JP2817627B2 - Moisture storage - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a food warming container for keeping a food product that has been thawed and heated, or a food product after cooking at an appropriate temperature and humidity.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a heat storage chamber generates steam by an electric heater or electromagnetic induction heating. As a typical example, as shown in FIG. 7, a steam pipe 3 is connected to a can body 2 mounted on an induction heater 1, and the steam flowing through the steam pipe 3 is sent to the steam pipe 3. Are provided with steam valves 4 for stopping. A water supply pipe 5 is connected to the can 2, and the amount of water flowing into the can 2 from the water supply pipe 5 is adjusted by opening and closing a water supply valve 6. Further, the water level sensor 7 is provided inside the can 2.

[0003] Water is supplied to the can 7 by a water supply valve 6.
Opening and closing is performed. The amount of water stored in the can 2 is determined by the water level sensor 7.
Is always kept to a minimum so that it is not cooked empty.

[0004]

However, in the above conventional configuration, since the water supply pipe or the sensor is directly connected to the water pipe, there is a danger that the water will run down if the water supply valve or the sensor breaks down. If a dual safety design is used to increase reliability, there is a problem that the configuration becomes complicated and the cost increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and has as its first object to provide a humidification storage comprising a humidification device capable of obtaining humidification water without a water supply pipe or a water storage tank. .

It is a second object of the present invention to provide a humidifier that can circulate humidified air in a storage room or the like and control the air humidity around the storage object in an optimum state.

It is a third object of the present invention to provide a humidifier that can control the supply amount of humidified steam to a storage room and the like and also control the room temperature of the storage room and the like.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a storage chamber, an inflow path, an outflow path, a storage chamber air suction path for guiding air in the storage chamber to the inflow path, and a storage chamber outside. Outdoor air suction path for guiding the air to the inflow path,
Air flows out of the storage chamber outlet path that guides the air in the outflow path to the storage chamber, an outdoor blowout path that guides air in the outflow path out of the storage chamber, and air flows into the inflow path from a storage room air suction path or an outdoor air suction path. An inflow path switching means for switching the air flow from the outflow path to the storage indoor blowout path or an outdoor airflow path; a blower for feeding air from the inflow path to the outflow path; and the inflow path. A moisture absorbing material that adsorbs or absorbs or releases moisture, and a heating activation heater that emits moisture absorbed or absorbed by the moisture absorbing material is provided between the outflow passage and the storage outside air suction passage and the outdoor blowout passage when absorbing moisture. Inflow path switching means and outflow path switching means so as to communicate with the storage chamber air suction path and the storage chamber discharge path during humidification or heating. It is provided with a controller for controlling.

In addition, a state detecting means for detecting at least one of temperature and humidity in the storage room is provided, and a storage state of the storage room is controlled by a controller based on a signal sent from the state detection means. It is.

[0010] Further, a bypass flow path for bypassing the hygroscopic material and flow rate control means for controlling the bypass flow rate are provided.
The flow rate control means is driven by a drive signal from a controller sent based on a signal sent from the state detection means, and humidified air in the storage chamber is circulated to control the storage state of the storage chamber.

Further, a storage room, an inflow channel, an outflow channel,
A storage chamber air suction path for guiding air in the storage chamber to the inflow path, an outdoor air suction path for guiding air outside the storage chamber to the inflow path, and a storage chamber blowing path for guiding the air in the outflow path to the storage chamber; An outdoor air outlet path for guiding the air in the outlet path to the outside of the storage chamber, an inflow path switching means for switching the air into the inflow path from the storage air suction path or from the outdoor air suction path, and a storage chamber outlet from the outflow path. An outflow path switching means for switching to guide to a path or an outdoor blowout path, a blower for feeding air from an inflow path to an outflow path, and a moisture absorption between the inflow path and the outflow path for absorbing or absorbing or releasing moisture. Material, a heating activation heater for releasing moisture adsorbed or absorbed by the hygroscopic material, and communicating with the storage outdoor air suction path and the outdoor blowing path at the time of moisture absorption, or at the time of humidification or A controller for controlling the inflow path switching means and the outflow path switching means so as to communicate with the storage chamber air suction path and the storage chamber discharge path when hot is provided, and a heat exchanger is provided on the discharge path of the hygroscopic material or the storage chamber discharge path. It is arranged.

Further, the heat exchanger includes a heat absorbing heat exchanger provided inside the storage room outlet passage, a heat dissipation heat exchanger disposed outside the storage room outlet passage, and heat transfer between the heat absorbing portion and the heat releasing portion. And a heat transfer means.

Further, the means for transporting heat from the heat exchanger for heat absorption to the heat exchanger for heat dissipation is constituted by a heat pipe.

Further, the heat exchanger comprises a heat absorbing flow path through which the storage room air intersects and an exhaust heat flow path through which the air outside the storage room flows, and an air blowing means is disposed on the heat exhaust flow path side.

[0015]

According to the present invention, when the moisture in the atmosphere is absorbed by the absorbent, the inflow path switching means is switched to the side communicating with the outdoor air suction path and the inflow path by a signal from the controller. The means is set on the side communicating with the outflow passage and the outdoor blowout passage. When the blower is operated in this air path setting, outdoor air is sent from the outdoor air suction passage to the moisture absorbent, and moisture in the atmosphere is absorbed by the moisture absorbent.

The release of moisture from the adsorbent after moisture adsorption is as follows:
The inflow path switching means switches to a side communicating with the storage room air suction path and the inflow path, and the outflow path switching means switches to a side communicating with the outflow path and the storage chamber blowout path, and turns on the heating activation heater. When the blower is operated in this air path setting, the air in the storage room is sucked from the air suction path of the storage room, heated and activated when passing through the moisture absorbent, and together with the moisture released from the moisture absorbent, from the blowout path of the storage room. It is blown out into the storage room. By this repetition, the storage room is humidified.

Further, in the humidity control of the storage room, when the humidity of the storage room reaches the set value, the flow on the side of the hygroscopic material is caused to flow to the bypass flow path side by the flow rate control means to circulate the humidified air to control the humidity. Thereby, the humidity around the storage object in the storage room is maintained at the set value.

Further, the temperature of the storage chamber is raised by a heating activation heater used when releasing the moisture of the absorbent. When the temperature of the storage room reaches a set value due to the heating by the heating activation heater, the heat in the storage room is absorbed by the heat exchanger in the outflow path of the moisture absorbent or the discharge path of the storage room, and is released to the outside of the storage room. Is kept at the set value.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, reference numeral 8 denotes an insulated box main body,
9 is a storage room and 10 is a humidifier provided on the storage room 9. Numeral 11 is connected in series with a blower 12 for sending air with a moisture absorbent. A heating activation heater 13 is embedded in the humidifying material 11. An inflow passage 14 connected to a suction port of the blower 12 has a storage room air suction passage 15 that guides air in the storage room 9 to the inflow passage 14, and an outdoor air that guides air outside the storage room 9 to the inflow passage 14. The suction passage 16 is connected. The outflow path 17 on the outflow side of the hygroscopic material 11 is connected to a storage chamber blowout path 18 that guides the air in the outflow path to the storage room 9 and an outdoor blowout path 19 that guides the air in the outflow path to the outside of the storage room. Reference numeral 20 denotes an inflow passage switching means for switching air so as to flow into the inflow passage 14 from the storage room air suction passage 15 or from the outdoor air suction passage 16. The storage room air suction passage 15 and the outdoor air suction passage 16 At the merging section 22. Reference numeral 21 denotes an outflow path switching means for switching from the outflow path 17 to the storage room discharge path 18 or to the outdoor discharge path 19 at a branch 23 between the storage room discharge path 18 and the outdoor discharge path 19. It is arranged.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a storage room air heater. 2
Reference numeral 5 denotes a bypass for the moisture absorbent 11, and a flow control means 26 is provided in the passage. State detection means is humidity sensor 2
7, a configuration using the temperature sensor 28. Reference numeral 29 denotes a controller, which receives signals from the humidity sensor 27 and the temperature sensor 28, and controls the inflow path switching means 20, the outflow path switching means 21, the blower 12, the heating activation heater 13, the inflow path switching means 20, and the outflow path switching means. 21. An electric output is performed to the air heater 24. 30 is the suction side circulation path, 3
Reference numeral 1 denotes an outlet side circulation path. Reference numeral 32 denotes a food storage box placed in the storage room 9.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the flow path switching means.
Is a damper, and 34 is a drive motor.

FIG. 3 is a cycle diagram of humidification and discharge during operation of the humidification device 10. The vertical axis represents the amount of moisture absorption of the moisture absorbent 11, and the horizontal axis represents time. The dotted line indicates the moisture absorption characteristics, and the solid line indicates the moisture release characteristics.

In the above configuration, the food storage box 32 containing the cooked or thawed ingredients is placed in the storage room 9,
The humidifier 10 is operated.

In response to a signal from the controller 29, the humidifier 10 closes the bypass 25 by the flow control means 26, turns off the heating active heater 13 and the air heater 24, and the inflow path switching means 20 stores the inflow path 14 with the storage. Outdoor blowing path 1
The outflow path switching means 21 is connected to the outflow path
7 is set on the side where the outdoor blow-out path 19 communicates, the blower 12 is started, and a moisture absorption cycle is started.

In the moisture absorption cycle, outdoor air enters the blower 12 from the storage outdoor blowing passage 16 through the inflow passage 14 and is sent to the moisture absorbent 11. Here, the moisture contained in the air is absorbed by the moisture absorbent 11. The dry air flowing out of the moisture absorbent 11 passes through the outflow passage 17 and is blown out of the storage from the outdoor blowout passage 19. When the moisture absorption cycle of circulating the outdoor air is continued, as shown by the dotted line in FIG.
The amount of moisture absorbed by 1 increases. When the moisture absorption approaches saturation, a controller 29 such as a timer or a moisture absorption sensor is used.
The signal from stops the moisture absorption cycle.

In the cycle of dehumidifying the storage chamber 9, the bypass passage 25 is closed, the heating activation heater 13 is turned on, the air heater 24 is turned off, and the inflow passage switching means 20 is turned on.
Is set on the side where the inflow path 14 and the storage chamber air blowing path 15 communicate with each other, and the outflow path switching means 21 is set on the side where the outflow path 17 and the storage chamber blowing path 18 communicate with each other, and the process enters the dehumidification cycle.

Upon entering the moisture release cycle, the storage room air
From the suction side circulation path 30 and the storage room air blowing path 15, the air enters the blower 12 through the inflow path 14, and is sent to the moisture absorbent 11. The air that has entered the hygroscopic material 11 is heated and activated by the heating activation heater 13 and takes in moisture released from the hygroscopic material 11. The high-humidity air flowing out of the hygroscopic material 11 passes through the outflow path 17 and the storage chamber blowing path 18 and is blown out from the blowing side circulation path 31 to the storage chamber 9. When this moisture release cycle for circulating the storage room air is continued, the moisture absorbed by the hygroscopic material 11 is released into the storage room air and approaches zero as shown by the solid line in FIG. In this state, the moisture release cycle is stopped by a signal from the controller 29 by a timer or a moisture absorption sensor or the like as described above.

When the humidity in the storage chamber 9 rises during the above-mentioned dehumidification cycle and the signal sent from the humidity sensor 27 to the controller 29 reaches a set value, the driving motor 34 as the flow rate control means 26 starts rotating. , The damper 33 opens the bypass passage 25. The circulated air in the storage room 9 bypasses the moisture absorbent 11, stops dehumidification, and the storage room 9 is kept at a set humidity.

When the humidity in the storage room 9 does not reach the set value in one cycle of moisture absorption and desorption, the humidity in the storage room 9 can be increased by repeating the moisture absorption and desorption cycle. A signal detected by the humidity sensor 27 is sent to the controller 29, and the humidity in the storage room 9 is maintained at a value set by the control of the operation of the moisture absorption / desorption cycle output from the controller 29.

The temperature of the storage chamber 9 is maintained at a predetermined temperature by controlling the air heater 24 based on a detection signal from the temperature sensor 28.

The storage room 9 can be used to reduce the humidity of the storage room 9 by exchanging the food to be kept warm, or to remove excess moisture due to release from the food.
When dehumidifying, the heating active heater 13 is turned off during the circulation of the indoor air in the dehumidification cycle, and the heating activation heater 13 is turned on and the heating activation heater 13 is turned on and off in the outdoor air circulation as the moisture absorption cycle. By doing
The dehumidifying operation in the storage room 9 can be performed.

According to the structure of this embodiment, since the humidifying water is moisture in the air, there is no scale component generated when tap water or groundwater is used. Therefore, there is no failure of the device or corrosion of the components due to the adhesion of the scale, and the reliability of the humidifying device is greatly enhanced.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment, in which 35 is a heat-absorbing heat exchanger provided in the discharge passage 18 in the storage room,
Is a heat exchanger for heat radiation provided outside the storage room 9, 37 is a heat pipe for transferring heat, and 39 is a blower fan.

In the above configuration, in the dehumidification cycle from the heat absorbing material 11 to the storage room 9, if the room temperature of the storage room 9 exceeds the set value due to the heating of the humidifying heating activation heater 13, the controller 29 sets the temperature. Receiving a signal from the sensor 28,
A drive signal is sent to the blower fan 39. When the blower fan 39 starts, the heat radiation heat exchanger 36 starts cooling by the air flow sent from the fan, and the heat absorbed by the heat absorption heat exchanger 35 and transferred by the heat pipe 37 to the outside of the storage room 9. discharge. By this heat release, the storage room 9 is maintained at the set room temperature.

According to the configuration of this embodiment, since the heating activation heater 13 is not turned off, there is an effect that a high moisture releasing performance, that is, a humidifying performance can always be exhibited.

Further, since the heat is taken out from the heat-absorbing heat exchanger in the outlet passage 18 in the storage chamber using a thin pipe, the sealing of the air passage is simple and reliable.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a third embodiment, in which reference numeral 40 denotes a heat-absorbing orthogonal heat exchanger provided in the outlet passage 18 in the storage room. 41 is a heat absorption flow path, and 42 is a heat radiation flow path.
The heated air in the storage chamber 9 passes through the heat absorption flow path 41, and the air outside the storage chamber sent by the blower fan (not shown) passes through the heat radiation flow path 42.

In the above configuration, similar to the above embodiment,
When the room temperature of the storage room 9 exceeds the set value, the controller 29 receives a signal from the temperature sensor 28 and sends a drive signal to a blower fan (not shown). When the blower fan 39 starts,
Heat is transferred from the heat-absorbing air passage 41 through which the heated storage room 9 air flows to the heat-dissipating air passage 42 through which low-temperature outdoor air flows, and the air in the storage room 9 is cooled. By this cooling action, the storage room 9 is maintained at the set room temperature.

According to the structure of this embodiment, since the heat exchanger is mounted in the outlet passage, the humidifier can be made compact.

[0041]

As described above, the moisturizer of the present invention has the following effects.

(1) The piping equipment section to the water supply source becomes unnecessary, the installation work is simple, the degree of freedom of installation of the apparatus is increased, and the equipment can be arranged with high working efficiency.

Further, there is no scale adhesion, water leakage, or the like, which occurs in general piping equipment, and the reliability of the apparatus is greatly improved.

(2) By circulating the humidified air in the storage room, and by switching the flow path and controlling the heater, it is possible to set the humidification and humidity suitable for the foodstuffs,
Deterioration of color and the like can be suppressed.

The storage chamber has a dehumidifying function. After the storage chamber is used, the storage chamber is dehumidified, dried, or heated to
Sterilization and propagation of bacteria can be prevented, and the storage room can always be kept clean.

(3) Since the cooling heat exchanger is provided, the heating activation temperature for releasing moisture from the hygroscopic material can be increased. By increasing the heating activation temperature, the humidifying performance of the hygroscopic material is improved, and the humidifying device can be made compact.

(4) Since dehumidification can be performed after the humidification and heat retention of the food material, drainage piping and a container for receiving dew condensation water are not required, thereby eliminating drainage work and wastewater treatment work.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the principle of a moisture storage according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a flow path switching unit of the moisture storage.

FIG. 3 is an operation cycle diagram of the moisture storage.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the principle of a moisturizing container according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the principle of a moisture storage according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger of the heat storage box.

FIG. 7 is a front sectional view of a conventional heat storage box.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 9 storage room 11 hygroscopic material 12 blower 13 heating activation heater 14 inflow path 15 storage room air suction path 16 storage room outside air suction path 17 outflow path 18 storage room blowout path 19 outdoor blowout path 20 flow path switching means 21 outflow path switching means 26 Bypass path 29 Controller 35 Heat exchanger for heat absorption 36 Heat exchanger for heat dissipation 40 Orthogonal heat exchanger

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-64-32824 (JP, A) JP-A-5-337054 (JP, A) Fully open 49-52158 (JP, U) Really open 1980 363 (JP, U) JP-A 63-186345 (JP, U) JP-A 1-99333 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) A47J 39/02

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] A storage chamber, an inflow path, an outflow path, a storage room air suction path for guiding air in the storage chamber to the inflow path, and an outdoor air suction path for guiding air outside the storage chamber to the inflow path. Air flows out of the storage chamber outlet path that guides the air in the outflow path to the storage chamber, an outdoor blowout path that guides air in the outflow path out of the storage chamber, and air flows into the inflow path from a storage room air suction path or an outdoor air suction path. And an outflow path switching means for switching from the outflow path to the storage chamber blowout path or to the outdoor blowout path, a blower for blowing air from the inflow path to the outflow path, and the inflow path. A moisture absorbing material that absorbs or absorbs or releases moisture and a heating activation heater that releases moisture absorbed or absorbed by the moisture absorbing material are provided between the outlet and the outflow passage. Inclusive path outdoor blowoff passage and communicated, humidification time or heating time moisturizing chamber provided with a controller for controlling the outflow path switching means and the inlet path switching means so as to communicate storage chamber blowout passage and communicating with the storage chamber air suction passage to. 2. A storage apparatus comprising: a state detector for detecting at least one of temperature and humidity in a storage room; and a controller for controlling a storage state of the storage room based on a signal sent from the state detector. Item 4. The moisture storage according to Item 1. A bypass flow path for bypassing the hygroscopic material; and a flow rate control means for controlling a bypass flow rate, wherein the flow rate control means is controlled by a drive signal sent from a controller based on a signal sent from a state detection means. 3. The moisturizing storage according to claim 2, wherein the storage is controlled by driving the storage chamber to circulate the humidified air in the storage chamber. 4. A storage chamber, an inflow path, an outflow path, a storage room air suction path for guiding air in the storage chamber to the inflow path, and an outdoor air suction path for guiding air outside the storage chamber to the inflow path. Air flows out of the storage chamber outlet path that guides the air in the outflow path to the storage chamber, an outdoor blowout path that guides air in the outflow path out of the storage chamber, and air flows into the inflow path from a storage room air suction path or an outdoor air suction path. And an outflow path switching means for switching from the outflow path to the storage chamber blowout path or to the outdoor blowout path, a blower for blowing air from the inflow path to the outflow path, and the inflow path. A moisture absorbing material that absorbs or absorbs or releases moisture, a heating activation heater that releases moisture absorbed or absorbed by the moisture absorbing material, and an air suction outside the storage chamber when absorbing moisture. Road and allowed outdoor blowoff passage and communicated,
A controller for controlling the inflow path switching means and the outflow path switching means so as to communicate with the storage chamber air suction path and the storage chamber discharge path at the time of humidification or heating; A moisturizer with an exchanger. 5. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said heat exchanger includes a heat-absorbing heat exchanger provided inside said storage chamber outlet, a heat-dissipating heat exchanger disposed outside said storage chamber outlet, and heat transfer between said heat-absorbing part and said heat-radiating part. The moisturizing storage according to claim 4, comprising a heat transfer means for performing the heat transfer. 6. The moisturizing storage according to claim 5, wherein the heat transfer means from the heat exchanger for heat absorption to the heat exchanger for heat radiation is constituted by a heat pipe. 7. The heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a heat absorbing flow path in which the intersecting storage room air flows and a heat exhaust flow path in which air outside the storage chamber flows, and a blowing means is provided on the heat exhaust flow path side. Humidifier.