Refrigerator

Abstract

Provided is a refrigerator that can suppress deterioration of taste even when cooked food containing a large amount of starch is stored, and that can contribute to user convenience. The refrigerator includes: a thermally insulated cabinet that thermally insulates an interior from an exterior; and a storage compartment that is provided in the interior of the thermally insulated cabinet and is cooled to a temperature of a refrigeration temperature zone. The storage compartment includes: a special zone that divides at least a portion of the interior of the storage compartment; and a heating portion that can heat the interior of the special zone to a temperature higher than the temperature of the refrigeration temperature zone, i.e., a special temperature zone.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to refrigerators. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, due to the increase in dual-income households, there has been a rise in the trend of eating at home by purchasing ready-made meals prepared outside the home and taking them home or having them delivered—the so-called ready-made meals. While these ready-made meals tend to be consumed within a relatively short period after purchase, they can sometimes be preserved for half a day to several days, depending on the circumstances. Therefore, the demand for preserving such cooked food in a delicious way has increased.

[0003] The reason why the taste of cooked foods such as rice and bread deteriorates over time is that the starch in rice and bread is α-transformed immediately after cooking, but β-transformed over time. β-transformation of starch occurs most easily when the water inside the starch is in a liquid phase, around 2°C to 4°C. Furthermore, many cooked foods contain a large amount of starch.

[0004] Traditional refrigerators maintain a temperature range of 3°C to 5°C or a so-called "chill" temperature range of 0°C to 3°C within the refrigerator compartment to preserve fresh foods for longer periods. Therefore, when cooked food is stored in these refrigerators, the β-transformation of starch is accelerated, which can actually impair the flavor. Consequently, traditional refrigerators are not suitable for storing cooked food.

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-125178 Summary of the Invention

[0006] Therefore, a refrigerator is provided that can prevent the taste from deteriorating even when storing cooked foods, such as those containing a large amount of starch, thus improving user convenience.

[0007] The refrigerator of the embodiment includes: an insulated cabinet that insulates the interior from the exterior; and a storage compartment disposed inside the insulated cabinet and cooled to a temperature within the refrigeration temperature range. The storage compartment includes: a special zone that divides at least a portion of the interior of the storage compartment; and a heating unit capable of heating the interior of the special zone to a temperature higher than the refrigeration temperature range, i.e., a special temperature range.

[0008] Invention Effects

[0009] A refrigerator that can prevent the taste from deteriorating even when storing cooked foods, such as those containing a lot of starch, and contributes to user convenience. Attached Figure Description

[0010] Figure 1This is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment.

[0011] Figure 2 This is a longitudinal sectional view of an example of the configuration of the periphery of the refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment, viewed from the side.

[0012] Figure 3 This is a diagram illustrating an example of the electrical configuration of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment.

[0013] Figure 4 This is a longitudinal sectional view of an example of the special division of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment, viewed from the side.

[0014] Figure 5 It is about the refrigerator of the first embodiment along Figure 4 x5-x5 represents a longitudinal sectional view of an example of a specially divided area.

[0015] Figure 6 This is a longitudinal sectional view of an example of the special division of the refrigerator in the second embodiment, viewed from the side.

[0016] Figure 7 It is about the refrigerator of the second embodiment along Figure 6 x7-x7 represents a longitudinal sectional view of an example of a specially divided area.

[0017] Figure 8 This is a longitudinal sectional view of an example of the configuration of the periphery of the refrigerator compartment in the third embodiment, viewed from the side.

[0018] Figure 9 This is a longitudinal sectional view of an example of the configuration of the periphery of the refrigerator compartment in the fourth embodiment, viewed from the side.

[0019] Symbol explanation:

[0020] 10: Refrigerator; 11: Refrigerator compartment (storage compartment); 20: Insulated cabinet; 21: Inner cabinet; 22: Outer cabinet; 23: Insulation component; 231: Insulation panel; 26: Top section; 27: Side wall section; 28: Bottom; 281: Recessed section; 29: Cooling compartment; 36: Lighting component; 40: Control device; 411: Switching section; 50: Special zone; 51: Heating section; 52: Cover component; 53: Insulation component for heating section (insulation component); 60: Special zone; 61: Heating section; 62: Cover component; 63: Heating section; 71: Heating section; 72: Cover component. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The following is for reference Figures 1-5 A refrigerator according to one embodiment will be described.

[0022] Figure 1The refrigerator 10 shown is configured as an elongated rectangular box-shaped insulated box 20, which serves as the main body of the refrigerator and has multiple storage compartments. In the following description, the opening side of the insulated box 20 is designated as the front side of the refrigerator 10, and the side opposite to the opening is designated as the rear side of the refrigerator 10. Furthermore, the refrigerator 10 is... Figure 1 With the orientation set on the ground, the vertical direction relative to the direction of gravity is set to the vertical direction of the refrigerator 10. Furthermore, it will be viewed from the front. Figure 1 In the case of refrigerator 10, the left and right directions are set as the left and right directions of refrigerator 10.

[0023] like Figure 1 As shown, the refrigerator 10 is constructed with an insulated cabinet 20 as its main body. The insulated cabinet 20 consists of a front-opening cabinet and has multiple storage compartments inside. The insulated cabinet 20 is configured such that a highly insulating component, namely an insulating component 23, is provided between the inner cabinet 21 and the outer cabinet 22. The highly insulating component is, for example, a foamed insulating component such as polyurethane foam. Alternatively, the insulated cabinet 20 may be constructed with a so-called vacuum insulation panel, which covers a portion of the insulating component 23 with glass wool or the like by vapor-depositing an aluminum film, thereby reducing internal pressure and improving insulation.

[0024] The insulated enclosure 20 serves as multiple storage compartments for storing stored items, including, for example, a refrigerator compartment 11, a vegetable compartment 12, an ice-making compartment 13, a small freezer compartment 14, and a freezer compartment 15. The refrigerator compartment 11 and vegetable compartment 12 are storage compartments in the refrigeration temperature range. Furthermore, the ice-making compartment 13, the small freezer compartment 14, and the freezer compartment 15 are storage compartments in the freezing temperature range.

[0025] In this case, the refrigeration temperature zone and the freezing temperature zone are temperature zones suitable for refrigerating and freezing food for preservation. In this embodiment, the refrigeration temperature zone is set, for example, to a general refrigeration temperature zone, i.e., 1°C to 5°C. Furthermore, the freezing temperature zone is set, for example, to a general freezing temperature zone, i.e., -18°C or below.

[0026] The refrigerator compartment 11 is located at the top of the insulated box 20. The vegetable compartment 12 is located below the refrigerator compartment 11. The ice-making compartment 13 and the small freezer compartment 14 are arranged to the left and right below the vegetable compartment 12. The freezer compartment 15 is located below the ice-making compartment 13 and the small freezer compartment 14, that is, at the bottom of the insulated box 20.

[0027] The refrigerator 10 has left and right refrigerator doors 111 and 112, a vegetable compartment door 121, an ice maker door 131, a small freezer door 141, and a freezer door 151. Refrigerator doors 111 and 112 are hinged doors that open and close from side to side, opening and closing at the front of the refrigerator compartment 11. Vegetable compartment door 121, ice maker door 131, small freezer door 141, and freezer door 151 are all drawer-type doors, opening and closing at the front of the vegetable compartment 12, ice maker 13, small freezer 14, and freezer 15, respectively.

[0028] In this case, such as Figure 2 As shown, the vegetable compartment 12 has a drawer-type housing 122. This housing 122 is mounted on the vegetable compartment door 121, configured to allow entry and exit integrally with the vegetable compartment door 121. Similarly, the ice-making compartment 13, the small freezer compartment 14, and the freezer compartment 15 also have housings (not shown) that allow entry and exit integrally with the ice-making compartment door 131, the small freezer compartment door 141, and the freezer compartment door 151, respectively.

[0029] like Figure 2 As shown, the insulated enclosure 20 has an insulated partition wall 24 and a non-insulated partition wall 25 inside. The insulated partition wall 24 separates the storage compartments 11 and 12 in the refrigeration temperature zone from the storage compartments 13, 14, and 15 in the freezing temperature zone in an insulated manner along the vertical direction. The non-insulated partition wall 25 separates the refrigeration compartment 11 and the vegetable compartment 12 in the refrigeration temperature zone without insulation along the vertical direction.

[0030] like Figure 2 As shown, the refrigerator compartment 11 has a roof portion 26, side wall portions 27, a bottom portion 28, and a chiller compartment 29. The roof portion 26 forms part of the inner casing 21, creating the upper surface of the interior of the refrigerator compartment 11. A heat insulation member 23 is provided between the roof portion 26 and the outer casing 22. The side wall portions 27 form part of the inner casing 21, creating the left and right sides of the interior of the refrigerator compartment 11. The bottom portion 28 forms part of a non-insulated partition wall 25, creating the bottom surface of the interior of the refrigerator compartment 11. The chiller compartment 29 is located at the bottommost part of the refrigerator compartment 11. In this case, the chiller compartment 29 is located on one side of the left and right sides of the bottommost part of the refrigerator compartment 11. In other embodiments, the chiller compartment 29 may be located across the entire width of the bottommost part of the refrigerator compartment 11. The temperature of the chiller compartment 29 is set to a chiller temperature range, for example, 0°C to 2°C, which is lower than the set temperature of the refrigerator compartment 11 outside the portion where the chiller compartment 29 is located.

[0031] The refrigerator 10 includes multiple shelves 31, 32, 33, and 34, and a chiller compartment shell 35. The multiple shelves 31, 32, 33, and 34 (currently four shelves) form a horizontally extending surface, displaying and supporting food stored in the refrigerator compartment 11. A top shelf 26 is located above the uppermost shelf 31. The front-to-back length of the multiple shelves 31, 32, 33, and 34 is longer than half the front-to-back length (depth) of the refrigerator compartment 11. For example, the front-to-back length of the shelves 31, 32, 33, and 34 can be more than two-thirds of the front-to-back length (depth) of the refrigerator compartment 11. Furthermore, for example, the front-to-back length of the shelves 31, 32, 33, and 34 can be more than three-quarters of the front-to-back length (depth) of the refrigerator compartment 11.

[0032] The chiller housing 35 is installed inside the chiller chamber 29 in a pull-out manner to store food. In this case, the chiller housing 35 has an upper housing 351 and a lower housing 352. The lower housing 352 is located below the upper housing 351 in the chiller chamber 29. A bottom shelf 34 is provided above the upper housing 351, which functions as a cover for the chiller chamber 29. The bottom 28 is located below the lower housing 352. A gap is formed between the lower housing 352 and the bottom 28. That is, the lower surface of the lower housing 352 does not directly contact the bottom 28. After the cold air from cooling the refrigerator compartment 11 descends to the bottom of the refrigerator compartment 11, near the bottom 28, it reaches the return port 181 through the gap between the lower housing 352 and the bottom 28. The shelves 31, 32, 33, 34, and the chiller housings 351, 352 are formed, for example, of resin, glass, etc.

[0033] Refrigerator 10 features Figure 2 The refrigeration cooler 16 shown and Figure 3 The compressor 17 is shown. In this embodiment, the refrigeration cooler 16 and the compressor 17, together with the refrigeration cooler (not shown), condenser, and switching valve, constitute a refrigeration cycle. In this case, the refrigeration cycle switches the switching valve to the refrigeration cooler 16 side and supplies refrigerant to the refrigeration cooler 16 side, thereby causing the refrigeration cooler 16 to generate cold air for cooling the storage compartments 11 and 12, including the quench chamber 29, in the refrigeration temperature zone. Furthermore, the refrigeration cycle switches the switching valve to the refrigeration cooler side and supplies refrigerant to the refrigeration cooler side, thereby causing the refrigeration cooler (not shown) to generate cold air for cooling the storage compartments 13, 14, and 15 in the freezing temperature zone. Alternatively, it may be configured such that a single cooler generates cold air for cooling the storage compartments 11 and 12 in the refrigeration temperature zone and the storage compartments 13, 14, and 15 in the freezing temperature zone.

[0034] In addition, such as Figure 2As shown, the refrigerator 10 includes a duct 18 and a blower 19. The duct 18 is located on the rear side of the refrigerator compartment 11 and the vegetable compartment 12, and houses a refrigeration cooler 16 inside. The duct 18 forms an air supply path for supplying cold air generated by the refrigeration cooler 16 to the refrigerator compartment 11 and the vegetable compartment 12. The blower 19 is located inside the duct 18. The blower 19 has the following function: it draws air from the vegetable compartment 12 into the duct 18, passes the drawn air through the refrigeration cooler 16, and then delivers it to the storage compartments 11 and 12, which include the chiller compartment 29, within the refrigeration temperature zone.

[0035] The air conditioning duct 18 has multiple return ports 181 and 182 and multiple air outlets 183, 184, and 185. The multiple return ports 181 and 182 are formed by opening a portion of the lower part of the duct 18 towards the storage compartments 11 and 12. In this case, the refrigerator compartment-side return port 181 is formed by opening a portion of the lower part of the duct 18 towards the rear lower part of the chiller compartment 29. The vegetable compartment-side return port 182 is formed by opening a portion of the lower part of the duct 18 towards the vegetable compartment 12. The multiple air outlets 183, 184, and 185 communicate with the interior of the duct 18 and the refrigerator compartment 11, including the chiller compartment 29.

[0036] In this embodiment, the upper air outlet 183, located at the top of the pipe 18, communicates with the refrigerator compartment 11 above the shelf 31. Furthermore, the lower air outlet 185, located at the bottom of the pipe 18, communicates with the quench chamber 29. Additionally, the middle air outlet 184, located between the upper air outlet 183 and the lower air outlet 185, communicates with the refrigerator compartment 11 between the shelves 31 and 34.

[0037] Air supplied by the blower 19 flows from the vegetable compartment 12 into the duct 18 through the return port 182, flows within the duct 18, and passes through the refrigeration cooler 16. The air after passing through the refrigeration cooler 16 is then blown out from the lower outlet 185 towards the chiller chamber 29. Furthermore, any remaining air flowing within the duct 18 that does not exit from the lower outlet 185 towards the chiller chamber 29 is blown out from the upper outlet 183 and the middle outlet 184 towards the refrigeration compartment 11. Additionally, a portion of the cold air cooled in the refrigeration compartment 11 flows into the vegetable compartment 12 through holes (not shown) provided in the non-insulated partition wall 25.

[0038] In addition, such as Figure 3 As shown, the refrigerator 10 includes a control device 40 and an operation panel 41. The control device 40 is mainly composed of a microcomputer with recording areas such as a CPU, ROM, RAM, and non-volatile memory. The control device 40 manages the overall operation of the refrigerator 10. The compressor 17 and the blower 19 are electrically connected to the control device 40 and are driven and controlled by the control device 40.

[0039] Figure 1 , Figure 3 The operation panel 41 shown is electrically connected to the control device 40. The operation panel 41 has the following functions: receiving operations from the user and being controlled by the control device 40 to change and display various settings such as the operating contents of the refrigerator 10. In this embodiment, the operation panel 41, for example, has an electrostatic touch input section. Furthermore, the operation panel 41 is, for example, built into one or both of the refrigerator doors 111 and 112. In this embodiment, as... Figure 1 As shown, the control panel 41 is located on the left side of the refrigerator door 111. Furthermore, the control panel 41 may include, for example, a display unit composed of LED lights, an LCD, or the like.

[0040] The control device 40 controls the switching valve of the refrigeration cycle (not shown) and controls the compressor 17 and the blower 19, thereby controlling the supply of cold air to each of the storage compartments 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15.

[0041] Refrigerator 10 also has Figure 2 , Figure 4 The special zone 50 shown above refers to a space formed by dividing at least a portion of the interior of the refrigerator compartment 11. The special zone 50 is a zone where the internal temperature can be set to a special temperature zone different from both the refrigeration temperature zone and the chilling temperature zone. In this case, the special temperature zone is set to a temperature higher than both the refrigeration temperature zone and the chilling temperature zone. More specifically, the special temperature zone is set to a temperature higher than the refrigeration temperature zone but lower than so-called room temperature. In this case, room temperature refers, for example, to 15°C to 25°C. The special temperature zone is, for example, a temperature zone that can inhibit the β-formation of starch and thus inhibit the deterioration of the flavor of cooked food; specifically, it can be set, for example, to a temperature zone in the range of 5°C or higher and less than 15°C. Preferably, the special temperature zone can be set, for example, to 7°C or higher and less than 12°C. More preferably, the special temperature zone can be set, for example, to 8°C or higher and less than 10°C.

[0042] In this embodiment, such as Figure 4 , Figure 5 As shown, the special zone 50 is located inside the quench chamber 29. Specifically, the special zone 50 refers to the space separated by the lower shell 352, that is, the space inside the lower shell 352 and the space between the lower shell 352 and the bottom 28. In this case, as... Figure 4As shown, the bottom 28, located below the quench chamber 29 (i.e., overlapping with the quench chamber 29 in a top view), has a downwardly recessed portion 281. The recessed portion 281 constitutes at least a portion of the bottom of the special division area 50. Alternatively, if the quench chamber shell 35 is a single-layer structure, the special division area 50 may be a space separated by the front and rear walls of the quench chamber shell 35, the lowermost shelf 34, and the bottom 28. Furthermore, even without the recessed portion 281, the bottom 28 may still form the bottom of the special division area 50.

[0043] Furthermore, the refrigerator 10 includes a heating unit 51. The heating unit 51 is capable of heating the interior temperature of the designated area 50 to a specific temperature range. In other words, the heating unit 51 has the function of heating the food stored inside the designated area 50 to a specific temperature range. Figure 3 As shown, the heating unit 51 is connected to the control device 40 and is driven based on the control from the control device 40.

[0044] The heating element 51 is, for example, an electric wire heater that heats up an electric heating wire by energizing it. In this embodiment, the heating element 51 is, for example, a so-called aluminum foil heater, in which the electric heating wire is wrapped in aluminum foil. The heating element 51 is lightweight and thin, and can also be drip-proofed. In other embodiments, the heating element 51 may also be a flexible planar heating element in which the electric heating wire is wrapped in a sheet of material such as silicone rubber. The current consumption of the heating element 51 is, for example, set to 5 to 15 mA. Preferably, the current consumption of the heating element 51 is set to 9 to 11 mA.

[0045] like Figure 4 , Figure 5 As shown, a heating element 51 is provided at the bottom of the recess 281. The heating element 51 covers at least a portion of the bottom of the recess 281. In this embodiment, for example, the heating element 51 is provided over the entire area of ​​the bottom of the recess 281. Furthermore, the heating element 51 is not in direct contact with the bottom of the recess 281, but is disposed separately from the bottom of the recess 281. Alternatively, the heating element 51 may be provided at the bottom 28 even if the bottom 28 does not have a recess 281.

[0046] Furthermore, the refrigerator 10 includes a cover member 52. The cover member 52 is formed, for example, in the shape of a plate or a container, and is disposed between the heating section 51 and the special section 50, wherein the heating section 51 is not directly exposed to the special section 50. The cover member 52 is disposed above the heating section 51 such that it covers at least a portion of the heating section 51. In this embodiment, the cover member 52 is disposed above the heating section 51 such that it covers the entire heating section 51. Furthermore, the cover member 52 is disposed such that it covers at least a portion of the recessed portion 281. The vertical position of the cover member 52 is set at the same position as the vertical position of the portion of the bottom 28 other than the recessed portion 281, or at a position lower than the portion of the bottom 28 other than the recessed portion 281. In this embodiment, the vertical position of the cover member 52 is set to be the same as or coplanar with the vertical position of the portion of the bottom 28 other than the recessed portion 281.

[0047] The area of ​​the cover member 52 when viewed from above is set to be the same as or smaller than the area of ​​the recessed portion 281 when viewed from above. In this case, the area of ​​the cover member 52 when viewed from above is set to be smaller than the area of ​​the recessed portion 281 when viewed from above. That is, a small gap is left between the cover member 52 and the recessed portion 281. The cold air passing through the refrigerator compartment 11 can also reach the return port 181 through the gap between the cover member 52 and the recessed portion 281, passing through a position lower than the cover member 52. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the vertical position of the cover member 52 can be set higher than the vertical position of the portion other than the recessed portion 281 of the bottom 28, thereby creating a gap between the cover member 52 and the recessed portion 281. In this case, the area of ​​the cover member 52 when viewed from above can be set to be larger than the area of ​​the recessed portion 281 when viewed from above.

[0048] The cover component 52 is made of, for example, metal or resin, and is formed into a plate shape. In this embodiment, the cover component 52 is made of aluminum. In other embodiments, the cover component 52 may also be made of, for example, an electrically insulating resin.

[0049] The cover member 52 has the function of preventing the heating part 51 from directly contacting the lower shell 352 that constitutes the special zone 50, thereby preventing localized heating of the lower shell 352. That is, the cover member 52 has the function of diffusing the heat generated in the heating part 51 to the entire cover member 52 and transferring it to the special zone 50. As a result, it is possible to prevent the food in the special zone 50 from being damaged by localized heating.

[0050] Furthermore, the cover component 52 has the function of preventing the user's hands from directly contacting the heating element 51. In this embodiment, the cover component 52 is a plate-shaped component without openings. In other embodiments, the cover component 52 may also have multiple small holes, such as slits, circles, rectangles, grids, or honeycomb shapes, to ensure ventilation. That is, the cold air after cooling the refrigerator compartment 11 can reach the heating element 51 and the heat insulation component 53 for the heating element below the cover component 52 through the holes. The holes can be set to a size smaller than the tip of a human finger. In this case, the cover component 52 can effectively transfer the heat from the heating element 51 to the special zone 50 and prevent the user from directly contacting the heating element 51. In addition, the heat generated in the heating element 51 is transferred not only through heat conduction and heat radiation but also through air convection, thus improving heating efficiency.

[0051] Furthermore, the refrigerator 10 includes a heat insulation component 53 for the heating section. The heat insulation component 53 is composed of a component with heat insulation properties. Moreover, the heat insulation component 53 is formed in a plate shape along the bottom surface of the recess 281. Furthermore, the heat insulation component 53 is disposed between the heating section 51 and the storage compartments 12, 13, 14, and 15 other than the refrigerator compartment 11, where the heating section 51 is located. That is, the heat insulation component 53 is disposed between the heating section 51 and the vegetable compartment 12. Specifically, the heat insulation component 53 is disposed between the special partition 50 and the vegetable compartment 12. In other words, the heat insulation component 53 has the function of suppressing the heat generated by the heating section 51 from being transferred to the vegetable compartment 12, thus heating the vegetable compartment 12. The heat insulation component 53 may also be composed of a component with lower heat insulation performance than the heat insulation component 23 used for the insulated cabinet 20. The heat insulation component 53 may also be composed of a foaming resin such as polyurethane foam. In this embodiment, the heat insulation component 53 for the heating section is, for example, made of beaded polystyrene foam (EPS).

[0052] The heating element heat insulation member 53, the heating element 51, and the cover member 52 are arranged sequentially from bottom to top on the bottom of the recess 281. In this case, the vertical length dimension (thickness) of the cover member 52 is set to be less than or equal to the vertical length dimension (thickness) of the heating element 51. Furthermore, the vertical length dimension (thickness) of the heating element heat insulation member 53 is set to be greater than or equal to the vertical length dimension (thickness) of the heating element 51.

[0053] In this embodiment, the heat insulation member 53 for the heating part is provided corresponding to a portion of the entire surface of the heating part 51. That is, there is a gap 282 between the bottom surface of the heating part 51 and the bottom surface of the recess 281 where the heat insulation member 53 for the heating part is provided and where the heat insulation member 53 for the heating part is not provided. In this embodiment, as Figure 5As shown, the heat insulation members 53 for the heating element are arranged discontinuously in the horizontal direction. That is, the heat insulation members 53 for the heating element are divided into multiple parts, in this case, three parts. In this case, each heat insulation member 53 for the heating element is spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the refrigerator 10. Thus, a gap 282 is formed between each heat insulation member 53 for the heating element. In other embodiments, the multiple heat insulation members 53 for the heating element may also be spaced apart from each other in the front-back direction. In yet another embodiment, the heat insulation members 53 for the heating element may be formed as a single component. In this case, multiple recesses may be provided on the upper or lower surface of the plate-shaped heat insulation member 53 for the heating element. Furthermore, these recesses may be grooves extending in the front-back or left-right direction, or they may be circular, rectangular, polygonal, etc.

[0054] A portion of the cold air cooled after cooling the refrigerator compartment 11 can also reach the return port 181 after descending to near the bottom 28, passing between the heat insulation members 53 for each heating section. In other words, a portion of the cold air cooled after cooling the refrigerator compartment 11 can also reach the heat insulation members 53 for each heating section through the space between the cover member 52 and the recess 281, and then reach the return port 181 through the gap 282 between the heat insulation members 53 for each heating section. Furthermore, in other embodiments, a portion of the cold air cooled after cooling the refrigerator compartment 11 can also reach the heat insulation members 53 for each heating section through the holes provided in the cover member 52, and then reach the return port 181 through the gap 282 between the heat insulation members 53 for each heating section. In this case, the area of ​​the cover member 52 when viewed from above is set to be greater than the area of ​​the heating section 51. Furthermore, the area of ​​the heat insulation members 53 when viewed from above is set to be smaller than the area of ​​the heating section 51. For example, the area of ​​the heat insulation member 53 for the heating part when viewed from above can be set to less than 3 / 4 or less than 2 / 3 of the area of ​​the heating part 51. For example, the area of ​​the heat insulation member 53 for the heating part when viewed from above can be set to more than 1 / 2 or more than 1 / 3 of the area of ​​the heating part 51.

[0055] Refrigerator 10 also has Figure 1 , Figure 3The switching unit 411 is shown. The switching unit 411 can switch between heating and deheating of the heating unit 51 based on user operation. Here, the control device 40 controls the power supply to the heating unit 51. That is, the heating unit 51 is not always operational, but only operates when power is supplied under the control of the control device 40. In this embodiment, the switching unit 411 is provided on the operation panel 41. The switching unit 411 is connected to the control device 40, and when the user activates the switching unit 411, the control device 40 begins supplying power to the heating unit 51. The switching unit 411 is, for example, an electrostatic touch type. The switching unit 411 can also be, for example, a button type. The control device 40 stops supplying power to the heating unit 51 after a predetermined period elapsed since the switching unit 411 was pressed. In this case, the predetermined period can be set, for example, from 6 hours to 48 hours. The predetermined period is preferably set, for example, from 12 hours to 24 hours.

[0056] Furthermore, the presence or absence of the heating element 51 does not affect the cooling control of the refrigerator 10 by the control device 40, namely the control of the compressor 17 and the blower 19. In other words, the control of the heating element 51 by the control device 40 and the control of the compressor 17 and the blower 19 by the control device 40 are performed independently.

[0057] Here, as a method for setting up a special zone 50 in the refrigerator compartment 11, it is also possible to separate the air supply duct leading to the special zone 50 from the air supply duct leading to the parts outside the special zone 50 of the refrigerator compartment 11. When air is supplied to the special zone 50, the compressor 17 is not operated and room temperature air is supplied. When air is supplied to the parts outside the special zone 50, the compressor 17 is operated and air cooled to the refrigerator temperature range is supplied. In this case, the parts outside the special zone 50 cannot be cooled during the air supply to the special zone 50. Therefore, it may be difficult to maintain the parts outside the special zone 50 at the refrigerator temperature range.

[0058] In contrast, the refrigerator 10 includes an insulated cabinet 20 and a refrigerator compartment 11. The insulated cabinet 20 separates the interior from the exterior by means of heat insulation. The refrigerator compartment 11 is a storage compartment located inside the insulated cabinet 20 and cooled to a temperature within the refrigerator temperature range. The refrigerator compartment 11 has a special partition 50 and a heating element 51. The special partition 50 is formed by dividing at least a portion of the interior of the storage compartment 11. The heating element 51 is capable of heating the temperature inside the special partition 50 to a temperature higher than the refrigerator temperature range, i.e., a special temperature range.

[0059] Therefore, even when the temperature inside the special zone 50 is changed to a special temperature range, it is not necessary to stop the compressor 17. In other words, temperature control inside the special zone 50 and temperature control outside the special zone 50 can be performed independently. Therefore, even when cooked foods containing a large amount of starch are stored in the refrigerator compartment 11, β-oxidation of starch (i.e., deterioration of the food's flavor) can be suppressed, and cooling operation can be performed outside the special zone 50. Thus, a refrigerator that provides greater convenience for the user can be achieved.

[0060] Here, the interior of the refrigerator compartment 11 needs to be maintained at the refrigeration temperature zone. Therefore, if the heating unit 51, which is part of the refrigerator compartment 11 but heats the temperature of the special zone 50 to above the refrigeration temperature zone, is always running, it may lead to a decrease in the refrigeration efficiency of the refrigerator compartment 11 and a waste of electricity.

[0061] In contrast, the refrigerator 10 also includes a switching unit 411, which switches the heating of the heating unit 51 on or off based on user operation.

[0062] Therefore, the heating unit 51 is not always running; the user can operate the heating unit 51 for a specified period as needed. Thus, the refrigeration efficiency of the refrigerator 10 is not excessively reduced. Furthermore, excessive energy consumption is prevented.

[0063] The heating element 51 is located at the bottom of the special zone 50.

[0064] Accordingly, the air heated by the heating unit 51 rises and diffuses throughout the entire special zone 50. Therefore, temperature unevenness within the special zone 50 is easily reduced, and temperature management of the special zone 50 becomes easier. Furthermore, for example, when storing sushi in the special zone 50 with ingredients such as sashimi on top and rice balls (rice balls) at the bottom, the heating unit 51 is configured to be close to the starchy rice balls and located away from the ingredients. Therefore, the starchy rice ball side can be heated, while overheating of the other ingredients can be prevented.

[0065] In addition, the refrigerator 10 includes a heat insulation member 53 for the heating section located below the heating section 51.

[0066] In this case, a heat insulation member 53 for the heating section is provided between the heating section 51 and the portion outside the special zone 50, which is the vegetable compartment 12. That is, the heat insulation member 53 for the heating section can suppress the transfer of heat generated by the heating section 51 to the portion outside the special zone 50. Therefore, it is possible to prevent excessive reduction in the cooling efficiency of the portion outside the special zone 50.

[0067] Furthermore, multiple heat-insulating members 53 for the heating section are arranged at intervals along the width of the refrigerator 10. That is, there is a gap 282 between the bottom surface of the heating section 51 and the recess 281 where the heat-insulating members 53 for the heating section are provided and where the heat-insulating members 53 for the heating section are not provided. Through the multiplier effect of heat insulation based on the heat-insulating members 53 for the heating section and the cooling effect brought by the air flowing in the gap 282, the temperature rise of the vegetable compartment 12 can be further suppressed.

[0068] In addition, special zone 50 is located at the bottom of the cold storage compartment 11.

[0069] Accordingly, the special zone 50 is located at the very bottom, or the lowest part, of the cold air circulation path within the refrigerator compartment 11. Therefore, even if the temperature of the special zone 50 rises to a special temperature zone due to the operation of the heating unit 51, the impact on the parts outside the special zone 50 can be suppressed.

[0070] Here, when the heating unit 51 is in operation, since the refrigerator compartment 11 and the vegetable compartment 12 are separated by a non-insulated partition wall 25, the heat generated by the heating unit 51 may be transferred to the vegetable compartment 12. In this case, the cooling efficiency of the vegetable compartment 12 may be reduced, the temperature inside the vegetable compartment 12 may rise compared to the set temperature, and the food stored inside the vegetable compartment 12 may be damaged and spoiled earlier than usual.

[0071] In contrast, a heat-insulating member 53 is provided between the heating unit 51 and the non-insulating partition wall 25 to separate the special zone 50 and the vegetable compartment 12 in a heat-insulating manner. Therefore, heat transfer generated by the heating unit 51 to the vegetable compartment 12 can be suppressed. Thus, even if the heating unit 51 is operated, the cooling efficiency of the vegetable compartment 12 will not be excessively reduced.

[0072] In this embodiment, the heating element 51 is configured to be located at the bottom of the cooling chamber 29, but in other embodiments, the heating element 51 may be configured to be located on the back wall of the cooling chamber 29.

[0073] (Second Implementation)

[0074] Secondly, refer to Figure 6 as well as Figure 7 The second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, the refrigerator 10 replaces the special partition 50, the heating unit 51, and the cover member 52, and instead includes a special partition 60, a heating unit 61, and a cover member 62.

[0075] like Figure 6As shown, the refrigerator 10 includes a heat insulation panel 231. The heat insulation panel 231 forms part of the heat insulation component 23. The heat insulation panel 231 is, for example, the so-called vacuum heat insulation panel described above. In this case, the vacuum does not need to be strictly a vacuum state, but rather a state of reduced pressure compared to atmospheric pressure.

[0076] In this embodiment, the heat insulation panel 231 is provided at least between the heat insulation wall of the upper part of the heat insulation box 20, that is, the part of the inner box 21 that constitutes the ceiling portion 26 of the refrigerator compartment 11, and the outer box 22. Alternatively, the heat insulation panel 231 may also be provided on the left and right heat insulation walls, the back heat insulation wall, the bottom heat insulation wall, and the heat insulation partition wall 24 of the heat insulation box 20.

[0077] In this case, the area of ​​the heat insulation panel 231 when viewed from above is set to be at least 1 / 2 of the area of ​​the ceiling portion 26. For example, the area of ​​the heat insulation panel 231 when viewed from above can be set to be at least 2 / 3 of the area of ​​the ceiling portion 26. For example, the area of ​​the heat insulation panel 231 when viewed from above can be set to be at least 3 / 4 of the area of ​​the ceiling portion 26. Furthermore, the length dimension of the heat insulation panel 231 in the front-to-back direction is set to be at least 1 / 2 of the length dimension of the refrigerator compartment 11 in the front-to-back direction. For example, the length dimension of the heat insulation panel 231 in the front-to-back direction can be set to be at least 2 / 3 of the length dimension of the refrigerator compartment 11 in the front-to-back direction. Furthermore, for example, the length dimension of the heat insulation panel 231 in the front-to-back direction can be set to be at least 3 / 4 of the length dimension of the refrigerator compartment 11 in the front-to-back direction.

[0078] like Figure 6 As shown, the refrigerator 10 includes a lighting element 36. The lighting element 36 is disposed inside the refrigerator compartment 11 to illuminate the interior of the refrigerator compartment 11. In this case, the lighting element 36 is disposed at least at the top portion 26 of the refrigerator compartment 11, illuminating the interior of the refrigerator compartment 11 from top to bottom. The lighting element 36 has a shape extending along the width direction of the refrigerator 10. The lighting element 36 is disposed near the center portion of the refrigerator compartment 11 in the front-rear direction, that is, in the depth direction. The lighting element 36 is disposed below the heat insulation panel 231. Alternatively, in this case, the lighting element 36 is disposed at the center portion or slightly forward of the heat insulation panel 231 in the front-rear direction.

[0079] In this embodiment, the special partition 60 is located at the top of the refrigerator compartment 11. For example, the special partition 60 is a space divided by the top shelf 31 from the portion outside the special partition 60. That is, the special partition 60 is the space between the top shelf 31, the ceiling portion 26, and the left and right side wall portions 27. In other words, the ceiling portion 26 constitutes the ceiling portion of the special partition 60. The top shelf 31 constitutes the bottom of the special partition 60. Furthermore, the left and right side wall portions 27 constitute the left and right side wall portions of the special partition 60.

[0080] A heating element 61 is disposed above the specially designated area 60. The heating element 61 is disposed between the inner casing 21 and the outer casing 22. In this case, the heating element 61 is disposed between the ceiling portion 26 and the outer casing 22. Specifically, the heating element 61 is disposed between the heat insulation panel 231 disposed above the ceiling portion 26 and the ceiling portion 26. More specifically, the heating element 61 is disposed spaced downwards from the heat insulation panel 231. A heat insulation component 23, such as polyurethane foam, is disposed between the heating element 61 and the heat insulation panel 231. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the heating element 61 is embedded inside the heat insulation component 23 and disposed at a position higher than the ceiling portion 26; however, in other embodiments, the heating element 61 may be suspended from the ceiling portion 26.

[0081] In this case, the length dimension (depth) of the heating section 61 in the front-to-back direction is set to be less than or equal to the length dimension (depth) of the heat insulation panel 231 in the front-to-back direction. Preferably, the depth of the heating section 61 is set to be less than 2 / 3 of the depth of the heat insulation panel 231. More preferably, the depth of the heating section 61 is set to be less than 1 / 2 of the depth of the heat insulation panel 231. Alternatively, the depth of the heating section 61 may be set to be more than 1 / 4 of the depth of the heat insulation panel 231.

[0082] For heating section 61, such as Figure 5 As shown, the heating element 61 is positioned on the rear side of the central portion in the front-rear direction of the refrigerator compartment 11. In other words, the heating element 61 is positioned closer to the upper air outlet 183. For example, it is positioned closer to the upper air outlet 183 than the lighting element 36. Therefore, the air heated by the heating element 61 is easily diffused within the special zone 60 by the cold air circulated by the blower 19.

[0083] The cover member 62 is installed on the canopy portion 26 from below. The cover member 62 is, for example, formed into a container shape that is open at the top. The cover member 62 may also be formed of a heat-resistant rigid resin, for example. The cover member 62 is configured to at least cover the portion that overlaps with the heating element 61 when viewed from above. In this case, the cover member 62 prevents the food stored in the special compartment 60 from coming into contact with the heating element 61 and the portion of the canopy portion 26 located below the heating element 61 and with a relatively high temperature close to the temperature of the heating element 61.

[0084] The cover member 62 has a through-hole. That is, the cover member 62 has multiple connecting portions 621 that connect the space between the heating element 61 side and the special zone 60 side. The cover member 62 can be formed, for example, in a grid, honeycomb, or bamboo curtain shape. That is, the multiple connecting portions 621 can be formed in the shape of slits, circles, rectangles, polygons, grids, or honeycombs, etc. The connecting portions 621 are, for example, set to a size smaller than the tip of a human finger. Thus, the cover member 62 effectively transfers heat from the heating element 61 to the special zone 60 and prevents direct contact between the user, food, and the heating element 61. Furthermore, compared to the case without connecting portions 621, the volume of the cover member 62 itself can be reduced. That is, the material cost of the cover member 62 can be reduced, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the refrigerator 10.

[0085] Here, cooked food is sometimes sold in a storage container that consists of a main body and a lid. Furthermore, the thickness of the main body is usually greater than the thickness of the lid.

[0086] According to this embodiment, the heating unit 61 is provided in the ceiling portion 26 of the ceiling portion constituting the special zone 60.

[0087] Accordingly, cooked food can be heated from above by the heating unit 61. Therefore, the food is heated by a container lid that is thinner than the container body. Consequently, the efficiency of heating food within the specially designated area 60 is improved compared to heating food through a container body with thickness.

[0088] The insulated enclosure 20 has an insulated panel 231 between the outer enclosure 22 and the inner enclosure 21. The heating element 61 is disposed between the inner enclosure 21 and the insulated panel 231.

[0089] Therefore, even with the heating element 61 installed, it will not protrude excessively into the inner side of the inner casing 21, i.e., the special zone 60. Thus, the volume of the special zone 60 can be adequately ensured. Furthermore, thanks to the heat insulation panel 231, the temperature within the special zone 60 can be easily maintained at the set temperature.

[0090] Here, when the heating element 61 is in contact with the heat insulation panel 231, the heat generated by the heating element 61 may accelerate the deterioration of the heat insulation panel 231.

[0091] In contrast, the heating element 61 is spaced apart from the heat insulation panel 231.

[0092] Therefore, the heating element 61 does not directly contact the heat insulation panel 231. As a result, the heat insulation panel 231 will not be overheated due to the heat generated by the heating element 61, thus suppressing the deterioration of the heat insulation panel 231.

[0093] Here, the temperature rises near the heating section 61. Therefore, if food gets too close to the heating section 61 when the heating section 61 is exposed to the special zone 60, the food may discolor or rot.

[0094] In contrast, the refrigerator 10 has a cover component 62 that prevents at least a portion of the heating element 61 from being exposed toward the special section 60.

[0095] Accordingly, a cover member 62 is provided between the heating section 61 and the food stored in the specially designated area 60. Therefore, the food will not come into excessive contact with the heating section 61, and the food will not be overheated. Consequently, the heating section 61 can prevent the β-formation of starch and can prevent discoloration and spoilage of the food.

[0096] Alternatively, the special zone 60 in the second embodiment can be configured such that an opening and closing door is provided in front of it, and a heating unit is provided in the opening and closing door. In this case, the special zone 60 can be opened and closed to separate it from the portion outside the special zone 60 by means of the opening and closing door. Therefore, it is easier to change the temperature of the special zone 60 to a special temperature zone and maintain it for a certain period of time.

[0097] (Third Implementation)

[0098] Secondly, refer to Figure 8 The third embodiment will be described. In the third embodiment, unlike the second embodiment, the refrigerator 10 has multiple heating units 61 and 63, which are now two heating units. Therefore, the temperature inside the special zone 60 can be more effectively changed to a special temperature range.

[0099] Multiple heating elements 61 and 63 are arranged in the front-to-back direction of the refrigerator 10. That is, heating element 61 is positioned closer to the rear side of the refrigerator 10 than heating element 63. In this case, heating elements 61 and 63 are arranged in a front-to-back configuration with the illumination element 36 between them when viewed from above. Furthermore, the area of ​​heating element 63 when viewed from above is set to be less than or equal to the area of ​​heating element 61 when viewed from above. For example, the length dimension of heating element 63 in the front-to-back direction is set to be less than or equal to the length dimension of heating element 61 in the front-to-back direction. In this embodiment, the area of ​​heating element 63 when viewed from above is set to be less than 2 / 3 of the area of ​​heating element 61 when viewed from above.

[0100] The refrigerator 10 includes an illumination element 36 for illuminating the interior of the storage compartment 11, and multiple heating elements 61 and 63 arranged in the front-to-back direction through the illumination element 36.

[0101] Therefore, the special zone 60 can be heated more widely and evenly. As a result, the efficiency of heating food within the special zone 60 is improved.

[0102] (Fourth implementation)

[0103] Secondly, refer to Figure 9 The third embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the refrigerator 10 replaces the heating unit 61 of the second embodiment, and instead includes a heating unit 71 and a cover member 72. The heating unit 71 is provided on one or both of the left and right side sides of the special partition 60. In this case, the heating unit 71 is provided above the uppermost shelf 31 and below the top shelf 26. Furthermore, the heating unit 71 is provided near the air outlet 183. For example, the heating unit 71 is provided closer to the back side of the lighting member 36, that is, closer to the air outlet 183.

[0104] The heating element 71 is disposed inside the insulated housing 20. That is, the heating element 71 is embedded in the insulation member 23. Alternatively, if a vacuum insulation panel is provided on the side wall of the insulated housing 20, the heating element 71 is disposed at intervals from the vacuum insulation panel. The cover member 72 protrudes from the side wall portion 27 toward the center side of the refrigerator compartment 11, i.e., the interior side of the special section 60. The cover member 72 may also have a connecting portion 721 that connects the heating element 71 side to the special section 60 side.

[0105] In this case, where cooked food with large dimensions is stored in the special zone 60, or where cooked food is stored in multiple overlapping layers, the surface closer to the heating element is heated during the heating process, but the surface farther from the heating element is difficult to heat. Therefore, uneven temperature distribution may occur in the vertical direction of the food.

[0106] In contrast, according to this embodiment, the heating element 71 is provided on the side of the special zone 60.

[0107] Therefore, even when large-sized cooked foods are stored in a specially designated area 60, or when cooked foods are stored in multiple overlapping layers, the generation of uneven temperature in the vertical direction of the food can be suppressed.

[0108] In this embodiment, the heating element 71 is disposed inside the left and right side walls of the insulated box 20, but it can also be disposed protruding from the inner box 21 toward the interior of the refrigerator compartment 11. That is, it can be disposed inside the left and right side wall portions 27. In this case, it also has the same effect as described above.

[0109] (Other implementation methods)

[0110] In the above embodiments, the special zones are all configured to be located in the refrigerator compartment 11, but they can also be configured to be located in the vegetable compartment 12. In this case, the special zones can be located inside the shell of the vegetable compartment 12.

[0111] The above embodiments are shown as examples 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. This embodiment and its variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the technical solution and its equivalents.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, comprising: An insulated enclosure separates the interior from the exterior with thermal insulation; and The storage compartment, located inside the aforementioned insulated enclosure, is cooled to a temperature within the refrigeration temperature range. The above-mentioned storage room has: A special zone was formed by dividing a portion of the interior of the aforementioned storage room; The blow-out nozzle opens on the rear side of the aforementioned specially designated area; The heating unit is capable of heating the interior of the aforementioned specially divided zone to a temperature higher than the aforementioned refrigeration temperature zone, i.e., a special temperature zone; and Lighting fixtures are installed in the aforementioned storage room to illuminate the interior of the storage room. The heating element is positioned closer to the air outlet than the lighting element. The air heated by the heating unit is propelled by the cold air circulated by the blower.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein, The refrigerator also includes a switching unit that switches between heating and non-heating based on user input.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The aforementioned heating element is located in the ceiling of the aforementioned specially designated area.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The heating element is located on the side of the specially designated area.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 3 or 4, wherein, The aforementioned heating element is provided in multiple locations in the front-to-back direction, separated from the aforementioned lighting element.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The aforementioned insulated enclosure has an insulation panel between the outer and inner enclosures. The heating element is located between the inner casing and the heat insulation panel.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein, The heating element is provided at a distance from the heat insulation panel.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The refrigerator also includes a cover component, which is disposed in the specially designated area for the heating element and covers at least a portion of the heating element.

Images