WO2012114813A1

WO2012114813A1 - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: WO2012114813A1
Application number: PCT/JP2012/051539
Authority: WO
Inventors: 宏格笹木
Original assignee: 株式会社東芝; 東芝コンシューマエレクトロニクス・ホールディングス株式会社; 東芝ホームアプライアンス株式会社
Priority date: 2011-02-23
Filing date: 2012-01-25
Publication date: 2012-08-30
Also published as: CN103384801B; JP2012172935A; CN103384801A; CN106196853A

Abstract

This refrigerator stores food, and is provided with: a storage chamber that opens at the front surface, which is the user side; a door that can operate between both a closed state that closes the front surface of the storage chamber and an open state that opens the front surface of the storage chamber; a cold-air pathway that has an entrance and an exit, the entrance and the exit each being connected to the inside of the storage chamber; a fan device that draws in air within the storage chamber from the entrance of the cold-air pathway into the cold-air pathway, and discharges the air drawn into the cold-air pathway into the storage chamber from the exit of the cold-air pathway; a cooler that cools the air flowing within the cold-air pathway; a filter that is provided within the cold-air pathway, has a plurality of holes through which the air flowing within the cold-air pathway can pass, and to which a photocatalyst that is reactive to visible light is adhered at the inner surfaces of the plurality of holes; and a light source that, to the filter, radiates visible light for exciting the photocatalyst of the filter when the door is in the closed state.

Description

refrigerator

Embodiments of the present invention relate to refrigerators.

Some refrigerators are equipped with a deodorizing device. This deodorizing apparatus is disposed in a cold air passage for supplying cold air into the storage chamber, and has an ultraviolet-responsive photocatalyst. This ultraviolet-responsive photocatalyst is in contact with the air flowing in the cold air passage, and generates an oxidizing power when irradiated with ultraviolet rays. The ultraviolet-responsive photocatalyst removes harmful substances such as organic compounds and bacteria from the air in the cold air passage when oxidizing power is generated.

JP 2002-277152 A

In the case of the above refrigerator, since it is necessary to generate ultraviolet rays by applying a high voltage to the space discharge mechanism, a complicated insulating structure is required.

The refrigerator of the embodiment includes a storage room, a door, a cold air passage, a fan device, a cooler, a filter, and a light source. The storage room stores food, and the front surface on the user side opens. The door can be operated between a closed state in which the front surface of the storage chamber is closed and an open state in which the front surface of the storage chamber is opened. The cold air passage has an inlet and an outlet, and the inlet and the outlet are connected to the storage chamber, respectively. The fan device sucks air in the storage chamber from the inlet of the cold air passage into the cold air passage, and discharges the air sucked into the cold air passage from the outlet of the cold air passage into the storage chamber. The cooler cools the air flowing in the cold air passage. The filter is provided in the cold air passage, has a plurality of holes through which air flowing in the cold air passage can pass, and a visible light-responsive photocatalyst is attached to each inner surface of the plurality of holes. . The light source irradiates the filter with visible light for exciting the photocatalyst of the filter when the door is closed.

Sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of the refrigerator of Example 1. Diagram showing the appearance of the deodorizing filter FIG. 1 equivalent diagram showing Example 2. FIG. 1 equivalent diagram showing Example 3. FIG. 1 equivalent diagram showing a fourth embodiment. FIG. 1 equivalent view showing Example 5 FIG. 1 equivalent view showing Example 6 FIG. 1 equivalent diagram showing Example 7.

Example 1
As shown in FIG. 1, the cabinet 1 is configured in a vertically long rectangular shape with an open front surface on the user side, and includes a bottom wall 2, a left side wall 3, a right side wall, a top wall 4, and a rear wall 5. ing. The cabinet 1 is configured by housing an inner box inside an outer box and filling a gap between the outer box and the inner box with a heat insulating material. The bottom wall 2, the left side wall 3, the right side wall, the top wall 4, and the rear wall 5 are made impermeable to visible light, respectively. Inside the cabinet 1, a horizontal upper partition wall 6, a horizontal middle partition wall 7, and a horizontal lower partition wall 8 are fixed. The middle partition wall 7 is configured by housing a solid heat insulating material in a case made of synthetic resin. The upper partition wall 6 and the lower partition wall 8 are each made of a synthetic resin plate. The upper partition wall 6, the middle partition wall 7, and the lower partition wall 8 are made impermeable to visible light, respectively.

In the cabinet 1, as shown in FIG. 1, a refrigerator compartment 9, a vegetable compartment 10, an upper freezer compartment 11, and a lower freezer compartment 12 are formed. Each of the refrigerator compartment 9, the vegetable compartment 10, the upper freezer compartment 11, and the lower freezer compartment 12 has a front surface that is on the user side. The refrigerator compartment 9 is formed above the upper partition wall 6. The vegetable compartment 10 is formed between the upper partition wall 6 and the middle partition wall 7. The upper freezer compartment 11 is formed between the middle partition wall 7 and the lower partition wall 8. The lower freezer compartment 12 is formed below the lower partition wall 8.

As shown in FIG. 1, an R door 13, a V door 14, an upper F door 15, and a lower F door 16 are attached to the cabinet 1. The R door 13, the V door 14, the upper F door 15, and the lower F door 16 are respectively operated between a closed state and an open state by a user. The R door 13, the V door 14, the upper F door 15, and the lower F door 16 are not allowed to transmit visible light. The R door 13 is disposed in front of the refrigerator compartment 9. The V door 14 is disposed in front of the vegetable compartment 10. The upper F door 15 is disposed in front of the upper freezer compartment 11. The lower F door 16 is disposed in front of the lower freezer compartment 12.

The V door 14 opens the front of the vegetable compartment 10 in an open state. This allows food to be taken in and out of the vegetable compartment 10. The R door 13 opens the front surface of the refrigerator compartment 9 in an open state. As a result, food can be taken in and out of the refrigerator compartment 9. In the closed state, the R door 13 forms a gap 17 between the rear surface of the R door 13 and the front end surface of the upper partition wall 6. When both the R door 13 and the V door 14 are closed, the refrigerator compartment 9 and the vegetable compartment 10 are closed in an airtight state by the R door 13 and the V door 14, respectively. In this case, the refrigerator compartment 9 and the vegetable compartment 10 are connected via a gap 17 so that air can flow.

The lower F door 16 opens the front of the lower freezer compartment 12 in an open state. This allows food to be taken in and out of the lower freezer compartment 12. The upper F door 15 opens the front surface of the upper freezer compartment 11 in an open state. As a result, food can be taken in and out of the upper freezer compartment 11. In the closed state, the upper F door 15 forms a gap 18 between the rear surface of the upper F door 15 and the front end surface of the lower partition wall 8. When both the upper freezer compartment 11 and the lower freezer compartment 12 are closed, the upper freezer compartment 11 and the lower freezer compartment 12 are closed in an airtight state by the upper F door 15 and the lower F door 16, respectively. In this case, air is circulated between the upper freezer compartment 11 and the lower freezer compartment 12 through a gap 18.

As shown in FIG. 1, a vertical cover 19 and a horizontal cover 20 are fixed in the cabinet 1. The vertical cover 19 is opaque and cannot transmit light, and is disposed in the refrigerator compartment 9. The vertical cover 19 is directed in the vertical direction along the rear wall 5 of the cabinet 1 and has a bowl shape with an open rear surface. The rear surface of the vertical cover 19 is closed by the rear wall 5 of the cabinet 1, and an R vertical cold air passage 21 through which air can pass is formed between the vertical cover 19 and the rear wall 5. The horizontal cover 20 is transparent and capable of transmitting light, and is disposed in the refrigerator compartment 9. The horizontal cover 20 is directed in the front-rear direction along the top wall 4 of the cabinet 1 and has a bowl shape with an upper surface opened. The upper surface of the horizontal cover 20 is closed by the top wall 4 of the cabinet 1. Between the side cover 20 and the top wall 4, an R side cold air passage 22 through which air can pass is formed. A rear end portion of the R horizontal cold air passage 22 is connected to an upper end portion of the R vertical cold air passage 21.

The R vertical cold air passage 21 and the R horizontal cold air passage 22 constitute an R cold air passage 23. In the R cool air passage 23, one inlet 24, one final outlet 25, and a plurality of intermediate outlets 26 are formed. The inlet 24 is formed at the lower end of the R vertical cold air passage 21 and is arranged in the vegetable compartment 10. The final outlet 25 is formed at the front end portion of the R side cold air passage 22 and is arranged in the refrigerator compartment 9. The plurality of intermediate outlets 26 are formed between the lower end portion and the upper end portion of the R vertical cold air passage 21 and are disposed in the refrigerator compartment 9.

As shown in FIG. 1, an R fan motor 27 is fixed to the inlet 24 of the R cold air passage 23. An R fan 28 is fixed to the rotating shaft of the R fan motor 27. When the R fan motor 27 is operated when the R door 13 and the V door 14 are closed, the air in the refrigerator compartment 9 and the vegetable compartment 10 is brought into the inlet 24 of the R cool air passage 23 by the rotation of the R fan 28. enter in. Then, the air that has entered the inlet 24 of the R cold air passage 23 rises in the R vertical cold air passage 21. A part of the air rising in the R vertical cold air passage 21 is discharged into the refrigerating chamber 9 from the plurality of intermediate outlets 26 and flows from the rear to the front in the refrigerating chamber 9. Further, the air that has passed through all of the plurality of intermediate outlets 26 is discharged from the final outlet 25 into the refrigerator compartment 9 and flows through the refrigerator compartment 9 from the rear to the front. That is, the R fan motor 27 and the R fan 28 constitute an R fan device that circulates air in the refrigerator compartment 9, the vegetable compartment 10, and the R cool air passage 23.

As shown in FIG. 1, an F cold air passage 29 is formed in the cabinet 1. The F cool air passage 29 has an inlet 30, an upper outlet 31, a middle outlet 32, and a lower outlet 33. The inlet 30, the middle outlet 32, and the lower outlet 33 are each disposed in the lower freezer compartment 12. The upper outlet 31 is disposed in the upper freezer compartment 11. An F fan motor 34 is fixed in the F cool air passage 29. An F fan 35 is fixed to the rotation shaft of the F fan motor 34. When the F fan motor 34 is operated when the upper F door 15 and the lower F door 16 are closed, the air in the upper freezer compartment 11 and the lower freezer compartment 12 is rotated by the rotation of the F fan 35. Enter the entrance 30. A part of the air that has entered the inlet 30 of the F cool air passage 29 is discharged from the upper outlet 31 into the upper freezer compartment 11 and flows from the rear to the front in the upper freezer compartment 11. The remaining air is discharged from the middle outlet 32 and the lower outlet 33 into the lower freezer compartment 12 and flows from the rear to the front in the lower freezer compartment 12. That is, the F fan motor 34 and the F fan 35 constitute an F fan device that circulates air in the upper freezer compartment 11, the lower freezer compartment 12, and the F cool air passage 29.

As shown in FIG. 1, a machine room 36 is formed in the cabinet 1. The machine room 36 communicates with the outside of the cabinet 1. A compressor 37 for the refrigeration cycle is fixed in the machine room 36. The compressor 37 has a compressor motor as a drive source, and has a discharge port for discharging the refrigerant and a suction port for sucking the refrigerant. An R evaporator 38 and an F evaporator 39 are connected to the discharge port of the compressor 37 via a condenser of a refrigeration cycle. Refrigerant is supplied to the R evaporator 38 and the F evaporator 39 through a condenser from the discharge port of the compressor when the compressor motor is operated. The refrigerant that has passed through the R evaporator 38 and the refrigerant that has passed through the F evaporator 39 respectively return to the suction port of the compressor 37.

The R evaporator 38 is fixed in the R vertical cold air passage 21 as shown in FIG. The R evaporator 38 is disposed downstream of the air flow with respect to all of the final outlet 25 and the plurality of intermediate outlets 26. When the R fan motor 27 is in operation, air is supplied to the R evaporator 38. When the refrigerant is supplied from the compressor 37 through the condenser and the R fan motor 27 is in an operating state and the air is supplied, the R evaporator 38 takes heat from the air. Thereby, the R evaporator 38 cools the air discharged from one final outlet 25 and the plurality of intermediate outlets 26.

The F evaporator 39 is fixed in the F cold air passage 29. The F evaporator 39 is disposed downstream of the air flow with respect to the upper outlet 31, the middle outlet 32, and the lower outlet 33. When the F fan motor 34 is in an operating state, air is supplied to the F evaporator 39. The F evaporator 39 draws heat from the air when the F fan motor 34 is in an operating state and air is supplied in a state where the refrigerant is supplied from the compressor 37 through the condenser. Thus, the F evaporator 39 cools the air discharged from the upper outlet 31, the middle outlet 32, and the lower outlet 33.

As shown in FIG. 1, the interior LED 40 and the LED cover 41 are fixed to the top wall 4 of the cabinet 1 in the refrigerator compartment 9. The internal LED 40 projects visible light from the top to the bottom. The interior LED 40 is in an on state in which power is supplied in each of the closed state and the open state of the R door 13 and projects visible light. The LED cover 41 covers the interior LED 40 from below, and diffuses the visible light projected from the interior LED 40 throughout the entire area in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction in the refrigerator compartment 9. The interior LED 40 and the LED cover 41 are arranged so as to face the final outlet 25 of the R cool air passage 23, respectively. Part of the visible light projected from the interior LED 40 through the LED cover 41 directly enters the final outlet 25 of the R cool air passage 23 in each of the closed state and the open state of the R door 13. The interior LED 40 and the LED cover 41 constitute an interior light source 42. And the inside of the refrigerator compartment 9 is illuminated by the visible light projected through LED cover 41 from LED40 in the store | warehouse | chamber with the R door 13 open.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of light-transmitting plates 43 and one reflecting plate 44 are fixed in the refrigerator compartment 9. The plurality of translucent plates 43 and the single reflection plate 44 are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction. Then, food is placed on the plurality of translucent plates 43 and one reflector 44. The single reflection plate 44 is horizontally disposed above the uppermost translucent plate 43 and faces the horizontal cover 20 from below. The reflector 44 has a white color that can reflect light. A part of the visible light projected from the internal light source 42 is reflected by the reflection plate 44 and enters the final outlet 25 of the R cool air passage 23 through the lateral cover 20. The plurality of translucent plates 43 are transparent to transmit light. For this reason, the visible light projected from the internal light source 42 that has not been reflected by the reflection plate 44 passes through the plurality of light transmission plates 43 and travels.

In the final outlet 25 of the R cool air passage 23, a deodorizing filter 45 is fixed as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the deodorizing filter 45 has a filter frame 46 whose front and rear surfaces are open, and a filter body 47 fixed in the filter frame 46. The deodorizing filter 45 is fixed by sandwiching the filter frame 46 between the top wall 4 of the cabinet 1 and the lateral cover 20. The filter body 47 of the deodorizing filter 45 is configured by combining a plurality of glass fibers in a net shape and has a plurality of holes. These glass fibers are coated with a photocatalyst such as tungsten oxide having visible light responsiveness, that is, a property of responding to visible light, and the inner surfaces of the plurality of holes are covered with the photocatalyst.

These plural holes allow air flowing from the rear to the front in the R side cold air passage 22 when the R fan motor 27 is in operation, and the air contacts the photocatalyst when passing through the holes. In this photocatalyst, visible light is directly irradiated from the internal light source 42 in each of the closed state and the open state of the R door 13, and visible light is indirectly irradiated from the reflector 44 through the lateral cover 20. Generates oxidizing power. That is, the photocatalyst generates oxidizing power when the R door 13 is closed and opened. Accordingly, the deodorizing filter 45 removes harmful substances such as organic compounds and bacteria from the air in the R cold air passage 23 before the air in the R cold air passage 23 is released into the refrigerator compartment 9 from the final outlet 25.

According to the said Example 1, there exists the following effect.
A deodorizing filter 45 is disposed in the R cold air passage 23. Then, the visible light responsive photocatalyst of the deodorizing filter 45 is excited by irradiating the deodorizing filter 45 with visible light from the internal light source 42 in the closed state of the R door 13. Thereby, a hazardous substance can be removed from the air in the R cold air passage 23 with a simple configuration using the internal light source 42 without requiring a high-voltage insulating structure. In addition, a visible light-responsive photocatalyst was attached to the inner surfaces of the plurality of holes of the deodorizing filter 45. For this reason, since the amount of contact with the photocatalyst when the air in the R cool air passage 23 passes through the plurality of holes of the deodorizing filter 45 increases, harmful substances can be efficiently removed from the air in the R cool air passage 23. .

(Example 2)
As shown in FIG. 3, a dedicated light source 51 is fixed to the rear wall 5 of the cabinet 1. The dedicated light source 51 is composed of an LED that projects visible light from the rear to the front. Visible light projected from the dedicated light source 51 is applied to the deodorizing filter 45. The dedicated light source 51 is in an off state in which the power is shut off when the R door 13 is open, and is in an on state in which power is supplied when the R door 13 is closed. In the closed state of the R door 13, in addition to the direct path from the internal light source 42 and the indirect path from the internal light source 42 to the photocatalyst of the deodorizing filter 45, the direct path from the dedicated light source 51 is used. Visible light is irradiated, and the photocatalyst of the deodorizing filter 45 generates oxidizing power.

In the second embodiment, the inside LED 40 may be turned off when the R door 13 is closed. That is, you may irradiate the photocatalyst of the deodorizing filter 45 only from the exclusive light source 51 with the R door 13 closed.

(Example 3)
As shown in FIG. 4, an opaque deodorizing layer 61 that cannot transmit light is formed on the horizontal cover 20. The deodorizing layer 61 is configured by applying a photocatalyst such as tungsten oxide having visible light responsiveness to the entire inner surface of the horizontal cover 20 on the R horizontal cold air passage 22 side. The deodorizing layer 61 is in contact with air flowing from the rear to the front in the R side cold air passage 22 in the operating state of the R fan motor 27. This deodorizing layer 61 is directly routed from the internal light source 42, indirect route from the internal light source 42, and directly from the dedicated light source 51, regardless of whether the R door 13 is closed or open. Oxidizing power is generated by irradiation with visible light through a general route. Thereby, the deodorizing layer 61 removes harmful substances such as organic compounds and bacteria from the air in the R cold air passage 23 before the air in the R cold air passage 23 is released into the refrigerating chamber 9 from the final outlet 25.

In the third embodiment, the internal LED 40 may be turned off when the R door 13 is closed. That is, the visible light may be irradiated only from the dedicated light source 51 to the photocatalyst of the deodorizing filter 45 and the deodorizing layer 61 of the side cover 20 in the closed state of the R door 13.

In Examples 1 to 3, the filter body 47 of the deodorizing filter 45 may be a plurality of plate members joined together. This filter main body has a plurality of polygonal holes whose front and rear surfaces are open. Air can pass through the plurality of holes when the R fan motor 27 is in operation, and a photocatalyst is applied to the inner surfaces of the plurality of holes.

Example 4
As shown in FIG. 5, a vertical cover 71 is fixed in the cabinet 1 so as to be located in the refrigerator compartment 9. The vertical cover 71 has a hook shape that is directed in the vertical direction along the rear wall 5 of the cabinet 1 and has an open rear surface. The rear surface of the vertical cover 71 is closed by the rear wall 5 of the cabinet 1. Further, an R cool air passage 72 through which air can pass is formed between the vertical cover 71 and the rear wall 5. The vertical cover 71 is transparent and can transmit light. The R cool air passage 72 is irradiated with visible light from the internal light source 42 through the vertical cover 71 when the R door 13 is closed and opened.

In the R cold air passage 72, as shown in FIG. 5, one inlet 73, one final outlet 74, and a plurality of intermediate outlets 75 are formed. The inlet 73 is disposed at the lower end of the R cold air passage 72. An R fan motor 27 is fixed to the inlet 73. In the operating state of the R fan motor 27, air enters the R cool air passage 72 from the inside of the refrigerator compartment 9 and the vegetable compartment 10 through the inlet 73. The plurality of intermediate outlets 75 are disposed between the lower end portion and the upper end portion of the R cool air passage 72. In the operating state of the R fan motor 27, a part of the air that has entered the R cold air passage 72 is discharged from the plurality of intermediate outlets 75 into the refrigerator compartment 9. The final outlet 74 is disposed at the upper end portion of the R cold air passage 72. In the operation state of the R fan motor 27, the air that has passed through all of the plurality of intermediate outlets 75 is discharged from the final outlet 74 into the refrigerator compartment 9. An R evaporator 38 is fixed in the R cool air passage 72. The R evaporator 38 is disposed on the downstream side of the air flow with respect to the plurality of intermediate outlets 75. The R evaporator 38 cools the air discharged from the final outlet 74 and the plurality of intermediate outlets 75.

As shown in FIG. 5, a deodorizing layer 76 is formed on the rear wall 5 of the cabinet 1 so as to be positioned in the R cold air passage 72. The deodorizing layer 76 is disposed on the downstream side of the air flow with respect to the R evaporator 38. The deodorizing layer 76 is irradiated with visible light from the internal light source 42 through the vertical cover 71. The deodorizing layer 76 is coated with a photocatalyst such as tungsten oxide having visible light responsiveness on the front surface of the rear wall 5. In the operating state of the R fan motor 27, the air that has passed through the R evaporator 38 comes into contact with the deodorizing layer 76 when rising in the R cool air passage 72. The deodorizing layer 76 generates oxidizing power by being irradiated with visible light from the internal light source 42 through the vertical cover 71 in the closed state and the open state of the R door 13. Thereby, the deodorizing layer 76 removes harmful substances from the air passing through the R cool air passage 72 when the air rises in the R cool air passage 72.

According to the said Example 4, there exists the following effect.
A deodorizing layer 76 was formed on the inner surface of the R cold air passage 72. The deodorizing layer 76 was excited by irradiating the deodorizing layer 76 with light projected from the internal light source 42 through the transparent vertical cover 71. Thereby, a high-voltage insulating structure is not required, and harmful substances can be removed from the air in the R cool air passage 23 with a simple configuration using the internal light source 42.

(Example 5)
A plurality of dedicated light sources 81 are fixed to the front surface of the vertical cover 71 as shown in FIG. Each of the plurality of dedicated light sources 81 is configured by an LED that projects visible light from the front to the rear. The plurality of dedicated light sources 81 are arranged outside the R cool air passage 72. The plurality of dedicated light sources 81 are in an off state in which the power is cut off when the R door 13 is open, and are in an on state in which power is supplied in the closed state of the R door 13. In the closed state of the R door 13, visible light is irradiated from the internal light source 42 and the plurality of dedicated light sources 81 through the vertical cover 71 to the deodorizing layer 76 in the R cool air passage 72.

In the above embodiments 4 to 5, a translucent portion for irradiating the deodorizing layer 76 with visible light projected from the internal light source 42 may be provided in a part of the vertical cover 71.

(Example 6)
As shown in FIG. 7, the cabinet 1 has a top wall 91 instead of the top wall 4. The top wall 91 has a hollow shape in which a front plate 92, a rear plate 93, a left side plate, a right side plate, a top plate 94, and a bottom plate 95 are joined to each other and hermetically sealed. In the ceiling wall 91, the internal space is depressurized compared to the atmospheric pressure. The top plate 94 and the bottom plate 95 are opposed to each other through a heat-insulated space whose top wall 91 is depressurized. The top plate 94 and the bottom plate 95 are each transparent so that light can be transmitted. Therefore, the visible light projected from the indoor lighting fixture enters the refrigerator compartment 9 through the top plate 94, the heat insulating space, and the bottom plate 95 in order.

As shown in FIG. 7, a deodorizing layer 96 is formed on the front surface of the vertical cover 71. The deodorizing layer 96 is irradiated with visible light from the indoor lighting fixture through the top wall 91 of the cabinet 1. The deodorizing layer 96 is configured by applying a photocatalyst such as tungsten oxide having visible light responsiveness to the front surface of the vertical cover 71. The air in the refrigerator compartment 9 is in contact with the deodorizing layer 96. The deodorizing layer 96 generates oxidizing power when irradiated with visible light from the indoor lighting fixture through the top wall 91 of the cabinet 1. And the deodorizing layer 96 removes a harmful substance from the air in the refrigerator compartment 9 when oxidizing power is generated.

In the refrigerator compartment 9, a plurality of shelf plates 97 are fixed as shown in FIG. Each of the plurality of shelf plates 97 is horizontally disposed and is shifted in the vertical direction with respect to the intermediate outlet 75 of the R cool air passage 72. A deodorizing layer 98 is formed on the top surface of each of the plurality of shelf plates 97. Each of the plurality of deodorizing layers 98 is irradiated with visible light from the indoor lighting device through the top wall 91 of the cabinet 1. Each of the plurality of deodorizing layers 98 is configured by applying a photocatalyst such as tungsten oxide having visible light responsiveness to the upper surface of the shelf plate 97. The air in the refrigerator compartment 9 is in contact with the plurality of deodorizing layers 98. The plurality of deodorizing layers 98 generate oxidizing power when irradiated with visible light from the indoor lighting fixture through the ceiling wall 91 of the cabinet 1. And the some deodorizing layer 98 removes a harmful substance from the air in the refrigerator compartment 9 when oxidizing power is generated.

According to the said Example 6, there exist the following effects.
A deodorizing layer 96 and a deodorizing layer 98 were provided in the refrigerator compartment 9. And the deodorizing layer 96 and the deodorizing layer 98 were excited by irradiating visible light to the deodorizing layer 96 and the deodorizing layer 98 through the transparent top wall 91 of the cabinet 1 from an indoor lighting device. Thereby, harmful substances can be removed from the air in the refrigerator compartment 9 with a simple configuration that does not require a high-voltage insulating structure. And since the heat insulation space was formed in the ceiling wall 91 of the cabinet 1, the fall of the heat insulation performance of the refrigerator compartment 9 is suppressed.

In Example 6 above, a plurality of LEDs may be fixed to the vertical cover 71. The plurality of LEDs project visible light from the rear to the front. And the deodorizing layer 98 of the several shelf 97 generate | occur | produces an oxidizing power by projecting visible light from LED. In the case of this configuration, it is preferable that the plurality of LEDs are turned on when the R door 13 is closed, and the plurality of LEDs are turned off when the R door 13 is opened.

(Example 7)
As shown in FIG. 8, a deodorizing layer 101 is formed on each of the left side wall 3, the right side wall, the top wall 4, and the rear wall 5 of the cabinet 1 on the outer surface on the indoor side. The plurality of deodorizing layers 101 are made of a photocatalyst such as tungsten oxide that is responsive to visible light. The R door 13, the V door 14, the upper F door 15, and the lower F door 16 are also formed with a deodorizing layer 101 located on the outer surface on the indoor side. All these deodorizing layers 101 are in contact with indoor air. And all these deodorizing layers 101 generate | occur | produce an oxidizing power by irradiating visible light from an indoor lighting fixture, and when an oxidizing power is generated, a harmful substance is removed from indoor air.

In Examples 1 to 7, titanium oxide may be used as a photocatalyst.
Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

Claims

A storage room for storing food, the front side being the user side being open,
A door operable between a closed state in which the front surface of the storage chamber is closed and an open state in which the front surface of the storage chamber is opened;
A cold air passage having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet and the outlet are each connected to the storage chamber;
A fan device that sucks air in the storage chamber from the inlet of the cold passage into the cold passage, and discharges the air sucked into the cold passage from the outlet of the cold passage into the storage chamber;
A cooler for cooling the air flowing in the cold air passage;
A filter provided in the cold air passage, having a plurality of holes through which air flowing in the cold air passage can pass, and having a visible light-responsive photocatalyst attached to the inner surface of the plurality of holes;
And a light source for irradiating the filter with visible light to excite the photocatalyst of the filter in a closed state of the door.
As the light source,
An internal light source that projects visible light for illuminating the storage chamber in the closed state of the door and the open state of the door;
The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a dedicated light source that irradiates the filter with visible light when the door is closed.
A storage room for storing food, the front side being the user side being open,
A door operable between a closed state in which the front surface of the storage chamber is closed and an open state in which the front surface of the storage chamber is opened;
A cold air passage having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet and the outlet are connected to the storage chamber;
A fan device that sucks air in the storage chamber from the inlet of the cold passage into the cold passage, and discharges the air sucked into the cold passage from the outlet of the cold passage into the storage chamber;
A cooler for cooling the air flowing in the cold air passage;
A photocatalyst layer that is provided in the storage chamber and is made of a visible light-responsive photocatalyst that is in contact with the air released from the outlet of the cold passage into the storage chamber;
A refrigerator, comprising: a light-transmitting window provided on a wall surface of the storage room and irradiating the photocatalyst layer with visible light projected from an indoor illuminator.
The window
It is a sealed hollow shape, and has a first transparent plate and a second transparent plate that face each other, and is compared with atmospheric pressure between the first transparent plate and the second transparent plate. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein a low-pressure heat insulating space is formed.
A storage room for storing food, the front side being the user side being open,
A door operable between a closed state in which the front surface of the storage chamber is closed and an open state in which the front surface of the storage chamber is opened;
A cold air passage having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet and the outlet are connected to the storage chamber;
A fan device that sucks air in the storage chamber from the inlet of the cold passage into the cold passage, and discharges the air sucked into the cold passage from the outlet of the cold passage into the storage chamber;
A cooler for cooling the air flowing in the cold air passage;
A photocatalyst layer provided on the inner surface of the cold air passage, in contact with the air flowing through the cold air passage, and made of a visible light responsive photocatalyst;
It projects visible light in the closed state of the door and in the opened state of the door, and includes a light source in the cabinet that illuminates the storage chamber by projecting visible light in the opened state of the door,
Part or all of the wall surface of the cold air passage has a light-transmitting property capable of irradiating the photocatalyst layer with visible light projected from the internal light source.