JP6752488B2 - Refrigerator with sterilizer and sterilizer - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a sterilizer for sterilizing fresh food and a refrigerator equipped with the sterilizer.

In order to decompose residual pesticides of vegetables stored in the storage chamber of the refrigerator, a refrigerator having a function of irradiating the storage chamber with ultraviolet rays or generating ozone in the storage chamber has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-159900

However, since organophosphorus pesticides have a simple structure, they can be decomposed by using ozone as in the refrigerator of Patent Document 1, but pesticides such as synthetic pyrethroids and carbamates have a complicated molecular structure. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to decompose with ozone and easily remains in vegetables.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to provide a sterilizer capable of effectively decomposing pesticides such as synthetic pyrethroids and carbamates, and a refrigerator equipped with the sterilizer. It is in.

The present invention is
Fresh food storage and
A light source that irradiates the inside of the housing with near-ultraviolet rays,
A sterilizer comprising an ozone generator that supplies ozone to the accommodating portion.

According to the present invention, the fresh food contained in the container is placed in an ozone atmosphere, and the fresh food is irradiated with near-ultraviolet rays. As a result, not only pesticides are decomposed by ozone, but also pesticides are decomposed by near-ultraviolet rays. Therefore, pesticides having a complicated molecular structure such as synthetic pyrethroids and carbamates are used as pesticides in the fresh foods. Even if they have been, these pesticides can be decomposed.

Further, the present invention
A circulation air passage is formed in the accommodating portion.
The circulation air passage is provided with a circulation fan.

According to the present invention, the ozone generated from the ozone generator circulates in the circulation air passage by the circulation fan, so that the ozone concentration in the accommodating portion becomes uniform. Further, since near-ultraviolet rays are irradiated in an ozone atmosphere having a uniform concentration, residual pesticides in fresh foods in the container can be effectively decomposed.

Further, the present invention
The light source is arranged downstream in the blowing direction of the circulation fan.

In the present invention, ozone generated by the ozone generator circulates in the circulating air passage by the circulating fan, but since the light source is arranged downstream in the blowing direction of the circulating fan, the fresh food in the accommodating portion has an ozone atmosphere. It is placed underneath and is exposed to near-ultraviolet rays. As a result, the combined use of ozone and near-ultraviolet rays can effectively decompose pesticides having a complex molecular structure such as synthetic pyrethroids and carbamates.

Further, the present invention
It is characterized in that a decomposition catalyst is arranged in the circulation air passage.

According to the present invention, since the decomposition catalyst arranged in the circulating air passage decomposes ozone in the accommodating portion, the ozone concentration in the accommodating portion can be controlled to a low concentration. Therefore, it is possible to provide a sterilizer in which safety is maintained.

Further, the present invention
The wavelength of the near-ultraviolet rays is UV-C.

In the present invention, the fresh food in the container is placed in an ozone atmosphere and is irradiated with near-ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of UV-C as near-ultraviolet rays. As a result, pesticides with high molecular structure such as synthetic pyrethroids and carbamates are effective due to the decomposing action of pesticides by ozone, the strong bactericidal action by near ultraviolet rays with high energy UV-C wavelength, and the decomposing action of pesticides. Can be disassembled into.

Further, the present invention
It includes at least the light source and a control unit that controls the ozone generator.
The control unit is characterized in that the driving time of the light source and the ozone generator is 24 hours.

In the present invention, the control unit generates ozone for 24 hours to place the fresh food in the storage unit in an ozone atmosphere, and irradiates the fresh food in the storage unit with near-ultraviolet rays for 24 hours. Control the light source and ozone generator. Therefore, pesticides having a complex molecular structure such as synthetic pyrethroids and carbamates can be effectively decomposed.

Further, the present invention is a refrigerator provided with any of the above sterilizers. According to the present invention, the above-mentioned sterilizer has an arbitrary action and effect.

As described above, in the present invention, even when pesticides having a complicated molecular structure such as synthetic pyrethroids and carbamates are used in fresh foods, sterilization capable of effectively decomposing such pesticides is possible. An apparatus and a refrigerator equipped with this sterilizer can be provided.

It is a partially cutaway perspective view which shows the sterilizer which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective sectional view which cut | cut the sterilizer in the YZ plane passing through the center point C of the width W1 of the sterilizer in FIG. It is sectional drawing which cut the sterilizer in the YZ plane passing through the center point C of the width W1 of the sterilizer in FIG. It is a front view of the UV lamp used for a sterilizer. It is a block diagram which shows the basic structure of the control part of a sterilizer. It is a figure which shows the result of the decomposition experiment of the pesticide by the sterilizer of embodiment. It is a figure which shows the result of the decomposition experiment of the pesticide by the sterilizer of the comparative example. It is sectional drawing of the refrigerator which arranged the sterilizer which concerns on one modification of this invention.

Next, a specific embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
(Explanation of a sterilizer according to one embodiment of the present invention)
FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a sterilizer 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective sectional view of the sterilizer 1 cut along a YZ plane passing through the center point C of the width W1 of the sterilizer 1 in FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the sterilizer 1 cut along a YZ plane passing through the center point C of the width W1 of the sterilizer 1 in FIG. FIG. 4 is a front view of the UV lamp 7 used in the sterilizer 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the sterilizer 1 according to the present embodiment includes a storage unit 2 capable of storing fresh food. The accommodating portion 2 is made of synthetic resin. The accommodating portion 2 is surrounded by a bottom surface and four side surfaces, and the upper portion in the arrow Y direction is open. A lid portion 3 that covers the opening of the accommodating portion 2 is detachably provided on the upper portion of the accommodating portion 2. The lid portion 3 is made of a synthetic resin like the accommodating portion 2. A mechanism portion 4 is attached to the lid portion 3 on the back surface side of the lid portion 3, that is, the surface side facing the opening. The mechanism portion 4 is made of synthetic resin like the accommodating portion 2 and the lid portion 3. Although the mechanism portion 4 is removable from the lid portion 3, it is attached to the lid portion 3 during normal use, and when the lid portion 3 is removed from the accommodating portion 2, the lid portion 3 and the mechanism portion 4 are removed. Can be removed as a unit. Therefore, by removing the lid portion 3 integrated with the mechanism portion 4 from the accommodating portion 2, fresh food can be accommodated in the accommodating portion 2 or taken out from the accommodating portion 2.

The mechanism portion 4 is formed in a tray shape surrounded by a bottom surface and four side surfaces, and an ozone generator 5 is attached to the side surface of the mechanism portion 4 located at the end in the Z direction of the arrow. The ozone generator 5 is a discharge type ozone generator, which generates a discharge such as a corona discharge or a silent discharge between a pair of electrodes, and generates ozone from the air passed between the pair of electrodes. Duty control of the ozone generator 5 is possible by a drive signal from a control unit (not shown). In the present embodiment, the control unit is provided in the mechanism unit 4.

A part of the bottom surface of the mechanism portion 4 near the side surface to which the ozone generator 5 is attached is an inclined surface, and the circulation fan 6 is attached to the inclined surface. This inclined surface is an inclined surface whose normal line is inclined from the Y direction of the arrow to the Z direction. The circulation fan 6 rotates at a constant speed according to a drive signal from the control unit. As shown by the arrow A in FIG. 3, the blowing direction by the circulation fan 6 is a direction from the space between the mechanism portion 4 and the lid portion 3 toward the inside of the accommodating portion 2. A circulation air passage is formed in the space between the mechanism portion 4 and the lid portion 3, and the circulation fan 6 is provided in this circulation air passage. The details of the circulating air passage will be described later.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a UV lamp 7 as a light source is arranged downstream of the circulation fan 6 in the blowing direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the UV lamp 7 is a U-shaped lamp, and includes an arm portion 7a and a light emitting portion 7b. In the present embodiment, the end portion of the arm portion 7a of the UV lamp 7 is attached to the back surface of the bottom surface of the mechanism portion 4 which is the attachment position of the circulation fan 6, that is, the surface facing the inside of the accommodating portion 2. With such a configuration, the light emitting portion 7b of the UV lamp 7 is located downstream of the circulation fan 6 in the blowing direction. The UV lamp 7 irradiates near-ultraviolet rays with a predetermined duty by a drive signal from the control unit. In the present embodiment, the wavelength of the UV lamp 7 is UV-C of 200 nm to 280 nm.

A support plate 8 made of synthetic resin is provided at the center of the mechanical portion 4 in the arrow Z direction, and a decomposition catalyst 9 is arranged at the center of the support plate 8 in the arrow X direction. In the present embodiment, the decomposition catalyst 9 is a deodorizing catalyst used in refrigerators and the like, and has a function of decomposing ozone.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the mechanism unit 4, a plurality of shutter-shaped armor doors are formed between the side surface opposite to the side surface to which the ozone generator 5 is attached in the direction of arrow Z and the support plate 8. Duct 10 is provided. The duct 10 has a function of sending ozone traveling from the inside of the accommodating portion 2 to the mechanism portion 4 in the direction of the decomposition catalyst 9.

(Explanation of Control Unit According to One Embodiment of the Present Invention)
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a control unit 100 of the sterilizer 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Next, the outline of the control unit 100 of the sterilizer 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

The control unit 100 includes an ozone generator control unit 110 that controls the ozone generator 5, a circulation fan control unit 120 that controls the circulation fan 6, and a UV lamp control unit 130 that controls the UV lamp 7. Further, the sterilizer 1 of the present embodiment is provided with an LED lamp 20 (not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3) and a lock mechanism 30 for locking the lid portion 3 with respect to the accommodating portion 2. The control unit 100 includes an LED lamp control unit 140 that controls the LED lamp 20 and a lock mechanism control unit 150 that controls the lock mechanism 30.

When the power switch (not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3) is turned on, the control unit 100 performs the following control. The control unit 100 outputs a drive signal from the ozone generator control unit 110 to the ozone generator 5 to control the duty of the ozone generator 5. Further, the control unit 100 outputs a drive signal from the circulation fan control unit 120 to the circulation fan 6 to rotate the circulation fan 6 at a constant rotation speed. Further, the control unit 100 outputs a drive signal from the UV lamp control unit 130 to the UV lamp 7 to control the duty of the UV lamp 7. In the present embodiment, when the power switch is turned on, the control unit 100 drives the ozone generator 5, the circulation fan 6, and the UV lamp 7 for a certain period of time. As an example, the drive time is set to 24 hours. Further, when the power switch is turned on, the control unit 100 outputs a drive signal from the LED lamp control unit 140 to the LED lamp 20 to light the LED lamp 20. Further, the control unit 100 lights the LED lamp 20 and outputs a drive signal from the lock mechanism control unit 150 to the lock mechanism 30 to drive the lock mechanism 30 so that the user can remove the lid 3 from the accommodating unit 2. Try not to. With such a configuration, the sterilizer 1 of the present embodiment prevents the lid 3 from being opened during ozone generation, and ensures safety for the user.

After a certain drive time elapses, the control unit 100 receives drive signals from the ozone generator control unit 110, the circulation fan control unit 120, and the UV lamp control unit 130 to generate the ozone generator 5, the circulation fan 6, and the UV lamp. Stop driving 7. Then, the control unit 100 turns off the LED lamp 20 by the LED lamp control unit 140 after a lapse of a predetermined time, for example, 1 to 5 minutes after stopping the driving of the ozone generator 5, and the lock mechanism control unit 150 Releases the lock of the lock mechanism 30. In this state, the user can remove the lid 3 from the accommodating portion 2. As described above, the sterilizer 1 of the present embodiment can be removed from the accommodating portion 2 of the lid portion 3 after a predetermined time when the residual ozone disappears even after the drive of the ozone generator 5 is stopped. Safety can be ensured.

<Circulation air passage>
Next, the circulation air passage in the sterilizer 1 will be described. When the power switch of the sterilizer 1 is turned on, the ozone generator 5 generates ozone. The ozone generated from the ozone generator 5 is sent out in the direction of arrow A by the circulation fan 6, and travels in the accommodating portion 2 in the direction of arrow B and the direction of arrow C. Ozone traveling in the direction of arrow C travels in the direction of arrow D by the duct 10. Ozone traveling in the direction of arrow D is decomposed by the decomposition catalyst 9 and travels in the direction of arrow E in a low concentration state to reach the upper part of the circulation fan 6. Hereinafter, ozone is circulated in the same manner. As described above, in the present embodiment, since the circulation air passage is formed inside the accommodating portion 2 and in the space between the mechanism portion 4 and the lid portion 3, the ozone concentration in the accommodating portion 2 is made uniform. can do. Further, since the decomposition catalyst 9 is arranged in the middle of the circulation air passage, it is possible to maintain the excess ozone at a concentration below a certain level, and it is possible to ensure safety for the user. Further, maintaining the excess ozone at a concentration below a certain level by the decomposition catalyst 9 in the middle of the circulation air passage can be used for the accommodating portion 2, the lid portion 3, the mechanism portion 4, the circulation fan 6, the UV lamp 7, and the support plate 8. It also leads to extremely small influence of oxidative deterioration on such things.

<Combined use of ozone and near-ultraviolet rays>
Next, the combined use of ozone and near-ultraviolet rays in the sterilizer 1 will be described. As described above, the light emitting portion 7b of the UV lamp 7 is located downstream of the circulation fan 6 in the blowing direction. When the power switch of the sterilizer 1 is turned on, ozone is generated from the ozone generator 5, and the ozone is circulated in the accommodating portion 2 by the air blown by the circulation fan 6 and the circulation air passage. At this time, the inside of the accommodating portion 2 is irradiated with near-ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of UV-C by the UV lamp 7. This near-ultraviolet ray is irradiated over the entire area of the accommodating portion 2. As a result, according to the present invention, when fresh food such as vegetables is stored in the storage unit 2, the fresh food is placed in an atmosphere of ozone having a uniform concentration. Therefore, the fresh food is decomposed by the pesticide decomposition action of ozone. Residual pesticides attached to are decomposed. Further, since the fresh food is irradiated with near-ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of UV-C, residual pesticides adhering to the fresh food are decomposed by the pesticide decomposition action of ozone by the near-ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of UV-C. Therefore, the residual pesticides adhering to the fresh food are effectively decomposed by the pesticide decomposition action of ozone by the near ultraviolet rays of the UV-C wavelength in addition to the pesticide decomposition action of ozone. As described above, according to the present invention, ozone and UV- even when pesticides having a complex molecular structure such as synthetic pyrethroids and carbamates, which could not be sufficiently decomposed by ozone alone, remain in fresh foods. These pesticides can be effectively decomposed when used in combination with near-ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of C.

Moreover, the sterilizer 1 of the present invention can uniformly diffuse ozone to every corner of the accommodating portion 2 by combining the ozone generator 5 and the circulation air passage. Therefore, the sterilizer 1 of the present invention has an extremely low ozone concentration due to the combined use of ozone uniformly diffused in the accommodating portion 2 and near-ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of UV-C irradiated over the entire area of the accommodating portion 2. Even when the concentration is adjusted, the pesticide can be effectively decomposed.

(Experimental example)
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the results of a pesticide decomposition experiment by the sterilizer 1 of the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the results of a pesticide decomposition experiment using a sterilizer of a comparative example. Next, a pesticide decomposition experiment by the sterilizer 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

<Experimental conditions>
The experimental conditions of the experiment using the sterilizer 1 of the present embodiment are as follows. As an example, the ozone generator 5 used model number MHMS756-02 manufactured by Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. The operating rate of the ozone generator 5 was set to on for 6 seconds and off for 54 seconds. Using the decomposition catalyst 9, the ozone concentration in the housing 2 was set to 0.2 PPM. As the UV lamp 7, a UV lamp having a UV-C wavelength manufactured by Stanley Electric Co., Ltd. was used. The ultraviolet intensity of the UV lamp 7 was 2.1 μW / cm ² , and the sterilizing radiant flux was 0.2 W. The operating rate of the UV lamp 7 was set to 7 minutes and 10 seconds on and 23 minutes off. The installation temperature environment of the sterilizer 1 was set to 5 ° C., assuming that it was installed in a refrigerator. The driving time of the sterilizer 1 was 24 hours.

The fresh food to be stored in the storage section 2 was spinach, and the following pesticides having an initial concentration of 1 ppm were attached to the spinach. As pesticides, four types of organic phosphorus-based dichlorvos and phorate, synthetic pyrethroid-based cyhalothrin, and carbamate-based propoxul were used.

On the other hand, as the sterilizer of the comparative example, the sterilizer 1 of the present embodiment does not use the UV lamp 7. The experimental conditions of the experiment using the sterilizer of the comparative example are as follows. As the ozone generator, the same ozone generator as the sterilizer 1 of the present embodiment was used. The operating rate of the ozone generator was also the same as that of the sterilizer 1 of the present embodiment. The ozone concentration in the accommodating portion 2 was also the same as that of the sterilizer 1 of the present embodiment. The installation temperature environment and driving time of the sterilizer 1 were also set to the same conditions as in the experiment using the sterilizer 1 of the present embodiment. Further, the fresh food to be stored in the storage unit 2, the pesticide to be attached to the fresh food, and the initial concentration of the pesticide were also set to the same conditions as the experiment by the sterilizer 1 of the present embodiment.

As the analysis method, the analysis method according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, January 24, 2005, Food Safety Issue No. 012401 was used. The analysis was requested to the Environmental Analysis Division of the Niigata Prefectural Institute for Environmental Health.

<Experimental results of sterilizer of comparative example>
As shown in FIG. 7, when the sterilizer of the comparative example was used, the concentration of the organophosphorus dichlorvos decreased to 0.07 PPM, and the decrease rate was 93%. However, for organophosphorus horates, the decrease was only up to 0.43 PPM, and the decrease rate was 87%. In addition, the synthetic pyrethroid cyhalothrin decreased only up to 0.56 PPM, and the decrease rate was 44%. Furthermore, the carbamate-based propoxle decreased only to 0.51 PPM, and the reduction rate was 49%.

<Experimental result of sterilizer 1 of this embodiment>
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, when the sterilizer 1 of the present embodiment was used, the concentration of organophosphorus dichlorvos was reduced to 0.04 PPM, and the reduction rate was 96%. The organic phosphorus-based horate also decreased to 0.07 PPM, and the decrease rate was 93%. Synthetic pyrethroid cyhalothrins decreased to 0.03 PPM, with a reduction rate of 97%. In addition, the carbamate-based propoxle decreased to 0.10 PPM, and the decrease rate was 90%.

<Comparison of experimental results>
When the sterilizer of the comparative example was used, the only pesticide that obtained a reduction rate of 90% or more was the organophosphorus dichlorvos. However, when the sterilizer 1 of the present embodiment is used, a 90% reduction rate can be obtained for all pesticides including not only organophosphorus pesticides but also synthetic pyrethroid and carbamate pesticides. Was confirmed.

As described above, according to the sterilizer 1 according to the present invention, not only organophosphorus pesticides but also synthetic pyrethroids and carbamates which are complicated in molecular structure and are hard to be decomposed by the combined use of ozone and near-ultraviolet rays. Even pesticides such as these can be effectively decomposed. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to save the user the trouble of cleaning the fresh food using the cleaning detergent or carefully washing the fresh food with water. According to the present invention, the user can effectively decompose and treat the pesticide simply by storing the fresh food in the sterilizer 1 of the present invention.

(Explanation of Refrigerator According to One Modified Example of the Present Invention)
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator 50 in which the sterilizer according to one modification of the present invention is arranged. Next, the outline of the refrigerator 50 according to one modification of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

The refrigerator 50 according to the present embodiment is roughly divided into three storage areas of a refrigerator compartment 40, a freezer compartment 41, and a vegetable compartment 42. The sterilizer 1 of the above-described embodiment is arranged in the vegetable compartment 42 at the bottom. In this modification, the shape of the sterilizer 1 is matched to the shape of the vegetable compartment 42.

In the refrigerator 50, the air cooled by the cooler 43 arranged on the back side of the freezing chamber 41 is supplied to the freezing chamber 41 through a duct or the like (not shown), and further, the refrigerating chamber 40 is supplied through the supply air passage 44. And is supplied to the vegetable compartment 42. Therefore, the environmental temperature of the vegetable compartment 42 in which the sterilizer 1 is arranged is maintained at, for example, 5 ° C.

Even when the sterilizer 1 of the above-described embodiment is used in such a refrigerator 50, the user stores fresh food such as vegetables in the storage unit 2 of the sterilizer 1 and turns on the power switch of the sterilizer 1. It may be left for a predetermined time. In the sterilizer 1, as described above, the pesticide is effectively decomposed by the combined use of ozone and near-ultraviolet rays. Then, the user can safely handle fresh foods such as vegetables in which pesticides are effectively decomposed by confirming that the LED lamp is turned off and removing the lid 3 of the sterilizer 1 from the accommodating portion 2. it can.

(Explanation of Other Modifications of the Present Invention)
In the above-described embodiments and modifications, as an example, a mode in which the sterilizer 1 is driven for a predetermined time after the power switch of the sterilizer 1 is turned on has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such an aspect, and the sterilizer 1 may be driven at a specific time zone. For example, the control unit 100 may be provided with a clock function, and the sterilizer 1 may be driven in a time zone from midnight to early morning. By arranging such a sterilizer 1 in the refrigerator, it is possible to carry out the decomposition treatment of pesticides in the time zone when the refrigerator is not frequently used, so that the safety can be further improved and the safety can be further improved. , It is possible to provide a user-friendly refrigerator.

In the above-described embodiments and modifications, an example in which the LED lamp is turned off and the lock mechanism is released after the lapse of a predetermined driving time of the sterilizer 1 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and the locking mechanism can be omitted. In this case, the sterilizer 1 may be provided with a sensor that detects that the lid 3 has been removed. Then, when ozone is generated from the ozone generator 5 and the sensor detects that the lid 3 has been removed while the UV lamp 7 is lit, the control unit stops the ozone generator 5 and UVs. The lamp 7 may be turned off. According to such a configuration, the mechanism of the sterilizer 1 can be simplified and the safety can be enhanced.

Although the embodiments, embodiments, and modifications of the present invention have been described, the disclosure contents may be changed in the details of the configuration, and changes in the combination and order of the elements in the embodiments, embodiments, and modifications may be changed. Etc. can be realized without departing from the claimed scope and ideas of the present invention.

1 Sterilizer 2 Storage part 3 Lid part 4 Mechanism part 5 Ozone generator 6 Circulation fan 7 UV lamp 8 Support plate 9 Decomposition catalyst 10 Duct 50 Refrigerator

Claims (5)

Fresh food storage and
A light source that irradiates the inside of the housing with near-ultraviolet rays,
E Bei and a ozone generator for supplying ozone into said accommodating portion,
A circulation air passage is formed in the accommodating portion.
A circulation fan is provided in the circulation air passage.
The light source is arranged downstream in the blowing direction of the circulating fan, and the ozone generator is arranged upstream of the blowing direction of the circulating fan.
A sterilizer characterized by that. A decomposition catalyst was placed in the circulation air passage.
The sterilizer according to claim 1 , wherein the sterilizer is characterized by the above. The wavelength of the near-ultraviolet rays is UV-C.
The sterilizer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sterilizer is characterized by the above. It includes at least the light source and a control unit that controls the ozone generator.
The control unit sets the driving time of the light source and the ozone generator to 24 hours.
The sterilizer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sterilizer is characterized by the above. A refrigerator provided with the sterilizer according to any one of claims 1 to 4 .