Refrigerators, humidifier cassettes

Abstract

To provide a refrigerator that can humidify an interior of a storage container of a vegetable chamber to solve such the problem with existing refrigerators that are configured not to release moisture from their vegetable cases when becoming a low humidity state and cannot humidify in the low humidity state.SOLUTION: A refrigerator includes: a vegetable chamber; a vegetable container provided in the vegetable chamber; and a humidification cassette provided in the vegetable container, where a nonwoven fabric is provided inside the humidification cassette. Dew condensation occurs between the humidification cassette and a wall surface. A receiving part for absorbing water content caused from the dew condensation with the nonwoven fabric is provided in a lower part of the humidification cassette. The water content absorbed by the nonwoven fabric is discharged into the vegetable container from an interval provided in an upper part of the humidification cassette.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator equipped with a humidification cassette. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a refrigerator that discharges moisture in the vegetable case to the outside when the humidity level is high, and prevents moisture from escaping from the vegetable case when the humidity level is low. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-800 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The refrigerator in Patent Document 1 is designed to prevent moisture from escaping from the vegetable case when the humidity level becomes low, but cannot humidify the container in a low humidity state.

[0005] Therefore, the present disclosure is Storage room A refrigerator that can humidify the inside of the storage container and humidification cassette to provide. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The refrigerator in the present disclosure includes: Storage room and, Storage room Established in Storage container and, Storage container and a humidifying cassette provided on the wall of the , Canada Inside the humidity cassette Porous Material is established. , Canada Wet Cassette and wall Condensation occurs between the , Canada At the bottom of the humidity cassette , conclusion Moisture generated by dew Porous Material A receiving portion is provided for absorbing the Porous Material Absorbed into Water minutes , Canada Through the gap at the top of the humidity cassette Storage container It is characterized in that the particles are released into the interior of the device. In addition, the humidifying cassette of the present disclosure is a humidifying cassette that is provided on the wall surface of a storage container of a refrigerator, and is characterized in that the humidifying cassette is composed of a porous body provided inside, a receiving portion provided at the bottom for allowing the porous body to absorb moisture generated by condensation that occurs between the humidifying cassette and the wall surface, and a gap provided at the top, and the moisture absorbed by the porous body is released from the gap into the interior of the storage container. Effect of the Invention

[0007] Refrigerators in the present disclosure and humidification cassette can absorb moisture generated by condensation inside the storage container and release the moisture into the storage container, thereby making it possible to humidify the inside of the storage container. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a vegetable compartment of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a humidifying cassette according to a first embodiment; [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage container in a vegetable compartment of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment; [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage container when a humidifying cassette is attached in the first embodiment; [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a storage container when a humidifying cassette is attached in the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] (The knowledge and other information that formed the basis of this disclosure) At the time the inventors came up with the idea of ​​this disclosure, there was a technology available that could maintain a high humidity state while preventing water spoilage due to condensation even when vegetables and fruits were stored in a vegetable case.This involved installing a moisture-sensing and moisture-permeable device in the vegetable case, which would expel moisture from the vegetable case to the outside when the humidity level became high, and would prevent moisture from escaping when the humidity level became low.

[0010] When there are many vegetables and the inside of the storage container is in a high humidity state, releasing the moisture to the outside will cause condensation. This is useful because it can reduce the risk of water spoilage due to water retention. However, when there are few vegetables and the like and the inside of the storage container is in a low humidity state, it is not possible to increase the humidity. Therefore, the inventors discovered that there is a problem in that the vegetables and the like dry out and become of low quality, and in order to solve this problem, they have come to constitute the subject of the present disclosure.

[0011] Therefore, the present disclosure provides a refrigerator that maintains a high humidity state inside the storage container while suppressing the risk of water spoilage due to condensation.

[0012] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, more detailed explanation than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed explanation of already well-known matters or duplicate explanation of substantially the same configuration may be omitted. This is to avoid the following explanation becoming more redundant than necessary and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0013] It should be noted that the accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0014] (Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0015] [1-1. Configuration] In Figures 1 and 2, the insulated box 2 of the refrigerator 1 is composed of an outer box 3 mainly made of steel plate, an inner box 4 molded from a resin such as ABS, and a foam insulation material such as rigid foamed urethane that is filled and foamed in the space between the outer box 3 and the inner box 4, and is insulated from the surroundings and divided into multiple storage compartments.

[0016] The refrigerator 1 includes a refrigerator compartment 5, a switchable compartment 6, an ice-making compartment 7, a vegetable compartment 8, and a freezer compartment 9.

[0017] At the top, refrigerator compartment 5 is provided as the first storage compartment. Below refrigerator compartment 5, switchable compartment 6 as the fourth storage compartment and ice-making compartment 7 as the fifth storage compartment are provided side by side on the left and right. Below switchable compartment 6 and ice-making compartment 7, vegetable compartment 8 as the second storage compartment is provided. And at the bottom, freezer compartment 9 as the third storage compartment is arranged.

[0018] The refrigerator compartment 5 is normally set at 1°C to 5°C as the lower limit of the temperature at which food does not freeze for refrigerated storage, and the vegetable compartment 8 is set at 2°C to 7°C, which is equal to or slightly higher than that of the refrigerator compartment 5. The freezer compartment 9 is set in the freezing temperature range, and is normally set at -22°C to -15°C for frozen storage, but may be set at a lower temperature, such as -30°C or -25°C, to improve the frozen storage condition. The switchable compartment 6 can be switched to a preset temperature range between the refrigerator temperature range and the freezing temperature range, in addition to the refrigerator temperature range set at 1°C to 5°C, the vegetable temperature range set at 2°C to 7°C, and the freezer temperature range normally set at -22°C to -15°C. The switchable compartment 6 is a storage compartment with an independent door arranged next to the ice making compartment 7, and is often equipped with a drawer-type door.

[0019] In this embodiment, the switchable compartment 6 is a storage compartment including both refrigeration and freezing temperature zones, but it may be a storage compartment specialized in switching only between the above-mentioned temperature zones between refrigeration and freezing, with refrigeration left to the refrigerator compartment 5 and vegetable compartment 8, and freezing left to the freezer compartment 9. It may also be a storage compartment fixed to a specific temperature zone.

[0020] The top surface of the heat-insulating box 2 is recessed in a stepped shape toward the back of the refrigerator 1. This stepped recess forms a machine room 2a, which accommodates a compressor 10 and a dryer (see FIG. In other words, the machine room 2a in which the compressor 10 is disposed is formed by being embedded into the uppermost rear region within the refrigerator room 5.

[0021] The matters relating to the main parts of the invention described below in this embodiment may be applied to a conventional refrigerator type in which a machine room is provided in the rear area of ​​the storage room at the bottom of the insulated box body 2 and compressor 10 is arranged therein. Also, refrigerator 1 may have a so-called mid-freezer configuration in which freezer room 9 and vegetable room 8 are swapped.

[0022] Next, a cooling chamber 11 that generates cold air is provided on the rear side of the vegetable chamber 8 and the freezer chamber 9. Between the vegetable chamber 8 and the cooling chamber 11 or between the freezer chamber 9 and the cooling chamber 11, there are provided air passages (not shown) that have thermal insulation properties and transport cold air to each chamber, and a rear partition wall 12 that is configured to provide a thermally insulating partition between each chamber.

[0023] A cooler 13 is disposed in the cooling chamber 11. A cooling fan 14 is disposed in the space above the cooler 13, which uses a forced convection system to blow the cold air cooled by the cooler 13 to the refrigerator chamber 5, the switch chamber 6, the ice-making chamber 7, the vegetable chamber 8, and the freezer chamber 9. A radiant heater 15 made of a glass tube is disposed in the space below the cooler 13 to remove frost and ice that adheres to the cooler 13 and its surroundings during cooling. Further below the radiant heater 15 are a drain pan 16 for receiving defrost water generated during defrosting, a drain tube 17 that penetrates from its deepest part to the outside of the chamber, and an evaporator dish 18 is disposed downstream of the drain pan 16 outside the chamber.

[0024] In the vegetable compartment 8, a lower storage container 20 placed on a frame attached to a drawer door 19 of the vegetable compartment 8, and an upper storage container 21 placed on the lower storage container 20 are arranged.

[0025] Between the upper storage container 21 and the first partition wall 22a, there is provided an air passage for the cool air discharged from the outlet 23 for the vegetable room 8 formed in the rear partition wall 12. A vegetable room heater 24 is disposed near the outlet 23 for the purpose of adjusting the temperature in the vegetable room 8.

[0026] Furthermore, a space is provided between the lower storage container 20 and the second partition wall 22b below the lower storage container 20 to form a cold air passage. The vegetable compartment 8 is provided with an intake port 25 for the vegetable compartment 8 through which the cold air that has cooled the vegetable compartment 8 and exchanged heat returns to the cooler 13. A temperature sensor 26 is provided near the intake port 25.

[0027] 2 and 3 show the humidification cassette 28 diagrammatically for the purpose of explanation.

[0028] 3 is an exploded perspective view of the humidifying cassette 28. The humidifying cassette 28 includes a humidifying cassette front frame 37, a humidifying cassette rear frame 38, and a humidifying sheet 39. The humidifying cassette 28 may be configured such that the humidifying cassette front frame 37 and the humidifying cassette rear frame 38 are integrated together. The humidifying sheet 39 is provided inside the humidifying cassette 28.

[0029] 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the vegetable compartment. The humidifying sheet 39 includes an absorbing section 29, a discharging section 30, and a conveying section 31. The humidifying sheet 39 is integrally configured with the absorbing section 29, the discharging section 30, and the conveying section 31. The humidifying cassette 28 is provided on the inside of the wall surface that divides the lower storage container 20. For example, the humidifying cassette 28 is provided on the wall surface of the inner wall surface of the lower storage container 20 onto which the cold air discharged from the discharge port 23 is blown. The discharge port 23 is provided on the back surface of the vegetable compartment 8, and the humidifying cassette 28 is provided on the back surface of the lower storage container 20.

[0030] The absorption section 29 serves to absorb and store moisture generated by condensation inside the lower storage container 20. The lower side of the back surface inside the lower storage container 20 is cooled by the cold air discharged from the outlet 23 to a temperature lower than the dew point temperature of the air inside the lower storage container 20, making it prone to condensation. In order to absorb the moisture generated by this condensation, the absorbing section 29 is provided on the lower side of the back surface inside the lower storage container 20. In addition, the absorbing section 29 is made of a fiber material such as nonwoven fabric, for example, to make it easier to absorb the moisture generated by condensation, and has a large surface area.

[0031] The release section 30 plays a role in releasing the absorbed moisture into the inside of the lower storage container 20. Dry cool air discharged from the discharge port 23 is introduced into the upper side of the inside back surface of the lower storage container 20 through the gap between the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20. Therefore, the atmosphere around the upper side of the inside back surface of the lower storage container 20 has a lower humidity than the atmosphere around the absorption section 29 and the conveying section 31. The release section 30 is provided on the upper side of the inside back surface of the lower storage container 20 so as to be able to release the absorbed moisture. Moreover, the release section 30 is made of a fiber material such as a nonwoven fabric so as to facilitate the release of moisture, and has a large surface area.

[0032] The transport section 31 has a role of transferring the moisture absorbed and stored in the absorption section 29 to the release section 30 by capillary force. Here, capillary force is the force that generates the capillary phenomenon. The transport section 31 is provided at a position that connects the absorption section 29 and the release section 30. The transport section 31 is made of a fibrous material such as a nonwoven fabric.

[0033] The humidifying cassette front frame 37 serves to protect the humidifying sheet 39. The humidifying cassette front frame 37 has an opening 40. The humidifying cassette front frame 37 is made of resin.

[0034] The opening 40 is provided to release the absorbed moisture into the lower storage container 20. The opening 40 is provided on the upper side of the humidifying cassette front frame 37 so as to face the release part 30. The opening 40 is formed by a lattice-like gap made up of a plurality of ribs.

[0035] The humidifying cassette rear frame 38, like the humidifying cassette front frame 37, serves to protect the humidifying sheet 39. The humidifying cassette rear frame 38 includes a receiving portion 42. The humidifying cassette rear frame 38 is made of resin.

[0036] The receiving portion 42 is provided to allow the humidifying sheet 39 to absorb moisture generated by condensation inside the lower storage container 20. The receiving portion 42 is provided below the humidifying cassette rear frame 38. Furthermore, a plurality of receiving portions 42 are provided in the vertical direction to carry moisture generated by condensation on the inner wall surface of the lower storage container 20 to the absorption portion 29. Furthermore, the receiving portion 42 is formed of an inclined rib. Note that the receiving portion 42 may be formed of at least one inclined rib.

[0037] A specific configuration of the humidification cassette 28 will be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5. Figure 4 shows a mounting configuration of the humidification cassette 28 in the lower storage container 20.

[0038] 4 is a perspective view of the lower storage container 20. The humidification cassette front frame 37 includes a push-down portion 33, an insertion portion 35, and a claw portion 41.

[0039] The push-down portion 33 is provided for pushing the humidification cassette 28 when attaching it to the lower storage container 20 or when removing it from the lower storage container. The push-down portion 33 is provided on the upper side of the humidification cassette front frame 37.

[0040] The upper part of the lower storage container 20 has two mounting holes 32, and the tabs 41 of the humidifier cassette 28 are fitted into the holes 32 to fix the cassette in place. At this time, the humidifier cassette 28 is inserted into a groove 34 provided beforehand on the rear side of the bottom surface of the lower storage container 20 in order to fix the lower side of the humidifier cassette 28 in place. The humidifier cassette 28 is installed so that the insertion portion 35 of the humidifier cassette 28 fits into the insertion portion 35 of the humidifier cassette 28. This configuration simplifies the operation when the user removes the humidifier cassette 28 for cleaning or the like and then reinstalls it, and at the same time prevents the humidifier cassette 28 from shifting out of position.

[0041] 5 is a schematic diagram of the humidification cassette 28 attached to the lower storage container 20. A gap 36 is provided between the wall surface of the lower storage container 20 and the humidification cassette 28, allowing air containing moisture inside the lower storage container 20 to flow.

[0042] 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of humidification cassette 28 attached to lower storage container 20. The multiple ribs that make up receiving portion 42 are provided so as to contact the inner wall surface of lower storage container 20. This reduces the risk of moisture generated by condensation inside lower storage container 20 flowing down to the bottom surface of lower storage container 20.

[0043] [1-2. Operation] The operation and function of the refrigerator 1 configured as above will be described below.

[0044] 2 to 6, the operation of humidifying cassette 28 of refrigerator 1 to absorb, move, and release moisture generated by condensation will be described. First, the operation of the refrigeration cycle will be described. The refrigeration cycle operates in response to a signal from a control board (not shown) according to the temperature set inside the refrigerator, and cooling operation is performed. The high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant discharged by the operation of compressor 10 is condensed and liquefied to some extent in a condenser (not shown). It is further condensed and liquefied while preventing condensation in refrigerator 1 through refrigerant piping (not shown) arranged on the side and rear surface of refrigerator 1 and at the front opening of refrigerator 1, and reaches a capillary tube (not shown). After that, in the capillary tube, the refrigerant is decompressed while exchanging heat with a suction pipe (not shown) to compressor 10, and becomes a low-temperature, low-pressure liquid refrigerant and reaches cooler 13.

[0045] Here, the low-temperature, low-pressure liquid refrigerant exchanges heat with the air in each storage compartment transported by the operation of the cooling fan 14, and the refrigerant in the cooler 13 evaporates. At this time, cold air for cooling each storage compartment is generated in the cooling chamber 11.

[0046] The low-temperature cold air generated in the cooling compartment 11 is diverted from the cooling fan 14 to the refrigerator compartment 5, the switch compartment 6, the ice-making compartment 7, the vegetable compartment 8, and the freezer compartment 9 using air ducts and cooling dampers 27, and is adjusted by the cooling dampers 27 so as to cool each compartment to its respective target temperature range.

[0047] The air cooled to -20°C or lower by the cooler 13 rises in temperature to 2 to 7°C on average in the vegetable compartment 8. Therefore, the air outside the lower storage container 20 and the upper storage container 21 in the vegetable compartment 8 is dry with an average relative humidity of about 15 to 29% RH. On the other hand, the vegetables in the lower storage container 20 and the upper storage container 21 are physiologically active and continue to evaporate moisture even during storage, so the air in the lower storage container 20 and the upper storage container 21 becomes more humid. Through the gap between the first partition wall 22a and the upper storage container 21 and the gap between the upper storage container 21 and the lower storage container 20, the dry air around the periphery of the lower storage container 20 and the upper storage container 21 is replaced by the high humidity air inside the lower storage container 20 and the upper storage container 21. Therefore, part of the moisture is discharged from the lower storage container 20 and the upper storage container 21.

[0048] If the humidity inside the lower storage container 20 becomes too high, condensation will occur, and if the moisture produced by the condensation comes into contact with vegetables, etc., there is a risk that the vegetables will go rotten. On the other hand, if the humidity inside the lower storage container 20 becomes too low, there is a risk that evaporation of the vegetables will be promoted, causing them to wilt. Taking into consideration the balance between these two risks, a storage humidity of 90 to 95% RH is considered appropriate for most vegetables. In this embodiment, a humidifying cassette 28 is installed to absorb and store moisture produced by condensation in the lower storage container 20, thereby reducing the risk of water spoilage. In addition, when the humidity inside the lower storage container 20 becomes too low, When the humidity level becomes low, the absorbed and stored moisture is released into the lower storage container 20. Therefore, the inside of the lower storage container 20 can be maintained in a high humidity state while reducing the risk of water decay due to condensation.

[0049] In Fig. 2, humidifying cassette 28 absorbs moisture generated by condensation in lower storage container 20 in absorbing section 29, moves the absorbed moisture in transport section 31, and releases the moved moisture in releasing section 30. In Fig. 6, receiving section 42 is composed of a plurality of ribs, and the tips of the ribs are arranged so as to contact the inner wall surface of lower storage container 20. As a result, condensation generated on the wall surface of lower storage container 20 flows down the wall surface and is directed by the ribs of receiving section 42 onto humidifying sheet 39. In Fig. 6, three ribs are arranged vertically, and condensation that cannot be received by the first rib can be received by the second and third ribs.

[0050] Next, an operation will be described in which moisture generated by condensation is absorbed and stored in absorption section 29 using humidification cassette 28, the absorbed moisture is moved to release section 30 by transport section 31, and the moved moisture is released by release section 30. When vegetables are placed in lower storage container 20, the vegetables release moisture over time. If any of the surfaces that divide lower storage container 20 at this time is below the dew point temperature, condensation will occur on that surface.

[0051] The surface on which condensation occurs may vary slightly depending on the design position of the vegetable compartment 8 and the operating conditions of the refrigerator, but in this case, condensation basically occurs on part of the back surface of lower storage container 20, which is relatively cold as a result of the cold air discharged from discharge port 23 being blown thereon. The upper side of lower storage container 20, where the density of vegetables is low, is also affected by the intrusion of dry cold air discharged from discharge port 23 and becomes in a low humidity state. Therefore, the lower side of lower storage container 20, where the density of vegetables is high, is relatively more humid than the upper side of lower storage container 20, so condensation is expected to occur on the lower side of the back surface of lower storage container 20.

[0052] At this time, by placing the absorption section 29 of the humidifying cassette 28 in the area where condensation occurs, it is possible to absorb and store moisture generated by condensation in the lower storage container 20. The moisture that flows into the humidifying sheet 39, absorbed, and stored by the absorption section 29 moves to the release section 30 provided on the upper side of the back surface of the lower storage container 20 by the capillary force of the conveying section 31. Compared to the absorption section 29 and the conveying section 31, the air around the release section 30 is convected with low humidity due to the intrusion of dry cold air discharged from the discharge port 23. Therefore, the moisture that has moved to the release section 30 is discharged from the humidifying cassette 28 here. In particular, the humidity difference between the air in the lower storage container 20 and the atmosphere around the release section 30 increases as the number of vegetables in the lower storage container 20 decreases. Therefore, moisture is discharged more actively, and as a result, the lower storage container 20 can maintain a high humidity state regardless of the number of vegetables.

[0053] [1-3. Effects, etc.] As described above, in this embodiment, the refrigerator 1 includes the vegetable compartment 8, the lower storage container 20, and the humidifying cassette 28. The humidifying sheet provided inside the humidifying cassette 28 is integrally composed of the absorbing section 29, the conveying section 31, and the discharging section 30. When there are many vegetables in the lower storage container 20 and the humidity level is high, the absorbing section 29 first absorbs and stores the moisture generated by condensation on the lower side of the inner back surface of the lower storage container 20. Next, the moisture absorbed by the conveying section 31 moves to the discharging section 30 by utilizing capillary force. Finally, when the inside of the lower storage container 20 becomes a low humidity state, the discharging section 30 discharges the moisture into the lower storage container 20.

[0054] In this case, the opening 40 is disposed on the upper side of the lower storage container 20, and is constituted by a lattice-like gap made up of a plurality of ribs. This reduces the risk of vegetables being placed near the release section 30 even when vegetables are stored in the lower storage container 20, and the efficiency of releasing moisture is maintained. At the same time, the vegetables are prevented from touching the humidifying sheet 39, and the humidifying sheet 39 is prevented from becoming dirty. This also helps prevent damage, etc.

[0055] In addition, since the receiving portion 42 is configured such that multiple vertical ribs come into contact with the inner wall surface of the lower storage container 20, when moisture generated by condensation on the wall surface flows down the wall surface of the lower storage container 20, the moisture generated by condensation that is not received by the upper ribs can be received by the lower ribs, improving the absorption efficiency of moving the moisture generated by condensation to the absorbing portion 29. This makes it possible to prevent vegetables from spoiling due to puddles formed on the bottom surface of the lower storage container 20 caused by failure to receive condensation. Furthermore, since the receiving portion 42 is configured with multiple ribs, there is also an effect that when the humidifying cassette 28 is attached to the lower storage container 20, it is easy to correct the warp of the wall surface of the lower storage container 20 that occurs during molding. This makes it easier for the multiple ribs of the receiving portion 42 to come into contact with the wall surface of the lower storage container 20, leading to improved absorption efficiency.

[0056] Due to the above effects, when the humidity inside the lower storage container 20 becomes low due to the intrusion of dry cold air or a decrease in the amount of vegetables, moisture is supplied from the humidifying cassette 28 to the lower storage container 20 while maintaining the release efficiency regardless of the storage conditions of the vegetables. Therefore, the lower storage container 20 can maintain a high humidity state whether there are a lot of vegetables or not. In addition, the risk of water spoilage of vegetables due to condensation can be suppressed.

[0057] In order to keep the vegetables fresh, it is necessary to increase the airtightness of the lower storage container 20. Here, airtightness refers to the degree of airtightness. If the gap between the lower storage container 20 and the upper storage container 21 is reduced in order to increase the airtightness of the lower storage container 20, the exchange between the dry cold air outside the lower storage container 20 and the high humidity air inside the lower storage container 20 will be reduced. Therefore, condensation is more likely to occur inside the lower storage container 20. In contrast, the humidifying cassette 28 can absorb moisture generated by condensation inside the lower storage container 20, so the gap between the lower storage container 20 and the upper storage container 21 can be made smaller. Therefore, it is possible to increase the airtightness of the lower storage container 20 of the vegetable room 8 more than before, and it is possible to make the inside of the lower storage container 20 more humid than before.

[0058] In the present embodiment, the lower storage container 20 has been described as an example of a location where the humidification cassette 28 is installed, but the location where the humidification cassette 28 is installed is not limited to the lower storage container 20. As another example, the humidification cassette 28 may be installed in the upper storage container 21, for example.

[0059] This allows moisture generated by condensation inside upper storage container 21 to be absorbed by absorption section 29 and released into upper storage container 21 by release section 30. As a result, the inside of upper storage container 21 is maintained in a high humidity state, reducing the risk of water spoilage due to condensation.

[0060] (Other embodiments) As described above, the first embodiment has been described as an example of the technology disclosed in the present application. However, the technology in the present disclosure is not limited to this, and can be applied to embodiments in which modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc. are made. In addition, it is also possible to combine the components described in the first embodiment to create new embodiments.

[0061] Therefore, other embodiments will be exemplified below.

[0062] In the first embodiment, the vegetable compartment has been described as an example of a location where the humidifying cassette 28 is installed, but the location where the humidifying cassette 28 is installed is not limited to the vegetable compartment. As another example, the humidifying cassette 28 may be installed in another storage compartment, such as a refrigerator compartment or a freezer compartment. Also, not only vegetables but also fruits and rice may be stored in the vegetable compartment.

[0063] In the first embodiment, nonwoven fabric has been described as an example of a material constituting the absorbent section 29. The absorbent section 29 may be a porous body capable of absorbing a larger amount of moisture generated by condensation. Therefore, the absorbent section 29 is not limited to a fiber material such as nonwoven fabric. By forming the absorbent section 29 from a porous body, the surface area becomes larger and a larger amount of moisture can be absorbed and stored.

[0064] This allows the device to absorb the large amount of moisture that is expected to occur when there are a lot of vegetables, and can effectively suppress the risk of condensation. Furthermore, when there are only a few vegetables, this also leads to an increase in the amount of moisture released by the release unit 30, making it easier to respond to fluctuations in the amount of vegetables. This extends the time that the inside of the storage container can be kept in a high humidity state, allowing the vegetables to stay fresh for a longer period of time.

[0065] In the first embodiment, nonwoven fabric has been described as an example of a material constituting the transport section 31. The transport section 31 may be a porous body capable of transporting the moisture absorbed in the absorption section 29 to the release section 30 by capillary force. Therefore, the transport section 31 is not limited to a fibrous material such as nonwoven fabric. By making the transport section 31 a porous body, a large amount of moisture absorbed in the absorption section 29 can be moved to the release section 30 by the capillary force of the porous body.

[0066] Therefore, even in the case where condensation occurs continuously, it is possible to continuously move the moisture absorbed by the absorbing part 29. This improves the absorption performance of the absorbing part 29, and reduces the risk of condensation inside the storage container.

[0067] Furthermore, the material constituting the transport section 31 may be anisotropic in the direction in which moisture moves from the absorption section 29 to the release section 30. By making the transport section 31 out of an anisotropic material, moisture moving within the transport section 31 flows with a certain directionality, and the moisture can be quickly transported to the release section 30, which is the intended destination.

[0068] Therefore, even if the amount of water absorbed by the absorbing section 29 becomes excessive, the water can be quickly transported to the releasing section 30. This improves the storage capacity of the absorbing section 29, and reduces the risk of water generated by condensation dropping into the storage container when the amount of vegetables increases or decreases.

[0069] Furthermore, the transport section 31 may be configured with a groove. This allows the moisture absorbed by the absorbing section 29 to be moved by the capillary force of the groove. Also, since moisture can be moved simply by providing a groove on the wall surface of the storage container, there is no need to install new members, and costs can be reduced.

[0070] In the first embodiment, nonwoven fabric has been described as an example of a material constituting the release section 30. The release section 30 may be a porous body capable of releasing a larger amount of moisture generated by condensation. Therefore, the release section 30 is not limited to a fiber material such as nonwoven fabric. By forming the release section 30 from a porous body, the surface area becomes larger and a larger amount of moisture can be released.

[0071] Therefore, when the amount of vegetables changes or the humidity inside the storage container decreases due to the inflow of dry cold air, it is possible to release a large amount of moisture in a short time. This makes it possible to prevent the vegetables in the storage container from drying out and to maintain their freshness.

[0072] In addition, the cold air that enters the storage container is relatively dry compared to the air inside the storage container, and the inflowing dry air can be humidified by releasing moisture from the release section 30. This prevents the dry air from hitting vegetables, etc., and is expected to prolong the freshness of vegetables, etc. In addition, in order to improve the release performance of the release section 30, the inflowing cold air, especially the inflowing cold air, is turbulent. By providing the release section 30 in the above-mentioned portion, the release performance can be further improved.

[0073] In the first embodiment, the humidifying sheet 39 including the absorbing section 29, the conveying section 31, and the releasing section 30 has been described. The humidifying sheet 39 may be configured such that the absorbing section 29, the conveying section 31, and the releasing section 30 are integrally formed from the same material. This simplifies the configuration compared to when the absorbing section 29, the conveying section 31, and the releasing section 30 are each made from a different material and structure. This is expected to reduce the number of assembly steps, leading to cost reduction.

[0074] It should be noted that the above-described embodiments are intended to illustrate the technology of the present disclosure, and various modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, and the like can be made within the scope of the claims or their equivalents. [Industrial Applicability]

[0075] The present disclosure absorbs moisture generated by condensation inside a storage container into a humidifying cassette and releases the moisture into the storage container at a certain efficiency, thereby preventing vegetables from spoiling due to condensation and maintaining a high humidity level inside the storage container.Therefore, it can be implemented in household or commercial refrigerators or vegetable storage units, and can also be applied to distribution, warehouses, and other applications where high humidity storage is required, including for items other than vegetables. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 1. Refrigerator 8 Vegetable compartment 20 Lower storage container 21 Upper storage container 23 Outlet 28 Humidification Cassette 29 Absorption section 30 Emission part 31 Conveyor 32 Hole 33 Pressing section 34 Groove 35 Insertion part 36 Gap 37 Humidifying cassette front frame 38 Humidifying cassette rear frame 39 Humidifying Sheet 40 Opening 41 Claw part 42 Receiving part

Claims

1. A storage room; A storage container provided in the storage chamber; a humidifying cassette provided on a wall surface of the storage container; A porous body is provided inside the humidifying cassette, Condensation occurs between the humidifying cassette and the wall surface, a receiving portion for allowing the porous body to absorb moisture generated by condensation is provided at a lower portion of the humidifying cassette; The moisture absorbed by the porous body is released into the inside of the storage container through a gap provided in an upper portion of the humidifying cassette.

2. 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the receiving portion is constituted by a rib having an inclination, and a plurality of the receiving portions are provided in the vertical direction.

3. The storage chamber is provided with an outlet for discharging cool air, 3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the humidifying cassette is provided on one of the inner walls of the storage container, the wall surface onto which the cool air discharged from the outlet is blown.

4. A humidifying cassette to be installed on a wall surface of a storage container of a refrigerator, The humidification cassette comprises: A porous body provided therein; a receiving portion provided at a lower portion thereof for allowing the porous body to absorb moisture generated by condensation between the humidifying cassette and the wall surface; and a gap at the top. A humidifying cassette, characterized in that the moisture absorbed by the porous body is released into the inside of the storage container through the gap.

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