Refrigerator

Abstract

To provide a refrigerator capable of immediately resolving a state that a temperature of a storage room rises with charging of a storage object into the storage room even when the storage room has a weak cooling intensity.SOLUTION: A refrigerator includes: a storage room to be cooled to a predetermined temperature zone; a cool air supply port for supplying cool air to the storage room; an opening / closing part for opening / closing the cool air supply port; a temperature detection part for detecting a temperature in the storage room; and an opening / closing control part for controlling opening / closing of the cool air supply port by the opening / closing part. The opening / closing control part can adjust an opening / closing mode of the cool air supply port by the opening / closing part according to a temperature detected by the temperature detection part, and switch between a normal control and a special control as a control of cooling the storage room. The normal control is a control of opening the cool air supply port by the opening / closing part when a temperature detected by the temperature detection part rises to a predetermined threshold, and the special control is a control including a period during which the cool air supply port is closed by the opening / closing part in a situation when a temperature detected by the temperature detection part exceeds a threshold.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a refrigerator. [Background technology]

[0002] In a refrigerator, when a storage item such as food is placed in a refrigerator compartment cooled to a refrigeration temperature range, the temperature inside the refrigerator compartment rises. For this reason, refrigerators have been devised that are configured to rapidly cool the interior of the refrigerator compartment when a storage item is placed in the refrigerator compartment. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an example of this type of refrigerator that is configured to supply cold air into the refrigerator compartment using two cold air ducts when it is detected that a storage item has been placed in the refrigerator compartment. With a refrigerator configured in this way, it is possible to quickly eliminate a state in which the temperature inside the refrigerator compartment rises as a result of the placement of a storage item in the refrigerator compartment. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-179469 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the meantime, there are refrigerators provided with a storage compartment having a weaker cooling strength than the other storage compartments. For example, a small freezer compartment provided in a refrigerator is an example of a storage compartment having a weaker cooling strength than a large freezer compartment that is cooled to a freezing temperature range.

[0005] It is also considered that by applying the above-mentioned conventional technology to such a storage chamber with a weak cooling strength, the state in which the temperature in the storage chamber rises due to the introduction of stored items into the storage chamber can be quickly resolved. However, in a storage chamber with a weak cooling strength, even if multiple cold air ducts are used to rapidly cool the storage chamber, the cooling strength remains at a weak level, and it is difficult to quickly cool the storage chamber to a desired temperature range. Therefore, even if the above-mentioned conventional technology is applied to a storage chamber with a weak cooling strength, it takes a long time for the temperature in the storage chamber to pass through the maximum ice crystal formation range, for example, the temperature range from minus 1 degree to minus 5 degrees, and there is a problem that the stored items are damaged by ice nuclei.

[0006] Therefore, this embodiment provides a refrigerator that can quickly eliminate a state in which the temperature inside a storage compartment increases due to the placement of items in the storage compartment, even if the storage compartment has a weak cooling strength. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The refrigerator according to this embodiment includes a storage compartment that is cooled to a predetermined temperature range, a cold air supply port that supplies cold air into the storage compartment, an opening / closing unit that opens and closes the cold air supply port, a temperature detection unit that detects the temperature inside the storage compartment, and an opening / closing control unit that controls the opening and closing of the cold air supply port by the opening / closing unit, and the opening / closing control unit adjusts the opening and closing state of the cold air supply port by the opening / closing unit in accordance with the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit, and is capable of switching between normal control and special control as control for cooling the storage compartment, and the normal control is control that opens the cold air supply port by the opening / closing unit when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit rises to a predetermined threshold value, and the special control is control that includes a period during which the opening / closing unit closes the cold air supply port when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit exceeds the threshold value. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration example of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment; [Diagram 2]FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing a schematic configuration example of a small freezer compartment and its surroundings in a refrigerator according to a first embodiment; [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a control system of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of opening and closing control of an opening / closing device performed by the refrigerator according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of opening and closing control of an opening / closing device by a refrigerator according to a second embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of opening and closing control of an opening / closing device by a refrigerator according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, a number of embodiments of the refrigerator will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that substantially the same elements in the number of embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0010] (First embodiment) 1, a refrigerator 10 includes a rectangular insulated box 11 that constitutes the outer shell of the refrigerator, and includes a plurality of storage compartments 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 in which food and other items are stored. Although not shown in detail, the insulated box 11 includes a heat insulating material between an inner box and an outer box. As the heat insulating material constituting the insulated box 11, various heat insulating materials can be used, such as a vacuum insulation panel, urethane foam, and a heat insulating molded body made of a heat insulating material.

[0011] In this case, storage chamber 12 is a refrigerator chamber maintained in the refrigerator temperature range. Hereinafter, storage chamber 12 may be referred to as "refrigerator chamber 12". Storage chamber 13 is a vegetable chamber maintained in the refrigerator temperature range. Hereinafter, storage chamber 13 may be referred to as "vegetable chamber 13". Storage chamber 14 is an ice-making chamber maintained in the freezing temperature range. Hereinafter, storage chamber 14 may be referred to as "ice-making chamber 14". Storage chamber 15 is a small freezing chamber maintained in the freezing temperature range. Hereinafter, storage chamber 15 may be referred to as "small freezing chamber 15". Storage chamber 16 is a large freezing chamber maintained in the freezing temperature range. Hereinafter, storage chamber 16 may be referred to as "large freezing chamber 16".

[0012] The refrigerator compartment 12 is the uppermost storage compartment among the multiple storage compartments 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 that the refrigerator 10 has. The vegetable compartment 13 is provided below the refrigerator compartment 12 and is located in the center of the insulated box 11 in the vertical direction. The ice making compartment 14 and the small freezing compartment 15 are provided below the vegetable compartment 13 and are lined up in the horizontal direction of the refrigerator 10 within the insulated box 11. The large freezing compartment 16 is provided below the ice making compartment 14 and the small freezing compartment 15 within the insulated box 11. The large freezing compartment 16 is the lowermost storage compartment among the multiple storage compartments 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 that the refrigerator 10 has. In this embodiment, the large freezing compartment 16 is provided directly below the ice making compartment 14 and the small freezing compartment 15 without any other storage compartments between them.

[0013] The front opening of the refrigerator compartment 12 is opened and closed by two refrigerator compartment doors 12D[L], 12D[R] that can rotate in the left and right direction, that is, two refrigerator compartment doors 12D[L], 12D[R] of the so-called double door type. The front opening of the vegetable compartment 13 is opened and closed by a storage compartment door that can move in the front and back direction, that is, a so-called drawer type vegetable compartment door 13D. The front opening of the ice making compartment 14 is opened and closed by a storage compartment door that can move in the front and back direction, that is, a so-called drawer type ice making compartment door 14D. The front opening of the small freezer compartment 15 is opened and closed by a storage compartment door that can move in the front and back direction, that is, a so-called drawer type small freezer compartment door 15D. The front opening of the large freezer compartment 16 is opened and closed by a storage compartment door that can move in the front and back direction, that is, a so-called drawer type large freezer compartment door 16D.

[0014] Next, a configuration example of the small freezing compartment 15 and its surrounding area in the refrigerator 10 will be described in more detail. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the refrigerator 10 has a cold air generation chamber 21 at the rear of the small freezing compartment 15 and the large freezing compartment 16. Inside the cold air generation chamber 21, a freezing cooler 21A, a freezing blower 21B, and the like are provided. The freezing cooler 21A is provided in a portion of the cold air generation chamber 21 that is the rear of the large freezing compartment 16. The freezing blower 21B is provided in a portion of the cold air generation chamber 21 that is the rear of the small freezing compartment 15.

[0015] The refrigeration cooler 21A constitutes a well-known refrigeration cycle together with a compressor, a radiator, a throttle, a refrigeration cooler, a switching valve, etc. (not shown). The refrigeration cooler 21A is cooled as the compressor circulates the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle to generate cold air. The cold air generated by the refrigeration cooler 21A is blown by the refrigeration blower 21B and is supplied from the cold air supply port 15a into the small freezing chamber 15 and from the cold air supply port 16a into the large freezing chamber 16. As a result, the small freezing chamber 15 and the large freezing chamber 16 are cooled to the predetermined freezing temperature ranges set for each chamber.

[0016] Here, the cold air supply port 16a is directly connected to the inside of the cold air generation chamber 21 at the rear of the large freezing chamber 16. Therefore, the cold air in the cold air generation chamber 21 is easily supplied to the large freezing chamber 16, and therefore the cooling strength is stronger than that of the small freezing chamber 15. In this case, the inside of the large freezing chamber 16 can be cooled to a strong freezing temperature range, for example, from -15 degrees to -20 degrees. The strong freezing temperature range can be appropriately changed and set within the temperature range in which the stored items can be frozen.

[0017] On the other hand, the cold air supply port 15a is indirectly connected to the cold air generating chamber 21 through the connecting air duct 22 at the rear of the small freezing chamber 15. Therefore, the cold air in the cold air generating chamber 21 is less likely to be supplied to the small freezing chamber 15 than to the large freezing chamber 16, and therefore the cooling strength is weaker than that of the large freezing chamber 16. In this case, the small freezing chamber 15 can be cooled to a weak freezing temperature range, for example, from -7 degrees to -12 degrees. The weak freezing temperature range can be appropriately changed and set within a temperature range in which stored items can be frozen and which is higher than the strong freezing temperature range described above.

[0018] The strong freezing temperature zone and the weak freezing temperature zone can be set manually by the user via, for example, an operation unit (not shown) provided in the refrigerator 10. The operation unit (not shown) is, for example, built into the front surface of the refrigerator compartment door 12D[L] or the front surface of the refrigerator compartment door 12D[R]. The refrigerator 10 may also be configured to automatically set the strong freezing temperature zone and the weak freezing temperature zone according to the cooling mode being executed.

[0019] The refrigerator 10 also includes an opening / closing device 23. The opening / closing device 23 is an example of an opening / closing section. The opening / closing device 23 is configured as a so-called damper, and in this case, is provided in the middle of the connecting air duct 22. The opening / closing device 23 performs an opening / closing operation in the connecting air duct 22 to switch the cold air supply port 15a between an open state in which cold air can be supplied to the small freezer compartment 15 and a closed state in which cold air cannot be supplied to the small freezer compartment 15. That is, although the opening / closing device 23 is provided in the connecting air duct 22, it has a function of indirectly opening and closing the cold air supply port 15a. The opening / closing device 23 may be provided at the cold air supply port 15a instead of in the connecting air duct 22. According to this configuration example, the opening / closing device 23 can directly open and close the cold air supply port 15a.

[0020] The refrigerator 10 also includes a temperature detection sensor 24 in the small freezer compartment 15. The temperature detection sensor 24 is an example of a temperature detection unit, and is configured to be able to detect the temperature in the small freezer compartment 15. In this case, the temperature detection sensor 24 is provided on the rear surface of the small freezer compartment 15. The temperature detection sensor 24 is also provided in the vicinity of the cold air supply port 15a. The position of the temperature detection sensor 24 can be changed as appropriate as long as it is a position where the temperature in the small freezer compartment 15 can be detected.

[0021] Furthermore, a heat insulating material 26 is provided inside the partition wall separating the small freezing chamber 15 from the large freezing chamber 16. According to this configuration example, the heat insulating material 26 can prevent the cold heat in the large freezing chamber 16 from being transferred to the small freezing chamber 15. This prevents the small freezing chamber 15 from being cooled more than necessary, making it easier to maintain the small freezing chamber 15 in a weak freezing temperature range. Note that various heat insulating materials can be used as the heat insulating material 26, such as a vacuum insulation panel, urethane foam, or a heat insulating molded body molded from a heat insulating material.

[0022] Next, an example of the configuration of a control system provided in the refrigerator 10 will be described. The control device 31 illustrated in Fig. 3 is mainly configured with, for example, a microcomputer, and is configured to be able to control the overall operation of the refrigerator 10 based on a control program and various setting information. The control device 31 is connected to various components of the drive system provided in the refrigerator 10, such as the compressor and the freezer blower (not shown). The control device 31 is configured to be able to control the overall operation of the refrigerator 10 by controlling the drive of these drive system components.

[0023] The control device 31 is also connected to the above-mentioned opening / closing device 23 and temperature detection sensor 24. The control device 31 is configured to be able to control the opening and closing of the cold air supply port 15a by the opening / closing device 23 based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection sensor 24, i.e., the temperature inside the small freezer compartment 15. The control device 31 having such a function can be defined as an example of an opening / closing control section.

[0024] Next, an example of the opening and closing control of the opening and closing device 23 by the control device 31 will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 4. Note that the waveform illustrated with the symbol S in Fig. 4 shows an example of change in temperature detected by the temperature detection sensor 24, i.e., the temperature inside the small freezer compartment 15. Also, the waveform illustrated with the symbol P in Fig. 4 shows an example of change in temperature of a stored item placed in the small freezer compartment 15. Also, the waveform illustrated with the symbol D in Fig. 4 shows an example of change in the open / closed state of the opening and closing device 23.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 4, a predetermined start threshold Ka and a predetermined end threshold Kb are set in the refrigerator 10. In this case, the predetermined start threshold Ka is the upper limit temperature of the weak freezing temperature range set at that time or a temperature close to that. Also, the predetermined end threshold Kb is the lower limit temperature of the weak freezing temperature range set at that time or a temperature close to that.

[0026] And, the control device 31 basically executes normal control. In this normal control, the control device 31 is configured to open the cold air supply port 15a by the opening and closing device 23 when the temperature S detected by the temperature detection sensor 24 reaches, i.e. rises, a predetermined start threshold value Ka. As a result, the control device 31 starts to supply cold air into the small freezing compartment 15, and the temperature S in the small freezing compartment 15 drops accordingly.

[0027] In this normal control, the control device 31 is configured to close the cold air supply port 15a by the opening / closing device 23 when the temperature S detected by the temperature detection sensor 24 reaches or drops to a predetermined end threshold value Kb. This causes the control device 31 to stop the supply of cold air to the small freezing compartment 15, and the temperature S in the small freezing compartment 15 rises.

[0028] By executing such normal control, the control device 31 maintains the inside of the small freezing compartment 15 cooled to within the temperature range of the weak freezing temperature zone.

[0029] However, when a stored item that is above room temperature or above the upper limit temperature of the weak freezing temperature range is placed in small freezing compartment 15, the heat of the stored item causes the temperature S inside small freezing compartment 15 to rise. This causes the temperature S detected by temperature detection sensor 24 to rise. When temperature S detected by temperature detection sensor 24 exceeds a predetermined start threshold Ka, control device 31 switches the control to be executed from normal control to special control.

[0030] In this special control, the control device 31 adjusts the opening / closing manner of the cool air supply port 15a by the opening / closing device 23. In other words, the control device 31 makes the opening / closing manner of the cool air supply port 15a by the opening / closing device 23 different from the opening / closing manner in normal control.

[0031] More specifically, in this special control, when the temperature S detected by the temperature detection sensor 24 exceeds a predetermined start threshold Ka, the control device 31 maintains the open state in which the opening / closing device 23 opens the cold air supply port 15a until a predetermined time T1 has elapsed from that point in time. At this time, the control device 31 maintains the open state in which the opening / closing device 23 opens the cold air supply port 15a until the predetermined time T1 has elapsed, even if the temperature S detected by the temperature detection sensor 24 reaches, i.e., drops to, a predetermined end threshold Kb.

[0032] That is, in the special control, the control device 31 continues to supply cold air from the cold air supply port 15a to the small freezing compartment 15 even after the temperature S detected by the temperature detection sensor 24, i.e., the temperature S inside the small freezing compartment 15, has been cooled to or below the predetermined termination threshold value Kb. This allows the control device 31 to promote the cooling of the stored items in the small freezing compartment 15, making it easier for the stored items to become supercooled.

[0033] Here, the portion surrounded by the dashed line Q in the waveform P illustrated in FIG. 4 indicates that the stored item put into the small freezer 15 is in a supercooled state. In the stored item in which the supercooled state has occurred, the moisture contained in the stored item is cooled to a temperature below the freezing point without solidifying and remaining in a liquid state. This makes it possible to suppress the formation of ice nuclei in the stored item, in this case large ice nuclei that may destroy the structure of the stored item. In the control example illustrated in FIG. 4, the predetermined time T1 can be appropriately changed and set. Furthermore, when the temperature S detected by the temperature detection sensor 24 first reaches the start threshold value Ka after the predetermined time T1 has elapsed, the control device 31 switches the control to be executed from the special control to the normal control. In other words, the control device 31 returns from the state in which the special control is executed to the state in which the normal control is executed. In addition, the condition for switching the control executed by the control device 31 from the special control to the normal control can be appropriately changed and set.

[0034] According to the refrigerator 10 illustrated above, when the temperature S detected by the temperature detection sensor 24, i.e., the temperature S inside the small freezer compartment 15, exceeds a predetermined start threshold value Ka, the control device 31 is configured to adjust the opening and closing mode of the cold air supply port 15a by the opening and closing device 23 to continue supplying cold air to the small freezer compartment 15 even after the inside of the small freezer compartment 15 has been cooled to below a predetermined end threshold value Kb.

[0035] According to this configuration example, even if the small freezing chamber 15 has a weaker cooling strength than the large freezing chamber 16, the state in which the temperature in the small freezing chamber 15 rises due to the introduction of stored items into the small freezing chamber 15 can be quickly resolved. In addition, the quick freezing of the stored items in the small freezing chamber 15 can be promoted, and the time to pass through the so-called maximum ice crystal formation zone can be shortened as much as possible. This makes it possible to suppress the formation of ice nuclei in the stored items, especially large ice nuclei that may destroy the structure of the stored items, and to prevent damage to the stored items caused by such ice nuclei.

[0036] Second embodiment 5, when the control device 31 starts special control in response to the temperature S detected by the temperature detection sensor 24 exceeding a predetermined start threshold Ka, the opening / closing device 23 first maintains the closed state of the cold air supply port 15a until a predetermined time T2 has elapsed. Then, the control device 31 maintains the open state of the opening / closing device 23 maintaining the cold air supply port 15a until a predetermined time T3 has elapsed. At this time, the control device 31 maintains the open state of the opening / closing device 23 maintaining the cold air supply port 15a until the predetermined time T3 has elapsed, even if the temperature S detected by the temperature detection sensor 24 reaches, i.e., drops, to a predetermined end threshold Kb.

[0037] As described above, in the second embodiment, the control device 31 is configured to, when the temperature S detected by the temperature detection sensor 24, i.e., the temperature S inside the small freezer chamber 15, exceeds a predetermined start threshold value Ka, first close the cold air supply port 15a to stop the supply of cold air into the small freezer chamber 15, and then open the cold air supply port 15a to supply cold air into the small freezer chamber 15.

[0038] According to verification experiments conducted by the inventors of the present application, it has been confirmed that by providing a period during which cold air is not supplied to a stored item during the cooling process, the stored item is more likely to become supercooled. The reason for this is that, for example, by preventing cold air from being applied to the stored item, it is possible to suppress vibrations and impacts on the moisture in the stored item, which is thought to make the supercooled state more likely to occur.

[0039] According to the control example illustrated in the second embodiment, a period T2 is provided in which cold air is not supplied during the process of cooling the stored item. This makes it easier for the stored item to be supercooled, in other words, makes it harder for ice nuclei to form in the stored item, and therefore, damage to the stored item due to ice nuclei can be more effectively prevented. In the control example illustrated in FIG. 5, the predetermined times T2 and T3 can be changed and set as appropriate. Furthermore, when the temperature S detected by the temperature detection sensor 24 reaches the start threshold value Ka for the first time after the predetermined time T3 has elapsed, the control device 31 switches the control to be executed from the special control to the normal control. In other words, the control device 31 returns from the state in which the special control is executed to the state in which the normal control is executed. The condition for switching the control executed by the control device 31 from the special control to the normal control can be changed and set as appropriate.

[0040] Third embodiment In the control example illustrated in FIG. 6, a plurality of start thresholds Ka are set, in this case a first start threshold Ka1, a second start threshold Ka2, and a third start threshold Ka3. The first start threshold Ka1 is an example of a basic start threshold, the second start threshold Ka2 is an example of a first special start threshold, and the third start threshold Ka3 is an example of a second special start threshold. In this case, the second start threshold Ka2 is set to a value higher than the first start threshold Ka1, and the third start threshold Ka3 is set to a value higher than the second start threshold Ka2. That is, for the plurality of thresholds, a magnitude relationship of third start threshold Ka3>second start threshold Ka2>first start threshold Ka1 is established. In addition, the interval between the first start threshold Ka1 and the second start threshold Ka2, and the interval between the second start threshold Ka2 and the third start threshold Ka3 may be the same or different.

[0041] In the third embodiment, the control device 31 is configured to vary the opening and closing manner of the cold air supply port 15a by the opening and closing device 23 depending on the start threshold value Ka1, Ka2, Ka3 that is exceeded or reached by the temperature S detected by the temperature detection sensor 24.

[0042] More specifically, when the control device 31 starts special control in response to the temperature S detected by the temperature detection sensor 24 exceeding a predetermined start threshold value Ka1, the opening / closing device 23 first maintains the open state in which the cold air supply port 15a is open. At this time, the opening / closing device 23 is open, and cooling is being performed inside the small freezer compartment 15. However, the temperature S detected by the temperature detection sensor 24, i.e., the temperature S inside the small freezer compartment 15, gradually rises due to the influence of, for example, heat released by the stored items, heat transferred from the outside of the refrigerator 10 to the small freezer compartment 15, and heat transferred from the vegetable compartment 13 to the small freezer compartment 15.

[0043] Then, when the temperature S detected by the temperature detection sensor 24 exceeds a predetermined start threshold value Ka2, the control device 31 keeps the opening / closing device 23 in the closed state with the cold air supply port 15a closed. Then, when the temperature S detected by the temperature detection sensor 24 reaches a predetermined start threshold value Ka3, the control device 31 keeps the opening / closing device 23 in the open state with the cold air supply port 15a open again.

[0044] After the temperature S detected by the temperature detection sensor 24 reaches the predetermined start threshold value Ka3, the control device 31 maintains the open state in which the opening / closing device 23 opens the cold air supply port 15a until the predetermined time T4 has elapsed. At this time, the control device 31 maintains the open state in which the opening / closing device 23 opens the cold air supply port 15a until the predetermined time T4 has elapsed, even if the temperature S detected by the temperature detection sensor 24 reaches the predetermined end threshold value Kb, i.e., drops.

[0045] The control example illustrated in the third embodiment also provides a period during which cold air is not supplied during the process of cooling the stored items, which makes it easier for the stored items to become supercooled, in other words, makes it harder for ice nuclei to form in the stored items, and therefore makes it possible to more effectively prevent damage to the stored items caused by ice nuclei.

[0046] According to the control example exemplified in the third embodiment, a plurality of start thresholds Ka1, Ka2, and Ka3 are set as the start threshold Ka, and the control device 31 is configured to vary the opening and closing state of the cold air supply port 15a by the opening and closing device 23 according to the threshold exceeded or reached by the temperature S detected by the temperature detection sensor 24 among the plurality of start thresholds Ka1, Ka2, and Ka3. According to this configuration example, the opening and closing state of the cold air supply port 15a by the opening and closing device 23 can be finely adjusted according to the temperature S detected by the temperature detection sensor 24, that is, the temperature S in the small freezer compartment 15. This makes it easier to cause a supercooled state in the stored items, and makes it harder to cause ice nuclei in the stored items.

[0047] The number of start thresholds Ka is not limited to three, and may be, for example, two or four or more. By setting at least two different start thresholds Ka, it is possible to set one timing for opening and one timing for closing the cold air supply port 15a by the opening / closing device 23. Furthermore, by setting four or more different start thresholds Ka, it is possible to adjust the opening and closing state of the cold air supply port 15a by the opening / closing device 23 more finely. In the control example illustrated in FIG. 6, the predetermined time T4 can be appropriately changed and set. Furthermore, when the temperature S detected by the temperature detection sensor 24 first reaches the start threshold Ka after the predetermined time T4 has elapsed, the control device 31 switches the control to be executed from the special control to the normal control. That is, the control device 31 returns from the state in which the special control is executed to the state in which the normal control is executed. The condition for switching the control executed by the control device 31 from the special control to the normal control can be appropriately changed and set.

[0048] (Other embodiments) Although multiple embodiments of the refrigerator 10 have been described above, the present embodiment is not limited to the multiple embodiments described above, and various modifications and extensions can be made without departing from the gist of the present embodiment. For example, the refrigerator 10 may be configured by appropriately selecting and combining multiple embodiments described above.

[0049] Furthermore, when a temperature detection sensor configured to be able to set its detectable temperature range, that is, a temperature detection sensor configured to be able to set the upper and lower limit values ​​of the detectable temperature range, is applied as the temperature detection sensor 24, the upper limit value of the detectable temperature range set in the temperature detection sensor, that is, the upper limit threshold value, can be set as the start threshold value Ka, and the lower limit value of the detectable temperature range set in the temperature detection sensor, that is, the lower limit threshold value, can be set as the end threshold value Kb. This makes it possible to set the start threshold value Ka or the end threshold value Kb in association with the detectable temperature range set in the temperature detection sensor, and the embodiment exemplified in the present disclosure can be realized by utilizing the setting values ​​set in the temperature detection sensor.

[0050] Furthermore, even if the refrigerator 10 uses a temperature detection sensor configured to be able to set its detectable temperature range as the temperature detection sensor 24, it can set a non-upper limit threshold Ka different from the upper limit value of the detectable temperature range set in the temperature detection sensor as the start threshold Ka, and can set a non-lower limit threshold Kb different from the lower limit value of the detectable temperature range set in the temperature detection sensor as the end threshold Kb. This allows the start threshold Ka or end threshold Kb to be set without being restricted by the setting value set in the temperature detection sensor, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in setting the start threshold Ka or end threshold Kb.

[0051] The refrigerator 10 may also be configured to include a cooling plate made of a material having a higher thermal conductivity than the storage container, such as a metal material, inside a resin storage container (not shown) provided in the small freezer compartment 15. This can further promote cooling of the stored items in the storage container, and further suppress the generation of ice nuclei in the stored items.

[0052] In addition, the above-described embodiments can be applied to storage compartments other than the small freezer compartment 15 in the refrigerator 10, so long as the storage compartment is configured to have a weaker cooling strength than the other storage compartments.

[0053] In the control example illustrated in Figures 4 to 6, a case is illustrated in which a storage item is put into the small freezer compartment 15 while the temperature S detected by the temperature detection sensor 24 is dropping during execution of normal control. In this case, the control device 31 can execute control to switch from normal control to special control when the temperature S detected by the temperature detection sensor 24 reaches the predetermined start threshold Ka and then reaches the predetermined start threshold Ka again without reaching the predetermined end threshold Kb. However, when a storage item is put into the small freezer compartment 15 while the temperature S detected by the temperature detection sensor 24 is rising during execution of normal control, the control device 31 can execute control to switch from normal control to special control in response to the temperature S detected by the temperature detection sensor 24 reaching the predetermined end threshold Kb and then reaching the predetermined start threshold Ka.

[0054] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented merely as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, modifications, etc. can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. The present embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] In the drawing, 10 indicates a refrigerator, 15 indicates a small freezer (storage compartment), 15a indicates a cold air supply port, 23 indicates an opening / closing device (opening / closing section), 24 indicates a temperature detection sensor (temperature detection section), and 31 indicates a control device (opening / closing control section).

Claims

1. A storage chamber that is cooled to a predetermined temperature range; A cold air supply port for supplying cold air into the storage chamber; An opening / closing unit that opens and closes the cold air supply port; A temperature detection unit that detects a temperature inside the storage chamber; an opening / closing control unit that controls opening and closing of the cold air supply port by the opening / closing unit; Equipped with The opening / closing control unit adjusts an opening / closing state of the cold air supply port by the opening / closing unit in response to a temperature detected by the temperature detection unit, The control for cooling the storage chamber can be switched between normal control and special control, The normal control is a control for opening the cold air supply port by the opening / closing unit when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit rises to a predetermined threshold value, The special control is a control including a period during which the cold air supply port is closed by the opening / closing unit when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit exceeds the threshold value.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein in the special control, the operation of closing the cold air supply port by the opening / closing unit is performed when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is higher than the threshold value.

3. A first threshold value, which is the threshold value, and a second threshold value, which is a temperature higher than the first threshold value, are set, 3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein in the special control, when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit reaches the second threshold value, the cool air supply port is opened by the opening / closing unit.

4. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the special control includes a period of opening the cold air supply port after the opening / closing unit closes the cold air supply port, and the operation of opening the cold air supply port after the opening / closing unit closes the cold air supply port is performed based on the elapsed time after the opening / closing unit closes the cold air supply port.

5. 5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing unit opens the cold air supply port when the special control starts, and thereafter, when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit rises, the opening / closing unit closes the cold air supply port.

6. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a period during which the opening / closing unit opens the cold air supply port is set before the end of the special control, and the period ends based on the elapsed time after the opening / closing unit opens the cold air supply port.

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