JP3366145B2 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a vegetable container provided with conditions for freshly storing vegetables for a long period of time. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method for preserving vegetables in a fresh state for a long time in a home refrigerator, as shown in NR-C35V4 manufactured by Matsushita Electric Co., Ltd. A cover that covers the vegetable container exclusively for vegetables in a substantially airtight state is provided, and a part of the water in the vegetable container is released from the plurality of through holes provided in a part of the cover to raise the height of the vegetable container. There is a system that keeps humidity and prevents dew condensation. Hereinafter, the above-mentioned conventional refrigerator will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a vegetable compartment of a conventional refrigerator. Reference numeral 1 denotes a refrigerator main body which is constituted by an outer box 2, an inner box 3, and a heat insulating material 4 filled between them. And a storage room 5 such as a refrigerator room. [0004] Reference numeral 6 denotes a door provided opposite the vegetable compartment 7. Reference numeral 8 denotes a vegetable container which is detachably held by the door 6 and has an open top surface. The vegetable container 8 is simultaneously pulled out of the refrigerator by pulling out the door 6 so that vegetables can be taken in and out. [0005] Reference numeral 9 denotes a lid which is arranged closely to the opening of the vegetable container 8 and has a large number of through holes 10. For example, 200 to 400 pieces are arranged with a diameter of 2 mm and a pitch of 10 mm. Numeral 11 denotes a partition wall separating the storage room 5 and the vegetable room 7, a cool air discharge port 12 for supplying cool air of a cooler (not shown) into the vegetable room 7 at the rear end, and a inside of the vegetable room 7. A cool air return port 13 is provided for returning the cool air cooled to the cooler to the cooler. When the door 6 is closed, a cool air passage 14 is formed between the outer surface of the vegetable container 8 and the inner box 3 of the vegetable room 7, and flows into the cool air passage 14 from the cool air discharge port 12 as shown by an arrow A. The cooled air from the cooler convects along the outer surface of the vegetable container 8, cools the vegetable container 8, and is returned to the cooler through the cool air return port 13. On the other hand, a part of the cool air flowing into the cool air discharge port 12 is supplied to the cool air passage 15 formed by the lid 9 and the partition wall 11.
The inside of the container 8 is convected as indicated by an arrow B, cools the vegetable container 8 and returns to the cooler through the cool air return port 13. The vegetables contained in the vegetable container 8 release moisture by a respiratory action, and when the door 6 is opened, the moisture in the air outside the refrigerator replaces the air in the vegetable container 8 to replace the air in the vegetable container 8. Humidity rises. [0010] site near the cool air discharge ports 12 of the vegetable container 8 and the lid 9 is likely to be cooled as compared with other portions, the formation of the condensate on the surface if the dew point temperature or lower, the water in the bottom of the vegetable container 8 There is a drawback that the stored vegetables are soaked in water and damaged early. In order to prevent this, the cool air passage 14 takes sufficient air to make it difficult for the vegetable container 8 to be cooled, so that there is no difference in temperature with other parts. The moisture condensed on the inner surface of the lid 9 is attracted to the dry cool air convection in the cool air passage 15, and is discharged to the cool air passage 15 through the through hole 10. [0012] However, if the number of through holes is set to be relatively large on the assumption that a large amount of vegetables are stored or when the frequency of opening and closing the door of the vegetable compartment is high, the number of through-holes is limited. When the storage amount is small or when the door is not opened and closed, the humidity inside the vegetable container drops due to the dry cold air flowing in through the through hole, the moisture is deprived from the surface of the vegetable, and it becomes a dry state for a long time Saving became impossible. On the other hand, if the through holes are set to be relatively small, there is a problem that the vegetables are damaged due to dew condensation on the vegetable container or the lid, which cannot be stored for a long time. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, the present invention reliably controls automatically the humidity in a vegetable container regardless of the amount of stored vegetables and the frequency of opening and closing the door to prevent dew condensation, and to always maintain a high level suitable for storing vegetables. It is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator that keeps vegetables in a container at a high humidity and can store vegetables fresh for a long time. [0015] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a refrigerator according to the present invention comprises a vegetable compartment which is opened and closed by a door;
A vegetable container having an open top in the vegetable room;
Is almost airtight when stored in the vegetable compartment
With a lid covering the shape, shape memory resin and water vapor permeable fiber
A moisture permeable membrane that is constructed and integrally molded in the opening of the lid,
A partition wall constituting the top surface of the vegetable compartment, and substantially behind the partition wall
The cool air is disposed below the lid at the end and is introduced into the vegetable compartment.
The cool air discharge port to be supplied and the vegetable container
Cold air that cools the vegetable compartment installed above
A return port, a shape between the outer surface of the vegetable container and the vegetable compartment
A cool air passage formed by the cool air from the cool air discharge port.
Adjacent to the moisture permeable membrane formed by the lid and the partition wall
A cool air passage into which a part of the cool air from the cool air discharge port flows;
The moisture permeable membrane increases the temperature in the vegetable container.
When the vegetables are active in breathing, the moisture permeability increases,
When the temperature inside the vegetable container is stable at low temperature or when storing vegetables
When the amount is small and the evaporation of water from vegetables is small,
The configuration was reduced . According to the present invention, the convection of cool air in the cool air passage adjacent to the moisture permeable membrane is suppressed by the above-described structure, the moisture permeable membrane is not cooled excessively, and changes in the same manner as the temperature of the stored vegetables. I do. As a result, the water vapor transmission function (moisture permeability specific to the glass transition point of the shape memory resin, e.g.
When the temperature is above ℃, the water vapor permeability is large, and when it is below 10 ° C, the water vapor permeability automatically changes so as to be small.) When the temperature is high, the moisture permeability increases, and when the temperature inside the vegetable container is stabilized at a low temperature, or when the amount of stored vegetables is small and there is no temperature rise due to respiratory heat, and there is little evaporation of moisture from the vegetables, the moisture permeability increases. By reducing the size, the inside of the vegetable container is always kept at a high humidity suitable for vegetables while preventing dew condensation, and the vegetables can be stored fresh for a long time. In this case, it is preferable that the cool air discharge port is provided below the lid provided with the moisture permeable film. Further, the cool air return port may be arranged above the vegetable container so that the cool air convected around the outer periphery of the vegetable container can easily return to the cooler. Further, since a cold air passage is formed on the outer periphery of the vegetable container except for the space on the top surface of the vegetable container provided with the moisture permeable membrane, the temperature stability of the upper space of the moisture permeable membrane is enhanced, and the vegetables that pass through the moisture permeable membrane are transmitted. The control of the amount of water vapor in the container is performed stably. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First to fourth embodiments in which the present invention is applied to a refrigerator
Before describing this embodiment with reference to the drawings, the permeation function of the moisture-permeable membrane used in each embodiment will be described first. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 16 denotes the moisture permeable membrane formed by coating a water vapor permeable fiber 17 such as nylon or polyester with a shape memory resin 18 of a polyurethane resin. The shape memory resin 18 has a characteristic that the function of transmitting water vapor greatly changes at the glass transition temperature Tg. The temperature of the shape memory resin 18 is the glass transition temperature T
When the water vapor partial pressure Pi of the air on the shape memory resin 18 side is higher than the water vapor partial pressure Po on the fiber 17 side, the moisture on the shape memory resin 18 side passes through the moisture permeable membrane and the fiber 17
Move to the side space. This is because at a low temperature below the glass transition temperature Tg, the gap between the resin molecules shrinks to suppress the water vapor transmission function, and at a high temperature above the glass transition temperature Tg, the amorphous molecular motion of the resin becomes active. This is because the gap between the molecules of the resin is widened and the function of increasing the water vapor transmission function is increased (the principle of the shape memory resin is described in the April, 1993 issue of Trigger). In FIG. 2, a shows the relationship between the moisture permeability of the conventional through hole 10 and the temperature, and b shows the relationship between the moisture permeability of the moisture permeable film 16 having the shape memory characteristic of the present invention and the temperature. a
Does not increase moisture permeability very much even if the temperature rises,
b is the glass transition temperature Tg (for example, 10
15 ° C.) or more, the moisture permeability rapidly increases. Next, FIGS. 3 and 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention, which will be described below. In addition,
The same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in the related art, and the detailed description is omitted. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the vegetable compartment 19 of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 21 denotes a lid provided so as to closely cover the top opening of the vegetable container 20. As shown in FIG. 4, the moisture permeable membrane 16 is integrally formed in a plurality of rear openings 22. At a substantially rear end of the partition wall 23, a cool air discharge port 24 for supplying cool air into the vegetable compartment 19, and at a substantially front end, a cool air return port 25 for returning cool air for cooling the vegetable compartment 19 to the cooler.
Are arranged apart from the moisture permeable membrane 16 of the lid 21, most of the cool air supplied to the vegetable compartment 19 passes through the cool air passage 26, and the cool air passage 27 adjacent to the moisture permeable membrane 16 Almost no convection. The operation of the above configuration will be described below. When vegetables are stored in the vegetable container 20, the humidity inside the substantially sealed vegetable container 20 becomes high due to the water discharged from the vegetables themselves by the respiratory action. Immediately after storing the vegetables, since the temperature of the vegetables is high and the respiratory action is active, a large amount of moisture is discharged. Dew condensation is likely to occur behind 21. Further, when the storage amount of the vegetables is very large, the temperature inside the vegetable container 20 is high because the respiration heat of the vegetables is large, and dew condensation is easily caused. In such a state, since the temperature of the vegetable compartment 19 rises, the amount of cool air supplied into the vegetable compartment 19 also increases, and the convection flows through the cool air passage 26 to cool the vegetable container 20 from the outer periphery. The moisture permeable film 16 has a cool air discharge port 24 and a cool air return port 25.
, The convection of cool air in the cool air passage 27 adjacent to the moisture permeable membrane 16 is suppressed, the moisture permeable membrane 16 is not excessively cooled, and rises similarly to the temperature of the stored vegetables. . Thus, the moisture permeable film 16 provided on the lid 21
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, excess water is removed from the vegetable container 2 having a high water vapor partial pressure (Pi).
It moves from inside 0 to the outside of the vegetable container 20 having a low water vapor partial pressure (Po), thereby avoiding an over-humid state and preventing dew condensation. When the temperature of the vegetable compartment 19 falls below the glass transition temperature Tg of the shape memory resin 18 after a lapse of time since the vegetables are stored, the water vapor transmission function of the moisture permeable membrane 16 is reduced. Then, the inside of the vegetable container 20 is kept at a high humidity (80 to 95%) suitable for storing vegetables. At this time, since the respiratory action of the vegetables is suppressed and the amount of evaporating water is small, dew condensation can be prevented even if the water vapor transmission function is low. Also, when the storage volume of the vegetables is small, the respiration heat of the vegetables is small, and as in the case where the humidity of the vegetable compartment 19 is low, the water from the vegetables is less likely to evaporate and the vegetables are easy to dry. The moisture permeability of No. 16 is reduced to prevent the vegetables from drying. As described above, the refrigerator of this embodiment has the lid 21 in which the moisture permeable membrane 16 is integrally formed in the plurality of rear openings 22.
A cool air discharge port 24 for supplying cool air into the vegetable compartment 19 at substantially the rear end of the partition wall 23, and a cool air return port 25 for returning cool air for cooling the vegetable compartment 19 to the cooler at almost the front end. The cold air supplied to the vegetable compartment 19 passes through the cold air passage 26 and hardly convects through the cold air passage 27 adjacent to the moisture permeable membrane 16 because the cold air is supplied to the vegetable compartment 19 because the water permeable membrane 16 is disposed away from the moisture permeable film 16 of the body 21. Membrane 1
6 is not excessively cooled by cold air supplied to the vegetable compartment 19,
It changes in the same way as the temperature of stored vegetables. Therefore, the storage amount of vegetables and the door 6 of the vegetable room 19
Regardless of the opening / closing frequency, the moisture permeable membrane 16 changes in the same manner as the temperature of the vegetables stored in the vegetable container 20, the moisture permeability changes in a timely manner, and the inside of the vegetable container 20 is always kept as a vegetable while preventing dew condensation. Suitable high humidity can be maintained. FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the vegetable compartment 28 of the refrigerator according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The cool air discharge port 29 is disposed below the lid 21 provided with the moisture permeable membrane 16, and the length of the cool air passage 30 to the cool air return port 25 is set to be longer, so that the cool air convection in the cool air passage 30 is performed. And the moisture permeable film 16 is not cooled excessively, and can be changed similarly to the temperature of the stored vegetables. FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a vegetable compartment 31 of a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the present invention. A partition plate 32 is arranged between the cool air discharge port 24 and the lid 21, and the cool air discharge port 33 formed by the partition plate 32 and the inner wall 3 is configured to be lower than the lid 21, thereby providing a cool air return port. The length of the cool air passage 34 up to 25 is set to be longer, and the effect of suppressing the cool air convection in the cool air passage 33 is enhanced. FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a vegetable compartment 35 of a refrigerator according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. By arranging the cool air return port 37 disposed substantially at the front end of the partition wall 36 above the vegetable container 20, the cool air flowing from the cool air discharge port 38 flows through the cool air passage 39 formed by the vegetable container 20 and the inner wall 3. After doing
By being able to return to the cooler without resistance from the cool air passage 40 formed by the vegetable container 20 and the door 6, the effect of suppressing the cool air convection in the cool air passage 41 is enhanced. As described above, the present invention provides a vegetable room which is opened and closed by a door, a vegetable container having a top open in the vegetable room, and a case where the vegetable container is stored in the vegetable room. A lid that covers the top surface in a substantially airtight state, and a shape memory resin and a water vapor permeable fiber, and are integrally molded at an opening of the lid.
And a partition wall constituting the top surface of the vegetable compartment,
A cold air discharge port disposed substantially at the rear end of the partition wall to supply cold air into the vegetable compartment, a cold air return port returned by the cool air that has cooled the vegetable chamber also disposed substantially at the front end, and an outside of the vegetable container.
From the cold air discharge port formed between the surface and the vegetable compartment
It is formed by a cool air passage into which cool air flows, the lid and the partition wall.
Is formed adjacent to the moisture permeable membrane and cool air is discharged from the cool air discharge port.
By having a cool air passage that partially flows in, the convection of cool air in the cool air passage adjacent to the moisture permeable membrane is suppressed, the moisture permeable membrane is not cooled excessively, and it changes in the same way as the temperature of stored vegetables I do. In addition, the moisture permeable membrane is used for controlling the temperature inside the vegetable container.
When the temperature rises and the respiration of vegetables is active, the moisture permeability is large.
When the temperature inside the vegetable container stabilizes at a low temperature,
When the storage volume of vegetables is small and the evaporation of water from vegetables is small
With the configuration in which the moisture permeability is reduced, the inside of the vegetable container is always kept at a high humidity suitable for vegetables while preventing dew condensation, and the vegetables can be stored fresh for a long period of time. Further, by disposing the cool air discharge port below the lid provided with the moisture permeable film, a cool air passage adjacent to the moisture permeable film is set long, and convective cool air is further suppressed, The moisture permeable membrane changes in the same manner as the temperature of the stored vegetables without being excessively cooled, and the same effect can be obtained. Further, since the cool air return port is disposed above the vegetable container, convection to the cool air passage formed by the vegetable container and the inner wall is facilitated, and the cool air convection in the cool air passage adjacent to the moisture permeable membrane is reduced. A similar effect can be obtained by increasing the suppression effect. Further, by forming a cool air passage on the outer periphery of the vegetable container except for the space on the top surface of the vegetable container provided with the moisture permeable membrane, the temperature stability of the upper space of the moisture permeable membrane is enhanced, and the permeation from the moisture permeable membrane is improved. The control of the amount of water vapor in the vegetable container is performed stably, and the vegetables can be stored fresh for a long period of time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a moisture-permeable film used in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a characteristic diagram showing a relationship between temperature and moisture permeability of a conventional through-hole and a moisture-permeable film. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a vegetable compartment of a refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a lid provided with a moisture-permeable membrane according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator in the second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator in the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator in the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [FIG. 8] Cross-section of conventional vegetable compartment of refrigerator [Description of symbols] 16 Moisture permeable membrane 17 Fiber 18 Shape memory resin 19 Vegetable compartment 20 Vegetable container 21 Lid 24 Cold air outlet 25 Cold air return port 28 Vegetable Room 29 Cold air outlet 31 Vegetable room 32 Partition plate 33 Cold air outlet 35 Vegetable room 37 Cold air return port

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-6-3043 (JP, A) JP-A-4-370276 (JP, A) JP-A-1-131883 (JP, A) (58) Field (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F25D 23/00 302

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims 1] A vegetable room which is opened and closed by a door, a vegetable container having a top surface opened in the vegetable room, and a vegetable container when the vegetable container is stored in the vegetable room. A lid that covers the top surface in a substantially airtight state, a moisture-permeable membrane that is made of shape memory resin and water vapor permeable fibers and that is integrally molded with the opening of the lid, and a section that forms the top surface of the vegetable compartment A wall and approximately at the rear end of the partition wall at the front
A cold air discharge port for supplying cold air are provided below to the vegetable compartment than Kifutatai, also above said vegetable container in a substantially front end
, Cold return port which cold air return cooling the vegetable compartment which is arranged in, it is formed between the outer and the vegetable compartment of the vegetable container
A cool air passage into which cool air flows from the cool air discharge port,
The cooling member is formed by a lid and the partition wall and is adjacent to the moisture permeable membrane.
A cool air passage through which part of the cool air flows in from the air discharge port.
When the temperature inside the vegetable container rises, the moisture permeable membrane
When the respiration of greens is active, the moisture permeability increases,
When the temperature inside the vegetable container stabilizes at a low temperature or when the amount of stored vegetables is
Water vapor from vegetables is low and moisture permeability is small
Refrigerator made.