refrigerator

Abstract

The present invention provides a refrigerator that can freeze food (stored items) in the freezer compartment while suppressing drying. [Solution] A refrigerator 2 is provided, comprising a freezer compartment 4, a drying suppression container 20 located in the freezer compartment 4 for storing items inside, a removable lid 30 covering the top opening of the drying suppression container 20, a metal plate 40 located in the lower region of the drying suppression container 20, a fan 14 located in a cooling channel 10 for circulating air inside the compartment, an evaporator 12 located in the cooling channel 10 for cooling the air as it passes through the fan 14, and outlets 32 and 34 for blowing the cold air that has passed through the evaporator 12 from the cooling channel 10 into the freezer compartment 4, wherein the first outlet 32 ​​is located as one of the outlets 32 and 34, and the air is blown out from the cooling channel 10 toward the lower region of the drying suppression container 20, and the stored items G are placed on the metal plate 40 located in the lower region.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator provided with a freezer compartment.

Background Art

[0002] When food is frozen and stored in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator, it is known that ice crystals tend to grow large in the maximum ice crystal generation zone of -1°C to -5°C where food begins to freeze. Therefore, the longer the temperature of the food stays in the maximum ice crystal generation zone, the larger the ice crystals become. When the generated ice crystals become large, the internal structure of the food is compressed and damaged, which may cause damage to the food structure.

[0003] To address this, a refrigerator has been proposed that performs cooling to shorten the time for stored items, which are food products, to pass through the maximum ice crystal generation zone (for example, see Patent Document 1). In the refrigerator described in Patent Document 1, the time for the stored items to pass through the maximum ice crystal generation zone is shortened by performing a mode for rapidly cooling the stored items, or a special mode in which the temperature of the freezer compartment is lowered in advance before performing rapid cooling.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the refrigerator described in Patent Document 1, at the time when the stored items start to freeze, the surface temperature of the stored items is still high and the ambient temperature is extremely low, so the temperature difference between the surface temperature of the stored items and the ambient temperature becomes large. For this reason, due to the vapor pressure difference, the moisture contained in the stored items is released to the outside, which may cause the food to dry out.

[0006] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to provide a refrigerator that can freeze items stored in the freezer compartment while suppressing drying. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To achieve the above objective, a first aspect of the present invention is: Freezer compartment, A drying-suppressing container is placed in the aforementioned freezer compartment and stores the contents inside, A removable lid covers the top opening of the drying-suppressing container, A metal plate is placed in the lower region of the drying suppression container, A fan is placed within the cooling channel to circulate the air inside the chamber, An evaporator is placed in the aforementioned cooling channel and is cooled as it passes through the air flowed by the fan, An outlet for blowing the cold air that has passed through the evaporator into the freezer chamber from within the cooling channel, Equipped with, The aforementioned outlet includes a first outlet, which is arranged so that air is blown out from within the cooling channel toward the lower region of the drying suppression container. This refrigerator is characterized in that the contents to be stored are placed on the metal plate located in the lower region.

[0008] In this embodiment, cold air that has passed through the evaporator is blown out from the first outlet toward the lower region of the drying suppression container, so that the lower region of the drying suppression container is strongly cooled. As a result, the temperature of the metal plate placed in the lower region of the drying suppression container decreases, and the contents placed on the metal plate are effectively cooled by heat transfer from the metal plate, causing their temperature to decrease. On the other hand, since the drying suppression container is covered with a lid, air does not flow into the drying suppression container from the top opening, and the temperature of the air inside the drying suppression container is indirectly and gently cooled by the air flowing outside the drying suppression container. For this reason, the temperature difference between the surface temperature of the contents and the ambient temperature can be kept small in the initial stages of cooling the contents. As a result, the contents can be cooled and frozen while suppressing the release of moisture from the contents.

[0009] As described above, this embodiment provides a refrigerator that can freeze items stored in the freezer compartment while suppressing drying.

[0010] A second aspect of the present invention is, in the first aspect, The refrigerator is characterized in that the metal plate is placed on the lower surface member of the drying suppression container located in the lower region.

[0011] In this embodiment, since the metal plate is placed on the lower surface member of the drying suppression container located in the lower region, a normal container used in a freezer can be used as is. Because air directly hits the lower region of the drying suppression container, the temperature of the lower surface member also decreases, and the temperature of the metal plate placed on the lower surface member also decreases due to heat transfer from the lower surface member. As a result, the temperature of the contents placed on the metal plate also decreases reliably due to heat transfer from the metal plate.

[0012] This allows for reliable cooling of stored items while using the same type of container as before, by minimizing the temperature difference between the surface temperature of the stored items and the ambient temperature through the use of a metal plate.

[0013] A third aspect of the present invention is, in the first aspect, A refrigerator in which the metal plate constitutes at least a part of the lower surface member of the drying suppression container located in the lower region, and the lower surface of the metal plate is exposed to the outside of the drying suppression container.

[0014] In this embodiment, the metal plate constitutes at least a part of the lower surface member of the drying suppression container, and the lower surface of the metal plate is exposed to the outside. Therefore, the air blown out from the second outlet directly hits the metal plate, allowing the metal plate to be strongly cooled. As a result, the contents placed on the metal plate are strongly cooled by heat transfer from the metal plate.

[0015] In this embodiment, the strongly cooled metal plate allows for effective cooling of the stored items while maintaining a small temperature difference between the surface temperature of the stored items and the ambient temperature.

[0016] A fourth aspect of the present invention is the refrigeration apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein an opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing the inside and outside of the drying suppression container is disposed at a position above the rear surface member of the drying suppression container, a second blowout port is provided as the blowout port, the second blowout port being arranged so that air is blown out from the inside of the cooling flow path toward the position of the opening / closing mechanism, when the opening / closing mechanism is closed, the air blown out from the second blowout port does not flow into the interior of the drying suppression container, and when the opening / closing mechanism is open, the air blown out from the second blowout port flows into the interior of the drying suppression container.

[0017] In this aspect, the opening / closing mechanism disposed at the position above the rear surface member of the drying suppression container can create a state where the air blown out from the second blowout port flows into the drying suppression container from above the rear surface member of the drying suppression container, and a state where the air does not flow in. When the opening / closing mechanism is closed, the air blown out from the second blowout port does not flow in, so the stored items can be cooled mainly by the metal plate, and the stored items can be cooled while suppressing drying. On the other hand, when the opening / closing mechanism is open, the air blown out from the second blowout port flows into the drying suppression container, so that the stored items can be rapidly cooled. The opening and closing of the opening / closing mechanism may be performed manually, or may be automatically performed using an actuator or the like.

[0018] Therefore, the opening / closing mechanism allows appropriate selection between a mode of cooling the stored items while suppressing drying and a mode of rapidly cooling the stored items, according to the intended use.

[0019] A fifth aspect of the present invention is the refrigeration apparatus according to the fourth aspect, wherein when cooling the stored items while suppressing drying, the opening / closing mechanism is closed at least in the initial stage of cooling, and when rapidly cooling the stored items, the opening / closing mechanism is opened.

[0020] In this embodiment, during the initial cooling phase, when there is a risk of moisture being released from the stored items due to the temperature difference with the surroundings, the opening / closing mechanism can be closed to reduce the temperature difference between the surface temperature of the stored items and the ambient temperature, thereby cooling the stored items while suppressing drying. After the temperature of the stored items has dropped and at least the area near the surface has frozen, the opening / closing mechanism can be opened to allow air to flow in from the top of the drying-suppressing container, allowing the stored items to be rapidly cooled. In addition, for some stored items, such as foods mainly composed of plant protein, the opening / closing mechanism may be opened from the initial cooling phase to rapidly cool the stored items in order to suppress drip during thawing.

[0021] A sixth aspect of the present invention is, in the fourth or fifth aspect, A drive unit that drives the opening and closing mechanism, A control unit that controls the drive unit, An input unit that transmits a signal to the control unit indicating that drying suppression mode or rapid cooling mode has been selected based on user input, Equipped with, The control unit, When the drying suppression mode is selected, the drive unit is controlled so that the opening and closing mechanism is closed. This refrigerator is characterized in that, when the rapid cooling mode is selected, the drive unit is controlled so that the opening and closing mechanism is opened.

[0022] In this embodiment, depending on the user's selection of either the drying suppression mode or the rapid cooling mode, the control unit controls the drive unit so that the opening / closing mechanism is closed when the drying suppression mode is selected, and controls the drive unit so that the opening / closing mechanism is open when the rapid cooling mode is selected.

[0023] This allows the opening and closing mechanism to be opened and closed automatically according to the selected mode, enabling optimal freezing of stored items without any effort on the user's part.

[0024] A seventh aspect of the present invention is, in the sixth aspect, The control unit, When the aforementioned drying suppression mode is selected, This refrigerator is characterized by controlling the drive unit to open the opening / closing mechanism after a predetermined time has elapsed or when the surface temperature of the stored items falls below a predetermined temperature, after the drive unit has been controlled to close the opening / closing mechanism.

[0025] In this embodiment, the control unit can, in the initial stages of cooling, close the opening / closing mechanism to reduce the temperature difference between the surface temperature of the stored items and the ambient temperature, thereby cooling the stored items while suppressing drying. After the temperature of the stored items has dropped and they have frozen, the opening / closing mechanism can be opened to rapidly cool the stored items.

[0026] This allows for rapid freezing of stored items through automatic control, without requiring any effort from the user, while suppressing drying of the stored items. [Effects of the Invention]

[0027] As described above, the present invention provides a refrigerator that can freeze items stored in the freezer compartment while suppressing drying. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0028] [Figure 1] This is a schematic perspective view showing the external shape of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2A] This is a schematic side cross-sectional view of cross-section AA in Figure 1, showing the opening and closing mechanism attached to the drying suppression container located in the freezer compartment in the closed state. [Figure 2B] This is a schematic side cross-sectional view of cross-section AA in Figure 1, showing the opening and closing mechanism attached to the drying suppression container located in the freezer compartment in the open position. [Figure 3] This graph shows the temporal changes in the surface temperature of stored items and the ambient temperature in a freezer compartment. [Figure 4A] This is a schematic perspective view of the drying-inhibiting container, taken from the rear at an oblique angle, illustrating its external shape when placed in the freezer compartment. [Figure 4B]This is a schematic perspective view of the drying-inhibiting container, taken from a diagonal front side, illustrating its external shape when placed in the freezer compartment. [Figure 5A] This is a side cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of a drying suppression container placed in a freezer compartment, schematically illustrating the airflow when the opening / closing mechanism attached to the drying suppression container is in the closed position. [Figure 5B] This is a side cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of a drying suppression container placed in a freezer compartment, schematically illustrating the airflow when the opening / closing mechanism attached to the drying suppression container is in the open position. [Figure 6A] This is a side cross-sectional view showing a modified example of a drying suppression container, schematically illustrating the airflow when the opening and closing mechanism attached to the drying suppression container is in the closed position. [Figure 6B] This is a side cross-sectional view showing a modified example of a drying suppression container, schematically illustrating the airflow when the opening / closing mechanism attached to the drying suppression container is in the open position. [Figure 7] This is a schematic perspective view showing the external shape of a drying-suppression container placed in a freezer compartment, and a modified example of an opening and closing mechanism attached to the drying-suppression container. [Figure 8] This is a block diagram showing an example of a refrigerator control system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] This flowchart shows an example of cooling control by the control unit. [Figure 10] This graph shows the time-dependent change in the weight reduction rate of stored items when they are frozen in a prototype refrigerator according to the present invention and a conventional refrigerator. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0029] The embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below are intended to embody the technical concept of the present invention, and unless otherwise specified, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. The size and positional relationships of the components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated in order to clarify the explanation. In the following description and drawings, the refrigerator is placed on a horizontal plane, with the side with the door being the front and the opposite side being the rear, and the top, bottom, front, back, left, and right directions are indicated. In the drawings, the airflow is schematically shown by dotted arrows.

[0030] (A refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention) First, an overview of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1, 2A, and 2B. Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the external shape of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2A is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing cross-section AA of Figure 1, showing the opening and closing mechanism attached to the drying suppression container located in the freezer compartment in the closed state. Figure 2B is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing cross-section AA of Figure 1, showing the opening and closing mechanism attached to the drying suppression container located in the freezer compartment in the open state.

[0031] In this embodiment, the refrigerator 2 has a freezer compartment 4 at the bottom and a refrigerator compartment 6 at the top. A door 8A for opening and closing the freezer compartment 4 is located in front of the freezer compartment 4, and a door 8B for opening and closing the refrigerator compartment 6 is located in front of the refrigerator compartment 6.

[0032] Behind the freezer compartment 4 and the refrigerator compartment 6, there is a cooling channel 10 consisting of a lower cooling channel 10A and an upper cooling channel 10B, each separated by a partition plate. An evaporator 12 is located in the lower cooling channel 10A. The evaporator 12 constitutes part of the cooling circuit of the refrigerator 2.

[0033] The cooling circuit mainly comprises a compressor 64, a condenser, a capillary tube, and an evaporator 12. The components of the cooling circuit are fluidly connected by piping in the order described above, and the evaporator 12 is cooled by the circulation of refrigerant within the cooling circuit. The rotational speed of the compressor 64 is variable, and when the rotational speed of the compressor 64 is increased, more refrigerant can be circulated, thereby increasing the cooling capacity of the evaporator 12.

[0034] A fan 14 is positioned above the evaporator 12 in the lower cooling channel 10A. The fan 14 can circulate the air inside the compartment, allowing the cooled air that has passed through the fins of the evaporator 12 to be supplied from the cooling channel 10 to the freezer compartment 4 and the refrigerator compartment 6.

[0035] A freezer damper 16 is positioned at the upper opening of the lower cooling passage 10A. As schematically shown by the dotted arrows in Figures 2A and 2B, when the freezer damper 16 is open, the cold air that has passed through the evaporator 12 flows into the freezer 4 from the lower cooling passage 10A through the outlets 32, 34, etc., which are positioned above and below.

[0036] Air that flows into the freezer compartment 4 flows through the freezer compartment 4 and returns to the lower cooling channel 10A from the return port 36 at the bottom of the freezer compartment 4. In this embodiment, a drying suppression container 20 with an upper opening covered by a lid 30 is placed on the upper side of the freezer compartment 4, and a normal container 20' with an upper opening is placed on the lower side. An opening / closing mechanism 50 is attached to the drying suppression container 20 with an upper opening covered by a lid 30. As shown in Figure 2A, when the opening / closing mechanism 50 is closed, air that flows into the freezer compartment 4 does not flow into the drying suppression container 20. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 2B, when the opening / closing mechanism 50 is open, air that flows into the freezer compartment 4 flows into the drying suppression container 20, flows through the drying suppression container 20, and then flows out of the drying suppression container 20 through the front opening 58. In the normal container 20' with an upper opening, air that flows into the freezer compartment 4 also flows into the container 20'.

[0037] The air that flows through the freezer compartment 4 and returns to the lower cooling channel 10A flows upward through the lower cooling channel 10A, passes through the evaporator 12 again to be cooled, and repeats the same flow cycle. While the cold air that has passed through the evaporator 12 flows through the freezer compartment 4, the contents stored in the freezer compartment 4 can be cooled.

[0038] On the other hand, when the freezer damper 16 is closed, the cold air that has passed through the evaporator 12 does not flow from the lower cooling passage 10A into the freezer compartment 4. A refrigerator damper 18 is positioned between the lower cooling passage 10A and the upper cooling passage 10B. When the refrigerator damper 18 is open, the cold air that has passed through the evaporator 12 flows from the lower cooling passage 10A to the upper cooling passage 10B. Furthermore, the air that flows into the upper cooling passage 10B flows into the refrigerator compartment 6 from the upper cooling passage 10B through various outlets located at multiple height positions.

[0039] Air flowing into the refrigerator compartment 6 circulates within the refrigerator compartment 6 and flows into the return channel 38 from the return port at the bottom of the refrigerator compartment 6. The incoming air flows downward through the return channel 38 and returns to the lower cooling channel 10A through the lower opening. The air that returns to the lower cooling channel 10A flows upward through the lower cooling channel 10A, passes through the evaporator 12 again to be cooled, and repeats the same flow cycle.

[0040] On the other hand, when the refrigerator compartment damper 18 is closed, the cold air that has passed through the evaporator 12 does not flow from the lower cooling channel 10A to the upper cooling channel 10B, nor does it flow into the refrigerator compartment 6. Figures 2A and 2B show the freezer compartment damper 16 in the open position and the refrigerator compartment damper 18 in the closed position. In other words, they show the case where the cold air that has passed through the evaporator 12 flows only into the freezer compartment 4.

[0041] (Consideration of freezing methods to maintain the quality of stored items) Next, referring to Figure 3, we will examine methods for properly freezing perishable food items while maintaining their quality. Figure 3 is a graph showing the temporal changes in the surface temperature of stored items and the ambient temperature in a freezer.

[0042] When freezing perishable foods, it is known that ice crystals tend to grow larger in the maximum ice crystal formation zone between -1°C and -5°C, where the food begins to freeze. Therefore, the longer the food remains in the maximum ice crystal formation zone, the larger the ice crystals become. When ice crystals grow large, they can compress and damage the internal tissues of the food, potentially causing tissue damage. When food with damaged tissue is thawed, the problem of drip occurs.

[0043] Therefore, as a preferred freezing method for preserving the quality of perishable foods, conventional methods have involved rapidly cooling the contents in the initial stages of freezing to shorten the time spent in the maximum ice crystal formation zone. This helps to suppress the problem of drip loss during thawing.

[0044] However, if the contents are rapidly cooled in the initial stages of freezing, the temperature difference between the surface temperature of the contents and the ambient temperature becomes large. As a result, the vapor pressure difference can cause moisture contained in fresh foods to be released to the outside, potentially drying out the contents. For example, the following formula is shown in the technical paper: T. Suzuki, Frozen Foods Technical Research, No.88 (2010), pp. 3-10.

[0045] (Equation 1) TIFF2026168590000002.tif7150

[0046] Here, dw / dt: Drying speed (unit [g / s]) k: Mass transfer coefficient (unit [m / s]) A: Food surface area (unit [m²]) 2 ]), P' water (T surface ):Food surface temperature T surface The saturated vapor pressure of supercooled water at that time, AW: Negative temperature T surface Water activity of food in P' water (T Ambient):Ambient temperature T Ambient The saturated vapor pressure of supercooled water at that time, RH: Ambient relative humidity, That is the case.

[0047] When a temperature difference occurs between the surface temperature of food and the ambient temperature surrounding the food, a difference in saturated water vapor pressure occurs, with the lower temperature resulting in a lower saturated water vapor pressure. When food stored at near room temperature is cooled with cold air that has passed through an evaporator, the surface temperature of the food becomes higher than the ambient temperature. Therefore, the moisture on the surface of the food moves towards the ambient air, where the saturated water vapor pressure is lower. In other words, sublimation occurs, changing from solid to gas, and the ice changes into water vapor, causing the moisture inside the food to escape.

[0048] In the graph shown in Figure 3, the horizontal axis represents time and the vertical axis represents temperature. The surface temperature of the stored items is shown by a solid line, and the ambient temperature is shown by a dotted line. Refrigerator 2 repeats a cooling cycle consisting of an operating period in which the compressor 64 operates, causing cold air that has passed through the evaporator 12 to flow into the freezer compartment 4 and lowering the temperature of the freezer compartment 4, and a non-operating period in which the compressor 64 stops operating and the temperature of the freezer compartment 4 rises. The temperature fluctuations due to this cooling cycle are shown in the ambient temperature graph, which is represented by a dotted line. Furthermore, the compressor 64 is stopped periodically (for example, once a day) to defrost the evaporator 12, at which time the ambient temperature rises even further than during a normal cooling cycle, as shown by the dotted line in Figure 3. After defrosting is complete, the compressor 64 is driven, causing the elevated ambient temperature to rapidly decrease.

[0049] The stored items are cooled by heat transfer from the surrounding air. In other words, they are cooled by heat transfer based on the temperature difference between the surface temperature of the stored items and the ambient temperature. Also, because stored items have heat capacity, even if the ambient temperature drops, the surface temperature of the stored items does not drop immediately, and a temperature difference always occurs. For this reason, in the region where the surface temperature of the stored items is higher than the ambient temperature, as shown by the shaded area in the graph of Figure 3, a phenomenon occurs in which moisture inside the stored items escapes to the outside, i.e., they dry out.

[0050] Foods rich in animal protein, such as meat and fish, can oxidize when they dry out, losing moisture from their cells. This allows air to enter the empty spaces, causing oxidation. Oxidation alters the protein, leading to discoloration, oiliness, and rancidity. As a result, flavor and texture deteriorate, and the quality worsens. This phenomenon is called freezer burn.

[0051] As described above, conventionally, in order to shorten the time it takes to pass through the maximum ice crystal formation zone, the contents are rapidly cooled in the initial stages of cooling. However, in this case, the temperature difference between the food surface temperature and the ambient temperature becomes even larger, so the area of ​​the shaded region in Figure 3 becomes even larger, and the drying phenomenon of moisture escaping from inside the contents becomes even more pronounced. Therefore, from the viewpoint of suppressing the drying phenomenon of moisture escaping from inside the contents and suppressing freezer burn, since the rate of moisture movement increases in proportion to the difference in saturated water vapor pressure, it is preferable to reduce the cooling of the contents and decrease the temperature difference between the surface temperature of the contents and the ambient temperature.

[0052] On the other hand, if the cooling of the contents is weakened in the initial stages of cooling, the time spent passing through the maximum ice crystal formation zone will be longer, raising concerns about an increase in the amount of drip that occurs during thawing. However, foods containing a lot of animal protein, such as meat and fish, originally have a highly water-retentive tissue, and even if the time spent passing through the maximum ice crystal formation zone cannot be shortened, the amount of drip that occurs during thawing is not considered to be a major problem compared to foods containing a lot of plant protein.

[0053] When considering freezing methods to maintain the quality of stored items, two aspects should be considered: suppressing drying of the stored items and suppressing drip loss during thawing. Considering the balance between these two aspects, if the stored items are foods high in animal protein, freezer burn due to drying is a problem, but drip loss during thawing is not considered a major issue. Therefore, if the stored items are foods high in animal protein, it is preferable to cool them gently rather than rapidly, at least in the initial stages of cooling.

[0054] On the other hand, if the stored items are foods that contain a lot of plant protein, freezer burn is not a problem, but if the time spent passing through the maximum ice crystal formation zone is long, drip loss during thawing becomes a problem. Therefore, if the stored items are foods that contain a lot of plant protein, it is preferable to rapidly cool the stored items from the initial stage of cooling.

[0055] (drying suppression container) Next, a drying-suppressing container for realizing a freezing method that maintains the quality of stored items will be described with reference to Figures 4A and 4B. Figure 4A is a schematic perspective view of the drying-suppressing container, seen from the rear at an angle, illustrating its external shape when placed in a freezer compartment. Figure 4B is a schematic perspective view of the drying-suppressing container, seen from the front at an angle, illustrating its external shape when placed in a freezer compartment.

[0056] The drying suppression container 20 has a structure in which a bottom member 22, a rear member 24 erected around the bottom member 22, a front member 26, and side members 28 on both sides are integrally connected, and the top is open. The drying suppression container 20 can be integrally molded from any resin material.

[0057] Furthermore, the opening at the top of the drying-inhibiting container 20 is covered with a lid 30. The lid 30 can also be made of any resin material. The lid 30 is detachable from the drying-inhibiting container 20, but when the drying-inhibiting container 20 is placed in the freezer compartment 4 and the contents G stored inside are being cooled, the lid 30 is basically attached to the drying-inhibiting container 20. When inserting or removing the contents G from the drying-inhibiting container 20, the contents G can be easily inserted or removed by removing the lid 30.

[0058] As shown in Figure 4A, a plurality of slit-shaped openings 52 extending to the left and right are formed on the upper side of the rear member 24 of the drying suppression container 20. The openings 52 are formed by penetrating the rear member 24, and the internal space and external space of the drying suppression container 20 are in communication through the openings 52. Here, "upper side" of the rear member 24 means a position above the midpoint in the height direction of the drying suppression container 20.

[0059] A movable member 54 is attached to the outside of the area where the opening 52 is formed in the rear member 24, in a state where it can slide up and down (see arrow in Figure 4A). The movable member 54 can also be made of any resin material. In Figure 4A, the attachment of the movable member 54 to the rear member 24 of the drying suppression container 20 is schematically shown by the white arrow. The rear member 24 has an opening 54A that is almost the same shape as the opening 52 formed in the rear member 24. The opening 54A is formed to penetrate the movable member 54. The opening 52 formed in the rear member 24 of the drying suppression container 20 and the movable member 54 with the opening 54A formed thereon constitute the opening and closing mechanism 50.

[0060] In the opening / closing mechanism 50, the movable member 54 slides between an open position where the opening 54A of the movable member 54 coincides with the opening 52 of the rear member 24, and a closed position where the opening 52 of the rear member 24 is closed by the surface of the movable member 54. When the movable member 54 is in the open position, the internal space and external space of the drying suppression container 20 are in communication through the opening 52 of the rear member 24 and the opening 54A of the movable member 54. On the other hand, when the movable member 54 is in the closed position, the opening 52 of the rear member 24 is closed by the surface of the movable member 54, so the internal space and external space of the drying suppression container 20 are closed off.

[0061] The user can easily slide the movable member 54 and switch between an open state in which the internal and external spaces of the drying suppression container 20 are in communication, and a closed state in which the internal and external spaces of the drying suppression container 20 are not in communication. As will be described later, the movable member 54 can also be slid using an actuator or the like. In that case, the opening and closing mechanism 50 can be automatically controlled by the control unit.

[0062] The shapes of the opening 52, opening 54A, and movable member 54 are not limited to those described above. The opening 52 may be a slit extending vertically. In that case, the movable member 54 may slide horizontally. Any other structure can be used as the opening / closing mechanism 50, as long as it can switch between an open state in which the internal and external spaces of the drying suppression container 20 are in communication and a closed state in which they are not.

[0063] On the other hand, multiple slit-shaped openings 58 extending to the left and right are formed on the upper side of the front member 26 of the drying suppression container 20. The front openings 58 are formed at approximately the same height as the rear openings 52, and the shape and size of the openings 58 can be formed to be approximately the same as those of the openings 52. However, this is not limited to the above, and any other shape or size can be adopted for the openings 58. The position in which the openings 58 are formed is not limited to the upper side of the front member 26, but may also be formed in the center or lower side of the front member 26.

[0064] (Cooling method using a drying-inhibiting container) Next, a method for cooling the contents using the drying suppression container 20 described above will be explained with reference to Figures 5A and 5B. Figure 5A is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of a drying suppression container placed in a freezer compartment, schematically showing the airflow when the opening / closing mechanism attached to the drying suppression container is in the closed position. Figure 5B is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of a drying suppression container placed in a freezer compartment, schematically showing the airflow when the opening / closing mechanism attached to the drying suppression container is in the open position.

[0065] The opening at the top of the drying-inhibiting container 20 is covered with a lid 30. A metal plate 40 is placed on the upper surface of the lower member 22 of the drying-inhibiting container 20. The metal plate 40 can be made of any metal material, including aluminum, iron (steel), and copper. The contents G are placed on the upper surface of this metal plate 40.

[0066] Figure 5A is an enlarged view of the drying suppression container 20 shown in Figure 2A, showing the compressor 64 and fan 14 in operation, the freezer compartment damper 16 open, and the refrigerator compartment damper 18 closed. As a result, the cold air that has passed through the evaporator 12 flows only into the freezer compartment 4 from the lower cooling passage 10A.

[0067] The refrigerator 2 according to this embodiment includes a first air outlet 32, which is positioned to blow air from the lower cooling passage 10A towards the lower region of the drying suppression container 20, as an air outlet from the lower cooling passage 10A to the freezer compartment 4. Furthermore, it includes a second air outlet 34, which is positioned to blow air from the lower cooling passage 10A towards the position of the opening / closing mechanism 50 attached to the rear surface member 24 of the drying suppression container 20.

[0068] A portion of the air blown out from the lower first outlet 32 ​​hits the area below the rear member 24 of the drying suppression container 20. This allows for strong cooling of the area below the rear member 24. Furthermore, a portion of the air blown out from the first outlet 32 ​​flows from rear to front along the underside of the bottom member 22 of the drying suppression container 20. As the air flows along the bottom member 22, it cools the bottom member 22 through heat transfer. In addition, a portion of the air blown out from the first outlet 32 ​​flows from rear to front along the lower outer surfaces of the side members 28 on both sides of the drying suppression container 20, cooling the drying suppression container 20. In other words, the air blown out from the first outlet 32 ​​flows while in contact with the lower part of the drying suppression container 20. Whether the opening / closing mechanism 50 shown in Figure 5A is closed or the opening / closing mechanism 50 shown in Figure 5B is open, the air blown out from the first outlet 32 ​​flows similarly, cooling the area below the drying suppression container 20.

[0069] As the lower member 22 is cooled by the air blown out from the first outlet 32, the metal plate 40 placed on the lower member 22 is also strongly cooled by contact heat transfer. Since the metal plate 40 has high thermal conductivity, the upper surface of the metal plate 40 also quickly becomes cold, and the stored items G placed on the upper surface of the metal plate 40 are also rapidly cooled by contact heat transfer. When the lower member 22 is cooled by the air blown out from the first outlet 32, the stored items G can be efficiently cooled regardless of whether the opening / closing mechanism 50 is open or closed, because the heat transfer occurs through the metal plate 40, which has high thermal conductivity.

[0070] Next, the airflow from the upper second outlet 34 will be described. When the opening / closing mechanism 50 shown in Figure 5A is closed, the air blown out from the second outlet 34 hits the closed opening / closing mechanism 50 and flows up, down, left, and right along the outer surface of the rear member 24. A portion of the air that flows left and right along the outer surface of the rear member 24 flows from rear to front along the upper outer surfaces of the side members 28 on both sides, cooling the drying suppression container 20. Also, a portion of the air that flows upward along the outer surface of the rear member 24 flows from rear to front along the upper surface of the lid 30, cooling the lid 30. The air that flows forward flows downward along the outer surface of the front member 26 and merges with the air blown out from the first outlet 32 ​​that flows forward along the bottom member 22. The merged air finally returns to the return port 36 of the lower cooling channel 10A.

[0071] As the air blown out from the upper second outlet 34 flows along the outer surfaces of the rear member 24, side member 28, lid 30, and front member 26, the drying suppression container 20 is cooled by heat transfer. The cooled drying suppression container 20 then cools the air inside the drying suppression container 20 by heat transfer. In other words, the air inside the drying suppression container 20 is indirectly cooled by the air flowing outside the drying suppression container 20. Since the resin drying suppression container 20 and lid 30 have lower thermal conductivity than metal, and the air inside the drying suppression container 20 does not flow, the air inside the drying suppression container 20 is cooled very gently by indirect cooling with air blown out from the second outlet 34.

[0072] On the other hand, when the opening / closing mechanism 50 shown in Figure 5B is open, the air blown out from the second outlet 34 flows directly into the drying suppression container 20 through the openings 52 and 54A of the opening / closing mechanism 50. As a result, it directly hits the stored items G, and can strongly cool the stored items G.

[0073] As described above, when the stored items are foods containing a large amount of animal protein, freezer burn due to drying becomes a problem, but the drip that occurs during thawing is not a major issue. Therefore, in the initial stages of cooling, it is preferable to close the opening / closing mechanism 50 as shown in Figure 5A to cool the stored items G. The stored items G are effectively cooled by contact heat transfer via the metal plate 340 by the air blown out from the first outlet 32, while the air inside the drying suppression container 20 is only indirectly cooled by the air blown out from the second outlet 34, so the temperature drop due to cooling is very gentle.

[0074] Therefore, the temperature difference between the food surface temperature and the ambient temperature surrounding the food in Equation 1 above becomes smaller, allowing cooling while suppressing drying. After a certain period of time with gentle cooling using the closed opening / closing mechanism 50, the moisture in the area near the surface of the stored item G will be completely frozen. Once this state is reached, the user can switch the opening / closing mechanism 50 from closed to open to rapidly cool the stored item G as shown in Figure 5B, quickly freezing the entire stored item G.

[0075] On the other hand, if the stored items are foods containing a large amount of plant protein, freezer burn is not a problem, but if the time spent passing through the maximum ice crystal formation zone is long, drip during thawing becomes a problem. Therefore, it is preferable to open the opening / closing mechanism 50 from the initial stage of cooling the stored items G, as shown in Figure 5B, to perform rapid cooling and shorten the time spent passing through the maximum ice crystal formation zone.

[0076] As described above, in this embodiment, since the metal plate 40 is placed on the lower surface member 22 of the drying suppression container 20 located in the lower region, a normal container used in a freezer can be used as is. Since air directly hits the lower region of the drying suppression container 20, the temperature of the lower surface member 22 also decreases, and the temperature of the metal plate 40 placed on the lower surface member 22 also decreases due to contact heat transfer from the lower surface member 22. For this reason, the temperature of the contents placed on the metal plate 40 also decreases reliably due to contact heat transfer from the metal plate 40.

[0077] This allows for reliable cooling of the stored items G while using the same type of container as before, by minimizing the temperature difference between the surface temperature of the stored items G and the ambient temperature using the metal plate 40.

[0078] Furthermore, in this embodiment, an opening / closing mechanism 50 for opening and closing the inside and outside of the drying suppression container 20 is positioned above the rear member 24 of the drying suppression container 20, and a second outlet 34 is provided as an outlet, which is positioned so that air is blown out from inside the cooling passage 10 toward the position of the opening / closing mechanism 50. When the opening / closing mechanism 50 is closed, the air blown out from the second outlet 34 does not flow into the inside of the drying suppression container 20, and when the opening / closing mechanism 50 is open, the air blown out from the second outlet 34 flows into the inside of the drying suppression container 20.

[0079] In this embodiment, an opening / closing mechanism 50 positioned above the rear member 24 of the drying suppression container 20 allows for the creation of states where air blown out from the second outlet 34 flows into the drying suppression container 20 from above the rear member 24, and states where air does not flow in. When the opening / closing mechanism 50 is closed, air blown out from the second outlet 34 does not flow in, so the stored items G are cooled mainly by the metal plate 40, allowing for cooling while suppressing drying of the stored items. On the other hand, when the opening / closing mechanism 50 is open, air blown out from the second outlet 34 flows into the drying suppression container 20, allowing for rapid cooling of the stored items G.

[0080] In this embodiment, the opening / closing mechanism 50 allows for the selection of a mode of cooling while suppressing drying of the stored items G, and a mode of rapidly cooling the stored items, depending on the application. It should be noted that the opening / closing mechanism 50 is not limited to being positioned above the rear member 24 of the drying-suppressing container 20. For example, the opening / closing mechanism 50 may be positioned at the center or below the rear member 24 in the height direction.

[0081] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when cooling the stored items G while suppressing drying, the opening / closing mechanism 50 is closed at least in the initial stages of cooling, and when rapidly cooling the stored items G, the opening / closing mechanism 50 is opened.

[0082] In this embodiment, during the initial cooling phase, when there is a risk of moisture being released from the stored item G due to the temperature difference with the surroundings, the opening / closing mechanism 50 can be closed to reduce the temperature difference between the surface temperature of the stored item G and the ambient temperature, thereby cooling the stored item G while suppressing drying. After the temperature of the stored item G has dropped and at least the area near the surface has frozen, the opening / closing mechanism 50 can be opened to allow air to flow in from the top of the drying suppression container 20, thereby rapidly cooling the stored item G. In addition, depending on the stored item G, such as food products mainly composed of plant protein, the opening / closing mechanism 50 may be opened from the initial cooling phase to rapidly cool the stored item G in order to suppress drip during thawing.

[0083] (Variation of a drying-inhibiting container) Modified examples of the drying suppression container will be described with reference to Figures 6A and 6B. Figure 6A is a side cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the drying suppression container, schematically illustrating the airflow when the opening / closing mechanism attached to the drying suppression container is in the closed position. Figure 6B is a side cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the drying suppression container, schematically illustrating the airflow when the opening / closing mechanism attached to the drying suppression container is in the open position.

[0084] In the modified drying-suppression container, the metal plate 40 constitutes at least a part of the lower surface member 22 of the drying-suppression container 20 located in the lower region, and the lower surface of the metal plate 40 is exposed to the outside of the drying-suppression container 20. In other respects, it is the same as the drying-suppression container 20 shown in Figures 5A and 5B.

[0085] In this modified example, the metal plate 40 constitutes at least a part of the lower surface member 22 of the drying suppression container 20, and the lower surface of the metal plate 40 is exposed to the outside. As a result, the air blown out from the second outlet 34 directly hits the metal plate 40, allowing the metal plate 40 to be strongly cooled. Therefore, the contents G placed on the metal plate 40 are strongly cooled by heat transfer from the metal plate 40.

[0086] In this modified version, the strongly cooled metal plate 40 effectively cools the stored item G while keeping the temperature difference between the surface temperature of the stored item G and the ambient temperature small.

[0087] (Modified example of opening / closing mechanism) Next, a modified example of the opening and closing mechanism will be explained with reference to Figure 7. Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view showing the external shape of a drying suppression container placed in a freezer compartment, and shows a modified example of an opening and closing mechanism attached to the drying suppression container.

[0088] This modified version is characterized by the inclusion of a drive unit 56, which is an actuator that drives the opening and closing mechanism 50. The structure of the opening and closing mechanism 50 itself is basically the same as that shown in Figures 4A and 4B. As the drive unit 56, an actuator can be used in which the rod portion extends and retracts relative to the main body portion by electromagnetic force. Furthermore, an actuator can be used in which the rod portion extends and retracts relative to the main body portion by air pressure or hydraulic pressure. The main body side of the drive unit 56 is attached to the rear member 24 of the drying suppression container 20, and the tip of the rod portion is attached to the lower side of the movable member 54 of the opening and closing mechanism 50.

[0089] The drive unit 56 moves the movable member 54, allowing the opening and closing mechanism 50 to be switched between the open and closed states. As will be described later, the control unit can control the drive unit 56 to automatically control the opening and closing mechanism 50.

[0090] (Control system) Next, an example of a control system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 8. Figure 8 is a block diagram showing an example of a refrigerator control system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0091] In this embodiment, the control device that controls the refrigerator 2 controls the drive unit 56 of the opening / closing mechanism 50. Therefore, as shown in Figure 8, the control unit 60 is electrically connected to the fan 14, the freezer compartment damper 16, the refrigerator compartment damper 18, and the compressor 64, and controls the operation of the refrigerator 2. Furthermore, the control unit 60 is electrically connected to the drive unit 56 and controls the drive unit 56 so that the opening / closing mechanism 50 moves from open to closed or from closed to open.

[0092] Furthermore, the door 8A or 8B of the refrigerator 2 according to this embodiment is equipped with an input unit 62 consisting of a touch panel, switches, etc. As will be described later, the user can use the input unit 62 to select either a drying suppression mode or a rapid cooling mode for the cooling method of the stored items G stored in the drying suppression container 20.

[0093] (Cooling control of contents in a drying-suppression container) Next, the control of the control unit 60 shown in Figure 8 to cool the contents G inside the drying suppression container 20 will be explained with reference to Figure 9. Figure 9 is a flowchart showing an example of cooling control by the control unit.

[0094] In Figure 9, the system controls the flow of cold air that has passed through the evaporator 12 into the freezer chamber 4, and controls the drive unit 56 of the opening / closing mechanism 50 attached to the drying suppression container 20 located inside the freezer chamber 4.

[0095] First, the compressor 64 is turned on (step S2), the freezer compartment damper 16 is opened (step S4), and the refrigerator compartment damper 18 is closed (step SS6). Then, based on the signal from the input unit 62 based on the user's operation, it is determined whether or not the drying suppression mode has been selected (step S8). If it is determined that the drying suppression mode has been selected (YES), then, if the opening / closing mechanism 50 is open, the drive unit 56 is driven to control the opening / closing mechanism 50 to close it (step S10). If the opening / closing mechanism 50 is already closed, control is performed to maintain the closed state.

[0096] Then, the timer is turned on (step S12), and based on the timer's timing data, it is determined whether or not time T1 has elapsed (step S14). Time T1 is set to be a sufficient amount of time for the entire surface of the stored item G to freeze when the opening / closing mechanism 50 is closed. Time T1 may be a constant value, or it may be set to a different value depending on the type and weight of the stored item G. If the determination in step S14 is that time T1 has not elapsed (NO), the system remains in standby mode.

[0097] In step S14, if it is determined that time T1 has elapsed (YES), the next step is to control the drive unit 56 so that the opening / closing mechanism 50, which was in the closed state, opens. This control causes the cold air that has passed through the evaporator 12 to flow into the drying suppression container 20, and the stored items G are rapidly cooled. In other words, when the drying suppression mode is selected, the storage unit G is cooled gently to prevent drying until the initial cooling time T1 has elapsed, and after time T1 has elapsed and the vicinity of the surface of the stored items G has frozen, the stored items G are strongly cooled.

[0098] Although the above describes control based on time T1, it is not limited to this. For example, if the drying suppression container 20 is equipped with a temperature sensor to measure the surface temperature of the stored item G, it is conceivable to control the drive unit 56 based on the measurement value of the temperature sensor so that when the surface temperature of the stored item G falls below a predetermined temperature, the closed opening / closing mechanism 50 opens. The predetermined temperature is set to a temperature at which it is considered that the vicinity of the surface of the stored item G has completely frozen during cooling with the opening / closing mechanism 50 in the closed position.

[0099] On the other hand, if the determination in step S8 is that the drying suppression mode is not selected (NO), then the next step is to determine whether the rapid cooling mode is selected or not based on the signal from the input unit 62 based on the user's operation (step S18). If this determination is that the rapid cooling mode is not selected (NO), the series of control processes are terminated without being performed. In other words, the opening and closing mechanism 50 maintains its current state.

[0100] In step S18, if it is determined that the rapid cooling mode has been selected (YES), then, if the opening / closing mechanism 50 is closed, the drive unit 56 is driven to open the opening / closing mechanism 50 (step S20). If the opening / closing mechanism 50 is already open, control is performed to maintain the open state. As a result, the cold air that has passed through the evaporator 12 flows into the drying suppression container 20, and the stored items G are rapidly cooled. In other words, when the rapid cooling mode is selected, the stored items G are strongly cooled from the initial stage of cooling.

[0101] In the above example, the control unit 60 that controls the refrigerator 2 controls the drive unit 56, etc., but this is not the only option. A dedicated control unit 60 that controls the drive unit 56 based on signals from the input unit 62 can also be provided separately from the control device that controls the refrigerator 2.

[0102] As described above, the refrigerator 2 according to this embodiment includes a drive unit 56 that drives an opening / closing mechanism 50, a control unit 60 that controls at least the drive unit 56, and an input unit 62 that transmits a signal to the control unit 60 indicating that a drying suppression mode or a rapid cooling mode has been selected based on user input. The control unit 60 controls the drive unit 56 so that the opening / closing mechanism 50 is closed when the drying suppression mode is selected, and controls the drive unit 56 so that the opening / closing mechanism 50 is open when the rapid cooling mode is selected.

[0103] In this embodiment, depending on the drying suppression mode or rapid cooling mode selected by the user, the control unit 60 controls the drive unit 56 so that the opening / closing mechanism 50 is closed when the drying suppression mode is selected, and controls the drive unit 56 so that the opening / closing mechanism 50 is open when the rapid cooling mode is selected.

[0104] This allows the opening and closing mechanism 50 to be opened and closed automatically according to the selected mode, enabling optimal freezing of stored items G without requiring any effort from the user.

[0105] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the drying suppression mode is selected, the control unit 60 controls the drive unit 56 so that the opening / closing mechanism 50 is closed. Then, when a predetermined time T1 has elapsed, or when the surface temperature of the stored item G falls below a predetermined temperature, the control unit 60 controls the drive unit 56 so that the opening / closing mechanism 50, which is in the closed state, is opened.

[0106] In this embodiment, the control unit 60 controls the opening / closing mechanism 50 to close in the initial stages of cooling, thereby reducing the temperature difference between the surface temperature of the stored item G and the ambient temperature, and cooling the stored item while suppressing drying. After the temperature of the stored item G drops and it freezes, the opening / closing mechanism 50 is opened to rapidly cool the stored item G.

[0107] This allows for rapid freezing of stored items G through automatic control, without requiring any effort from the user, while suppressing drying of the stored items G. (General)

[0108] As described above, including modified versions, the refrigerator 2 according to the above embodiment comprises a freezer compartment 4, a drying suppression container 20 located in the freezer compartment 4 for storing items inside, a removable lid 30 covering the top opening of the drying suppression container 20, a metal plate 40 located in the lower region of the drying suppression container 20, a fan 14 located in the cooling channel 10 for circulating air inside the compartment, an evaporator 12 located in the cooling channel 10 for cooling the air as it passes through the air circulated by the fan 14, and outlets 32 and 34 for blowing the cold air that has passed through the evaporator 12 from the cooling channel 10 into the freezer compartment 4. The first outlet 32 ​​is located in the cooling channel 10 for blowing air towards the lower region of the drying suppression container 20, and the stored items G are placed on the metal plate 40 located in the lower region.

[0109] Here, the metal plate 40 placed in the "lower region" of the drying suppression container 20 may be, as shown in Figures 5A and 5B, placed on the lower surface member 22 of the drying suppression container 20 located in the "lower region", or, as shown in Figures 6A and 6B, the metal plate 40 may constitute at least a part of the lower surface member of the drying suppression container 20 located in the "lower region".

[0110] According to this embodiment, the cold air that has passed through the evaporator 12 is blown out from the first outlet 32 ​​toward the lower region of the drying suppression container 20, so that the lower region of the drying suppression container 20 is strongly cooled. As a result, the temperature of the metal plate 40 placed in the lower region of the drying suppression container 20 decreases, and the contents G placed on the metal plate are effectively cooled by contact heat transfer from the metal plate, causing their temperature to decrease. On the other hand, since the drying suppression container 20 is covered with a lid 30, air does not flow into the drying suppression container 20 from the top opening, and the temperature of the air inside the drying suppression container 20 is indirectly and gently cooled by the air flowing outside the drying suppression container 20. As a result, the temperature difference between the surface temperature of the contents G and the ambient temperature can be kept small in the initial stages of cooling the contents G. As a result, the contents G can be cooled and frozen while suppressing the release of moisture from the contents G.

[0111] Therefore, a refrigerator 2 can be provided that can freeze the stored items G in the freezer compartment 4 while suppressing drying. If it is necessary to rapidly cool the stored items G in the drying suppression container 20, this can be achieved by opening the opening / closing mechanism 50 attached to the upper side of the drying suppression container 20, as described above.

[0112] (Examples) Next, a prototype refrigerator equipped with a drying-suppressing container according to the present invention was fabricated, and tests were conducted to measure the degree of drying of the stored items by actually freezing them. Specifically, a drying-suppressing container, covered with a lid and with its opening / closing mechanism closed, was placed in the freezer compartment, and the stored items inside the drying-suppressing container were cooled and frozen, and the tests were conducted to preserve them in a frozen state for a long period of time. The drying-suppressing container used in the test was one in which a metal plate was placed on the lower surface member of the drying-suppressing container, as shown in Figures 5A and 5B, and the stored items were placed on the metal plate and cooled. Steak meat was used as the stored item, the steak meat was wrapped in plastic wrap and placed on the metal plate inside the drying-suppressing container, the opening at the top of the drying-suppressing container was covered with a lid, and cold air was blown onto the lower region of the drying-suppressing container to cool it. Since the opening / closing mechanism was closed, the cold air was not allowed to enter the inside of the drying-suppressing container.

[0113] The contents were cooled gently using an evaporator, ensuring that the cold air passed through the evaporator did not directly hit the contents. The contents were then frozen and stored in this frozen state for 5 days. To obtain data for this example, the weight of the contents was measured periodically over the 5 days, and the weight loss rate was calculated. The calculated weight loss rates were plotted on a graph, and the points were connected by lines to show the temporal change in the weight loss rate. Since weight loss occurs due to the removal of moisture from the contents, the degree of drying can be understood from the weight loss rate.

[0114] As a comparative example, a conventional refrigerator with a container that opens at the top placed in the freezer compartment was used, and the same contents as in the example (wrapped steak) were placed in the container and cooled in the same manner as in the example. Specifically, tests were conducted to freeze the contents using two types of conventional refrigerators. In conventional refrigerators, cold air that has passed through the evaporator flows into the container, so the contents are rapidly cooled by the cold air. As described above, the contents were kept frozen for 5 days, and the weight of the contents was measured periodically to measure the degree of dryness, and the temporal change in the weight loss rate was shown in a graph.

[0115] The test results are shown in Figure 10. Figure 10 is a graph showing the time change in the weight reduction rate of stored items when they are frozen in the prototype refrigerator according to the present invention and a conventional refrigerator. In Figure 10, the horizontal axis represents time (unit [days]) and the vertical axis represents the weight reduction rate (unit [%]). Graph A shows the data for the refrigerator according to the present invention, which is an example, and graphs B and C show the data for a conventional refrigerator, which is a comparative example.

[0116] In all refrigerators, significant drying occurred during the initial cooling phase, but the degree of drying became moderate after the entire contents were frozen. It was found that the weight loss rate during the initial cooling phase greatly influenced the final weight loss rate after 5 days. In the initial cooling phase, when the degree of drying was high, the weight loss rate of the refrigerator according to the present invention, shown in A, was approximately 2%. On the other hand, the weight loss rates of conventional refrigerators, shown in B and C, exceeded 2.5%.

[0117] As shown above, the test results in Figure 10 demonstrate that the results based on Equation 1 are appropriate. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that by using a drying-suppressing container and performing gentle cooling so that the cold air that has passed through the evaporator does not directly come into contact with the stored items, it is possible to reliably freeze and preserve the stored items while suppressing drying.

[0118] While embodiments and modes of implementation of the present invention have been described, the disclosed content may change in the details of the configuration, and changes in the combination and order of elements in the embodiments and modes of implementation can be realized without departing from the claimed scope and spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0119] 2 Refrigerator 4. Freezer 6. Refrigerated compartment Doors 8A and 8B 10 Cooling channel 10A lower cooling channel 10B Upper cooling channel 12 Evaporator 14 Fans 16 Freezer Damper 18 Refrigerator damper 20 Dry suppression container 20' container 22 Bottom member 24 Rear part 26 Front component 28 Side members 30 Lid 32 Air outlet 34 Air outlet 36 Return 38 Return channel 40 metal plate 50 Opening and closing mechanism 52 Aperture 54 Movable member 54A aperture 56. Actuator 58 Aperture 60 Control Unit 62 Input section 64 Compressor G Storage items L lower area

Claims

1. Freezer compartment, A drying-suppressing container is placed in the aforementioned freezer compartment and stores the contents inside, A removable lid covers the top opening of the drying-suppressing container, A metal plate is placed in the lower region of the drying suppression container, A fan is placed within the cooling channel to circulate the air inside the chamber, An evaporator is placed in the aforementioned cooling channel and is cooled as it passes through the air flowed by the fan, An outlet for blowing the cold air that has passed through the evaporator into the freezer chamber from within the cooling channel, Equipped with, The aforementioned outlet includes a first outlet, which is arranged so that air is blown out from within the cooling channel toward the lower region of the drying suppression container. A refrigerator characterized in that the contents to be stored are placed on the metal plate located in the lower region.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that the metal plate is placed on the lower surface member of the drying suppression container located in the lower region.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that the metal plate constitutes at least a part of the lower surface member of the drying suppression container located in the lower region, and the lower surface of the metal plate is exposed to the outside of the drying suppression container.

4. An opening and closing mechanism for opening and closing the inside and outside of the drying suppression container is arranged on the rear member of the drying suppression container. The aforementioned outlet includes a second outlet, which is arranged so that air is blown out from within the cooling passage toward the position of the opening and closing mechanism. When the opening / closing mechanism is closed, the air blown out from the second outlet does not flow into the inside of the drying suppression container. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that when the opening and closing mechanism is open, the air blown out from the second outlet flows into the inside of the drying suppression container.

5. When cooling the stored items while suppressing drying, the opening and closing mechanism is closed at least during the initial cooling stage. The refrigerator according to claim 4, characterized in that the opening and closing mechanism is opened when rapidly cooling the stored items.

6. A drive unit that drives the opening and closing mechanism, A control unit that controls the drive unit, An input unit that transmits a signal to the control unit indicating that drying suppression mode or rapid cooling mode has been selected based on user input, Equipped with, The control unit, When the drying suppression mode is selected, the drive unit is controlled so that the opening and closing mechanism is closed. The refrigerator according to claim 5, characterized in that the drive unit is controlled so that the opening and closing mechanism is opened when the rapid cooling mode is selected.

7. The control unit, When the aforementioned drying suppression mode is selected, The refrigerator according to claim 6, characterized in that, after controlling the drive unit to close the opening and closing mechanism, when a predetermined time has elapsed or when the surface temperature of the stored items falls below a predetermined temperature, the drive unit is controlled to open the opening and closing mechanism which is in the closed state.

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