Storage device for containers

Abstract

To provide a storage device capable of suppressing or eliminating variations in the temperature of a container by increasing the efficiency of heat exchange on a lid body side.SOLUTION: A storage device (1) includes a main body (2) provided with a housing space (13) for a container (100), a first heat transfer body (12) provided so as to face the housing space (13), a heat exchange module (11) that exchanges heat with the container (100) in the housing space (13) via the first heat transfer body (12) to adjust a temperature of the container (100), and a lid body (3) combined with the main body (2) so as to open and close the housing space (13).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a storage device capable of storing containers such as beverage containers within a predetermined temperature range. [Background technology]

[0002] A storage device for storing beverage containers and the like at a predetermined temperature range is known, in which a cylindrical container holder is attached to a refrigerated chamber inside a housing with a thermal insulation structure, a lid attached to the mouth of the container is fitted into the housing to accommodate the container in the refrigerated chamber and seal the refrigerated chamber, and the sealed cooling chamber is cooled using heat exchange means such as a Peltier element (see, for example, Patent Document 1).A storage device is also known in which a main body with a thermal insulation structure having a container storage space and a lid that closes the storage space are interconnected, and the storage space is sealed by closing the lid after the container is placed in the storage space (see, for example, Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-111512 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-30768 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In conventional storage devices, a cylindrical heat transfer body made of a heat transfer material such as metal is placed around the storage space, and the storage space is cooled by utilizing the heat exchange effect via the heat transfer body. On the other hand, although the lid body is made of a resin or the like and has a certain degree of thermal insulation, no heat transfer structure is provided on the lid side. Therefore, the efficiency of heat exchange on the lid side is relatively reduced, which can cause temperature variations in the contents of the container. If the entire container cannot be surrounded by the heat transfer body, such as when part of the container protrudes toward the lid side beyond the heat transfer body, temperature variations are more likely to occur.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a storage device that can increase the efficiency of heat exchange on the lid side and suppress or eliminate variations in the temperature of the containers. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A container storage device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a main body having a storage space for containers, a first heat transfer body arranged to face the storage space, a temperature control means for adjusting the temperature of the container by exchanging heat with the container in the storage space via the first heat transfer body, a lid body that is combined with the main body to open and close the storage space, and a second heat transfer body that is arranged on the lid body so as to come into contact with the first heat transfer body when the storage space is closed by the lid body. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a container storage device according to one embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a left side view of the storage device of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the storage device taken along line III-III in FIG. 4. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the lid side of the storage device taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 2. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the storage device taken along line VV in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of part VI in FIG. 5 . [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of part VII in FIG. 5 . [Figure 8] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration according to a modified example of FIG. 6. [Figure 9] 9 is a diagram showing an example of the elastic member of FIG. 8. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] 1 and 2 show an example of a container storage device according to one embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated storage device 1 stores containers filled with liquids such as beverages at a predetermined temperature range and includes a main body 2 and a lid 3. The storage device 1 has an exterior shape in which one side of a rectangular parallelepiped is curved into a cylindrical shape. In the following description, the curved surface of the storage device 1 is referred to as the front surface 1a. However, the exterior shape of the storage device 1 may be modified as appropriate. The main body 2 functions as the main part for storing the containers to be stored, and a storage space for the containers is provided therein. The lid 3 is connected to the rear surface 2a of the main body 2 via a hinge 4, and can be opened and closed between a closed position that closes the storage space within the main body 2 and an open position that opens the storage space. FIG. 1 shows the lid 3 in the closed position, while FIG. 2 shows the lid 3 in the closed position with a solid line and the lid 3 in the open position with an imaginary line. However, the cover 3 need only be able to be combined with the main body 2 so as to open and close the storage space, and does not necessarily need to be connected to the main body 2 using a connecting means such as a hinge 4. For example, the cover 3 may be detachable from the main body 2.

[0009] A clasp 5 is provided on the front surface 1a of the storage device 1 as an example of a restraining means for restraining the lid body 3 in the closed position. The clasp 5 is, for example, a buckle-like fastener that prevents relative displacement between the main body 2 and the lid body 3 by engaging a connecting portion 5a attached to the front surface 2b of the main body 2 with a hook 5b on the lid body 3 and operating the connecting portion 5a to a predetermined restraining position. The restraining means can be modified as appropriate as long as it can restrain the lid body 3 in the closed position. An opening 6 for ventilation between the inside and outside of the storage device 1 is provided on the left side surface 2c of the main body 2.

[0010] The internal structure of the storage device 1 is shown in Figure 3. The main body 2 has a housing 10 that functions as the outer shell of the main body 2. The housing 10 is made of resin, for example. However, the housing 10 may also be formed as a composite structure formed by appropriately embedding metal insert parts in the resin portion. Inside the housing 10, a heat exchange module 11, which serves as an example of temperature adjustment means, and a holder 12 are provided. The heat exchange module 11 is a well-known heat exchange device that uses a Peltier element to generate heat absorption or heat generation in the heat transfer portion 11a.

[0011] The holder 12 has a peripheral wall portion 12a and a bottom plate portion 12b, and is formed in a cylindrical shape with an open upper end. However, the holder 12 does not necessarily have to be cylindrical. For example, the holder 12 may be formed as a tubular body with a polygonal cross section. The holder 12 is formed of a heat-conductive material. For example, the holder 12 is formed of a metal material with high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum. The peripheral wall portion 12a and the bottom plate portion 12b may be formed as separate parts and then assembled together. Alternatively, the peripheral wall portion 12a and the bottom plate portion 12b may be integrally formed using an integral forming method such as deep drawing. A flange 12c is formed at the upper end of the peripheral wall portion 12a, i.e., the open end of the holder 12, so as to extend the peripheral wall portion 12a outward. An upper surface 12d of the flange 12c is approximately flush with an upper surface 2d of the main body 2. The housing 10 is provided with a protruding portion 10a above the heat exchange module 11, which protrudes from the upper surface 2d of the main body 2. The lid 3 is connected to the protruding portion 10a via a hinge 4.

[0012] The space inside the holder 12 is used as a storage space 13 for storing the container 100 to be stored. Thus, the storage space 13 is covered by the holder 12 except for an opening at the top end for inserting the container 100. As is clear from FIG. 3 , the container 100 is stored in the storage space 13 with its axis oriented vertically. The container 100 stored in the storage space 13 is supported by the bottom plate portion 12b of the holder 12. The container 100 may be a container of various types, such as a can, a plastic bottle, or a glass bottle. The inner diameter Di of the peripheral wall portion 12a of the holder 12 and the depth Dp of the holder 12, i.e., the distance from the upper surface 12d of the flange 12c to the bottom plate portion 12b, may be appropriately set depending on the dimensions of the container 100 expected to be stored in the storage device 1. In the storage device 1, multiple types of containers 100 with different dimensions can be selectively stored in the storage space 13. Therefore, the inner diameter Di of the holder 12 only needs to be set to be equal to or greater than the maximum expected outer diameter of the container 100. Therefore, the container 100 and the peripheral wall portion 12a do not necessarily need to contact each other, and there may be a gap between them. The depth Dp of the holder 12 may be less than the overall height of the container 100. If the container 100 protrudes above the holder 12, the protruding portion will enter the expanded space 22 on the lid 3 side.

[0013] The peripheral wall portion 12a of the holder 12 contacts the heat transfer portion 11a of the heat exchange module 11. As a result, heat is transferred between the heat exchange module 11 and the accommodation space 13 via the holder 12, and heat exchange occurs between the heat exchange module 11 and the container 100 accommodated in the accommodation space 13. Therefore, the holder 12 functions as an example of a first heat transfer body provided in the main body 2. When the heat exchange module 11 is operated so that the heat transfer portion 11a is on the heat absorption side, heat in the accommodation space 13 is absorbed by the heat exchange module 11 via the holder 12, and the container 100 accommodated in the accommodation space 13 is cooled. On the other hand, when the heat exchange module 11 is operated so that the heat transfer portion 11a is on the heat release side, heat generated by the heat exchange module 11 is transferred to the heat exchange module 11 via the holder 12, and the container 100 accommodated in the accommodation space 13 is heated.

[0014] The temperature adjustment means is not limited to the example using the heat exchange module 11 using a Peltier element. For example, the temperature adjustment means may be configured appropriately as long as it is capable of adjusting the temperature of the container 100 accommodated in the accommodation space 13 by heat exchange with the container 100. For example, the temperature adjustment means may form a flow path in the protrusion portion and supply cold or hot water to the flow path to keep the container 100 cold or hot. Alternatively, various heat exchange devices, machines, and instruments may be used as the temperature adjustment means as long as they achieve heat exchange by absorbing heat from or adding heat to the container 100, such as heat exchange devices using various heat exchange methods such as a compressor-type heat exchanger or a chiller-type heat exchanger, a heat exchanger using electromagnetic induction heating, or a heat exchanger using a heat transfer module. Furthermore, the temperature adjustment means may be configured to exchange heat with the container 100 using a heat exchange medium such as water, ice, or a cooling agent.

[0015] A heat insulating material 14 is further provided inside the housing 10. For example, the heat insulating material 14 is provided so as to cover almost the entire outside of the peripheral wall portion 12a and the bottom plate portion 12b of the holder 12. The heat insulating material 14 is made of a material with low thermal conductivity, such as urethane foam. The area where the heat insulating material 14 is provided and the number of heat insulating materials 14 may be set as appropriate.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the lid 3 has a housing 20 that functions as an outer shell of the lid 3. The housing 20 is made of resin, for example. However, the housing 20 may be formed as a composite structure formed by appropriately embedding metal insert parts in the resin. A cap 21 is provided inside the housing 20. The cap 21 has a peripheral wall portion 21a and a top plate portion 21b, and is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom that is open at the bottom. However, the cap 21 does not necessarily have to be cylindrical. For example, the cap 21 may be formed as a tubular body with a polygonal cross section. The cap 21 is made of a heat-conductive material. For example, the cap 21 is formed of a metal material with high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum. The peripheral wall portion 21a and the top plate portion 21b may be formed as separate parts and then assembled together. Alternatively, the peripheral wall portion 21a and the top plate portion 21b may be integrally formed using an integral molding method such as deep drawing. A flange 21c is formed at the lower end of the peripheral wall 21a, i.e., the open end of the cap 21, to extend the peripheral wall 21a outward. A lower surface 21d of the flange 21c is an end surface that can come into contact with the upper surface 12d of the holder 12.

[0017] The space inside the cap 21 functions as the expansion space 22 described above. When the lid 3 is in the closed position, the expansion space 22 is continuous with the storage space 13 on the main body 2 side, thereby substantially expanding the storage space 13 upward. Therefore, the expansion space 22 is covered by the cap 21 except for an opening on the lower end side that connects the expansion space 22 to the storage space 13. When the lid 3 is in the closed position, the cap 21 is positioned coaxially with the holder 12, and the inner diameter of the peripheral wall portion 21a of the cap 21 is set to be equal to or larger than the inner diameter of the peripheral wall portion 12a of the holder 12. Therefore, even if the upper part of the container 100 stored in the holder 12 protrudes from the storage space 13, the protruding portion can be accommodated in the expansion space 22.

[0018] When the lid 3 is operated to the closed position, a lower surface 21d of the peripheral wall 21, which is the end surface of the cap 21 facing the main body 2, comes into contact with an upper surface 12d of the peripheral wall 12a, which is the end surface of the holder 12 facing the lid 3. This allows heat to be transferred between the holder 12 and the cap 21. Due to the contact between these surfaces 12d, 21d, heat is transferred between the heat exchange module 11 and the expansion space 22 via the holder 12 and the cap 21, and heat exchange also occurs between the heat exchange module 11 and the upper part of the container 100 inserted in the expansion space 22. Thus, the cap 21 functions as an example of a second heat transfer body provided in the lid 3.

[0019] According to the above configuration, the cap 21 functions as an example of a second heat transfer body, thereby increasing the efficiency of heat exchange on the lid 3 side and suppressing or eliminating temperature variations in the container 100. The expansion space 22 is provided on the lid 3 side, and the storage space 13 and the expansion space 22 are connected when the storage space 13 is closed by the lid 3. This makes it possible to easily attach and detach a container 100 having a height exceeding the depth Dp of the storage space 13, and also makes it possible to efficiently exchange heat with the portion of the container 100 protruding from the storage space 13 by utilizing the heat transfer effect via the cap 21.

[0020] A heat insulating material 23 is also provided inside the housing 20 of the lid 3. For example, the heat insulating material 23 is provided so as to cover almost the entire outside of the peripheral wall portion 21a and the top plate portion 21b of the cap 21. The heat insulating material 23 is also made of a material with low thermal conductivity, such as urethane foam. The area where the heat insulating material 23 is provided and the number of pieces of heat insulating material 23 may be set appropriately. Furthermore, the housing 20 is provided with a recess 20a that receives the protrusion 10a of the main body 2. As is clear from FIG. 4 , a pair of hinges 4 are attached to the rear side of the recess 20a, and a hook 5b of a fastener 5 is attached to the front side of the cap 21.

[0021] The storage device 1 further includes a configuration for ensuring contact between the holder 12 and the cap 21. An example of this configuration will be described below. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cap 21 is attached to the housing 20 by a plurality of bolts 25 inserted through the top plate portion 21b. In the illustrated example, four bolts 25 are used to attach the cap 21. As shown in FIG. 6, the bolts 25 are inserted into bolt holes 21e provided in the top plate portion 21b of the cap 21 so as to be movable in the axial direction, and the threaded portions 25a at the ends are screwed into the housing 20 to be coupled to the housing 20. When the threaded portions 25a of the bolts 25 are fully fastened to the housing 20, a certain gap remains between the top plate portion 21b and the housing 20 in the axial direction of the bolts 25. Therefore, the cap 21 is provided as an example of a specific heat transfer body that is not affected by the weight of the container 100 accommodated in the accommodation space 13 and is displaceable in the vertical direction, which is the direction in which the holder 12 and the cap 21 should be in contact with each other. The head 25b of the bolt 25 engages with the bolt hole 21e in the axial direction, thereby preventing the cap 21 from coming off the bolt 25.

[0022] A pair of washers 26 is attached to the bolt 25, and a coil spring 27 is attached between the washers 26. The coil spring 27 generates an elastic restoring force when compressed, thereby applying a pressing force Fc to the cap 21 in a direction pressing the cap 21 against the holder 12. This allows the coil spring 27 to function as an example of a spring means. When the lid 3 is in the open position, the top plate 21b of the cap 21, pushed out by the pressing force Fc of the coil spring 27, hits the head 25b of the bolt 25, and the cap 21 is held in place. When the lid 3 is in the closed position, the bottom surface 21d of the cap 21 hits the top surface 12d of the holder 12, pushing the cap 21 upward and separating the top plate 21b from the head 25b of the bolt 25. Figure 6 shows this state. As the top plate 21b moves upward, the coil spring 27 is further compressed. The pressing force Fc against the compression presses the lower surface 21d of the cap 21 against the upper surface 12d of the holder 12. This allows the lower surface 21d of the cap 21 to be in close contact with the upper surface 12d of the holder 12, thereby ensuring the heat transfer effect between the holder 12 and the cap 21.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 7 , a packing 28 is attached to the outer periphery of the flange 21c of the cap 21. The packing 28 has an annular shape that extends around the entire circumference of the flange 21c. When the lid 3 is closed, the packing 28 comes into close contact with the flange 12c of the holder 12 around the entire circumference in an area outside the contact area between the upper surface 12d of the holder 12 and the lower surface 21d of the cap 21. This seals the storage space 13 and the expansion space 22 from the outside at the contact point between the holder 12 and the cap 21, preventing leakage of cold or warm air from the spaces 13, 22 to the outside. When the lid 3 is in the closed position, the packing 28 is maintained in a somewhat compressed state, and the restoring force against this compression acts on the cap 21 as a force that moves the cap 21 away from the holder 12. Therefore, the pressing force Fc of the coil spring 27 shown in Fig. 6 needs to be set within a range that allows the cap 21 to be pressed toward the holder 12, overcoming the repulsive force generated by the packing 28. When multiple coil springs 27 are used, the pressing forces Fc of the coil springs 27 should be set so that the sum of the pressing forces Fc generated by the coil springs 27 overcomes the repulsive force of the packing 28. The coil springs 27 also generate a reaction force that pushes the lid body 3 toward the open position. Therefore, in order to closely contact the cap 21 with the holder 12, it is necessary to restrain the lid body 3 in the closed position with the fastener 5.

[0024] 8 and 9 show another example of a configuration for reliably bringing the holder 12 and the cap 21 into close contact with each other. As shown in FIG. 8, an elastic member 30 is disposed between the upper surface 12d of the holder 12 and the lower surface 21d of the cap 21. The elastic member 30 is formed of a heat-conductive material. For example, the elastic member 30 is formed of a metal material with high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum. The elastic member 30 is fixed to either the upper surface 12d of the holder 12 or the lower surface 21d of the cap 21. As an example, as shown in FIG. 9, the elastic member 30 is formed in the shape of a leaf spring having mounting portions 30a on both sides and a flexible portion 30b in the middle. The mounting portions 30a are used to fix the elastic member 30 to either the upper surface 12d of the holder 12 or the lower surface 21d of the cap 21. As a result, the elastic member 30 serves as a component of the heat transfer body of either the holder 12 or the cap 21. The flexible portion 30b contacts the other end surface of either the lower surface 21d of the cap 21 or the upper surface 12d of the holder 12 when the lid 3 is in the closed position. One storage device 1 may be provided with a single or multiple elastic members 30. When an elastic member 30 is provided, it is not necessary to provide the cap 21 as a specific heat conductor. The cap 21 may be fixed in a fixed position on the lid 3.

[0025] 8 and 9, when the lid 3 is in the closed position, the flexible portion 30b of the elastic member 30 is flexible and deformed, and the restoring force of this flexible portion causes the upper surface 12d of the holder 12 and the lower surface 21d of the cap 21 to be pressed against each other and come into close contact with each other via the elastic member 30. This ensures that a heat transfer path is formed between the holder 12 and the cap 21. Note that in the cases of FIGS. 8 and 9, it is also necessary to restrain the lid 3 in the closed position with the fastener 5 so that the repulsive force against the elastic deformation of the flexible portion 30b does not cause the cap 21 to separate from the holder 12.

[0026] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and may be embodied in various modified or altered forms. For example, in the above embodiment, the holder 12 is formed into a cylindrical shape with a bottom, and the internal space thereof is used as the storage space 13. The outer and bottom sides of the storage space 13 are completely covered by the peripheral wall portion 12a and bottom plate portion 12b of the holder 12. However, the first heat transfer body is not limited to such an example. The shape and position of the first heat transfer body may be appropriately changed as long as it is provided facing the storage space 13 and can form a heat transfer path between the heat exchange module 11 (temperature adjustment means) and the storage space 13. For example, the first heat transfer body may be partially provided on the outer periphery or bottom side of the storage space 13. An example of a partial provision of the first heat transfer body may be a configuration in which multiple columnar first heat transfer bodies or a coil-shaped first heat transfer body are arranged on the outer periphery of the storage space 13. When at least a portion of the first heat transfer body is formed in a coil shape, the first heat transfer body itself can function as an elastic member that elastically deforms upon contact with the second heat transfer body with which it comes into contact.

[0027] In the above embodiment, the cap 21 is formed into a cylindrical shape with a bottom, and the space inside is used as the expansion space 22. Therefore, the outer and ceiling sides of the expansion space 22 are completely covered by the peripheral wall portion 21a and the top plate portion 21b of the cap 21. However, the second heat transfer body is not limited to this example. The shape and position of the second heat transfer body may be appropriately changed as long as the second heat transfer body is provided on the cover 3 so as to come into contact with the first heat transfer body when the accommodation space 13 is closed by the cover 3, thereby forming a heat transfer path between the first heat transfer body of the main body 2 and the cover 3. For example, the second heat transfer body may be partially provided on the outer periphery of the expansion space 22 or on the ceiling side of the expansion space 22. As an example of a partial provision, a configuration may be adopted in which multiple columnar second heat transfer bodies or a coil-shaped second heat transfer body are provided on the outer periphery of the expansion space 22, as in the case of the first heat transfer body. When at least a portion of the second heat transfer body is formed into a coil shape, the second heat transfer body itself can function as an elastic member that elastically deforms upon contact with the first heat transfer body, with which it comes into contact when the storage space is closed by the lid body.

[0028] It is not necessarily required to provide the expansion space 22 on the lid 3 side. For example, if it is not necessary to consider the case where the container 100 protrudes from the storage space 13, a flat or shallow dish-shaped second heat transfer body may be provided to close the open end of the storage space 13. As an example, only the top plate portion 21b of the cap 21 may be provided as the second heat transfer body. The second heat transfer body may also be formed into an appropriate shape, such as a dome shape.

[0029] In the above embodiment, the container 100 is supported by the bottom plate portion 12b of the holder 12 on the main body 2 side, but the container 100 may also be supported on the lid 3 side. For example, the container 100 may be combined with a second heat transfer body on the lid 3 side, and the container 100 may be suspended and supported from the lid 3, and the container 100 may be accommodated in the accommodation space 13 on the main body 2 side. In this case, since the weight of the container 100 does not act on the holder 12 on the main body 2 side, the holder 12 may be configured as a specific heat transfer body by being displaceable in a direction in which it should come into contact with the cap 21 on the lid 3 side, and the holder 12 may be pushed toward the lid 3 side by a spring means such as a coil spring.

[0030] Alternatively, when the peripheral wall portion 12a of the holder 12 is combined with the bottom plate portion 12b so as to be displaceable in the vertical direction, the bottom plate portion 12b can support the weight of the container 100 while the peripheral wall portion 12a is prevented from acting on the container 100, thereby configuring the peripheral wall portion 12a as a specific heat transfer body. In this case, the peripheral wall portion 12a of the holder 12 and the cap 21 may be pushed toward each other by a spring means to ensure contact between the peripheral wall portion 12a of the holder 12 and the cap 21. The heat exchange module 11 does not necessarily need to be configured so that its heat transfer portion 11a contacts the peripheral wall portion 12a of the holder 12. For example, the bottom plate portion 12b of the holder 12 and the heat transfer portion 11a may be in contact with each other. Alternatively, the heat transfer portion 11a itself may essentially function as the bottom plate portion 12b of the holder 12.

[0031] In the above embodiment, the storage device 1 is configured as a device that stores the container 100 in a cooled or heated state, but the storage device of the present invention may be configured as a device that has additional functions other than storage, as long as it has the function of storing the container in a predetermined temperature range. For example, the storage device may be configured as a dispensing server that has the function of dispensing various contents contained in the container, such as liquid, semi-solid, gel, or slurry, from the container.

[0032] The storage device of the present invention is not limited to the example configured to store containers with their axes oriented vertically. The storage device may be configured to store containers with their axes inclined obliquely relative to the vertical, or may be configured to store containers with their axes oriented horizontally. Therefore, the lid of the storage device does not necessarily have to be provided on the top of the storage device. The lid may be provided to open and close the storage space at an appropriate position on the storage device.

[0033] Various aspects of the present invention derived from the above-described embodiments and modifications will be described below. In the following description, corresponding components shown in the accompanying drawings will be written in parentheses to facilitate understanding of each aspect of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the illustrated forms.

[0034] A container storage device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a main body (2) having a storage space (13) for a container (100), a first heat transfer body (12) arranged to face the storage space, a temperature control means (11) that adjusts the temperature of the container by exchanging heat with the container in the storage space via the first heat transfer body, a lid body (3) that is combined with the main body to open and close the storage space, and a second heat transfer body (21) that is arranged on the lid body so as to come into contact with the first heat transfer body when the storage space is closed by the lid body.

[0035] According to the above configuration, when the storage space is closed with the lid, the first heat transfer body on the main body side and the second heat transfer body on the lid side come into contact with each other, forming a heat transfer path connecting the first heat transfer body and the second heat transfer body, thereby increasing the efficiency of heat exchange on the lid side and making it possible to suppress or eliminate temperature variations among the containers stored in the storage space.

[0036] In the above-described embodiment, the following items can be further added. The following various items may be applied in appropriate combinations as long as they are not mutually contradictory.

[0037] The lid may be provided with an expansion space (22) that is continuous with the storage space when the storage space is closed, and the second heat transfer body may be provided so as to face the expansion space. According to this aspect, since the storage space and the expansion space are continuous when the storage space is closed with the lid, even if a portion of the container protrudes from the storage space, the protruding portion can be accommodated in the expansion space. Efficient heat exchange can be achieved even for the portion of the container that protrudes from the storage space by utilizing the heat transfer effect of the second heat transfer body. Having a portion of the container protrude from the storage space also has the advantage of making it easy to attach and detach the container.

[0038] When the storage space is closed, an end face (12d) of the first heat transfer body facing the lid and an end face (21d) of the second heat transfer body facing the main body may be in contact with each other. According to this embodiment, the end faces of the first heat transfer body and the second heat transfer body are in surface contact with each other, thereby improving the efficiency of heat transfer between the two heat transfer bodies.

[0039] The first heat transfer body may be formed as a cylindrical body that covers the storage space except for an opening for inserting the container. According to this aspect, by covering the periphery of the storage space with the first heat transfer body, it is possible to increase the efficiency of heat exchange via the first heat transfer body.

[0040] The lid may be provided with an expansion space (22) that is continuous with the storage space when the storage space is closed, and the second heat transfer body may be formed as a cylindrical body that covers the expansion space except for an opening of the expansion space that connects the expansion space to the storage space. According to this aspect, since the storage space and the expansion space are continuous when the storage space is closed with the lid, even if a portion of the container protrudes from the storage space, the protruding portion can be accommodated in the expansion space. Efficient heat exchange can be achieved even for the portion of the container that protrudes from the storage space by utilizing the heat transfer effect of the second heat transfer body. Having a portion of the container protrude from the storage space also has the advantage of making it easy to attach and detach the container. Furthermore, covering the periphery of the expansion space with the second heat transfer body can improve the efficiency of heat exchange via the second heat transfer body.

[0041] In the storage device of the above aspect, at least one of the first heat transfer body and the second heat transfer body is provided as a specific heat transfer body (21) that is displaceable in a direction in which the first heat transfer body and the second heat transfer body should contact each other without being affected by the weight of the container, and the storage device may further include spring means (27) that applies a pressing force (Fc) to the specific heat transfer body in a direction in which the specific heat transfer body approaches the other heat transfer body (12) with which it will contact, and restraining means (5) that restrains the lid body in a position that closes the storage space. According to this aspect, the pressing force of the spring means is used to bring the first heat transfer body and the second heat transfer body into close contact, thereby reliably forming a heat transfer path between the two heat transfer bodies. By restraining the lid body with the restraining means, even if the force of the spring means acts in a direction in which the lid body is moved away from the body, the lid body is held in a position that closes the storage space, thereby reliably maintaining contact between the first heat transfer body and the second heat transfer body.

[0042] The storage device of the above aspect may further include an elastic member (30) made of a heat-conducting material, provided on at least one of the first and second heat transfer bodies, and elastically deforming upon contact with the other heat transfer body when the lid is closed, and a restraining means (5) for restraining the lid in a position that closes the storage space. According to this aspect, when the storage space is closed with the lid, the elastic member elastically deforms, and the restoring force of the elastic member causes the first and second heat transfer bodies to be pressed against each other and tightly adhered via the elastic member. This ensures that a heat transfer path between the first and second heat transfer bodies is formed. By restraining the lid with the restraining means, even if the restoring force of the elastic member acts in a direction that moves the lid away from the main body, the lid is held in a position that closes the storage space, thereby ensuring that contact between the first and second heat transfer bodies is maintained. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1 Storage device 2 Main unit 3 Lid 5 Clasp 11 Heat Exchange Module 12 Holder 13 Containment Space 21 Cap 22 Expanded Space 27 Coil spring 30 Elastic member 100 containers

Claims

1. a main body provided with a space for accommodating a container; a first heat transfer body provided so as to face the accommodation space; a temperature adjusting means for adjusting the temperature of the container by exchanging heat with the container in the accommodation space via the first heat transfer body; a lid body that is combined with the main body so as to open and close the storage space; a second heat transfer body provided on the lid body so as to come into contact with the first heat transfer body when the storage space is closed by the lid body; A container storage device comprising:

2. 2. The container storage device according to claim 1, wherein the lid has an expansion space that is continuous with the storage space when the storage space is closed, and the second heat transfer body is arranged to face the expansion space.

3. A container storage device as described in claim 1, wherein when the storage space is closed, the end surface of the first heat transfer body facing the lid body and the end surface of the second heat transfer body facing the main body come into contact with each other.

4. 4. The container storage device according to claim 3, wherein the first heat transfer body is formed as a cylindrical body that covers the storage space except for an opening for inserting the container.

5. The lid body has an expansion space that is continuous with the storage space when the storage space is closed, 5. The container storage device according to claim 4, wherein the second heat transfer body is formed as a cylindrical body that covers the expansion space except for an opening portion of the expansion space that connects the expansion space to the storage space.

6. at least one of the first heat transfer body and the second heat transfer body is provided as a specific heat transfer body that is not affected by the weight of the container and is displaceable along a direction in which the first heat transfer body and the second heat transfer body should come into contact with each other; a spring means for applying a pressing force to the specific heat transfer body in a direction in which the specific heat transfer body approaches the other heat transfer body that is to be in contact with the specific heat transfer body; a restraining means for restraining the lid body at a position for closing the storage space; The container storage device of claim 1 further comprising:

7. an elastic member made of a heat transfer material, which is provided on at least one of the first heat transfer body and the second heat transfer body, and which comes into contact with the other heat transfer body and elastically deforms when the lid body is closed; The container storage device according to claim 1, further comprising a restraining means for restraining the lid body in a position that closes the storage space.

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