Freezer, cold insulation storage and thawing chamber

Abstract

To obtain a sterilization function for actively reducing the number of viable cells when performing cold thawing or cold insulation while imparting electronic energy to an object.SOLUTION: A freezer for cooling an object while imparting electronic energy to the object comprises a freezer main body for accommodating the object in a darkroom, and cooling it. The freezer comprises an electronic energy device for imparting the electronic energy to the object which is accommodated in the darkroom. The freezer comprises an air filter device provided in the darkroom, and sterilizes microorganisms from an airflow by filtering the airflow by a filter element while creating the airflow which circulates in the darkroom. The freezer comprises a photocatalyst which is carried by the filter element, and exerts a bactericidal action when being in an excited state. The freezer comprises an irradiation device for irradiating light in a wavelength region having both the bactericidal action and an action for bringing the photocatalyst into the excited state to the filter element in the darkroom.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to freezers, coolers, and thawers. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, various cold-thawing and cold-keeping techniques have been developed as methods for maintaining the freshness of food ingredients, foods, and other objects for long periods of time. Among these techniques is a technique that performs cold-thawing or cold-keeping while applying energy such as an electric field or a magnetic field (hereinafter, for convenience, referred to as "electronic energy") to the object, thereby suppressing the destruction of cells in the object and suppressing the loss of freshness of the object. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a technique for freezing an object while applying an electric field and a magnetic field to the object.

[0003] With regard to electronic energy, the mechanism by which it suppresses deterioration in freshness has not been fully elucidated, and there is a mixture of literature claiming that "the electric field in electronic energy is useful" and literature claiming that "the magnetic field in electronic energy is useful." In this disclosure, both "electric fields for suppressing deterioration in the freshness of objects" and "magnetic fields for suppressing deterioration in the freshness of objects" are considered to fall under "electronic energy." [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] WO 01 / 024647 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the conventional technology described in Patent Document 1, the number of live bacteria in an object is suppressed by the microbial growth inhibitory action (bacteriostatic action) to improve the quality of the object. In response to this, there was a need to add a sterilization function that actively reduces the number of live bacteria.

[0006] The present disclosure makes it possible to realize a sterilization function that actively reduces the number of live bacteria when cold-thawing or cold-keeping an object while applying electronic energy to the object. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a freezer is provided that freezes an object by cooling the object while providing electronic energy to the object. The freezer includes a freezer body that stores the object inside a darkroom and cools the object. The freezer also includes an electronic energy device that provides electronic energy to the object stored in the darkroom. The freezer also includes an air filter device that is provided in the darkroom and generates an airflow that circulates in the darkroom and filters the airflow with a filter element to sterilize microorganisms from the airflow. The freezer also includes a photocatalyst that is supported on the filter element and has a bactericidal effect when in an excited state. The freezer also includes an irradiation device that irradiates the filter element with light in a wavelength range that combines a bactericidal effect and an effect of exciting the photocatalyst in the darkroom.

[0008] The freezer of the present disclosure circulates air in a dark room in which an object to be frozen is stored, and filters the airflow with a filter element to sterilize microorganisms in the dark room. The freezer also sterilizes the microorganisms filtered by the filter element with the sterilizing action of the photocatalyst and the sterilizing action of light, thereby preventing the microorganisms from returning to the dark room as live bacteria. Here, the photocatalyst loses its excited state (returns to the ground state) in the dark room and no longer exerts a sterilizing action. In contrast, the irradiation device irradiates the filter element carrying the photocatalyst with light in the dark room, thereby returning the photocatalyst to an excited state having a sterilizing action. Therefore, the photocatalyst maintains its sterilizing action as long as the irradiation device irradiates light. Therefore, according to the above-mentioned freezer, when freezing the object by applying electronic energy to the object and freezing the object, a sterilization function that actively reduces the number of live bacteria in the dark room can be realized.

[0009] In one embodiment, the photocatalyst is ultrafine powder of anatase titanium dioxide carrying fine metallic silver, and the light is deep ultraviolet light.

[0010] Photocatalysts having ultrafine anatase titanium dioxide powder carrying fine metallic silver are known to exhibit strong antibacterial effects due to the synergistic effect of titanium dioxide and metallic silver and the large specific surface area. Deep ultraviolet light is also a type of light used for sterilization purposes, and can excite anatase titanium dioxide. Therefore, according to the above embodiment, the antibacterial effect of the photocatalyst can be utilized to suitably realize the freezer of the present disclosure.

[0011] In one embodiment, the air filter device includes a crossflow fan that is elongated in the direction of the rotation axis and has an air intake region and an air discharge region that are each set as regions that extend in the circumferential direction. The filter element covers the intake region from the upstream side of the intake. The irradiation device irradiates the filter element with light from the upstream side.

[0012] According to this embodiment, the air filter device makes the air intake and exhaust into band-like flows, thereby reducing air stagnation in the darkroom and improving the efficiency of the air filter device in sterilizing microorganisms in the darkroom. In addition, the irradiation device irradiates light from the upstream side of the intake, where the microorganisms filtered out by the filter element are likely to be attached, so that more effective sterilization can be performed. Therefore, according to the above embodiment, the efficiency of sterilization that reduces the number of live bacteria in the darkroom can be improved.

[0013] In one embodiment, the electronic energy device includes an electrode and a power supply. The electrode is disposed in a darkroom and an object is set thereon. The power supply outputs AC power to the electrode, thereby providing electronic energy to the object set on the electrode. The frequency of the power output by the power supply is set to a frequency lower than the lowest frequency of the electromagnetic waves that can cause resonance with the electrode.

[0014] According to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the electrodes from functioning as antennas that radiate electromagnetic waves due to the AC power output from the power supply device. Therefore, according to the above embodiment, it is possible to provide a freezer that prevents the power output for providing electronic energy to an object from being lost in the form of electromagnetic waves radiated from the electrodes.

[0015] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a cooler that keeps an object cool while providing electronic energy to the object is provided. The cooler includes a cooler body that stores the object inside a dark room and keeps it cool. The cooler also includes an electronic energy device that provides electronic energy to the object stored in the dark room. The cooler also includes an air filter device that is provided in the dark room and generates an airflow that circulates in the dark room and filters the airflow with a filter element to sterilize microorganisms from the airflow. The cooler also includes a photocatalyst that is supported on the filter element and has a bactericidal effect when in an excited state. The cooler also includes an irradiation device that irradiates the filter element with light in a wavelength range that combines a bactericidal effect and an effect of exciting the photocatalyst in the dark room.

[0016] The cooler of the present disclosure circulates air in a dark room in which an object to be kept cool is stored, and the airflow is filtered by a filter element to sterilize microorganisms in the dark room. The cooler also sterilizes the microorganisms filtered by the filter element by the sterilizing action of the photocatalyst and the sterilizing action of light, thereby preventing the microorganisms from returning to the dark room as live bacteria. Here, the photocatalyst loses its excited state (returns to the ground state) in the dark room and no longer exerts a sterilizing action. In contrast, the irradiation device irradiates the filter element carrying the photocatalyst with light in the dark room, thereby returning the photocatalyst to an excited state having a sterilizing action. Therefore, the photocatalyst maintains its sterilizing action as long as the irradiation device irradiates light. Therefore, according to the above-mentioned cooler, when the object is kept cool while electronic energy is applied to the object, a sterilization function that actively reduces the number of live bacteria in the dark room can be realized.

[0017] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a thawing box is provided that thaws a frozen object while applying electronic energy. The thawing box includes a thawing box body that stores an object inside a dark room and thaws it. The thawing box also includes an electronic energy device that applies electronic energy to the object stored in the dark room. The thawing box also includes an air filter device that is provided in the dark room and generates an airflow that circulates in the dark room and filters the airflow with a filter element to sterilize microorganisms from the airflow. The thawing box also includes a photocatalyst that is supported on the filter element and has a bactericidal effect when in an excited state. The thawing box also includes an irradiation device that irradiates the filter element with light in a wavelength range that combines a bactericidal effect and an effect of exciting the photocatalyst in the dark room.

[0018] The thawing chamber of the present disclosure circulates air in a dark chamber in which an object to be thawed is stored, and filters the airflow with a filter element to sterilize microorganisms in the dark chamber. The thawing chamber also sterilizes the microorganisms filtered by the filter element with the sterilizing action of the photocatalyst and the sterilizing action of light, thereby preventing the microorganisms from returning to the dark chamber as live bacteria. Here, the photocatalyst loses its excited state (returns to the ground state) in the dark chamber and no longer exerts a sterilizing action. In contrast, the irradiation device irradiates the filter element carrying the photocatalyst with light in the dark chamber, thereby returning the photocatalyst to an excited state having a sterilizing action. Therefore, the photocatalyst maintains its sterilizing action as long as the irradiation device irradiates light. Therefore, according to the above-mentioned thawing chamber, when thawing an object while applying electronic energy to the object, a sterilization function that actively reduces the number of live bacteria in the dark chamber can be realized. Effect of the Invention

[0019] According to the present disclosure, when cold thawing or cold storage is performed while applying electronic energy to an object, a sterilization function that actively reduces the number of live bacteria can be achieved. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a freezer 10 according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the air filter device 13 of FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a cooler 20 according to a second embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a decompressor 30 according to a third embodiment. [Diagram 5] 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of an air filter device 13 and a heater 31B in FIG. 4. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0022] First Embodiment First, the configuration of a freezer 10 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. This freezer 10 freezes an object 90 (a block of meat placed on a metal container 90A in Figure 1) by cooling the object 90 while applying electronic energy to the object 90.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 1, the freezer 10 includes a freezer main body 11 that stores and cools an object 90 inside a rectangular parallelepiped darkroom 11A. In this embodiment, the darkroom 11A includes a hinged door 11C that can be opened and closed on the front side of the freezer 10. Inside this darkroom 11A, a cooling device 11B is installed that blows low-temperature air 91 along the ceiling of the darkroom 11A to lower the temperature inside the darkroom 11A and cool the object 90. This cooling device 11B is installed in a state where it covers the entire wall surface of the darkroom 11A that is the hinge side (left side) of the hinged door 11C.

[0024] The freezer 10 is equipped with an electronic energy device 12 that provides electronic energy to an object 90 stored in a darkroom 11A. This electronic energy device 12 includes a plurality of electrodes 12A arranged in the darkroom 11A, and a power supply device 12B arranged above the darkroom 11A. Each electrode 12A is capable of receiving an object 90 placed on a container 90A. The power supply device 12B outputs AC power to the electrode 12A, thereby providing electronic energy to the object 90 placed on the electrode 12A via the container 90A.

[0025] In this embodiment, each electrode 12A is a rack net (long-mesh wire net in FIG. 1) that can be hooked to four rack posts 12C extending vertically in the darkroom 11A. These rack nets are, for example, square nets with a side length of about 40 cm, and are configured so that a container 90A can be placed on them.

[0026] The four shelf columns 12C have hooks arranged vertically to engage with the shelf net of the electrode 12A, making it possible to change the engaging position of the electrode 12A in the vertical direction. The four shelf columns 12C are metal columns that are electrically conductive with the engaged electrode 12A, and transmit power from the power supply unit 12B to the electrode 12A when the power is applied to the four shelf columns 12C.

[0027] Furthermore, power supply device 12B outputs AC power to electrode 12A by using commercial power sources commonly used in Japan without frequency conversion. For this reason, the frequency of the power output by power supply device 12B is set to be equal to the frequency of the commercial power source (i.e., 50 [Hz] or 60 [Hz]). This frequency is lower than the lowest frequency of the electromagnetic waves at which each electrode 12A can resonate.

[0028] Furthermore, power supply unit 12B outputs power to various components requiring power in freezer 10 (specifically, electrodes 12A, cooling unit 11B, and air filter unit 13 (described later)). The output of power from power supply unit 12B is controlled by a control box 10A that is provided alongside power supply unit 12B above darkroom 11A. This control box 10A and power supply unit 12B are covered by a cover 10B that can be opened and closed on the front side of freezer 10.

[0029] The freezer 10 is provided with an air filter device 13 that is provided within the darkroom 11A and generates an air current 91A that circulates within the darkroom 11A. In this embodiment, the air filter device 13 is a long air filter device that is disposed along a corner of the ceiling of the darkroom 11A on the opposite side (right side) from the cooling device 11B.

[0030] 2, the air filter device 13 includes a cross-flow fan 13B that is formed long in the direction of the rotation axis, and has an intake area 13C and an exhaust area 13D for air 91 that are set as band-like areas that extend in the circumferential direction and the direction of the rotation axis, respectively. This cross-flow fan 13B draws in and exhausts air 91 in band-like flows, thereby generating an airflow 91A that circulates within the darkroom 11A, and reducing stagnation of the air 91 within the darkroom 11A. In this embodiment, the cross-flow fan 13B draws in and exhausts air 91 by rotating in the circumferential direction by the driving force of a motor 13E that receives power from a power supply device 12B (see FIG. 1).

[0031] In the discharge area 13D of the cross flow fan 13B, an air outlet 13F is disposed, which extends longitudinally along the discharge area 13D. By disposing the air outlet 13F facing downward, the air 91 discharged by the cross flow fan 13B into the discharge area 13D becomes an airflow 91A blown downward from the air filter device 13.

[0032] The entire suction area 13C of the crossflow fan 13B is covered by the filter element 13A from the upstream side of the suction of the air 91. (However, in FIG. 2, the filter element 13A is shown with a part broken away.) The filter element 13A is a component for filtering the airflow 91A in the air filter device 13, and this filtration removes and sterilizes microorganisms (not shown) from the airflow 91A. In other words, the air filter device 13 sterilizes microorganisms from the airflow 91A by generating the airflow 91A and filtering the airflow 91A with the filter element 13A.

[0033] In this embodiment, suction area 13C of cross flow fan 13B is set as an area that expands from above toward the left with respect to cross flow fan 13B. Therefore, filter element 13A is disposed so as to curve from above toward the left.

[0034] A photocatalyst (not shown) is supported on the filter element 13A. This photocatalyst becomes excited when irradiated with light having a relatively short wavelength (e.g., deep ultraviolet light). When the photocatalyst is placed in a place where it is not exposed to light (e.g., in the darkroom 11A) or where it is exposed only to light having a relatively long wavelength (e.g., infrared light), it loses its excited state and becomes in a ground state. When the photocatalyst is in an excited state, it exerts a bactericidal effect, but when it is in a ground state, it does not exert a bactericidal effect.

[0035] In this embodiment, the photocatalyst is an ultrafine powder of anatase-type titanium dioxide carrying fine metallic silver. As such a photocatalyst, the same photocatalyst as that used in medical equipment and devices sold under the trademark "Hikari Gintech (registered trademark)" can be used.

[0036] In the air filter device 13, an irradiation device 14 that irradiates deep ultraviolet rays 14A downward is disposed above the filter element 13A. Here, the deep ultraviolet rays 14A are light in a wavelength region that has both a bactericidal effect and an effect of exciting a photocatalyst. In this embodiment, the irradiation device 14 is an assembly in which an LED unit using four deep ultraviolet LEDs is arranged in a row along the rotation axis direction of the cross flow fan 13B.

[0037] The irradiation device 14 irradiates the filter element 13A with deep ultraviolet light 14A within the darkroom 11A. At this time, the deep ultraviolet light 14A is irradiated onto the filter element 13A from the upstream side of the intake of the air 91. The deep ultraviolet light 14A excites the photocatalyst that has been in a ground state due to the filter element 13A, which is a carrier, being within the darkroom 11A.

[0038] The freezer 10 described above circulates air 91 in the dark room 11A in which the object 90 to be frozen is stored, and the airflow 91A is filtered by the filter element 13A to sterilize microorganisms in the dark room 11A. The freezer 10 also sterilizes the microorganisms filtered by the filter element 13A by the sterilizing action of the photocatalyst and the sterilizing action of the deep ultraviolet light 14A, thereby preventing the microorganisms from returning to the dark room 11A as live bacteria. Here, the photocatalyst loses its excited state (returns to the ground state) in the dark room 11A and no longer exerts a sterilizing action. In response to this, the irradiation device 14 irradiates the filter element 13A carrying the photocatalyst with deep ultraviolet light 14A in the dark room 11A, thereby returning the photocatalyst to an excited state having a sterilizing action. For this reason, the photocatalyst maintains its sterilizing action as long as the irradiation device 14 irradiates the deep ultraviolet light 14A. Therefore, according to the freezer 10, when freezing the object 90 by applying electronic energy to the object 90 and thereby bringing the object 90 into a frozen state, a sterilization function can be realized that actively reduces the number of live bacteria in the darkroom 11A.

[0039] Furthermore, according to the freezer 10, the antibacterial effect of the photocatalyst composed of ultrafine powder of anatase type titanium dioxide carrying fine metallic silver can be utilized to suitably realize the freezer of the present disclosure.

[0040] Moreover, according to the freezer 10, the air filter device 13 makes the intake and exhaust of the air 91 into band-like flows, thereby reducing stagnation of the air 91 in the darkroom 11A and improving the efficiency with which the air filter device 13 sterilizes microorganisms in the darkroom 11A. Moreover, the irradiation device 14 irradiates deep ultraviolet light 14A from the upstream side of the intake where the microorganisms filtered out by the filter element 13A are likely to be attached, thereby enabling more effective sterilization. Therefore, according to the freezer 10, the efficiency of sterilization that reduces the number of live bacteria in the darkroom 11A can be improved.

[0041] Furthermore, freezer 10 can prevent electrode 12A from functioning as an antenna that radiates electromagnetic waves due to the AC power output from power supply device 12B. Therefore, freezer 10 can prevent the power output for providing electronic energy to object 90 from being lost in the form of electromagnetic waves radiated from electrode 12A.

[0042] Second embodiment Next, the configuration of the cooler 20 according to the second embodiment will be described mainly with reference to Fig. 3. The cooler 20 according to the second embodiment has components (parts or assemblies) in common with the freezer 10 according to the first embodiment. Therefore, the above-mentioned common components (parts or assemblies) are assigned the same reference numerals as those used in the above description of the freezer 10, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0043] The cool storage 20 keeps the object 90 (a block of meat placed on a metal container 90A in FIG. 3) cool by applying electronic energy to the object 90 and maintaining the object 90 at a low temperature that does not cause the object to become frozen. The object 90, such as a block of meat, has the property that its freezing temperature decreases when electronic energy is applied to it. Therefore, the cool storage 20 may be one that maintains the object 90 below the freezing point.

[0044] The cooler 20 includes a cooler body 21 that stores and keeps cool an object 90 inside a darkroom 11A. Instead of cooling device 11B (see FIG. 1) that cools the object 90 to a frozen state in the freezer 10, the cooler body 21 includes cooling device 21B that cools the object 90 at a temperature at which the object 90 does not become frozen. Of the components (parts or assemblies) used in the cooler body 21, the components other than cooling device 21B are the same as the components used in the freezer 10, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0045] The refrigerator 20 is equipped with an electronic energy device 12 that applies electronic energy to the object 90 stored in the darkroom 11A. This electronic energy device 12 has a common configuration with the electronic energy device 12 (see FIG. 1) used in the freezer 10, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0046] The cooler 20 is provided with an air filter device 13 that is provided in the darkroom 11A and generates an air current 91A that circulates within the darkroom 11A and filters the air current 91A with a filter element 13A to sterilize microorganisms from the air current 91A. The air filter device 13, including the irradiation device 14 disposed in the air filter device 13, has a common configuration with the air filter device 13 (see FIG. 2) used in the freezer 10, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0047] The above-mentioned cool storage 20 circulates air 91 in the dark room 11A in which the object 90 to be kept cool is stored, and the airflow 91A is filtered by the filter element 13A, thereby sterilizing microorganisms in the dark room 11A. The cool storage 20 also sterilizes the microorganisms filtered by the filter element 13A by the sterilizing action of the photocatalyst and the sterilizing action of the deep ultraviolet light 14A, thereby preventing the microorganisms from returning to the dark room 11A as live bacteria. Here, the photocatalyst loses its excited state (returns to the ground state) in the dark room 11A and no longer exerts a sterilizing action. In response to this, the irradiation device 14 irradiates the filter element 13A carrying the photocatalyst with deep ultraviolet light 14A in the dark room 11A, thereby returning the photocatalyst to an excited state having a sterilizing action. For this reason, the photocatalyst maintains its sterilizing action as long as the irradiation device 14 irradiates the deep ultraviolet light 14A. Therefore, according to the cool storage 20, when the object 90 is cooled while electronic energy is being applied to the object 90, a sterilization function for actively reducing the number of live bacteria in the darkroom 11A can be realized.

[0048] Moreover, the cooler 20 has the same configuration as the freezer 10 according to the first embodiment, except for the cooling device 21B. Therefore, the cooler 20 enjoys the same effects as those described above as a result of each component of the freezer 10.

[0049] Third embodiment Next, the configuration of the thawing chamber 30 according to the third embodiment will be described mainly with reference to Figures 4 and 5. The thawing chamber 30 according to the third embodiment has components (parts or assemblies) in common with the freezer 10 according to the first embodiment. Therefore, the above-mentioned common components (parts or assemblies) are assigned the same reference numerals as those used in the above description of the freezer 10, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0050] The thawing chamber 30 thaws a frozen object 90 (a block of meat placed on a metal container 90A in FIG. 4) by applying electronic energy.

[0051] As shown in Fig. 4, the defrosting chamber 30 includes an air filter device 13 disposed along the right corner of the ceiling of the darkroom 11A, and an air filter device 33 disposed along the left corner of the ceiling of the darkroom 11A. Here, the air filter device 13 (see Fig. 5) used in the defrosting chamber 30 has a common configuration with the air filter device 13 (see Fig. 2) used in the freezer 10, including the irradiation device 14 disposed in the air filter device 13. Moreover, the air filter device 13 and the air filter device 33 in the defrosting chamber 30 have exactly the same configuration, except that they are reversed left and right according to their installation positions. For this reason, detailed explanations of the air filter device 13 and the air filter device 33 will be omitted.

[0052] The thawing chamber 30 includes a thawing chamber main body 31 that stores and thaws an object 90 inside a darkroom 11A. This cooler main body 21 includes a heater 31B that raises the temperature inside the darkroom 11A to thaw the object 90, instead of a cooling device 11B (see FIG. 1) that cools the object 90 in the freezer 10 to freeze the object 90.

[0053] In this embodiment, the heater 31B is attached to each of the air filter devices 13 and 33, one for each. Each heater 31B is attached to the outlet of the corresponding air filter device at a position downstream of the air blowing out. Here, FIG. 5 shows a state in which the heater 31B is attached to the outlet 13F of the air filter device 13 at a position downstream of the air 91 blowing out. In FIG. 5, the heater 31B is depicted as a long linear cord heater extending along the outlet 13F, but various heaters, such as a rod-shaped cartridge heater, can be appropriately selected and used.

[0054] The thawing chamber 30 is equipped with an electronic energy device 12 that applies electronic energy to the object 90 stored in the darkroom 11A. This electronic energy device 12 has a common configuration with the electronic energy device 12 (see FIG. 1) used in the freezer 10, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0055] The above-mentioned thawing chamber 30 circulates air 91 in the dark chamber 11A in which the object 90 to be thawed is stored, and the airflow 91A is filtered by the filter element 13A to sterilize microorganisms in the dark chamber 11A. The thawing chamber 30 also sterilizes the microorganisms filtered by the filter element 13A by the sterilizing action of the photocatalyst and the sterilizing action of the deep ultraviolet light 14A, thereby preventing the microorganisms from returning to the dark chamber 11A as live bacteria. Here, the photocatalyst loses its excited state (returns to the ground state) in the dark chamber 11A and no longer exerts a sterilizing action. In response to this, the irradiation device 14 irradiates the filter element 13A carrying the photocatalyst with deep ultraviolet light 14A in the dark chamber 11A, thereby returning the photocatalyst to an excited state having a sterilizing action. For this reason, the photocatalyst maintains its sterilizing action as long as the irradiation device 14 irradiates the deep ultraviolet light 14A. Therefore, according to the thawing chamber 30, when the object 90 is thawed while applying electronic energy to the object 90, a sterilization function for actively reducing the number of live bacteria in the darkroom 11A can be realized.

[0056] The above describes the embodiments for carrying out the present disclosure by using the first to third embodiments described above. However, it is clear to those skilled in the art that various substitutions, modifications, and changes are possible without departing from the purpose of the present disclosure. In other words, the embodiments for carrying out the present disclosure may include all substitutions, modifications, and changes that do not depart from the spirit and purpose of the claims attached to this specification. For example, the following various embodiments can be carried out as embodiments for carrying out the present disclosure.

[0057] (1) Each of the above-described embodiments has only one of the functions of a freezer (first embodiment), a cooler (second embodiment), or a thawing cabinet (third embodiment). However, the present disclosure may be applied to an apparatus having two or all of the functions of a freezer, a cooler, and a thawing cabinet.

[0058] (2) In the present disclosure, the electrode of the electronic energy device is not limited to the form of a shelf net on which a container containing an object is placed and electronic energy is applied to the object through the container. That is, the electrode may be in the form of a shelf board on which an object can be placed directly, or in the form of a container in which an object can be placed directly. The electrode may also be disposed along, for example, a wall or ceiling of a darkroom. In this case, a support structure for the object may be provided in a position adjacent to the electrode in the darkroom, and the object may be supported by the support structure, so that the object is set on the electrode. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 10 Freezer 10A Control Box 10B Cover 11 Freezer body 11A Darkroom 11B Cooling device 11C Swing Door 12 Electronic Energy Devices 12A electrode 12B power supply 12C shelf pillar 13 Air filter device 13A Filter Element 13B Crossflow Fan 13C Suction area 13D discharge area 13E Motor 13F Air Outlet 14 Irradiation device 14A deep ultraviolet light (light) 20 Refrigerator 21 Refrigerator body 21B Cooling device 30 Thawing warehouse 31 Defrosting chamber body 31B Heater 33 Air filter device 90 Objects 90A 100 91 Air 91A Airflow

Claims

1. A freezer that freezes an object by applying electronic energy to the object and cooling the object, A freezer body that stores and cools the object inside a darkroom; an electronic energy device for applying the electronic energy to the object contained in the darkroom; an air filter device that is provided in the darkroom and generates an air current circulating within the darkroom and filters the air current with a filter element to remove microorganisms from the air current; A photocatalyst supported on the filter element and having a bactericidal effect when in an excited state; An irradiation device that irradiates the filter element with light in a wavelength range that has both a bactericidal action and an action of exciting the photocatalyst in the darkroom; A freezer equipped with

2. 2. The freezer according to claim 1, The photocatalyst is an ultrafine powder of anatase-type titanium dioxide carrying fine metallic silver, The light is deep ultraviolet light. Freezer.

3. A freezer according to claim 1 or 2, The air filter device includes a cross-flow fan that is elongated in the direction of a rotation axis and has an air intake area and an air discharge area each set as a band-shaped area extending in a circumferential direction, The filter element covers the suction area from the upstream side of the suction, The irradiation device irradiates the light onto the filter element from the upstream side. Freezer.

4. A freezer according to claim 1 or 2, The electronic energy device includes: an electrode disposed in the darkroom and on which the object is placed; a power supply device that outputs AC power to the electrodes to provide the electronic energy to the object placed on the electrodes; Equipped with The frequency of the power output by the power supply device is set to be lower than the lowest frequency of the electromagnetic waves at which the electrodes can resonate. Freezer.

5. A refrigerator that cools an object by applying electronic energy to the object, A cooler body that stores the object inside a darkroom and keeps it cool; an electronic energy device for applying the electronic energy to the object contained in the darkroom; an air filter device that is provided in the darkroom and generates an air current circulating within the darkroom and filters the air current with a filter element to remove microorganisms from the air current; A photocatalyst supported on the filter element and having a bactericidal effect when in an excited state; An irradiation device that irradiates the filter element with light in a wavelength range that has both a bactericidal action and an action of exciting the photocatalyst in the darkroom; Equipped with a cold storage unit.

6. A thawing chamber for thawing a frozen object by applying electronic energy thereto, A thawing cabinet main body that stores the object inside a darkroom and thaws it; an electronic energy device for applying the electronic energy to the object contained in the darkroom; an air filter device that is provided in the darkroom and generates an air current circulating within the darkroom and filters the air current with a filter element to remove microorganisms from the air current; A photocatalyst supported on the filter element and having a bactericidal effect when in an excited state; An irradiation device that irradiates the filter element with light in a wavelength range that has both a bactericidal action and an action of exciting the photocatalyst in the darkroom; A defroster equipped with

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