KR20070052507A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

In addition to the cold air duct in the storage compartment, the sterilization duct is disposed in the vertical direction to provide a refrigerator which allows the air containing active hydrogen and anion for sterilization and deodorization to be evenly discharged to the entire storage compartment through the sterilization duct. The sterilization duct is arranged in the vertical direction in parallel with the cold air duct, and an ion generator for sterilization and deodorization is installed in the vicinity of one end thereof. The ion generator is an MPI (Micro Plasma Ion) generator capable of generating active hydrogen together with anions. The sterilization duct and the cold air duct are coupled to a distribution duct having two outlets at one end thereof, and the distribution duct is provided with a damper to control the opening degree of the two outlets.

Description

Refrigerator {Refrigerator}

1 is a front view of the refrigerator according to the present invention showing that the sterilization duct for sterilization and deodorization in the storage compartment is arranged side by side with the cold air duct in the refrigerating compartment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of FIG. 1, in which cold air is distributed into a sterilization duct and a cold air duct through a distribution duct provided with a damper and an ion generator.

3 to 5 is a state diagram of the distribution duct, Figure 3 shows that the damper installed in the distribution duct completely blocks the cold air duct, the sterilization duct is completely opened, all the cold air discharged from the cooling fan is supplied to the sterilization duct, Figure 4 shows that the damper completely opens the cold air duct and the sterilization duct is completely closed so that all of the cold air is supplied to the cold air duct. It is shown to be supplied to.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of FIG. 1, showing that the cool air including the active hydrogen and the sterilization ion generated in the ion generator is evenly distributed in the storage chamber through the sterilization duct.

* Description of symbols on the main parts of the drawings *

10: cold duct 20: sterilization duct

21: sterilization air outlet 30: distribution duct

40: ion generator 50: damper

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator in which a sterilization duct for sterilization and deodorization is disposed separately from a cold air duct for dispersing cold air in a storage compartment.

In general, refrigerators are configured to keep the storage compartments such as the freezer and the refrigerator compartment at a temperature suitable for storing the foods, so that the foods stored in the storage can be kept fresh for a long time. These refrigerators include meat and fish as well as vegetables and fruits. Various food ingredients and finished food will be stored.

Therefore, if the storage room is not periodically cleaned, the smell generated from various foods in the storage room is doubled and mold, bacteria, and viruses are breeding, which is not good for hygiene and also causes discomfort to the user.

In order to eliminate such bacteria and odors, a refrigerator equipped with a sterilizing device and a deodorizing device is known in the storage room, and an example thereof is Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 6-82151.

The conventional refrigerator sterilizer and deodorizer includes a cover having an inlet port and an outlet port for suctioning and discharging the air in the storage compartment, and a high voltage generator, an ozone generating electrode portion, and an ion generating electrode portion installed inside the cover. And a blowing fan to clean the air circulating in the storage compartment by allowing the air introduced into the cover to be sterilized and deodorized by ozone in the cover and then discharged back to the storage compartment.

However, since the conventional sterilizer and deodorizer of the refrigerator is disposed between the shelf and the shelf in the storage compartment, the sterilized and deodorized air is discharged only to the vicinity thereof, so that the sterilized and deodorized air does not spread to the entire space of the storage compartment but only locally There is a disadvantage in that the distribution is less effective sterilization and deodorization.

In addition, since the conventional sterilizer and deodorizer of the refrigerator has a structure in which only the air passing through the sterilizer and the deodorizer is cleaned by ozone, the air in the storage compartment cannot be sterilized and deodorized, and thus, without the sterilizer and the deodorizer. There is a disadvantage that the air cannot be sterilized and deodorized.

The present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, an object of the present invention by placing a sterilization duct long in the vertical direction separately from the cold air duct in the storage compartment to the air containing active hydrogen and anion for sterilization and deodorization It is to provide a refrigerator that can be evenly distributed through the sterilization duct to the entire storage compartment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that can enhance the sterilization and deodorization effect by installing an ion generator capable of generating active hydrogen and sterilization ions near one end of the sterilization duct.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator which enables simple control of the flow rate and flow rate of air passing through the sterilization duct.

Refrigerator according to the present invention for achieving this object,

At least one storage compartment, a cold air duct disposed in the storage compartment, a sterilization duct provided separately from the cold air duct in the storage compartment, a distribution installed between the sterilization duct and the cold air duct to communicate or block the cold air duct and the sterilization duct And an ion generator installed in the duct, the sterilization duct, or the distribution duct.

A plurality of sterilization air outlets are formed in the sterilization duct at regular intervals so that the anions generated by the ion generator are evenly distributed to the entire space of the storage chamber through the respective sterilization air outlets.

Preferably, the ion generator is an MPI (Micro Plasma Ion) generator capable of generating active hydrogen together with the anion.

The distribution duct has an inlet and first and second outlets, and a cooling fan is disposed at the inlet of the distribution duct, and the sterilization duct and the cold air duct are connected to the first and second outlets of the distribution duct, respectively. Thus, cold air blown by the cooling fan flows through the distribution duct into the sterilization duct and the cold air duct.

A damper is provided between the first and second outlets in the distribution duct so as to open and close the first and second outlets.

Preferably, the damper is operated by a drive motor to enable the opening degree adjustment of the first and second outlets.

Preferably, the ion generator is disposed on the side of the first outlet connected to the sterilization duct in the distribution duct.

The refrigerator according to the present invention further includes a cold air supply duct connected to an inlet of the distribution duct, and a plurality of inlets are formed on a front surface of the cold air supply duct to introduce air from the storage compartment. An evaporator is installed together with the cooling fan.

In addition, an antistatic material is coated on the inner surface of the sterilization duct, and preferably, the antistatic material is made of polyethylene.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to the present invention showing that sterilization ducts for sterilization and deodorization are arranged in parallel with a cold air duct in a storage compartment. As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator according to the present invention is formed in a box shape having an open front surface, and includes a cabinet 1 having a food storage space and a cabinet 1 arranged in a longitudinal direction inside the cabinet 1. Partition walls 2 partitioning the compartments into two storage compartments 3 and 4, and two doors 5 and 6 hinged to the front of the cabinet 1 to open and close each storage compartment 3 and 4. It includes.

Typically, the two storage compartments (3) (4) each contain a freezer compartment (3) for storing food at temperatures below 0 ° C. (preferably between -16 ° C. and -21 ° C.) and foods above 0 ° C. It is used as a refrigerating compartment 4 for storage in the range of from 5 ° C. to 5 ° C., so that the storage compartment 3 is referred to as the freezing compartment 3 and the storage compartment 4 is referred to as the refrigerating compartment 4.

In order to effectively arrange various foods and foods stored in the freezing compartment 3 and the refrigerating compartment 4, a plurality of shelves 7 and a storage box 8 are installed in the freezing compartment 3 and the refrigerating compartment 4 (in the refrigerating compartment). See FIG. 6 for shelves and storage boxes arranged.

In the rear part of the refrigerating compartment 4, the cold air duct 10 is formed to be elongated in the vertical direction so as to evenly distribute cold air to the entire space of the refrigerating compartment 4, and the cold air duct 10 is arranged in parallel with the cold air duct 10 so as to extend in the vertical direction. The sterilization duct 20 for releasing the sterilized and deodorized air and a large amount of active hydrogen and anion into the entire space of the) is disposed.

The rear side of the refrigerating compartment 4 also has a distribution duct 30 connected to the cold air duct 10 and one end (lower in FIG. 1) of the sterilization duct 20, and a cooling fan connected to the distribution duct 30. The cold air supply duct 15 provided with the 17 and the evaporator 18 is arrange | positioned.

On the front of the cold air duct 10 and the sterilization duct 20, a plurality of cold air outlets 11 and sterilizing air outlets 21 are formed at predetermined intervals, respectively, and a cold room ( A plurality of air inlets 16 (see FIG. 6) are formed for introducing the air of 4) into the cold air supply duct 15.

Inside the distribution duct 30, a damper 50 for controlling the flow of cold air blown by the cooling fan 17 to the cold air duct 10 and the sterilization duct 20, and through the sterilization duct 20 An ion generating device 40 is installed in the refrigerating chamber 4 to release a large amount of active hydrogen and anions.

Typically, the sterilization duct 20 is made of expanded polystyrene having a surface resistance of 10 ¹² Ω / sq or more, thereby generating charge and ions emitted from the ion generator 40. As a result, the ions disappear and the ion emission amount decreases. In order to eliminate the charge phenomenon of the ions, the inner surface of the sterilization duct 20 is coated with an antistatic material polyethylene (polyethylene).

Therefore, when the cooling fan 17 is operated, the air sucked into the cold air supply duct 15 from the refrigerating chamber 4 is cooled through the evaporator 18 and then the cold air duct 10 and / or through the distribution duct 30. It flows into the sterilization duct 20 and exits the plurality of cold air outlets 11 and the sterilizing air outlet 21 and is dispersed in the refrigerating chamber 4.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of FIG. 1, in which cold air is distributed into a sterilization duct and a cold air duct through a distribution duct provided with a damper and an ion generator. As shown in FIG. 2, the distribution duct 30 has a structure in which the cover plate 30a is coupled, and has a substantially Y shape, so that both ends thereof have an inlet portion 31 and first and second outlet portions 32, respectively. Will have 33).

The cold air supply duct 15 is fitted into the inlet 31, and the sterilization duct 20 is fitted into the first outlet 32, and the cold air duct 10 is fitted into the second outlet 33. Is fitted to be combined. Therefore, the cold air sent from the cold air supply duct 15 to the distribution duct 30 is divided into the cold air duct 10 and the sterilization duct 20 to flow.

A damper 50 is provided between the first and second outlets 32 and 33 in the distribution duct 30 to selectively open and close the first and second outlets 32 and 33. do. The damper 50 has a plate shape having the same size as the cross-section of the first and second outlets 32 and 33, one end of which is connected to the driving motor 51, and the other end thereof is the distribution duct 30. It is hinged to the cover plate (30a) of the rotatable by the drive motor 51 to adjust the opening degree of the first and second outlets (32, 33).

The ion generator 40 is disposed on the first outlet portion 32 connected to the sterilization duct 20 in the distribution duct 30 and sterilized and deodorized by the sterilization duct 20 and a large amount of active hydrogen. And releases negative ions. Of course, the ion generating device 40 may be installed at the inlet of the sterilization duct 20.

The ion generator 40 is composed of an MPI (Micro Plasma Ion) generator designed to generate only hydrogen ions (H +) in an ionic state by plasma discharge under atmospheric pressure, and the MPI generator generates electrons around the active hydrogen. It generates (hydrogen atom) and the active hydrogen reacts with the active oxygen around it to neutralize the active oxygen harmful to the human body, and it is adsorbed to the cell tissues of the causative bacteria such as viruses and fungi floating in the air to remove the causative bacteria. It can be sterilized without releasing cations harmful to human body.

The ion generator 40 composed of the MPI generator includes a ceramic plate 41 serving as a cation generator and a needle electrode 42 serving as an anion generator. When a high voltage of a positive component is applied to the ceramic plate 41, plasma discharge is performed. Water in the air (H 2 O) is ionized to generate hydrogen ions (H +). When negative high voltage is applied to the needle electrode 42, positive ions are accumulated around the needle electrode 42 by plasma discharge. Then, a large amount of electrons are released into the air from the needle electrode 42.

Since a large amount of electrons emitted in the air is very unstable, it is trapped by oxygen molecules (O2) to form superoxide anions (O2-), thereby generating electrons and superoxide anions in the needle electrode 42.

When electrons are emitted from the needle electrode 42, these electrons are generated in the ceramic plate 41 to combine with hydrogen ions passing around the needle electrode 42 to form a hydrogen atom (or active hydrogen). Thus, the hydrogen ions generated in the ceramic plate 41 combine with electrons emitted from the needle electrode 42 to form hydrogen atoms, and finally, the elements discharged are hydrogen atoms and superoxide anions.

This sorghum atom and superoxide anion are contained in the air passing through the first outlet 32 of the distribution duct 30 and discharged into the refrigerating chamber 4 through the sterilization duct 20 to sterilize bacteria or viruses and to mold Eliminate the odor by removing the causative bacteria.

Damper 50 controls the flow rate and flow rate of the cold air sent to the sterilization duct 20 to distribute the amount of active hydrogen and ions generated in the ion generator 40, more precisely the amount of superoxide anion The opening degree of the first outlet part 32 of the duct 30 is adjusted, which will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6.

As shown in FIG. 3, when it is determined that a large amount of active hydrogen and ions are required for sterilization and deodorization in the refrigerating compartment 4 by ion detecting means and contamination detecting means (not shown) installed in the refrigerating compartment 4, The drive motor 51 is operated so that the damper 50 completely closes the second outlet 33 connected to the cold air duct 10, and the first outlet 32 connected to the sterilization duct 20 is completely opened.

In this state, when the cooling fan 17 and the ion generator 40 are operated, all the cold air sent from the cold air supply duct 15 to the distribution duct 30 flows to the sterilization duct 20, and thus a large amount of cold air in a short time. Cool air is sterilized and deodorized as a large amount of active hydrogen and ions are released in the air. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 6, cool air containing a large amount of active hydrogen and ions is discharged to each sterilizing air outlet 21 of the sterilization duct 20. As it exits and distributes evenly to the entire space of the refrigerating compartment (4) is to quickly sterilize and deodorize the refrigerating compartment (4) as a whole.

As shown in FIG. 4, when it is determined that the sterilization and deodorization of the air in the refrigerating compartment 4 is completed by the ion sensing means and the contamination sensing means, the damper 50 is connected to the cold air duct 10. ) Is fully opened, and the drive motor 51 is operated to completely close the first outlet 32 connected to the sterilization duct 20 and the ion generator 40 is turned off to remove the entire cold air containing no anion and active hydrogen. It is sent to the cold duct (10).

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, when the damper 50 opens the cold air duct 10 completely, and the sterilization duct 20 is partially opened to reduce the opening degree of the second outlet 32, the sterilization duct 20 may be used. The flow rate of the cold air flowing to the reactor becomes very fast so that the cold air containing active hydrogen and anion exits the sterilization duct 20 very quickly, and thus, the charging phenomenon of negative ions in the sterilization duct 20 is more effectively prevented. To the far side of), cold air containing active hydrogen and anions is sent.

As described in detail above, the refrigerator according to the present invention has a sterilization duct disposed in the storage compartment in a vertical direction separately from the cold air duct, so that active hydrogen and anion for sterilization and deodorization are uniformly distributed throughout the storage compartment through the sterilization duct. Since it can be released, there is an effect that can effectively sterilize and deodorize the entire space of the storage compartment.

In addition, since the refrigerator according to the present invention can easily adjust the flow rate and flow rate of the air passing through the sterilization duct by installing a damper in the distribution duct connected to the sterilization duct, the discharge amount and speed of the active hydrogen and anion, and the ion generator The operating time can be adjusted optimally, thus reducing the unnecessary power consumption.

Claims (10)

At least one storage compartment, a cold air duct disposed in the storage compartment, a sterilization duct provided separately from the cold air duct in the storage compartment, a distribution installed between the sterilization duct and the cold air duct to communicate or block the cold air duct and the sterilization duct And a ion generating device installed in the duct, the sterilization duct, or the distribution duct. According to claim 1, wherein the sterilization duct is formed with a plurality of sterilization air outlets at regular intervals so that the anion generated in the ion generator is distributed evenly to the entire space of the storage chamber through the respective sterilization air outlets. Refrigerator. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the ion generating device is an MPI (Micro Plasma Ion) generating device capable of generating active hydrogen together with the anion. The dispensing duct of claim 1, wherein the distribution duct has an inlet and first and second outlets, and a cooling fan is disposed at the inlet of the distribution duct, and the sterilization duct and the cold air duct are respectively formed in the first and second portions of the distribution duct. The refrigerator connected to the second outlet, characterized in that the cold air blown by the cooling fan flows through the distribution duct to the sterilization duct and the cold air duct. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein a damper is provided between the first and second outlets in the distribution duct so as to open and close the first and second outlets. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the damper is operated by a drive motor to control the opening degree of the first and second outlets. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the ion generating device is disposed at a side of the first outlet connected to the sterilization duct in the distribution duct. According to claim 4, further comprising a cold air supply duct connected to the inlet of the distribution duct, a front surface of the cold air supply duct is formed with a plurality of inlets for introducing air in the storage chamber, the cold air supply duct The refrigerator, characterized in that the evaporator is installed together with the cooling fan. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein an antistatic material is coated on an inner surface of the sterilization duct. 10. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the antistatic material is polyethylene.

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