JP4771841B2 - Cooling storage - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cold storage such as a refrigerator that stores objects to be cooled, such as refrigerated foods and frozen foods, in a refrigerator.

  In a cooling storage such as a household refrigerator, quick freezing cannot be performed due to the cooling capacity of the refrigerator, and in general, freezing is performed slowly.

  Thus, if freezing is performed slowly, the ice crystal | crystallization of the water | moisture content in a foodstuff may become large and may destroy the cell membrane of a foodstuff. As a result, the umami component of food flows out as a drip when thawing.

Further, for example, there is a utility model in which the inside of the cooling storage is made an electrostatic field atmosphere so as not to freeze as in Utility Model Registration No. 3101162 (Patent Document 1). There is a need to. Therefore, power consumption increases and running cost increases.
Utility Model Registration No. 3101162

  The problem to be solved is that when the object to be cooled such as food is stored at a low temperature (below the solidification temperature), the ice crystals of water in the object to be cooled become large and destroy the cell membrane.

The cooling storage of the present invention includes a cluster fragmentation device (31) that subdivides the moisture clusters in the object to be cooled (28), and the object to be cooled is stored in a sealed container (27), In the chamber (2), the cluster fragmentation device is operated in a temperature zone higher than the solidification temperature to subdivide the cluster in the object to be cooled, and then the cluster fragmentation device is stopped and the object to be cooled Is lowered below the solidification temperature.

Further, the cluster subdivision device may be an ultrasonic generator.
Furthermore, there is the non-contact temperature sensor you measure the temperature of the object to be cooled (29) is provided.

  Moreover, the non-contact temperature sensor may be installed in the container.

  Further, the container may be protected by a cushion material (26) that blocks vibration from the cooling storage body.

  According to the present invention, the cluster fragmentation device is operated in a temperature range higher than the solidification temperature to subdivide the clusters in the object to be cooled, and then the cluster fragmentation device is stopped and the temperature of the object to be cooled is solidified. Since the temperature is lower than the temperature, the temperature of the object to be cooled can be greatly reduced in a supercooled state where freezing is not performed. As a result, when the supercooled state is released, the object to be cooled can be quickly frozen, and the water ice crystals in the object to be cooled can be prevented from becoming large. In addition, the object to be cooled can be stored in a supercooled state that does not freeze at a low temperature without releasing the supercooled state.

  Furthermore, since a non-contact temperature sensor such as an infrared sensor for measuring the temperature of the object to be cooled is provided, the temperature of the object to be cooled can be accurately measured without damaging the object to be cooled.

  And, since the object to be cooled is stored in the container and is put in the warehouse, the air is not directly applied to the object to be cooled, and the temperature difference between the inside and the surface of the object to be cooled is minimized. Can do. As a result, the object to be cooled can be brought to a uniform temperature, and the temperature of the object to be cooled can be measured more accurately.

  In addition, since the non-contact temperature sensor is installed in the container, the non-contact temperature sensor and the object to be cooled are not exposed to cold air, and the non-contact temperature sensor is installed in the container, compared to the case where the non-contact temperature sensor is installed outside the container. The temperature of the object to be cooled can be measured more accurately without being affected.

  Furthermore, since the container is protected by a cushioning material that blocks vibration from the cooling storage body, it is possible to prevent as much as possible that vibration from devices such as a compressor and a blower of the cooling storage is applied to the object to be cooled. it can. As a result, when the object to be cooled is in a supercooled state, it is possible to prevent the object to be cooled from being inadvertently frozen by vibration from the device.

  When storing the object to be cooled, such as food, at a low temperature (below the solidification temperature), the object is to prevent as much as possible that the ice crystals of the water in the object to be cooled become large and the cell membrane is destroyed. Equipped with a cluster fragmentation device that subdivides the water clusters inside, and operates the cluster fragmentation device in a temperature range higher than the solidification temperature to subdivide the clusters in the object to be cooled. This was achieved by stopping and lowering the temperature of the object to be cooled below the solidification temperature.

  Next, an embodiment of the cooling storage according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the lower part of one embodiment of the cooling storage according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a time chart when the food is cooled. FIG. 3 is an input / output diagram of the control device. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for cooling the food. In FIG. 3, only main parts related to the cooling of the food are shown, and other parts not shown are also connected to the control device.

First, the overall configuration of the cooling storage will be described.
In FIG. 1, the main body of the refrigerator which is a cooling storage is comprised with the heat insulation box 1 which the front surface opened. The interior space of the heat insulation box 1, that is, the interior 2, is partitioned into a plurality by a substantially horizontal heat insulation partition wall 3. And the front opening of the heat insulation box 1 is obstruct | occluded so that opening and closing is possible by the heat insulation door (not shown).

  The cooler 16 and the cooler blower 17 are disposed in the ventilation duct 18. When the cooler blower 17 operates, the air cooled by the cooler 16 is supplied to the interior 2 from the air outlet 18a of the ventilation duct 18 as shown by the arrows, and the air in the interior 2 is It returns to the ventilation duct 18 from the inlet 18b of the ventilation duct 18, and is cooled by the cooler 16 while the air in the warehouse 2 circulates. The air volume of the cool air to the inside 2 is adjusted by the damper 19.

  Further, a machine room 21 is formed below the rear portion of the heat insulating box 1, and a compressor 22 and the like are disposed in the machine room 21. The compressor 22 constitutes a refrigeration cycle together with the above-described cooler 16 and a condenser (not shown). When the compressor 22 operates, the refrigerant circulates in the refrigeration cycle, and the temperature of the cooler 16 decreases.

  An airtight container 27 is placed on the shelf 24 in the warehouse 2 via a cushion material 26. The inner surface of the container 27 is not damaged, and a food product 28 such as meat, which is an object to be cooled, stored at a low temperature is stored in the container 27. In the container 27, a temperature sensor 29 for an object to be cooled, which is a non-contact temperature sensor such as an infrared sensor for measuring the temperature of the food 28, is provided. Further, the container 27 is provided with an ultrasonic generator 31 which is a cluster fragmentation device. The ultrasonic generator 31 irradiates the food 28 with ultrasonic waves.

  In FIG. 3, the cooling storage is provided with a control device 36 for controlling equipment such as the refrigerator, the damper 19, and the ultrasonic generator 31 composed of the cooler blower 17 and the compressor 22. It has been. The control device 36 is configured by a microcomputer or the like, and in particular, a signal from the temperature sensor 29 for the object to be cooled is input regarding the cooling of the food 28. In addition, drive signals are output from the control device 36 to the cooler blower 17, the compressor 22, the damper 19, the ultrasonic generator 31, and the like. Various setting values are stored in the storage unit (EPROM, RAM, etc.) of the control device 36, and a timer is incorporated.

  Regarding the low temperature preservation of the food 28 of the cooling storage of this embodiment, the set value set in the storage unit of the control device 36 is a uniformization for cooling the food 28 to a substantially uniform temperature at a temperature higher than the solidification temperature. There are provided a set temperature for supercooling that causes freezing and rapid freezing in a supercooled state lower than the set temperature for use and the solidification temperature, and a set temperature for keeping cold for storing food 28. Note that the set temperature for cold insulation can be the same value as the set temperature for supercooling.

Next, the flow at the time of cooling the food 28 is demonstrated based on the time chart of FIG. 2, and the flowchart of FIG.
When the food 28 is cooled, the food 28 is stored in a container 27 and sealed. And this container 27 is mounted on the shelf 24 of the inside 2 via the cushion material 26. Next, the temperature sensor 29 for the object to be cooled and the ultrasonic generator 31 are connected to a power source (not shown) and the controller 36 by wire or wirelessly. Moreover, the control apparatus 36 operates the refrigerator comprised with the compressor 22, the air blower 17 for coolers, etc. FIG.

  In step 1, the control device 36 operates the ultrasonic generator 31 and goes to step 2.

  In step 2, the control device 36 adjusts the opening degree of the damper 19 so that the temperature of the food 28 detected by the object temperature sensor 29 becomes a set temperature for homogenization (for example, 2 ° C.). At first, since the temperature of the food 28 is high, the opening degree of the damper 19 is large. However, as the temperature of the food substance 28 is lowered, the opening degree of the damper 19 becomes small. And when the foodstuff 28 becomes substantially uniform temperature, the opening degree of the damper 19 will be stabilized and will be in a substantially constant state. In step 3, if this constant state continues for a predetermined time, the control device 36 determines that the temperature has become substantially uniform up to the inside of the food 28, and goes to step 4.

  In step 4, the control device 36 stops the ultrasonic generator 31 and goes to step 5. In step 5, the control device 36 fully opens the damper 19, rapidly decreases the temperature of the food 28, and goes to step 6.

  In step 6, when the temperature of the food 28 detected by the to-be-cooled object temperature sensor 29 reaches the supercooling set temperature (for example, −10 ° C.), the control device 36 operates the ultrasonic generator 31. The ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic generator 31 at this time is stronger irradiation than that in step 1. Then, the food 28 is rapidly frozen by ultrasonic stimulation. Then go to step 7.

In step 7, the control device 36 adjusts the opening degree of the damper 19 so that the temperature of the food 28 detected by the temperature sensor 29 for the object to be cooled becomes a set temperature for cold preservation (for example, −9 ° C.). In step 8, the control device 36 stops the ultrasonic generator 31 and ends the irradiation of ultrasonic waves for a predetermined time.

In this way, the control device as the control means is 1) means for operating the cluster subdivision device in a temperature zone higher than the solidification temperature to subdivide the clusters in the object to be cooled, and 2) after cluster subdivision, Means for stopping the cluster fragmentation device and lowering the temperature of the object to be cooled below the solidification temperature is provided.
In addition to the above means, the control means includes means for executing each process corresponding to each process to be executed. Further, it is not always necessary to have all the above means.

  In this embodiment, the moisture cluster of the food 28 is reduced by the ultrasonic generator 31 in a temperature range higher than the solidification temperature. By the way, if the food 28 has a large water cluster, the water easily solidifies with the large cluster as a nucleus. Therefore, when the temperature of the food 28 is lowered below the solidification temperature, the water starts to freeze immediately. And after that, since ice is slowly formed, the crystal of ice becomes large. On the other hand, when the moisture cluster is made small as in this embodiment, even if the temperature of the food 28 is lowered below the solidification temperature, the moisture is not easily frozen, and the temperature of the supercooled state can be lowered. Therefore, when the food 28 in the supercooled state is stimulated and freezing is started, quick freezing is performed with the cooling energy accumulated in the food 28 and the ice crystals are reduced. Further, when no stimulus is applied (step 6 and step 8 in the embodiment are deleted), as shown by the broken line in FIG. 2, the food 28 is stored in a supercooled state (a temperature lower than the solidification temperature) that does not freeze. can do.

As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to the said Example, A various change is performed within the range of the summary of this invention described in the claim. It is possible. Examples of modifications of the present invention are illustrated below.
(1) In the above embodiment, the cluster subdivision apparatus is the ultrasonic generator 31. However, the cluster subdivision apparatus may be other means as long as it can subdivide the cluster. Is possible. However, the ultrasonic generator 31 is preferable.
(2) The object to be cooled is not necessarily the food 28.

(3) The order of the steps in each flowchart can be changed as appropriate.
(4) The control means is composed of a microcomputer, but other configurations are possible.

(5) The stimulus for freezing from the supercooled state is performed by ultrasonic irradiation from the ultrasonic generator 31, but can be performed by other methods, for example, vibration. However, if it is performed by the ultrasonic generator 31, both the cluster subdivision and the stimulation can be performed by the same apparatus.
(6) The cooling of the food 28 can be appropriately selected, such as damper control and air flow control, as long as the temperature of the food 28 can be stabilized. That is, the damper 19 and the cooler blower 17 are not necessarily required.

(7) In order to make the food 28 a uniform temperature that is slightly higher than the coagulation temperature, in the above embodiment, the set temperature for homogenization is set. The temperature can be changed automatically or manually (operation of a setting button or the like). It is also possible to automatically determine whether or not the temperature of the food 28 has become uniform based on the cooling speed of the food 28 or the like.
(8) In order to set the frequency of the ultrasonic wave emitted from the ultrasonic wave generator 31 in step 1 to a value suitable for the food 28, the frequency of the ultrasonic wave emitted from the ultrasonic wave generator 31 is set automatically or manually. It is possible to change with.
(9) If the temperature sensor 29 for a to-be-cooled object can measure the temperature of the foodstuff 28, the structure and form can be selected suitably. However, it is preferable to use a non-contact temperature sensor such as an infrared sensor because the temperature of the food 28 can be accurately measured without damaging the food 28.

  The cluster subdividing device can subdivide the cluster in the object to be cooled in a temperature range higher than the solidification temperature. And by this segmentation of a cluster, a to-be-cooled object becomes difficult to freeze, and a to-be-cooled object can be cooled to a low temperature in a supercooled state. Therefore, it is most suitable to apply to the cooling storage which preserve | saves to-be-cooled objects, such as food, at low temperature.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the lower part of one embodiment of the cooling storage according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a time chart when the food is cooled. FIG. 3 is an input / output diagram of the control device. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for cooling the food.

Explanation of symbols

2 Inside 26 Cushion material 27 Container 28 Food (object to be cooled)
29 Temperature sensor for object to be cooled (non-contact temperature sensor)
31 Ultrasonic generator (cluster fragmentation device)

Claims (5)

Equipped with a cluster fragmentation device that subdivides the moisture clusters in the object to be cooled,
The object to be cooled is stored in a closed container and is put in a warehouse .
The cluster fragmentation device is operated in a temperature zone higher than the solidification temperature to subdivide the clusters in the object to be cooled, and then the cluster fragmentation device is stopped and the temperature of the object to be cooled is lowered below the solidification temperature. Cooling storage characterized by that. The cooling storage according to claim 1, wherein the cluster subdividing device is an ultrasonic generator. The object to be cooled according to claim 1 or 2 cooling storage according non-contact temperature sensor you measure the temperature is characterized in that provided for. The said non-contact temperature sensor is installed in the said airtight container, The cooling storehouse of Claim 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. The sealed container, any one cooling storage according to claims 1 is characterized in that it is protected by the cushion material to block vibrations from the cooling storage body 4.

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