Refrigerated showcase and sushi case

Abstract

To keep the inside of an ingredient case at optimal temperature and humidity for preserving the freshness of fish.SOLUTION: An ingredient case has its bottom connected with a water storage tank equipped with bubble generation means. Air inside the ingredient case is discharged from a porous pipe inside the water storage tank into the storage water as bubbles, so that the humidified air rises into the ingredient case, humidifying the inside of it. Cold water adjusted to 4°C is used as a refrigerant, which is circulated through refrigerant piping that runs in the storage water, adjusting the storage water to 10°C. The upper part of the ingredient case is provided with refrigerant piping that circulates 4°C cold water, and a drain for condensation water, to cool the inside of the ingredient case.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] It relates to the technical field of humidification of the display space in a refrigerated showcase.

Background Art

[0002] Regarding humidification by bubble generation, in the humidification for medical oxygen inhalation, oxygen gas is passed through water to generate bubbles for humidification. Also, in the humidification of medical CPAP, air is pressurized and passed through water to form bubbles for humidification.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In Patent Document 1, a technique is disclosed in which the inside of a flower display case is made negative pressure, air from the outside air is taken into water to create bubbles, and the inside of the case is humidified. Also, in Patent Document 2, a humidifying means is disclosed in which gas is passed through water to create bubbles and the gas is sent into the showcase.

[0005] In the medical bubble generation humidifying means and the humidifying means described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, a bubble bursting sound is generated when the bubbles burst on the water surface. In bubble humidification, when humidifying a large-capacity space or when the ventilation volume is large, the required air supply volume becomes large and the generated volume becomes large. In medical use, the user tolerates the sound, but in the case of a display, it will give discomfort to the visitors unless sound insulation means is provided. Therefore, it is desired to provide a humidifying means for a showcase that can be easily humidified and has low audible noise.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In the first means, a water storage tank is provided in the inner display space of the air curtain of the refrigerated showcase or in the inner display space of the flat refrigerated showcase, and air in the display space of the refrigerated showcase is sent into the stored water in the water storage tank to generate microbubbles, or a humidifier is provided to send liquid containing microbubbles generated externally into the stored water for humidification.

[0007] In this means, by reducing the bubble diameter at the time of bubble generation, the frequency when the bubbles burst on the water surface can be shifted to a higher frequency range. Since the frequency band with the best sensitivity of human hearing is around 500 Hz to 6 kHz, by making the bubbles smaller and setting the center frequency of the generated sound to 10 kHz or more, the sensitivity is poor and the sound is less bothersome. In particular, when the center frequency is 16 kHz or more, the sensitivity extremely decreases. By making the bubble diameter 1 mm or less, preferably fine bubbles (100 μm or less), the frequency of the generated sound can be shifted to a higher frequency range. By reducing the bubble diameter, the total area of the gas-liquid interface increases and the humidity inside the bubbles is efficiently increased.

[0008] Also, when the bubbles burst on the water surface, the surface tension of the water on the water surface is weakened to promote evaporation. Furthermore, the thermal motion of water molecules is accelerated by the vibration at the time of rupture, promoting evaporation. Therefore, in the case of a large showcase, by adding a means of blowing air on the water surface, the relative humidity near the water surface can always be reduced to promote evaporation.

[0009] In the second means, the showcase is a sushi case.

[0010] Since the sushi case has a small internal volume of the display case, a water storage tank is provided by connecting it below or above the display space, and the generated high-humidity bubbles are directly circulated into the display space. By exhausting the air inhaled from the display space of the sushi case as bubbles into the water storage tank, the high-humid air generated from the bubbles returns to the display space and the inside of the display space is humidified.

[0011] In the third means, the temperature control means adjusts the water storage temperature and the refrigerant temperature so that the temperature inside the fish case becomes around 10°C.

[0012] By adjusting the temperature inside the display case to around 10°C through the refrigerant piping inside the fish case and / or by adjusting the temperature of the water storage tank adjacent to the fish case display space and making the air temperature inside the display space around 10°C with the generated high-humidity air, the decomposition of ATP in fresh fish can be suppressed and the freshness can be maintained. It is known that the decomposition rate of ATP in fresh fish is the slowest around 10°C, and it is known that there is a positive correlation between freshness and the remaining amount of ATP.

Advantages of the Invention

[0013] In the case of a fish case, the freshness of fresh fish can be maintained by keeping the temperature inside the display space around 10°C. Furthermore, in the case of a fish case, since the opening rate and opening time of the fish extraction port are large, the relative humidity inside the fish case may decrease during the dry period in winter. Therefore, in winter, it is common sense to cover the fish inside the fish case with a wrap film for the purpose of preventing drying. However, it is inconvenient because the wrap has to be put on and taken off every time of extraction or storage, and it is not good in terms of appearance and hygiene. However, as in the present invention, the air inside the display space can be released as bubbles into the stored water, and the high-humidity air can be circulated back into the display space to prevent the drying of the fish.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] 〔Embodiment 1〕 FIG. 1 is a side explanatory view for explaining an example of the sushi case of the present embodiment, 100 is the sushi case, 101 is the display space, 102 and 107 are refrigerant pipes, 103 is a condensate receiver, 104 is a refrigerant pump, 105 is a brine tank with a cooler, 106 is a blower pump, 108 is a bubble generating porous pipe, 109 is water storage, 110 is a perforated steel plate, and 111 is an air inlet.

[0016] Cool the brine to around 4°C with the cooler 105 of the brine tank and circulate it through the refrigerant pipe 102 in the display space and the refrigerant pipe 107 in the water storage tank connected to the lower part of the display space to cool the display space and the water storage tank. The water temperature sensor is provided in the water storage, and the water storage temperature is always controlled to 10°C by opening and closing the valve provided in the refrigerant pipe. The steam generated from the 10°C water storage is at 10°C, and the bubbles formed from the air in the display space near 10°C are also near 10°C. Therefore, high-humidity air near 10°C is released from the water surface. Since the bubbles take in the air in the display space 101 from the air inlet 111, the bubble air circulates into the display space through the holes of the perforated steel plate 110 on the floor of the display space. A temperature sensor is also provided in the display space 101, and the temperature is displayed on the display device on the outlet side of the sushi case. The cook looks at this displayed temperature and increases the opening area of the outlet when it is less than 10°C, and closes the outlet when it is higher than 10°C. Since there is no water surface blowing means, it is better to increase the amount of bubble air, and the appropriate bubble diameter is 0.5 mm to 1 mm.

[0017] 〔Embodiment 2〕 FIG. 2 is a side explanatory view for explaining an example of the flat refrigerated showcase of the present embodiment, 200 is the flat refrigerated showcase, 201 is the display space, and 202 is a bubble humidifier.

[0018] This embodiment is a flat refrigerated showcase for fruits and vegetables. In winter, since the outside air of the showcase is dry, the inside of the showcase becomes dry by the amount of defrosting of the refrigerated showcase. Many fruits and vegetables cannot be hermetically packaged, and since drying reduces the commercial value and shortens the actual expiration date, humidification is required. However, in spray humidification, the commercial value may be impaired by water droplets adhering to the products, and humidification without water droplet contamination has been demanded. An air bubble humidifier is provided in the display space. The air bubble humidifier 202 has a water storage tank, an air pump, and a water surface blower inside. It sucks air from the display space 201, generates air bubbles in the stored water with the air pump, sucks the display space air, blows the water surface with the blower, and circulates high-humidity air in the display space. Since the stored water and the bubble air are cooled in the showcase, the temperature and water temperature in the display space are almost the same. Also, since a relatively small amount of bubble air is sufficient for blowing the water surface, it is desirable to use a fine bubble generator for generating bubbles.

Explanation of Signs

[0019] 100 Product case 101 Display space 102 Refrigerant pipe 103 Condensate receiver 104 Refrigerant pump 105 Brine tank with cooler 106 Air supply pump 107 Refrigerant pipe 108 Air bubble generating porous pipe 109 Water 110 Perforated steel plate 111 Air intake 200 Flat refrigerated showcase 201 Display space 202 Air bubble humidifier

Claims

**Claim 1**: A refrigerated display case having a water storage tank provided in an inner display space of a flat refrigerated display case, and blowing air from the air in the inner display space of the flat refrigerated display case into the stored water in the water storage tank to generate fine bubbles. The refrigerated display case is characterized in that the water storage tank is disposed below the inner display space. **Claim 2** The display case is a fish display case provided with a humidifier according to claim 1, characterized in that the display case is a fish display case for displaying fresh fish. **Claim 3**: The fish display case according to claim 2, characterized in that the temperature of the stored water and the refrigerant temperature are adjusted by a temperature control means so that the temperature inside the fish display case is around 10°C.

Images