cold storage

Abstract

The cold storage of the present invention is characterized in that it includes: a vegetable chamber; a vegetable container arranged in the vegetable chamber; and a humidifying box arranged on the wall of the vegetable container, a moisture absorption and dehumidification component is provided inside the humidifying box, condensation occurs between the humidifying box and the wall, and a receiving portion is provided at the lower part of the humidifying box for allowing the moisture absorption and dehumidification component to absorb moisture generated by condensation, and the moisture absorbed by the moisture absorption and dehumidification component is discharged from the gap provided at the upper part of the humidifying box to the interior of the vegetable container.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator including a humidifying box. Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a refrigerator that discharges moisture from a vegetable box to the outside when the humidity reaches a high level, and prevents moisture from escaping from the vegetable box when the humidity reaches a low level.

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Patent Literature

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-800 Summary of the Invention

[0006] The refrigerator of Patent Document 1 prevents moisture from being lost from the vegetable box when the humidity becomes low, and cannot humidify the vegetable box in the low humidity state.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention provides a refrigerator capable of humidifying the interior of a vegetable container in a vegetable compartment.

[0008] The cold storage of the present invention is characterized in that it includes: a vegetable chamber; a vegetable container arranged in the vegetable chamber; and a humidifying box arranged on the wall of the vegetable container, a moisture absorption and dehumidification component is arranged inside the humidifying box, condensation occurs between the humidifying box and the wall, and a receiving portion is provided at the lower part of the humidifying box for allowing the moisture absorption and dehumidification component to absorb moisture generated by the condensation, and the moisture absorbed by the moisture absorption and dehumidification component is discharged from the gap arranged at the upper part of the humidifying box to the interior of the vegetable container.

[0009] The refrigerator of the present invention can absorb moisture generated by condensation between the humidifying box and the wall surface of the vegetable container and discharge the moisture into the interior of the vegetable container, thereby humidifying the interior of the vegetable container. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 This is a longitudinal sectional view of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment.

[0011] Figure 2 This is a longitudinal sectional view of the vegetable compartment of the cold storage according to the first embodiment.

[0012] Figure 3 This is an exploded perspective view of the humidification cartridge according to the first embodiment.

[0013] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of a storage container of the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment.

[0014] Figure 5This is a perspective view of the storage container when the humidification cartridge according to Embodiment 1 is attached.

[0015] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view of the storage container when the humidification cartridge according to Embodiment 1 is attached. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] (Knowledge, etc., which are the basis of the present invention)

[0017] At the time the inventors conceived of the present invention, there were existing cold storages employing the following technology. This technology prevented condensation-induced decay in vegetable and fruit boxes while maintaining high humidity. For example, the boxes were equipped with a moisture sensor and permeation device. The moisture sensor and permeation device expelled moisture from the box in the event of high humidity, while preventing moisture from escaping in the event of low humidity.

[0018] When the interior of a container containing a large number of vegetables reaches high humidity, discharging moisture to the outside is useful for reducing the risk of rot caused by condensation. However, when the interior of a container containing fewer vegetables reaches low humidity, high humidity cannot be achieved. Therefore, the inventors discovered that vegetables dry out and their quality deteriorates, and developed the subject matter of the present invention to address this issue.

[0019] Therefore, the present invention provides a refrigerator that maintains the interior of a storage container in a high humidity state while suppressing the risk of decay due to condensation.

[0020] The following describes the embodiments in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, unnecessary detailed descriptions may be omitted. For example, detailed descriptions of known matters or repetitive descriptions of substantially the same structures may be omitted. This is to avoid excessive length in the following description and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0021] In addition, the drawings and the following description are provided to facilitate those skilled in the art to fully understand the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0022] (Implementation 1)

[0023] Next, use Figures 1 to 6 Implementation method 1 will be described.

[0024] [1-1. Structure]

[0025] exist Figure 1 and Figure 2In the figure, the insulated box body 2 of the cold storage 1 is mainly composed of an outer box 3 using steel plates; an inner box 4 formed by resins such as ABS; the space between the outer box 3 and the inner box 4 is filled with foamed insulation materials such as rigid foamed polyurethane, etc., which is insulated from the surroundings and divided into multiple storage rooms.

[0026] The cold storage 1 includes a refrigerating chamber 5 , a switching chamber 6 , an ice making chamber 7 , a vegetable chamber 8 , and a freezing chamber 9 .

[0027] A refrigerator compartment 5, serving as the first storage compartment, is located at the top. Below the refrigerator compartment 5, a switch compartment 6, serving as the fourth storage compartment, and an ice-making compartment 7, serving as the fifth storage compartment, are located side by side. Below the switch compartment 6 and ice-making compartment 7, a vegetable compartment 8, serving as the second storage compartment, is located. At the bottom, a freezer compartment 9, serving as the third storage compartment, is located.

[0028] Taking the temperature for refrigerated storage without freezing as the lower limit, the refrigerator compartment 5 is usually set to 1°C to 5°C, and the vegetable compartment 8 is set to a temperature of 2°C to 7°C, which is the same as or slightly higher than the refrigerator compartment 5. The freezer compartment 9 is set in the freezing temperature range, and is usually set to -22°C to -15°C for frozen storage. In order to improve the frozen storage state, the freezer compartment 9 is sometimes also set to a low temperature of, for example, -30°C or -25°C. In addition to the refrigerated temperature range set at 1°C to 5°C, the vegetable temperature range set at 2°C to 7°C, and the freezing temperature range usually set at -22°C to -15°C, the switching compartment 6 can be switched from the refrigerated temperature range to a temperature range pre-set between the freezing temperature ranges. The switching compartment 6 is a storage compartment including an independent door arranged in parallel with the ice making compartment 7, and most of them include drawer-type doors.

[0029] In this embodiment, the switchable compartment 6 is used as a storage compartment that includes both refrigeration and freezing temperature ranges. However, refrigeration can be assigned to the refrigerator compartment 5 and the vegetable compartment 8, and freezing can be assigned to the freezer compartment 9, allowing the compartment to be used as a storage compartment that switches only between the aforementioned temperature ranges. Alternatively, the compartment can be fixed to a specific temperature range.

[0030] The top surface of the insulated box body 2 has a stepped recessed shape toward the interior of the cold storage 1. A machine chamber 2a is formed within this stepped recess. This chamber houses components of the high-pressure side of the refrigeration cycle, such as the compressor 10 and a dehumidifier (not shown) for removing moisture. Specifically, the machine chamber 2a, housing the compressor 10, is recessed into the uppermost rear area of the cold storage compartment 5.

[0031] In addition, the machine room may be arranged in the rear area of the storage room at the bottom of the heat-insulating box 2 as in the prior art. In addition, the refrigerator 1 may have a so-called intermediate cooling structure in which the arrangement of the freezer compartment 9 and the vegetable compartment 8 is changed.

[0032] Furthermore, a cooling chamber 11 for generating cold air is provided inside the vegetable compartment 8 and the freezer compartment 9. Between the vegetable compartment 8 and the cooling chamber 11, or between the freezer compartment 9 and the cooling chamber 11, there is a supply air duct (not shown) for supplying cold air to each heat-insulating compartment, and a rear partition wall 12 for heat-insulating the compartments.

[0033] A cooler 13 is installed in the cooling chamber 11. A cooling fan 14 is located above the cooler 13, which uses forced convection to deliver cold air cooled by the cooler 13 to the refrigerator 5, the switching chamber 6, the ice making chamber 7, the vegetable chamber 8, and the freezer 9. A glass-tube radiant heater 15 is located below the cooler 13 to remove frost or ice that adheres to the cooler 13 and its surroundings during cooling. Furthermore, a drain pan 16 is located below the cooler 13 to receive defrost water generated during defrosting. A drain pipe 17 is provided that extends from the deepest portion of the cooler 13 to the outside of the chamber. An evaporation pan 18 is located outside the chamber on the downstream side.

[0034] Arranged in the vegetable compartment 8 are a lower storage container 20 placed on a frame attached to the drawer door 19 of the vegetable compartment 8 and an upper storage container 21 placed on the lower storage container 20 .

[0035] A passage for cool air discharged from an outlet 23 for the vegetable compartment 8 formed in the rear partition wall 12 is provided between the upper storage container 21 and the first partition wall 22a. A vegetable compartment heater 24 for regulating the temperature in the vegetable compartment 8 is provided near the outlet 23.

[0036] Furthermore, a space is provided between lower storage container 20 and second partition wall 22b below lower storage container 20, forming a cold air path. Vegetable compartment 8 is provided with an inlet 25 for vegetable compartment 8. This inlet 25 is used to return the cold air in vegetable compartment 8 after cooling and heat exchange to cooler 13. A temperature sensor 26 is provided near inlet 25.

[0037] For illustration purposes, Figure 2 and Figure 3 The humidification box 28 is shown schematically.

[0038] Figure 3 This is an exploded perspective view of the humidification box 28. The humidification box 28 includes a front frame 37, a rear frame 38, and a humidification sheet 39, an example of a moisture absorption and desorption component. In this embodiment, a moisture absorption and desorption component is a component that has the function of absorbing and discharging moisture. Alternatively, the humidification box 28 may be formed integrally with the front frame 37 and the rear frame 38. Furthermore, the humidification sheet 39 is disposed within the humidification box 28.

[0039] Figure 2It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vegetable chamber. The humidifying sheet 39 has an absorption portion 29, a discharge portion 30, and a conveying portion 31. The humidifying sheet 39 is formed into a whole by the absorption portion 29, the discharge portion 30, and the conveying portion 31. The humidifying box 28 is provided on the inner side of the wall that divides the lower storage container 20. For example, the humidifying box 28 is provided on the wall surface on which the cold air discharged from the discharge port 23 blows in the inner wall surface of the lower storage container 20. The discharge port 23 is provided on the back side of the vegetable chamber 8, and the humidifying box 28 is provided on the back side of the lower storage container 20. In addition, the humidifying box 28 is not limited to the inner side of the wall surface of the vegetable container, and can also be provided on the outer side of the wall surface of the vegetable container.

[0040] The absorption portion 29 absorbs and stores moisture generated by condensation inside the lower storage container 20. Condensation occurs, for example, between the wall surface of the lower storage container 20 and the humidification box 28. Due to the cold air discharged from the discharge port 23, the temperature of the lower side of the back surface of the lower storage container 20 is lower than the dew point temperature of the air inside the lower storage container 20, and the lower side is cooled, which makes condensation more likely to occur. In order to absorb the moisture generated by this condensation, the absorption portion 29 is provided on the lower side of the back surface of the lower storage container 20. In addition, in order to facilitate the absorption of moisture generated by condensation, the absorption portion 29 is made of a fiber material such as a non-woven fabric, and has a large surface area.

[0041] The discharge portion 30 discharges the absorbed moisture into the interior of the lower storage container 20. Dry cold air discharged from the discharge port 23 is introduced into the gap between the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20 at the upper side of the back surface of the lower storage container 20. Therefore, the humidity of the atmosphere around the upper side of the back surface of the lower storage container 20 is lower than that around the absorption portion 29 and the conveying portion 31. In order to discharge the absorbed moisture, the discharge portion 30 is provided at the upper side of the back surface of the lower storage container 20. Furthermore, in order to facilitate the discharge of moisture, the discharge portion 30 is made of a fiber material such as a non-woven fabric, and has a large surface area.

[0042] The transport section 31 utilizes capillary force to move water absorbed and stored in the absorbent section 29 to the drain section 30. Capillary force is the force that causes capillary action. The transport section 31 is located at the junction between the absorbent section 29 and the drain section 30. The transport section 31 is made of a fiber material such as a nonwoven fabric, for example.

[0043] The humidifying box front frame 37 plays a role of protecting the humidifying sheet 39. The humidifying box front frame 37 includes an opening 40. The humidifying box front frame 37 is made of resin.

[0044] The opening 40 is provided to discharge the absorbed moisture into the lower storage container 20. The opening 40 is provided on the upper side of the humidification box front frame 37 so as to face the discharge portion 30. The opening 40 is formed of a grid-like gap formed by a plurality of ribs.

[0045] The humidifying box rear frame 38 plays the role of protecting the humidifying sheet 39 in the same manner as the humidifying box front frame 37. The humidifying box rear frame 38 includes a receiving portion 42. The humidifying box rear frame 38 is made of resin.

[0046] The receiving portion 42 is provided to allow the humidifying sheet 39 to absorb moisture generated by condensation within the lower storage container 20. The receiving portion 42 is disposed at the lower portion of the humidifying box rear frame 38. The receiving portion 42 transports moisture generated by condensation on the inner wall of the lower storage container 20 to the absorption portion 29. The receiving portion 42 is composed of a plurality of inclined ribs arranged in the vertical direction. Each rib contacts the inner wall of the lower storage container 20. Alternatively, the receiving portion 42 may be composed of at least one inclined rib. Inclined refers to a certain angle relative to the horizontal.

[0047] exist Figure 4 and Figure 5 In the following, the specific structure of the humidifying box 28 will be described. Figure 4 The middle part shows the mounting structure of the humidifying box 28 on the lower storage container 20.

[0048] Figure 4 It is a perspective view of the lower storage container 20. The humidification cartridge front frame 37 includes a pressing portion 33, an inserting portion 35, and a claw portion 41.

[0049] The pressing portion 33 is provided to press down when attaching the humidification box 28 to the lower storage container 20 or when detaching the humidification box 28 from the lower storage container.

[0050] Two mounting holes 32 are provided in the upper portion of the lower storage container 20. The claws 41 of the humidifying cartridge 28 are inserted and secured into these holes. To secure the lower side of the humidifying cartridge 28, the insertion portion 35 of the humidifying cartridge 28 is fitted into a groove 34 pre-determined on the back side of the bottom surface of the lower storage container 20. This configuration simplifies the user's removal and reattachment of the humidifying cartridge 28 for cleaning and other purposes, while also preventing the humidifying cartridge 28 from shifting.

[0051] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the humidification box 28 when it is mounted on the lower storage container 20. A gap 36 is provided between the wall surface of the lower storage container 20 and the humidification box 28 for allowing air containing moisture inside the lower storage container 20 to flow.

[0052] Figure 6 This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the humidifying cartridge 28 mounted on the lower storage container 20. The multiple ribs forming the receiving portion 42 are arranged so as to contact the inner wall surface of the lower storage container 20. This reduces the risk of moisture generated by condensation within the lower storage container 20 flowing onto the bottom surface of the lower storage container 20.

[0053] [1-2. Action]

[0054] The operation and effects of the refrigerator 1 constructed as described above will be described below.

[0055] according to Figures 2 to 6 , explaining the action of the humidifying box 28 of the cold storage 1 to absorb the moisture generated by condensation and to move and discharge it. First, the action of the refrigeration cycle is explained. Based on the temperature set in the storage and according to the signal from the control board (not shown), the refrigeration cycle works and performs cooling operation. The high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged by the action of the compressor 10 is condensed and liquefied to a certain extent in the condenser (not shown). Then, through the side or inside of the cold storage 1, and the refrigerant piping (not shown) attached to the front opening of the cold storage 1, etc., condensation of the cold storage 1 is prevented, and condensation and liquefaction are carried out at the same time, and it reaches the capillary tube (not shown). Then, in the capillary tube, while exchanging heat with the suction pipe (not shown) leading to the compressor 10, the pressure is reduced, and it becomes a low-temperature and low-pressure liquid refrigerant and reaches the cooler 13.

[0056] Here, the low-temperature, low-pressure liquid refrigerant exchanges heat with the air in each storage compartment sent by the operation of the cooling fan 14, and the refrigerant in the cooler 13 evaporates and gasifies. At this time, cold air for cooling each storage compartment is generated in the cooling compartment 11.

[0057] The low-temperature cold air generated in the cooling chamber 11 is adjusted using the cooling damper 27, and the cold air is diverted from the cooling fan 14 to the refrigeration chamber 5, the switching chamber 6, the ice-making chamber 7, the vegetable chamber 8, and the freezer chamber 9 using the air path or the cooling damper 27, and cooled to their respective target temperature ranges.

[0058] The air, normally cooled to below -20°C in cooler 13, rises to an average temperature of 2-7°C inside vegetable compartment 8. Consequently, the average relative humidity of the air outside lower storage container 20 and upper storage container 21 within vegetable compartment 8 is approximately 15-29% RH, making it dry. Meanwhile, the vegetables within lower storage container 20 and upper storage container 21 remain physiologically active during storage, and moisture continues to evaporate, causing the humidity of the air within lower storage container 20 and upper storage container 21 to increase. The dry air surrounding lower storage container 20 and upper storage container 21 is exchanged with the high-humidity air inside lower storage container 20 and upper storage container 21 through the gaps between first partition wall 22a and upper storage container 21, and between upper storage container 21 and lower storage container 20. Consequently, some moisture is discharged from lower storage container 20 and upper storage container 21.

[0059] If the humidity in the lower storage container 20 becomes too high, condensation will occur. If the moisture generated by condensation comes into contact with vegetables, etc., there is a risk that the vegetables, etc. will rot. On the other hand, if the humidity in the lower storage container 20 becomes too low, there is a risk that the evaporation of the vegetables will be accelerated, causing the vegetables to wilt. Taking into account the balance between the two risks, 90-95% RH is set as the storage humidity suitable for a large number of vegetables. In this embodiment, by providing a humidifying box 28, the moisture generated by condensation in the lower storage container 20 is pre-absorbed and accumulated, thereby suppressing the risk of rot. In addition, when the lower storage container 20 becomes a low humidity state, the absorbed and accumulated moisture is discharged to the interior of the lower storage container 20. Therefore, it is possible to maintain a high humidity state in the lower storage container 20 while suppressing the risk of rot caused by condensation.

[0060] exist Figure 2 In the humidifying box 28, the absorbing portion 29 absorbs the moisture generated by condensation in the lower storage container 20, the transporting portion 31 moves the absorbed moisture, and the draining portion 30 drains the moved moisture. Figure 6 In the embodiment, the receiving portion 42 is composed of a plurality of ribs, and the front end of the ribs is arranged in a manner that contacts the inner wall surface of the lower storage container 20. As a result, the condensation generated on the wall surface of the lower storage container 20 flows down from the wall surface and flows into the humidifying sheet 39 through the ribs of the receiving portion 42. Figure 6 In the embodiment, there are three ribs arranged in the vertical direction, and the second and third ribs receive the condensation that is not received by the first rib.

[0061] Next, we will describe the operation of using the humidifying cartridge 28. The absorption section 29 absorbs and stores moisture generated by condensation, the transport section 31 moves the absorbed moisture to the discharge section 30, and the discharge section 30 discharges the transferred moisture. When vegetables are placed in the lower storage container 20, they release moisture over time. If any of the surfaces dividing the lower storage container 20 has a temperature below the dew point, condensation will form on that surface.

[0062] The surface where condensation occurs varies slightly depending on the design location of the vegetable compartment 8 and the operating conditions of the cold storage. In this case, condensation generally occurs on a portion of the back surface of the lower storage container 20, which is reached by the cool air discharged from the outlet 23 and reaches a relatively low temperature. The upper side of the lower storage container 20, where the density of vegetables is low, is affected by the intrusion of dry cool air discharged from the outlet 23, causing it to become low in humidity. Therefore, the lower side of the lower storage container 20, where the density of vegetables is high, has a higher humidity than the upper side of the lower storage container 20, so condensation is expected to occur on the lower side of the back surface of the lower storage container 20.

[0063] In this case, the absorption section 29 of the humidifying cartridge 28 is positioned where condensation occurs, absorbing and storing moisture generated by condensation within the lower storage container 20. The moisture flowing through the absorption section 29 into the humidifying sheet 39, where it is absorbed and stored, is then transported by capillary force within the transport section 31 to the discharge section 30 located on the upper back side of the lower storage container 20. Compared to the absorption section 29 and transport section 31, the area surrounding the discharge section 30 is also affected by the intrusion of dry, cold air discharged from the outlet 23, allowing convective low-humidity air to flow through it. Therefore, moisture that has moved to the discharge section 30 is discharged from the humidifying cartridge 28 there. In particular, the smaller the number of vegetables in the lower storage container 20, the greater the humidity difference between the air inside the lower storage container 20 and the atmosphere surrounding the discharge section 30. This allows for more active moisture discharge, maintaining a high humidity within the lower storage container 20 regardless of the amount of vegetables.

[0064] [1-3. Effects, etc.]

[0065] As described above, in this embodiment, the cold storage 1 includes a vegetable chamber 8, a lower storage container 20, and a humidifying box 28. The humidifying sheet provided inside the humidifying box 28 is integrally formed by an absorption portion 29, a conveying portion 31, and a discharge portion 30. When the lower storage container 20 becomes in a high humidity state due to a large number of vegetables, first, the absorption portion 29 absorbs and stores the moisture generated by condensation on the lower side of the back surface of the lower storage container 20. Then, the transport portion 31 uses capillary force to move the absorbed moisture to the discharge portion 30. Finally, when the lower storage container 20 becomes in a low humidity state, the discharge portion 30 discharges the moisture into the lower storage container 20.

[0066] In this case, the opening 40 is located on the upper side of the lower storage container 20 and is formed by a grid-like gap formed by a plurality of ribs. This reduces the risk of vegetables being placed near the drain 30 even when vegetables are stored in the lower storage container 20, maintains water drainage efficiency, and prevents the vegetables from contacting the humidifying sheet 39, thereby preventing soiling or damage to the humidifying sheet 39.

[0067] Furthermore, the receiving portion 42 is constructed with multiple ribs in the vertical direction that contact the inner side of the wall of the lower storage container 20. Moisture generated by condensation on the wall flows along the wall of the lower storage container 20. Even if the upper ribs miss the moisture, the ribs below them can still receive it. This improves the absorption efficiency of the moisture generated by condensation from the wall of the lower storage container 20 to the absorption portion 29. This prevents the vegetables from rotting due to water accumulating on the bottom of the lower storage container 20 due to missed condensation. Furthermore, since the receiving portion 42 is composed of multiple ribs, any warping of the wall of the lower storage container 20 that occurs during molding can be easily corrected when the humidification box 28 is installed on the lower storage container 20. As a result, the multiple ribs of the receiving portion 42 easily contact the wall of the lower storage container 20, improving the absorption efficiency.

[0068] As a result of the above-described effects, even when the humidity in the lower storage container 20 decreases due to the intrusion of dry, cold air and a decrease in the number of vegetables, moisture is supplied from the humidifying box 28 to the lower storage container 20 while maintaining efficient drainage, regardless of the storage conditions of the vegetables. Consequently, the lower storage container 20 can maintain a high humidity level regardless of whether the number of vegetables is high or low. Furthermore, the risk of vegetable decay due to condensation can be reduced.

[0069] In order to maintain the freshness of vegetables, the airtightness of the lower storage container 20 must be improved. Here, airtightness refers to the degree of airtightness. In order to improve the airtightness of the lower storage container 20, if the gap between the lower storage container 20 and the upper storage container 21 is narrowed, the exchange of dry cold air outside the lower storage container 20 and the high-humidity air inside the lower storage container 20 will be reduced. Therefore, condensation is likely to occur inside the lower storage container 20. In contrast, the humidifying box 28 can absorb moisture generated by condensation in the lower storage container 20, so the gap between the lower storage container 20 and the upper storage container 21 can be further narrowed. Therefore, compared with the prior art, the airtightness of the lower storage container 20 of the vegetable chamber 8 can be improved, and the humidity inside the lower storage container 20 can be made higher than before.

[0070] In this embodiment, the lower storage container 20 is described as an example of the location where the humidifying cartridge 28 is installed. However, the location where the humidifying cartridge 28 is installed is not limited to the lower storage container 20. As another example, the upper storage container 21 may be installed.

[0071] Thus, moisture generated by condensation in the upper storage container 21 can be absorbed by the absorption portion 29 and discharged into the upper storage container 21 by the discharge portion 30. Therefore, the upper storage container 21 can be kept at a high humidity, thereby suppressing the risk of decay caused by condensation.

[0072] (Other embodiments)

[0073] As described above, Embodiment 1 is described as an example of the technology disclosed in this application. However, the technology in the present invention is not limited to this embodiment and can also be applied to embodiments that have been modified, replaced, added, omitted, etc. In addition, the various components described in Embodiment 1 above can be combined to form new embodiments.

[0074] Therefore, other embodiments are described below by way of example.

[0075] In Embodiment 1, the vegetable compartment is described as an example of a location where humidifying box 28 may be installed. However, the location where humidifying box 28 may be installed is not limited to the vegetable compartment. Other examples include other storage compartments such as a refrigerator or freezer. Furthermore, the vegetable compartment may contain not only vegetables but also fruit or rice.

[0076] In Embodiment 1, a nonwoven fabric was described as an example of a material for absorbing portion 29. However, absorbing portion 29 may also be a porous material capable of absorbing more moisture generated by condensation. Therefore, absorbing portion 29 is not limited to fiber materials such as nonwoven fabric. By making absorbing portion 29 porous, the surface area is increased, enabling it to absorb and store a large amount of moisture.

[0077] This absorbs the large amount of condensed water that might otherwise form when vegetables are abundant, effectively reducing the risk of condensation. Furthermore, when the amount of vegetables decreases, the amount of water discharged by the drain unit 30 increases, making it easier to cope with fluctuations in the amount of vegetables. This allows the storage container to maintain a high humidity for a longer period of time, preserving the freshness of the vegetables for a longer period of time.

[0078] In the first embodiment, a nonwoven fabric was described as an example of a material constituting the transport portion 31. The transport portion 31 may be any porous material capable of transporting water absorbed by the absorber 29 to the discharge portion 30 through capillary forces. Therefore, the transport portion 31 is not limited to fiber materials such as nonwoven fabric. By constructing the transport portion 31 from a porous material, the capillary forces of the porous material can be utilized to move a large amount of water absorbed by the absorber 29 to the discharge portion 30.

[0079] Therefore, even when condensation continuously occurs, it is possible to continuously move the moisture absorbed by the absorption portion 29. This improves the absorption performance of the absorption portion 29 and reduces the risk of condensation in the storage container.

[0080] Furthermore, the member constituting the transport section 31 may be made of a material having anisotropy in the direction in which water moves from the absorption section 29 to the discharge section 30. By constituting the transport section 31 with anisotropy, water moving within the transport section 31 flows in a certain direction, enabling the water to be quickly moved to the discharge section 30, which is its destination.

[0081] Therefore, even if the absorption portion 29 absorbs too much water, the water can be quickly transported to the discharge portion 30. This improves the storage capacity of the absorption portion 29 and reduces the risk of water from condensation falling into the storage container as the amount of vegetables increases or decreases.

[0082] Alternatively, the transport portion 31 may be formed of grooves. This allows the capillary force of the grooves to move the water absorbed by the absorber 29. Furthermore, simply providing grooves on the wall of the container allows the water to move, thus reducing the need for installing new components and reducing costs.

[0083] In Embodiment 1, nonwoven fabric was described as an example of a material for drain portion 30. Drain portion 30 can be made of any porous material capable of draining a greater amount of water generated by condensation. Therefore, drain portion 30 is not limited to fiber materials such as nonwoven fabric. By making drain portion 30 porous, the surface area increases, enabling it to drain a larger amount of water.

[0084] Therefore, when the humidity in the storage container is low due to the change of the amount of vegetables or the inflow of dry cold air, a large amount of water can be discharged in a short time. Thus, the drying of the vegetables in the storage container can be suppressed and the freshness can be maintained.

[0085] Furthermore, the cold air entering the storage container is drier than the air inside. By discharging moisture from the discharge portion 30, the incoming dry air can be humidified. This prevents dry air from coming into contact with vegetables, maintaining the freshness of the vegetables. Furthermore, to enhance the discharge performance of the discharge portion 30, it can be further enhanced by installing it in the cold air inflow area, particularly in areas where the incoming cold air flows turbulently.

[0086] In Embodiment 1, a humidifying sheet 39 comprising an absorber 29, a transporter 31, and a discharger 30 is described as an example of a moisture absorption and dehumidification component. The absorber 29, transporter 31, and discharger 30 of the humidifying sheet 39 can also be integrally formed from the same material. This simplifies the structure compared to a case where the absorber 29, transporter 31, and discharger 30 are made of different materials and structures. This reduces assembly time and can be expected to reduce costs.

[0087] The above-described embodiments are intended to illustrate the technology of the present invention, and therefore various changes, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc. can be made within the scope of the claims or their equivalents.

[0088] Industrial applicability

[0089] The present invention absorbs moisture generated by condensation in a storage container into a humidifying box and discharges the moisture into the storage container with a certain efficiency. Thus, in addition to suppressing the decay of vegetables caused by condensation, the humidity in the storage container can also be maintained at a high humidity. Therefore, it can not only be implemented in cold storages or vegetable-specific warehouses for homes or businesses, but can also be applied to circulation, warehousing and other purposes that require high humidity storage for items other than vegetables.

[0090] Description of Reference Numerals

[0091] 1 Cold Storage

[0092] 8 Vegetable Room

[0093] 20 Lower storage container

[0094] 21 Upper storage container

[0095] 23 outlet

[0096] 28 Humidification Box

[0097] 29 Absorption

[0098] 30 Discharge Department

[0099] 31 Conveying Department

[0100] 32 hole

[0101] 33 Press down

[0102] 34 groove

[0103] 35 Insertion

[0104] 36 gap

[0105] 37 Humidifier box front frame

[0106] 38 Humidifier box rear frame

[0107] 39 humidifying sheet (humidifying and releasing component)

[0108] 40 opening

[0109] 41 claws

[0110] 42. Receiving Department.

Claims

1. A cold storage, characterized in that: include: vegetable room; a vegetable container disposed in the vegetable chamber; and A humidifying box is provided on the wall surface of the vegetable container, A moisture absorbing and releasing component is provided inside the humidifying box. Condensation occurs between the humidifying box and the wall surface. A receiving portion is provided at the lower portion of the humidifying box for allowing the moisture absorption and release component to absorb moisture generated by the condensation. The moisture absorbed by the moisture absorption and dehumidification component is discharged into the interior of the vegetable container through a gap provided at the upper portion of the humidifying box.

2. The cold storage according to claim 1, wherein: The receiving portion is composed of a plurality of inclined ribs provided in the vertical direction.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The vegetable compartment has an outlet for discharging cold air. The humidifying box is arranged on a wall surface of the inner wall surface of the vegetable container to which the cold air discharged from the discharge port can be blown.

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