Cooling device

Abstract

To provide a cooling device capable of suppressing temperature from rising in a storage portion during defrosting.SOLUTION: In a specimen cooling box 100, an air blow-out port 7 is disposed at a position higher than a center of an evaporator 31 in a vertical direction so that heated air is blown out from the air blow-out port 7 while sucking air from an air suction port 6 by chimney effect, and the air suction port 6 is disposed below the air blow-out port 7 at a position lower than the center of the evaporator 31 in the vertical direction. A heating portion 5 for defrosting is disposed at a position same as the evaporator 31 on an upstream side with respect to the evaporator 31 or in an air flowing direction between the air suction port 6 and the air blow-out port 7, and a blower fan 4 is constituted so that, in defrosting, its driving is stopped or it is driven at a rotational frequency lower than that in cooling.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a cooling device, and particularly to a cooling device provided with a defrosting heating part.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a cooling device provided with a defrosting heating part has been known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a cold storage (cooling device) provided with a blower (air blower), a heater (defrosting heating part), and a cooler. In the cold storage of Patent Document 1, when frost forms on the cooler, the heater is driven to heat the air, and the heated air is supplied to the cooler by the blower to defrost.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the cold storage described in Patent Document 1, there is a problem that the air heated by the heater flows through the storage part by the air current generated by the blower, and the temperature in the storage part rises during defrosting.

[0006] This invention has been made to solve the above problems, and one object of this invention is to provide a cooling device capable of suppressing the rise in the temperature in the storage part during defrosting.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] To achieve the above objective, a cooling device according to one aspect of this invention comprises a housing, a storage section in which articles are stored, a refrigeration cycle including a heat exchanger located below the storage section and for cooling the air inside the storage section, a blower fan for sending the air cooled by the heat exchanger to the storage section, a defrosting heating section for heating the heat exchanger and defrosting during defrosting, and a partition between the storage section and the cooling section in which the heat exchanger is located. From the bottom surface of the partition plate downwards The device includes an air intake port, which serves as a first hole for drawing in air supplied to the heat exchanger, provided on a first plate-shaped member extending horizontally, and an air outlet port, which serves as a second hole for blowing out air that has passed through the heat exchanger toward the storage section, provided on a second plate-shaped member extending horizontally and positioned on the opposite side of the heat exchanger from the air intake port, separating the storage section from the cooling section. The air outlet port is positioned higher than the center of the heat exchanger in the vertical direction on the second plate-shaped member, and the air intake port is positioned lower than the air outlet port and lower than the center of the heat exchanger in the vertical direction on the first plate-shaped member. The defrost heating section is positioned between the air intake port and the air outlet port, upstream of the heat exchanger or in the same position as the heat exchanger in the direction of airflow. The blower fan is configured to be stopped during defrosting or to be driven at a lower rotational speed than during cooling.

[0008] In the cooling device according to the first aspect described above, as stated above, the blower fan is configured to either stop driving during defrosting or to drive at a lower rotational speed than during cooling. By stopping the blower fan or reducing its rotational speed, the airflow can be reduced compared to during cooling, thereby suppressing the outflow of heated air into the storage compartment. As a result, the rise in temperature inside the storage compartment during defrosting can be suppressed. Furthermore, by suppressing the rise in temperature inside the storage compartment, the cooling items can be prevented from being heated. In addition, by stopping the blower fan, the heated air can be retained in the heat exchanger, allowing for efficient defrosting of the heat exchanger and suppressing the rise in temperature inside the storage compartment. Moreover, the cooling device is configured to draw in air from the air intake and blow out heated air from the air outlet using the chimney effect. The air outlet is positioned higher than the center of the heat exchanger in the vertical direction, and the air intake is positioned lower than the air outlet and lower than the center of the heat exchanger in the vertical direction. As a result, an airflow is generated by the chimney effect, allowing heated air from the defrosting heating unit to be supplied to the heat exchanger and the heat exchanger to be defrosted, even if the blower fan is stopped or its rotation speed is reduced. In addition, since the heated air flows towards the air outlet, leakage from the air intake can be suppressed.

[0009] In the cooling device according to the first aspect described above, preferably, the device further includes a cold-storing material that is positioned downstream and above the air outlet and arranged vertically alongside the air outlet. With this configuration, since the cold-storing material is provided downstream of the air outlet, the heated air that flows out from the air outlet during defrosting can be cooled by the cold-storing material. As a result, cooled air flows into the storage compartment, which suppresses the outflow of heated air, which is hotter than the air inside the storage compartment. Furthermore, since the cold-storing material is positioned above the air outlet, the air cooled by the cold-storing material becomes a downdraft and flows downward towards the air outlet. As a result, the heated air blown out from the air outlet is pushed downward by the air cooled by the cold-storing material, which further suppresses the outflow of heated air into the storage compartment.

[0010] In this case, preferably, the system further includes a partition wall positioned between the storage section and the side wall of the housing, forming a flow path between the partition wall and the inner surface of the side wall of the housing, the partition wall having a through hole, and the cold storage material positioned upstream and below the through hole. With this configuration, because the cold storage material is positioned upstream of the through hole, the heated air heated by the defrosting heating section can be cooled by the cold storage material before it flows out of the through hole into the storage section.

[0011] In the configuration including the cold storage material described above, preferably, the storage section is located downstream and above the air outlet and includes shelves arranged in multiple tiers in the vertical direction, with the cold storage material positioned between the height of the air outlet and the height of the top surface of the bottom shelf. With this configuration, the air heated during defrosting is cooled by the cold storage material before it reaches the top surface of the bottom shelf, thus preventing the air heated by the defrosting heating section from flowing out onto the top surface of the bottom shelf where the items are placed.

[0012] In this case, preferably, the partition wall is positioned downstream of the air outlet and has multiple through-holes corresponding to multiple shelves arranged in the vertical direction, and the thermal storage material is positioned between the height of the air outlet and the height of the through-hole corresponding to the lowest shelf. With this configuration, the through-holes in the partition wall according to the shelves allow the air cooled by the heat exchanger to be supplied to each shelf through the through-holes during cooling. Furthermore, because the thermal storage material is positioned between the height of the air outlet and the height of the through-hole corresponding to the lowest shelf, the air heated by the defrosting heating unit can be cooled by the thermal storage material before it flows out of the through-hole to the lowest shelf.

[0013] In the above-mentioned storage unit configuration including shelves, preferably, a downdraft nozzle is further provided, positioned above the shelves and on the opposite side of the storage unit from the partition wall so as not to overlap with the shelves in the vertical direction, and blowing air downwards from above. The downdraft nozzle is configured to blow down the air that has flowed between the partition wall and the side wall of the housing during defrosting. With this configuration, since the downdraft nozzle is positioned above the shelves and on the opposite side of the storage unit from the partition wall so as not to overlap with the shelves in the vertical direction, the heated air can rise and then be blown downwards towards the air intake port. Also, since the downdraft nozzle is provided so as not to overlap with the shelves, the heated air blown down from the downdraft nozzle is blown onto the shelves, which can suppress the temperature rise of the items placed on the shelves.

[0014] In the cooling device according to the first aspect described above, preferably, the storage section includes an article holding section, each arranged on a shelf and holding articles, and a storage member having a peripheral wall surrounding the article holding section, the storage member being made of an insulating material. As a result, the articles are surrounded by the storage member made of the insulating material, which prevents heated air from being blown directly onto the articles and also prevents the cooled articles from being heated.

[0015] In the cooling device according to the above-described first aspect, preferably, when draining the moisture adhering to the heat exchanger after defrosting by means of wind pressure, the defrosting heating unit is stopped and the blower fan is configured to be driven at a rotational speed higher than that during defrosting. With this configuration, the moisture adhering to the heat exchanger is removed by the wind pressure of the blower fan, so that it is possible to suppress refreezing and frosting during cooling. Further, since the defrosting heating unit is stopped, even if the blower fan is driven, it is possible to suppress the outflow of the heated air into the storage section.

Effects of the Invention

[0016] According to the present invention, as described above, it is possible to provide a cooling device capable of suppressing an increase in the temperature inside the storage section during defrosting.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] [Figure 1] It is a diagram showing a specimen cold storage according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a diagram showing the air flow inside the specimen cold storage according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] It is a diagram showing a specimen cold storage according to the second embodiment. [Figure 4] It is a diagram showing the air flow inside the specimen cold storage according to the second embodiment. [Figure 5] It is a wind speed vector diagram and a temperature contactor diagram of a specimen cold storage according to the second embodiment. [Figure 6] It is a wind speed vector diagram and a temperature contactor diagram of a specimen cold storage according to a comparative example.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] Hereinafter, embodiments embodying the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

[0019] [First Embodiment] (Overall Configuration of Specimen Cold Storage) Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the overall configuration of the specimen refrigerator 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0020] The specimen refrigerator 100 is a device capable of storing the specimen 50 in a low-temperature state. The specimen refrigerator 100 is an example of the "cooling device" in the claims. The specimen 50 is an example of the "article" in the claims.

[0021] The specimen refrigerator 100 includes a housing 1, a storage section 2, a refrigeration cycle 3, a blower fan 4, a defrosting heating section 5, an air intake 6, and an air outlet 7. The specimen refrigerator 100 is configured to be able to manually or automatically switch between a cooling mode, a defrosting mode, and a draining mode.

[0022] The housing 1 is a rectangular parallelepiped or a cube. The housing 1 has an opening in a part of the side wall portion surrounding the bottom surface and the top surface, where the specimen 50 can be stored. A door 11 that can be opened and closed is attached to the opening of the housing 1. In the first embodiment, the opening is provided in a part of the side wall portion on the front side, and the door 11 is attached to the front side. In the first embodiment, the front side is defined as the X1 side, the back side is defined as the X2 side, and the front-back direction connecting the X1 side and the X2 side is defined as the X direction. Also, the top surface side is defined as the Z1 side, the bottom surface side is defined as the Z2 side, and the up-down direction connecting the Z1 side and the Z2 side is defined as the Z direction. Further, the depth direction orthogonal to the X direction and the Z direction is defined as the Y direction.

[0023] The housing 1 includes a storage section 2 inside and a cooling section 12 located below the storage section 2. A first partition plate 13a extending in the X direction and the Y direction is provided between the storage section 2 and the cooling section 12. In the cooling section 1, the refrigeration cycle 3, the blower fan 4, and the defrosting heating section 5 are arranged. Also, an air intake 6 and an air outlet 7 are provided in the cooling section 12. The cooling section 12 has an upper stage 12a where an evaporator 31 to be described later is arranged and a lower stage 12b where a condenser 33 is arranged, which are arranged side by side in the up-down direction (Z direction), and the upper stage 12a and the lower stage 12b are partitioned by a second partition plate 13b. The lower stage 12b is configured such that air can enter inside.

[0024] The storage section 2 is provided at a position corresponding to the opening of the housing 1. The storage section 2 stores the specimen 50. The storage section 2 includes shelves 21 arranged in multiple tiers in the vertical direction. Each shelf 21 is equipped with an item holding section 22 for holding the specimen 50. The item holding section 22 is a rack. The number of shelves 21 is not particularly limited. Also, the number of item holding sections 22 arranged on a single shelf 21 is not particularly limited.

[0025] The refrigeration cycle 3 includes an evaporator 31, a compressor 32, a condenser 33, and an expansion valve 34. The refrigeration cycle 3 is used to circulate a refrigerant and cool the air inside the enclosure 1, which is the object to be cooled. The refrigeration cycle 3 is driven by a power supply (not shown).

[0026] The evaporator 31 is configured to exchange heat between the low-temperature refrigerant, which has been expanded by the expansion valve 34, and the air. Specifically, the air is cooled as heat is removed from it, and the refrigerant evaporates due to the heat removed from the air, becoming high-temperature refrigerant vapor. The evaporator 31 is an example of a "heat exchanger" as defined in the claims. The evaporator 31 is located in the upper section 12a of the cooling section 12. A water receiving section 40 is located below the evaporator 31.

[0027] The compressor 32 compresses the refrigerant evaporated by the evaporator 31, converting it into high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant vapor. In Figure 1, the compressor 32 is located in the lower section 12b, but it may also be located in the upper section 12a.

[0028] The condenser 33 exchanges heat between the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 32 and the air, transforming it into a low-temperature, high-pressure liquid refrigerant. Specifically, the refrigerant is cooled and transformed into a liquid by the removal of heat by the air. The condenser 33 is located in the lower section 12b, and heat exchange occurs between the refrigerant and the air flowing out from the open portion of the lower section 12b.

[0029] The expansion valve 34 restricts the flow path of the refrigerant, changing the low-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant supplied from the condenser 33 into a low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant. In Figure 1, the expansion valve 34 is located in the lower section 12b, but it may also be located in the upper section 12a. Refrigerant is supplied from the expansion valve 34 to the evaporator 31.

[0030] The blower fan 4 is configured to send air cooled by the evaporator 31 of the refrigeration cycle 3 to the storage unit 2. The blower fan 4 is configured to be able to stop its operation, and is stopped during defrosting. The blower fan 4 is located on the upper stage 12a of the cooling unit 12. The blower fan 4 is located downstream of the evaporator 31. Also, the blower fan 4 is located upstream of the air outlet 7. When the blower fan 4 is driven, an airflow is generated that flows from the X1 side toward the evaporator 31, passes through the evaporator 31, circulates within the storage unit 2, and then flows back to the evaporator 31 from the X1 side. The upstream and downstream in this specification are determined based on the direction of this airflow. For example, when air flows from the evaporator 31 to the blower fan 4, the evaporator 31 is located upstream of the blower fan 4, and the blower fan 4 is located downstream of the evaporator 31.

[0031] The defrost heating unit 5 is a heater that heats the air. The defrost heating unit 5 is located on the upper section 12a of the cooling unit 12. The defrost heating unit 5 is located upstream of the evaporator 31. In other words, air flows from the defrost heating unit 5 towards the evaporator 31. Also, the defrost heating unit 5 is located downstream of the air intake port 6. In other words, air flows from the air intake port 6 towards the defrost heating unit 5.

[0032] The air intake port 6 is located between the storage section 2 and the evaporator 31. The air intake port 6 is configured to draw in air supplied to the evaporator 31 by the blower fan 4 during cooling and by the chimney effect during defrosting. Specifically, the air intake port 6 is a hole or slit provided in a first plate-shaped member 14 that extends downward from the bottom surface of the first partition plate 13a that separates the storage section 2 and the cooling section 12. The number of air intake ports 6 is not particularly limited. In addition, an air outlet hole 15 is formed at the X1 side end of the first partition plate 13a. Therefore, air flows downward from the storage section 2 through the air outlet hole 15, and air is supplied to the evaporator 31 from a position lower than the center C of the evaporator 31 in the vertical direction (Z direction) via the air intake port 6. The air intake port 6 is located below the air outlet 7 (Z2 side) and at a position lower than the center C of the evaporator 31 (Z2 side) in the vertical direction. Furthermore, the air intake port 6 is not located higher than the center C of the evaporator 31 in the vertical direction (on the Z1 side). The center C of the evaporator 31 is the point that divides the length of the evaporator 31 in the X direction and the length in the Z direction into approximately two equal parts.

[0033] The air outlet 7 is located on the opposite side (X2 side) from the air intake 6 relative to the evaporator 31. During cooling, the air outlet 7 is configured to blow air that has passed through the evaporator 31 toward the storage section 2 by the blower fan 4. The air outlet 7 is provided adjacent to the X2 side end of the first partition plate 13a and is a hole or slit provided in the second plate-shaped member 16 that separates the storage section 2 and the cooling section 12. The number of air outlets 7 is not particularly limited. The air outlets 7 are provided at a position higher than the center C of the evaporator 31 in the vertical direction (Z direction) (Z1 side).

[0034] The cold storage material 8 contains a substance capable of storing cold. The cold storage material 8 is used in a cooled state and is used to cool or keep an object cool. In its cooled state, the cold storage material 8 is solid or gel-like. After cooling an object, the cold storage material 8 changes to a liquid or gel-like state, but returns to a solid or gel-like state upon further cooling.

[0035] The entire cold storage material 8 is positioned downstream and above the air outlet 7. Furthermore, the cold storage material 8 is positioned vertically aligned with the air outlet 7. During cooling of the storage compartment 2, the cold storage material 8 is cooled by the cooled air blown out from the air outlet 7. During defrosting, the cold storage material 8 absorbs heat from the air blown out from the air outlet 7, thereby cooling the air. The cold storage material 8 is attached to the side wall of the housing 1. For example, it may be attached to the housing 1 by attaching a sheet metal cover to the cold storage material 8 and then screwing the sheet metal cover in place.

[0036] The partition wall 9 is positioned between the storage section 2 and the side wall of the housing 1. The partition wall 9 forms a flow path 20 between itself and the inner surface of the side wall of the housing 1. In the first embodiment, the partition wall 9 forms a flow path 20 between itself and the side wall on the rear side of the housing 1. The flow path 20 is located above the air outlet 7 (on the Z1 side).

[0037] The partition wall 9 has a through-hole 91 that connects the flow path 20 and the storage section 2. The through-hole 91 is located downstream of the air outlet 7. In this case, the cold storage material 8 is located between the height of the air outlet 7 and the height of the top surface of the lowest shelf 21.

[0038] The through-holes 91 may be positioned to correspond to multiple shelves 21 arranged in the vertical direction. In this case, the thermal storage material 8 is positioned between the height of the air outlet 7 and the height of the through-hole 91 corresponding to the lowest shelf 21.

[0039] The downdraft nozzle 10 is positioned above the shelf 21. The downdraft nozzle 10 is positioned on the opposite side (X1 side) from the partition wall 9 relative to the storage section 2 so as not to overlap with the shelf 21 in the vertical direction. The downdraft nozzle 10 blows air downwards from above. The air that passes through the flow path 20 formed between the partition wall 9 and the side wall of the housing 1 flows above the storage section 2 to the downdraft nozzle 10 and is blown downwards from the downdraft nozzle 10.

[0040] (Cooling mode) Based on Figure 2, the cooling mode (during cooling) for cooling the storage compartment 2 of the specimen refrigerator 100 will be explained. During cooling, the defrosting heating unit 5 is stopped, and the refrigeration cycle 3 and the blower fan 4 are driven. The direction of the airflow is indicated by the arrows.

[0041] During cooling, the blower fan 4 generates an airflow. The airflow generated by the blower fan 4 supplies air from the air intake 6 to the evaporator 31, where heat exchange takes place between the refrigerant and the air. This cools the air. The cooled air then flows from the air outlet 7 into the flow path 20 due to the airflow generated by the blower fan 4. The cooled air flows while cooling the refrigerant storage material 8 and is supplied into the storage section 2 through the through-hole 91 and the down-blowing nozzle 10. This cools the inside of the storage section 2.

[0042] (Defrost mode) The defrost mode (during defrosting) for defrosting the evaporator 31 will now be described. During defrosting, the refrigeration cycle 3 and the blower fan 4 are stopped, and the defrosting heating unit 5 is driven. The airflow is the same as during cooling, as shown in Figure 2.

[0043] During defrosting, the blower fan 4 is stopped, so no airflow is generated by the blower fan 4. Therefore, air is circulated by airflow due to the chimney effect. The chimney effect is a phenomenon in which, when there is air hotter than the outside air inside a chimney, the hotter air has a lower density than the colder air, and buoyancy is generated, causing the hotter air to rise towards the air outlet at the top of the chimney while drawing in the colder outside air from the air intake at the bottom of the chimney. In the specimen refrigerator 100 of the first embodiment, the space partitioned by the first plate-shaped member 14 and the second plate-shaped member 16 of the cooling section 12 corresponds to the inside of the chimney. Also, the air intake 6 located below the center C of the evaporator 31 in the vertical direction corresponds to the air intake of the chimney, and the air outlet 7 located above the center C of the evaporator 31 in the vertical direction corresponds to the air outlet of the chimney. Furthermore, the air heated by the defrosting heating unit 5 is warmer than the air inside the storage unit 2, so it is drawn in through the air intake 6 to draw in the cooler air inside the storage unit 2 while being discharged through the air outlet 7.

[0044] The air heated by the defrosting heating unit 5 heats the evaporator 31. This melts the frost on the evaporator 31, and the melted water flows into the water receiving unit 40 located below the evaporator 31. The heated air is also cooled by the cold storage material 8. The cooling of the air creates a downward airflow, suppressing the upward movement of heated air from the air outlet 7. Even if some of the heated air flows out into the storage unit 2 through the through-hole 91, it is cooled by the cold storage material 8, and because the amount of air flowing out is small, the temperature of the storage unit 2 hardly changes. In addition, some of the heated air passes over the top of the storage unit 2 and is blown down from the down-blowing nozzle 10. The air blown down from the down-blowing nozzle 10 does not blow directly onto the shelves 21 of the storage unit 2, but flows to the air intake 6.

[0045] (Draining mode) The following describes the dewatering mode (during dewatering) in which moisture adhering to the evaporator 31 after defrosting is removed by air pressure. During dewatering, the refrigeration cycle 3 and the defrosting heating unit 5 are not driven, and the blower fan 4 is driven. The airflow is the same as during cooling as shown in Figure 2.

[0046] The blower fan 4 is driven at a higher rotational speed during water draining than during defrosting. The blower fan 4 may be driven at the same rotational speed during cooling and water draining, or at different speeds.

[0047] When the blower fan 4 is driven, an airflow is generated, and the moisture adhering to the evaporator 31 is removed by the air pressure. At the start of the defrosting process, residual heat remains in the defrosting heating unit 5, but because the blower fan 4 is driven, the heat is diffused, and the air temperature hardly rises, so it does not affect the temperature inside the storage unit 2.

[0048] (Effects of the first embodiment) In the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

[0049] In the first embodiment, the sample refrigerator 100 is configured such that the blower fan 4 is either stopped during defrosting or driven at a lower rotational speed than during cooling. By stopping the blower fan 4 or reducing its rotational speed, the airflow can be reduced compared to during cooling, thereby suppressing the outflow of heated air into the storage compartment 2. As a result, the temperature inside the storage compartment 2 can be prevented from rising during defrosting. Furthermore, by preventing the temperature inside the storage compartment 2 from rising, the cooled sample 50 can be prevented from being heated. In addition, by stopping the blower fan 4, the heated air can be retained in the evaporator 31, allowing for efficient defrosting of the evaporator 31 and suppressing the temperature inside the storage compartment 2 from rising. Furthermore, the sample refrigerator 100 is designed so that, due to the chimney effect, air is drawn in from the air intake 6 and heated air is blown out from the air outlet 7. The air outlet 7 is positioned higher than the center C of the evaporator 31 in the vertical direction, while the air intake 6 is positioned lower than the air outlet 7 and lower than the center C of the evaporator 31 in the vertical direction. As a result, an airflow is generated due to the chimney effect, so even if the blower fan 4 is stopped or its rotation speed is reduced, heated air from the defrosting heating unit 5 can be supplied to the evaporator 31, and the evaporator 31 can be defrosted. In addition, since the heated air flows towards the air outlet 7, outflow from the air intake 6 can be suppressed.

[0050] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, a cold-storing material 8 is provided, which is positioned downstream and above the air outlet 7 and aligned vertically with the air outlet 7. As a result, by providing the cold-storing material 8 downstream of the air outlet 7, the heated air that flows out from the air outlet 7 during defrosting can be cooled by the cold-storing material 8. As a result, cooled air flows into the storage section 2, which suppresses the outflow of heated air, which is hotter than the air inside the storage section 2. In addition, because the cold-storing material 8 is positioned above the air outlet 7, the air cooled by the cold-storing material 8 becomes a downdraft and flows downward towards the air outlet 7. As a result, the heated air blown out from the air outlet 7 is pushed downward by the air cooled by the cold-storing material 8, which further suppresses the outflow of heated air into the storage section 2.

[0051] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, a partition wall portion 9 is further included, which is positioned between the storage portion 2 and the side wall of the housing 1 and forms a flow path 20 between itself and the inner surface of the side wall of the housing 1. The partition wall portion 9 has a through hole 91, and the cold storage material 8 is positioned upstream and below the through hole 91. As a result, by providing the partition wall portion 9, it is possible to suppress the direct flow of heated air into the storage portion 2. In addition, because the cold storage material 8 is positioned upstream of the through hole 91, the heated air heated by the defrosting heating portion 5 can be cooled by the cold storage material 8 before it flows out into the storage portion 2 through the through hole 91.

[0052] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the storage unit 2 is positioned downstream and above the air outlet 7 and includes multiple shelves 21 arranged in the vertical direction, with the cold storage material 8 positioned between the height of the air outlet 7 and the height of the top surface of the bottom shelf 21. As a result, the air heated during defrosting is cooled by the cold storage material 8 before it reaches the top surface of the bottom shelf 21, thus preventing the air heated by the defrosting heating unit 5 from flowing out onto the top surface of the bottom shelf 21 where the specimen 50 is placed.

[0053] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the partition wall 9 is positioned downstream of the air outlet 7 and has multiple through holes 91 corresponding to the shelves 21 arranged in multiple tiers in the vertical direction, and the cold storage material 8 is positioned between the height of the air outlet 7 and the height of the through hole 91 corresponding to the lowest shelf 21. As a result, the through holes 91 are provided in the partition wall 9 according to the shelves 21, so that during cooling, the air cooled by the evaporator 31 can be supplied to each shelf 21 through the through holes 91. In addition, because the cold storage material 8 is positioned between the height of the air outlet 7 and the height of the through hole 91 corresponding to the lowest shelf 21, the air heated by the defrosting heating unit 5 can be cooled by the cold storage material 8 before it flows out of the through holes 91 to the lowest shelf 21.

[0054] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, a downdraft nozzle 10 is provided, which is positioned above the shelf 21 and on the opposite side of the storage section 2 from the partition wall 9 so as not to overlap with the shelf 21 in the vertical direction, and which blows air downwards from above. The downdraft nozzle 10 is configured to blow down the air that has flowed between the partition wall 9 and the side wall of the housing 1 during defrosting. As a result, since the downdraft nozzle 10 is positioned above the shelf 21 and on the opposite side of the storage section 2 from the partition wall 9 so as not to overlap with the shelf 21 in the vertical direction, the heated air can rise and then be blown downwards towards the air intake port 6. Also, since the downdraft nozzle 10 is provided so as not to overlap with the shelf 21, the heated air blown down from the downdraft nozzle 10 is blown onto the shelf 21, which can suppress the temperature rise of the samples 50 placed on the shelf 21.

[0055] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, during the defrosting process, when removing moisture adhering to the evaporator 31 after defrosting using air pressure, the defrosting heating unit 5 is stopped, and the blower fan 4 is driven at a higher rotational speed than during defrosting. As a result, the moisture adhering to the evaporator 31 is removed by the air pressure of the blower fan 4, thereby suppressing refreezing and frost formation during cooling. In addition, because the defrosting heating unit 5 is stopped, even if the blower fan 4 is driven, it is possible to suppress the outflow of heated air into the storage unit 2.

[0056] [Second Embodiment] The configuration of the specimen refrigerator 200 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. In the figures, parts with the same configuration as in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. The specimen refrigerator 200 is an example of a "refrigerator" as defined in the claims.

[0057] In the specimen refrigerator 200, the storage section 2 includes a storage member 23. The storage member 23 consists of a bottom surface on which the article holding section 22 is placed, and a peripheral wall section 24 surrounding the bottom surface. The storage member 23 is made of an insulating material. An insulating material is a material with a lower thermal conductivity than metal, such as resin. An example of resin is ABS resin (acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene copolymer synthetic resin).

[0058] As shown in Figure 4, in the sample refrigerator 200 of the second embodiment, the peripheral wall 24 prevents air from being directly blown onto the sample 50. Furthermore, during cooling, the peripheral wall 24 prevents the cooled air that has flowed into the storage member 23 from flowing out, thus forming a cold air reservoir inside the storage member 23. As a result, during cooling, the sample 50 can be cooled and the cooled state can be maintained. On the other hand, during defrosting, the heated air does not flow into the storage member 23 because a dense reservoir of cooled air exists inside the storage member 23, but instead moves along the shelf 21 between the storage member 23 and the shelf 21. Then, it is supplied to the air intake port 6 together with the air blown down from the down nozzle 10. This prevents the temperature inside the storage member 23 from rising.

[0059] The other configurations of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment described above.

[0060] (Regarding airflow and temperature changes inside the specimen storage cabinet) Based on Figures 5 and 6, the airflow and temperature changes inside the sample refrigerator 200 during defrosting will be explained. The direction of the airflow is indicated by arrows. Figure 5 shows the calculated results of the airflow and temperature changes inside the sample refrigerator 200 according to the second embodiment, and Figure 6 shows the calculated results of the airflow and temperature changes when a cold storage material 8 is provided inside a sample refrigerator that defrosts by rotating a conventional blower fan. Note that the conventional sample refrigerator differs from the sample refrigerator 200 of the second embodiment in that it does not have a peripheral wall 24 and is not configured to generate a chimney effect.

[0061] In the second embodiment of the sample cooler 200 shown in Figure 5, air flows into the air intake 6 and simultaneously passes through the evaporator 31, generating an airflow that exits from the air outlet 7. Furthermore, the cooling of the air by the thermal storage material 8 generates a downward airflow, suppressing the upward movement of the heated air exiting from the air outlet 7. As a result, as shown in the temperature contactor diagram, the air near the evaporator 31 and the small amount of air exiting from the air outlet 7 are at a high temperature, while the air inside the storage section 2 is at a low temperature. In other words, the heated air exiting from the air outlet 7 is cooled by the thermal storage material 8, thus maintaining a low temperature for the air inside the storage section 2. Additionally, the presence of the peripheral wall 24 ensures that the air around the sample 50 is at its lowest temperature, maintaining a cooled state for the sample 50.

[0062] In the conventional sample refrigerator shown in Figure 6, an airflow is generated on the side where the cold storage material 8 is not provided, and this generated airflow circulates within the storage section 2. As a result, as shown in the temperature contactor diagram, the air on the lower end of the evaporator 31 and the small amount of air in contact with the cold storage material 8 are at a low temperature, but the effect of the cold storage material 8 is not obtained, and the temperature inside the storage section 2 becomes high. In addition, the temperature between the samples 50 increases from the bottom to the top. In other words, the top of the sample 50 is heated.

[0063] From the above, it can be seen that in the second embodiment, due to the chimney effect, air flows towards the air outlet 7 on the side where the cold storage material 8 is provided. In addition, by providing the peripheral wall portion 24, the temperature of the sample 50 can be maintained at a low temperature.

[0064] (Effects of the second embodiment) In the second embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

[0065] In the second embodiment of the sample refrigerator 200, the blower fan 4 is configured to either stop driving during defrosting or to drive at a lower rotational speed than during cooling. By stopping the blower fan 4 or reducing its rotational speed, the airflow can be reduced compared to during cooling, thereby suppressing the outflow of heated air into the storage compartment 2. As a result, the temperature inside the storage compartment 2 can be suppressed to rise during defrosting. Furthermore, by suppressing the temperature inside the storage compartment 2 to rise, the cooled sample 50 can be prevented from being heated. In addition, by stopping the blower fan 4, the heated air can be retained in the evaporator 31, allowing for efficient defrosting of the evaporator 31 and suppressing the temperature inside the storage compartment 2 to rise. Furthermore, the sample refrigerator 100 is designed so that, due to the chimney effect, air is drawn in from the air intake 6 and heated air is blown out from the air outlet 7. The air outlet 7 is positioned higher than the center C of the evaporator 31 in the vertical direction, while the air intake 6 is positioned lower than the air outlet 7 and lower than the center C of the evaporator 31 in the vertical direction. As a result, an airflow is generated due to the chimney effect, so even if the blower fan 4 is stopped or its rotation speed is reduced, heated air from the defrosting heating unit 5 can be supplied to the evaporator 31, and the evaporator 31 can be defrosted. In addition, since the heated air flows towards the air outlet 7, outflow from the air intake 6 can be suppressed.

[0066] Furthermore, in the second embodiment, as described above, the storage unit 2 includes an article holding unit 22 which is arranged on the shelf 21 and holds the sample 50, and a storage member 23 which has a peripheral wall 24 surrounding the article holding unit 22, and the storage member 23 is made of a heat insulating material. As a result, the sample 50 is surrounded by the storage member 23 made of a heat insulating material, so that heated air is not blown directly onto the sample 50, and the cooled sample 50 is not heated.

[0067] Furthermore, the other effects of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment described above.

[0068] [Differentiation] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims rather than the description of the embodiments above, and further includes all modifications (modifications) within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0069] For example, the first and second embodiments show examples where the article is a specimen, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the article may be food or beverage, pharmaceuticals, or parts other than a specimen.

[0070] For example, in the first and second embodiments, the article is a specimen and the cooling device is a specimen refrigerator, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the article may be food or beverages other than a specimen, or pharmaceuticals, and the cooling device may be a vending machine, a storage unit, a transport refrigerator, etc.

[0071] Furthermore, while the first and second embodiments illustrate examples in which the storage member holds articles, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, articles may be stored directly on the shelf without using the storage member.

[0072] Furthermore, while the first and second embodiments show examples where the door is located on the front side, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the door may be located on the top side. Alternatively, the side on which the door is located may be the rear side or the side.

[0073] Furthermore, while the first and second embodiments show examples in which the blower fan is stopped during defrosting, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, during defrosting, the blower fan may be driven at a lower rotational speed than during cooling.

[0074] Furthermore, while the first and second embodiments show examples in which the defrosting heating unit is positioned upstream of the heat exchanger, the present invention is not limited thereto. In the present invention, the defrosting heating unit may be in the same position as the heat exchanger body in the direction of airflow, or it may be positioned below the heat exchanger body, for example.

[0075] Furthermore, although the first and second embodiments described above show examples in which a partition wall is placed between the storage section and the side wall of the housing, the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, a partition wall may not be provided.

[0076] Furthermore, although the first and second embodiments described above show examples in which multiple through holes are provided in the partition wall, the present invention is not limited thereto. In the present invention, only one through hole may be provided.

[0077] Furthermore, although the first and second embodiments described above show examples equipped with a downdraft nozzle, the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention does not require the inclusion of a downdraft nozzle. [Explanation of symbols]

[0078] 1 cabinet 2 Storage compartment 3 Refrigeration cycle 4. Blower fan 5 Heating section for defrosting 6. Air intake 7. Air outlet 8 Cold storage material 9 Bulkhead 10 Downward spray nozzle 20 flow channels 21 shelves 22 Article holding part 23 Storage components 24 Peripheral wall section 31. Evaporator (heat exchanger) 50 specimens (items) 91 Through hole 100, 200 sample storage refrigerator (refrigerator)

Claims

1. The casing and A storage compartment in which items are stored, A refrigeration cycle including a heat exchanger, positioned below the storage compartment and for cooling the air inside the storage compartment, A blower fan that sends the air cooled in the heat exchanger to the storage section, A defrosting heating unit that heats the heat exchanger during defrosting and defrosts it, A first plate-shaped member extending downward from the bottom surface of the partition plate separating the storage section and the cooling section in which the heat exchanger is located is provided with an air intake port, which serves as a first hole for drawing in air supplied to the heat exchanger, The heat exchanger is positioned on the opposite side of the air intake port, and is provided on a horizontally extending second plate-shaped member that separates the storage section from the cooling section, and includes an air outlet which serves as a second hole for blowing air that has passed through the heat exchanger toward the storage section. In order to draw in air from the air intake and blow out heated air from the air outlet using the chimney effect, the air outlet is provided in the second plate-shaped member at a position higher than the center of the heat exchanger in the vertical direction, and the air intake is provided in the first plate-shaped member below the air outlet and at a position lower than the center of the heat exchanger in the vertical direction. The defrosting heating unit is positioned between the air intake and the air outlet, and upstream of the heat exchanger or in the same position as the heat exchanger in the direction of airflow. The cooling device is configured such that the blower fan is either stopped during defrosting or driven at a lower rotational speed than during cooling.

2. The cooling device according to claim 1, further comprising a cold-storing material that is positioned downstream and above the air outlet and arranged to be aligned vertically with the air outlet.

3. It further includes a partition wall portion disposed between the storage portion and the side wall of the housing, which forms a flow path between itself and the inner surface of the side wall of the housing, The partition wall portion has through holes, The cooling device according to claim 2, wherein the cold storage material is arranged upstream and below the through hole.

4. The storage unit is located downstream and above the air outlet and includes multiple shelves arranged in the vertical direction. The cooling device according to claim 3, wherein the cold storage material is positioned between the height of the air outlet and the height of the top surface of the lowest shelf.

5. The partition wall is positioned downstream of the air outlet and has multiple through holes corresponding to the shelves arranged in multiple tiers in the vertical direction. The cooling device according to claim 4, wherein the cold storage material is positioned between the height of the air outlet and the height of the through-hole corresponding to the lowest shelf.

6. It is further equipped with a downward blowing nozzle that is positioned above the shelf and on the opposite side of the partition wall from the storage section so as not to overlap with the shelf in the vertical direction, and blows air downward from above. The cooling device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the downdraft nozzle is configured to blow down the air that has flowed between the partition and the side wall of the housing during defrosting.

7. The storage section includes a storage member having an article holding section, which is arranged on the shelf and holds the article, and a peripheral wall section that surrounds the article holding section. The cooling device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the storage member is formed of an insulating material.

8. The cooling device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, during defrosting, when moisture adhering to the heat exchanger after defrosting is removed by air pressure, the defrosting heating unit is stopped and the blower fan is driven at a higher rotational speed than during defrosting.

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