JP5131340B2 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator having effects such as promoting the production of nutrients and the effect of increasing umami taste by controlling the biological reaction of crops during storage with respect to rice and the like which are grains after harvesting.

  In recent years, people tend to keep and promote health management from their normal diet. In particular, cereals such as rice, cereals, vegetables, and fruits are taken consciously to maintain and promote health, and more nutritious varieties are actively consumed. The desire to do is high. In addition, among the excellent functional substances and abundant nutrients contained in brown rice, γ-aminobutyric acid, which is particularly abundant in germinated brown rice, suppresses the increase of inositol and neutral fat, which improves fat metabolism, and reduces blood pressure. Many effects such as lowering have been demonstrated, and it has attracted much attention as a food that promotes health. Germinated brown rice has greatly increased sales demand despite its high price. On the other hand, there is an increasing need to easily produce germinated brown rice at home. As shown in Patent Document 1, a container for immersing brown rice by germination is composed of an antibacterial metal material, and an inner pot in which brown rice and water are poured into a heating pot having a heater at the bottom and side outer periphery. There is known an electric heater for producing germinated brown rice as shown in FIG. 4 which can be easily produced for domestic germination brown rice which is housed and heated by a heater to promote germination.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-117713

  However, in conventional electric heaters for germinating brown rice, brown rice is immersed and heated by a heater to promote germination. Therefore, spoilage due to the growth of microorganisms and sultry odor are generated at the germination stage, which is delicious and sanitary. There was a problem that the case where it was not possible to make a typical germinated brown rice occurred.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and by giving an appropriate external stimulus to grain containing brown rice in a low temperature environment, the biological reaction is promoted or the biological reaction is suppressed. In order to promote the biological reaction, it is possible to promote the biological reaction in which brown rice germinates without being immersed or heated. Therefore, seeds that store nutrients and remain dormant while waiting for germination, such as brown rice, and highly nutritious foods rich in vitamins and minerals necessary for germination are By stimulating the accumulation of γ-aminobutyric acid in response to external stimuli, a biological reaction that immediately promotes germination in a low-temperature environment, and without sacrificing the growth of microorganisms, increases the nutritional value in a sanitary manner. It is done.

In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the refrigerator of the present invention stores a harvested grain in a low-temperature environment, and provides a stimulus generating means for applying an external stimulus to the crop, and a living body promoted by the external stimulus. The control means for controlling the reaction increases the nutritional value of the grain. The low temperature environment is set to a temperature of -5 ° C to 20 ° C, the external stimulus is a light irradiation means, and the light irradiation means The wavelength includes red light to yellow light, and at least one of the light sources of the light irradiation means includes an ultraviolet region in a range of 280 nm to 400 nm. In the low temperature environment, the light irradiation means promotes germination reaction, and a predetermined time The promotion of the germination reaction is suppressed by setting the low temperature environment to −5 ° C. or lower after the lapse of time .

As a result, even in a low-temperature environment, the biological reaction is promoted by moderate external stimuli to the crops.For example, in the case of brown rice, the spoilage caused by the growth of microorganisms and the generation of sultry odors are suppressed. It is possible to produce germinated brown rice with high nutritional value in a sanitary manner. Further, since it is possible to suppress the promotion of the biological reaction by further external stimulation, it is possible to control the biological reaction to an optimum state, and it is possible to maintain the state with the highest nutritional value. .

  The present invention can increase and maintain the nutrients of cereals, so that the nutritional value of agricultural products can be increased during storage, and a refrigerator effective for maintaining and promoting health can be provided.

The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the refrigerator in Embodiment 1 of this invention Correlation diagram of the relationship of γ-aminobutyric acid generated during light irradiation in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Correlation diagram of the relationship of γ-aminobutyric acid generated by light irradiation and spraying of fine water particles in Embodiment 2 of the present invention The figure which shows the structure of the electric heater for germination brown rice manufacture which can manufacture the germination brown rice for conventional households easily.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, the harvested grain is stored in a low-temperature environment, and includes a stimulus generation unit that gives an external stimulus to the crop and a control unit that controls a biological reaction promoted by the external stimulus. In order to increase the nutritional value of the grain, the low temperature environment is set to a temperature of -5 ° C to 20 ° C, the external stimulus is a light irradiation means, and the wavelength of the light irradiation means is from red to yellow light, and the light At least one of the light sources of the irradiation means includes an ultraviolet region in the range of 280 nm to 400 nm. In the low temperature environment, the light irradiation means accelerates the germination reaction, and after the predetermined time has passed, the low temperature environment is −5 ° C. or lower. By controlling the temperature, the promotion of the germination reaction is suppressed .

  As a result, even in a low temperature environment, it is possible to control a biological reaction by applying an external stimulus to a crop. That is, brown rice normally promotes the germination reaction by warming, and thus is often accompanied by the growth of microorganisms during the germination reaction, and it was difficult to germinate hygienically. Under a controlled and hygienic low temperature environment, external stimuli increase the concentration of a kind of plant hormone in the seed, which promotes the germination reaction by promoting the growth of the seed embryo, Nutritional value can be increased by increasing butyric acid.

In addition , by setting the temperature inside the storage compartment to a low temperature environment of −5 ° C. to 20 ° C., the temperature is in a temperature zone that promotes biological reactions and that suppresses the growth of microorganisms, and the inside of the storage compartment is sanitized. It is possible to promote a biological reaction while maintaining the target. Furthermore, by setting the temperature inside the storage compartment in the range of −5 ° C. to 0 ° C., when the crops are exposed to a low temperature stress environment, a biological defense reaction against freezing occurs, and the internal starch becomes sugar and the protein becomes amino acid. It is possible to improve the taste by being decomposed.

In addition , in the case of brown rice, germination is achieved by increasing the concentration of a kind of plant hormone in the seed by light irradiation, which promotes the growth of seed embryos. Is promoted and γ-aminobutyric acid is increased in the living body, whereby the nutritional value can be further increased. Furthermore, it is also possible to suppress the germination reaction by controlling the wavelength and amount of light, and the nutritional value can be maintained. In addition, in the case of light in the blue or ultraviolet region, there is an effect of suppressing the growth of mold and bacteria, and it is possible to suppress the decay of stored crops and further improve the storage stability. Further, by irradiating with light, the inside of the storage compartment can be visually distinguished from other storage compartments, and the usability is improved.

The second invention is characterized in that the external stimulus further sprays water particles having a fine diameter, and supplies water by permeating the fine water particles that permeate the cell membrane into the living body. In the case of brown rice, the germination reaction is promoted by the supply of moisture, and γ-aminobutyric acid is increased in the living body, so that the nutritional value can be further increased. Compared to germination by immersing in water or lukewarm water for a long time, the germination reaction can be further promoted because the growth of germs can be suppressed and the oxygen intake required for germination of brown rice itself is improved. is there.

The third invention is characterized in that the fine water particles are charged, so that the charged fine water particles are likely to adhere to the surface of the crop, and thus more reliably. By being able to give biological stimulation, in the case of brown rice, the water supply rate is improved, and the water that has penetrated into the brown rice activates the germ enzyme, so that the germination reaction is promoted and γ- Nutritional value can be increased by increasing aminobutyric acid.

The fourth invention is characterized in that the fine water particles are ozone water particles, and the concentration range thereof is 1 to 100 ppb. In the case of brown rice, the fine water particles penetrate into the living body. Thus, the germination reaction is promoted by activating the germ enzyme, and the γ-aminobutyric acid is increased in the living body, whereby the nutritional value can be further increased. In addition, it is possible to decompose harmful substances such as agricultural chemicals adhering to the surface of agricultural crops by the oxidation reaction of ozone water, and preservation can be performed with higher safety. Moreover, by removing bacteria and molds adhering to the surface of the crops, it is possible to suppress spoilage and enhance the storage stability.

In the fifth aspect of the invention, the moisture content of the stored crops is reduced to 70% or less, and in the case of brown rice, the supply of water necessary for germination is eliminated, so that biological reactions can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to control the germination reaction at an appropriate place.

A sixth invention is a refrigerator characterized by having a storage compartment for storing brown rice, and brown rice has a higher content of rice than white rice and is easily deteriorated, such as being oxidized, so it is stored in a low temperature environment. By doing this, in addition to being able to suppress quality degradation, it is possible to store more hygienic by having an independent storage section.

The seventh invention is characterized in that the storage section is located in the refrigerator compartment, and has a large storage capacity, has a degree of freedom in the refrigerator compartment that is easy to use and is not overcooled. The storage compartment for brown rice can be designed.

The eighth invention is characterized in that the storage compartment is located in the vegetable compartment, and the vegetable compartment has been conventionally kept at high humidity by transpiration of vegetables, etc. As a condition for germinating brown rice Since the environment is in place, the germination reaction is likely to be promoted.

The ninth invention is characterized in that the storage section is located in a switching room, and when storing rice, it is an independent room, so it is easy to put in and out, and has an effect on other foods. It is possible to improve usability such as not giving

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a correlation diagram of the relationship of γ-aminobutyric acid generated during light irradiation in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the main body 1 is divided into a plurality of heat insulating sections, and has a configuration in which the upper part is a rotary door type and the lower part is a drawer type. From the top, there are a refrigerator room 2, a drawer type switching room 6 and an ice making room 5, a drawer type vegetable room 4 and a drawer type freezer room 3 arranged side by side. Each heat insulation section is provided with a heat insulation door via a gasket 31. From the top, they are the refrigerating room rotary door 7, the switching room drawer door 8, the ice making room drawer door 9, the vegetable room drawer door 10, and the freezer compartment drawer door 11. The refrigerating compartment rotary door 7 is provided with a door pocket 34 as a storage space, and a plurality of storage shelves 8 are provided in the warehouse. A storage case 35 partitioned by a resin cover is provided at the bottom of the refrigerator compartment 2. Furthermore, the stimulus generating means 13 is installed in the storage case 35. When the light irradiating means is used as the stimulus generating means, the number of light sources is not limited to one, and may be composed of a plurality. Further, the light intensity is adjusted to an optimal light intensity through the control board 37 in the range of weak light that does not promote the photosynthetic reaction, and the operation of turning on and off is performed as necessary. In addition, the stimulus generating means include other fine water particles, fine water particles are charged, fine water particles are ozone water particles, vibration imparts, and water content is reduced. A means for lowering the temperature to -5 ° C or lower is conceivable.

  About the refrigerator comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below. The brown rice stored in the storage case 35 is adjusted through a control base 37 in a temperature range from −5 ° C. to 20 ° C. where an enzymatic reaction occurs in the living body, thereby suppressing the propagation of various bacteria and hygiene. Is stored in a safe environment.

  When light irradiation means is used as a stimulus generating means for promoting the germination reaction of brown rice, the wavelength is not particularly limited, but in general, red to yellow light promotes germination, and green and far-red light inhibit germination. Therefore, it is desirable that the wavelength can be adjusted to the optimum wavelength through the control board 37. Furthermore, when at least one of the light sources of the light irradiation means includes an ultraviolet region in the range of 280 nm to 400 nm, the light source suppresses the growth of food and bacteria attached to the wall surface of the partitioned storage case 35. As a result, the food storage performance is improved.

  Furthermore, when it is desired to suppress the growth of bacteria attached to the wall surface and improve the storage performance, it is possible to increase the number of light sources including the ultraviolet region in the range of 280 nm to 400 nm, so that germination reaction can be performed in a more hygienic environment. It is possible to promote.

  Also, the type and number of light sources are not particularly limited. However, in the case of a light source used in a storage space having a relatively small internal volume like the storage case 35, the temperature rise in the storage space due to heat generated by the lamp, There is concern about the promotion of deterioration of materials such as resin used in the storage space by light irradiation. Therefore, it is desirable to use an LED that hardly generates heat from the lamp itself and is excellent in terms of running cost and durability. Although the light irradiation means is used as the stimulation means for promoting the germination reaction, it is possible to control the germination reaction by controlling the light irradiation amount in the negative direction or by reducing the light irradiation to zero. Such input of the stimulus generating means 13 and the input of the control means are performed by a program to the control base 37 set in advance.

  In addition, although the installation place of the light source of the stimulus generating means 13 in the storage case 35 is not particularly limited, when the user opens the revolving door 7 of the refrigerator compartment, the light source does not directly stimulate the user's eyeball. It is preferable to install.

Alternatively, the user's eyeball may not be directly stimulated by attaching a cover to the light source. The material of the cover of the light source is not limited. For example, the color of light may be adjusted by using only one light source using a material of a type that can change the wavelength. Furthermore, the installation of a plurality of light sources in the same section is not limited to one place, and individual light sources may be installed in different places in the same section. Thereby, the brown rice stored in the storage case 35 can promote the germination reaction by the stimulus generating means and the control means by light irradiation even in a low temperature environment, and γ-aminobutyric acid is generated, Nutritional value can be increased during storage. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the amount of γ-aminobutyric acid produced when irradiated with light as a stimulus generating means during storage of brown rice.

  In a low-temperature environment, brown rice was found to produce 3 mg / 100 g of γ-aminobutyric acid by the germination reaction, but it was confirmed that it increased to 10 mg / 100 g when irradiated with light as a stimulus generating means. This was confirmed to be equivalent to the soaking at 37 ° C., which is a conventional method for making germinated brown rice at home. From this, it is considered that it is very effective to irradiate light as a stimulus generating means.

  Next, the brown rice stored in the storage case 35 is adjusted through the control base 37 in a temperature range from −5 ° C. to 20 ° C. where an in vivo enzyme reaction occurs, thereby suppressing the propagation of miscellaneous bacteria. And stored in a hygienic environment. In order to promote the germination reaction of brown rice, a high humidity condition is desirable. Therefore, in general, the humidity is desirably 95% or more.

  Therefore, when spraying fine water particles as the stimulus generating means 13, the immersion of the water particles in the living body of brown rice activates the germ enzyme to promote the germination reaction. Many people dislike it because it is difficult to cook, has a peculiar smell, and is poorly digested. It changes to a component, and the production of γ-aminobutyric acid is also promoted and the nutritional value is increased. Although spraying means of fine water particles was used as a stimulating means for promoting the germination reaction, the germination reaction was suppressed by controlling the moisture content of brown rice to 70% or less with a heater etc. using the control means 17 It is possible to make it.

  The input of the stimulus generating unit 13 and the input of the control unit 17 are performed by a program to the control board 37 set in advance. Furthermore, the fine water particles having a fine diameter which are sprayed from the stimulus generating means 13 are weakly acidic water and have an oxidizing ability. Therefore, the growth of bacteria and molds adhering to the crop surface is suppressed by their oxidizing power.

  An ozone generator (not shown) generally has the same basic configuration as that of the above-described charged particle water generator, but does not have a water supply unit, applies a high voltage of several kV, and converts oxygen in the air to ozone. It is changed and dissolved in water to generate ozone water, which is atomized into fine particles to generate ozone mist. Similarly to the above, this ozone mist adheres to the surface of the agricultural product stored, and is propagated as an external stimulus to the living body to promote the biological defense reaction. As a result, vitamins and polyphenols, which are antioxidant substances, are produced.

  However, ozone has a strong oxidizing power, and if the concentration is too high, crop damage to crops may occur. Therefore, the upper limit concentration is desirably about 100 ppb or less.

  Next, vibration will be described as an external stimulation means. The vibration propagates in the air and directly vibrates the crop, or directly vibrates the storage case 35 to be stored and transmits it to the crop. Stimulation caused by this vibration causes a defense reaction in the living body, and in the same way as in the previous period, the production of antioxidants such as vitamins and polyphenols occurs, and the germination of brown rice is promoted to produce γ-aminobutyric acid. Etc., preservation with high nutritional value becomes possible.

In general, since vibration is perceived by humans as noise, it is a vibration having a frequency of 20 kHz or more and an amplitude of 50 μm or less, and gives a stimulus only to agricultural products by slight vibration that cannot be noise. Finally, by setting the temperature to −5 ° C. or less as an external stimulation means, the in vivo enzyme reaction hardly progresses, and therefore it is possible to suppress the promotion of the germination reaction. With respect to this operation, after a certain period of time has elapsed, the operation of the stimulus generating means that promotes the germination reaction is stopped by the control base 37, and the control means 17 is activated so that the storage temperature is quickly lowered. Thereby, the reaction for promoting germination can be stopped in an optimum state, and the production of γ-aminobutyric acid can be maintained at the highest state.

(Embodiment 2)
In this embodiment, an example of a synergistic effect by fusion of external means will be described. The aim is to promote the germination reaction more effectively by fusing and generating light irradiation means and charged fine water particle generation means as the stimulus generation means 13.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the amount of γ-aminobutyric acid produced during storage of brown rice in Embodiment 2 of the present invention. As compared with the case of only light stimulation as an external stimulation means, it was confirmed that the spraying of light + fine water particles is about 1.3 times. In other words, despite being stored at a low temperature, water penetrated into the brown rice by spraying fine water particles activates the germ enzyme, and at the same time, the enzyme activity increases due to biological stimulation with light. .

  In addition, amino acids are changed to umami ingredients and starches are changed to sweet taste ingredients to improve the taste. Therefore, in order to make germinated brown rice, usually brown rice is soaked in lukewarm water at about 30 ° C to 40 ° C for about 1 day, but during that time, it takes time to change the water at least once, and various germs grow. It was a relatively time-consuming work. However, according to the present embodiment, γ-aminobutyric acid is sufficiently generated even at low temperature storage, and the brown rice is easy to cook due to the immersion effect of spraying fine water particles, so that there is no propagation of miscellaneous bacteria and labor. By simply putting it in the storage case 35 without putting it, it is possible to produce germinated brown rice having a high nutritional value and delicious.

  As described above, the refrigerator according to the present invention activates the enzymatic reaction of those by giving an external stimulus to the living body of the crop, and can promote or suppress the biological reaction. It is intended to be preserved while increasing its price, etc., and can be applied to many uses such as the distribution of agricultural products, commercial refrigerators, and agricultural storage.

1 Body 2 Refrigerated room (upper storage room)
3 Freezing room (lower storage room)
4 Vegetable room (lower storage room)
6 switching room 12 machine room 13 stimulus generating means 17 control means 35 storage case 37 control base

Claims (9)

The harvested grain is stored in a low-temperature environment, and provided with a stimulus generating means for giving an external stimulus to the crop and a control means for controlling a biological reaction promoted by the external stimulus, the nutritional value of the grain is adjusted. The low-temperature environment is set to a temperature of −5 ° C. to 20 ° C., the external stimulus is light irradiation means, and the light irradiation means has a wavelength of red to yellow light, and at least a light source of the light irradiation means. One includes an ultraviolet region in the range of 280 nm to 400 nm, and in the low temperature environment, the germination reaction is promoted by the light irradiation means, and the low temperature environment is set to a temperature of −5 ° C. or less after a predetermined time. A refrigerator characterized by suppressing the promotion of germination reaction . The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the external stimulus further sprays water particles having a fine diameter. The refrigerator according to claim 2 , wherein the fine water particles are charged. The refrigerator according to claim 2 or 3 , wherein the fine water particles are ozone water particles, and the concentration range thereof is 1 to 100 ppb. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the external stimulus is to reduce the moisture content of the stored crops to 70% or less. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the harvested crop is brown rice. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the storage section is located in a refrigerator compartment. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the storage section is located in the vegetable compartment. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the storage compartment is located in a switching room.

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