Refrigerator

Abstract

The present application provides a refrigerator capable of inhibiting power consumed by a purification device and obtaining a higher purification effect. The refrigerator (1) of the present application is provided with: a refrigerator main body (2), a refrigerator internal space formed in the inside of the refrigerator main body (2), a cooling device (10) for cooling air of the refrigerator internal space, an air supply device (11) for circulating air cooled by the cooling device (10) in the refrigerator internal space, a plurality of purification devices (50, 51) for purifying the refrigerator internal space, and a control unit (28) for controlling the plurality of purification devices (50, 51), the plurality of purification devices (50, 51) being arranged at different positions, and the control unit (28) causing other purification devices to operate during operation of any purification device among the plurality of purification devices (50, 51).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] Previously, a refrigerator was proposed that includes a purification device for purifying the air circulating in the storage compartment by sterilizing or deodorizing it (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Existing technical documents

[0004] Patent documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-66161 Summary of the Invention

[0006] Refrigerators equipped with purification devices can achieve higher purification effects because the purification devices are driven for a long time, but they also require more electricity.

[0007] Therefore, the objective of this invention is to provide a refrigerator that can suppress the power consumed by the purification device and achieve a high purification effect.

[0008] A refrigerator of one embodiment includes: a refrigerator body; a refrigerator interior space formed inside the refrigerator body; a cooling device for cooling the air in the refrigerator interior space; a ventilation device for circulating the air cooled by the cooling device in the refrigerator interior space; a plurality of purification devices for purifying the refrigerator interior space; and a control unit for controlling the plurality of purification devices, the plurality of purification devices being arranged in different positions relative to each other, the control unit activating the other purification devices during the operation of any one of the plurality of purification devices.

[0009] Based on the above configuration, the power consumed by the purification device can be suppressed, and a high purification effect can be obtained. Attached Figure Description

[0010] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Enlarged view of the main parts.

[0012] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A block diagram of a refrigerator.

[0013] Figure 4 This is a timing diagram of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 5This is a timing diagram of the refrigerator of Modification 1 of the present invention.

[0015] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0016] 1…Refrigerator, 2…Refrigerator body, 2a…Insulated partition wall, 2b…Partition wall, 2c…Inlet, 3…Refrigerator compartment, 3a…Refrigerator compartment door, 3b…Shelf, 3c…Fresh food compartment, 4a…Vegetable compartment door, 5…First freezer compartment, 6…Second freezer compartment, 10…Refrigerator cooler, 11…Refrigerator air supply device, 12…Cooler compartment forming component, 13…Refrigerator cooler compartment, 14…Rear flow path, 15…Freezer cooler, 16…Freezer air supply device, 17…Cover, 18…pipeline, 19…freezer chamber, 24…flow path forming component, 28…control unit, 29…return flow path, 30…receiving container, 31…upper container, 32…lower container, 33…lid, 34…front wall, 35…vent, 36…exhaust port, 40…vegetable container, 41…lower container, 42…upper container, 43…front and rear partitions, 44…lower front container, 45…lower rear container, 50…first purification device, 51…second purification device. Detailed Implementation

[0017] 1. Implementation method

[0018] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The following embodiments can be implemented in various other ways, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The following embodiments and their variations are all included within the scope of the invention as described in the claims and its equivalents.

[0019] In the following explanation, left and right, front and back, and up and down refer to the directions when viewing the refrigerator from the front. The left and right direction corresponds to the width of the refrigerator. Additionally, unless otherwise specified, up, down, left, right, inside, back, and near front refer to the position or orientation when viewing the refrigerator from the front.

[0020] (1) Components of refrigerator 1

[0021] First, let's describe the overall structure of refrigerator 1. For example... Figure 1 As shown, the refrigerator 1 includes a refrigerator body 2 consisting of an insulated cabinet with an opening on the front surface. The refrigerator body 2 is an insulated cabinet with an opening on the front surface formed inside it, and it includes: an outer box made of steel plate, an inner box made of synthetic resin formed by vacuum forming, and a vacuum insulation board or polyurethane foam or other insulation material disposed in the gap between the outer box and the inner box.

[0022] The space inside the refrigerator body 2 is divided into an upper refrigeration space and a lower freezing space by an insulated partition wall 2a.

[0023] The refrigerated space is the interior space of a refrigerator that is cooled to a refrigerated temperature range (e.g., 0–4°C) through the circulation of cooled air. The interior of the refrigerated space is divided by a partition 2b, a cooler compartment forming component 12, and a flow path forming component 24 into storage spaces for storing food, such as a refrigerator compartment 3, a fresh food compartment 3c, and a vegetable compartment 4, and a cold air generating space, such as a refrigerator cooler compartment 13, a rear flow path 14, and a return flow path 29, which generates cold air and supplies it to the storage spaces. In other words, the storage spaces constituting the refrigerated space and the cold air generating spaces are separated into spaces that share circulating air.

[0024] Specifically, the interior of the refrigerated space is divided into upper and lower sections by a partition 2b. Above the partition 2b, a refrigerated compartment 3 with multiple shelves 3b is provided, and below the partition 2b, a vegetable compartment 4 equipped with a pull-out vegetable container 40 is provided. The refrigerated compartment 3 and the vegetable compartment 4 are connected by an inlet 2c provided at the rear of the partition 2b.

[0025] The opening on the front surface of the refrigerator compartment 3 is sealed by a pair of insulated, double-leaf refrigerator doors 3a that separate the opening in the width direction. These refrigerator doors 3a are pivotally supported by hinges located on the left and right sides of the refrigerator body, allowing them to rotate freely, and function as opening and closing sections that define the front surface of the refrigerator compartment 3. The front surface of the refrigerator doors 3a includes: an operation display 7 for receiving user settings of the refrigerator 1 and displaying the settings status of the refrigerator 1; and an external temperature sensor 8 for detecting the ambient temperature around the refrigerator 1.

[0026] The interior of the refrigerator compartment 3 is divided into multiple layers by multiple shelves 3b. Below the bottom shelf 3b, a fresh food compartment 3c is created that is connected to the refrigerator compartment 3. The fresh food compartment 3c houses a storage container 30 that is divided vertically to allow air to flow in and out, forming a two-layer space.

[0027] A refrigerator temperature sensor 23 for measuring the temperature of the refrigerator space is provided on the back of the refrigerator compartment 3. Additionally, an opening / closing detection unit 9a for monitoring the opening and closing of the right-side refrigerator door 3a and an opening / closing detection unit 9b for monitoring the opening and closing of the left-side refrigerator door 3a are provided at the periphery of the opening on the front surface of the refrigerator compartment 3 (see reference). Figure 3 ).

[0028] The opening on the front surface of the vegetable compartment 4 is sealed by a pull-out vegetable compartment door 4a. The vegetable compartment door 4a functions as an opening and closing part that divides the front surface of the vegetable compartment 4. An opening and closing detection part 9c is provided around the periphery of the opening on the front surface of the vegetable compartment 4 to monitor the opening and closing of the vegetable compartment door 4a. A pair of left and right support brackets are fixedly installed inside the refrigerator inside the vegetable compartment door 4a to hold the vegetable container 40.

[0029] A rear flow path 14, separated from the front by a flow path forming component 24, is provided at the rear of the refrigerator compartment 3. A refrigerator cooler compartment 13, separated from the front by a cooler compartment forming component 12, and a return flow path 29 are provided at the rear of the fresh food compartment 3c and the vegetable compartment 4. The refrigerator cooler compartment 13 houses a refrigerator cooler 10 and a refrigeration air supply device 11, such as a fan.

[0030] In addition, the cooling chamber forming component 12 is provided with a first purification device 50 that irradiates ultraviolet light into the interior of the upper container 31 provided in the cold storage compartment 3c, and a second purification device 51 that irradiates ultraviolet light into the interior of the upper container 42 of the vegetable container 40 provided in the vegetable compartment 4.

[0031] The freezing space below the heat-insulating partition wall 2a is a space cooled and maintained at a freezing temperature range (e.g., -18°C to -20°C), and includes an ice-making compartment, a first freezing compartment 5, and a second freezing compartment 6. The ice-making compartment and the first freezing compartment 5 are arranged side-by-side below the vegetable compartment 4, separated by the heat-insulating partition wall 2a. The second freezing compartment 6, having a lower shell and an upper shell, is located below the ice-making compartment and the first freezing compartment 5. Similar to the vegetable compartment 4, the openings of the ice-making compartment, the first freezing compartment 5, and the second freezing compartment 6 are sealed by pull-out doors 5a and 6a. A freezing temperature detection unit 25 for measuring the internal temperature of the second freezing compartment 6 is provided on the back of the second freezing compartment 6.

[0032] At the rear of the storage compartments (ice-making compartment, first freezer compartment 5, second freezer compartment 6) located in the freezing space, a cover 17 forming the pipe 18 is provided. The cover 17 divides the freezer cooler compartment 19 behind the storage compartment in the freezing temperature zone.

[0033] Inside the freezer compartment 19 are a freezer 15, which is cooled to a temperature lower than that of the refrigerator 10, and a refrigeration air supply device 16, such as a fan. The refrigeration air supply device 16 installed in the freezer compartment 19 supplies air cooled by the freezer 15 from the freezer compartment 19 to the ice-making compartment, the first freezer compartment 5, and the second freezer compartment 6 via pipes 18, thereby cooling the ice-making compartment, the first freezer compartment 5, and the second freezer compartment 6.

[0034] The refrigerator cooler 10 and the freezer cooler 15, together with the compressor 21 and a condenser (not shown) housed in the machine compartment 20 located at the lower rear of the refrigerator body 2, constitute a cooling device known as a freezing cycle. The refrigerant discharged from the compressor 21 passes through a switching valve 22 (see reference 1). Figure 3 The cooling device supplies power to one of the refrigeration cooler 10 and the freezer cooler 15, thereby alternately cooling the refrigeration cooler 10 and the freezer cooler 15 to a predetermined temperature. The refrigeration cooler 10 is provided with a refrigeration cooler temperature detection unit 26 for detecting the temperature of the refrigeration cooler 10, and the freezer cooler 15 is provided with a freezer cooler temperature detection unit 27 for detecting the temperature of the freezer cooler 15.

[0035] In addition, a control unit 28 is provided on the outside of the refrigerator body 2, for example on the rear part of the upper surface of the top wall of the refrigerator body 2, which is composed of a control board such as a microcomputer that controls the refrigerator 1.

[0036] (2) Storage container 30

[0037] The storage container 30 stored in the cold storage compartment 3c includes: a pull-out upper container 31 and a lower container 32 arranged on top of each other, and a cover 33 that is rotatably disposed at the front end of the bottom shelf 3b.

[0038] The upper container 31 is made of synthetic resin with a generally rectangular planar shape and an open upper surface, forming a storage space inside for storing food and other items. A front wall 34 is provided at the front end of the upper container 31, rising from the bottom surface of the upper container 31 and dividing the front end of the storage space. An opening is formed between the upper end of the front wall of the upper container 31 and the lower surface of the shelf 3b, and this opening is sealed by a lid 33.

[0039] When the upper container 31 is pulled forward from its position within the refrigerator compartment 3c, it slides along a guide rail (not shown) while pushing the lid 33 upward, moving towards the front of the refrigerator compartment 3c. This opens the opening on the upper surface of the upper container 31, allowing for the insertion and removal of stored items. Conversely, when the upper container 31 is pushed backward from its position within the refrigerator compartment 3c and stored there, the opening on the upper surface of the upper container 31 is sealed by the lid 33 and the bottom shelf 3b. In other words, the lid 33 constitutes an opening / closing part that divides a portion of the storage space formed inside the upper container 31 in an openable and closable manner. Furthermore, the refrigerator compartment 3c is equipped with an opening / closing detection unit 9d (see reference 9d) that monitors the opening and closing of the lid 33. Figure 2 The opening and closing detection unit 9d monitors the opening and closing of the cover 33, thereby monitoring the situation where the upper container 31 is pulled out to the front of the cold storage compartment 3c.

[0040] The lower container 32 is a synthetic resin container with a roughly rectangular planar shape and an open upper surface, forming a storage space for storing food and other items. When the lower container 32 is pulled forward from its position within the refrigerator compartment 3c, it slides along a guide rail (not shown) and moves towards the front of the refrigerator compartment 3c, opening the upper surface of the lower container 32 to allow for the insertion and removal of stored items. Conversely, when the lower container 32 is pushed backward from its position within the refrigerator compartment 3c and stored there, the opening on its upper surface is sealed by the bottom surface of the upper container 31. In other words, the bottom surface of the upper container 31 forms a sealing section that can be opened and closed to separate a portion of the storage space formed inside the lower container 32.

[0041] Furthermore, the lower container 32 is connected to the upper container 31 via a vent 35 provided at the front end of the bottom surface of the upper container 31. Additionally, the lower container 32 has an exhaust vent 36 that opens into the cold storage compartment 3c at the rear end of the bottom surface of the lower container 32.

[0042] (3) Vegetable container 40

[0043] The vegetable container 40 installed in the vegetable chamber 4 has a structure of two overlapping layers, including: a lower container 41 installed over approximately the entire width of the vegetable chamber 4, and an upper container 42 installed above the lower container 41.

[0044] The lower container 41 is a bottomed box-shaped container surrounded by a front wall, a rear wall, and left and right side walls, which allows stored items to be loaded or unloaded from the upper surface opening relative to the interior. The lower container 41 is configured to have a pair of left and right support brackets fixedly installed on the back side of the vegetable compartment door 4a, which are pulled outwards from the refrigerator together with the opening action of the vegetable compartment door 4a.

[0045] The lower container 41 is provided with front and rear partitions 43 protruding upward from the inner bottom surface. The front and rear partitions 43 are configured to connect the inner surfaces of the left and right side walls of the lower container 41, forming a lower front container 44 on the front side and a lower rear container 45 on the rear side.

[0046] The upper opening of the lower container 45 is at Figure 1 When the vegetable compartment door 4a is closed (with the vegetable container 40 stored inside the vegetable compartment 4), it is sealed by the bottom surface of the upper container 42 and the functional sheet 72 stored in the shell 70.

[0047] Functional sheet 72 is a sheet that is both waterproof and breathable. For example, it is a porous sheet with multiple pores having a diameter of 0.5μm to 3μm, allowing water vapor and air to pass through while also having specified windproof properties that restrict direct wind entry. As an example, a breathable and waterproof sheet made of laminated polyester long-fiber nonwoven fabric and polyethylene porous film can be used in functional sheet 72.

[0048] Such a functional sheet 72 can restrict the air (wind) circulating in the vegetable chamber 4 from directly entering the lower rear container 45, while a certain amount of air can move between the vegetable chamber 4 and the lower rear container 45.

[0049] The upper container 42 is a bottomed box-shaped container made of ultraviolet-transmitting synthetic resin material, allowing stored items to be loaded or removed from the upper opening relative to the interior. The upper container 42 is configured to slide along the front-to-back direction on the inner box guide rails provided on the left and right inner side walls of the vegetable compartment 4 and on the upper ends of the left and right side walls of the lower container 41, allowing it to be pulled out of the refrigerator independently of the lower container 41.

[0050] When the vegetable container 40 is closed and stored in the vegetable compartment 4, the opening on the upper surface of the lower rear container 45 is sealed by the bottom surface of the upper container 42 and the functional sheet 72 stored in the shell 70. Furthermore, when the vegetable container 40 is stored in the vegetable compartment 4, the openings on the upper surfaces of the lower front container 44 and the upper container 42 are open inside the vegetable compartment 4.

[0051] When the vegetable compartment door 4a is opened, the vegetable container 40 is pulled out of the refrigerator, and the openings on the upper surfaces of the lower front container 44 and the upper container 42 open outwards. At this time, since the upper container 42 is also pulled out of the refrigerator along with the lower container 41, the upper surface of the lower rear container 45 is sealed by the upper container 42 and the functional sheet 72. Moreover, by sliding the upper container 42 backwards relative to the lower container 41, the opening on the upper surface of the lower rear container 45 opens. That is, the vegetable compartment door 4a is an opening and closing part that divides the storage space formed inside the upper container 42 and the lower front container 44 in a way that can be opened and closed, and the upper container 42 is an opening and closing part that divides the storage space formed inside the lower rear container 45 in a way that can be opened and closed.

[0052] (4) Refrigeration cooler compartment 13, back flow path 14 and return flow path 29

[0053] The refrigerator cooler compartment 13, the rear airflow path 14, and the return airflow path 29 are located at the rear of the refrigerator compartment 3, the fresh food compartment 3c, and the vegetable compartment 4. These spaces generate cold air to cool the refrigerator space divided within the refrigerator body 2 and circulate this cold air within the refrigerator space. In other words, the refrigerator cooler compartment 13, the rear airflow path 14, and the return airflow path 29, together with the refrigerator compartment 3, the fresh food compartment 3c, and the vegetable compartment 4, form the internal space of the refrigerator body 2, and are spaces through which air supplied from a general-purpose air supply device (refrigerator air supply device 11) circulates. In other words, the refrigerator compartment 3, the fresh food compartment 3c, the vegetable compartment 4, the refrigerator cooler compartment 13, the rear airflow path 14, and the return airflow path 29, which constitute the internal space of the refrigerator, are either part of the airflow path supplied from the air supply device or spaces connected to the airflow path supplied from the air supply device.

[0054] Specifically, the refrigerator cooler compartment 13 is a space formed between the cooler compartment forming component 12 and the rear wall of the refrigerator body 2, and is a space for generating cold air by cooling the air in the refrigerator cooler compartment 13 using the refrigerator cooler 10 installed inside it. The cooler compartment forming component 12 is provided with an outlet 12a, which opens upwards from the opening on the upper surface of the upper container 31 of the fresh food compartment 3c, and the refrigerator cooler compartment 13 is connected to the fresh food compartment 3c via the outlet 12a.

[0055] The back flow path 14 is a space formed between the flow path forming component 24 and the back wall of the refrigerator body 2. The lower end of the back flow path 14 is connected to the refrigerator cooler compartment 13, and the back flow path 14 extends vertically along the back of the refrigerator compartment 3. In the back flow path 14, an air outlet 14a that opens to the back of the refrigerator compartment 3 is provided at intervals in the vertical direction.

[0056] The return flow path 29 is a space formed on the upper rear side of the vegetable compartment 4 through the cooler compartment forming member 12, and is connected to the lower end of the refrigeration cooler compartment 13. The return flow path 29 is provided with an inlet 12b that opens at the rear end of the partition plate 2b and an inlet 12c that opens at the rear of the vegetable compartment 4. The fresh food compartment 3c or the vegetable compartment 4 is connected to the return flow path 29 via the inlets 12b and 12c.

[0057] The refrigeration cooler chamber 13 and the back flow path 14 are supplied with cold air generated in the refrigeration cooler chamber 13 by the operation of the refrigeration air supply device 11 from the outlet 12a to the cold storage compartment 3c. Moreover, the cold air is supplied to the refrigeration compartment 3 from the outlet 14a provided on the back of the refrigeration compartment 3 through the back flow path 14.

[0058] The cold air supplied to the chilled compartment 3c from the outlet 12a is introduced into the upper container 31 from behind the opening on the upper surface of the upper container 31. While cooling the interior of the upper container 31, it flows forward and through the vent 35 into the lower container 32. The cold air flowing from the upper container 31 into the lower container 32 cools the interior of the lower container 32 while flowing backward and is discharged from the exhaust port 36 located at the rear of the bottom surface of the lower container 32 to the outside of the lower container 32. The cold air discharged from the exhaust port 36 flows into the return flow path 29 from the intake port 12b opposite to the exhaust port 36 and returns to the refrigeration cooler compartment 13.

[0059] The cold air supplied to the refrigerator compartment 3 from the outlet 14a flows within the refrigerator compartment 3. Part of it returns to the refrigerator cooler compartment 13 via the return flow path 29 through the inlet 12b located behind the partition plate 2b, while the other part flows into the vegetable compartment 4 via the inlet 2c passing through the partition plate 2b. The cold air flowing into the vegetable compartment 4 cools the upper container 42, the lower front container 44, and the lower rear container 45 located in the vegetable compartment 4. Afterward, it returns to the refrigerator cooler compartment 13 via the return flow path 29 through the inlet 4b located at the back of the vegetable compartment 4.

[0060] (5) The first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51

[0061] The first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51 are equipped with light sources such as LEDs that are installed inside a flat, box-shaped fixture and can emit ultraviolet light, for purifying the air, such as by sterilization or deodorization. The first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51 are installed in different locations from each other.

[0062] In addition, the first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51 can irradiate ultraviolet rays of any wavelength between 200nm and 400nm, such as UVC with a wavelength of less than 280nm, UVB with a wavelength of 280-315nm, and UVA with a wavelength of 315-400nm, and can also irradiate ultraviolet rays with a wavelength of 222nm.

[0063] The first purification device 50 is fixed to the cooler chamber forming component 12 with its light source located behind the upper container 31 housed in the cold storage compartment 3c. The first purification device 50 mainly purifies the air inside the upper container 31 and the stored items housed in the upper container 31.

[0064] The second purification device 51 is fixed to the cooling chamber forming component 12 with its light source located at the upper rear of the upper container 42 housed in the vegetable compartment 4. The second purification device 51 mainly purifies the air inside the upper container 42 and the stored items housed in the upper container 42.

[0065] Furthermore, in this specification, the term "mainly" means that the purification effect of the purification device extends to other spaces. That is, in this embodiment, the first purification device 50 irradiates ultraviolet light from the rear of the upper container 31 towards the upper container 31, thereby extending the purification effect of the first purification device 50 to the air inside the upper container 31 and the stored items inside the upper container 31, compared to other spaces. Additionally, the second purification device 51 irradiates ultraviolet light from the upper rear of the upper container 42 towards the bottom surface of the upper container 42, thereby extending the purification effect of the second purification device 51 to the air inside the upper container 42 and the stored items inside the upper container 42, compared to other spaces.

[0066] In addition, as a method to make the purification effect mainly affect different spaces, for example, multiple purification devices are separated by components and each purification device is arranged in a different space, or multiple purification devices are arranged in a way that the direction of ultraviolet irradiation is different, and the spaces in which the multiple purification devices irradiate ultraviolet light are different.

[0067] (6) Electrical configuration of refrigerator 1

[0068] like Figure 3 As shown, the control unit 28 located on the upper part of the refrigerator body 2 is electrically connected to the following electrical components installed on the inside or outside of the refrigerator body 2: operation display unit 7, external temperature detection unit 8, opening and closing detection units 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, refrigeration air supply device 11, freezing air supply device 16, compressor 21, switching valve 22, refrigeration temperature detection unit 23, freezing temperature detection unit 25, refrigeration cooler temperature detection unit 26, freezing cooler temperature detection unit 27, first purification device 50, second purification device 51, etc. Furthermore, when the control unit 28 is input with signals from various detection units or signals from the operation display unit 7 due to user operation, it controls all operations of the refrigerator 1 by controlling the following based on the control program pre-stored in the memory: the display of the operation display unit 7, the setting of the operating intensity of the refrigeration air supply device 11 and the freezing air supply device 16, the setting of the operating frequency of the compressor 21, the switching setting of the refrigeration cooler 10 and the freezing cooler 15 based on the switching valve 22, and the output of the first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51.

[0069] (7) Cooling operation of refrigerator 1

[0070] In refrigerator 1, based on the refrigerator internal temperature of the refrigerator compartment and the refrigerator internal temperature of the freezer compartment detected by the refrigerator temperature detection unit 23 and the freezer temperature detection unit 25, the following operations are switched: refrigerator cooling operation for cooling the refrigerator compartment 3, the fresh food compartment 3c and the vegetable compartment 4 in the refrigerator temperature zone, and freezer cooling operation for cooling the ice maker compartment, the first freezer compartment 5 and the second freezer compartment 6 in the freezer temperature zone.

[0071] In addition, in the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment, although the compressor 21 is always driven to perform either the refrigeration cooling operation or the freezing cooling operation, the compressor 21, the refrigeration air supply device 11 and the freezing air supply device 16 can be stopped when the specified conditions are met, such as the temperature of both the refrigeration space and the freezing space being below the OFF temperature and the PID calculation reaching a certain value below a certain value.

[0072] When the refrigeration cooling start conditions are met, the control unit 28 drives the compressor 21 at a predetermined frequency and opens the outlet of the refrigeration refrigerant flow path side of the switching valve 22, allowing the refrigerant to flow to the refrigeration cooler 10. Furthermore, it causes the refrigeration air supply device 11 to rotate at a predetermined speed to begin refrigeration cooling operation. For example, if we consider one example of the refrigeration cooling start conditions, it is when the temperature detected by the refrigeration temperature detection unit 23 reaches or exceeds the ON temperature (e.g., 5°C) set for the refrigerated space.

[0073] During refrigeration operation, the low-pressure, low-temperature refrigerant flowing into the refrigeration cooler 10 vaporizes, thereby generating cold air in the refrigeration cooler chamber 13. The generated cold air is supplied to the refrigeration chamber 3, the upper container 31 and lower container 32 installed in the fresh food compartment 3c, and the upper container 42, lower front container 44 and lower rear container 45 installed in the vegetable compartment 4 through the air supply device 11, thereby cooling the storage space divided inside the refrigeration space.

[0074] Furthermore, when the refrigeration cooling end condition is met during the execution of the refrigeration cooling operation, the control unit 28 terminates the refrigeration cooling operation. If we take an example of the refrigeration cooling end condition, it is any of the following situations: (1) when the temperature detected by the refrigeration temperature detection unit 23 reaches the OFF temperature (e.g., 2°C) set for the refrigeration space, (2) when the longest cooling time (e.g., 40 minutes) or more has elapsed since the start of the refrigeration cooling operation, (3) when the temperature detected by the freezer temperature detection unit 25 reaches the ON temperature (e.g., -18°C) set for the freezer space.

[0075] When the refrigeration cooling operation ends, the control unit 28 drives the compressor 21 at a specified frequency and opens the outlet of the refrigerant flow path side of the switching valve 22 to allow the refrigerant to flow to the refrigeration cooler 15. In addition, the refrigeration air supply device 16 is rotated at a specified speed to perform the refrigeration cooling operation.

[0076] During refrigeration operation, the low-pressure, low-temperature refrigerant flowing into the refrigeration cooler 15 vaporizes, thereby generating cold air in the refrigeration cooler chamber 19. The generated cold air circulates within the ice-making chamber, the first freezing chamber 5, and the second freezing chamber 6 through the air supply of the refrigeration air supply device 16, cooling the ice-making chamber, the first freezing chamber 5, and the second freezing chamber 6 in a manner that achieves a specified freezing temperature range.

[0077] The cold air circulating in the ice-making chamber, the first freezer chamber 5, and the second freezer chamber 6 returns to the freezer cooler chamber 19 through an intake provided at the back of the second freezer chamber 6, is cooled by the freezer cooler 15, and is then sent back to the ice-making chamber, the first freezer chamber 5, and the second freezer chamber 6.

[0078] Furthermore, during the execution of the freezing and cooling operation, when the freezing and cooling end conditions are met, the control unit 28 terminates the freezing and cooling operation. If we take an example of the freezing and cooling end conditions, there are any of the following situations: (1) when the temperature detected by the freezing temperature detection unit 25 reaches the specified temperature (e.g., -21°C), (2) when the longest cooling time (e.g., 90 minutes) or more has elapsed since the start of the freezing operation, and (3) when the temperature detected by the refrigeration temperature detection unit 23 reaches the ON temperature (e.g., 5°C) set for the refrigeration space or more.

[0079] (8) Defrosting operation

[0080] In refrigerator 1, during the process of switching between refrigeration cooling operation and freezing cooling operation, when the specified defrosting start conditions are met, the first defrosting operation and the second defrosting operation are executed.

[0081] The first defrosting operation removes the frost adhering to the refrigerator cooler 10 by melting it, and supplies the moisture from the melted frost to the refrigerator space, thereby humidifying the refrigerator space.

[0082] Specifically, the control unit 28 stops or reduces the supply of refrigerant to the refrigeration cooler 10 by blocking the outlet of the refrigeration refrigerant flow path side of the switching valve 22, or by stopping the compressor 21 or reducing its operating frequency, and drives the refrigeration air supply device 11.

[0083] Furthermore, the first defrosting operation can be performed during refrigeration cooling operation, or it can be performed when either refrigeration cooling operation or refrigeration cooling operation stops. As a result of these controls, when the supply of refrigerant to the refrigeration cooler 10 is restricted, air from the refrigeration space with a temperature above 0°C is introduced into the refrigeration cooler chamber 13, exchanges heat with the frost-covered refrigeration cooler 10, and then returns to the refrigeration space.

[0084] Accordingly, the temperature of the refrigerator cooler 10 is raised, thereby melting the frost adhering to the refrigerator cooler 10, and the moisture from the melted frost is vaporized to generate humidified air. The generated humidified air is delivered to the refrigerator compartment 3 and the fresh food compartment 3c by the air supply device 11, humidifying the refrigerator compartment 3, the fresh food compartment 3c, and the vegetable compartment 4 connected to the refrigerator compartment 3.

[0085] The second defrosting operation removes frost adhering to the refrigeration cooler 15 by melting it. Specifically, the control unit 28 stops or reduces the supply of refrigerant to the refrigeration cooler 15 by blocking the outlet of the refrigerant flow path side of the switching valve 22, or by stopping the compressor 21 or reducing its operating frequency, and stops the refrigeration air supply device 16, while energizing the defrost heater. Through these controls, when the supply of refrigerant to the refrigeration cooler 15 is limited, the heat from the defrost heater is used to heat the refrigeration cooler 15, causing the frost adhering to it to melt.

[0086] (9) Control of the first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51

[0087] In refrigerator 1, when the specified start conditions are met, the control unit 28 activates the first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51 at a specified power rate, thereby performing purification operation to sterilize or deodorize the air in the refrigeration space.

[0088] In addition, if we list an example of the conditions for starting the purification operation, such as when the power to the refrigerator 1 is turned on, when the user instructs the purification operation from the operation display 7, or when the odor detection unit installed in the refrigeration compartment detects a specified odor substance.

[0089] If we list an example of the conditions for ending the purification operation, such as: when the power supply to the refrigerator 1 is cut off, when the user instructs the user to stop the purification operation or switch to power-saving mode from the operation display unit 7, or when the odor detection unit installed in the refrigerator compartment does not detect the specified odor substances.

[0090] The control unit 28 sets a drive cycle with a predetermined time T (e.g., 20 minutes) as one cycle, and sets the time during which the first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51 are driven to irradiate ultraviolet light (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the operating time), and the time during which the first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51 are stopped to stop irradiating ultraviolet light (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the stop time). The control unit 28 controls the first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51 to repeatedly operate and stop in a manner that the proportion of the operating time in one cycle, i.e., the energization rate, reaches a predetermined value, thereby performing purification operation.

[0091] When the control unit 28 controls the first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51, it controls the operation of the first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51 in such a way that at least a portion of the operation time of the first purification device 50 and the operation time of the second purification device 51 overlap.

[0092] For example, such as Figure 4 As shown, when the refrigerator door 3a and the vegetable compartment door 4a are closed, the control unit 28 sets the operating time (e.g., 7 minutes) and stopping time (e.g., 13 minutes) of the first purification device 50 in the drive cycle, and sets the power supply rate P1 of the first purification device 50 (e.g., 35%). Moreover, the control unit 28 repeatedly performs this operation and stopping in the execution of purification operation with the following control as one cycle, that is, controlling the first purification device 50 to operate for the operating time and then stop for the stopping time.

[0093] Furthermore, the control unit 28 sets a drive cycle with the same predetermined time T as the first purification device 50 as one cycle. In the drive cycle, the operating time (e.g., 10 minutes) and stopping time (e.g., 10 minutes) of the second purification device 51 are set, and the energization rate P2 of the second purification device 51 is set (e.g., 50%). Moreover, the control unit 28 makes the start time of the operating time of the second purification device 51 (i.e., the moment (time point) when the second purification device 51 starts operating) coincide with the start time of the operating time of the first purification device 50 (i.e., the moment (time point) when the first purification device 50 starts operating), and repeatedly performs such operation and stopping in the execution of purification operation with the following control as one cycle, that is, controlling the second purification device 51 to operate for the operating time and then stop for the stopping time.

[0094] Accordingly, the control unit 28 controls the first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51 in such a way that at least a portion of the operation time of the first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51 generates a simultaneous operation time tm during which multiple purification devices 50 and 51 operate simultaneously.

[0095] Furthermore, the so-called simultaneous operation of multiple purification devices 50 and 51 means that when any one of the multiple purification devices 50 and 51 is in operation, the other purification devices are also in operation. Although the start time and end time of operation (the time when the purification device ends its operation) may be different for each purification device, from the viewpoint that each of the multiple purification devices 50 and 51 can effectively obtain a purification effect, it is preferable to make either the start time or the end time consistent, and it is even more preferable to make both the start time and the end time consistent.

[0096] Furthermore, while the simultaneous operation time (i.e., the time during which at least two or more of the multiple purification devices installed in the space sharing the circulating cold air inside the refrigerator are in operation) tm can be set to any time, it is preferably set to be relatively long. For example, the ratio of the simultaneous operation time tm to the longest operation time among the multiple purification devices 50, 51 (e.g., the operation time of the second purification device 51) is preferably 50% or more, and more preferably 70% or more.

[0097] In addition, such as Figure 4 As shown, during the purification operation described above, when the cover 33 is detected to be open, the control unit 28 stops the first purification device 50 until it is blocked by the cover 33. When the vegetable chamber door 4a is detected to be open, the control unit 28 stops the second purification device 51 until it is blocked by the vegetable chamber door 4a.

[0098] That is, during the purification operation described above, the opening and closing detection units 9a and 9b monitor the opening of the refrigerator door 3a, and the opening and closing detection unit 9d monitors the opening of the cover 33 installed in the fresh food compartment 3c. When it is detected that the upper container 31 has been pulled forward in the fresh food compartment 3c, the control unit 28 stops the first purification device 50 while the cover 33 is open. The purification effect of the first purification device 50 mainly affects the internal space of the upper container 31 that is blocked by the cover 33.

[0099] Furthermore, while the opening and closing detection units 9a and 9b monitor the opening of the refrigerator compartment door 3a during purification operation, the control unit 28 can also activate the first purification device 50 when the opening and closing detection unit 9d monitors the sealing of the cover 33 installed in the fresh food compartment 3c. Additionally, if the vegetable compartment door 4a is sealed when the cover 33 is open, the control unit 28 can also activate the second purification device 51 without stopping it.

[0100] Furthermore, during the purification operation described above, when the opening / closing detection unit 9c detects that the vegetable compartment door 4a is open, the control unit 28 stops the second purification device 51 while the vegetable compartment door 4a is open. The purification effect of the second purification device 51 mainly affects the internal space of the upper container 42, which is blocked by the vegetable compartment door 4a. Alternatively, if the cover 33 is blocked when the vegetable compartment door 4a is open, the control unit 28 can also operate the first purification device 50 without stopping it.

[0101] Alternatively, even if the first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51, which are in operation, are stopped by opening the cover 33 or opening the vegetable chamber door 4a, the timing of the operation time can continue instead of stopping. If the operation time has not elapsed when the cover 33 or the vegetable chamber door 4a is blocked, the purification operation can be restarted.

[0102] (10) Effect

[0103] In this embodiment as described above, the operation of the first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51 is controlled such that at least a portion of their operating times overlap, compared to the case where their operating times do not overlap. This allows for more effective purification of the refrigerated space. Consequently, the power consumption of the purification devices can be reduced, and a higher purification effect can be achieved.

[0104] In this embodiment, since the first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51 repeatedly operate and stop during purification operation, power consumption can be suppressed, the refrigerated space can be purified, and the aging of the first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51 over the years can be suppressed.

[0105] In this embodiment, since the drive cycle, consisting of the operating time and stopping time of the multiple purification devices 50 and 51, is set to the same cycle among them, even when the multiple purification devices 50 and 51 are controlled to repeatedly operate and stop, the operations of the multiple purification devices 50 and 51 can be linked to ensure the desired simultaneous operation time. In this case, even if the first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51, which are in operation, are stopped by opening the cover 33 or the vegetable compartment door 4a, etc., by continuing to time the operation, the simultaneous operation time can be prevented from becoming undesirably short without changing the driving time among the multiple purification devices 50 and 51.

[0106] In this embodiment, the first purification device 50 is stopped when the cover 33 is detected to be open during purification operation, and the second purification device 51 is stopped when the vegetable chamber door 4a is detected to be open. Therefore, the ultraviolet rays emitted from the first purification device 50 or the second purification device 51 will not directly irradiate the user, thereby improving safety.

[0107] In this embodiment, if the vegetable compartment door 4a is blocked when the cover 33 is opened, the second purification device 51 is activated instead of being stopped. If the cover 33 is blocked when the vegetable compartment door 4a is opened, the control unit 28 activates the first purification device 50 instead of being stopped. Therefore, the purification device can be activated without worrying about direct ultraviolet radiation to the user, thereby suppressing the reduction in purification effect in the refrigerated space caused by the reduction in the operation time of the purification device.

[0108] In this embodiment, when the opening and closing detection units 9a and 9b detect that the refrigerator door 3a is open during purification operation, but the opening and closing detection unit 9d detects that the cover 33 installed in the fresh food compartment 3c is blocked, the control unit 28 causes the first purification device 50 to operate. Therefore, the purification device can operate without worrying about direct ultraviolet radiation to the user, thereby suppressing the reduction in purification effect in the refrigerator space caused by the reduction in the operation time of the purification device.

[0109] While embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These new embodiments can be implemented in various other ways, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are all included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are included within the scope of the invention as described in the claims and its equivalents.

[0110] 2. Example of Change

[0111] The following describes variations of the above-described embodiments. For the above-described embodiments, any one of the variations described below, or any two or more variations described below, can be applied. In the following descriptions of the variations, the same reference numerals are used for parts that are the same as in the above-described embodiments.

[0112] (1) Example of Change 1

[0113] The refrigeration air supply device 11 can also be activated during the operation of the first purification device 50 or the second purification device 51 to circulate the air in the refrigeration space.

[0114] For example, such as Figure 5 As shown, in the case of performing purification operation during refrigeration cooling operation ( Figure 5As the refrigeration cooling operation is executed (P1, P3, P5), the control unit 28 controls the compressor 21 and the switching valve 22 to allow the refrigerant to flow to the refrigeration cooler 10 and to activate the refrigeration air supply device 11 at a predetermined speed r1. Accordingly, the cold air generated by the refrigeration cooler chamber 13 can be circulated within the refrigeration space to cool the storage spaces divided within the refrigeration space. Furthermore, the air purified by the operation of the first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51 can be circulated within the refrigeration space.

[0115] In cases where purification operation is performed without either refrigeration cooling operation or first defrosting operation, such as during refrigeration cooling operation or when compressor 21 is stopped ( Figure 5 When the control unit 28 activates at least one of the first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51 (P2, P7), it rotates the refrigeration air supply device 11 at a predetermined speed r2. Accordingly, the air purified by the operation of the first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51 can be circulated in the refrigeration space.

[0116] Under the condition of performing purification operation during the first defrosting operation ( Figure 5 As the first defrosting operation is executed (P6), the control unit 28 controls the compressor 21 and the switching valve 22 to stop or reduce the refrigerant supply to the refrigerator cooler 10, and rotates the refrigerator air supply device 11 at a predetermined speed r3. Accordingly, humidified air generated by the vaporization of frost attached to the refrigerator cooler 10 can be circulated in the refrigerator space to humidify the storage space divided inside the refrigerator space, and air purified by the operation of the first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51 can be circulated in the refrigerator space.

[0117] Furthermore, when the refrigeration air supply device 11 is operated during the operation of the first purification device 50 or the second purification device 51, although the refrigeration air supply device 11 can be operated at any rotational speed, it is preferable that the rotational speed r1 of the refrigeration air supply device 11 when performing purification operation during refrigeration cooling operation is greater than the rotational speed r2 of the refrigeration air supply device 11 when performing purification operation without performing refrigeration cooling operation or the first defrost operation, and also greater than the rotational speed r3 of the refrigeration air supply device 11 when performing purification operation during the first defrost operation. That is, preferably, the rotational speed of the refrigeration air supply device 11 when both the first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51 are operated simultaneously is set to a rotational speed r1 that is the same as the rotational speed of the refrigeration air supply device 11 during refrigeration cooling operation, or a rotational speed r2 that is smaller than the rotational speed r1. By setting the rotation speeds r1 and r2 of the refrigeration air supply device 11 in this way, the rotation speed of the refrigeration air supply device 11 can be set higher during the refrigeration cooling operation, thereby quickly cooling the refrigeration space. Moreover, when the refrigeration cooling operation is not being performed, the rotation speed of the refrigeration air supply device 11 can be set lower, thereby suppressing the temperature rise of the refrigeration space and allowing the purified air to circulate in the refrigeration space.

[0118] Furthermore, the rotational speed r3 of the refrigeration air supply device 11 during the first defrost operation when performing purification operation is preferably less than the rotational speed r2 of the refrigeration air supply device 11 when performing purification operation without performing refrigeration cooling operation or the first defrost operation. By setting the rotational speeds r2 and r3 of the refrigeration air supply device 11 in this way, the temperature rise in the refrigeration space caused by the refrigeration air supply device 11 continuously operating at a high rotational speed during the first defrost operation can be suppressed, and the purified air can be effectively circulated in the refrigeration space.

[0119] Furthermore, preferably, when performing purification operation during refrigeration cooling operation, air is circulated within the refrigerated space regardless of whether the first purification device 50 or the second purification device 51 is activated or stopped. That is, preferably, the refrigeration cooling operation is controlled to control the refrigeration air supply device 11, prioritizing the control of refrigeration cooling operation over purification operation.

[0120] Furthermore, it is preferable that, when purification operation is performed during the first defrost operation, air is circulated in the refrigerated space regardless of whether the first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51 are activated or stopped. That is, it is preferable that the refrigerated air supply device 11 is controlled by prioritizing the control of the first defrost operation over the purification operation.

[0121] (2) Example of Change 2

[0122] The first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51 are only required to purify the shared space where air is circulated, and are not limited to the locations described in the above embodiments.

[0123] For example, a purification device may be installed in the refrigerator cooler compartment 13 to primarily purify the air in the refrigerator cooler compartment 13; or, a purification device may be installed on the top wall of the refrigerator compartment 3 or the back side (inside the refrigerator) of the refrigerator compartment 3 to primarily purify the air in the refrigerator compartment 3; or, a purification device may be installed in the back flow path 14 to primarily purify the air in the back flow path 14; or, a purification device may be installed in the return flow path 29 to primarily purify the air in the return flow path 29; or, a purification device may be installed in the cooler compartment forming component 12 to primarily purify the air in the lower rear container 45 of the vegetable container 40.

[0124] If the purification device is installed to purify the air in the back airflow path 14, or to purify the air in the return airflow path 29, the ultraviolet rays are blocked by the walls, shelves, containers, etc. inside the refrigerator. If the ultraviolet irradiation device is installed in a part that has little impact on the user, the device can be installed even if the refrigerator door 3a, vegetable compartment door 4a, or lid 33 is open, and the device does not need to be stopped. Therefore, the operation time of the purification device can be ensured and a greater purification effect can be obtained.

[0125] Furthermore, for example, the space above the top shelf 3b in the refrigerator compartment 3 can be purified by a purification device installed on the top wall of the refrigerator compartment 3, and the space sandwiched between the shelf 3b can be purified by a purification device installed on the back side of the refrigerator compartment door 3a. In this case, the impact on the stored items placed on the shelf 3b can be suppressed, and the relatively spacious refrigerator compartment 3 can be effectively purified.

[0126] (3) Amendment Example 3

[0127] In the above embodiments, although the first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51 are described as purifying the air in the refrigerated space by irradiating ultraviolet light, various purification devices can be used as long as the driving time (i.e., the timing of ON and OFF) can be controlled.

[0128] For example, the following purification devices can also be used: purification devices that irradiate a filter carrying a photocatalyst with visible light or ultraviolet light to purify the air passing through the filter; purification devices that purify the air by generating water-containing charged particles by applying voltage to the discharge electrode; purification devices that purify the air by generating ozone by high-voltage discharge; and purification devices that purify the air by spraying agents that have antibacterial or deodorizing effects.

[0129] In addition, different types of purification devices can be used to purify different spaces that are separated by airflow. For example, a purification device that irradiates ultraviolet light toward the upper container 31 of the storage container 30 can be installed in the cooler chamber forming component 12 to mainly purify the air in the upper container 31. Furthermore, a purification device that irradiates excitation light toward a filter carrying a photocatalyst to purify the air passing through the filter can be installed in the refrigeration cooler chamber 13 to mainly purify the air in the refrigeration cooler chamber 13.

[0130] By combining different purification devices in this way, various substances that need to be purified can be effectively decomposed and removed, thereby achieving a synergistic purification effect from each device.

[0131] (4) Amendment Example 4

[0132] In the above embodiments, the case of setting the first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51 to mainly purify two different spaces has been described. However, it is also possible to set three or more purification devices to mainly purify three or more different spaces, that is: to set purification devices for the upper container 31 of the main storage container 30, the upper container 42 of the vegetable container 40, and the refrigeration cooler chamber 13, or to set purification devices for the upper container 31 of the main storage container 30, the upper container 42 of the vegetable container 40, the refrigeration cooler chamber 13, and the refrigeration chamber 3, etc.

[0133] Furthermore, when three or more purification devices are set up to purify three or more different spaces, the more purification devices that operate simultaneously (purification devices that share the same operating time) the more purification devices that operate simultaneously, the higher the purification effect can be obtained. From this point of view, it is preferred, and it is even more preferred that multiple purification devices are controlled so that there is a time range during which all purification devices set up in the space where the air is circulated in a shared manner operate.

[0134] (5) Amendment Example 5

[0135] In the above embodiment, when the cover 33 is opened while the vegetable compartment door 4a is blocked, the second purification device 51 is activated instead of being stopped. When the vegetable compartment door 4a is opened while the cover 33 is blocked, the control unit 28 activates the first purification device 50 instead of stopping it. However, the first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51 can also be stopped when either the cover 33 or the vegetable compartment door 4a is opened.

[0136] In this way, when the user opens one of the openings that seals off the multiple spaces formed in the refrigerated space, the purification devices that purify the open space also stop purifying the other spaces. Thus, even if the purification devices release ozone or chemicals into the refrigerated space, the user is unlikely to be exposed to ozone or chemicals, thereby improving safety.

[0137] (6) Amendment Example 6

[0138] While the first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51 can irradiate ultraviolet light of any wavelength, they can also irradiate ultraviolet light with a wavelength of 222nm to purify the interior of the upper container 31 and the upper container 42. Considering that ultraviolet light with a wavelength of 222nm has a relatively small impact on the human body, even if the cover 33 and the vegetable compartment door 4a are opened during purification operation, it is not necessary to stop the first purification device 50 or the second purification device 51, so as to suppress the reduction in the purification effect in the cold storage space caused by the reduction in the operation time of the purification device.

[0139] (7) Amendment Example 7

[0140] In the above embodiment, it was explained that the driving cycle of the multiple purification devices 50, 51 is set to the same time, thereby making the phase of the driving cycle (i.e., the timing at which the driving cycle of each purification device 50, 51 begins) the same. Although it is preferable to make the driving cycle of the multiple purification devices the same as the start time of each cycle, which allows for a longer time for the purification devices to drive together, the invention is not limited to this. As long as the common driving cycle and the start time of the drive are set in a way that overlaps the time during the driving of the multiple purification devices, the invention can be implemented.

[0141] For example, by setting the driving cycle of the second purification device 51 to a length that is a multiple of the driving cycle of the first purification device 50, the driving time of both the second purification device 51 and the first purification device 50 can be reliably obtained within the driving time of the second purification device 51, thus enabling the implementation of the present invention.

[0142] Furthermore, as long as the driving cycle of the first purification device 50 and the driving cycle of the second purification device 51 are the same, or one is a multiple of the other, it is not necessary for the start time of each cycle to be the same. As long as the time of driving one purification device overlaps with that of other purification devices, the start time of each cycle can also be different.

[0143] (8) Example 8 of the amendment

[0144] In the above embodiment, the drive cycle of the multiple purification devices 50 and 51 is set to the same time, thereby synchronizing the drive cycle. Accordingly, even when the multiple purification devices 50 and 51 are controlled by repeatedly performing actions and stopping, the actions of the multiple purification devices 50 and 51 can be linked to ensure the desired simultaneous operation time. However, the actions of the multiple purification devices 50 and 51 can also be linked to ensure the desired simultaneous operation time through various methods.

[0145] For example, the start time of the operation of multiple purification devices can be reset when the specified conditions are met, thereby synchronizing the start time of the operation of multiple purification devices each time the specified conditions are met.

[0146] That is, for example, the purification device that purifies the space blocked by the opening and closing part of the cover 33 or the vegetable compartment door 4a can be stopped by opening the opening and closing part. Then, when the space is blocked by the opening and closing part and the operation of the purification device restarts, the time point at which the operation restarts is set as the start time of the operation time of multiple purification devices. That is, when one purification device that stopped due to the opening and closing part starts operating again, the other purification devices, together with the one purification device that restarts, have their operation time start time set again when the operation of the one purification device restarts. In other words, multiple purification devices start operating simultaneously, and thereafter, the multiple purification devices are repeatedly operated and stopped in a manner that reaches a predetermined energization rate.

[0147] Accordingly, the start time of operation of multiple purification devices can be synchronized each time the opening and closing section is opened and closed, and the operation of multiple purification devices 50 and 51 can be linked to ensure the desired simultaneous operation time. In addition, after the opening and closing section is opened and closed and outside air or new stored items are introduced into the refrigerator space, multiple purification devices can be activated simultaneously immediately, thereby quickly purifying the refrigerator space.

[0148] Alternatively, for example, the start time of operation of multiple purification devices can be set to be consistent each time a predetermined time has elapsed, or the start time of operation of multiple purification devices can be set to be consistent when the user instructs the purification to operate from the operation display unit 7, or when the odor detection unit installed in the refrigerated space detects a predetermined odor substance.

[0149] 4. Example

[0150] To confirm the purification effect involved in this embodiment, the first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51 were set to a power supply rate of 50% (lighting time: 10 minutes, light-off time: 10 minutes). Simulations were performed as follows regarding the case where the first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51 operate simultaneously and the case where the first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51 operate alternately in a manner that they do not operate simultaneously.

[0151] That is, during one cycle of the operation and cessation of the first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51 during the purification operation (20 minutes in the above embodiment), 50% of the air volume of the refrigeration space flows into the upper container 31 and the upper layer container 42, and all the air flowing into the upper container 31 and the upper layer container 42 flows out to the outside of the upper container 31 and the upper layer container 42, and mixes evenly with the other air in the refrigeration space. When the first purification device 50 and the second purification device perform one cycle, 50% of the bacteria present in the upper container 31 and the upper layer container 42 are removed. Under these conditions, the total number of bacteria present in the upper container 31 and the upper layer container 42 is calculated, and the ratio relative to the initial value (the total number of bacteria in the 0th cycle) is calculated.

[0152] Table 1

[0153] The percentage of bacteria performing the same action simultaneously. 50 25 12.5 6.3 Number of bacteria performing alternating actions (%) 56.3 31.6 17.8 10.0

[0154] The results are shown in Table 1. It can be seen that when the first purification device 50 and the second purification device 51 are operated alternately, the total number of bacteria is always less when they are operated simultaneously from the first cycle to the fourth cycle.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, comprising: Refrigerator body; The interior space of the refrigerator is formed inside the main body of the refrigerator; A cooling device that cools the air inside the refrigerator; An air supply device that circulates the air cooled by the cooling device within the refrigerator space; The first space and the second space are formed within the refrigerator and are divided to allow air to flow in and out. The first opening and closing part divides the first space in a manner that allows it to be opened and closed. The second opening and closing part divides the second space in a manner that allows it to be opened and closed. The first purification device purifies the first space; A second purification device, which purifies the second space; and The control unit controls the plurality of the first purification devices and the second purification devices. The control unit performs the following controls: When the first opening / closing part is opened and the second opening / closing part is blocked, the first purification device stops and the second purification device starts operating. When the second opening / closing part is opened and the first opening / closing part is blocked, the second purification device stops and the first purification device starts operating. When the first opening and closing part and the second opening and closing part are blocked, the first purification device and the second purification device are repeatedly operated and stopped in a manner that generates a simultaneous operation time that causes the first purification device and the second purification device to operate simultaneously.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control unit activates both the air supply device and the first and second purification devices.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, characterized in that, While the air supply device is activated, the cooling device simultaneously performs a cooling operation to cool the air inside the refrigerator. The rotational speed of the air supply device when the first purification device and the second purification device are in operation is lower than the rotational speed of the air supply device during cooling operation.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, While stopping or reducing the cooling action of the cooling device, a defrosting operation is performed to activate the air supply device and defrost the cooling device. The rotational speed of the air supply device during defrosting operation is less than the rotational speed of the air supply device when the first purification device and the second purification device are activated.

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