Refrigerator

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of food unfreezing, and discloses a refrigerator which comprises a refrigeration chamber, a first draught fan, a second draught fan, a refrigerator door and a refrigerator door, the refrigeration chamber is internally provided with a refrigeration area and a functional area, and the functional area is internally provided with a first draught fan; an evaporator is installed in the refrigeration air duct, the refrigeration air duct is provided with an air supply path arranged on one side of the evaporator and an air return opening formed in the other side of the evaporator, the refrigeration area and the functional area both communicate with the air return opening, and a second fan is further arranged in the refrigeration air duct and located on the side, away from the air return opening, of the evaporator; the air supply air path comprises a first air path and a second air path, the first air path communicates with the refrigeration area, and the second air path communicates with the functional area. The first fan is used for forming high-speed air flow, so that the unfreezing time is shortened, the unfreezing efficiency is improved, uniform unfreezing is ensured, local curing is avoided, meanwhile, the evaporator is used for unfreezing by increasing humidity for the functional area, the juice of food is preserved to the maximum extent, and the quality and taste of the unfrozen food are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of food thawing, and in particular to a refrigerator. Background Art

[0002] At present, the thawing method of food is usually natural thawing, which means placing the frozen food in a room temperature environment and relying on the ambient temperature to thaw. However, this thawing method has the problems of slow thawing speed and incomplete thawing. Since the food is exposed to the air, it is easy to be contaminated by bacteria and rot.

[0003] In order to improve the thawing speed and thawing quality, many thawing methods have emerged in the prior art, such as electric heating thawing, hot water thawing, running water thawing, air thawing, and refrigerated thawing. However, the above thawing methods all have certain disadvantages and thus produce certain adverse consequences. For example, uneven heating leads to a decrease in the taste of local ripening, juice loss and microbial contamination due to water immersion, and poor user experience due to long thawing time. Summary of the invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator to solve the problems of partial ripening of thawing and long thawing time in the prior art.

[0005] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention provides a refrigerator comprising: a refrigerating compartment, wherein a refrigerating area and a functional area are arranged in the refrigerating compartment, and a first fan is arranged in the functional area; a refrigerating air duct, wherein an evaporator is installed in the refrigerating air duct, and the refrigerating air duct has an air supply path arranged on one side of the evaporator and an air return port arranged on the other side of the evaporator, the refrigerating area and the functional area are both connected to the return air port, and the refrigerating air duct also has a second fan, and the second fan is located on the side of the evaporator away from the return air port, the air supply path includes a first air path and a second air path, the first air path is connected to the refrigerating area, and the second air path is connected to the functional area.

[0006] The advantages of this refrigerator compared with the prior art are as follows: Since the first blower continuously blows air on the food to be thawed, a large amount of moisture will be carried away during this process, resulting in moisture loss of the food and affecting the taste. Traditional refrigerators will be equipped with a humidifying device to moisturize the food to be thawed. However, the refrigerator of the present invention does not additionally provide a humidifying component, but relies on the operation of the evaporator itself to humidify the food to be thawed. Specifically, when the functional area of the refrigerator is in the soft-freezing working condition, the evaporator is in the normal working state and continuously refrigerates. During this process, its surface temperature is lower than the dew point temperature of the air, causing the water vapor in the flowing air to condense into liquid water and quickly freeze into frost below 0°C. The frost layer gradually thickens and accumulates on the surface of the evaporator. When the functional area of the refrigerator is in the thawing working condition, after starting to thaw, first control the evaporator to stop refrigerating, for example, stop the evaporation of the refrigerant in the evaporator by means of a solenoid valve, etc., and then cooperate with the high-speed rotation of the second blower to bring the high-temperature air in the refrigerating compartment to the evaporator. At this time, the frost on the surface of the evaporator begins to melt, and the air humidity rapidly increases. The second blower plays a humidifying role at this time, sending the wet air in the evaporator into the refrigerating compartment by means of air flow to humidify the food to be thawed. When the surface temperature of the evaporator reaches between 0 and 8°C, the relative humidity in the refrigerating compartment can be increased to more than 90%.

[0007] For the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, the functional area includes a first functional area and a second functional area, and the second air duct, the first functional area and the second functional area are connected in sequence.

[0008] For the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, the first functional area has a first wall surface, and through holes are provided on the first wall surface, and the second functional area is connected to the first functional area through the through holes.

[0009] For the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, the first functional area and the second functional area are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction. The first functional area has a side wall and a bottom wall, and the first wall surface is the side wall of the first functional area.

[0010] For the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, the functional area is separated from the refrigerating compartment by a sealing partition, and at least part of the sealing partition has a sandwich layer, and the sandwich layer is filled with a heat-insulating material.

[0011] For the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, it further includes an air duct assembly. The first air duct and the second air duct are formed in the air duct assembly. The refrigerating compartment and the evaporator are arranged at intervals in the horizontal direction, and the air duct assembly is located between the evaporator and the refrigerating compartment.

[0012] For the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, the air duct assembly further includes a first air damper and a second air damper. The first air damper is installed in the first air duct, and the second air damper is installed in the second air duct.

[0013] For a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, the functional area has a communication hole communicating with the refrigerating area, the air inlet side of the first blower is communicated with the communication hole, and the air outlet side of the first blower faces the functional area.

[0014] For a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, the first blower is rotatably installed in the functional area.

[0015] For a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, the functional area has an upper wall surface, the communication hole is arranged on the upper wall surface, and the first functional area and the second functional area are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction.

[0016] For a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, it further includes a door body for closing the refrigerating compartment. The functional area includes a front side wall close to the door body and a rear side wall close to the air duct assembly. The air outlet of the second air path penetrates through the rear side wall and communicates with the functional area; the first blower is arranged on one side of the top wall of the functional area close to the rear side wall, and the blowing direction of the first blower forms an acute angle with the horizontal direction. Description of the Drawings

[0017] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and be readily understood from the following description of the embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of the refrigerating compartment of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is an air path circulation diagram of the refrigerating compartment according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is an air path circulation diagram of the refrigerating compartment according to another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 is an air path circulation diagram of the refrigerating compartment according to still another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a damper according to another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a partition plate according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a partition plate according to another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a partition plate according to still another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10 is a front view of a drawer structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 11 is a side view of a drawer structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 12 is a thawing control flowchart according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Reference numerals 1. Refrigerated compartment 11. Refrigerated area; 12. Functional area; 120. Double-layer drawer; 121. First functional area; 1211. First wall surface; 1212. Second wall surface; 122. Second functional area; 123. Exhaust air outlet of functional area; 13. Evaporator; 131. First air duct; 1311. First branch; 1312. Second branch; 132. Second air duct; 133. First air damper; 134. Second air damper; 135. Air supply outlet of refrigerated area; 136. Air supply outlet of functional area; 14. Fan; 141. First fan; 142. Second fan; 15. Temperature sensor of refrigerated area; 16. Temperature sensor of functional area; 17. Temperature sensor of evaporator; 18. Return air inlet; 19. Partition board; 20. Separator; 21. First drawer; 211. First track; 212. First sliding part; 22. Second drawer; 221. Second track; 2211. Groove; 222. Second sliding part; 23. Drawer face mask 2. Frozen compartment 3. Food ingredients 4. Door body Detailed implementation manners

[0019] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below. Examples of the embodiments are shown in the drawings, where the same or similar reference numerals indicate the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention and should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention.

[0020] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "transverse", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc. indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention. In addition, features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of such features. In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise specified, the meaning of "a plurality" is two or more.

[0021] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that unless otherwise clearly specified and defined, the terms "installation", "connection", and "linkage" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, and it can be the communication inside two components. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0022] To solve the problems in the prior art, such as the decline in the quality and taste of local ripening caused by uneven heating, the loss of juice and microbial contamination caused by water immersion, and the poor user experience caused by long thawing time, the present invention provides a refrigerator, which includes a freezing compartment 2 and a refrigerating compartment 1.

[0023] Please refer to Figure 1 , this refrigerator includes a freezing compartment 2, a refrigerating compartment 1 and an air duct, and an evaporator 13 is arranged in the air duct. The refrigerating compartment 1 is divided into a refrigerating area 11 and a functional area 12. The refrigerating area 11 is used for refrigerating items, such as food and beverages, etc. The functional area 12 at least includes a thawing function and a partial freezing function. The food in the functional area 12 can be normally stored in partial freezing or thawed. The partial freezing function precisely controls the temperature (about -3°C to 0°C), so that the surface of ingredients 3 such as meat and fish is slightly frozen, and the inside remains soft. For short-term storage (about 1 week), no thawing is required, and the fresh and tender taste is retained. Compared with freezing (-18°C), cell damage is reduced; compared with refrigeration, the preservation time is extended. It is suitable for ingredients 3 that are frequently taken, and belongs to a compromise solution between preservation and freezing. The evaporator 13 is respectively communicated with the refrigerating area 11 and the functional area 12 through the air duct to provide cooling capacity for the refrigerating area 11 and the functional area 12.

[0024] Specifically, a blower 14 is arranged in the functional area 12, including a first blower 141. The first blower 141 is used for thawing, and its main function is to blow air directly at the frozen food placed in the functional area 12 to accelerate the flow rate of the frozen air in the functional area 12, and thaw the frozen food through high-speed air pressure. The high-speed air flow can quickly transfer the heat in the refrigerator to the surface of the food and take away the cold air on the surface of the food, significantly shortening the thawing time. The blower circulating air flow can reduce the thawing dead angle and avoid local overheating or unfrozen areas, especially suitable for large pieces of ingredients 3, such as whole pieces of meat, etc. It is more uniform than microwave thawing and avoids the problem of edge ripening.

[0025] Please refer to Figures 2 - 5The refrigerator further comprises a refrigeration air duct, in which an evaporator 13 is installed. The evaporator 13 is spaced apart from the refrigeration zone 11, and a gap is formed between the evaporator 13 and the refrigeration compartment 1. The evaporator 13 is at least partially arranged in the gap. When the evaporator 13 is working, it refrigerates and forms cold air in the gap. A second fan 142 is arranged in the gap. The second fan 142 is used for refrigeration. The second fan 142 blows out wind to form a wind flow, and brings the cold air in the gap into the refrigeration compartment 1 to refrigerate the refrigeration compartment 1. The two ends of the gap are connected to the refrigeration zone 11 and the functional zone 12 respectively. One side of the evaporator 13 is an air supply path. The second fan 142 sends the cold air in the gap into the refrigeration compartment 1 through the air supply path; the other side of the evaporator 13 is a return air port 18, and the return air port 18 is connected to both the refrigeration zone 11 and the functional zone 12.

[0026] The second fan 142 is arranged on the side of the evaporator 13 away from the return air port 18, and the air supply path includes a first air path 131 and a second air path 132. The first air path 131 is connected to the refrigerated area 11, and the second air path 132 is connected to the functional area 12. A part of the cold air blown out of the gap enters the refrigerated area 11 to refrigerate the refrigerator and provide a low-temperature environment for the frozen food normally stored in the refrigerator. The first air path 131 is formed in the refrigerated area 11, and the circulating air in the refrigerated area 11 returns to the evaporator 13 from the return air port 18, and repeats the heat exchange, and the cycle continues to provide a low-temperature environment for the refrigerated area 11; another part of the cold air blown out of the gap enters the functional area 12, and the second air path 132 is formed in the functional area 12, and the air is discharged after heat exchange with the food to be thawed in the functional area 12. The air discharged from the functional area 12 returns to the evaporator 13 through the return air port 18, and heat is exchanged with the evaporator 13 again, and the cycle continues.

[0027] The advantages of this refrigerator over the prior art are as follows: Since the first blower 141 continuously blows air on the food to be thawed, a large amount of moisture will be carried away during this process, resulting in moisture loss of the food and affecting the taste. To solve this problem, the refrigerator of the present invention relies on the operation of the evaporator 13 itself to humidify the food to be thawed, humidify the surface of the food while thawing, provide moisture, and avoid moisture loss of the food. Moreover, the structure of this refrigerator is simple, and the moisturizing function of the food can be realized without adding additional devices. Specifically, when the refrigerator function area 12 is in the semi-freezing working condition, the evaporator 13 is in the normal working state and continuously refrigerates. During this process, its surface temperature is lower than the air dew point temperature, causing the water vapor in the flowing air to condense into liquid water and quickly freeze into frost below 0°C. The frost layer gradually thickens and accumulates on the surface of the evaporator 13. When the refrigerator function area 12 is in the thawing working condition, after starting to thaw, first control the evaporator 13 to stop working. For example, the evaporation of the refrigerant in the evaporator 13 can be stopped by means of regulating the solenoid valve, etc. Then, in cooperation with the operation of the second blower 142, the high-temperature air in the refrigerating compartment 1 is brought to the evaporator 13. At this time, the frost on the surface of the evaporator 13 begins to melt, and the air humidity rapidly increases. The second blower 142 plays a humidifying role at this time, sending the wet air in the evaporator 13 into the refrigerating compartment 1 by means of the air flow to humidify the food to be thawed. Thus, the humidity inside the refrigerating compartment 1 can be increased, and the moisture loss of the food can be avoided.

[0028] In one embodiment, when the surface temperature of the evaporator 13 reaches between 0 and 8°C, the relative humidity in the refrigerating compartment 1 can be increased to more than 90%.

[0029] Thus, only relying on the relevant components such as the evaporator 13 of the refrigerator itself, the humidity in the thawing area can be stabilized, so that the food to be thawed can continuously maintain humidity during the thawing process, avoiding moisture loss and affecting the taste.

[0030] Please refer to Figures 7 - 9 , in some embodiments, the refrigerator further includes a partition 20, and the partition 20 is arranged in the refrigerating compartment 1 to construct a separated refrigerating area 11 and function area 12 in the refrigerating compartment 1.

[0031] In one embodiment, a plurality of partitions 20 can be provided, and the plurality of partitions 20 jointly enclose the function area 12 in the refrigerating compartment 1, and the remaining area in the refrigerating compartment 1 is the refrigerating area 11. Among them, the function area 12 can be used to thaw and / or store the foodstuff 3, and the refrigerating area 11 can refrigerate and store the foodstuff 3.

[0032] In one embodiment, the partition 20 has an interlayer filled with heat-insulating material. Since the partition 20 has an interlayer filled with heat-insulating material, the internal environment of the functional area 12 enclosed by the partition 20 is not easily thermally exchanged with the external environment of the functional area 12. Thus, when the functional area 12 thaws the food ingredients 3 placed therein, it will not affect the environment outside the functional area 12. For example, it will not affect the refrigeration and preservation effect of the food ingredients 3 in the refrigerating area 11.

[0033] Please refer to Figures 7 - 9 , in some embodiments, the refrigerator further includes a partition plate 19 which is detachably installed in the functional area 12 to selectively divide the functional area 12 into multiple sub-functional areas.

[0034] In one embodiment, the partition plate 19 can be single. The single partition plate 19 is arranged in the functional area 12 to divide the functional area 12 into two sub-functional areas. The first blower 141 is installed in one of the two sub-functional areas. This functional area 12 can be used to thaw the food ingredients 3. The other of the two sub-functional areas is not installed with the first blower 141 and can be used to slightly freeze the food ingredients 3 without thawing them.

[0035] It can be understood that by dividing the functional area 12 with a larger space into two sub-functional areas with smaller spaces and placing the first blower 141 in one of the sub-functional areas, the food ingredients 3 placed in this sub-functional area can be closer to the first blower 141, improving the thawing effect. Thus, by dividing the functional area 12 into multiple sub-functional areas through the partition plate 19, the internal space of the functional area 12 can be fully utilized, and while the functional area 12 has different functions, the thawing effect can be improved.

[0036] In one embodiment, when the partition plate 19 is single, the single partition plate 19 can be horizontally arranged in the functional area 12 to divide the functional area 12 into upper and lower two sub-functional areas; In one embodiment, when the partition plate 19 is single, the single partition plate 19 can be vertically arranged in the functional area 12 to divide the functional area 12 into left and right two sub-functional areas.

[0037] In some embodiments, the functional area 12 includes a first functional area 121 and a second functional area 122. The second air duct 132, the first functional area 121 and the second functional area 122 are connected in sequence. The second air duct 132 is connected to the first functional area 121, the first functional area 121 is connected to the second functional area 122. The air blown out by the second air duct 132 enters the first functional area 121, and after heat exchange, it enters the second functional area 122 from the first functional area 121.

[0038] Specifically, the first functional area 121 is a thawing functional area, and the second functional area 122 is a semi-freezing functional area. The thawing functional area is used to thaw the food to be thawed, and the semi-freezing functional area is used to keep the frozen food in a semi-frozen state. The semi-freezing function (also known as "semi-freezing preservation" or "soft freezing") is a preservation technology between refrigeration (0~4°C) and freezing (below -18°C). Its core principle is to form an extremely thin ice crystal layer on the surface of the food through precise temperature control, while the interior remains in a semi-frozen state to avoid complete freezing. The semi-freezing function is better than the traditional refrigeration function in inhibiting bacterial reproduction. At the same time, compared with the traditional freezing function, it can reduce cell rupture and retain the taste and nutrition of the food material 3. In terms of thawing, the semi-freezing function can avoid the hardening of the food material 3 caused by traditional freezing and can be taken and used at any time. In terms of energy saving, compared with deep freezing, the energy consumption for maintaining -3°C to -7°C is lower.

[0039] Designed in this way, on the one hand, there is no need to additionally set a humidifying device, which can solve the problem of how to maintain the humidity of the food during thawing and simplifies the structure of the refrigerator; on the other hand, it is also beneficial to the defrosting of the evaporator 13, killing two birds with one stone.

[0040] In one embodiment, the first functional area 121 has a first wall surface 1211, and through holes are provided on the first wall surface 1211. The second functional area 122 is communicated with the first functional area 121 through the through holes. Thus, the air flow in the first functional area 121 can enter the second functional area 122 through the through holes, realizing the air circulation between the two areas.

[0041] Specifically, the first fan 141 blows air to thaw the food in the functional area 12, mainly for thawing the food in the first functional area 121. During thawing, the first functional area 121 is in the thawing working condition, and the second functional area 122 is in the semi-freezing working condition. During this process, a high-speed air flow will be formed in the first functional area 121. The high-speed air flow continuously takes away the cold air on the surface of the food. The cold air flows out of the first functional area 121 and enters the second functional area 122 through the through holes, which is used to keep the food that does not need to be thawed placed in the second functional area 122 in a semi-frozen state. The high-speed air flow first exchanges heat with the food to be thawed in the first functional area 121, then passes through the through holes and enters the second functional area 122, exchanges heat with the semi-frozen food in the second functional area 122, and then discharges from the functional area 12 and returns to the air return port 18.

[0042] In one embodiment, the second functional area 122 has a lower wall surface, and a functional area air discharge port 123 is opened on the lower wall surface. The air flow in the functional area 12 is discharged from the functional area 12 through the functional area air discharge port 123 and enters the air return port 18 for air return.

[0043] In one embodiment, the air outlet 123 of the functional area is provided on the side of the lower wall surface away from the through hole. The advantage of this setting is that when the air flow in the first functional area 121 enters the second functional area 122 from the through hole, it will flow through the food from the through hole and then be discharged from the air outlet 123 of the functional area. Since the air blown into the second functional area 122 through the through hole cannot be fully heat-exchanged in the first functional area 121 and still has cold energy, setting the through hole and the air outlet 123 of the functional area on both sides respectively can make the air flow blow over the food surface as much as possible, increase the contact area with the food, maintain the low-temperature environment in the second functional area 122, and improve the cooling efficiency.

[0044] In one embodiment, the first functional area 121 and the second functional area 122 are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction. The first functional area 121 has a side wall and a bottom wall, and the first wall surface 1211 is the side wall of the first functional area 121. Thus, the air flow in the first functional area 121 can be more easily discharged from the through hole to the second functional area 122.

[0045] In one embodiment, the first functional area 121 has a second wall surface 1212. Specifically, the second wall surface 1212 is the side wall on the side of the first functional area 121 away from the through hole. The second wall surface 1212 can be configured as an inclined surface, and the angle between the second wall surface 1212 and the bottom wall of the first functional area 121 is an acute angle. The first fan 141 can be arranged above the side close to the second wall surface 1212. Thus, the air blown by the first fan 141 forms an air flow. When passing through the second wall surface 1212, the second wall surface 1212 can play a role in guiding the air flow, facilitating the air flow to flow through the food to be thawed. Moreover, the inclined second wall surface 1212 forms an acute angle with the bottom wall of the first functional area 121. When the air flow passes through the second wall surface 1212 and flows to the bottom wall, the return air flow generated relative to a right angle is smaller, which is convenient for increasing the air flow velocity, that is, improving the thawing efficiency.

[0046] In one embodiment, the bottom wall of the first functional area 121 is used to place the food to be thawed. The bottom wall can be provided with grooves 2211, and the grooves 2211 extend along the direction of the air flow, for example Figure 11 extending in the front-back direction, and a plurality of grooves 2211 are arranged at intervals along the direction perpendicular to the air flow. That is to say, the grooves 2211 are located below the food to be thawed, forming multiple channels below the food to be thawed, so that the food to be thawed is partially hollowed out. Thus, when the air flow passes through the food to be thawed, part of the air flow can flow through the bottom of the food to be thawed, thaw the bottom of the food to be thawed, prevent uneven thawing, and avoid local thawing.

[0047] In one embodiment, the sidewall of the first functional area 121, i.e., the thawing functional area, is made of plastic, and the bottom wall is made of metal. The advantage of using plastic for the sidewall is that plastic has a low thermal conductivity, which reduces the heat exchange between the sidewall and the outside, avoids the formation of frost on the inner wall of the first functional area 121, and reduces the overall weight, making the pushing and pulling smoother. The advantage of using metal for the bottom wall is that metal has strong supporting force, can carry heavier food ingredients 3 (such as frozen meat chunks), avoids the long-term compression deformation of plastic, and moreover, the metal (such as aluminum alloy) bottom wall can accelerate the transfer of cold energy, ensure the uniform thawing of the food ingredients 3 at the bottom, and also facilitate the transfer of the cold energy of the first functional area 121 to the second functional area 122.

[0048] In some embodiments, the refrigerator further includes a first drawer 21 and a second drawer 22 that are open at the top. The first drawer 21 and the second drawer 22 are slidably mounted on the functional area 12, and the first drawer 21 and the second drawer 22 are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction. The refrigerator further includes a drawer face mask 23. The drawer face mask 23 is provided at one end of the second drawer 22 in the front-rear direction, and the projected area of the drawer face mask 23 in the front-rear direction is greater than the sum of the projected areas of the first drawer 21 and the second drawer 22 in the front-rear direction.

[0049] It can be understood that the first drawer 21 and the second drawer 22 can be used to carry the food ingredients 3. The first drawer 21 and the second drawer 22 are slidably mounted on the functional area 12. The user can push and pull the drawer face mask 23 to drive the sliding of the first drawer 21 and the second drawer 22 to realize the taking and placing of the food ingredients 3. By providing the drawer structure, it is convenient for the user to operate the taking and placing of the food ingredients 3. And since the first drawer 21 and the second drawer 22 are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction, in this way, the first drawer 21 and the second drawer 22 form two independent storage spaces. Therefore, different food ingredients 3 can be stored separately in the first drawer 21 and the second drawer 22 respectively, which is convenient for the isolated storage of the food ingredients 3.

[0050] The drawer face mask 23 is provided at one end of the second drawer 22 in the front-rear direction, and the projected area of the drawer face mask 23 in the front-rear direction is greater than the sum of the projected areas of the first drawer 21 and the second drawer 22 in the front-rear direction. This not only plays a certain role in shielding the food ingredients 3 inside the drawer and improves the overall aesthetics of the refrigerator, but also facilitates the user to operate the drawer.

[0051] In some embodiments, the functional area 12 may also be provided with a sealing strip (not shown in the figure). The sealing strip is installed at the edge position of the functional area 12 and is distributed in a surrounding shape. When the first drawer 21 and the second drawer 22 are completely accommodated in the functional area 12, the side of the drawer face mask 23 close to the functional area 12 will tightly abut against the sealing strip, so as to improve the sealing effect of the functional area 12 and avoid the influence of the external environmental temperature on the freshness preservation effect of the food ingredients 3 in the functional area 12. The sealing strip is generally made of a rubber material with good elasticity and low-temperature resistance, and can still remain soft and elastic in a low-temperature environment to ensure the sealing performance of the functional area 12. Thus, a stable low-temperature environment in the functional area 12 is maintained.

[0052] In one embodiment, the sealing structure of the refrigerator includes a fully sealed structure and a semi-sealed structure. The fully sealed structure is to set a sealing strip. When the drawer is closed, the side of the drawer face mask 23 close to the functional area 12 will tightly abut against the sealing strip, strictly isolating the functional area 12 from other compartments of the refrigerator. The advantage is that it is conducive to precise temperature control, isolates external heat and cold interference, and maintains a stable thawing temperature (such as 0~4°C), which is suitable for food ingredients 3 that are sensitive to temperature. The semi-sealed structure is partially closed (such as no sealing strip design). When the drawer is closed, only rely on the sealing ability of the drawer face mask 23. At this time, there is a limited air exchange between the drawer and other areas of the refrigerator. The advantage is that the structure is simple, the push-pull is smooth, there is no need to close it tightly deliberately, it is commonly used in popular refrigerators, and the sealing performance is less affected by frequent opening and closing.

[0053] In some of these embodiments, please refer to Figures 10 - 11 , the side wall of the functional area 12 is provided with a first track 211 extending in the horizontal direction, the upper edge of the second drawer 22 is provided with a second track 221 extending in the horizontal direction, and the first drawer 21 has a first sliding part 212 cooperating with the first track 211 and a second sliding part 222 cooperating with the second track 221. As shown in this application Figure 10 and Figure 11 shown, the side wall of the functional area 12 is provided with a first track 211 extending in the horizontal direction (such as the front-back direction shown in Figure 11 ), and the first track 211 protrudes from the side wall of the functional area 12 in the width direction (such as the left-right direction shown in Figure 10 ).

[0054] In one embodiment, as shown in this application Figure 10 shown, there are two first tracks 211, which are respectively located on both sides of the first drawer 21 in the left-right direction. The first track 211 can be installed on the side wall of the functional area 12 or integrally formed with the side wall of the functional area 12. As Figure 11As shown, the upper edge of the second drawer 22 is provided with second tracks 221 extending in the horizontal direction. There are two second tracks 221, which are respectively arranged on the two side edges of the second drawer 22 in the left-right direction. The second tracks 221 can be integrally formed with the second drawer 22 or installed on the second drawer 22 through fasteners.

[0055] One of the embodiments, such as in this application Figure 10 and Figure 11 As shown, at both ends of the first drawer 21 in the front-rear direction, a first sliding part 212 and a second sliding part 222 are respectively provided. The first sliding part 212 and the second sliding part 222 are spaced apart in the height direction (such as the up-down direction shown in Figure 11 ). There are two first sliding parts 212, which are respectively arranged on both sides of the first drawer 21 in the width direction. There are two second sliding parts 222, which are respectively arranged on both sides of the first drawer 21 in the width direction. The two first sliding parts 212 are respectively matched with the two first tracks 211, and the two second sliding parts 222 are respectively matched with the two second tracks 221.

[0056] It can be understood that since the first tracks 211 protrude from the side wall of the functional area 12 in the width direction (such as the left-right direction shown in Figure 10 ), the first drawer 21 can be lapped on the first tracks 211 through the first sliding parts 212, which is convenient for the installation and disassembly of the first drawer 21 and subsequent maintenance. For example, when a relatively large food ingredient 3 needs to be placed in the functional area 12, the first drawer 21 can be disassembled. At this time, the second drawer 22 forms a larger space, and the overall height in the space increases to accommodate the large food ingredient 3. When the large food ingredient 3 needs to be thawed, since the large food ingredient 3 can be close to the output end of the thawing device, a better thawing effect can be achieved. When a small food ingredient 3 needs to be thawed, the small food ingredient 3 can be directly placed in the drawer close to the thawing device, so that the small food ingredient 3 can receive the heat, air flow, etc. transmitted by the thawing device at a closer distance, and the thawing can be achieved better and faster.

[0057] In one of the embodiments, the first sliding part 212 can be in sliding fit or rolling fit with the first track 211, and the second sliding part 222 and the second track 221 can be in sliding fit or rolling fit.

[0058] In one of the embodiments, the first sliding part 212 is in sliding fit with the first track 211 and the second sliding part 222 is in sliding fit with the second track 221. At this time, the first sliding part 212 and the second sliding part 222 can be integrally formed with the first drawer 21, so that the device structure can be reduced, the production process can be simplified, and the installation and maintenance are facilitated.

[0059] In one embodiment, the first sliding part 212 is in rolling fit with the first track 211, and the second sliding part 222 is in rolling fit with the second track 221. Since the rolling friction of the rolling fit is less than the sliding friction of the sliding fit, the smoothness of the first drawer 21 during pushing and pulling can be improved, facilitating user operation.

[0060] In one embodiment, the first sliding part 212 is in sliding fit with the first track 211, and the second sliding part 222 is in rolling fit with the second track 221, or the first sliding part 212 is in rolling fit with the first track 211, and the second sliding part 222 is in sliding fit with the second track 221.

[0061] In one embodiment, the bottom wall of the functional area 12 may be provided with a third track (not shown in the figure), and the bottom wall of the second drawer 22 may also be provided with a third sliding part (not shown in the figure) that cooperates with the third track.

[0062] In one embodiment, referring to the present application Figure 11 As shown, the second track 221 is provided with two downwardly recessed grooves 2211 at intervals in the front-rear direction, and the grooves 2211 are adapted to the shape of the second sliding part 222.

[0063] It can be understood that when the second sliding part 222 falls into the groove 2211, due to the increase in sliding resistance, the relative sliding between the second sliding part 222 and the second track 221 can be restricted. For example, when the second sliding part 222 falls into the groove 2211, when the drawer face mask 23 is pushed and pulled to drive the second drawer 22 to slide, since the second sliding part 222 of the first drawer 21 falls into the groove 2211 of the second track 221 on the second drawer 22, the displacement of the first drawer 21 relative to the second drawer 22 can be restricted. In this way, the synchronous pushing and pulling of the first drawer 21 and the second drawer 22 can be achieved.

[0064] In one embodiment, the functional area 12 includes a double-layer drawer 120 or the functional area 12 has a double-layer drawer 120 structure. The first functional area 121 drawer is the upper drawer for thawing the food to be thawed, and the second functional area 122 drawer is the lower drawer for storing slightly frozen food that does not need to be thawed. The upper drawer is detachably installed on the lower drawer. When the upper drawer is not disassembled, the upper layer is the thawing area and the lower layer is the slightly frozen area, with clear division of labor, enabling the refrigerator to perform thawing and slightly freezing functions simultaneously; when the upper drawer is disassembled, the lower drawer as a whole forms the thawing area, which is suitable for thawing larger foods.

[0065] In some embodiments, the refrigerator further includes an air duct assembly. The first air duct 131 and the second air duct 132 are formed in the air duct assembly. The refrigerating compartment 1 and the evaporator 13 are arranged at intervals in the horizontal direction, and the air duct assembly is located between the evaporator 13 and the refrigerating compartment 1.

[0066] Specifically, the air duct assembly has a specific structure with gaps, and the air duct assembly is in communication with the refrigerating area 11, the functional area 12, and the air return opening 18. The evaporator 13 and the refrigerating compartment 1 are respectively arranged on both sides of the air duct assembly. At least part of the evaporator 13 is located inside the air duct assembly. When the evaporator 13 is operating normally, it will produce a refrigerating effect inside the air duct assembly. The second blower 142 blows part of the cold air in the air duct assembly into the refrigerating area 11. The refrigerating area 11 is provided with a refrigerating area air supply opening 135. The cold air enters the refrigerating area 11 from the refrigerating area air supply opening 135 to refrigerate the refrigerating area 11 of the refrigerator, providing a low-temperature environment for the frozen foods normally stored in the refrigerating area 11 and forming a first air path 131 in the refrigerating area 11. The circulating air in the refrigerating area 11 returns to the evaporator 13 from the air return opening 18 for repeated heat exchange, and so on in a cycle, continuously providing a low-temperature environment for the refrigerating area 11; another part of the cold air blown out from the air duct assembly enters the functional area 12, forming a second air path 132 in the functional area 12. The functional area 12 is provided with a functional area air supply opening 136. The air in the second air path 132 enters the functional area 12 from the functional area air supply opening 136, exchanges heat with the foods to be thawed in the functional area 12 and then is discharged. The functional area 12 is also provided with a functional area air exhaust opening 123 for exhausting the air after heat exchange. The air exhausted from the functional area air exhaust opening 123 returns to the evaporator 13 through the air return opening 18 for heat exchange with the evaporator 13 again, and so on in a cycle.

[0067] In one embodiment, the air duct assembly further includes a first air damper 133 and a second air damper 134. The first air damper 133 is installed in the first air path 131, and the second air damper 134 is installed in the second air path 132. The first air damper 133 is adapted to close or open the first air path 131, and the second air damper 134 is adapted to close or open the second air path 132. The settings of the first air damper 133 and the second air damper 134 enable the first air path 131 and the second air path 132 to be separately opened or closed without interference. That is to say, the refrigerating area 11 and the functional area 12 can work independently of each other.

[0068] Please refer to Figure 6 , in one embodiment, the first air damper 133 and the second air damper 134 can be single air dampers or double air dampers. The first air path 131 is provided with a first branch 1311 and a second branch 1312. The first air damper 133 is a single air damper for blocking the first branch 1311; the second air damper 134 is a double air damper for blocking the second branch 1312 and the second air path 132. Similarly, the second air path 132 can also be provided with branches.

[0069] In some embodiments, the functional area 12 has a connecting hole connected to the refrigerating area 11, the air inlet side of the first fan 141 is connected to the connecting hole, and the air outlet side of the first fan 141 faces the functional area 12. Thus, the space of the refrigerating area 11 and the thawing area are connected through the connecting hole, and the air circulation is not limited to the inside of the functional area 12, but forms an integral circulating air circuit in the entire refrigerating compartment 1.

[0070] Specifically, at this time, there are two air paths in the functional area 12. One is starting from the evaporator 13, entering the refrigerated area 11 through the first air path 131 in the air duct assembly, and then entering the functional area 12 from the connecting hole; the other is starting from the evaporator 13, directly entering the functional area 12 through the second air path 132 in the air duct assembly, and then merging with the air path entering the functional area 12 from the connecting hole, and returning to the evaporator 13 from the return air port 18 together, forming an air path circulation.

[0071] The advantages of this design are cold recycling and energy saving. Specifically, the connection between the two zones can avoid the energy consumption of the thawing zone alone, and prevent the excessive heating of the food 3, which may lead to microbial risks; at the same time, it reduces the load on the compressor, and the two zones share the cold source, which reduces the energy consumption of the system's frequent start and stop, and also avoids overcooling waste: the excess cold in the thawing zone can flow back to the refrigeration zone 11, reducing the loss of cold.

[0072] In one embodiment, the functional area 12 and the refrigerated area 11 are not provided with a connecting hole, and the two areas are independently arranged and do not interfere with each other. The air circulation of the functional area 12 is only carried out inside the functional area 12, starting from the evaporator 13, directly entering the functional area 12 through the second air path 132 in the air duct assembly, and then returning to the evaporator 13 from the return air port 18 to form an air circulation. This design completely isolates the refrigerated area 11 from the thawing area, and is particularly suitable for scenes with high requirements for food safety, energy efficiency and functional independence. The advantage of this design is that, on the one hand, it can physically isolate bacteria and odors, and the blood, fishy smell or potential bacteria (such as Listeria) generated by thawing fresh food (such as meat and seafood) cannot be transmitted to the ready-to-eat food in the refrigerated area 11 through air or contact; on the other hand, it can accurately control the temperature and optimize the thawing performance to avoid cold interference. When the thawing area heats up quickly, the temperature of the refrigerated area 11 will not fluctuate due to the refrigeration of cold air.

[0073] In one embodiment, the first fan 141 is rotatably installed in the functional area 12, and the first fan 141 is used for defrosting.

[0074] Specifically, the food to be thawed is placed in the functional area 12, and the first blower 141 blows air to thaw the food to be thawed. Due to the different volumes and placement positions of the food, if it is necessary to ensure that the first blower 141 can face the food to be thawed, the orientation of the first blower 141 needs to be adjustable so as to ensure that the first blower 141 always blows air directly at the food to be thawed and improve the thawing efficiency.

[0075] In one embodiment, the functional area 12 has an upper wall surface, a communication hole is provided on the upper wall surface, and the first functional area 121 and the second functional area 122 are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction. The relative positions of the first functional area 121 and the second functional area 122 can have various structures, such as being arranged left and right, front and back, up and down, etc. Preferably, the first functional area 121 and the second functional area 122 are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction, and can be arranged in the up and down direction.

[0076] In some embodiments, the refrigerator further includes a door body 4, the door body 4 is used to close the refrigerating compartment, the functional area 12 includes a front side wall close to the door body 4 and a rear side wall close to the air duct assembly, and the air outlet of the second air passage 132 passes through the rear side wall and communicates with the functional area 12; the first blower 141 is arranged on one side of the top wall of the functional area 12 close to the rear side wall, and the blowing direction of the first blower 141 forms an acute angle with the horizontal direction.

[0077] Specifically, the first wall surface 1211 is the front side wall, and a drawer face mask 23 is provided. The first blower 141 is arranged on one side of the top wall of the functional area 12 close to the rear side wall, the second wall surface 1212 is the rear side wall, the second wall surface 1212 is the side wall of the first functional area 121 on the side away from the through hole, the second wall surface 1212 can be constructed as an inclined surface, the angle between the second wall surface 1212 and the bottom wall of the first functional area 121 forms an acute angle, and the first blower 141 can be arranged above the side close to the second wall surface 1212. Since the blowing direction of the first blower 141 forms an acute angle with the horizontal direction, therefore, the air blown out by the first blower 141 forms an air flow. When passing through the second wall surface 1212, the second wall surface 1212 can play a role in guiding the air flow, facilitating the air flow to flow through the food to be thawed. Moreover, the inclined second wall surface 1212 forms an acute angle with the bottom wall of the first functional area 121. When the air flow passes through the second wall surface 1212 and flows to the bottom wall, the return air force generated relative to a right angle is smaller, which is conducive to increasing the air flow velocity, that is, improving the thawing efficiency.

[0078] In some embodiments, the refrigerator further includes a sensing device and a control device. The sensors at least include a humidity sensor and a temperature sensor.

[0079] In one embodiment, the sensing device is disposed inside the refrigerating compartment 1, and the sensing device can be a temperature sensor or an infrared sensor. When the sensing device is a temperature sensor, the evaporator 13 is provided with an evaporator temperature sensor 17 for detecting the temperature of the evaporator 13 to facilitate temperature control of the evaporator 13; the refrigerating area 11 is provided with a refrigerating area temperature sensor 15 for detecting the temperature of the refrigerating area 11; and the functional area 12 is provided with a functional area temperature sensor 16 for detecting the temperature of the functional area 12. Specifically, the sensing device can be disposed in the refrigerating compartment 1 and below the food to be thawed. When the sensing device is an infrared sensor, the sensing device can be disposed in the refrigerating compartment 1 and around the food to be thawed. The control device is connected to the sensing device, and the control device is connected to the refrigeration system of the refrigerator.

[0080] In one embodiment, the refrigerator further includes a humidity sensor. The humidity sensor is adapted to detect the humidity inside the refrigerating compartment 1, and based on the detected humidity of the refrigerating compartment 1, the controller is configured to turn on or off the first air duct 131, the second air duct 132, and the first blower 141. Exemplarily, the humidity sensor can be installed inside the refrigerating compartment 1 to detect the humidity inside the refrigerating compartment 1.

[0081] In one embodiment, the humidity sensor includes a first humidity sensor and a second humidity sensor. The first humidity sensor is installed inside the functional area 12, and the first humidity sensor is adapted to detect the humidity inside the functional area 12; the second humidity sensor is installed inside the refrigerating area 11, and the second humidity sensor is adapted to detect the humidity inside the refrigerating area 11.

[0082] Please refer to Figure 12 , a thawing and humidifying control method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to the refrigerator in any of the above embodiments to thaw the food to be thawed 3 inside the functional area 12 through the control method. Among them, the embodiment of the present invention is described by taking the refrigerator as an example, and the thawing and humidifying control method can also be used for other refrigeration devices, such as freezers, fresh-keeping cabinets, etc. Specifically, the thawing and humidifying control method of the embodiment of the present invention includes the following steps: S1. Receive a thawing instruction.

[0083] Specifically, the user can input a thawing instruction through the interaction module. After the refrigerator receives the thawing instruction, it controls the functional area 12 of the refrigerator to enter the thawing mode.

[0084] In other embodiments of the present invention, the way to receive the thawing instruction can be that the wireless communication module receives the control instruction sent from the cloud, or it can be the voice command parsed by the voice recognition module, or it can also be the thawing instruction input by the user through the user interface on the refrigeration device.

[0085] Among them, the thawing instruction may include the thawing duration. The thawing mode may have corresponding parameters, such as the rapid thawing mode, the balanced thawing mode, and the custom thawing mode.

[0086] S2. Control the evaporator 13 to close, stop refrigeration, close the first air duct 131, and turn on the first blower 141.

[0087] Specifically, after receiving the thawing instruction, control the refrigeration system to shut down, that is, the controller controls the evaporator 13 to close and stop refrigeration. At this time, then close the first air duct 131, and then turn on the first blower 141, so that the first blower 141 drives the high-humidity air in the refrigerating area 11 into the functional area 12.

[0088] It should be noted that after the evaporator 13 stops refrigerating, the refrigerating area 11 loses the ability to actively cool down, and the ambient heat slowly penetrates into the refrigerator from the outside. The humidity in the refrigerating area 11 will increase slightly. Since the first blower 141 is turned on and forced air circulation occurs, the heat distribution in the refrigerating area 11 and the functional area 12 will be made uniform. Therefore, the temperature in the refrigerating area 11 will not rise too high, and thus will not have too much impact on the food in the refrigerating area 11. The frozen food on the surface of the functional area 12 is protected by frost and will not be air-dried in a short time. Moreover, after the first blower 141 is turned on, the temperature in the refrigerating area 11 is slightly increased compared with the temperature when the refrigeration system is working, which increases the humidity in the refrigerating area 11. The first blower 141 drives the air circulation in the refrigerating compartment 1, and thus the humidity in the functional area 12 also increases.

[0089] S3. Open the first air duct 131.

[0090] Among them, when performing step S2, step S3 can be performed simultaneously; or after performing step S2, step S3 can be continued.

[0091] Specifically, when the first air duct 131 is opened, at this time the second air duct 132 is in a closed state. Since the evaporator 13 stops refrigerating and the first air duct 131 is opened, that is, the first air duct 131 can supply air. It should be noted that a second blower 142 is provided in the refrigerating air duct, and the second blower 142 is located on the side of the evaporator 13 away from the return air outlet 18. Opening the first air duct 131 as pointed out in the embodiment of the present invention means that the second blower 142 is turned on. The second blower 142 drives the air flow in the refrigerating air duct. The circulating gas that enters the cavity where the evaporator 13 is located from the return air outlet 18 of the refrigerating air duct exchanges heat with the frost on the surface of the evaporator 13, promoting the melting of the frost on the surface of the evaporator 13, and thus increasing the air humidity. At this time, the first air duct 131 is in an open state, and the high-humidity air located at the evaporator 13 is conveyed to the refrigerating area 11 through the second blower 142, so that the humidity in the refrigerating area 11 rises rapidly.

[0092] S4. Detect the humidity of the refrigerated compartment 1, and the humidity inside the refrigerated compartment 1 can be detected by a humidity sensor.

[0093] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the humidity sensor includes a first humidity sensor and a second humidity sensor. The first humidity sensor is installed in the functional area 12 and is adapted to detect the humidity in the functional area 12; the second humidity sensor is installed in the refrigerated area 11 and is adapted to detect the humidity in the refrigerated area 11.

[0094] In some specific examples, the functional area 12 can be an enclosed space. The first humidity sensor is arranged inside the functional area 12 and close to the inner top of the functional area 12. The first humidity sensor is arranged on the air outlet side of the refrigerated area 11. By reasonably arranging the positions of the first humidity sensor and the first humidity sensor, the humidity values of the refrigerated area 11 and the functional area 12 are accurately detected. Then, according to the detected humidity values, high-humidity air is sent into the functional area 12, so that the humidity in the functional area 12 is stabilized at a high level with fluctuations.

[0095] According to other embodiments of the present invention, multiple humidity sensors can also be arranged in the refrigerated area 11 and the functional area 12. Specifically, multiple first humidity sensors are arranged in the functional area 12 and are evenly distributed in the functional area 12. Multiple second humidity sensors are arranged in the refrigerated area 11 and are evenly distributed in the refrigerated area 11.

[0096] Exemplarily, the average value of the humidity values detected by the multiple first humidity sensors is used as the humidity detected in the functional area 12; the average value of the humidity values detected by the multiple second humidity sensors is used as the humidity detected in the refrigerated area 11, further ensuring that the detected humidity value of the refrigerated compartment 1 is more accurate.

[0097] In other examples, the minimum value of the humidity values detected by the multiple first humidity sensors is the humidity in the functional area 12, and the minimum value of the humidity values detected by the multiple second humidity sensors is the humidity in the refrigerated area 11.

[0098] S41. When it is detected that the humidity in the refrigerated area 11 is greater than the first preset humidity, the second air duct 132 is opened, and the first fan 141 remains in the on state.

[0099] Specifically, the first preset humidity is H1. When the humidity detected by the second humidity sensor in the refrigerating area 11 is greater than the first preset humidity H1, the second air duct 132 is opened, and the first fan 141 remains in the open state. After the evaporator 13 stops refrigerating, the refrigerating area 11 exchanges heat with the ambient heat, causing the temperature of the refrigerating area 11 to rise. The frost on the evaporator 13 is heated by the air in the refrigerating area and begins to melt, resulting in a significant increase in humidity. When the humidity requirement of the functional area 12 is met, high-humidity air starts to be delivered to the functional area 12.

[0100] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the first preset humidity is greater than or equal to 90%. That is to say, when it is detected that the humidity in the refrigerating area 11 is greater than or equal to 90%, it indicates that the humidity requirement of the functional area 12 is met, and high-humidity air starts to be delivered to the functional area 12.

[0101] S42. When it is detected that the humidity in the functional area 12 is greater than the second preset humidity, the second air duct 132 is closed.

[0102] Specifically, the second preset humidity is H2, and the humidity in the functional area 12 is detected by the first humidity sensor. Moreover, the humidity in the functional area 12 should not be too high. To prevent condensation inside the functional area 12, when it is detected that the humidity in the functional area 12 is greater than the second preset humidity H2, the second air duct 132 is closed.

[0103] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the second preset humidity is greater than or equal to 98%. That is to say, when it is detected that the humidity of the air in the functional area 12 is greater than or equal to 98%, it indicates that the humidity inside the functional area 12 has reached saturation at this time. To avoid condensation in the functional area 12, the humidity in the functional area 12 should not be too high. Therefore, the second air duct 132 is closed to stop continuously increasing the humidity in the functional area 12.

[0104] S43. When it is detected that the humidity in the functional area 12 is lower than the third preset humidity, step S2 is executed until the thawing ends.

[0105] Specifically, the third preset humidity is H3. When it is detected by the first humidity sensor that the humidity in the functional area 12 is greater than the third preset humidity H3, step S2 is executed until the thawing ends. Due to the closing of the second air duct 132, the temperature of the functional area 12 slowly rises, and because the sealing of the functional area 12 is good and there is no additional humidity supplement, the humidity will continuously decrease during the thawing process. Therefore, when it is detected that the humidity in the functional area 12 is lower than a certain value, step S2 can be executed in advance to prepare high-humidity air and can deliver high-humidity air to the functional area 12 at any time to improve the thawing efficiency.

[0106] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the first preset humidity is less than the third preset humidity, and the second preset humidity is greater than the third preset humidity. That is to say, the third preset humidity is in the range of 90%-98%. When the humidity in the functional area 12 is detected to be between 90%-98%, step S2 is executed until the thawing ends.

[0107] S5. After the thawing ends, control the evaporator 13 to open and resume refrigeration.

[0108] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a second temperature sensor can be set in the functional area 12 to obtain the temperature in the functional area 12. When the temperature of the food material 3 to be thawed reaches the set temperature threshold, it is determined that the food material 3 to be thawed is completely thawed, that is, the thawing ends. Among them, the set temperature threshold can be determined according to the actual situation.

[0109] According to some other embodiments of the present invention, after the set thawing duration is completed, the thawing ends.

[0110] Exemplarily, before the thawing, the user can input the set thawing duration on the control panel of the refrigerator or the program associated with the refrigerator. After the set thawing duration is completed, the thawing ends automatically. And, after the thawing ends, the user can be notified automatically, so that the user does not need to check the thawing situation all the time, improving the user experience.

[0111] According to the thawing and humidity increasing control method proposed by the embodiments of the present invention, when the evaporator 13 is opened and in the refrigeration working state, a certain amount of frost will accumulate on the surface; when the evaporator 13 is closed and the refrigeration stops, the second blower 142 keeps running, driving the air flow circulation in the refrigerating air duct to promote the melting of the frost on the surface of the evaporator 13. At this time, the water content in the air increases and the air humidity is quickly increased. Then, the high-humidity air is sent into the functional area 12 through the first blower 141 to enable the food to be thawed in the functional area 12 to be thawed in a low-temperature and high-humidity environment. The remaining cold of the evaporator 13 ensures that the temperature in the refrigerating area 11 does not increase significantly. And, after adding the humidity sensor, the high-humidity air can be accurately sent into the functional area 12 at regular intervals, making the humidity in the functional area 12 stable at a high level with fluctuations. Increasing the humidity in the functional area 12 is controlled by the humidity sensor, which is more intelligent and accurate, ensuring that the humidity in the functional area 12 can be maintained between 90%-98% during the thawing process, the surface of the food material 3 to be thawed will not be air-dried, and there will be no condensation in the functional area 12. In addition, through the thawing and humidity increasing control method of the embodiments of the present invention, not only can the humidity in the functional area 12 be increased, but also the humidity in the refrigerating area 11 can be increased, thereby improving the freshness preservation effect of the refrigerating compartment 1.

[0112] In the description of this specification, the descriptions referring to terms such as "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "schematic embodiments", "examples", "specific examples", or "some examples", etc., mean that the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the schematic expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described can be combined in a suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

[0113] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, those of ordinary skill in the art can understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, characterized in that, include: A refrigerated compartment, wherein a refrigerated area and a functional area are provided in the refrigerated compartment, and a first fan is provided in the functional area; A refrigerated air duct, wherein an evaporator is installed in the refrigerated air duct, wherein the refrigerated air duct has an air supply path arranged on one side of the evaporator and an air return port arranged on the other side of the evaporator, wherein the refrigerated area and the functional area are both connected to the return air port, wherein the refrigerated air duct also has a second fan, wherein the second fan is located on the side of the evaporator away from the return air port, wherein the air supply path includes a first air path and a second air path, wherein the first air path is connected to the refrigerated area, and the second air path is connected to the functional area; wherein the evaporator is suitable for humidifying food to be thawed.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein, The functional area includes a first functional area and a second functional area, and the second air passage, the first functional area and the second functional area are connected in sequence.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first functional area has a first wall surface, the first wall surface is provided with a through hole, and the second functional area is connected with the first functional area through the through hole.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first functional area and the second functional area are arranged vertically with an interval, the first functional area has a side wall and a bottom wall, and the first wall surface is the side wall of the first functional area.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The functional area is separated from the refrigerated area by a sealing partition, at least part of the sealing partition has an interlayer filled with heat-insulating material.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein, It also includes an air duct assembly, the first air duct and the second air duct are formed in the air duct assembly, the refrigerated compartment and the evaporator are arranged to be spaced apart in the horizontal direction, and the air duct assembly is located between the evaporator and the refrigerated compartment.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, characterized in that, The air duct assembly further includes a first air door and a second air door, wherein the first air door is installed on the first air passage, and the second air door is installed on the second air passage.

8. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 2-4, characterized in that, The functional area has a connecting hole connected to the refrigeration area, the air inlet side of the first fan is connected to the connecting hole, and the air outlet side of the first fan faces the functional area.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein, The first fan is rotatably mounted in the functional area.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 8, characterized in that, The functional area has an upper wall surface, the communicating hole is arranged on the upper wall surface, and the first functional area and the second functional area are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein It also includes a door body, which is used to close the refrigerated compartment. The functional area includes a front side wall close to the door body and a rear side wall close to the air duct assembly. The air outlet of the second air duct passes through the rear side wall and is connected to the functional area. The first fan is arranged on a side of the top wall of the functional area close to the rear side wall, and the angle between the blowing direction of the first fan and the horizontal direction is an acute angle.

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