A maturation device for a refrigerating-freezing appliance and a refrigerating-freezing appliance

Abstract

The present application relates to refrigeration and freezing technology, and particularly relates to a maturation device for a refrigeration and freezing device and the refrigeration and freezing device. The maturation device comprises: a maturation drawer, which is arranged in the cabinet of the refrigeration and freezing device in a pullable manner, and the inside of the maturation drawer is limited to define a maturation chamber for accommodating a maturation object; a back wall of the maturation drawer is provided with an air return port and at least one air outlet; a circulating fan, which is arranged at the back of the maturation drawer, and after the maturation drawer is pushed into the cabinet, the circulating fan promotes the air flow to enter the maturation chamber through the at least one air outlet and then to blow out from the air return port; and at least one sealing ring, which is arranged between the circulating fan and the maturation drawer, and is used to seal the at least one air outlet and the air flow outlet of the circulating fan in a butt joint manner when the maturation drawer is pushed into the cabinet. The maturation device of the present application is provided with at least one sealing ring between the circulating fan and the maturation drawer to realize the butt joint sealing, which avoids the air leakage problem of the circulating air duct in the maturation device and improves the maturation efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to refrigeration and freezing technology, in particular to a ripening device for a refrigeration and freezing device and a refrigeration and freezing device. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, as consumers continue to pursue more flavorful foods, aged foods have become increasingly popular due to their distinct flavor. Aging involves placing meat, after acid removal, in an aging room controlled by a specific temperature, humidity, and air velocity, allowing for slow, natural fermentation, ultimately developing a deeper flavor and enhancing the meat's tenderness, flavor, and juiciness. Therefore, aging equipment requires internal circulation ducts to control the air velocity within the aging room to ensure optimal aging.

[0003] However, the existing aging equipment lacks a design for the sealing structure of the internal circulation air duct. The various interfaces of the internal circulation air duct are not tight and air leakage occurs, resulting in problems such as low indoor wind speed and uneven air circulation in the aging room during the aging process, which further leads to low aging efficiency or even aging failure due to slow moisture dissipation and excessive humidity on the surface of the object to be aging. Summary of the Invention

[0004] An object of the first aspect of the present invention is to overcome at least one drawback of the prior art and to provide a aging device for a refrigeration and freezing device that prevents air leakage in an internal circulation air duct.

[0005] A further object of the first aspect of the present invention is to optimize and define the structure of the maturation device so as to improve the uniformity of the air circulation while conveniently and reliably sealingly connecting the air outlet of the maturation drawer with the air outlet of the circulation fan.

[0006] A second aspect of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator / freezer having the above-mentioned ripening device.

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a aging device for a refrigerator / freezer, for aging food to be aging therein, wherein the aging device comprises:

[0008] A ripening drawer is pullable and arranged in the cabinet of the refrigerator-freezer, and defines a ripening chamber for accommodating the food to be ripened. The rear wall of the ripening drawer is provided with an air return port and at least one air outlet;

[0009] a circulation fan, disposed at the rear of the aging drawer, and configured to force airflow into the aging chamber through at least one air outlet and then out through the return air outlet after the aging drawer is pushed into the cabinet; and

[0010] At least one sealing ring is arranged between the circulation fan and the ripening drawer, and is used to seal the at least one air outlet with the air flow outlet of the circulation fan when the ripening drawer is pushed into the box body.

[0011] Furthermore, a concave cavity is formed in the middle of the rear wall of the ripening drawer and is recessed into the ripening chamber. A return air baffle is provided at the front end of the concave cavity. Two extension surfaces are formed by obliquely extending from both sides of the return air baffle toward the rear wall, and the oblique direction is outwardly expanding from front to back. Air outlets are respectively formed on the two extension surfaces; and

[0012] The circulation fan is located at the rear of the cavity to force the air flow into the maturation chamber through the air outlets on the two extension surfaces.

[0013] Furthermore, the circulation fan is a centrifugal fan, and includes a housing and a centrifugal impeller arranged in the housing;

[0014] An air flow outlet is respectively provided on both lateral sides of the housing, and each air flow outlet is configured to be opposite to an air outlet when the ripening drawer is pushed into the box body; and

[0015] A sealing ring is fixedly installed on the edge of each air outlet to seal the gap between the edge of the air outlet and the edge of the corresponding air outlet when the ripening drawer is pushed into the box body.

[0016] Furthermore, the housing protrudes outward at the rear end of each air flow outlet to form a stepped surface, and the stepped surface is located on the rear side of the rear surface of the rear end of the sealing ring; and

[0017] The housing is provided with at least one claw structure outwardly at the front end of each air flow outlet, and each claw structure includes a supporting surface located at the rear side of the rear surface of the front end of the sealing ring;

[0018] The step surface and the supporting surface are configured to support the sealing ring when the ripening drawer is fully pushed into the box body.

[0019] Furthermore, each claw structure also includes a limiting portion extending forward from the middle of the supporting surface, the inclination direction of the limiting portion is outward from back to front, and multiple limiting portions are symmetrically distributed on both lateral sides of the shell to guide the ripening drawer to move backward in the direction facing the circulation fan when pushed into the box.

[0020] Furthermore, the sealing ring is made of a flexible material and is configured to fit tightly with the air flow outlet and the air outlet respectively when the mature drawer is fully pushed into the box to achieve sealed docking.

[0021] Furthermore, the aging device also includes:

[0022] At least one air duct plate is arranged inside the aging drawer, and a aging chamber located inside the air duct plate and at least one air supply duct arranged around at least part of the circumference of the aging chamber are defined between the aging drawer and the at least one air duct plate;

[0023] The aging chamber is connected to the air supply duct through a plurality of air supply ports arranged on the air duct plate and arranged along the air flow direction in the air supply duct;

[0024] The air supply duct is connected to the circulation fan through at least one air outlet.

[0025] Furthermore, there are two air duct plates, and an air supply duct is defined between the two air duct plates and the ripening drawers; and

[0026] The two air duct plates are symmetrically arranged on both lateral sides of the ripening drawer, so that the two air supply ducts formed are arranged around the lateral sides and rear side of the ripening chamber.

[0027] Furthermore, there are two air outlets, which are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the return air outlet and are connected to the two air supply ducts respectively;

[0028] There are two air outlets, which are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the circulation fan, and the two air outlets are respectively arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the two air outlets;

[0029] There are two sealing rings, each of which is installed on an edge of an air flow outlet, and the two sealing rings are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the circulation fan.

[0030] According to a second aspect of the present invention, the present invention further provides a refrigeration and freezing device, comprising:

[0031] a box body defining a storage compartment for storing items; and

[0032] Any of the above-mentioned ripening devices is used for ripening the food to be ripened therein, and the ripening device is arranged in a storage compartment.

[0033] The aging device of the present invention is applied to a refrigerator / freezer, effectively utilizing the low temperature and high humidity environment within the refrigerator / freezer to accelerate the aging of the food to be aging within the aging device. This eliminates the need for specialized temperature and humidity control devices, simplifying the aging device's structure and reducing its cost. Furthermore, the aging device of the present invention includes at least one sealing ring between the circulating fan and the aging drawer, achieving a sealed connection between the air outlet and the airflow outlet of the circulating fan. This ensures a tight connection between the aging device's internal circulation duct, allowing the entire airflow from the circulating fan to enter the aging chamber through the air outlet, thereby avoiding the problem of low aging efficiency or even aging failure caused by low airflow circulation efficiency within the aging chamber.

[0034] Furthermore, the middle portion of the rear wall of the ripening drawer of the present invention has a concave cavity formed into the ripening chamber, and the front end of the concave cavity has a return air baffle. Two extension surfaces are extended obliquely from both sides of the return air baffle toward the rear wall, and the inclination direction is outwardly expanded from front to back, and air outlets are respectively provided on the two extension surfaces; the circulation fan is located behind the concave cavity to promote the airflow to enter the ripening chamber through the air outlets on the two extension surfaces. On the one hand, two air outlets are provided on the rear wall of the ripening drawer, which are located on both sides of the return air outlet and form an oblique angle with the pulling direction of the ripening drawer, so that the airflow enters the ripening chamber from both sides horizontally through the two air outlets, thereby improving the air outlet uniformity and air outlet efficiency. On the other hand, the contact surface between the ripening drawer and the sealing ring forms an oblique angle with the pulling direction of the ripening drawer, so that the air outlet of the ripening drawer is conveniently and reliably sealed with the airflow outlet of the circulation fan.

[0035] Based on the following detailed description of specific embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art will become more aware of the above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] Hereinafter, some specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail in an exemplary and non-limiting manner with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in the accompanying drawings indicate the same or similar components or parts. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that these drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the accompanying drawings:

[0037] Figure 1 is a schematic exploded structural diagram of a aging device according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 2 is a schematic exploded structural diagram of a aging device according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a circulation fan of a aging device according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 4 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a refrigeration and freezing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] To address at least one of the aforementioned technical problems, the present invention first provides a aging device for use in a refrigerator / freezer, for aging food to be aging therein. Specifically, the aging device of the present invention, when used in a refrigerator / freezer, effectively utilizes the low temperature and high humidity environment within the refrigerator / freezer to accelerate the aging of food within the aging device. This eliminates the need for specialized temperature and humidity control devices, simplifies the aging device's structure, and reduces its cost.

[0042] Figure 1 is a structural exploded view of a ripening device according to an embodiment of the present application, in which a ripening drawer and a circulating fan of the ripening device are in a separated state to show the inside thereof. As shown in Figure 1 the ripening device 100 for a refrigerating-freezing device according to the present application includes a ripening drawer 200, a circulating fan 300, and at least one sealing ring 400.

[0043] The ripening drawer 200 is provided to be pullably withdrawn in a cabinet of the refrigerating-freezing device, and an inside thereof is defined with a ripening chamber 210 for accommodating a ripening object. A rear wall of the ripening drawer 200 is provided with a return air opening 220 and at least one air outlet opening 230. The circulating fan 300 is provided at a rear portion of the ripening drawer 200, and is configured to cause air to flow into the ripening chamber 210 through the at least one air outlet opening 230 and to be blown out from the return air opening 220 after the ripening drawer 200 is withdrawn into the cabinet. The at least one sealing ring 400 is provided between the circulating fan 300 and the ripening drawer 200, and is configured to seal the at least one air outlet opening 230 from the air flow outlet 310 of the circulating fan 300 when the ripening drawer 200 is withdrawn into the cabinet.

[0044] That is, the ripening drawer 200 and the circulating fan 300 according to the present application are provided to be separated from each other in the cabinet of the refrigerating-freezing device, and are configured to be withdrawn outwardly and to be withdrawn inwardly. When the ripening drawer 200 is withdrawn inwardly, the at least one air outlet opening 230 provided in the ripening drawer 200 is finally brought into contact with the sealing ring 400, and the air flow outlet 310 of the circulating fan 300 is sealed in a state of being in contact with the at least one air outlet opening 230, thereby completing the sealing of the circulating air passage in the ripening device 100. For example, the circulating fan 300 is fixedly installed at a rear portion of the cabinet, and the ripening drawer 200 is provided to be pullably withdrawn in the cabinet. When the ripening drawer 200 is withdrawn, the circulating fan 300 is separated from the ripening drawer 200, and the circulating air passage in the ripening chamber 210 is disconnected. When the ripening drawer 200 is withdrawn, the at least one air outlet opening 230 is brought into contact with the air flow outlet 310 of the circulating fan 300, and the sealing ring 400 is pressed to be in contact with the at least one air outlet opening 230 and the air flow outlet 310, thereby sealing the circulating air passage in the ripening chamber 210. Thus, the air flow blown from the circulating fan 300 can be entirely introduced into the ripening chamber 210 through the at least one air outlet opening 230, thereby preventing the ripening efficiency from being lowered due to the low air circulation efficiency in the ripening chamber 210, and preventing the ripening from being failed.

[0045] Specifically, as shown in Figure 1As shown, the middle portion of the rear wall of the ripening drawer 200 has a recessed cavity 240 recessed into the ripening chamber 210. A return air baffle 241 is located at the front end of the cavity 240, with a return air port 220 defined on the return air baffle 241. Two extension surfaces 242 extend obliquely from either side of the return air baffle 241 toward the rear wall, sloping outward from front to back. Each of the extension surfaces 242 defines an air outlet 230. In some embodiments, the horizontal cross-section of the cavity 240 is a trapezoidal shape, narrower at the front and wider at the rear. The two extension surfaces 242 each form an oblique angle with the direction of advancement of the ripening drawer 200. Furthermore, a circulation fan 300 is located behind the cavity 240 and defines an air outlet 310 and an air inlet 320. The air inlet 320 is positioned opposite the return air port 220, and the air outlet 310 corresponds to the air outlet 230. When the ripening drawer 200 is pushed in, the air outlet 310 of the circulation fan 300 faces the air outlet 230, so as to promote the air flow to enter the ripening chamber 210 through the air outlet 230 on the two extension surfaces 242, flow through the entire ripening chamber 210, and then return to the circulation fan 300 from the return air port 220 through the facing air inlet 320.

[0046] That is to say, the middle part of the rear wall of the ripening drawer 200 of the present invention has a concave cavity 240 formed inwardly into the space, which serves as a storage space for the circulating fan 300, making the ripening device 100 more compact and smaller in size, thereby avoiding occupying too much space in the refrigeration and freezing device. More importantly, on the one hand, two air outlets 230 are provided on the rear wall of the maturation drawer 200, which are located on both sides of the return air outlet 220 and form an inclined angle with the pulling direction of the maturation drawer 200. When the maturation drawer 200 is pushed into the box, the circulation fan 300 causes the air flow to enter the maturation chamber 210 from the two lateral sides through the two air outlets 230, flow through the entire maturation chamber 210, and then return to the circulation fan 300 from the return air outlet 220, thereby improving the air outlet uniformity and air outlet efficiency. On the other hand, the contact surface between the maturation drawer 200 and the sealing ring 400 forms an inclined angle with the pulling direction of the maturation drawer 200, so that the air outlet 230 of the maturation drawer 200 is conveniently and reliably sealed with the airflow outlet 310 of the circulation fan 300.

[0047] In some embodiments, the circulation fan 300 of the present invention is a centrifugal fan and includes a housing 330 and a centrifugal impeller (not shown) disposed within the housing 330. An airflow outlet 310 is defined on each lateral side of the housing 330, and each airflow outlet 310 is positioned to face an air outlet 230 when the ripening drawer 200 is inserted into the cabinet. An airflow inlet 320 is defined in the center of the front side of the housing 330, and is positioned to face the return air inlet 220 when the ripening drawer 200 is inserted into the cabinet.

[0048] See also Figure 1 A sealing ring 400 is fixedly mounted on the edge of each air outlet 310 to seal the gap between the edge of the air outlet 310 and the edge of the corresponding air outlet 230 when the ripening drawer 200 is pushed into the cabinet. It should be noted that the shape of the air outlet 310 is substantially identical to that of the air outlet 230, and the area of ​​the air outlet 310 and the area of ​​the air outlet 230 are substantially the same. Furthermore, the inner edge of the sealing ring 400 is substantially identical to that of the air outlet 310, allowing the sealing ring 400 to fit over the edge of the air outlet 310. For example, if the air outlet 310 and the air outlet 230 are both rectangular openings with substantially identical shapes and areas, the inner edge of the sealing ring 400 is substantially rectangular with substantially identical shapes and areas. This ensures that the sealing ring 400 seals the air outlet 310 and the air outlet 230 together while preventing the sealing ring 400 from blocking the airflow from the circulation fan 300, thereby further ensuring air circulation efficiency.

[0049] In some optional embodiments, such as Figure 1 As shown, the edges of the airflow outlet 310 and the air outlet 230 are both flat. When the ripening drawer 200 is fully inserted into the cabinet, the airflow outlet 310 and the air outlet 230 are aligned. The planes on which the edges of the airflow outlet 310 and the edges of the air outlet 230 lie are aligned, i.e., the sealing surfaces between each pair of opposing airflow outlets 310 and air outlets 230 are flat. In this case, a butt seal can be achieved using the flexible sealing ring 400, whose sealing functional surfaces are all flat. Even if there is a slight left-right deviation when the ripening drawer 200 is fully inserted into the cabinet, the flexible sealing ring 400 can still achieve a butt seal by deforming slightly under pressure when the airflow outlet 310 and the air outlet 230 are nearly aligned.

[0050] Of course, in other optional embodiments, the sealing surface between each group of relative air flow outlets and air outlets can also be a curved surface or other irregular shape. The present invention does not limit the specific form of the sealing surface. As long as a flexible sealing ring 400 of a corresponding shape is used to achieve a docking seal between the air flow outlet and the air outlet, it should be within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0051] Figure 2 FIG is a schematic structural exploded view of a aging device 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 As shown, the aging device 100 of the present invention further includes at least one air duct plate 500 .

[0052] At least one air duct plate 500 is arranged inside the ripening drawer 200, and a ripening chamber 210 inside the air duct plate 500 and at least one air supply air duct 510 surrounding at least a part of the circumferential outside of the ripening chamber 210 are defined between the ripening drawer 200 and the at least one air duct plate 500. The ripening chamber 210 and the air supply air duct 510 are communicated through a plurality of air supply openings 520 arranged along the air flow direction in the air supply air duct 510 and opened on the air duct plate 500. The air supply air duct 510 and the circulating fan 300 are communicated through at least one air outlet 230. That is, the ripening device 100 of the present application has a two-layer structure of the ripening drawer 200 and the air duct plate 500, the inside of the air duct plate 500 defines the ripening chamber 210, and the air duct plate 500 and the ripening drawer 200 define the air supply air duct 510. When the ripening drawer 200 is pushed into the box body, under the driving of the circulating fan 300, the air blown by the circulating fan 300 enters the corresponding air duct plate 500 through the air outlet 230, and then flows through the air supply air duct 510 between the air duct plate 500 and the ripening drawer 200. The air flow in the air supply air duct 510 is sent to the ripening chamber 210 through the air supply opening 520 opened on the circumferential side wall of the air duct plate 500, thereby further improving the uniformity of the air outlet.

[0053] Specifically, the air supply openings 520 are arranged in a manner of more sparse at the upper part and more dense at the lower part on the circumferential side wall of the air duct plate 500, that is, the arrangement of the air supply openings 520 at the upper part is sparse, and the arrangement of the air supply openings 520 at the lower part is dense, so that more air flow in the air supply air duct 510 flows into the lower part of the ripening chamber 210 and blows to the bottom of the to-be-ripened object, thereby inhibiting the growth and reproduction of microorganisms, and avoiding the problem that the to-be-ripened object is easily spoiled and deteriorated due to the larger humidity at the bottom.

[0054] In some embodiments, the ripening device 100 of the present application includes two air duct plates 500, that is, the number of air duct plates 500 is two, and two air duct plates 500 define an air supply air duct 510 with the ripening drawer 200 respectively. And the two air duct plates 500 are symmetrically arranged on the transverse two sides inside the ripening drawer 200, so that the two air supply air ducts 510 formed surround the transverse two sides and the rear side of the ripening chamber 210.

[0055] Furthermore, there are two air outlets 230, which are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the return air outlet 220 and are respectively connected to the two air supply ducts 510. There are two airflow outlets 310, which are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the circulation fan 300, and the two air outlets 230 are respectively arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the two airflow outlets 310. There are two sealing rings 400, each of which is installed on the edge of an airflow outlet 310, and the two sealing rings 400 are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the circulation fan 300. When the aging drawer 200 is pushed into the box, the circulation fan 300 forces the airflow to enter the aging chamber 210 from both lateral sides through the two air outlets 230, flow through the entire aging chamber 210, and then return to the circulation fan 300 from the return air outlet 220, thereby improving the uniformity and efficiency of the air output.

[0056] Figure 3 FIG is a schematic structural diagram of the circulation fan 300 of the aging device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 As shown, the housing 330 includes a fan rear cover 331 and a fan front cover 332. When installing the aging device 100, the fan rear cover 331 and the fan front cover 332 are first installed using four screws. The two air outlets 310 are formed by splicing the openings on the opposite sides of the fan rear cover 331 and the fan front cover 332. Then, two sealing rings 400 are installed and fixed on the air outlets 310.

[0057] In some optional embodiments, after the front and rear covers of the fan are installed, the sealing ring 400 can be fixed to the housing 330 by gluing. Of course, in other optional embodiments of this embodiment, the fan rear cover 331 and the fan front cover 332 can also be fixed by other means, and / or the airflow outlet 310 can also be provided on only one of the fan rear cover 331 and the fan front cover 332, as long as the area of ​​the airflow outlet 310 is sufficiently large. The present invention is not limited to this.

[0058] In some embodiments, the housing 330 may also include a fan cover and a fan base (not shown), which are assembled to form the housing 330. The fan cover and the fan base each have openings on opposite sides. After the fan cover and the fan base are assembled, the openings are joined to form the airflow outlet 310. Alternatively, the airflow outlet 310 may be provided on only one of the fan rear cover 331 and the fan front cover 332, as long as the area of ​​the airflow outlet 310 is sufficiently large. This is not a limitation of the present invention. After the housing 330 is assembled, the sealing ring 400 is then fixed to the housing 330 by gluing. Of course, in other embodiments, the housing 330 may be assembled using other assembly methods, which is not a limitation of the present invention. It is sufficient that at least one airflow outlet 310 is provided on the housing 330, and a sealing ring 400 is fixedly attached to the edge of each airflow outlet 310.

[0059] In some embodiments, as Figure 3 As shown, the housing 330 has a stepped surface 340 protruding outward from the rear end of each airflow outlet 310. The stepped surface 340 is located behind the rear surface of the sealing ring 400. Furthermore, the housing 330 is provided with at least one claw structure 350 extending outward from the front end of each airflow outlet 310. Each claw structure 350 includes a supporting surface 351 located behind the rear surface of the front end of the sealing ring 400. It should be noted that the stepped surface 340 on one side of the housing 330 can be a continuous, integral whole or comprised of multiple, coplanar, but unconnected sub-step surfaces. This is not a limitation of the present invention, as long as it functions to support the rear end of the sealing ring 400. Furthermore, the number of claw structures 350 can be determined based on the shape and size of the sealing ring 400. For example, in some embodiments, three claw structures 350 are symmetrically disposed on either side of the housing 330, working together to effectively hold the front end of the sealing ring 400.

[0060] In this embodiment, the stepped surface 340 and the supporting surface 351 are configured to support the sealing ring 400 when the maturing drawer 200 is fully inserted into the housing. Specifically, after the sealing ring 400 is fixed to the housing 330 by adhesive bonding, the supporting surface 351 of the front claw structure 350 pulls the sealing ring 400, while the stepped surface 340 at the rear end supports the sealing ring 400. When the maturing drawer 200 is pushed inward and contacts the sealing ring 400, the supporting force provided by the supporting surface 351 of the claw structure 350 and the stepped surface 340 effectively supports the sealing ring 400, resisting the backward thrust of the maturing drawer 200. This prevents seal failure caused by the movement of the sealing ring 400 after repeated backward compression of the maturing drawer 200, further ensuring the sealing function of the sealing ring 400.

[0061] In some embodiments, as Figure 3 As shown, each claw structure 350 further includes a stopper 352 extending forwardly from the center of the supporting surface 351. The stopper 352 is inclined in a direction extending outward from the rear to the front. Multiple stoppers 352 are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the housing 330 to guide the ripening drawer 200 in its rearward movement, facing the circulation fan 300, when pushed into the cabinet. In other words, each claw structure 350 has a stopper 352 formed on the supporting surface 351. The stopper 352 is angled relative to the direction of the ripening drawer 200's rearward movement. If the ripening drawer 200 wobbles left or right when pushed inward, causing deviations in its movement direction, the stopper 352 acts as a guide, correcting the deviation and guiding the ripening drawer 200 in its rearward movement, facing the circulation fan 300. The ripening drawer 200 is then pushed into the cabinet facing the circulation fan 300, ultimately securing it against the sealing ring 400.

[0062] In some specific embodiments, Figure 1 As shown, ray ① indicates the direction of advancement of the aging drawer 200, and ray ② indicates the potential movement direction of the sealing ring 400 attached to the housing 330. This movement direction occurs because when the aging drawer 200 is pushed inward, it squeezes the sealing ring 400, causing it to move backward. This would cause the seal at this point to fail, thus affecting the normal operation of the entire aging system.

[0063] In this embodiment, the number of the claw structures 350 can be set as needed according to the shape and size of the sealing ring 400. Of course, the number of the claw structures 350 can be set according to the height of the concave cavity 240 on the rear wall of the ripening drawer 200 to ensure that the concave cavity 240 can be guided by the limiting portion 352 in both the upper and lower directions. That is, the number of the limiting portions 352 can be set as needed according to the height of the concave cavity 240. For example, in some specific embodiments, Figure 3 As shown, three claw structures 350 are symmetrically arranged on both lateral sides of the shell 330, and a limiting portion 352 is formed on the supporting surface 351 of each claw structure 350. The six limiting portions 352 symmetrically arranged on both lateral sides of the shell 330 correct the left and right deviations of the ripening drawer 200 when moving on the left and right sides, respectively, and guide the ripening drawer 200 to move backward in the direction facing the circulation fan 300 when moving inward, and finally make the ripening drawer 200 completely pushed in in the direction facing the circulation fan 300, so as to fit tightly with the sealing ring 400 to achieve sealing of the internal circulation air duct.

[0064] Furthermore, the sealing ring 400 is made of a flexible material and is configured to tightly fit against the airflow outlet 310 and the air outlet 230 when the ripening drawer 200 is fully inserted into the cabinet, achieving a sealed connection. In other words, the sealing ring 400 deforms when squeezed by the inward movement of the ripening drawer 200, sealingly connecting the opposing airflow outlet 310 and air outlet 230, further enhancing the sealing effect.

[0065] According to a second aspect of the present invention, the present invention further provides a refrigerator / freezer. Figure 4 FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a refrigeration and freezing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 As shown, the refrigeration and freezing device 600 of the present invention includes a box body 610 and the aging device 100 described in any of the above embodiments.

[0066] The housing 610 defines a storage compartment 611 for storing items. The aging device 100 is used to age the items to be aged and is located within the storage compartment 611. The refrigerator-freezer 600, with the integrated aging device 100, not only provides traditional low-temperature storage and preservation functions but also adds a aging function, enriching the functionality of the refrigerator-freezer 600.

[0067] In this embodiment, a plurality of storage compartments 611 may be formed inside the box body 610, which may include, for example, a refrigeration compartment, a freezing compartment, a quick cooling compartment, and a variable temperature compartment.

[0068] In some optional embodiments, the aging device 100 can be placed in a cold storage room with a storage temperature range of 0-8°C. This cold storage room is more suitable for the temperature requirements of the food being matured. Furthermore, the storage humidity within the cold storage room is typically higher than the ambient humidity, making it more suitable for the desired humidity. Even if the humidity within the aging device 100 is not suitable, it can be easily adjusted through the airflow within the cold storage room. Therefore, placing the aging device 100 in the cold storage room fully utilizes the cold storage room's own temperature and humidity conditions, minimizing costs.

[0069] In other optional embodiments, the aging device 100 can also be independently cooled by the refrigeration duct within the refrigerator / freezer 600. The refrigeration duct can deliver a cooling airflow at a specified temperature to adjust the temperature within the aging device 100, for example, to control the temperature within the aging device 100 between 0°C and 4°C. The present invention does not limit the cooling method of the aging device; as long as a aging environment that allows dry aging of food is established, it can be used to prepare dry-aged food at home.

[0070] Those skilled in the art should understand that the refrigeration and freezing device 600 of the present application can be a cross-opening door refrigerator, and the maturation device 100 is arranged in one of the refrigeration compartments in the upper portion.

[0071] In other embodiments, the refrigeration and freezing device 600 can also be not limited to Figure 4 the refrigerator structure shown, and can also be a double-opening door refrigerator, and the maturation device 100 is arranged in the refrigeration compartment in the upper portion.

[0072] In other embodiments, the refrigeration and freezing device 600 can also be not limited to Figure 4 the refrigerator structure shown, and can also be a three-door refrigerator, and the maturation device 100 is arranged in the refrigeration compartment in the upper portion.

[0073] In other embodiments, the refrigeration and freezing device 600 can also be not limited to Figure 4 the refrigerator structure shown, and can also be a cross-opening door refrigerator, and the maturation device 100 is arranged in the compartment with refrigeration storage environment.

[0074] In other embodiments, the refrigeration and freezing device 600 can also be not limited to Figure 4 the refrigerator structure shown, and can also be a refrigerator, a horizontal refrigerator, or other various special-shaped refrigeration and freezing devices 600, and the maturation device 100 is arranged in the space with refrigeration storage environment.

[0075] Those skilled in the art should also understand that the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "middle", "transverse", "front", "rear", and the like used in the embodiments of the present application to indicate the positional relationship are based on the actual use state of the maturation device 100, and these terms are only for the convenience of describing and understanding the technical solutions of the present application, and do not indicate or imply that the device must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation of the present application.

[0076] So far, those skilled in the art should realize that although the present application has been shown and described in detail in the above embodiments, many other variants or modifications in accordance with the principles of the present application can be directly determined or deduced based on the disclosure of the present application without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Therefore, the scope of the present application should be understood and recognized as covering all these other variants or modifications.

Claims

1. A ripening device for a refrigeration and freezing device, for ripening food to be ripened therein, wherein: The aging device comprises: A ripening drawer is pullable and arranged in the cabinet of the refrigerator-freezer, and defines a ripening chamber for accommodating the food to be ripened. The rear wall of the ripening drawer is provided with an air return port and at least one air outlet; a circulation fan, disposed at the rear of the aging drawer, and configured to force airflow into the aging chamber through the at least one air outlet and then out through the return air outlet after the aging drawer is pushed into the housing; and At least one sealing ring is provided between the circulation fan and the ripening drawer, and is used to seal the at least one air outlet with the air flow outlet of the circulation fan when the ripening drawer is pushed into the box; The circulating fan is provided with an air flow outlet and an air flow inlet, the air flow inlet and the return air outlet are arranged opposite to each other, and the air flow outlet and the air outlet are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence.

2. The aging device according to claim 1, wherein: The middle portion of the rear wall of the ripening drawer has a concave cavity formed inwardly of the ripening chamber, and the front end of the concave cavity has a return air baffle, and two extension surfaces are respectively extended obliquely from both sides of the return air baffle toward the rear wall, and the oblique direction is outwardly expanded from front to back, and the air outlet is respectively formed on the two extension surfaces; and The circulating fan is located at the rear of the concave cavity to promote air flow into the aging chamber through the air outlets on the two extension surfaces.

3. The aging device according to claim 2, wherein: The circulating fan is a centrifugal fan and includes a housing and a centrifugal impeller arranged in the housing; An air outlet is respectively provided on both lateral sides of the shell, and each air outlet is configured to be opposite to one of the air outlets when the ripening drawer is pushed into the box body; and A sealing ring is fixedly installed on the edge of each air outlet to seal the gap between the edge of the air outlet and the edge of the corresponding air outlet when the ripening drawer is pushed into the box body.

4. The aging device according to claim 3, wherein: The housing protrudes outward at the rear end of each of the air flow outlets to form a stepped surface, and the stepped surface is located on the rear side of the rear surface of the rear end of the sealing ring; and The housing is provided with at least one claw structure outwardly at the front end of each air flow outlet, and each claw structure includes a supporting surface located at the rear side of the rear surface of the front end of the sealing ring; wherein The step surface and the supporting surface are configured to support the sealing ring when the ripening drawer is fully pushed into the box.

5. The aging device according to claim 4, wherein: Each of the claw structures also includes a limiting portion extending forward from the middle of the supporting surface, the inclination direction of the limiting portion is outward from back to front, and multiple limiting portions are symmetrically distributed on both lateral sides of the shell to guide the ripening drawer to move backward in the direction facing the circulation fan when pushed into the box.

6. The aging device according to claim 3, wherein: The sealing ring is made of a flexible material and is configured to fit tightly with the air flow outlet and the air outlet respectively when the ripening drawer is fully pushed into the box body to achieve sealed docking.

7. The aging device according to claim 1, wherein: The aging device further comprises: At least one air duct plate is arranged inside the aging drawer, and the aging chamber located inside the air duct plate and at least one air supply duct arranged around at least part of the circumference of the aging chamber are defined between the aging drawer and the at least one air duct plate; The aging chamber is connected to the air supply duct via a plurality of air supply ports provided on the air duct plate and arranged along the air flow direction in the air supply duct; The air supply duct is connected to the circulation fan through the at least one air outlet.

8. The aging device according to claim 7, wherein: There are two air duct plates, and an air supply duct is defined between the two air duct plates and the ripening drawer respectively; and The two air duct plates are symmetrically arranged on both lateral sides of the ripening drawer, so that the two air supply ducts formed are arranged around the lateral sides and rear side of the ripening chamber.

9. The aging device according to claim 8, wherein: There are two air outlets, which are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the return air outlet and are respectively connected to the two air supply ducts; There are two air flow outlets, and the two air flow outlets are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the circulation fan; There are two sealing rings, each of which is installed on an edge of the air flow outlet, and the two sealing rings are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the circulation fan.

10. A refrigeration and freezing device, wherein: include: a box body defining a storage compartment for storing items; as well as The ripening device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 is used for ripening the food to be ripened therein, and the ripening device is arranged in the storage compartment.

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