocatalytic reaction by which deodorization and sterilization are carried out.

Below, with reference to the drawings, a conventional sterilization and deodorizing device disclosed in Patent Reference 3 will be described.

Figure 3 presents a partial view of a longitudinal section of the refrigerator when the sterilization and deodorizing device is attached to the section of the air inlet for returning air to the refrigerator compartment.

The sterilization and deodorizing device includes: a sterilization filter 1, a deodorizing filter 2 and an assembly frame 3. Here, the sterilization filter 1 has a cellular shape and is made of a zeolite mixed with silver, consisting of oxides such as silicone oxide, alumina and sodium oxide. The sterilization filter 1 has about 100 to 250 cells / square inch, a relative aperture of 70 to 80% and a thickness of 8 mm.

Deodorizing filter 2 is a mixture of manganese oxide and silicon oxide or alumina, which is mixed in a cellular form and in this case has almost the same number of cells and hole sizes as the deodorizing filter described above. The sterilization filter 1 and the deodorizing filter 2 are fastened together using the assembly frame 3.

The drawing shows a part of the cut design of the refrigerator with the allocation of section 7 of the inlet through which cold recirculated air is sucked in and on which a sterilization and deodorizing device is installed. In the drawing, the freezing compartment 5 is located in the upper part, the refrigerating compartment 6 is located in the lower part, while the cooler 11 is located on the rear surface of the freezing compartment 5 and the refrigerating compartment 6. In addition, the cold air channel 9 is provided on the heat-insulating section 8, made between a freezing compartment 5 and a refrigerating compartment 6. In the channel 9 for cold air, a sterilization filter 1 is made on the side of the inlet section 7 and a deodorizing filter 2 on the back of the sterilization filter a 1.

Below will be described the operation of the refrigerator, designed in this way.

Cold air generated by the cooler 11 partially flows into the freezer compartment 5 and partially flows lower into the refrigerator compartment 6 and others. Cold air after circulation in each device passes through the inlet section 7, through which recirculated air is sucked, and flows to the cooler 11 through the channel 9 for cold air. At this time, the wind speed in channel 9 for cold air is approximately 0.5 m / s. Due to the implementation of the sterilization and deodorizing device, the sterilization filter 1 first absorbs bacteria and mold spores along with dust and dirt, and thus the deodorizing filter 2 contributes to a chemical change in the components of the odor.

With such a design in which a combination of deodorizing and sterilizing filters is made in the cold air duct 9, a compact and clean refrigerator can be created in which bacteria and unpleasant odors are reduced by deodorization and sterilization.

In addition, for example, a refrigerator is described which is a combination of a deodorizing filter 17 and an ion generator 16 (see Patent Reference 4).

Figure 4 presents a view of a Central longitudinal section of a conventional refrigerator, described in Patent reference 4.

Figure 5 presents a view of a central longitudinal section of a sterilization and deodorizing device made in a conventional refrigerator.

Figure 6 shows a top view of a sterilization and deodorizing device installed in a conventional refrigerator.

This conventional refrigerator includes two food storage compartments formed by the main heat-insulating casing 101 and the heat-insulating door 107, and includes a refrigerating compartment 102 at the top and a freezing compartment 103 at the bottom. The freezer compartment 102 includes shelves 46 on which products are placed, with a cooler 110 for the refrigerator compartment being formed on the rear wall behind the shelves. Similarly, in the freezer compartment 103, food storage boxes 48 are provided, with another cooler 110 for the freezer compartment being provided at the top of each of the drawers 48. In addition, a refrigeration cycle compressor 114 is provided at the rear bottom of the main heat-insulating housing 101. In addition, a sterilization device 200 was made in the ceiling of the refrigerator compartment 102.

The sterilization device 200 includes: a housing 250 having an inlet 251 that extends to a front surface, and an outlet 252 that extends to a rear lower surface; an air purge device 203 that draws air from the refrigerator compartment 102 through the inlet 251 and discharges air through the outlet 252; an ion generator 16 that is formed on the outlet side of the air purge device 203 and which generates sterilization ions; a deodorizing filter 17 that is formed on the inlet side of the air purge device 203 and which absorbs odor components in the air; and an internal light source 18.

The operation of the refrigerator thus constructed will be described below.

First, the operation associated with cooling the refrigeration compartment 102 is described. The compressor 114 during operation cools the cooler 110 to a low temperature, so that the air at the back of the upper portion of the refrigeration compartment 102 is cooled.

The fresh air created in this way has a high specific gravity and thus goes down along the rear wall of the refrigerator compartment 102 to be distributed on each of the shelves 46 to cool the products placed on the shelves. The cold air after cooling the products has a low specific gravity and thus rises up along the inner wall of the heat-insulating door 107 and returns to the uppermost part of the refrigerator compartment 102. The cold air returned in this way is again cooled by the cooler 110 and due to convection passes into the refrigerator compartment 102 again as fresh air. As described above, a method of cooling a food storage compartment using natural convection air relates to a direct cooling method.

It should be noted that the cooling work of the freezer compartment 103 is the same as in the case of the refrigerator compartment 102, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The following describes the work associated with deodorization and sterilization. Inside the freezer compartment 102, where natural convection air is generated when the air purge device 203 installed inside the sterilization device 200 is operating, part of the cold air returned to the uppermost part of the refrigerator compartment 102 is absorbed through the inlet 251. The absorbed cold air first passes through a deodorizing filter 17, in which odor components are absorbed. Subsequently, cold air passing through the air purge device 203 is discharged through the outlet 252 together with ions having a sterilization effect that is generated by the operation of the ion generator 16. It is contemplated that cold air containing such sterilization ions is atomized into each corner refrigeration compartment 102 together with air of natural convection and surrounds to kill mold flying in the air.

On the other hand, the sterilization ions tend to disappear upon impact with the blade of the air purge device 203 or the like, or decrease when absorbed by the deodorizing filter 17. Thus, in this sterilization device 200, the reduction of the sterilization ions is prevented by placing the ion generator 16 downstream from the air purge device 203 and the deodorizing filter 17.

In addition, the surface of the rear wall of the refrigerator compartment 102 in which the cooler 110 is provided is constantly wet due to the drip condensate, and thus there is a risk of breakdown or leakage of electricity when the drip condensate adheres to the electrical component. Therefore, the sterilization device 200 is protected against breakage and leakage of electricity by placing an ion generator 16 having a high voltage circuit at a considerable distance from the surface of the rear wall of the refrigerator compartment 102, i.e. in the front of the case 250.

During operation, as described above, the cold air in the refrigerator compartment 102 is deodorized and sterilized, whereby the compartment remains in a clean state with reduced bad smell and bacteria.

Patent reference 1: publication of pending Japanese patent application No. 7 - 120108.

Patent Reference 2: Publication of Pending Japanese Patent Application No. 10-262629.

Patent Reference 3: Publication of Pending Japanese Patent Application No. 5 - 157444.

Patent Reference 4: Publication of Pending Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-143075.

Disclosure of invention

The tasks that the invention solves

Meanwhile, in the case of a refrigerator with direct cooling, there is a problem, for example, in that the air cooled on the rear surface of the food storage compartment remains in the lower part of the food storage compartment due to its high specific gravity, creating a vertical uneven temperature in the food storage compartment. Specifically, such a temperature unevenness is noticeable in the food storage compartment if the shelves are configured to divide the food storage compartment into upper and lower portions where food is packaged and the like.

Additionally, there is also the problem that air trapped in the food storage compartment causes local bacteria and mold to multiply rapidly.

In addition, the use of a volatile organic antibacterial substance has been proposed as a measure against bacteria and mold, but there is a limit to the amount of evaporation of the antibacterial substance. Therefore, this requires periodic replacement of the antibacterial substance, thus requiring increased attention. Additionally, for a refrigerator in which there can be no convection of air inside the food storage compartment, there is a possibility that the antibacterial substance remains only in the part of the food storage compartment and does not carry out sufficient sterilization and other influences in the entire food storage compartment. In addition, the use of an organic antibacterial substance in a food storage compartment causes problems in itself.

In addition, a cooling tube is located on the rear surface of the storage area, and a sheet containing a volatile organic antibacterial substance is placed, almost covering the ceiling of the food storage compartment. This creates another problem, the difficulty of choosing where to make a lighting device that illuminates the interior of the food storage compartment.

The present invention is intended to solve the above problems, the aim of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that increases the deodorizing and antibacterial effects in the refrigerator and can extend these effects to a large extent to the food storage compartment.

Additionally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator in which an appropriate temperature can be created for photocatalysis used for sterilization and deodorization.

Additionally, an object of the present invention is also to increase the efficiency of sterilization and deodorization in order to thereby prevent a decrease in the capacity of the food storage compartment.

In addition, after careful research and experiments to increase the efficiency of sterilization and deodorization, the authors of the present invention focused on the temperature gradient in the refrigerator in order to arrive at the appropriate placement of the photocatalyst, etc.

Based on this, another objective of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator in which optimal placement could be achieved, which would ensure effective deodorization and antibacterial effects.

On the other hand, in a refrigerator with indirect cooling, as described above, deodorizing and sterilizing filters are made in the channel for recirculation of cold air. This causes the problem that the cold air, once it has been cleaned after passing through the deodorizing and sterilization filters, will again contain various odors and bacteria around the compressor compartment while it is circulating in the cold air duct and cooler, and is no longer clean when it is purged in the refrigerator.

In order to solve such traditional problems as described above, an object of the present invention is to provide a clean refrigerator in which odorless cold air is purged and bacterial proliferation is suppressed by performing deodorizing and sterilization filters in the outlet portion of the cold air channel.

Additionally, in the refrigerator with indirect cooling, as described above, the deodorizing and sterilizing filters are made blocking the cold air recirculation channel, thus becoming a big obstacle to the air in the cold air circulation channel. Thus, in order to obtain the same cooling performance as when the filter is not used, it is necessary to increase the power of the turbocharger for the forced circulation of cold air.

However, such an increase in turbocharger power is not preferable because it is incompatible with problems such as noise and energy saving.

The present invention was aimed at solving similar problems in relation to the refrigerator with indirect cooling described above, the aim of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator in which a significant deodorizing and antibacterial effect is carried out, and at the same time, it is reduced to the extent possible pressure loss in the channel of circulation of cold air.

In addition, in the traditional configuration in which the above-described ion generator is used for sterilization and deodorization, the ion generator is made in the front of the housing in order to prevent malfunctions caused by drops of water condensate on the surface of the rear wall of the freezer compartment. Thus, the air channel from the ion generator to the outlet is made longer than necessary, which makes it difficult to reduce the size of the sterilization and deodorizing device per se, creating a problem of poor use from the point of view of food storage.

Additionally, in the traditional design described above, the ion generator requires a high voltage electrical circuit to be created, creating a problem in that it is necessary to take measures against leakage of the refrigerant when the device is installed in a refrigerator that uses a combustible refrigerant, such as hydrogenated carbon (HC).

Additionally, in the traditional configuration described above, an air purge device is provided inside the housing. This does not allow to visually check the operation of the fan of the air purge device, creating a problem in that it is impossible to timely check the malfunction of the sterilization and deodorizing device.

The present invention was created from the point of view of this problem, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a user-friendly and highly safe refrigerator by providing a sterilization and deodorizing device that is drip-proof and compact, which does not need a high voltage circuit and which allows visual inspection of the operating conditions of the air purge device.

Means for solving problems

To achieve the above goal, the refrigerator according to the present invention includes: a main heat-insulating case, which is made of heat-insulating material and in which a compartment for storing products is made; a door attached with the possibility of opening and closing to the hole made on the main heat-insulating casing; a cooling device that cools the air inside the main heat-insulating casing, the refrigerator comprises: a holder that is placed in the food storage compartment and on which the photocatalyst is mounted; an irradiation device that irradiates the holder with excitation light that excites the photocatalyst; and an air purge device that forcibly blows air inside the food storage compartment toward the holder.

Along with this, sterilization and deodorization is carried out using a photocatalyst in the air stream, which is created by the air purge device, thus making it possible to create a convection stream of sterilized and deodorized clean air in the food storage compartment. Accordingly, it is possible to keep the entire food storage compartment clean and to store products longer. In addition, since the air purged by the air purge device creates forced convection in the food storage compartment, it is possible to avoid temperature unevenness within the food storage compartment.

Thus, the refrigerator according to the present invention forcibly blows air inside the food storage compartment, sterilizes bacteria and the like contained in the air, and blows sterilized air into the food storage compartment. Accordingly, the entire food storage compartment can be sterilized completely by forced convection of air inside the food storage compartment.

Along with this, two constituent elements, i.e. the air purge device and the irradiation device are electrical parts that are exposed to drip water condensate, and since these two elements can be sprayproof by taking relatively light measures, the structural components of the sterilization device, including the air purge device and the irradiation device, can be placed together surface of the rear wall of the refrigerator, thus performing a sterilization and deodorizing device more tnym than in traditional design.

In addition, both the direct current and low voltage electric circuit are widely used for both the air purge device and the irradiation device, and thus no high voltage electric circuit is required in the refrigerator when these components are used.

In addition, preferably, a lid attached to the inner wall of the main heat-insulating body and covering the sterilization device should be included.

In addition, it is possible to isolate the temperature inside the sterilization device from the temperature inside the food storage compartment, thereby making it possible to maintain the sterilization device at a temperature more suitable for photocatalysis. Accordingly, for example, even when moist air enters the food storage compartment when opening or closing the refrigerator door, drip condensation on the holder 201 can be prevented.

The refrigerator according to the present invention thermally isolates the sterilization device from the inside of the food storage compartment. Accordingly, it becomes possible to ensure the internal temperature of the sterilization device at a temperature suitable for photocatalysis, as well as to prevent the formation of droplet condensation in the sterilization device.

In addition, it is preferable that the lighting device is also included, which is closed by a lid and illuminates the interior of the main heat-insulating body.

In addition, the sterilization device and the lighting device are closed with the same lid, which thus allows sterilization, deodorization and lighting of the food storage compartment in a compact state. In addition, the heat generated by the lighting device can be effectively used for sterilization and deodorization. In addition, it also allows the electrical system to be used in conjunction with the lighting device 300, thereby saving space and reducing cost.

As described above, the refrigerator according to the present invention forcibly blows air inside the food storage compartment, sterilizes bacteria and the like contained in the air, and blows sterilized air into the food storage compartment. Accordingly, the entire food storage compartment can be sterilized completely by forced convection of air inside the food storage compartment. In addition, since the space of the food storage compartment inside is illuminated by a lighting device that is covered with a lid together with a sterilization device, it is possible to make a compact sterilization and lighting device.

The device for forming the flow channel has, in the flow channel for air, a narrow section, the cross-sectional area of which is narrower than in other sections, and the holder is placed in a narrow section, while the holder, the irradiation device and the air purge device are attached to the channel forming device.

Along with this, the air that is forced to pass through the flow channel, using the device 203 air purge is narrowed in a narrow area. Accordingly, the air effectively interacts with the holder 201, made in a narrow area, thereby increasing the effect of sterilization and deodorization.

Since the present invention allows sterilization within the compartment for storing products in general, it is possible to create a refrigerator of higher quality.

In addition, the present invention allows the creation of a sterilization device that increases the sterilization and deodorizing effects.

The air purge device, the holder and the cooling device are arranged in order, starting from an earlier location in the direction of the air flow generated by the air purge device.

In addition, air having a relatively high temperature can interact with the holder 201, thereby preventing the formation of droplet condensation on the holder 201. Accordingly, the deterioration of the photocatalytic function can be reduced, thereby effectively sterilizing and deodorizing.

In addition, this arrangement, once adopted, does not interfere with the natural convection created by the cooling device, and thus allows air flow to be generated in a direction that facilitates natural convection, thereby eliminating temperature unevenness within the food storage compartment with great efficiency.

As described above, in the refrigerator according to the present invention, air having a relatively high temperature is directed to the side with a lower temperature. In addition, natural convection inside the food storage compartment can be enhanced. In addition, the photocatalyst reacts to air having a relatively high temperature, thereby allowing sterilization and deodorization to be carried out effectively.

In order to solve the above-described traditional problems, the refrigerator according to the present invention includes: a main heat-insulating housing in which a food storage compartment is provided, a flow channel forming device that forcibly circulates air, a holder on which the photocatalyst is mounted, and the holder is placed on section of the outlet of the channel forming device.

In addition, since the circulating air is deodorized and sterilized by an absorption filter immediately before being blown into the refrigerator, it is possible to blow clean air into the refrigerator.

In addition, preferably, a switch is provided for starting and stopping the operation of the air purge device and the irradiation device.

In addition, when the switch is turned to the ON position on the working side, food odors and bacteria inside the refrigerator are collected in the flow channel formation device for deodorization and sterilization using deodorizing and sterilization filters before being blown into the food storage compartment due to which it is possible to blow clean air into the refrigerator.

In addition, preferably, an air purge device is provided adjacent to the inlet.

According to this, you can visually check the light from the irradiation device through the gaps between the blades. Accordingly, the user can directly see and check the rotation of the blades in the air purge device or the radiation in the irradiation device.

In addition, the sterilization device according to the present invention is attached to a refrigerator including a main heat-insulating casing, which is made of heat-insulating material and in which a compartment for storing products is made; a door attached with the possibility of opening and closing to the hole made in the main heat-insulating casing, and a cooling device that cools the air inside the main heat-insulating casing, the sterilization device comprising: a holder on which the photocatalyst is mounted; an irradiation device that irradiates the holder with excitation light that emits a photocatalyst; an air purge device that forcibly blows air into the food storage compartment towards the holder, wherein the flow channel forming device forms a flow channel for air purged by the air purge device, wherein the holder, the irradiation device and the air purge device are attached to the flow formation device channel.

In addition to the features described above, this makes it easy to attach the sterilization device to the refrigerator or disconnect from the refrigerator.

The positive effects of the invention

Since the present invention allows sterilization to be carried out inside the food storage compartment as a whole, a higher quality refrigerator can be created.

In addition, the sterilization device according to the present invention makes it easy to attach or detach the sterilization device from the refrigerator, thereby creating a sterilization device that can sterilize the entire interior of the food storage compartment.

In addition, since the refrigerator according to the present invention makes it possible to create a compact sterilization device and an irradiation device, it is possible to make fuller use of the food storage compartment, whereby the refrigerator can be used more fully.

Since the refrigerator according to the present invention can effectively carry out sterilization and deodorization, it is possible to create a high-quality refrigerator that creates increased sterilization and deodorizing effects.

In addition, the refrigerator according to the present invention increases the frequency of contact between the cold air and the deodorizing and sterilizing filters, whereby a more fully used high-quality refrigerator can be created.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a schematic rear view of a refrigerator with a removed heat-insulating portion.

Figure 2 is a cross section of the refrigerator with the function of suppressing the spread of bacteria and mold.

Figure 3 is a partial longitudinal section of the refrigerator when the sterilization and deodorizing device is made in the area of the air inlet returning to the refrigerator compartment.

4 is a central longitudinal section of a conventional refrigerator disclosed in Patent Reference 4.

Figure 5 is a central longitudinal section of a sterilization and deodorizing device made in a traditional refrigerator.

6 is a top view of a sterilization and deodorizing device made in a traditional refrigerator.

7 is a front view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing a refrigerator of the present embodiment.

Fig.9 is a section of a sterilization device installed in the refrigerator.

10 is a bottom view of a sterilization device installed in a refrigerator.

11 is a bottom view showing a sterilization device and a lighting device that are covered by a lid.

12 is a longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator.

13 is a longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator.

14 is a sectional view of a sterilization device installed in a refrigerator.

Fig is a longitudinal section schematically showing a refrigerator according to this variant embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 16 is a sectional view of a sterilization device and a lighting device installed in a refrigerator.

17 is a bottom view of a sterilization device and a lighting device installed in a refrigerator.

Fig. 18 is a bottom view showing a sterilization device and a lighting device that are covered by a lid.

19 is a longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator.

20 is a longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator according to the present invention.

21 is a front view showing a structure of a flow channel forming apparatus in a refrigerator of the present invention.

Fig is a front view of the refrigerator of the present invention.

23 is a longitudinal sectional view of a flow channel forming apparatus including a holder according to the present invention.

24 is a front view of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig is a longitudinal section of a refrigerator of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a drawing showing a structure of a flow channel forming apparatus included in a cold air circulation path according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a perspective view showing a sterilization device installed in a refrigerator according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 28 is a sectional view showing a method for attaching a sterilization device of the present embodiment.

Fig. 29 is a perspective view showing another method of attaching a sterilization device of the present embodiment.

30 is a drawing showing a sterilization device according to one embodiment of the invention, with the rear wall of the refrigerator compartment partially cut out.

Fig is a view in section of the upper part of the refrigerator.

32 is a control circuit according to the present invention.

Fig. 33 is a control circuit according to the present invention.

Fig. 34 is a control circuit according to the present invention.

Fig. 35 is a central longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig is a Central longitudinal section of a sterilization and deodorizing device when it is installed in the refrigerator according to a variant implementation of the present invention.

Fig. 37 is an external bottom view of a sterilization and deodorization apparatus installed in a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 38 is a sectional view of an air purification device that is part of a sterilization device.

Fig. 39 is a sectional view showing internal equipment of an air conditioner.

40 is a sectional view of an air purification device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Reference Positions

4 flow channel

13 Ventilation grille

15 air conditioning

20 Power Supply

46 Shelves

48 Drawer

100 Fridge

101 Main thermal insulation housing

102 refrigerator compartment

103 Freezer compartment

104 Fruit and vegetable compartment

105 compartment for ice

106 switch compartment

107 Thermal insulation door

110 Cooler

111 First upper surface

112 Second upper surface

113 Concavity

114 compressor

115 refrigerator

120 Concave section

121 cooling fan

122 Control Panel

123 damper

124 Flow channel device

125 Sash

127 Drive unit

128 Twin damper

131 collection hole

133 Light transmitting element

201 Holder

201a Normal

202 Irradiation device

203 Air purge device

204 Absorption Filter

206 Cover

206a End edge

207 light source

208 Projection

209 Narrow section

211 double cover

212 Light source cover

213 Transparent Window

220 Thermal insulation material

221 Engine

222 Axial fan

223 storage space

224 axis of rotation

230 Airflow Direction

240 Air direction

250 Housing

251 inlet

252 Outlet

254 switch

255 Outlet

256 holding element

257 Through Hole

258 Air purification device

300 Lighting device

301 Light source

302 Light panel

303 gear limiter

Description of a preferred embodiment of the invention

Embodiments of a refrigerator according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

First option

7 is a front view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the drawing, the refrigerator 100 according to the present embodiment is a French door refrigerator 100 and includes a food storage compartment divided into upper and lower parts, in the main heat-insulating casing 101.

The food storage compartment, which is divided into upper and lower parts in the refrigerator 100, is designated as the refrigerator compartment 102 and the freezer compartment 103, respectively, according to their functions (cooling temperature).

At the front opening of the refrigeration compartment 102, a pivoting heat-insulating door 107 is made filled with insulating foam, such as urethane. Similarly, the heat-insulating door 107 is also formed on the front side of the freezer compartment 103. These doors close the food storage compartment to allow the doors to open and close in such a way as to prevent leakage of cold air.

The refrigerator compartment 102 is a food storage compartment in which the temperature is kept low enough for refrigerated storage, but not low enough for freezing. Namely, a certain temperature of the lower boundary is usually set from 1 to 5 ° C.

The freezer compartment 103 is a food storage compartment set in a temperature freezing mode. Namely, the temperature is usually set from -22 ° C to -18 ° C for frozen storage, and also set at a lower temperature from -30 ° C or -25 ° C, for example, to improve the state of frozen storage.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing a refrigerator according to the present embodiment.

As shown, the refrigerator 100 internally includes a sterilization device 200 and a cooler 110.

The main heat-insulating body 101 is a box-shaped body filled with heat-insulating material, for example, rigid foam urethane, between the outer casing and the inner casing. The main heat-insulating casing 101 isolates the inside of the inner part of the main heat-insulating casing 101 from the environment.

Inside the main heat-insulating casing 101, a cooler 110, as a cooling device, is housed in the main heat-insulating casing 101.

Cooler 110 is an element that forms a cooling cycle with compressor 114 and directly cools the inside of the main heat-insulating casing 101 by removing heat from the air inside the main heat-insulating casing 101 by evaporating the refrigerant placed in the cooler 110.

Next, a sterilization device 200 will be described.

9 is a sectional view of a sterilization device 200 installed in a refrigerator.

10 is a bottom view of a sterilization device 200 mounted in a refrigerator.

The sterilization device 200 of the present embodiment is a device that forcibly sterilizes bacteria and spores that are present in the air inside the main heat-insulating casing 101, and can also deodorize the air by decomposing organic matter that is present in the air. The sterilization device 200 includes: a holder 201, which is a photocatalyst holder; an irradiation device 202 that irradiates the holder 201 with an excitation beam that emits a photocatalyst; air purge device 203; absorption filter 204; flow channel forming device 124; and cover 206.

The sterilization device 200 is attached to a concave portion 120 formed in the main heat-insulating body 101. In addition, the cover 206 is attached so as to cover the sterilization device 200 that is attached to the main heat-insulating body 101. A predetermined space is made between the sterilization device 200 and the cover 206.

An air purge device 203 is located closest to the heat-insulating door 107 of the sterilization device 200. Additionally, the air purge device 203 blows air in the direction indicated by the arrows in the drawing.

The absorption filter 204 is placed close to the cooler 110 in the sterilization device 200.

A holder 201 is interposed between the air purge device 203 and the absorption filter 204.

Additionally, the holder 201, the irradiation device 202, the air purge device 203 and the absorption filter 204 are attached to the ceiling of the main heat-insulating body 101.

The holder 201 is a porous resin element that provides increased contact with air, and is also a filter element made of fibers into which the photocatalyst is mixed. In addition, the resin used as the base material is a resin that transmits light at a wavelength that easily excites the photocatalyst.

The photocatalyst used for holder 201 is a catalyst that can sterilize bacteria in the air and deodorize odor components (such as organic matter) in the air by irradiating light with a given wavelength, and is considered to be a substance that activates the component in the air (e.g. ionization or formation radicals), and can thereby sterilize and deodorize. Namely, silver oxide or titanium oxide can be cited as an example of photocatalysts.

To perform its sterilization and other functions, silver oxide requires light having a wavelength in the range of visible blue, from about 400 nanometers to 580 nanometers. On the other hand, light having a wavelength of 380 nanometers is necessary for titanium oxide to perform its sterilization and other functions.

An irradiation device 202 is a device including: a light source 207 that can emit light of a wavelength that can excite a photocatalyst, and a printed circuit board (not shown) to turn on the light source 207.

It is sufficient that the light source 207 can emit a predetermined amount of light with wavelengths, including the wavelength described above, and as an example, an ultraviolet lamp or a conventional electric lamp. In addition, if the photocatalyst is silver oxide, a longer life and reduced cost can be achieved by using an LED that emits light in the blue (470 nanometers) range of visible light. Additionally, if the photocatalyst is an alloy of silver and titanium, it is also possible to use an ultraviolet LED that emits an ultraviolet ray with a wavelength of 380 nanometers.

In the present embodiment, silver oxide is used as the photocatalyst, and three LEDs arranged in a line on the strip of the panel are used as the light source 207 for the irradiation device 202.

The air purge device 203 includes an electric motor 221, an axial fan 222, and a housing in which these devices are located. When the electric motor 221 rotates by supplying energy, the air purge device 203 performs the function of blowing cold air in a predetermined direction (the direction indicated by the arrows in FIG. 9) using an axial fan 222 directly connected to the axis of rotation of the motor 221. In other words, the electric motor 221 installed in the center of the air purge device 203 and is made with an axial fan 222, the blades of which, located obliquely in one direction, are mounted radially to the axis of rotation of the electric motor 2 21, wherein both the electric motor 221 and the axial fan 222 are housed in one housing. Thus, when the engine 221 is rotated by supplying energy, the air purge device 203 performs the function of purging air in one direction using the axial fan 222 driven by the electric motor 221.

The axial fan 222 is arranged such that the axis of rotation 224 of the axial fan 222 intersects with the airflow direction 230. That is, the air purge device 203 is arranged almost flat relative to the ceiling surface of the main heat-insulating body 101.

The absorption filter 204 functions as an absorption filter that absorbs and removes odor components that are present inside the main heat-insulating housing 101. Namely, an element having a cellular structure or the like made of activated carbon can be given as an example of an absorption filter 204. Such an absorption filter filter 204 can absorb odor components present in air by passing air through the pores of the cellular structure.

The absorption filter 204 is positioned so that the air flow direction 240 in the absorption filter 204 intersects with the air flow direction 230. Accordingly, as with the air purge device 203, the absorption filter 204 is arranged almost flat with respect to the main heat-insulating body 101.

The flow channel forming device 124 is an element made of resin and can hold a holder 201, an air purge device 203 and an absorption filter 204. The sterilization device 200 is formed inside the main heat-insulating casing 101 by threaded installation in a specific place in the main heat-insulating casing 101, while a holder 201, an air purge device 203, and an absorption filter 204 are attached to the flow channel forming device 124.

In addition, a channel for introducing additional cold air is made between the flow channel forming device 124 and the inner wall of the main heat-insulating body 101. Accordingly, the irradiation device 202, the air purge device 203 and the absorption filter 204 are made inside the channel, and all this constitutes a sterilization device 200.

The flow channel forming device 124, being installed in the main heat-insulating body 101, has a structure that does not leak (it is unlikely to cause leakage) of air from the flow channel forming device 124, except for the portion through which air is introduced into the flow channel forming device 124, and the area through which the introduced air is discharged from the flow channel forming device 124. Accordingly, a flow channel for air blown by the air purge device 203 is formed between the main heat-insulating body 101 and the flow channel formation device 124.

The flow channel forming device 124 holds the holder 201 so that the widest side of the holder 201 faces the irradiation device 202 attached to the side of the main heat-insulating body 101.

The flow channel forming device 124 holds the holder 201 disconnected from the flow channel forming device 124 so that the holder 201 does not directly contact the flow channel forming device 124. Namely, the holder 201 is attached to the top of each of the thin columnar elements extending from the flow channel forming apparatus 124. Along with this, the holder 201 almost floats in the air, thus allowing almost the entire area of the holder 201 to be exposed to the air introduced by the air purge device 203. In addition, by performing the holder in a disconnected state from the flow channel forming device 124, as far as possible, drip condensation formed on the flow channel forming device 124 is prevented from moving to the holder 201. In addition, since the surface of the holder 201 is held at the top so as not to swing in the flowing air or to bend under the influence of gravity, no shadow area is created that is inaccessible to light from the irradiation device 202, thereby making it possible to efficiently excite the photocatalyst, which mounted on holder 201.

A flow channel forming device 124 is mounted almost flat relative to the surface of the main heat-insulating body 101, together with an air purge device 203 and an absorption filter 204 attached to the main heat-insulating body 101. Thus, the air purge device 203 and the absorption filter 204 are almost flat with respect to the horizontal direction, it is possible to reduce as far as possible the protrusion of the sterilization device 200 into the main heat-insulating casing 101 to introduce a large amount of air into the sterilization device 200 and allow a large amount of air to flow through the absorption filter 204 having a large surface area.

The flow channel forming device 124 has, in the intermediate part of the air flow channel, a narrow portion 209 having a narrower cross section than other regions. Narrow section 209 is a neck made from the shape of the concave section 120 of the main heat-insulating casing 101 and the shape of the flow channel forming device 124, and its function is to narrow the air flow.

The irradiation device 202 is mounted on the bottom of the concave portion 120 in the main heat-insulating body 101. The portion forms a narrow portion 209, which protrudes so that the distance between the holder 201 and the irradiation device 202 is shorter.

It should be noted that in the present embodiment, the narrow portion 209 is formed from, but not limited to, the concave portion 120 and the flow channel forming apparatus 124. Even if the bottom of the concave portion 120 is flat without any protrusion, this portion is also considered a narrow portion 209, since the flow channel forming device 124 is protruding because the protrusion narrows the duct.

With the narrow portion 209 described above, the density of the flowing cold air increases, so that more cold air is in contact or passes near the holder 201. Accordingly, it is possible to carry out effective sterilization.

In the portion mounted with the sterilization device 200 in the main heat-insulating body 101, the concave portion 120, which is the concavity, is made where the heat-insulating material is thinner than in other areas.

By mounting the sterilization device 200 on the concave portion 120, protrusion of the sterilization device 200 in the main heat-insulating body 101 can be avoided, thereby reducing, as much as possible, a decrease in the internal capacity of the main heat-insulating body 101. In addition, a thinner heat-insulating material allows the temperature of the sterilization device 200 increase more than in other areas, and thus effective sterilization can be performed. In addition, it is possible to reduce, as far as possible, the droplet condensation appearing inside the sterilization device 200.

11 is a bottom view of the sterilization device 200 and the lighting device, which are closed by a lid.

The cover 206 is a plate-shaped element that covers the entire sterilization device 200 attached to the main heat-insulating casing 101, and which includes an inlet 251 and an outlet 252. In addition, ventilation grilles for controlling air flow are attached to the inlet 251 and an outlet 252. Cover 206 improves the manufacturability of the structure by closing the sterilization device 200, and also isolates the sterilization device 200 from the cold air inside the main about the heat-insulating housing 101, being made at a certain distance from the sterilization device 200. Accordingly, the cover 206 protects the sterilization device 200 from drip condensation, thereby preventing deterioration of the operation of the sterilization device 200. Additionally, the cover 206 closes the lighting device 300, which is mainly located heat insulating casing 101.

In the lid 206, the portion opposite the lighting device 300 is transparent and the other portions are translucent, like frosted glass, while the entire flow channel forming device 124 is also translucent, like frosted glass. This allows a part of the visible light emitted by the light source 207 and the reflected light of visible light reflected inside the sterilization device 200 to pass into the main heat-insulating body 101. In addition, it is possible to check whether sterilization is being carried out and to find out whether or not the irradiation device 202 is not working properly.

Next, the operation and beneficial effects of the refrigerator 100 constructed in this way will be described.

Air that contains odor components (such as organic matter) or bacteria that are present inside the main heat-insulating casing 101 passes through the inlet 251 in the cover 206 due to the purge force of the air purge device 203 and is introduced into the sterilization device 200 through the air purge device 203 .

In this case, the temperature of the air introduced into the sterilization device 200 rises to a temperature suitable for deodorization and sterilization due to heat, such as heat passing through the concave portion 120 with thinner heat-insulating material and made in the main heat-insulating body 101; heat generated in irradiation device 202; and the heat created in the lighting device 300. In addition, even if the heat-insulating door 107 is open and external air enters the main heat-insulating body 101 to be directed to the sterilization device 200, the temperature of the entire sterilization device 200 is high enough not to cause drip condensation.

Air in this state, as described above, passes, sliding on the surface of the holder 201 having a large area. In this case, since the narrow section 209, which is located between the irradiation device 202 and the flow channel forming device 124, which is located opposite the irradiation device 202, is narrower than the other sections, the flowing cold air has a high density in the narrow section 209 and as such, effectively contacts the holder 201. Accordingly, odor components and bacteria contained in cold air are effectively captured on the surface of the holder 201. Captured odor components and bacteria ezodoriruyutsya and sterilized due to oxidative decomposition caused by ordinary catalytic action (not by photocatalytic action) and the sterilization effect of silver oxide. Also at this stage, we can assume that the narrow section 209 allows for effective sterilization and deodorization. At the same time, since the effects of odor decomposition and sterilization are caused by the action of silver oxide, even if it is not irradiated with light, it is possible to reduce the amount of radiation and the exposure time, while at the same time providing the desired deodorizing and sterilizing effects, thus achieving effects of longer life and increased energy savings for the irradiation device. Furthermore, by using light energy (blue light or ultraviolet ray) emitted from the light source 207, silver oxide having an absorption spectrum in these wavelength ranges is excited by blue light energy, so that a photocatalyst is excited on the surface of the holder 201. If the photocatalyst is excited, a hydroxyl (OH) radical is formed from moisture in the air in such a way that oxidative decomposition of odor components trapped on holder 201 or adjacent to holder 201 occurs it lysis of bacteria. At this stage, we can assume that more OH radicals are formed due to the effect produced by the narrow section 209, so that the decomposition of organic substances and bacterial lysis are accelerated.

Together with the catalytic effect described above, the air to be sterilized and deodorized is the cold air having the highest temperature inside the main heat-insulating casing 101. Accordingly, it can be considered that a higher sterilization and deodorization efficiency is obtained.

In addition, odor components that were not completely decomposed on the surface of the holder 201 pass along with the air through the pores of the absorption filter 204 having a cellular structure, while being absorbed and held by the absorption filter 204.

As described above, the air passing through the sterilization device 200 becomes clean air, which is deodorized and sterilized, and is blown into the main heat-insulating body 101 from the outlet 252 provided in the cover 206. Accordingly, by continuing to sterilize, the number of bacteria and components can be reduced. smell.

The air that is blown is blown to the cooler 110 and cooled to a temperature suitable for storing food, etc. Accordingly, even if the temperature inside the sterilization device 200 rises, the air is cooled below, after being blown into the main heat-insulating body 101, thus not having a negative effect on products and the like. in the storage compartment.

On the other hand, full convection of air is stimulated inside the main heat-insulating case 101 by introducing air into the sterilization device 200 and venting the air from the sterilization device 200. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent stagnation of cold air at the bottom of the main heat-insulating case 101, making it possible to equalize the temperature inside the main heat-insulating case 101. In addition, the OH radical obtained by the sterilization device 200, convection flows with the air in the main flat-insulated housing 101 and carries out deodorization and sterilization also in the main heat-insulating housing 101.

In addition, the air cooled by the cooler 110, made in the rear wall of the main heat-insulating casing 101, flows down to the bottom of the main heat-insulating casing 101 due to its high specific gravity. Accordingly, air whose temperature has risen after passing through the stored products and the heat-insulating door 107 flows upward towards a portion surrounded by the ceiling of the main heat-insulating casing 101 and the heat-insulating door 107. The air purge device 203 blows air in a direction that stimulates convection flow, not going against the very moderate convection flow described above obtained in the main heat-insulating body 101. As a result, a strong conv ktsionny stream mainly heat-insulating body 101.

Accordingly, it is possible to prevent stagnation of cold air at the bottom of the main heat-insulating casing 101, thereby making it possible to lower the temperature inside the main heat-insulating casing 101. In addition, the OH radical obtained by the sterilization device 200 flows convection together with air into the main heat-insulating casing 101 and also carries out deodorization and sterilization in the main heat-insulating casing 101.

As described above, the refrigerator can physically perform sterilization and deodorization using the sterilization device 200, without using an organic sterilization substance, or the like. Thus, it is no longer necessary to take into account the effects of organic sterilization substances on humans, etc. In addition, since the photocatalyst can sterilize and deodorize without changing, its effect can be ensured almost unchanged.

It should be noted that the surface of the holder 201 having the largest area can be held parallel to the vertical surface. By performing the holder 201 in this way, even in the case of drip condensation on the holder 201, the water condensed on the surface having the largest area flows down by gravity, so that the surface having the largest area becomes dry. Accordingly, it is possible to sterilize and deodorize the exhaust air using a photocatalyst without interruption due to drip water condensate.

In addition to the embodiment of the invention described above, the irradiation device 202 is directly attached to the main heat-insulating body 101, the flow channel being made by the main heat-insulating body 101 and the flow channel forming device 124. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the sterilization device 200 may be a modular type sterilization device that can be detached from the main heat-insulating body 101, and in which the irradiation device 202, holder 201 and air purge device 203 are attached to the flow box channel forming device 124, which is a rectangular channel. This configuration makes it easier to attach or disconnect the sterilization device 200 to the refrigerator. In addition, the lighting device 300 may be implemented in a modular sterilization device. Specifically, if the light source 207 and the lighting device 300 are both LEDs, a single power circuit can be used, thereby facilitating the assembly of the refrigerator.

In addition, in the embodiment described above, it is assumed that the absorption filter 204 and holder 201 are separate elements, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the holder 201 on which the photocatalyst is mounted may have an absorption function that can retain odor. In other words, the photocatalyst can be mounted on an absorption filter 204 that absorbs and retains odor. Note that it is preferable to obliquely irradiate the holder 201 having an absorption function such that the air flow is not disturbed.

In the manner described above, it is possible to reduce the size of the sterilization device 200 and reduce the decrease in capacity of the main heat-insulating casing 101. In addition, cost reduction can be achieved.

As described above, the refrigerator according to the present invention includes a main heat-insulating casing 101, which is made of heat-insulating material and in which there is a compartment for storing products, a heat-insulating door 107, as a door attached with the possibility of opening and closing to the hole, made mainly heat-insulating casing 101, and a cooling device that directly cools the air inside the main heat-insulating casing 101, while the refrigerator includes I: holder 201, which is housed in the storage compartment and on which a photocatalyst; an irradiation device 202 that irradiates the holder 201 with excitation light that excites the photocatalyst; and an air purge device 203 that forcibly blows air inside the food storage compartment towards the holder 201. Due to this, since sterilization and deodorization is carried out using a photocatalyst in the air stream created by the air purge device 203, a convection stream of sterilized and deodorized can be caused clean air in the food storage compartment. Accordingly, it is possible to keep the entire food storage compartment clean and to keep products longer. In addition, since the air purged by the air purge device 203 causes forced convection in the food storage compartment, temperature unevenness within the food storage compartment can be eliminated.

Thus, the refrigerator according to the present invention forcibly blows air inside the food storage compartment, sterilizes bacteria and the like contained in the air, and blows sterilized air into the food storage compartment. Accordingly, it is possible to sterilize the inside of the food storage compartment completely by forced convection of air inside the food storage compartment.

Furthermore, it is preferable that there is a flow channel forming device 124 that forms a flow channel for air blown by the air purge device 203, and that the holder 201 is formed in a flow channel formed by the flow channel forming device 124.

In addition, the holder 201 can be exposed to the air as much as possible, thereby increasing the photocatalytic effect, thereby improving the sterilization and deodorization efficiency.

In addition, it is preferable that there is an absorption filter 204 that absorbs and retains odors in the refrigerator, and that the absorption filter 204 is located downstream of the holder 201 in the flow channel.

Along with this, you can enhance the deodorizing effect, etc. and further, by simply making the absorption filter 204 further downstream of the holder 201, it only becomes necessary to retain the odors remaining after the photocatalytic process, thereby increasing the life of the absorption filter 204.

In addition, holder 201 may have an absorption function to absorb and retain odor in a food storage compartment.

At the same time, since holder 201 can absorb and retain odor in addition to the sterilization and deodorizing effects of the photocatalyst, a compact and highly efficient holder 201 can be created. Accordingly, it is possible to keep the food storage compartment in a hygienic condition without reducing the capacity of the food storage compartment.

In addition, the sterilization device 200 according to the present invention is attached to a refrigerator including a door that can be opened and closed to an opening formed in the main heat-insulating body 101, which is made of heat-insulating material and in which a food storage compartment is formed, and a device cooling, which directly cools the air inside the main heat-insulating casing 101, while the sterilization device includes: holder 20 1 on which the photocatalyst is mounted; an irradiation device 202 that irradiates the holder 201 with an excitation light that emits a photocatalyst; an air purge device 203 that forcibly blows air inside the food storage compartment toward the holder 201, and a flow channel forming device 124 that forms a flow channel for air blown by the air purge device 203, the holder 201, the irradiation device 202, and the device Air purges 203 are attached to flow channel forming apparatus 124.

This makes it easier to attach to the refrigerator or disconnect the sterilization device from the refrigerator.

In addition, in the embodiment described above, a space is formed between the sterilization device 200 and the lid 206, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, the heat-insulating element 220 may be formed between the sterilization device 200 and the cover 206. This heat-insulating element 220 thermally and permanently insulates the deodorizing filter 200 from the inside of the main heat-insulating body 101, thereby making it possible to enhance the sterilization and deodorization functions and also prevent drip condensation from occurring in the sterilization device 200 as much as possible.

As described above, the refrigerator according to the present invention includes a main heat-insulating casing 101, which is made of heat-insulating material and in which there is a compartment for storing products; a door attached with the possibility of opening and closing to the hole made in the main heat-insulating casing 101; a cooler 110, which is a cooling device that directly cools the air inside the main heat-insulating casing 101; and a sterilization device 200 that sterilizes and deodorizes inside the food storage compartment, wherein the sterilization device 200 is housed in the food storage compartment and includes: a holder 201 that is located in the food storage compartment and on which the photocatalyst is mounted; an irradiation device 202 that irradiates the holder 201 with an excitation light that emits a photocatalyst; an air purge device 203 that forcibly blows air inside the food storage compartment toward the holder 201, and a flow channel forming device 124 that forms a flow channel for air blown by the air purge device 203, the refrigerator including a lid 206 attached to the inner wall of the main heat-insulating body 101 and the closing sterilization device 200.

In addition, it is possible to isolate the temperature inside the sterilization device from the temperature inside the food storage compartment, thereby making it possible to keep the sterilization device 200 at a temperature more suitable for photocatalysis. Accordingly, for example, even when moist air enters the food storage compartment when opening or closing the refrigerator door, drip condensation on the holder 201 can be prevented.

In addition, it is preferable to have a heat insulating element that is to be placed between the sterilization device and the lid.

Along with this, the effects described above can be further enhanced.

In addition, it is preferable that the main heat-insulating housing 101 includes a concave portion that opens in the direction of the food storage compartment, and that the sterilization device is attached so as to be placed in the concave portion.

This facilitates the introduction of heat from the outside of the refrigerator into the sterilization device, thereby making it easier to maintain the temperature of the sterilization device at a temperature suitable for photocatalysis. Accordingly, it becomes easier to suppress the occurrence of drip condensation.

The refrigerator according to the present invention thermally isolates the sterilization device 200 from the inside of the food storage compartment. Accordingly, it becomes possible to maintain the internal temperature of the sterilization device at a temperature suitable for photocatalysis, as well as to prevent the occurrence of droplet condensation in the sterilization device.

Thus, the refrigerator according to the present invention

includes a main heat-insulating case 101, which is made of a heat-insulating material and in which a compartment for storing products is made; a door that can be opened and closed to a hole made in the main heat-insulating casing 101, and a cooling device that directly cools the air inside the main heat-insulating casing 101 and which includes: a holder 201, which is located in the food storage compartment and on which a photocatalyst is installed; an irradiation device 202 that irradiates the holder 201 with an excitation light that emits a photocatalyst; an air purge device 203 that forcibly blows air inside the food storage compartment toward the holder 201, and a flow channel forming device 124 that forms a flow channel for air blown by the air purge device 203, wherein the flow channel forming device 124 has the intermediate part of the flow channel for air, a narrow section that forms a neck, which has a cross section narrower than in other sections, and the holder 201 is placed in a narrow section.

Along with this, the air pushed through the flow channel using the air purge device 203 is narrowed by a narrow section. Accordingly, the air is effectively in contact with the holder 201, made in a narrow area, thus allowing to increase the effects of sterilization and deodorization.

In addition, it is preferable that the air purge device 203 comprise an axial fan that is positioned so that the axis of rotation of the axial fan intersects the direction in which cold air passes through the flow channel.

In addition, if the flow channel is made along the wall surface in the food storage compartment, it is possible to reduce, as much as possible, the degree of protrusion of the air purge device into the food storage compartment and thereby create sterilization and deodorizing effects without significantly reducing the capacity of the compartment for food storage.

In addition, there is an absorption filter 204 that absorbs and retains odor in the food storage compartment, while the absorption filter is placed downstream of the holder 201 in the flow channel so that the direction in which cold air passes through the absorption filter intersects with direction in which cold air passes through the flow channel.

Along with this, it is possible to improve the effect of deodorization, etc., and, in addition, by simply performing the absorption filter downstream of the holder 201, it becomes only necessary to retain the odors remaining after the photocatalytic process, thereby increasing the service life of the absorption filter. In addition, since the absorption filter is inclined relative to the flow channel, the protrusion of the absorption filter in the food storage compartment can be reduced as much as possible.

Thus, the refrigerator according to the present invention forcibly blows air inside the food storage compartment, sterilizes bacteria and the like contained in the air, and blows sterilized air into the food storage compartment. Accordingly, it is possible to generally sterilize the inside of the food storage compartment by forced convection of air inside the food storage compartment. In addition to this, sterilization and deodorization can be effectively performed.

The refrigerator according to the present invention includes a rectangular main heat-insulating casing 101, which is made of heat-insulating material and has a front opening, and in which there is a compartment for storing products; a door attached to the hole, with the possibility of opening and closing, and a cooler 110, which is a cooling device that directly cools the air inside the main heat-insulating casing 101, while the refrigerator includes: a holder 201, which is located in the compartment for storing food and which installed the photocatalyst; an irradiation device that irradiates the holder 201 with an excitation light that excites the photocatalyst; and an air purge device 203 that forcibly blows air inside the food storage compartment towards the holder 201, wherein the air purge device 203, holder 201 and cooling device are arranged in order starting from the air flow inlet portion created by the air purge device 203.

In addition, air having a relatively high temperature can come into contact with the holder 201, thereby preventing droplet condensation from occurring on the holder 201. Accordingly, the deterioration of the photocatalytic function can be reduced, thereby allowing efficient sterilization and deodorization.

In addition, this arrangement, if adopted, does not violate the natural convection created by the cooling device, and thus allows the air flow to be generated in a direction that promotes natural convection, thereby eliminating with high efficiency the temperature unevenness in the food storage compartment.

In addition, it is preferable that there is an absorption filter 204 that absorbs odor in the food storage compartment, and that the absorption filter 204 is located further downstream of the holder 201 and upstream of the cooling device 110.

Along with this, you can improve the effect of deodorization, etc. and further, due to the simple implementation of the absorption filter 204 further downstream of the holder 201, it is only necessary to retain the odors remaining after the photocatalytic process, thereby increasing the service life of the absorption filter 204.

As described above, in the refrigerator according to the present invention, air having a relatively high temperature is directed to the side with a lower temperature. In addition, natural convection inside the food storage compartment can be enhanced. In addition, the photocatalyst interacts with air having a relatively high temperature, thereby enabling efficient sterilization and deodorization.

Second Embodiment

Next, another embodiment of the invention will be described.

It should be noted that, in some cases, the design common to the first embodiment described above will be denoted by the same reference numeral and a description thereof will be omitted.

Fig is a longitudinal section schematically showing a refrigerator according to the present invention.

As shown in the drawing, the sterilization device 200 and the lighting device 300 are attached to the ceiling of the main heat-insulating body 101. Note that the sterilization device 200 and the lighting device 300 are described later.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a sterilization device 200 and a lighting device 300 mounted in a refrigerator.

17 is a bottom view of a sterilization device 200 and a lighting device 300 mounted in a refrigerator.

The lighting device 300 is a device that illuminates the main heat-insulating housing 101 inside and includes: a light source 301, a light panel 302, and a printed circuit board (not shown). The lighting device 300 is located closer to the heat-insulating door 107 than to the sterilization device 200 in the concave portion 120 where the sterilization device 200 is made. The lighting device 300 is made in the main heat-insulating case 101 so that it can illuminate the main heat-insulating case 101 inside, from the side heat-insulating door 107 towards the far corner of the main heat-insulating body 101.

The light source 301 is a light source for illuminating the main heat insulating body 101 inside, while in the present embodiment, a white LED is used as the light source 301.

The light panel 302 is a printed circuit board that holds several successive light sources 301 and into which the wiring is imprinted to supply energy to the light source 301. The light panel 302 is mounted in the concave portion 120 while being engaged with the engagement limiter 303 embedded in the concave portion 120.

The printing chamber includes a circuit for converting the energy supplied to the refrigerator 100 into energy for a light source 301. The printed circuit board also supplies energy to the light source 207, which irradiates the holder 201 with an excitation beam. In addition, the printed circuit board includes a circuit that determines the opening or closing of the heat-insulating door 107 and supplies energy to the light source 301 only when the heat-insulating door 107 is open .

Fig. 18 is a main view of a sterilization device and a lighting device that are covered by a lid.

The cover 206 is a plate-shaped element that can cover the entire sterilization device 200 attached to the main heat-insulating body 101, and which includes an inlet 251, an outlet 252 and a transparent window 213. In addition, to the inlet 251 and the outlet hole 252 is attached ventilation grilles to control air flow. The cover 206 improves the manufacturability of the structure by closing the sterilization device 200 and the lighting device 300 from above, while also isolating the sterilization device 200 and the lighting device 300 from the cold air inside the main heat-insulating body 101, being placed at a predetermined distance from the sterilization device 200 and the lighting device 300 . Accordingly, the cover 206 protects the sterilization device 200 and the lighting device 300 from drip condensation, thereby preventing deterioration of the operation of the sterilization device 200. In addition, since the cover 206 also closes the lighting device 300 located in the main heat-insulating body 101, the heat received from lighting device 300 goes to the sterilization device 200 rather than to the main heat-insulating case 101. Accordingly, the temperature of the air introduced into the sterilization device 200 rises slightly higher than the temperature of the air inside the main heat-insulating casing 101, thus, which contributes to sterilization and deodorization.

The transparent window 213 is a part made opposite the lighting device 300 on the lid 206, while it is transparent.

Areas other than the transparent window 213 of the cover 206 are translucent, like frosted glass, and the entire flow channel forming device 124 is also translucent, like frosted glass. This allows a part of the visible light emitted by the light source 207 and the reflected light from the visible light reflected in the sterilization device 200 to enter the main heat-insulating body 101. In addition, it is possible to check whether sterilization is currently under way and to understand from the outside, properly or not, irradiation device 202.

The operation and effects of the refrigerator 100 thus configured will be described below.

Air containing odor components (such as organic matter) or bacteria that are present inside the main heat-insulating body 101 passes through the inlet 251 of the cover 206 by the purge force of the air purge device 203 and is introduced into the sterilization device 200 through the air purge device 203. The introduced air passes, sliding on the surface of the holder 201, which has the largest area. In this case, more air is in contact with the holder 201, because the flow channel, which is located between the irradiation device 202 and the flow channel formation device 124, which is located opposite the irradiation device 202, is set narrower than other sections. The odor components and bacteria contained in the air are trapped on the surface of the holder 201. The captured odor components and bacteria are deodorized and sterilized by oxidative decomposition caused by the usual catalytic effect (but not photocatalytic effect) and sterilization effect of silver oxide. Along with this, since the effects of decomposition of odor and sterilization are obtained due to the action of silver oxide, even when it is not irradiated with light, it is possible to reduce the radiation intensity and irradiation time, while at the same time providing the desired effects of deodorization and sterilization, it can be obtained by this longer service life and increase the effect of energy saving device 202 irradiation. Furthermore, by using light energy (blue light or ultraviolet ray) emitted from the light source 207, silver oxide having an absorption spectrum in these wavelength ranges is excited by blue light energy, so that a photocatalyst is excited on the surface of the holder 201. When the photocatalyst is excited, a hydroxyl radical (OH) is generated from the moisture in the air, so that oxidative decomposition of the odor components trapped on the holder 201 or adjacent to the holder 201 occurs, while lysis of bacteria occurs.

In addition, odor components that were not completely decomposed on the surface of the holder 201 pass along with the air through the pores of the absorption filter 204 having a cellular structure, which are absorbed and held by the absorption filter 204.

As described above, the air passing through the sterilization device 200 becomes clean air, which is deodorized and sterilized, and which is blown into the main heat-insulating body 101 from the outlet 252 on the cover 206. Accordingly, by continuing to sterilize, the number of bacteria and odor components can be reduced and odor components can be reduced. .

On the other hand, inside the main heat-insulating casing 101, full air convection is stimulated by introducing air into the sterilization device 200 and venting the air from the sterilization device 200. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent stagnation of cold air at the bottom of the main heat-insulating casing 101, thereby making it possible to lower the temperature inside the main heat-insulating casing 101. In addition, the OH radical obtained by the sterilization device 200, convection flows with the air in he primary insulating housing 101 and also performs deodorization and sterilization in the main heat-insulating body 101.

As described above, the refrigerator can physically sterilize and deodorize using the sterilization device 200 and not using an organic sterilization substance or the like. Thus, it is no longer necessary to take into account the effects of organic sterilization substances on humans, etc. In addition, since the photocatalyst can sterilize and deodorize without changing, its effects can be maintained almost unchanged.

In addition, the lighting device 300 is turned on when it is determined that the heat-insulating door 107 is open. If the lighting device 300 is turned on, the far corner of the main heat-insulating case 101 is lit from the side of the heat-insulating door 107, and the storage products stored in the main heat-insulating case 101 are illuminated from the front, thereby making it easy to see the stored products.

Note that in the embodiment described above, the irradiation device 202 and the lighting device 300 are directly attached to the main heat-insulating casing 101, while the flow channel is formed by the main heat-insulating casing 101 and the flow channel forming device 124. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIG. 19, the sterilization device may be a modular type lighting and sterilization device capable of being connected to the main heat-insulating body 101 and disconnected from the main heat-insulating body 101, and in which the irradiation device 202, holder 201, air purge device 203 and the lighting device 300 is attached to the box body. This makes it easy to attach to the refrigerator or disconnect the lighting and sterilization devices from the refrigerator.

The refrigerator according to the present invention includes: a main heat-insulating casing 101, which is made of heat-insulating material and in which a compartment for storing products is made; a door attached with the possibility of opening and closing to the hole made in the main heat-insulating casing 101; and a cooler 110, which is a cooling device that directly cools the air inside the main heat-insulating casing 101; and which includes: a holder 201 that is housed in a food storage compartment and on which a photocatalyst is mounted; an irradiation device 202 that irradiates the holder 201 with excitation light that excites the photocatalyst; an air purge device 203 that forcibly purges air within the food storage compartment toward the holder 201; a sterilization device 200 including a flow channel forming device 124 that creates a flow channel for air being purged by the air purge device 203; a lid 206 attached to the inner wall of the main heat-insulating body 101 and closing the sterilization device 200; and a lighting device 300 that is covered by a lid and illuminates the main heat-insulating body 101 inside.

In addition, the sterilization device 200 and the lighting device 300 are closed with the same lid 206, thus allowing sterilization, deodorization and lighting of the food storage compartment to be carried out in a compact form. In addition, the heat generated in the lighting device 300 can be effectively used for sterilization and deodorization. In addition, the sterilization device 200 and the lighting device 300 can also share an electrical system and the like, thereby obtaining space saving and cost reduction.

In addition, it is preferable that the sterilization device 200 is attached to the ceiling surface of the main heat-insulating body 101, and that the lighting device 300 is attached closer to the door than the sterilization device 200.

In addition, it is preferable that the irradiation device 202 is directed towards the light irradiation side and is attached to the main heat-insulating body 101 so that the light is directed from the side of the door to the side that is deepest in the main heat-insulating body 101.

At the same time, when opening doors, products, etc. inside the food storage compartment, they are illuminated from the front so that foods and the like can be easily distinguished.

In addition, it is preferable that the lighting device 300 be attached to a concave portion formed in the main heat-insulating body 101. In addition, it is possible to illuminate the inside of the food storage compartment without substantially reducing the capacity of the food storage compartment.

As described above, the refrigerator according to the present invention forcibly blows air inside the food storage compartment, sterilizes bacteria and the like contained in the air, and blows sterilized air into the food storage compartment. Accordingly, it is possible to sterilize the entire interior of the food storage compartment by forced convection of air inside the food storage compartment. In addition, since the inside of the food storage compartment is illuminated by the lighting device 300 closed with a lid together with the sterilization device 200, a compact sterilization and lighting device can be provided.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings; however, in some cases, the same design, as described previously in previous embodiments of the invention, will be denoted by the same digital reference number, and a description thereof will be omitted. Note that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment of the invention.

Third Embodiment

Fig. 20 is a longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator according to the present invention.

21 is a front view showing the structure of a flow channel forming apparatus of a refrigerator according to the present invention.

In these drawings, the main heat-insulating casing 101, which is insulated from the environment by heat-insulating material, for example, rigid foam urethane, is divided into several sections, these several sections being placed in parallel, namely: a refrigerating compartment 102 made in the uppermost part; a freezer compartment 103, made in the lowermost part as a first food storage compartment, a fruit and vegetable compartment 104, made directly above the freezer compartment 103, as a second food storage compartment; an ice compartment 105 made between the fruit and vegetable compartment 104 and the refrigeration compartment 102 as a third food storage compartment; and a switch compartment 106 configured as a fourth food storage compartment. All compartments: the freezer compartment 103, the fruit and vegetable compartment 104, the ice compartment 105 and the switch compartment 106 are in the form of a compartment for storing food with drawers. The front opening at each of the food storage compartments includes a heat-insulating door 107.

In the compartment 104 for fruits and vegetables, a temperature of 2 ° C to 7 ° C is set, which is equal to or slightly higher than the temperature in the refrigerator compartment 102. The lower the temperature, the longer the freshness of leafy vegetables can be maintained.

The ice compartment 105 is an ice storage compartment, which consists of an ice maker (not shown) formed inside the ice compartment 105. The switch compartment 106 can switch between the cooling zones from the cooling temperature to the freezing temperature, depending on the purpose, using a control panel attached to the main body of the refrigerator.

The upper surface of the main heat-insulating casing 101, having a stepped concavity towards the rear surface of the refrigerator, is made of the first upper surface 111 and the second upper surface 112, while the concavity 113, which is stepped, accommodates the compressor 114 and the components of the refrigeration cycle with a high voltage such as a dehumidifier to remove water (not shown). In other words, the concavity 113, including the compressor 114, is cut off in the rear region of the uppermost part of the refrigerator compartment 102. Thus, the compressor 114 is not located in the rear region of the lowermost part of the compartment for storing products of the main heat-insulating casing 101, as can be seen in the traditional option.

The cooling chamber 115 is formed on both sides of the rear surfaces of the freezing compartment 103 and the compartment for vegetables and fruits, the cooling chamber 115 is separated from the freezing compartment 103 and the compartment for vegetables and fruits by the first partition 116 with heat-insulating properties, as a heat insulating wall. In addition, the freezer compartment 103 and the fruit and vegetable compartment 104 are separated by a second partition 117 with heat-insulating properties as a heat-insulating wall. Since the first partition 116 and the second partition 117 are constituent elements assembled after the foam is filled with the main heat-insulating body 101, foamed polystyrene is usually used as the heat-insulating material. However, in order to improve thermal insulation and stiffness, rigid foamed urethane can also be used. In addition, a vacuum insulating material with high thermal insulation properties can be used to make the partition structure thinner. In addition, the third partition 118, which is the top surface of the ice compartment 105 and the switch compartment 106, arranged in parallel, and the fourth partition 119, made at the bottom, are molded integrally from the same foamy insulating material as the material for the main thermal insulation body 101 .

Inside the cooling chamber 115, a cooler of the type of a conventional ribbed pipe 110 is vertically aligned along both sides of the freezer compartment 103 and the fruit and vegetable compartment 104, including the rear region of the second partition 117, which is a heat-insulating partition, so that the placement indicator of the freezer compartment 103 higher than the placement rate of branch 104 for fruits and vegetables. A cooling fan 121, which blows cold air through cooler 110 into each compartment by forced convection, is located in the space at the top of cooler 110. Cold air cooled by cooler 110 is transferred to each compartment to exchange heat after it passes through the device 124 forming a flow channel for purging cold air into each compartment, and returns to the cooler 110 through the flow channel forming device.

21, temperatures in the refrigeration compartment 102, the ice compartment 105, and the switch compartment 106 are controlled by using a damper that periodically controls the cold air discharged. Each compartment, refrigerator compartment 102, ice compartment 105 and switch compartment 106, is equipped with a temperature sensor (not shown) for monitoring the internal temperature: the control panel 122 opens the shutter if the temperature sensor shows a temperature higher than the set high and low temperatures, and closes damper if the temperature is lower, so that the internal temperature can be adjusted to the set temperature.

The flow channel forming device 124 has a structure in which: an ice compartment damper 123 that periodically adjusts the ice compartment 105 is formed in the upper part of the cooling chamber 115, while the cold air sent by the cooling fan 121 is blown into the ice compartment 105 after passing through the ice compartment flap 123 and the flow channel forming apparatus 124 for blowing air into the ice compartment 105, and returns to the cooler 110 through the flow channel forming device 124 for returning and the ice compartment 105 after passing through the heat exchange.

The damper that periodically monitors the refrigerator compartment 102 and the damper that periodically monitors the switch compartment 106 are configured as a pair damper 128, integrally designed with the casement 125 for the refrigerator compartment, which periodically lets the cold air flow into the refrigerator compartment 102, and the casement 125 for separation A switch 106, which periodically passes cold air flow into the switch compartment 106, and a drive device 127, which controls the flaps. A twin damper 128 is located in the rear portion of the ice compartment 105 and the switch compartment 106. In addition, on the rear surface of the refrigeration compartment 102, a flow channel forming device 124 is provided comprising two outlets 252. In addition, in the flow channel forming device 124, a holder 201 is located adjacent to the outlet 252, with the irradiation device 202 being opposite the holder 201. The holder 201 is an element containing titanium oxide and acts as a filter. In addition, the irradiation device 202 is an ultraviolet LED that emits an ultraviolet ray of a wavelength of 380 nanometers.

The operation and effects of the refrigerator thus made will be described below.

First, the operation of the refrigeration cycle will be described. According to a predetermined temperature inside the refrigerator, the refrigeration cycle is activated by a signal sent from the control panel 122, so that a cooling operation is performed. The refrigerant, with high temperature and high pressure, which is supplied by operation of the compressor 114, dissipates heat, condenses into a liquid in a condenser (not shown) and then reaches a capillary tube (not shown). Subsequently, the pressure of the refrigerant in the capillary tube is reduced by heat exchange with a suction hose (not shown) leading to the compressor 114, while the refrigerant reaches the cooler 110 as a liquid refrigerant with a low temperature and low pressure. Due to the operation of the cooling fan 121, the refrigerant inside the cooler 110 exchanges heat with the air inside the storage compartment and then evaporates, while the supply of cold air with a low temperature is controlled by a damper, etc., so that the required cooling of each compartment for food storage. The refrigerant exiting the cooler 110 is sucked into the compressor 114 through a suction hose.

Next, deodorizing and sterilizing effects will be described.

Cold air containing odors and bacteria, which is blown by the cooling fan 121, passes to the holder 201 through the flap 125 for the refrigeration compartment 102 and the flow channel forming device 124, and is blown into the refrigeration compartment 102 through the outlet 252. At the same time, the smell components and the bacteria contained in the cold air are captured on the holder 201. Then, titanium oxide on the surface of the holder 201 is excited by the light energy of the ultraviolet ray emitted by the irradiation device 202, and produces The OH radical is from the moisture of the air, so that oxidative decomposition and lysis of the odor components and bacteria trapped on the holder 201 respectively occurs. Thus, the cold air blown out from the outlet 252 is now clean deodorized and sterilized air, and it is blown into fridge. On the other hand, after heat exchange, the air returns to the cooler 110 through the flow channel forming device 124. In addition, in design, cold air directed by the cooling fan 121 is blown into the switch compartment 106 after passing through the flap 125 to separate the switch and the flow channel forming apparatus 124 for blowing air into the switch compartment and returns to the cooler 110 through the flow channel forming apparatus 124 to return to the switch compartment 106 after undergoing heat exchange.

As described above, by placing the holder 201, including the photocatalyst, on the outlet portion of the flow channel forming device and placing the irradiation device 202 opposite the holder 201, the odor components and bacteria captured on the holder 201 are decomposed by the photocatalytic action immediately before cold air is blown into the refrigerator, and thus the refrigerator of the present invention can constantly maintain the purity of the cold air blown into the refrigerator.

Fourth Embodiment

Fig is a front view of the refrigerator of the present invention.

23 is a longitudinal sectional view of a flow channel forming apparatus comprising a holder according to the present invention.

In these figures, the flow channel forming apparatus 124 has a T-shaped air flow channel design in which an outlet 252 is formed on a side in the upper part of the refrigerator compartment 102.

The holder 201 with titanium oxide is configured to contact the wall of the flow channel forming apparatus 124 at a point where the cold air stream deviates from the vertical direction, which is the upward direction with respect to the refrigeration compartment 102, in the horizontal direction with respect to the refrigeration compartment 102.

The irradiation device 202 is a blue LED that emits light at a wavelength of 470 nanometers and which is opposite the holder 201 at a concavity formed below the holder 201 in the flow channel forming device.

According to the wall structure of the flow channel forming apparatus 124 around the irradiation device 202, are formed by a light transmitting element 133, wherein the holder 201 and the interior of the refrigerator compartment 102 are irradiated with light from the irradiation device 202.

The operation and effects of the refrigerator thus made will be described below.

Cold air containing odor and bacteria components flows inside the flow channel forming device 124, striking a holder 201 formed at the end of the flow channel forming device 124, and itself changes into a vortex stream of cold air, so that cold air is in contact with holder surface 201 at different angles. As a result, the contact rate with respect to the holder 201 is increased, thereby increasing the capture rate of the odor components and bacteria contained in the cold air by the holder 201. The odor components and bacteria captured by the holder 201 are deodorized and sterilized by oxidative decomposition with silver oxide and antibacterial the holder 201. In addition, when exposed to a blue LED, which is an irradiation device 202, silver oxide having an absorption spectrum within the range of us is blue, it is the excitation energy of blue light to become active in terms of photocatalysis, and provides a strong deodorization and sterilization with strong oxidation reaction and bacteriolytic reacting the OH radical.

In addition, since the device is closed by a cover made of a light-transmitting element 133, an irradiation device 202 (blue LED) irradiates both the surface of the holder 201 and the interior of the refrigerator compartment 102.

As described above, in the refrigerator according to the fourth embodiment of the invention, the holder 201 is made on the wall of the inclined section of the T-shaped channel forming device 124, so that the holder 201 does not resist the air flow and also enhances the contact with cold air, thereby way, carry out strong deodorization and sterilization.

In addition, in the refrigerator according to the present invention, sterilization can be carried out using silver oxide as a catalyst and using blue light as a light source. This allows sterilization to be performed in such a low-temperature environment as in a refrigerator, where microorganisms develop slowly using the photocatalytic activity of silver oxide having a small absorption spectrum for blue light, while a sufficient photocatalytic effect can be obtained even with such a durable and inexpensive blue LED .

In addition, a part of the wall surface of the flow channel forming device 124 is made of a light transmitting element 133, an irradiation device 202 (blue LED) is provided on the inside of the refrigerator compartment 102, while the irradiation device 202 is also used as light to illuminate the inside of the refrigerator compartment 102, and as a source of excited light to excite the photocatalyst on the holder 201. With this configuration, one light source can be used both to excite the filter photocatalyst and to illuminate scheniya inside the refrigerating compartment 102, thus saving the internal space of the refrigerator.

In addition, the present embodiment describes the case where the flow channel forming apparatus 124 for blowing air into the refrigeration compartment 102 is T-shaped, but the same effect can be obtained even when the device is L-shaped.

According to the present invention, as described above, the refrigerator includes a main heat-insulating housing that includes a food storage compartment, a flow channel forming device that forces air to flow, a holder with a photocatalyst and an irradiation device that irradiates the photocatalyst, the holder being placed on section of the outlet into the channel formation device.

In addition, the odor components and bacteria trapped on the holder 201 are degraded by the photocatalytic action immediately before the cold air flows into the refrigerator, thus making it possible to create a refrigerator with a higher degree of utilization and higher quality.

In addition, the irradiation device is placed opposite the holder at a predetermined distance.

Along with this, due to the location of the irradiation device at a predetermined distance from the holder, it is possible to increase the area of the holder, which is to be irradiated with light from the irradiation device, thus providing increased catalytic activity.

In addition, the outlet portion in the flow channel forming apparatus has a cranked portion, and the holder 201 is located on the crank portion of the flow channel forming apparatus.

Along with this, compared with the traditional case of placing the holder perpendicular to the direction of air flow, the flow of cold air in the flow channel changes and then causes a swirl in the bent section with a reduced pressure loss for the flow channel. Thus, since cold air stays longer on the surface of the holder made in the cranked portion, the contact frequency between the photocatalyst on the holder and cold air increases, so that the photocatalytic reaction is enhanced.

In addition, the holder is located on the wall surface of the flow channel forming apparatus opposite to the air flow in the crank portion.

Along with this, all the cold air inside the air flow channel hits the holder to cause a swirl in the cold air in front of the holder, and makes the cold air stay on the surface of the holder longer, thus increasing the contact frequency between the photocatalyst on the holder and cold air, so that enhances the photocatalytic effect.

In addition, it is assumed that the holder is a deodorizing holder that deodorizes the air in the refrigerator.

In addition, you can deodorize the odor components contained in cold air using a deodorizing holder and blow odorless cold air into the refrigerator.

In addition, it is assumed that the holder is a holder that sterilizes air in the refrigerator.

Along with this, bacteria contained in cold air can be captured using a holder and lysed by OH radical obtained by activating the photocatalyst, thus allowing the air to be cleaned for injection into the refrigerator.

In addition, it is assumed that the photocatalyst is silver oxide.

Along with this, even without being irradiated with light, silver oxide produces the action of odor decomposition and antibacterial action, while being irradiated with light, the OH radical obtained by the photocatalytic reaction on silver oxide additionally carries out strong deodorization and sterilization and also extends the service life and energy-saving action of the irradiation device.

In addition, the irradiation device includes a light source with light having a wavelength in the wavelength range of ultraviolet or blue light.

Along with this, silver oxide, which has a small wavelength of the absorption spectrum even in the blue light range, in addition to the ultraviolet range, is excited by light in the blue light wavelength range and therefore can produce a sufficient photocatalytic effect with such a durable low-cost blue LED in such a low-temperature environment, as in a refrigerator, where microorganisms multiply slowly.

In addition, part of the wall surface of the flow channel forming apparatus at the outlet opening portion is made of a light transmitting element; the irradiation device is made in the light transmitting element on the inner side of the refrigerator compartment, while the irradiation device is used both as light for illumination inside the refrigerator compartment and as an excitation light source to excite the photocatalyst on the holder.

In addition, one light source can be used both to excite the photocatalyst of the holder and to illuminate inside the refrigerator compartment, thus saving the interior space of the refrigerator.

Fifth Embodiment

Next, another embodiment of a refrigerator according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

24 is a front view of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the drawing, the refrigerator 100 according to the present embodiment is a French door refrigerator 100 and includes a food storage compartment divided into upper and lower parts, in the main heat-insulating casing 101.

The food storage compartment of the refrigerator 100 is divided into numerous sections, and such numerous sections are designated according to the function (cooling temperature): refrigerator compartment 102, ice compartment 105, switch compartment 106, which is included in the ice compartment 105 and which allows you to change the internal temperature, compartment 104 for fruits and vegetables, freezer compartment 103, etc.

A rotary heat-insulating door 107, filled with insulating foam, such as urethane foam, is formed on the front opening of the main heat-insulating body 101.

In addition, an ice compartment 105, a switch compartment 106, a fruit and vegetable compartment 104, and a freezer compartment 103 each include a heat-insulating door 107 that serves as a front panel of the drawer by which the food storage compartment is closed to prevent leakage cold air.

Fig.25 is a longitudinal section of the refrigerator of the present invention, made along the line aa in Fig.24.

A cooling fan 121 is provided in the space at the top of the cooler 110. The cooling fan 121 blows cold air cooled by the cooler 110, pushes a convection stream of cold air into each food storage compartment, and circulates cold air in the refrigerator 100.

Inside the refrigerator 100, a circulation channel is made in which cold air is forcibly circulated. Namely, the cold air cooled by the cooler 110 is forcedly blown by the cooling fan 121 to pass into each food storage compartment through a flow channel forming device 124 made between each food storage compartment and the main heat-insulating body 101; then, cold air cools each food storage compartment and returns to cooler 110 through a flow channel forming apparatus 124.

Note that cold air circulates through the use of a single cooling fan 121.

FIG. 26 is a drawing showing a structure of a flow channel forming apparatus that is included in a cold air circulation channel of the present embodiment.

As shown in the drawing, the refrigerator 100 includes a circulation channel for a refrigerator compartment and a compartment for vegetables and fruits in which cold air flows at a relatively high temperature; however, air with a relatively low temperature flows in the circulation channel of the ice compartment, in the circulation channel of the freezer compartment and in the circulation channel of the switch compartment.

First, a circulation channel for a refrigeration compartment and a compartment for vegetables and fruits will be described.

The air cooled by the cooler 110 is directed by the cooling fan 121 to the refrigerator compartment 102 through the flow channel forming device 124.

However, cold air cooled by cooler 110 is cooled below a temperature that is sufficiently low for the freezing compartment 103. Therefore, when air having a relatively low temperature is constantly directed to the refrigerating compartment 102, the refrigerating compartment 102 is cooled too much. Thus, the steam damper 128, which can control the flow of cold air, is made in the cold air circulation channel including the refrigeration compartment 102. The steam damper 128 controls the flow of cold air (ON or OFF position of the cold air flow) cooled by the cooler 110, while the air does not flow continuously into the channel for the refrigeration compartment 102 and the compartment 104 for fruits and vegetables. In addition, when the entire refrigerator 100 is sufficiently cooled, the cooling fan 121 stops rotating, and the circulation of cold air, respectively, stops. At this time, the refrigeration cycle, i.e., compressor 114 or the like, also stops.

Cold air, cooled by cooler 110, flows from bottom to top, through a flow channel forming device 124, and is blown into the refrigerator compartment 102 through an outlet 252 that extends to the top of the refrigerator compartment 102. Air passing through the refrigerator compartment 102 is sucked into the hole 131 collection, which goes to the bottom of the refrigerator compartment 102. Then, cold air sucked into the collection opening 131 is discharged into the fruit and vegetable compartment 104. Finally, the cold air passing through the fruit and vegetable compartment 104 returns to the cooler 110. Thus, a circulation channel for the refrigeration compartment 102 and the fruit and vegetable compartment 104 has been described.

Note that in the present embodiment, a different part of the cold air, other than the part in the cold air channel, is blown into the refrigerator compartment 102 through the outlet 252, is introduced into the sterilization device 200 and is discharged before the air is blown out from the outlet 252 into the freezer compartment 102 and then returns to the circulation channel for the freezer compartment 102 and compartment 104 for fruits and vegetables. The channel sleeve, which is part of the cold air circulation channel, will be described later.

In addition, the circulation of cold air in the ice compartment 105 and the switch compartment 106 is also controlled by a damper that periodically regulates the cold air that is blown out so that the temperature in each food storage compartment is controlled. Note that each of the compartments, the refrigeration compartment 102, the ice compartment 105 and the switch compartment 106, is equipped with a temperature sensor (not shown) that monitors the internal temperature, while opening and closing the damper is controlled by the control panel 122 (see Fig. 25) attached to the rear of the refrigerator 100. In other words, the shutter is forced to open when the temperature sensor indicates a temperature higher than the set first temperature, and be closed to adjust the internal temperature to the rear temperature when the indicated temperature is lower than the second temperature.

The flow channel forming apparatus has a structure in which an ice compartment flap 123, which periodically controls the ice compartment 105, is provided at the top of the cooling chamber 115; in this case, cold air directed from the cooling fan 121 passes through the ice compartment flap 123 and the flow channel forming device 124 for blowing air into the ice compartment and is blown into the ice compartment 105, then returns after being heat exchanged to cooler 110 through a flow channel forming device 124 to return to the ice compartment.

The twin damper 128 integrally includes a damper that periodically monitors the refrigerator compartment 102 and a damper that periodically monitors the switch compartment 106, further including a flap 125 for the refrigerator compartment 102 that periodically allows cold air to flow into the refrigerator compartment 102; a flap 125 for a switch compartment 106, which periodically allows cold air to flow into the switch compartment 106, and further integrally includes a drive unit 127 that drives the flaps. A twin damper 128 is formed near the rear surface of the ice compartment 105 and the switch compartment 106.

Next, a sterilization device 200 will be described.

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of a sterilization device installed in a refrigerator according to the present embodiment.

The sterilization device 200 of the present embodiment is a device that can forcibly sterilize bacteria and spores that are in cold air, and can also perform deodorization by decomposing organic matter present in cold air. The sterilization device 200 includes: a holder 201, which is a holder on which the photocatalyst is mounted, and an irradiation device 202, which irradiates the holder 201 with an excited beam that excites the photocatalyst.

The holder 201 is a porous resin element that allows for increased contact with air, and is also a filter element made of entangled fibers with which the photocatalyst is mixed. In addition, a resin that transmits light having a wavelength that readily excites the photocatalyst is used as the base material resin.

A photocatalyst is a catalyst that, by irradiating light with a given wavelength, can sterilize bacteria in cold air and deodorize odor components (such as organic matter) in cold air by oxidation, decomposition, etc. A photocatalyst is a substance that activates a component in cold air (for example, ionization or the formation of radicals) and can sterilize or deodorize based on such activation. Namely, silver oxide or titanium oxide can be given as examples of a photocatalyst.

The light necessary for silver oxide to perform its sterilization and other functions has a visible blue wavelength range from about 400 nanometers to 580 nanometers. In addition, the light necessary for titanium oxide to perform its sterilization and other functions has a wavelength of 380 nanometers.

The irradiation device 202 is a device equipped with a light source 207 capable of emitting light having a wavelength that excites the photocatalyst.

It is sufficient that the light source 207 can emit a predetermined amount of light with a wavelength that includes light having the wavelength described above, while an ultraviolet lamp or a conventional electric lamp can be given as an example. In addition, if the photocatalyst is silver oxide, a longer life and lower cost can be achieved by using an LED that emits light in the blue (470 nanometers) range of visible light. In addition, if the photocatalyst is an alloy of silver and titanium, it is also possible to use an ultraviolet LED that emits an ultraviolet ray with a wavelength of 380 nanometers.

In the present embodiment, silver oxide is used as the catalyst, and three LEDs arranged in a line on the strip of the panel are used as the light source 207 for the irradiation device 202.

Next, a method for attaching a sterilization device 200 to a refrigerator 100 will be specifically described.

28 (a) and (b) are sectional views showing a method for attaching a sterilization device of the present embodiment.

As shown in these figures, a placement space 223 having an opening on the front side is formed at the upper end of the refrigeration compartment 102 and between two outlet openings 252. The placement space 223 is formed at the front of the stepped concavity 113 to which the compressor 114 and the like are attached. . A parcel is unused space that does not serve as storage space; therefore, by making the placement space 223 in which to attach the sterilization device 200, it is possible to attach the sterilization device 200 without decreasing the storage space in the refrigerator compartment 102.

On both walls in the space 223 of the placement of the exhaust hole 255 is made for the removal of cold air. An outlet 255 introduces a portion of the cold air introduced into the refrigerator compartment 102 into the sterilization device 200, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 28.

The irradiation device 202 is integrated in such a way that the light source 207 (LEDs) are arranged horizontally in a line on the rear wall in the placement space 223 so that the light from the light source 207 can be directed directly toward the holder 201. Note that the direction of illumination is flooded the light from the light source 207 has directional characteristics and also propagates at a given large angle. Accordingly, the distance between the light source 207 and the holder 201 is determined by a predetermined distance.

Part of the front opening in the placement space 223 is closed by a lid 206 having heat-insulating properties. The lid 206 is a panel-shaped element with a bulge rounded toward the refrigeration compartment 102. In addition, as shown in FIG. 28, the closure 206 protrudes more in the center of the refrigeration compartment 102 than in the front of the rear wall (dash-dot line in the drawing). This curvature in the lid 206 creates a gap between the front of the rear wall of the refrigerator compartment 102 and the lid 206. The gap forms a through hole 257 that vertically connects the inner portion of the sterilization device 200 and the refrigerator compartment 102.

Using this through-hole 257, it is believed that cold air introduced into the accommodating space 223 is blown through the through-hole 257. In addition, if the cooling fan 121 is stopped and the cold air is not forced to circulate, it is believed that due to natural convection, the cold air inside the refrigerator compartment 102 is forced to penetrate into the sterilization device 200 and to flow out of it through the through hole 257.

The upper end edge 206a and the lower end edge 206a of the cover 206 are translucent like frosted glass, and it is believed that light from the light source 207 or reflected light that is reflected inside the sterilization device 200 passes through the upper end edge 206a and the lower end edge 206a of the cover 206.

The lid 206 protects the holder 201 and the irradiation device 202, which are attached opposite the refrigerator compartment 102, from drip condensation. In other words, the dirty air enters the refrigerator 100 from the outside every time the heat-insulating door 107 is opened. Thus, without the lid 206, drip condensation is more likely than when such dirty air is in direct contact with the holder 201 and the irradiation device 202, whose temperatures are lower than the temperature outside. Thus, the cover 206 prevents direct contact of the outside air with the holder 201 and the irradiation device 202 in order to avoid drip condensation. In addition, such heat-insulating properties of the cover 206 also prevent drip condensation on the cover 206 itself.

The holder 201 is held at the top of the holding member 256, which is made in a position when it protrudes from the rear surface of the cover 206 in the backward direction. The holder 201 is held so that the side having the largest area is the vertical side, and so that the side having the largest area is opposite the irradiation device 202 so as to effectively irradiate light from the light source 207.

Along with this, the holder 201 almost floats in the air, thus allowing almost the entire area of the holder 201 to be exposed to air. It also prevents, as far as possible, drops condensed on another element from moving onto the holder as a result of contact with another element. In addition, there is no need to create a complex shape on the main body of the refrigerator 100, but it is only necessary to carry out a holding element 256 on the lid 206, which is very small compared to the refrigerator compartment, thereby making it possible to restrain the growth of production costs.

In addition, the front of the holder 201 is held by a large number of protrusions 208 formed on the rear surface of the cover 206.

In addition, since the holder 201 does not hang in cold air, does not bend by itself under the influence of gravity, it is possible to keep the surface of the holder 201 in the up position and to avoid the appearance of a shadow area that is out of the light from the irradiation device 202, providing, thus thus, sufficient excitation of the catalyst mounted on the holder 201.

In addition, since the side of the holder 201 having the largest area is the vertical side, even when the droplet condenses on the holder 201, the condensate on the side having the largest area flows down due to gravity so that the side having the largest area getting dry. Accordingly, it is possible to sterilize and deodorize the exhaust air using a photocatalyst without interrupting the process with droplet condensate.

The operation and effects of the refrigerator 100 thus configured will be described below.

First, the operation of the refrigeration cycle will be described. According to the temperature set in each food storage compartment, the refrigeration cycle is activated by a signal sent from the control panel 122, so that a cooling operation is performed. A refrigerant having a high temperature and high pressure, which is charged by operation of the compressor 114, dissipates heat and condenses into a liquid in an air conditioner (not shown), and then reaches a capillary tube (not shown). Subsequently, the pressure of the refrigerant in the capillary tube is reduced by heat exchange with a suction tube (not shown) leading to the compressor of the cooling chamber 115, and then reaches the cooler 110 as a liquid refrigerant having a low temperature and low pressure. Due to the operation of the cooling fan 121, the refrigerant inside the cooler 110 exchanges heat with air inside the food storage compartment and then evaporates, while the supply of cold air having a low temperature is controlled by using a damper or the like. so as to effect the desired cooling of each compartment. The refrigerant blown from the cooler 110 is sucked into the compressor 114 through the suction pipe.

Note that, as shown in FIG. 28 (b), the flow and pressure of cold air can be changed by using a narrow portion that is formed by creating a bulge on the side opposite to the holder 201. In addition, cooler air contacts the holder 201 , thus improving the effects of sterilization and deodorization.

Next, the effects of the operation of the sterilization device 200 will be described.

Odor (organic matter, etc.) sent from the cooling fan 121 is blown into the refrigerator compartment 102 through the outlet 252 after passing through the shutter 125 for the refrigerator compartment 102 and the flow channel forming device 124 for blowing cold air. At the same time, part of the cold air is discharged to be introduced into the sterilization device 200. The introduced air passes by sliding along the side of the holder 201 having the largest area. Odor components and bacteria contained in the air are trapped on the surface of the holder 201. Captured odor components and bacteria are deodorized and sterilized by oxidative degradation and sterilization by silver oxide. Along with this, since the effects of odor decomposition and sterilization are created due to the action of silver oxide, even when it is not irradiated with light, it is possible to reduce the irradiation intensity and the amount of irradiation time, while at the same time providing the required deodorization and sterilization effects, and achieving thus, the effects of increasing the service life and energy saving in the irradiation device. Furthermore, by using light energy (blue light or ultraviolet ray) emitted from the LED (light source) 132, silver oxide having an absorption spectrum in these wavelength ranges is excited by blue light energy, so that the photocatalyst on the surface of the holder 201 excited. When the photocatalyst is excited, the hydroxyl radical (OH) is generated from moisture in the air, so that the odor components trapped on holder 201 decompose due to oxidative decomposition and bacterial lysis occurs.

As described above, cold air passing through the sterilization device 200 is blown into the refrigerator through the through hole 257, like clean air that is deodorized and sterilized. Then, inside the refrigerator compartment 102, cold air is mixed with air blown out from the outlet 252 and circulated in the circulation channel.

In addition, the OH radical obtained with the sterilization device 200 is also blown into the refrigerator compartment 102 and the like. together with cold air and carries out deodorization and sterilization also in the refrigerator compartment 102.

Next, another embodiment of the sterilization device 200 will be described.

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of another method for attaching a sterilization device 200 in the present embodiment.

As shown, the sterilization device 200 further includes: a light source cover 212 as a second cover and a double cover 211 as a third cover. Note that the same elements, etc. in the sterilization device 200 described above will be denoted by the same reference numerals and a description thereof will be omitted.

The cover 212 of the light source is a semi-cylindrical element that closes the irradiation device 202 in a sealed state in which cold air does not penetrate, while the cover is designed to protect the irradiation device 202 from drip condensation. Any material that transmits light, exciting the photocatalyst, can be used for cover 212 of the light source.

Using the cover 212 of the light source, the irradiation device 202 is completely closed, thereby allowing the irradiation device 202 to be completely protected from drip condensation. In particular, this can protect a light source 207 including an electrical system.

A double cover 211 is used to include a cover covering the sterilization device 200 in a three-layer structure containing an air layer.

This double lid 211 makes a double lid from the lid covering the sterilization device 200 and creates an air layer in order to fulfill its function of air insulation. Accordingly, it is no longer necessary to use enhanced insulation material to create a cover 206 and a double cover 211, and thus, flexibility in the selection of material for the cover 206 and a double cover 211 can be improved. For example, a cover 206 or a double cover 211 can be created from transparent material and check, through the entire lid on the outside of the sterilization device 200, the irradiation device 202 emits or does not emit light.

As described above, when the heat-insulating door 107 of the refrigerator 100 is opened, blue light can be seen from the back of the refrigerator compartment 102, this makes it possible to verify the operational status of the sterilization device 200 without having to make a separate display device. In addition, you can find out that the refrigerator 100 has been sterilized with light, giving confidence to the user of the refrigerator 100 that the refrigerator is clean.

In addition, in the case of using silver oxide, a durable blue LED can be used as an excitation light source, thereby ensuring stable operation over time and lower cost.

As described above, according to the present invention, the circulating cold air is deodorized and sterilized by performing in the cold air channel a sterilization device 200 comprising a holder 201 on which the photocatalyst is mounted and an irradiation device 202 that irradiates the holder 201 using excitation light to excite photocatalyst. Thus, significant effects of deodorization and sterilization in the refrigerator can be obtained, thereby ensuring that the sterilized state with the least odor is maintained inside the refrigerator.

In addition, it is preferable that the holder 201 is in the form of a plate and that the holder 201 is arranged so that the normal 201a to the side having the largest area (see FIG. 27) intersects the direction of flow of cold air.

Along with this, sterilization can be carried out in a state that probably does not increase the resistance of the air channel of the circulating cold air. In addition, since the side of the holder and the direction of flow of cold air are almost parallel to each other, and this allows the cold air to pass by sliding along the holder, the contact between the holder and the cold air can be significantly increased.

In addition, compared with the traditional case where the filter is vertically arranged to block the flow channel forming device with respect to the air flow direction, sterilization can be performed to reduce pressure loss for the air channel.

Preferably, the holder was in the form of a plate and was placed by the side having a large area, as the vertical side.

Along with this, even if droplet condensation appears on the surface of the holder, the droplet falls from the holder under the action of gravity, thereby allowing the surface of the holder to be maintained substantially without droplets. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the tilt performance as much as possible, which is caused by droplet condensation on the sterilization device 200.

Preferably, the sterilization device is in the food storage compartment and includes a lid that closes the sterilization device.

In addition, even if dirty air with high temperature enters the refrigerator when the refrigerator door is open, the sterilization device can be protected from drip condensation.

In addition, it is preferred that the sterilization device is attached inside the food storage compartment and includes a second lid that closes the irradiation device.

In addition, it is possible to effectively protect the irradiation device, which includes the electrical system, from drip condensation.

It is preferable that the holder be placed between the irradiation device and the cover, and that the cover includes a holding element formed in the cover in a protruding position and holding the holder, while the protrusion holds the cover and the holder with a predetermined space.

In addition, it is possible to keep the holder floating in the air and also prevent deformation of the holder due to a protrusion and the like. Accordingly, since almost the entire holder is in contact with cold air, the sterilization effect can be enhanced.

The sterilization device may further include a third cap placed at a predetermined distance from the cap.

At the same time, it is possible to isolate the sterilization device without using heat-insulating material for the lid. Therefore, it is possible to increase flexibility in the choice of material for the cover, which allows, for example, to use a transparent cover.

The lid may include a through hole that connects the interior of the food storage compartment and the interior of the sterilization device.

In addition, it is possible for air to flow into the sterilization device due to natural convection occurring in the refrigerator.

Sixth Embodiment

Next, another embodiment of a sterilization device 200 attached in another manner will be described.

30 is a drawing of a sterilization device according to an embodiment of the present invention with a partially cut back wall of the refrigerator compartment.

As shown in the drawing, the sterilization device 200 is made in the device 124 for the formation of a flow channel, which is a channel for circulation of cold air.

The holder 201 in the present embodiment of the invention is formed by a thin element in the form of a plate bent at a midpoint in the longitudinal direction, the side of which having the largest area has a rectangular shape, and which has a V-shape, as seen in side view (parallel side having the largest area). The holder 201 is made protruding upward in the direction of flow of cold air, and it is believed that the holder 201 separates and deflects the direction of flow of cold air in two directions. Note that in the present description and claims, the term “bent” is used in its broadest sense and includes “bending”.

The three light sources 207 included in the irradiation device 202 are located in a place that allows for efficient light irradiation of the holder 201. Each of these light sources 207 is made separately in the flow channel forming device 124, so as not to interfere with the cold flow air.

According to the sterilization device 200 in the present embodiment, it is possible to increase the degree of contact between the holder 201 and the cold air, thereby improving the ability to kill bacteria and the ability to deodorize, and also to prevent, as much as possible, increasing the resistance of the air channel in the case of when the sterilization device is placed in the flow channel forming device 124.

Note that in the present embodiment, the case of venting cold air using the holder 201 is described, but the present invention is not limited to this: as can be seen in section in FIG. 31, the holder 201 having a bent shape can be designed so that the air channel change due to the flow of cold air along the concavity.

As described above, the holder 201 may have a bent shape and may be positioned so as to deflect the direction of flow of cold air.

By changing the direction of the cold air flow with the holder 201, it is possible to increase the contact between the holder 201 and the cold air without increasing the resistance of the air channel, and thus increase the degree of deodorization and the degree of sterilization with respect to odors and bacteria contained in the cold air.

In particular, the flow of cold air in the air channel changes and then causes a swirl at the point where the flow of cold air deviates. Thus, it is possible to make cold air stay longer on the surface of the holder 201 by making the holder 201 in place so as to deflect the cold air more positively towards the holder 201. Accordingly, the frequency of contact between the photocatalyst on the holder 201 and the cold air increases, so that the photocatalytic reaction is amplified.

The refrigerator described above includes a main heat-insulating casing 101, which is made of heat-insulating material and in which a compartment for storing products is formed; a door attached with the possibility of opening and closing to the hole and made on the main heat-insulating casing; a cooling device that cools the air inside the main heat-insulating body to produce cold air, and a cold air circulation channel in which cold air circulates between the food storage compartment and the cooling device, the refrigerator including a sterilization device 200 in the cold air circulation channel containing a holder 201 on which the photocatalyst is mounted, and an irradiation device 202 that irradiates the holder 201 with excited light that excites the photocatal congestion.

At the same time, the circulating cold air is deodorized and sterilized, and thus, significant effects of sterilization and deodorization in the refrigerator can be created, thereby allowing to maintain the sterilized state with the least odor inside the refrigerator.

In addition, it is unlikely that this can affect the resistance of the air duct, and can have numerous effects, such as protecting the sterilization device from drip condensation in addition to maintaining the efficiency of the cold air circulation, even if the sterilization device is located in the food storage compartment.

In addition, it is preferable that the holder 201 is in the form of a plate and placed so that the normal to the side having a large area intersects with the direction of flow of cold air.

Along with this, sterilization can be carried out, provided that it is unlikely to increase the resistance of the air channel of the circulating cold air. In addition, this makes the side of the holder and the direction of flow of cold air almost parallel to each other, thus allowing for increased contact between the holder and the cold air.

In addition, compared with the traditional case, when the filter is made vertically, blocking the flow channel forming device with respect to the air flow direction, sterilization can be carried out by reducing the pressure loss for the air channel.

In addition, the holder may have a bent shape and may be positioned so as to change the direction of flow of cold air.

By changing the direction of the flow of cold air with the holder, you can increase the contact between the holder and cold air without increasing the resistance of the air channel, and thus increase the degree of deodorization and the degree of sterilization with respect to odors and bacteria contained in cold air.

Specifically, the cold air in the air channel changes and then causes a swirl in the cranked portion, which changes the flow of cold air. Thus, it is possible to make cold air stay longer on the surface of the holder 201 by making the holder 201 in place so as to deflect the cold air more specifically towards the holder. Accordingly, the frequency of contact between the photocatalyst on the holder and cold air increases so that the photocatalytic reaction can be enhanced.

It is preferable that the holder is made in the form of a plate and was placed side with a larger area as the vertical side.

In addition, even when the droplet condenses on the surface of the holder, the droplet falls off the holder under the influence of gravity, thereby allowing the surface of the holder to be kept substantially dry. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the tilt performance as much as possible, which is caused by droplet condensation on the sterilization device.

Preferably, the sterilization device is attached inside the food storage compartment and includes a lid that closes the sterilization device.

In addition, even if dirty air with high temperature enters the refrigerator when the refrigerator door is open, the sterilization device can be protected from drip condensation.

In addition, it is preferred that the sterilization device is attached within the food storage compartment and includes a lid that closes the sterilization device.

In addition, it is possible to effectively protect the irradiation device, which includes the electrical system, from drip condensation.

It is preferable that a holder be placed between the irradiation device and the lid in the sterilization device, while the lid includes a holding element that is formed in the lid in a protruding position and holds the holder, and the protrusion holds the lid and holder with a predetermined space.

In addition, it is possible to keep the holder floating in the air and also prevent deformation of the holder due to a protrusion and the like. Accordingly, since almost the entire holder is in contact with cold air, the sterilization effect can be enhanced.

The sterilization device may further include a third cap placed at a predetermined distance from the cap.

In this case, you can isolate the sterilization device without using heat-insulating material for the cover. Therefore, it is possible to increase flexibility in the choice of material for the cover, which allows, for example, to use a transparent cover.

The lid may include a through hole that connects the interior of the food storage compartment and the interior of the sterilization device.

In addition, it is possible for air to flow into the sterilization device due to natural convection occurring in the refrigerator.

Seventh Embodiment

32 is a control circuit according to the present invention.

As shown in the drawing, when the switch 254 (see FIG. 6), which is arranged on the front of the heat-insulating door 107 of the refrigerator 100, is turned to the ON position on the working side, and the air purge device 203 and the irradiation device 202 start to work, thus that air containing odors (such as organic matter) and bacteria is introduced into the sterilization device 200 using an air purge device 203.

In the sterilization device 200, by using light energy (blue light or ultraviolet ray) emitted from the irradiation device 202, silver oxide having an absorption spectrum in these wavelength ranges is excited by blue light energy such that a hydroxyl (OH) radical is generated from moisture in the air.

When the introduced air passes, sliding along the surface of the holder 201, the bacteria are captured by the holder 201 and then are lysed with an OH radical.

In addition, when air passes through the absorption filter 204, a chemical change is made to the odor components to effect deodorization. In addition, the air, which is now clean, deodorized and disinfected air, is blown to a cooler 110, which is cooled, and passes through heat exchange, so that clean, cold air circulates in the refrigerator compartment 102.

Note that the switch 254 is a device made in the front part of the heat-insulating door 107 of the refrigerator 100, and can start and stop the operation of the air purge device 203 and the irradiation device 202.

In addition, when the operation of the air purge device 203 starts, deodorization and sterilization inside the refrigerator is performed, and at the same time, the internal temperature is equalized, thereby improving cooling efficiency.

On the other hand, in cases where the smell of food and bacteria in the refrigerator are removed after deodorization and sterilization are performed for a predetermined period of time, or when the placement of food in the refrigerator and taking food out of the refrigerator is relatively infrequent, and thus there is no need for deodorization and sterilization, it is possible, by switching the switch 254 from the OFF position to the OFF position, to achieve energy savings due to reduced energy consumption and quiet Works by stopping fan noise.

Thus, by switching the switch 254 to the ON or OFF position, depending on the situation, the user can effectively deodorize and sterilize the interior of the refrigerator.

Eighth Embodiment

Fig. 33 is a control circuit according to the present invention.

As shown in the drawing, when the switch 254 is turned to the ON position on the working side, the surface of the holder 201 is irradiated with light energy (blue light or ultraviolet ray) emitted from the irradiation device 202 to the holder 201, while silver oxide having an absorption spectrum in these ranges wavelength, excited by the energy of blue light, so that a hydroxyl (OH) radical is produced from moisture in the air.

On the other hand, since the air purge device 203 is controlled to repeatedly start and stop operation, air that contains odors (such as organic matter) and bacteria is introduced into the sterilization device 200 only when the air purge device 203 is operating.

When the introduced air passes, sliding along the surface of the holder 201, the bacteria are captured by the holder 201 and then are lysed with an OH radical.

In addition, when air passes through the absorption filter 204, there is a chemical change in the components of the odor to effect deodorization. In addition, the air, which is now clean, deodorized and disinfected air, is blown to a cooler 110, which is cooled, and passes through heat exchange, so that clean, cold air circulates in the refrigerator compartment 102.

Thus, since the air purge device 203 operates periodically, it is possible to save energy consumption.

Ninth Embodiment

Fig. 34 is a control circuit according to the present invention.

As shown in the drawing, when the switch 254 is turned to the ON position on the working side, the air purge device 203 periodically starts and stops operation, while the irradiation device 202 is adjusted so that it only works when the air purge device 203 is in operation.

When the air purge device 203 is operating, the surface of the holder 201 is irradiated with light energy (blue light or ultraviolet ray), while silver oxide having an absorption spectrum in the ranges of these wavelengths is excited by blue light energy, so that a hydroxyl (OH) radical is generated from moisture in the air.

At the same time, air containing odors (such as organic matter) and bacteria is introduced into the sterilization device 200. When the introduced air passes, sliding along the surface of the holder 201, the bacteria are captured by the holder 201 and then are lysed with an OH radical.

In addition, when air passes through the absorption filter 204, there is a chemical change in the components of the odor to effect deodorization.

Then, the air, which is now clean, deodorized and disinfected air, is blown to the cooler 110 to cause heat exchange, so that clean cold air circulates in the refrigerator compartment 102.

Thus, the air purge device 203 and the irradiation device 202 periodically jointly start and end operation, this can save energy consumption and extend the life of the irradiation device 202.

The refrigerator includes a main body, which is made of heat-insulating material and in which a compartment for storing products is made; a door attached with the possibility of opening and closing to the hole made on the main body; a cooling device that cools the air inside the main body for generating cold air, and a flow channel forming device made in the food storage compartment; a fan that forcibly circulates air in the flow channel forming apparatus, a holder comprising a photocatalyst and an absorption filter; an irradiation device that irradiates the excitation light holder that excites the photocatalyst and a switch is made to start and stop the fan and irradiation device, while when the switch is turned ON in the working side, odors from products and bacteria inside the refrigerator are collected in the flow-through device channel to be deodorized and sterilized with a holder just before the air is blown into the food storage compartment , allowing you to blow clean air into the refrigerator and further improve the uneven distribution of internal temperature, which is a problem in the refrigerator.

In addition, when the switch is turned to the ON position on the operating side, the fan is controlled so as to alternate between starting and stopping, thereby saving energy consumption by alternating starting and stopping of operation repeated by the fan.

In addition, due to the implementation of the irradiation device 202, which is controlled in conjunction with the operation of the fan so as to emit excited light, the frequency of irradiation of the excited light is reduced, thereby achieving an increased service life of the irradiation device 202.

Tenth Embodiment

Fig. 35 is a view in central longitudinal section of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig is a view of a Central longitudinal section of a sterilization and deodorizing device when it is installed in the refrigerator according to a variant implementation of the present invention.

Fig. 37 is an external bottom view of a sterilization and deodorization apparatus installed in a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The refrigerator 100 shown in these drawings includes: a food storage compartment formed by a main heat-insulating casing 101 and a heat-insulating door 107, and a freezing compartment 103 provided at the bottom. The refrigerator compartment 102 includes shelves 46 on which products are placed, with a cooler 110 for the refrigerator compartment 102 formed on the rear wall behind the shelf. Similarly, food storage boxes 48 are formed in the freezer compartment 103, with a cooler 110 and a cooling fan 121, both intended for the freezer compartment 103, formed in a cooling chamber 115 formed behind the drawers 48. In addition, at the rear bottom of the main heat insulation case 101, the compressor 114 of the refrigeration cycle. In addition, the sterilization device 200 is provided in the ceiling of the refrigerator compartment 102.

The sterilization device 200 includes: a housing 250, an air purge device 203, an absorption filter 204, a holder 201 that is mixed with or coated with a photocatalyst, and an irradiation device 202 that emits light to excite the photocatalyst.

Inside the housing 250, a cold air channel is provided. The housing 250 includes an inlet 251 that opens forward and an outlet that opens back. The housing 250, is a box in which the entire sterilization device 200 is placed, while part of it also includes the function of the cover 206.

The air purge device 203 relates to an axial propeller type fan having a blade shape, and is configured to be adjacent to the inlet 251 on the side downstream and inclined forward.

The absorption filter 204 is a mixture of manganese oxide and silicon oxide or sodium oxide and is made cellular so as to have a large surface area. The absorption filter 204 includes a function for absorbing and deodorizing odor components.

The holder 201 is formed by a non-woven fabric, which is obtained from fibers of a porous resin, which allows for greater contact with cold air, and in which titanium oxide is interfered as a photocatalyst.

The irradiation device 202 includes an LED as a light source 207 and a light source cover 212 that transmits light. The light source 207 emits excited light of a wavelength of 400 nanometers or less in the ultraviolet range.

The irradiation device 202 and the holder 201 are made opposite each other, with the air channel between them further to the path from the air purge device 203.

The operation and effects of the refrigerator 100 thus configured will be described below.

First, cooling operation of the refrigerator compartment 102 will be described.

When the compressor 114 is operating, it cools the cooler 110 to a low temperature, so that the air in the upper rear part of the refrigerator compartment 102 is cooled. The fresh air thus obtained has a high specific gravity and thereby goes down along the rear wall of the refrigerator compartment 102 to be distributed on each of the shelves 46 and cools the products placed on them.

Cold air after cooling the products has a low specific gravity, and thereby rises upward along the inner wall of the heat-insulating door 107, and returns to the uppermost part of the refrigerator compartment 102.

The cold air returned in this way is again cooled by the cooler 110, and due to convection flows inside the refrigerator compartment 102 again as fresh air. As described above, a method of cooling a food storage compartment using natural convection air relates to a direct cooling method.

Next, cooling operation of the freezer compartment 103 will be described.

When the compressor 114 is operating, it cools the cooler 110 to a low temperature so that the air in the upper rear of the refrigerator compartment 102 is cooled. The cold air thus obtained is blown into the freezer compartment 103 by the operation of the cooling fan 121 for the freezer compartment 103 and cools food stored in drawers 48.

The cold air, after cooling the products, returns to the cooling chamber 115 to be again cooled by the cooler 110, and is again blown into the freezer compartment 103. Thus, the method of cooling the food storage compartment by circulating cold air by the cooling fan 121 for the freezer compartment relates to a method of indirect cooling.

Next, a sterilization operation will be described. Inside the refrigerator compartment 102, where natural convection air is generated when the air purge device 203 installed inside the sterilization device 200 is in operation, part of the cold air, after returning to the uppermost part of the refrigerator compartment 102, is sucked through the inlet 251. This sucked-in cold air passes through the air purge device 203 to be directed into the space between the holder 201 and the irradiation device 202, where bacteria and the like floating in the air are processed to be killed.

While the sterilization device 200 is in operation as described above, when, for example, the heat-insulating door 107 is opened to look inside the refrigerator compartment 102, the user can see a fan rotating behind the inlet 251 and light from the irradiation device 202 through the gaps between the blades of the device 203 purging the air so that the user can easily understand if the sterilization device 200 is operating. In particular, in the present embodiment, the refrigerator compartment 102 is configured at the top, while the air purge device 203 is tilted forward. This design provides good visibility because the user's line of sight extends directly opposite the air purge device 203, simply by looking inwardly at the refrigerator compartment 102 in its natural position.

Meanwhile, a specific sterilization mechanism is shown below.

When ultraviolet energy is emitted from the irradiation device 202, the motion (excitation) of the electrons occurs inside the titanium oxide interfered with the holder 201. This motion of the electrons occurs in a region in which there are not enough electrons. This section is referred to as an electron hole.

This electron hole moves from the inside to the surface of titanium oxide and causes a chemical reaction of the substance attached to the surface. Namely, an electron hole picks up electrons from a water molecule containing OH ^- in the atmosphere to get an OH radical, which is a radical like active oxygen.

The resulting OH radical, which has a largely unstable and powerful oxidizing power, is trying to stabilize itself by taking electrons from the organic mixture that is around, such as bacteria.

An organic mixture whose electrons were thus taken loses its binding energy to decompose. Due to the effect described above, an organic mixture, such as bacteria, finally turns into a non-toxic substance, such as water and carbon dioxide, and goes into the atmosphere.

Next, a deodorization operation will be described. Cold air, which is sterilized by the effects of the holder 201 and the irradiation device 202, is directed to an absorption filter 204 that absorbs odor components. Most of the odor components that are present in the refrigerator are sulfur gases, consisting of methyl mercaptan, which is represented by the repulsive smell of fried onions. When this mercaptan methyl reacts with a manganese catalyst, a dehydrogenation reaction occurs, and methyl mercaptan turns into ethane disulfide, which has a low odor intensity. Accordingly, by performing a manganese catalyst with a cellular form that provides sufficient contact with air, deodorization can be effectively performed.

Thus, the clean cold air that has been sterilized and deodorized is returned via cooler 110 after being purged through the outlet 252 and flows by natural convection to the refrigeration compartment 102. The cold air flowing by convection is mixed with germs and odors inside the refrigeration compartment 102 and goes to the sterilization device 200 again to be sterilized and deodorized and recovered as pure cold air. In this mechanism, by repeating this circulation many times, all the air inside the refrigerator compartment 102 goes into a clean state with a small amount of bacteria and repulsive odors.

Accordingly, as is clear from the above description, it is possible to complete sterilization and deodorization in a short time when a large amount of air is blown in the sterilization device 200. In other words, high-performance sterilization and deodorization can be obtained.

In the present embodiment, since the irradiation device 202 and the holder 201 are made facing each other, and with the cold air channel between them, the structure hardly increases the resistance of the air channel, thereby allowing sufficient air to pass through the sterilization room device 200.

During the operation described above, the cold air in the refrigerator compartment 102 is deodorized and sterilized, so that a clean air condition with less odor and bacteria is ensured.

Meanwhile, in the refrigerator 100 of the present embodiment, the surface of the rear wall of the refrigerator compartment 102, in which the cooler 110 is made, is constantly wet due to a drop of condensed water. It is possible that this drip condensate will cause a malfunction, such as a breakdown or leakage of electricity, if it gets on the electrical component. Thus, the two electronic elements that are likely to have malfunctions caused by dropping condensed water on them are the air purge device 203 and the irradiation device 202, and therefore it is important to make these two elements in a splash-proof construction.

As regards the splash-proof design, in the case of the air purge device 203, first of all, the splash-protected air purge devices, such as the cooling fan 121 for the freezer compartment, for example, have already become very popular and have gained considerable market acceptance. Thus, it is only necessary to select one desired device from such air purge devices.

On the other hand, in the case of the irradiation device 202, as a spray protection measure, the light source cover 212 is circumferentially surrounded by the light source 207, which should be a light source. The light source 207 has the advantage that it is compact and emits a small amount of heat, and thus there is no abnormal temperature increase affecting the life of the components even when the light source 207 is continuously lit in such an enclosed space as the source cover 212 Sveta.

As described above, since the air purge device 203 and the irradiation device 202 can be protected from splashes by taking relatively light measures, structural components of the sterilization device 200, including the air purge device 203 and the irradiation device 202, near the surface of the rear wall of the refrigerator can be made together 102, thus making the deodorization and sterilization apparatus more compact than ever.

In addition, both devices are widely used, and the air purge device 203 and the irradiation device 202 operating on a direct current and low voltage circuit, thus, due to this, the sterilization device 200 using these two constituent elements is safer. without requiring a high voltage circuit.

As described above, the present embodiment is characterized in that it includes: a refrigerating compartment for storing fresh products; a cooler made in the rear wall of the refrigerator compartment; and a deodorization and sterilization device made on the ceiling of the cooling chamber; while it is made with a housing having an inlet that is facing forward and an outlet that is facing back, with a blower fan that draws air from the refrigerator compartment through the inlet and exhausts air through the outlet, with an absorption filter that absorbs components smell in the air; with a holder mixed with the photocatalyst, and with a light-emitting object that emits light that excites the photocatalyst.

With these features, two electrical components, namely a blower fan and a light-emitting object, are exposed to drip water condensate, and since these two elements can be protected from splashes by taking relative light measures, can be performed together next to the surface of the rear wall of the refrigerator compartment constituting the elements of a deodorization and sterilization device, including a discharge fan and a light-emitting object. Thus, the deodorization and sterilization device is made more compact than ever, with less protrusion into the storage space, thereby increasing usability.

Additionally, a blower fan and a light-emitting object are widely used, both working with a low-voltage direct current circuit. Thus, when these constituent elements are used, the deodorization and sterilization device does not require a high voltage electrical circuit, thereby increasing safety because the ignition source for the combustible refrigerant has been removed.

In addition, the present embodiment is characterized in that the blower fan is formed adjacent to the inlet. This feature allows the user to directly see and verify that the blades are currently rotating, thereby eliminating concerns about malfunctions, etc. and give the user the opportunity to feel more confident.

In addition, the present embodiment is characterized by a forward tilting blower. This feature reduces the height of the blower fan, thereby achieving a compact design of the sterilization device as a whole and by performing the front of the blower closer to the user’s line of sight in the opposite direction, so that the user can more easily see the rotation of the blades of the blower fan.

In addition, the present embodiment is characterized in that the light-emitting object and the holder are arranged so that they face each other, and with the air channel between them further downstream of the blower fan. This feature reduces the resistance to the air channel and allows you to get a sufficient amount of air passing through the deodorization and sterilization device, thus allowing to improve the performance of deodorization and sterilization.

In addition, in the present embodiment, by placing the light-emitting object on the upper side of the air channel, the condensed water droplet that adheres to a lid or the like made around the light-emitting object falls down due to gravity. Thus, the light source is not blocked due to the presence of drip water condensate, and a predetermined amount of light can be continuously provided, thereby preventing deterioration of the sterilization performance.

In addition, in the present embodiment, an imaginary line that connects the center of the light source of the light-emitting object and the center of the discharge fan extends toward the refrigerator compartment so as to intersect the refrigerator compartment door. This allows the user to visually understand the state of exposure to a light-emitting object that appears behind the discharge fan through the gaps between the blades, thus allowing you to constantly check for malfunctions caused by breakage or end of life.

Note that in the present embodiment, it is believed that the photocatalyst mixed with the holder is titanium oxide, while the light source of the light-emitting object is an LED having an ultraviolet range. However, instead, silver oxide may also be the photocatalyst, and the light source may also be an LED having a blue wavelength range from about 450 nanometers to 470 nanometers. This slightly reduces the sterilization efficiency, but creates an advantage, allowing the use of an inexpensive LED with a long service life.

Examples

Next, examples will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 38 is a sectional view of an air purification device that is part of a sterilization device.

In this case, the air purification device is a device that includes a holder 201 and an irradiation device 202, while purifying the air using the action of the photocatalyst.

As shown in the drawing, the air purification device 250 includes a housing 250, a holder 201, and an irradiation device 202. In addition, a holder 201 and a plurality of light sources 207 as an irradiation device 202 are fixed in the housing of the device 250. In addition, the housing 250 functions as a flow channel forming device 124, wherein the flow channel 4 is formed within the housing 250. The flow channel 4 is a flow channel through which air outside the air purification device 258 can be sucked in and out. Light source 207 is a light emitting diode (LED).

For holder 201, a polyester resin is used, onto which 2 g / m ² silver-zirconium phosphate mixed with 3% by weight is applied. silver using an acrylic binder. As a support for silver, a support such as zeolite, silicon gel, glass, calcium phosphate, silicate salt or titanium oxide can be used. In the case of using silver-zirconium phosphate, silver is characteristically difficult to dissolve in water, and thus, it is preferable to use silver-zirconium phosphate when it is determined that holder 201 should be washed with water.

In the present embodiment, silver-zirconium phosphate is used as a holder 201 using a binder, but it is also possible to make a holder 201 of polyester in which silver-zirconium phosphate is mixed.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the holder 201 is in the form of a sheet, but is not limited to this shape. It is also possible to make the holder 201 in cellular form, in corrugated form, from non-woven material, and the like.

Experimental Example 1

First, for comparative example 1, a holder 201 was prepared in the form of a sheet that does not contain silver.

A device having the same shape as the air purification device 258 shown in FIG. 38 was used, with a Staphylococcus aureus emulsion (Staphylococcus aureus) emulsion being sprayed onto a silver-free holder 201, then shielded with light and left on three hours. After that, the model was removed and washed with ordinary saline, so that the number of Staphylococcus aureus in the washed liquid was approximately 1.0 × 10 ⁶ CFU (colony forming units) / cm ³ . The method for measuring the number of Staphylococcus aureus consisted of titration in a Petri dish on a conventional nutrient agar medium and counting the number of colonies on a nutrient agar medium after culturing Staphylococcus aureus for 48 hours at 35 ° C.

Then on a substrate of polyester resin in the form of a sheet in which 2% weight was mixed. zirconium phosphate compound deposited on silver with 3% by weight. silver, the same amount of Staphylococcus aureus emulsion was sprayed as in the first comparative example 1, and then the holder was shielded with light and left for 3 hours. After that, the holder 201 was removed and washed with ordinary saline. The number of Staphylococcus aureus in the washed liquid was 1.0 × 10 ³ CFU (colony forming units) / cm ³ and it was confirmed that the sheet had an antibacterial effect compared to comparative example 1.

In addition, the same experiment was carried out using LEDs having different wavelengths as a source of light 207. The exposure time was set to three hours, while the light was shielded so that the light did not pass from the outside. The average illumination of the irradiation of the substrate of the holder 201 was adjusted to 150 lux. Table 1 shows the center peak of the wavelength of the LED used in the experiment and the number of cultured Staphylococcus aureus that was washed from the irradiated holder 201.

Table 1 Experience No. Central peak wavelength (nanometer) The number of cultured Staphylococcus aureus (CFU / cm ³ ) Experience 1 360 0.6 × 10 Experience 2 380 1,0 × 10 Experience 3 400 2.0 × 10 Experience 4 450 4.0 × 10 Experience 5 500 7.0 × 10 Experience 6 520 9.0 × 10 Experience 7 530 1,0 × 10 ³ Experience 8 540 1,0 × 10 ³

As is clear from the results in Table 1, in the case of experiments 1-6, in which the holder was irradiated with light having a central peak wavelength equal to or less than 520 nanometers, the number of cultured Staphylococcus aureus significantly decreased, compared with experiments 7 and 8, which have the central peak of a wavelength of about 520 nanometers. In this case, it was proved that since the sterilization effect was insufficient due to lack of energy in the case of irradiation with light having a central peak wavelength equal to or higher than 530 nanometers, sufficient light energy was obtained in the case of irradiation with light having a central peak wavelength equal to or lower than 520 nanometers, thus increasing the antibacterial activity of silver and creating a more significant sterilization effect.

In addition, in experiments 1-4, in the case of continuous operation for 2000 hours due to the use of holder 201, on the surface of which a mixture of acrylic binder and zirconium phosphate deposited on silver was applied, a deteriorated holder 201 was obtained in experiments 1 and 2, therefore that the molecular structure of the resin was destroyed by ultraviolet rays, causing peeling of the film deposited on the surface of the holder 201. In experiments 3 and 4, since the light did not have a wavelength in the ultraviolet range, there was no deterioration of the resin, and the film did not peel.

Experimental Example 2

Then, in the same air purification device as experiments 1 and 3, the illumination of holder 201 was changed by adjusting the distance between the light source 207 and holder 201. As in experimental example 1, the change in the number of bacteria deposited on the filter material was studied. Table 2 shows the illumination of holder 201 and the number of cultured bacteria washed from holder 201. The experimental conditions were set to the same as in experimental example 1.

table 2 Experience No. Illumination (Lux) The number of cultured Staphylococcus aureus (CFU / cm ³ ) Experience 11 80 9.8 × 10 ² Experience 12 90 8.0 × 10 ² Experience 13 one hundred 5.0 × 10 Experience 14 110 3.0 × 10 Experience 15 120 2.9 × 10 Experience 16 130 2.5 × 10 Experience 17 140 2.2 × 10 Experience 18 150 2.0 × 10

As is clear from Table 2, when the illumination in experiments 13-18 was equal to or higher than 100 lux, the number of cultured bacteria was significantly less than in experiments 11 and 12, when the illumination was equal to or lower than 90 lux. On the contrary, it can be considered that a significant sterilization effect was not obtained due to the lack of sufficient light energy when the illumination was equal to or lower than 90 lux. This proves that sufficient light energy was obtained by irradiation with light having an illumination equal to or higher than 100 lux, so that the antibacterial activity of silver increased to obtain a more significant sterilization effect.

Fig. 39 is a sectional view of indoor equipment of an air conditioner.

As shown in the drawing, the air conditioner 15 includes: a housing 250, a cooler 110, a cooling fan 121, a wind direction ventilation grilles 13, and an air purification device 258 used in the first embodiment of the invention.

First, for comparative example 2, a holder model 201 was prepared in the form of a sheet that does not contain silver. In an air purification device 258, a staphylococcus aureus emulsion was sprayed onto a silver-free holder model 201, then shielded with light and left for three hours. After that, the model was removed and washed with ordinary saline so that the number of Staphylococcus aureus in the washed liquid was approximately 1.0 × 10 ⁶ CFU / cm ³ . The method of measuring the number of Staphylococcus aureus consisted of titration in a Petri dish on a normal nutrient agar medium and counting the number of colonies on a nutrient agar medium after culturing Staphylococcus aureus for 48 hours at 35 ° C. Note that the experiment was conducted without air conditioner 15.

Experimental Example 3

In experimental example 3, on the holder 201, which was a filter made of polyester resin in the form of a sheet on which was applied 2g / m ³ compound of silver-zirconium phosphate with 3% weight. silver, using an acrylic binder, the same amount of Staphylococcus aureus emulsion was sprayed as in comparative example 2, and then the holder was shielded with light and left for 3 hours. After that, the holder 201 was removed and washed with ordinary saline. The number of Staphylococcus aureus in the washed liquid was 1.0 × 10 ³ CFU / cm ³ , while it was confirmed that the sheet had an antibacterial effect. Note that the experiment was conducted without air conditioner 15.

Experimental Example 4

Then, in Experimental Example 4, an experiment was further conducted using an LED having a central peak of a wavelength of 450 nanometers as a light source 207. More specifically, in the air purification device 258, on a holder 201, which was a polyester resin filter in the form of a sheet on which 2 g / m ³ silver-zirconium phosphate compound with 3% weight was applied. silver, using an acrylic binder, the same amount of Staphylococcus aureus emulsion was sprayed as in comparative example 2, and then the holder was shielded with light and left for 3 hours. After that, the holder 201 was removed and washed with ordinary saline. Note that during the experiment, the light was shielded so that the light did not penetrate from the outside. In addition, the average illumination of the holder 201 was adjusted to 150 lux. The number of Staphylococcus aureus washed from the irradiated holder 201 was 4.0 × 10, and it was confirmed that the sheet created a sterilization effect.

Then, after performing the cooling operation for one hour using the air conditioner 15 used in Experimental Example 4 and terminating the operation, the experiment was carried out using an LED having a central peak of a wavelength of 450 nanometers as a light source 207. The irradiation time was set for three hours, and the light was shielded so that the light did not penetrate from the outside. The average illumination exposure of 201 was adjusted to 150 lux. The number of cultured Staphylococcus aureus washed from holder 201 after a three-hour exposure was 1.0 × 10.

We can assume that at this stage the humidity inside the air conditioner 15 increased after the cooling operation, and that the activity increased due to the presence of sufficient humidity necessary for the photocatalytic silver reaction during irradiation.

In addition, after performing the heating operation for one hour using the air conditioner 15 used in Experimental Example 4 and terminating the operation, the experiment was performed using, as a light source 207, an LED having a central peak of a wavelength of 450 nanometers. The irradiation time was set for three hours, and the light was shielded so that the light did not penetrate from the outside. The average illumination of the irradiation of the holder 201 was adjusted to 150 lux. The number of cultured Staphylococcus aureus washed from holder 201 after three hours of irradiation was 1.2 × 10.

In this case, it can be noted that the temperature inside the air conditioner 15 has become higher, so that the photocatalytic effect of silver has increased upon exposure to light.

40 is a sectional view of an air purification device in one embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawing, the power supply device 20 is attached inside the housing 250. The power supply device 20 is a supply device that delivers water to the housing 250. For the holder 201, a polyester resin was applied onto which 2 g / m ^{3 of} silver-zirconium phosphate compound with 3% weight was applied. silver using an acrylic binder. The air purification device shown in the drawing was installed in the refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator.

First, for comparative example 3, a holder model 201 was prepared in the form of a sheet that does not contain silver. In the air purification device shown in the drawing, a Staphylococcus aureus emulsion was sprayed onto the silver-free holder model 201, and then it was shielded with light and left for three hours. After that, the model was removed and washed with ordinary saline so that the number of Staphylococcus aureus in the washed liquid was approximately 1.0 × 10 ⁶ CFU / cm ³ . The method of measuring the number of Staphylococcus aureus consisted of titration in a Petri dish on a normal nutrient agar medium and counting the number of colonies on a nutrient agar medium after culturing Staphylococcus aureus for 48 hours at 35 ° C. Note that the experiment was conducted without a refrigerator.

Experimental Example 5

In Experimental Example 5, a polyester resin holder in the form of a sheet on which 2 g / m ³ silver-zirconium phosphate was mixed with 3% by weight. silver, using an acrylic binder, the same amount of Staphylococcus aureus emulsion was sprayed as in comparative example 2, and then it was shielded with light and left for 3 hours. After that, the holder 201 was removed and washed with ordinary saline. The number of Staphylococcus aureus in the washing liquid was 1.0 × 10 CFU / cm ³ and it was confirmed that an antibacterial effect was produced. Note that the experiment was conducted without a refrigerator.

Experimental Example 6

Then, in Experimental Example 6, an experiment was further conducted using an LED having a central peak of a wavelength of 470 nanometers as a light source 207. In other words, in the air purification device 258, on the holder 201, which was a filter in the form of a sheet of polyester resin, on which 2 g / m ^{3 of} silver-zirconium phosphate was mixed with 3% by weight. silver, using an acrylic binder, the same amount of Staphylococcus aureus emulsion was sprayed as in comparative example 3, and then it was shielded with light and left for 3 hours. After that, the holder 201 was removed and washed with ordinary saline. Note that during the experiment, the light was shielded so that the light did not penetrate from the outside. In addition, the average illumination of the holder 201 was adjusted to 150 lux. The number of Staphylococcus aureus washed from irradiated holder 201 was 3.9 × 10. It was confirmed, in comparison with experimental example 5, the antibacterial effect was enhanced by exposure to light.

Experimental Example 7

Then, in experimental example 7, after carrying out the cooling operation for one hour using a refrigerator and stopping the operation, the experiment was carried out using an LED having a central peak of a wavelength of 470 nanometers as a light source 207. Note that the atomized water for making ice has already been supplied from the power device 20. The irradiation time was set for three hours, and the light was shielded so that the light did not penetrate from the outside. The average illumination of the holder 201 was adjusted to 150 lux. The number of Staphylococcus aureus washed out of the filter after three hours of irradiation was 0.9 × 10, while it was confirmed that, compared with experimental example 6, the antibacterial effect was further enhanced.

In experimental example 7, it was noted that the humidity inside the air purification device increased and that the activity increased due to the presence of sufficient humidity necessary for the photocatalytic effect of silver during irradiation.

Industrial applicability

Thus, as described below, according to the present invention, the deodorizing and sterilizing holder and the absorption filter are made in an air circulation and sterilization device, with which the air is cleaned immediately before being blown into the food storage compartment. Thus, the present invention is applicable, in General, for refrigeration equipment, such as a refrigerator, air conditioning and air purifier.

Claims (51)

1. The refrigerator, which includes the main heat-insulating case, which is made of heat-insulating material, and in which there is a compartment for storing products; a door attached with the possibility of opening and closing to the hole made in the main heat-insulating casing, and a cooling device made to cool the air inside the main heat-insulating casing, said refrigerator comprising:
a holder which is located in said food storage compartment and on which a photocatalyst is mounted;
an irradiation device configured to irradiate said holder with excitation light that excites the photocatalyst; and an air purge device configured to forcibly blow cold air inside said food storage compartment toward the holder;
a housing that accommodates said air purge device and said irradiation device;
an inlet which is provided in said housing and is facing forward; and an outlet that is provided in said housing and faces back. 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, comprising a flow channel forming device configured to form a flow channel for cold air blown by said air blowing device, said holder being provided in a flow channel formed by said flow channel forming device. 3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, containing
an absorption filter that absorbs and retains the smell that is present inside said food storage compartment, said absorption filter being located downstream of said holder in a flow channel. 4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, in which the photocatalyst mounted on said holder contains silver. 5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, in which the photocatalyst mounted on said holder is silver oxide. 6. The refrigerator according to claim 4, in which the photocatalyst mounted on said holder is silver-zirconium phosphate. 7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, in which the said irradiation device includes a light source that emits light wavelength in the ultraviolet range or in the blue range. 8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, in which said light source emits light with a wavelength specified in the range from about 400 nm to 520 nm. 9. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein said light source is configured such that at least a portion of the surface of said holder has a brightness of 100 lux or higher. 10. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said holder includes an absorption device that absorbs and retains odor in said food storage compartment. 11. The refrigerator according to claim 1, additionally containing
a lid attached to the inner wall of said main heat-insulating body and covering said holder, said irradiation device and said air purge device. 12. The refrigerator according to claim 11, comprising a heat-insulating material that is located between said lid and one of: said holder, said irradiation device, and said air purge device. 13. The refrigerator according to claim 11, in which said main heat-insulating body includes a concave portion that faces the food storage compartment, and one of: said holder, said irradiation device, and said air purge device is attached to said concave portion. 14. The refrigerator according to claim 11, further comprising a lighting device that is closed by said lid and configured to illuminate an interior of said main heat-insulating body. 15. The refrigerator according to 14, in which said lighting device is attached closer to the side of the door than said holder, said irradiation device and said air purge device. 16. The refrigerator according to Claim 15, wherein said lighting device is directed toward the direction of light irradiation and is attached to said main heat-insulating body so that the light is directed from the side of the door to the deepest side of said main heat-insulating body. 17. The refrigerator according to Claim 15, wherein said main heat-insulating body includes a concave portion that faces the said food storage compartment, wherein said lighting device is attached to said concave portion. 18. The refrigerator according to claim 11, further comprising a second lid that closes said irradiation device. 19. The refrigerator according to claim 11, in which said holder is placed between said irradiation device and said cover,
said cap includes:
a holding member formed in said lid in a protruding state and supporting said holder; and a protrusion that holds said lid and said holder with a predetermined gap. 20. The refrigerator according to claim 11, further comprising a third lid located at a predetermined distance from said lid. 21. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein said lid has a through hole that connects the interior of said food storage compartment and the interior of said sterilization device. 22. The refrigerator according to claim 1, additionally containing
a flow channel forming device configured to form a flow channel for cold air blown by said air blowing device,
wherein said flow channel forming apparatus has a narrow section in the flow channel for cold air, the cross section of which is narrower than the cross section of another section, and
said holder is located in said narrow section. 23. The refrigerator according to claim 22, wherein said air purge device has an axial fan that is arranged so that the axis of rotation of said axial fan intersects with a direction in which cold air passes through the flow channel. 24. The refrigerator according to item 23, containing:
an absorption filter that absorbs and retains odor in said food storage compartment,
wherein said absorption filter is arranged downstream of said holder in the flow channel so that the direction in which cold air passes through said absorption filter intersects with the direction in which cold air passes through the flow channel. 25. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said air purge device, said holder and said cooling device are arranged in order, starting from an earlier position in the direction of the cold air flow generated by said air purge device. 26. A refrigerator according to claim 25, comprising an absorption filter that absorbs odor in said food storage compartment, said absorption filter being placed downstream of said holder and earlier downstream of said cooling device. 27. The refrigerator according A.25, in which the aforementioned cooling device is attached to the inner rear wall of the aforementioned main heat-insulating body, while
said holder, said irradiation device and said air purge device are attached to the ceiling of said main heat-insulating body. 28. The refrigerator according to claim 1, in which the switch is made to start and stop the operation of said air purge device and said irradiation device. 29. The refrigerator according to claim 28, wherein when said switch is turned to the ON position on the operating side, said air purge device is controlled so as to repeatedly switch between start and stop. 30. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said air purge device is formed adjacent to said inlet. 31. The refrigerator according to claim 1, in which the said air purge device is made with an inclination forward. 32. The refrigerator according to claim 1, in which said irradiation device and said holder are made facing each other, with an air channel located between them, while the air channel is located further downstream of the said air purge device. 33. The refrigerator according to claim 1, in which said irradiation device is placed on the upper side of the air channel. 34. The refrigerator according to claim 1, in which the continuation of an imaginary line connecting the center of said light source of said irradiation device and the center of said air purge device intersects with said door of said food storage compartment, while this continuation continues towards said compartment for food storage. 35. The refrigerator according to claim 1, additionally containing a device for forming a flow channel into which cold air is forcibly directed,
wherein said holder is located on the outlet portion of said flow channel forming apparatus. 36. The refrigerator according to claim 35, wherein said irradiation device is placed opposite said holder at a predetermined distance. 37. The refrigerator according to claim 35, wherein the outlet portion of said flow channel forming apparatus has a cranked portion within which said holder is located. 38. The refrigerator according to clause 37, in which said holder is placed on the inner wall of said flow channel forming device, while cold air from said crankshaft is struck on said inner wall. 39. The refrigerator according to clause 35, in which part of the said device forming the flow channel is made of an element that transmits light, and
said irradiation device is arranged adjacent to said light-transmitting element behind said food storage compartment, wherein
said irradiation device has a dual function: a lighting function for illuminating the interior of said refrigerator and a function of an excitation light source for exciting a photocatalyst mounted on said holder. 40. The refrigerator according to claim 35, wherein said holder has a plate shape and is arranged so that the normal to the side of this holder having a large area intersects the direction of flow of cold air. 41. The refrigerator according to clause 35, in which the holder has a bent shape and placed in such a way as to deflect the direction of flow of cold air. 42. The refrigerator according to claim 35, wherein said holder is in the form of a plate and is placed with a side having a large area as a vertical side. 43. A sterilization device including a main heat-insulating case, which is made of heat-insulating material and in which a compartment for storing products is made; a door attached with the possibility of opening and closing to the hole made in the aforementioned main heat-insulating casing; and a cooling device configured to cool the air inside said main heat-insulating body, wherein said sterilization device comprises:
holder on which the photocatalyst is mounted;
an irradiation device configured to irradiate said holder with excitation light that excites the photocatalyst;
the air purge device is configured to forcibly blow cold air inside said food storage compartment toward said holder; and
a flow channel forming device configured to form a flow channel for cold air blown by said air blowing device,
wherein said holder, said irradiation device, and said inside air purge device are attached to said flow channel forming device. 44. The sterilization device according to item 43, further comprising a lid that closes said holder, said irradiation device, said air purge device and said flow channel forming device. 45. The sterilization device according to claim 44, further comprising a lighting device configured to illuminate an interior of said main heat insulating body. 46. The sterilization device according to claim 44, further comprising a second lid that closes said irradiation device. 47. The sterilization device according to claim 44, wherein said holder is interposed between said irradiation device and said cover, said cover including: a retaining element formed in said cover in a protruding position and holding said holder; and a protrusion that holds said lid and said holder with a predetermined gap. 48. The sterilization device according to item 44, further comprising a third cover placed at a predetermined distance from said cover. 49. The sterilization device according to claim 44, wherein said lid includes a through hole that connects the interior of said food storage compartment and the interior of said sterilization device. 50. The sterilization device according to claim 43, wherein said flow channel forming apparatus comprises a narrow section in the flow channel for cold air, the cross section of which is narrower than the cross section of another section, and said holder is placed in said narrow section, wherein said holder , said irradiation device and said flow channel forming device are attached to said flow channel forming device. 51. The sterilization device according to item 43, in which the said irradiation device includes a light source that emits light wavelength in the ultraviolet range or in the blue range.

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