JP4479080B2 - Refrigerator with egg case - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a general household refrigerator provided with an egg case for storing chicken eggs.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Eggs are frequently eaten in ordinary households due to their price, nutritional value, and versatility. There are various ways to cook eggs, such as eating raw, boiling, baking, and steaming. Even in the case of cooking, in order to leave the mellow taste, heating is often stopped in a half-life state. Therefore, depending on the cooking method, there are cases where the egg must be fresh or not necessarily. In many homes, multiple eggs are purchased in batches and stored in the refrigerator and gradually used. Therefore, the freshness of each egg is judged, and those with good freshness are bad for raw or semi-raw foods. Things need to be used separately for cooking that heats up firmly.
[0003]
As a method of clearly judging the freshness of eggs, in general households, the date of egg laying, expiration date, and empirical storage period indicated on the packaging are judged. In recent years, there is a freshness determination using short-wavelength visible light or ultraviolet light.
[0004]
The storage period converted from the date of egg laying is an empirical value, and egg inspection is to inspect the surface condition such as egg shape, cracks in the shell, gloss and contamination. Needed.
[0005]
An example of freshness determination using short-wavelength visible light or ultraviolet light is shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-87043, and the mechanism will be described below.
[0006]
When eggs are formed into eggshells in the uterine uterus, pigments such as porphyrin are secreted from the uterus and adhere to the eggshell. When this dye is irradiated with ultraviolet light, red autofluorescence is observed, and the autofluorescence is most intensely observed in the eggshell immediately after egg laying, and then gradually declines. From this knowledge, eggs are irradiated with short-wave visible light or ultraviolet light, autofluorescence is measured using a UV cut filter and bandpass filter, and the measured autofluorescence is compared with a color chart to identify freshness. It is.
[0007]
Further, in recent years, the method of preserving hen's eggs at home in recent years is only storage at a low temperature or normal temperature, and sterilization is not performed.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above-described conventional techniques have elements that are insufficient and inappropriate for determining the freshness of eggs at home. Predicting freshness based on the date of egg laying is only an empirical and general criterion, and in view of the fact that the storage method has been improved by reducing the temperature and temperature of the refrigerator as it is today, it is insufficient in terms of accuracy. . Another problem is that the freshness of individual eggs cannot be determined.
[0009]
Although egg inspection is necessary for quality control, it is not directly linked to freshness determination, and it relies heavily on experience-based techniques, making it unsuitable for freshness determination at home.
[0010]
A freshness determination apparatus using short-wavelength visible light or ultraviolet light has problems of the complexity of the autofluorescence intensity apparatus, the harmfulness of ultraviolet light, and the durability of the ultraviolet lamp.
[0011]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the conventional problems and to provide a technique capable of easily and safely judging the freshness of individual eggs visually in a general home with a simple device.
[0012]
Regardless of the food industry, hygiene management in the home is regarded as a problem due to the frequent occurrence of food poisoning cases, and sterilization of foods stored and stored in refrigerators is also an issue. In particular, eggs may be attached to chicken manure, but the storage method at home is storage at low or normal temperature, and hygiene management is not sufficient.
[0013]
Another object of the present invention is to preserve eggs in a more fresh manner by keeping the eggshell surface non-destructively and hygienic by sterilization.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises an openable / closable door, a heat insulating box, and a cooling means for cooling the inside of the refrigerator formed by the door and the heat insulating box. An egg case formed of an opening / closing lid and a side wall for storing individual eggs, and an observation means for viewing a plurality of eggs stored in the egg case, wherein the egg case and the observation means transmit ultraviolet rays let not a material, it said in ovo case in which a built-in ultraviolet-ray emission means for emitting light of a wavelength having a bactericidal action to the wavelength that excites autofluorescence porphyrins, eggs are excited by ultraviolet rays to excite autofluorescence By visually judging the autofluorescence intensity of the eggs in the case, it is possible to judge the freshness of each egg easily and safely, and at the same time sterilize the egg surface and other articles with ultraviolet rays that also have a bactericidal action. By cold insulation Presence is possible.
[0015]
The invention according to claim 2 is the one according to claim 1 , further comprising a lid open / close recognition device on the open / close lid of the egg case, and a control device that turns off the ultraviolet lamp when the open / close lid is opened. Prevents the skin from being directly exposed to ultraviolet rays when removed from the case.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a refrigerator with an egg case of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0017]
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of a refrigerator with an egg case, showing Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0018]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a refrigerator with an egg case 5, which includes an openable / closable door 2, a heat insulating box 3, and a refrigerator 4 formed by the door 2 and the heat insulating box 3. The refrigerator 4 is cooled by vaporizing the refrigerant compressed and condensed by the compressor 6 of the refrigeration cycle stored in the rear of the bottom of the refrigerator 1. The cool air around the heat exchanger 7 is cooled by being discharged to the refrigerator 4 by the fan 8. A shelf 10 is provided on the door back 9 of the door 2, and an egg case 5 is installed on the predetermined shelf 10. Reference numeral 11 denotes a lamp in the refrigerator 4 which is controlled to be turned on when the door 2 is opened and turned off when the door 2 is closed through the control device 13 by detection of the door opening / closing recognition device 12 attached to the heat insulating box 3.
[0019]
2 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of a main part of the egg case 5 installed in the door back 10 of the door 2 in FIG. 1 according to the first embodiment.
[0020]
The egg case 5 includes a tray 19 in which a plurality of eggs 18 are stored in an egg case inner space 17 formed by a box 15 having an opening 14 and an opening / closing lid 16 of the opening.
[0021]
Reference numeral 20 denotes an ultraviolet lamp (ultraviolet generation means) that emits ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 365 nm that excites autofluorescence such as porphyrin adhering to the surfaces of a plurality of eggs 18 and a wavelength of 260 nm that has a bactericidal action. When the plurality of eggs 18 are irradiated with ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 365 nm emitted from the ultraviolet lamp 20, an observation means 21 is installed in the open / close lid 16 in order to observe the autofluorescence of the eggs 18. Reference numeral 22 denotes a lid opening / closing recognition device for the opening / closing lid 16 attached to a contact portion between the box 15 and the opening / closing lid 16.
[0022]
The box 15 is made of a plastic material that does not transmit ultraviolet light and visible light to the egg case inner space 17. An ultraviolet reflector 23 is provided on the back surface of the ultraviolet lamp 20. A stainless steel reflecting wall 24 is provided which has a mirror finish that reflects ultraviolet rays and is highly resistant to ultraviolet rays.
[0023]
The observation means 21 has a UV cut filter 25 that transmits visible light without transmitting ultraviolet light, and is positioned so that all of the plurality of eggs 18 can be seen. The ultraviolet lamp 20 is controlled to be turned on / off by the detection of the door opening / closing recognition device 12 of the door 2 and the lid opening / closing recognition device 22 of the opening / closing lid 16 and the control device 13.
[0024]
About the refrigerator 1 with an egg case comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement is demonstrated below.
[0025]
First, when the door 2 is closed, the ultraviolet lamp 20 is not turned on because the door opening / closing recognition device 12 detects the closing of the door 2.
[0026]
Next, when the door 2 is opened, the ultraviolet lamp 20 is energized and turned on if the open / close cover 16 is closed. At this time, the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet lamp 20 include ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 365 nm that excites autofluorescence such as porphyrin adhering to the surfaces of the plurality of eggs 18. As shown in the official gazette, eggs with a high degree of freshness in which a large amount of porphyrin remains are fluoresced in red, and those with a low degree of freshness appear white because the amount of porphyrin declines and the amount of fluorescence decreases. By observing this from the observation means 21, it is possible to determine the freshness of each of the plurality of eggs 18.
[0027]
When the opening / closing lid 16 is opened, the control device 13 receives a signal for opening the opening / closing lid 16 of the lid opening / closing recognition device 22 and turns off the ultraviolet lamp 20 and turns it off. This is to avoid the danger of directly receiving ultraviolet rays on the skin or the like. By turning off the ultraviolet lamp 20, the plurality of eggs 18 can be safely removed from the egg case inner space 17.
[0028]
Therefore, when it is not necessary to judge the freshness of the egg, that is, when the door 2 is closed, the ultraviolet lamp 20 is turned off. Thereby, the durable period of the ultraviolet lamp 20 can be lengthened. Further, when it is necessary to judge the freshness of the eggs, that is, when the door 2 is opened, the observation means 21 is provided with the UV cut filter 25, so that the plurality of eggs 18 can be detected without directly seeing the ultraviolet rays. Individual freshness can be determined, and the egg 18 can be removed safely when the opening / closing cover 16 is opened.
[0029]
Further, the surface of the box 14 facing the egg case internal space 17 is provided with a stainless steel reflecting wall 24 having a mirror finish that reflects ultraviolet rays, so that ultraviolet rays are irradiated on the surfaces of the plurality of eggs 18 from various directions. In addition, the freshness can be determined from the fluorescence intensity of the whole egg 18, and a high sterilizing effect can be obtained. At the same time, deterioration of the entire egg case internal space 17 by ultraviolet rays can be suppressed.
[0030]
As described above, the refrigerator 1 with the egg case 5 according to the first embodiment reflects the ultraviolet rays in the egg case inner space 17 and does not leak the ultraviolet rays to the outside of the egg case 5, and the door opening / closing recognition device. 12, a lid open / close recognition device 22 for the open / close lid 16, and an ultraviolet lamp 20. When looking at a plurality of eggs 18, the freshness can be safely and easily maintained without any special attention without troublesome procedures. At the same time, the UV lamp is automatically turned off when it is not needed, thereby improving its durability.
[0031]
(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an egg case installed in a door back portion of a refrigerator door, showing Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In addition, about the same structure as Embodiment 1, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.
[0032]
In FIG. 3, reference numeral 26 denotes an ultraviolet lamp A (first ultraviolet lamp) for excitation of autofluorescence that emits ultraviolet light having a peak in the vicinity of a wavelength of 365 nm that excites autofluorescence such as porphyrin attached to the eggshell surface. This is an ultraviolet lamp B (second ultraviolet lamp) for sterilization that emits ultraviolet light having a peak near a wavelength of 260 nm having a sterilizing action. The ultraviolet lamp A26 controls turning on and off by the control device 13 based on the opening / closing signals of the door opening / closing recognition device 12 and the lid opening / closing recognition device 22, and the ultraviolet lamp B27 is connected to the door opening / closing recognition device 12 and the lid opening / closing recognition device 22. In addition to the control device 13, lighting and extinguishing are controlled by an egg sterilization switch 28 installed outside the door 2 of the refrigerator 4. That is, the sterilizing ultraviolet lamp B27 is turned on for a predetermined time after the door 2 is closed, and is always turned off when the opening / closing cover 16 is opened, and is also turned on for a predetermined time when the egg sterilization switch 28 is turned on.
[0033]
About the refrigerator with an egg case comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement is demonstrated below.
[0034]
First, when the door 2 of the refrigerator is closed, the ultraviolet lamp A26 for self-fluorescence excitation does not light because the door opening / closing recognition device 12 detects the closing of the door 2. The sterilizing ultraviolet lamp B27 is turned on for a predetermined time after the door 2 is closed, and is energized and lit for a predetermined time even when the egg sterilization switch 28 is turned on.
[0035]
Next, when the door 2 is opened, if the open / close cover 16 is closed, the ultraviolet lamp A26 for self-fluorescence excitation is turned on. However, when the open / close cover 16 is opened, the control device 13 detects the cover open / close recognition device 22. The ultraviolet lamp 26 for autofluorescence excitation is turned off.
[0036]
Therefore, when it is not necessary to judge the freshness of the egg, that is, when the door 2 is closed, the ultraviolet lamp 26 for autofluorescence excitation is extinguished, and the ultraviolet lamp 27 for sterilization is a predetermined time from when the door 2 is closed. Especially, the light is turned off except for a certain time when the egg sterilization switch 28 is turned on as necessary. Thereby, the durable period of a lamp can be lengthened. When it is necessary to judge the freshness of the plurality of eggs 18, that is, when the door 2 is opened, only the ultraviolet lamp A26 for autofluorescence excitation is turned on, and the ultraviolet lamp B27 for sterilization is not turned on. Therefore, the red autofluorescence emitted from the porphyrin becomes clear, the freshness can be judged more clearly from the observation means 21, and the egg 18 can be removed safely when the opening / closing lid 16 is opened.
[0037]
In addition, the use of the egg sterilization switch 28 allows manual sterilization operation when it is considered necessary, so that sanitary preservation can be achieved.
[0038]
Furthermore, a stronger effect can be expected by using two kinds of ultraviolet lamps that emit ultraviolet rays having a large peak at a wavelength having autofluorescence excitation action and bactericidal action.
[0039]
As described above, the refrigerator with an egg case of Embodiment 2 reflects the ultraviolet rays in the egg case inner space 17 and does not leak the ultraviolet rays to the outside of the egg case 5, the egg case 5, the door opening / closing recognition device 12, and the like. The lid open / close recognizing device 22, an ultraviolet lamp 26 for self-fluorescence excitation, an ultraviolet lamp 27 for sterilization, and an egg sterilization switch 28 are used. The freshness can be judged safely and easily without paying, and at the same time, by using two ultraviolet lamps A26 and B27 according to the action, the lamp is automatically turned off when it is unnecessary. It is possible to make each action stronger at the same time as extending the durability period. In addition, the sterilization ultraviolet lamp B27 can be stored more hygienically than before by the lighting by daily operation of opening and closing the door 2 and the lighting as needed by turning on the egg sterilization switch 28. It becomes.
[0040]
(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of an egg case installed in a door back portion of a refrigerator door, showing Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In addition, about the same structure as Embodiment 1 and 2, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.
[0041]
In FIG. 4, 29 is an image extraction device that projects a plurality of eggs 18 stored in the egg case inner space 17, 30 is a UV cut filter attached to the image extraction device 29, and 31 is the image extraction device 29. It is a short pass filter that transmits only a wavelength of 650 nm or less.
[0042]
Reference numeral 32 denotes an image display device that displays an image extracted by the image extraction device 29 by turning on the image display switch 33.
[0043]
About refrigerator with egg case having sterilization and freshness determination function configured as above,
The operation will be described below.
[0044]
First, when the image display switch 33 is in the OFF state, the ultraviolet lamp A26 for autofluorescence excitation is turned off, and the image extraction device 29 and the image display device 32 are not operated. By turning on the image display switch 33, the ultraviolet lamp A26 for autofluorescence excitation is turned on, the image extraction device 29 and the image display device 32 are also operated, and a plurality of autofluorescence intensities reflected on the image display device 32 are activated. It becomes possible to easily determine the freshness of the egg 18. However, when the open / close cover 16 is opened, the autofluorescence excitation UV lamp A26 and the sterilization UV lamp B27 are turned off regardless of the state of the image display switch 33, and the image extraction device 29 and the image display device 32 are turned off. Stop. The operation of the ultraviolet lamp B27 for sterilization is controlled by the door opening / closing recognition device 12 of the door 2, the lid opening / closing recognition device 22 of the opening / closing lid 16, and the egg sterilization switch 28.
[0045]
As described above, the refrigerator with an egg case of Embodiment 3 reflects the ultraviolet rays in the egg case inner space 17 and does not leak the ultraviolet rays to the outside of the egg case 5, and the door case recognition of the egg case 5 and the door 2 The apparatus 12 includes a lid open / close recognition device 22 for an open / close lid, an egg sterilization switch 28, an image extraction device 29, an image display device 32, and an image display switch 33. The image extraction device 29 and the image display device 32 and the image display switch 33 are attached, and when the open / close lid 16 is closed, the visible light hardly penetrates into the egg case inner space 17 so that the interference of observation of the autofluorescence of the egg 18 by the visible light is suppressed. The By attaching the UV cut filter 30 and the short pass filter 31 to the image extraction device 29, only the light beam around 635 nm, which is one of the wavelengths of the autofluorescence of porphyrin, is extracted, and the freshness can be judged more easily. In addition, the UV lamp 23 for self-fluorescence excitation is not lit when the door 2 is opened, but is lit only when the freshness of the egg 18 is judged, thereby further reducing its consumption and at the same time deteriorating to the egg case. It is also possible to reduce the action.
[0046]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the refrigerator includes an egg case formed of an opening / closing lid and a side wall in which a plurality of eggs are stored, and a plurality of eggs stored in the egg case. The egg case and the observation means are made of a material that does not transmit ultraviolet light, and the egg case emits light having a wavelength that excites the autofluorescence of porphyrin and has a bactericidal action. A refrigerator with an egg case that has built-in generating means and can irradiate the surface of the plurality of eggs for a predetermined time with a control device. It can be stored more hygienically.
[0047]
The invention according to claim 2, in addition to the invention of claim 1, when you open the lid of the egg case is provided with a device for eggs inside the case of the ultraviolet lamp is turned off, when taking out the eggs Prevents UV rays from being directly applied to the body.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator with an egg case in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows an egg case 5 installed on the door back 10 of the door 2 in FIG. 1 in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of an egg case installed in the door back portion of the refrigerator door according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the door back portion of the refrigerator door according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Longitudinal section of the egg case installed 【Explanation of symbols】
2 door 3 heat insulation box 4 inside refrigerator 5 egg case 13 control device 16 open / close lid 17 egg case internal space 18 plural eggs 20 UV lamp 21 observation means 22 lid open / close recognition device 26 UV lamp A
27 UV lamp B
28 Egg sterilization switch 29 Image extraction device 32 Image display device

Claims (2)

The door comprises an openable / closable door, a heat insulating box, and a cooling means for cooling the inside of the refrigerator formed by the door and the heat insulating box. The refrigerator includes an opening / closing lid and a side wall for storing a plurality of eggs. An egg case to be formed, and an observation means for looking over a plurality of eggs stored in the egg case, wherein the egg case and the observation means are made of a material that does not transmit ultraviolet rays, Built-in ultraviolet light generating means that emits light with a wavelength that excites autofluorescence of porphyrin and a wavelength that has a bactericidal action, and is capable of irradiating the plurality of egg surfaces with a control device for a predetermined time. refrigerator. 2. The refrigerator with egg case according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing lid in the egg case has a lid opening / closing recognition device, and the ultraviolet lamp is turned off when the opening / closing lid is opened by the control device.

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