JPH0771865A - Electric refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] With a humidity control function in the vegetable case of the electric refrigerator,
Allows long-term storage of vegetables by adding ethylene gas discharge function. [Structure] To maintain the freshness of vegetables, it is necessary to maintain the humidity in the vegetable case 14 at around 90% and to discharge ethylene gas, which is harmful to vegetables, from the vegetable case 14. In order to satisfy this condition, the top opening of the vegetable case 14 is covered with a lid 15 as shown in FIG. An opening 20 is provided on the upper surface of the lid 15, and a frame 23 accommodating a humidity control plate 21 and an ethylene permeable membrane 22 in an overlapping manner is attached to the opening 20. The ethylene permeable membrane 22 is on the humidity control plate 21. The humidity control plate 21 is a vegetable case
When the humidity inside 14 rises too much, it absorbs moisture, and when it decreases too much, it releases into the vegetable case 14. Further, since the ethylene permeable membrane 13 allows only ethylene gas to pass therethrough and does not allow water to pass therethrough, it is possible to discharge only ethylene gas, which is harmful to vegetables, while maintaining an appropriate humidity in the vegetable case 14, so that vegetables can be stored for a long time. Is possible.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric refrigerator (hereinafter referred to as "refrigerator"), and more particularly to a means for long-term preservation of vegetables in a vegetable case in a fresh state.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A vegetable compartment for storing fruits and vegetables is formed in a refrigerator, and a vegetable case that can be taken in and out is accommodated in this vegetable compartment. By the way, in order to preserve vegetables for a long time, the inside of the vegetable case has high humidity (around 90%).
However, the refrigerator has a cooler for generating cold air, and the water in the cold air is condensed and frozen on the cooler surface during the process of circulating the cold air. Since it is discharged outside, the inside of the refrigerator is always in a condition where it is easy to dry. Therefore, in the conventional refrigerator, a lid for sealing the upper opening of the vegetable case is provided to prevent the escape of water and prevent the vegetables from drying. In some cases, a humidity control plate made of a hygroscopic resin material is provided inside the vegetable case or the like to adjust the humidity in the vegetable case.

[0003]

By the way, there are two types of the above-mentioned lids, one that also serves as a partition that separates the upper refrigerating compartment from the lower vegetable compartment, and one that has a dedicated lid. There are types. In the former case, it was structurally difficult to completely seal the vegetable case, and it was difficult to keep the inside of the vegetable case at high humidity. Also, in the latter case, it is possible to seal the vegetable case, which is advantageous in preventing the escape of water, but there is a risk that dew will be generated in the vegetable case, and further, it will be released from the vegetables. There is a drawback that ethylene gas accumulates in the vegetable case and accelerates vegetable aging. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electric refrigerator provided with means capable of eliminating these drawbacks.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and is an electric refrigerator in which a lid is placed on the upper opening of a vegetable case housed in a vegetable compartment. A frame in which an opening is provided on the upper surface of the lid, and a humidity control plate for adjusting the humidity in the vegetable case and an ethylene permeable membrane that transmits ethylene gas generated in the vegetable case are stacked in the opening. I decided to install the body freely.

[0005]

With the above structure, there is an opening on the upper surface of the lid that covers the vegetable case, and the humidity control plate for adjusting the humidity inside the vegetable case is generated in the opening in the vegetable case. Since there are double layers of ethylene permeable membrane that permeates ethylene gas, which is harmful for long-term storage of vegetables, the humidity inside the vegetable case can be adjusted appropriately by the humidity control plate, and the ethylene permeable membrane can also be used for vegetables. The ethylene gas in the case can be transmitted to the outside, and the vegetables can last longer.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows a schematic structure of a refrigerator. 1 is an outer box 2 made of steel plate and an inner box 3 made of plastic.
And a heat insulating body 4. The inside (inner box 3) of this heat-insulating box 1 is divided into freezer 7 by partition bodies 5 and 6.
It is divided into a refrigerator compartment 8 and a vegetable compartment 9. On the back side of the freezer compartment 7, there are a cooler 10 for generating cool air, a blower 11 for circulating the cool air to the compartments 7, 8 and 9, a cool air distribution compartment 12, etc., and a refrigerating compartment behind the refrigerating compartment 8. 8 and the vegetable compartment 9 have a duct 13 for sending cold air, and the cold air circulates in the direction of the arrow. The vegetable compartment 9 has a vegetable case 14, and a lid 15 is put on the upper opening of the vegetable case 14. The vegetable case 14 is a frame-like support attached to the rear of the door 16. Since it is supported by the body 17, it can be taken out and in with the opening and closing of the door 16, and the lid body 15 can be attached and detached with the door being pulled to the maximum extent.

FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the vegetable case 14 and the lid body 15. A plurality of holes 18 are formed in the front edge of the vegetable case 14, and these holes are formed in the lower portion of the vegetable case 14 and This is for circulating the cool air in the peripheral portion to the refrigerating compartment 8 side.
On the other hand, a convex portion 19 that comes into contact with the upper surface of the vegetable case 14 is provided on the lower portion of the front edge of the lid body 15 to block the flow of cold air between the vegetable compartment 9 and the inside of the vegetable case 14. The other three sides are also configured to block cold air. By the way, the feature of this embodiment is that the opening 20 is provided on the upper surface of the lid 15, and the humidity control plate 21 for adjusting the humidity in the vegetable case 14 is provided in the opening 20.
And a frame body 23 accommodating the ethylene permeable membrane 22 permeable to the ethylene gas generated in the vegetable case 14 in an overlapping manner. The configuration will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A--A of FIG. 2. The opening 20 of the lid 15 has a substantially L-shaped support for fixing the frame 23 to the lid 15. The portion 24 is provided, and a locking hole (square hole) 26 for locking each of a plurality of locking pieces 25 provided at the lower peripheral edge of the frame body 23 is formed at the base of the support portion 24. On the other hand, on the frame 23 side, a plurality of claw portions 27 are provided in addition to the locking piece 25 described above, and the claw portions 27 are used to utilize the vegetable compartment 14
The humidity control plate 21 on the side, and the ethylene permeable membrane 22 on the upper part of the humidity control plate 21 to temporarily fix the humidity control plate 21, and then bring the humidity control plate 21 into contact with the substantially L-shaped support portion 24 of the lid body 15 as well as the locking piece 25 is engaged with the locking hole 26 so as to restrain the movement of the humidity control plate 21 and the ethylene permeable membrane 22.

With such a structure, when the humidity in the vegetable case 14 rises too much, the humidity control plate 21 absorbs excess moisture (moisture), and conversely the humidity in the vegetable case 14 is reduced. When the temperature falls below the level required for storing vegetables, the absorbed moisture is released into the vegetable case 14, so that the vegetable case 14 is always kept at an appropriate humidity. Further, since the ethylene permeable film 22 has a function of transmitting only ethylene gas without transmitting moisture, it is possible to release ethylene gas harmful to vegetables without lowering the humidity in the vegetable case 14. It should be noted that when the functions of the humidity control plate 21 and the ethylene permeable membrane 22 are deteriorated, they cannot be replaced even in the state shown in FIG. 3, but the frame body 23 has a detachable structure, so it is better to remove it. Can be easily replaced.

[0010]

According to the refrigerator constructed as described above, since the humidity in the vegetable case is appropriately maintained by the action of the humidity control plate, there is no dew inside the case, and Since ethylene gas, which is harmful to vegetables, is released to the outside of the case by the action of the ethylene permeable membrane, vegetables and fruits can be stored for a long period of time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a main part of an electric refrigerator according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an essential part showing an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Insulation box 9 Vegetable room 14 Vegetable case 15 Lid 20 Opening 21 Humidity control plate 22 Ethylene permeable membrane 23 Frame 24 Support 25 Locking piece 26 Locking hole 27 Claw

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An electric refrigerator in which a lid is placed on the upper opening of a vegetable case housed in a vegetable compartment,
A frame in which an opening is provided on the upper surface of the lid, and a humidity control plate for adjusting the humidity in the vegetable case and an ethylene permeable membrane that transmits ethylene gas generated in the vegetable case are stacked in the opening. An electric refrigerator characterized in that the body is detachably provided. 2. The electric refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the ethylene permeable membrane is laminated on the humidity control plate. 3. A support part for supporting the humidity control plate in the frame body is integrally provided in the opening part of the lid body, and the support part is provided with a plurality of locking pieces provided at a lower peripheral portion of the frame body. The electric refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a corresponding locking hole is provided.