Refrigeration system and refrigeration method

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a refrigeration system capable of obtaining sufficient quality for all frozen objects after thawing while suppressing cost, and a refrigeration method using the refrigeration system. [Solution] A refrigeration system for refrigerating a plurality of frozen objects while imparting fluctuations to each of the plurality of frozen objects by applying a magnetic field to each of the plurality of frozen objects, the refrigeration system comprising: a magnetic field generation device having a tray unit for accommodating the plurality of frozen objects, a plurality of magnetic field generation units accommodated in the tray unit and corresponding respectively to the plurality of frozen objects, and a controller for individually controlling magnetic field intensity of each of the plurality of magnetic field generation units; and a refrigeration apparatus for accommodating the magnetic field generation device.

Description

Refrigeration system and refrigeration method

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigeration system and a refrigeration method.

[0002] Freezing has long been known as a method to maintain the freshness of frozen items such as ingredients, food products, or live organisms for extended periods. However, conventional freezing methods make it difficult to completely prevent deterioration of quality and freshness, such as changes in taste, color, and drip.

[0003] Foods, ingredients, or living organisms that are to be frozen contain a large amount of water, including bound water confined to molecules such as proteins, and free water that moves freely within the frozen object without being confined by such molecules. During freezing, this free water freezes and grows as ice crystals. When the ice crystals become coarse, the cells of the frozen object are destroyed. As a result, drip occurs when the frozen object is thawed, making it difficult to restore the frozen object to its pre-freezing state. Therefore, in recent years, to address this problem, devices that generate a fluctuating magnetic field to suppress the expansion of ice crystals of free water by applying a fluctuating magnetic field to the object to be frozen, and refrigeration devices incorporating such devices have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0004] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003-139460

[0005] However, in the fluctuating magnetic field generator described in Patent Document 1, if the distance between each of the multiple objects to be frozen and the fluctuating magnetic field source (electromagnetic coil structure) is different, variations occur in the degree to which the magnetic field acts on each of the multiple objects to be frozen. This results in variations in the freezing effect of each of the multiple objects to be frozen, and inconsistencies in the quality of each of the multiple objects to be frozen after thawing, leading to the problem that sufficient quality cannot be obtained for all of the objects to be frozen after thawing. In addition, the fluctuating magnetic field generator described in Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which the fluctuating magnetic field source surrounds the holder that holds the objects to be frozen, which results in a large shape for the fluctuating magnetic field source and thus increases the cost.

[0006] This invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the object of this invention is to provide a freezing system that can obtain sufficient quality for all frozen objects after thawing while suppressing costs, and a freezing method using this freezing system.

[0007] To solve the above problems, according to one aspect of the present invention, a freezing system is provided which freezes each of a plurality of objects to be frozen while causing fluctuations in each of the plurality of objects to be frozen by applying a magnetic field to each of the plurality of objects to be frozen, the system comprising: a tray unit for accommodating the plurality of objects to be frozen; a magnetic field generating device housed in the tray unit and having a plurality of magnetic field generating units corresponding to each of the plurality of objects to be frozen, and a controller for individually controlling the magnetic field strength of each of the plurality of magnetic field generating units; and a freezing device housing the magnetic field generating device.

[0008] In this specification, “user” means the user operating the refrigeration system 1. Also, “current amount” means the number of amperes of alternating current expressed in the SI unit system “A”. Furthermore, “magnetic field strength” means the strength of the magnetic field expressed in the SI unit system “A / m”. In the embodiments of the present invention described later, the magnetic field strength is the ratio (A / m) of the amount of alternating current (A) supplied to the magnetic field generating unit to the distance (m) between the object to be frozen and the magnetic field generating unit. The distance may be, for example, a predetermined value. In addition, “radical” means a radical species such as hydroxyl radicals and / or superoxide generated by the microplasma discharge of the microplasma generator. Furthermore, “sufficient quality” means a state in which the taste and color of the object to be frozen after thawing are unchanged compared to before thawing, and furthermore, there is no drip on the object to be frozen after thawing.

[0009] As described above, the freezing system of the present invention and the freezing method using the freezing system can obtain sufficient quality for all frozen items after thawing while keeping costs down.

[0010] This figure shows an example of the configuration of a refrigeration system according to the embodiment. This figure shows an example of the configuration of a magnetic field generator according to the above embodiment. This is a simplified plan view showing an example of the configuration of the tray unit of the refrigeration system. This is a simplified plan view showing an example of the configuration of the magnetic field generation unit. This is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 4. This is an enlarged view showing an enlarged cross-section taken along line A-A in Figure 4. This is an example of the arrangement of multiple coils. This is a schematic diagram showing a simplified example of the configuration of a plasma generation unit. This is a front view showing an example of the controller for the magnetic field generator. This is a rear view showing an example of the controller for the magnetic field generator. This figure shows an example of the input / output section of the controller. This figure shows an example of the input / output section of the controller. This is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the controller. This is a flowchart showing an example of a specific operation example of the refrigeration system. This is a front view showing an example of the tray unit of the refrigeration system. This is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of a magnetic field generation unit according to a modified example.

[0011] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the dimensions and scale of parts in the drawings may differ from those of the actual objects. Also, the drawings may be schematic for ease of understanding. Furthermore, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments exemplified below unless otherwise stated.

[0012] In the following explanation, we define the X, Y, and Z axes as mutually orthogonal. The X, Y, and Z axes are common to all diagrams illustrated in the following explanation and are three mutually orthogonal axis directions. As illustrated in Figure 1, one direction along the X axis from any point is denoted as the X1 direction, and the direction opposite to the X1 direction is denoted as the X2 direction. The X-axis direction includes both the X1 and X2 directions. Similarly, the mutually opposite directions along the Y axis from any point are denoted as the Y1 and Y2 directions. The Y-axis direction includes both the Y1 and Y2 directions. In addition, the mutually opposite directions along the Z axis from any point are denoted as the Z1 and Z2 directions. The Z-axis direction includes both the Z1 and Z2 directions. Furthermore, the X-Y plane, which includes the X and Y axes, corresponds to the horizontal plane. The Z axis is an axis along the vertical direction.

[0013] 1. Embodiment [Configuration of the Refrigeration System] Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example configuration of the refrigeration system 1 according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the refrigeration system 1 includes a refrigeration device 2 and a magnetic field generator 100. In Figure 1, the illustration of the multiple casters, multiple magnetic field generating units, controller, and tray on which the object to be refrigerated is placed, which will be described later, is omitted.

[0014] <Refrigeration device> The refrigeration device 2 houses the magnetic field generator 100, as shown in Figure 1. The form of the refrigeration device 2 is not particularly limited as long as it can freeze the object to be frozen housed in the magnetic field generator 100. The refrigeration device 2 may be, for example, a vapor compression refrigerator, an absorption refrigerator, a vapor injection refrigerator, a Stirling refrigerator, a brine refrigerator, a thermoelectric refrigerator, or a cryogenic refrigerator.

[0015] The refrigeration apparatus 2 according to this embodiment performs cell-alive refrigeration. Cell-alive refrigeration is a refrigeration method that cools an object to be frozen by applying a magnetic field from a magnetic field generation unit (described later) to the object, thereby causing fluctuations (fine vibrations) in the water molecules within the object. Cell-alive refrigeration cools the object to be frozen so that the surface temperature and the temperature of the center become uniform, while suppressing the expansion of ice crystals of free water contained in the object to be frozen. As a result, the object to be frozen can be frozen without damaging the cell walls or cell membranes, and sufficient quality can be obtained for the object after thawing.

[0016] <Magnetic Field Generator> Figure 2 shows an example of the configuration of the magnetic field generator 100 according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 2, the magnetic field generator 100 includes a tray unit 10, a plurality of magnetic field generating units 20, a plurality of microplasma generators 30, an antibacterial curtain 40, and a controller 50. Note that in Figure 2, the tray T on which the object to be frozen F is placed is not shown.

[0017] (Tray Unit) The tray unit 10 is a rack having a rack body 11, a plurality of tray holders 12, a plurality of casters 13, and an input opening 14 into which the object to be frozen F is inserted. The rack body 11 has a shallow dish-shaped bottom 11a and four support columns 11b extending in the Z2 direction from the four corners of the bottom 11a, and the bottom 11a and the four support columns 11b are an integrated unit. The support columns 11b are L-shaped frames when viewed in the Z-axis direction and are connected to the plurality of tray holders 12.

[0018] The tray support 12 is a support for placing a tray T on which the object to be frozen F is placed on top of it, and is composed of a plurality of cylindrical frames 122 and a frame 121 surrounding the plurality of frames 122. The plurality of frames 122 extend in the Y-axis direction and are arranged at predetermined intervals in the X-axis direction. Both ends of each of the plurality of frames 122 are connected to the frame 121.

[0019] Figure 3 is a plan view of the tray unit 10 in Figure 2, viewed in the Z1 direction. In this embodiment, when the tray T on which the object to be frozen F is placed on the tray holder 12, it is preferable that the distance d between the inner circumferential surface of the annularly configured magnetic field generating unit 20 around the Z axis and the object to be frozen F be as uniform as possible, from the viewpoint of uniformly applying the magnetic field from the magnetic field generating unit 20 to the object to be frozen F. That is, it is preferable that the center of the XY plane of the magnetic field generating unit 20 (central axis x1) and the center of the XY plane of the object to be frozen F x2 lie on the same straight line.

[0020] The input opening 14 is the entrance into which the object to be frozen F is placed in the tray unit 10. The input opening 14 is the inner edge of the tray unit 10 (thick solid line in Figure 14), consisting of the edge of the bottom 11a located in the Z2 direction, the edge of the tray support 12a located in the Z1 direction, and the edge of one of the two support columns 11b on the Y1 direction side, 111b, located in the X2 direction, and the edge of the other support column 112b, located in the X1 direction.

[0021] Multiple casters 13 are provided at the four corners of the main surface of the bottom 11a facing the Z1 direction. By providing casters 13 on the rack body 11, the portability of the tray unit 10 and the convenience of removing the tray unit 10 from the refrigeration unit 2 are improved compared to the case where casters 13 are not provided.

[0022] The width, depth, and height of the tray unit 10 are, for example, 1 m to 2 m. However, the size (width, depth, and height) of the tray unit 10 is not particularly limited and may be set appropriately according to the size of the storage space E of the refrigeration device 2 that houses the tray unit 10.

[0023] The materials that make up the tray unit 10 are not particularly limited, but may be made of metal such as aluminum or stainless steel. This improves the rigidity of the tray unit 10. Alternatively, the tray unit 10 may have a resin frame such as polypropylene that is coated with carbon or DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon). If the tray unit 10 has a resin frame with the coating, the manufacturing cost of the tray unit 10, and consequently the manufacturing cost of the magnetic field generator 100, can be reduced because the frame is made of resin. In addition, the carbon or DLC coating makes it easier to wipe off dirt that adheres to the tray unit 10.

[0024] (Magnetic field generation unit) The magnetic field generation unit 20 is mounted on the back side (main surface facing the Z1 direction) of the tray holder 12, as shown in Figure 1. Specifically, the magnetic field generation unit 20 is mounted on multiple frames 122 such that it is located on the back side of multiple frames 122 of the tray holder 12.

[0025] In the example shown in Figure 2, the magnetic field generating unit 20 is provided on the tray holder 12 located most vertically upward among the multiple tray holders 12, and on the third and fifth tray holders 12 counting from that tray holder 12 in the Z1 direction, but is not limited to this. For example, the magnetic field generating unit 20 may be provided on each of the multiple tray holders 12.

[0026] Figure 4 is a plan view of the magnetic field generating unit 20 as seen in the Z-axis direction. The magnetic field generating unit 20 has a protective cover 21 and a plurality of coils 22. The protective cover 21 is a frame structure that is ring-shaped around the Z-axis with a central axis x1 as the center.

[0027] The protective cover 21 according to this embodiment contains, for example, 90 annular coils 22 (see Figure 6). The protective cover 21 is typically a rectangular frame as shown in Figure 4, but is not limited to this, and may be an annular frame as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

[0028] The dimensions W1 in the X-axis direction and D1 in the Y-axis direction of the protective cover 21 are not particularly limited as long as they can be accommodated within the tray unit 10, but for example, W1 is 285 mm and D1 is 300 mm. The protective cover 21 is made of, for example, resin or metal. However, the material constituting the protective cover 21 is not particularly limited. The size of the magnetic field generating unit 20 is not particularly limited and may be set appropriately according to the size of the tray unit 10.

[0029] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the line A-A in Figure 4, showing an example of magnetic field lines of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generating unit 20. Figure 6 is an enlarged view showing an enlarged cross-section of the line A-A in Figure 4. The coil 22 is enclosed in the protective cover 21 and is an annular coil configured in a ring shape around the Z axis with the central axis x1 of the magnetic field generating unit 20 as the center.

[0030] The multiple coils 22 are electrically connected to a controller 50, which will be described later. When viewing the A-A cross-section of the magnetic field generating unit 20, the multiple coils 22 are arranged, for example, in a grid pattern as shown in Figure 7. The magnetic field generating unit 20 generates a magnetic field (alternating magnetic field) with a magnetic field strength corresponding to the amount of alternating current flowing from the controller 50 to each of the multiple coils 22. Note that the arrangement of the multiple coils 22 when viewing the A-A cross-section of the magnetic field generating unit 20 is not particularly limited and does not necessarily have to be arranged in a grid pattern.

[0031] In this embodiment, since the coil 22 is configured in a ring shape as shown in FIG. 4, when an electric current flows through each of the plurality of coils 22, a magnetic field represented by magnetic force lines (dotted lines) as shown in FIG. 5, for example, is generated in the magnetic field generation unit 20. In FIG. 4, only one coil out of the plurality of coils 22 enclosed by the protective cover 21 is shown by a dotted line. Further, since the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generation unit 20 is an alternating magnetic field, the magnetic field generation unit 20 does not always generate the magnetic field represented by the magnetic force lines shown in FIG. 5.

[0032] (Microplasma Generator) A plurality of microplasma generators 30 are provided on the tray receiver 12 as shown in FIG. 2 and are electrically connected to the controller 50. The microplasma generator 30 generates microplasma discharge and causes the radicals generated by the discharge to act on the freezing object F. Thereby, the radicals destroy the cell membranes of the various bacteria attached to the freezing object F and kill the various bacteria, so that the corrosion of the freezing object F can be suppressed.

[0033] In the example shown in FIG. 2, three microplasma generators 30 are provided in the tray unit 10, but the present invention is not limited to this. The number of microplasma generators 30 provided in the tray unit 10 may be one, two, or four or more. For example, when five microplasma generators 30 are provided in the tray unit 10, the microplasma generators 30 may be provided in each of the plurality of tray receivers 12.

[0034] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration example inside the microplasma generator 30. The microplasma generator 30 has a power source 31, a blower fan 32, and a plurality of plasma generation units 33 as shown in FIG. 7.

[0035] The power source 31 is electrically connected to the controller 50 and supplies electric power to the blower fan 32 and each of the plurality of plasma generation units 33. The blower fan 32 takes in air from the outside of the tray unit 10 by rotating a propeller and supplies the taken-in air to the plasma generation unit 33.

[0036] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram briefly showing a configuration example of the plasma generation unit 33. The plasma generation unit 33 includes an insulator 331 having a through-hole 331H, a pair of electrode substrates 332, and a micro plasma generation unit 333. The thickness of the insulator 331 is not particularly limited, but is, for example, about several mm to several tens of mm. The pair of electrode substrates 332 are provided on both the front and back surfaces of the insulator 331 and have through-holes 332H communicating with the through-hole 331H.

[0037] The micro plasma generation unit 333 is a through-hole formed by the through-hole 331H and the through-hole 332H, and by applying electrical energy to the air supplied from the blower fan 32, the air is converted into plasma containing radicals. The diameter R of the micro plasma generation unit 333 is not particularly limited, but is, for example, about several tens to several hundreds of μm. The plasma generation unit 33 supplies radicals into the tray unit 10 by riding on the air flow in the X1 direction generated by the rotation of the propeller of the blower fan 32 and acts on the refrigeration object F.

[0038] Note that the mode of generating the micro plasma according to the present embodiment is not limited to the mode described above. For example, a mode in which electrodes for plasma generation described in JP-A-2015-188883 or JP-A-2020-198233 are used may be appropriately adopted without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0039] (Antibacterial curtain) The antibacterial curtain 40 is provided at the Z2-direction ends of the columns 111b and 112b and is configured to be able to cover the input port 14. The curtain portion of the antibacterial curtain 40 that covers the input port 14 is made of, for example, special fibers containing platinum particles (see, for example, JP-A-2022-049931). In the present embodiment, by providing the antibacterial curtain 40 in the tray unit 10, it is possible to suppress the drying of the refrigeration object F stored in the tray unit 10. Also, it is possible to suppress the escape of cold air to the outside when the door of the refrigeration device 2 is opened. Furthermore, by suppressing the growth of various bacteria attached to the above curtain portion due to the antibacterial effect of the antibacterial curtain 40, the amount of various bacteria entering the tray unit 10 can be suppressed. As a result, the amount of various bacteria attached to the refrigeration object F can be suppressed, and corrosion of the refrigeration object F can be suppressed.

[0040] (Controller) Figure 9 is a front view showing an example of the controller 50 as seen from the front in the Y2 direction, and Figure 10 is a rear view showing an example of the controller 50 as seen from the rear in the Y1 direction.

[0041] The controller 50 is built into the refrigeration unit 2 and is electrically connected to each of the multiple magnetic field generating units 20 and each of the multiple microplasma generating units 30. The controller 50 is typically located outside the tray unit 10 and built into the refrigeration unit 2, as shown in Figure 2, but is not limited to this configuration; for example, it may be separate from the refrigeration unit 2. In this case, the controller 50 may be mounted on the tray unit 10 or housed within the tray unit 10.

[0042] The controller 50 includes an input / output unit 51, a power supply unit 52, and a current control circuit 53. The input / output unit 51 includes a display device 511 and an input unit 512 that receives input from the user.

[0043] The input unit 512 is a device operated by the user, such as a mouse, keyboard, touch panel, button, switch, and lever. The input unit 512 includes an input control circuit that generates an input signal based on information input by the user and outputs it to the control unit 54, which will be described later. By operating this input unit 512, the user can input various data to the control unit 54 or instruct it to perform processing operations.

[0044] The display device 511 is a device capable of notifying the user of information acquired from the control unit 54 using senses such as sight and hearing. The display device 511 is, for example, a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display, and / or an audio output device such as a speaker. The display device 511 outputs the results obtained from the processing of the control unit 54 as images such as text or pictures, and / or sounds such as voice or sound.

[0045] The input / output unit 51 according to this embodiment is typically an operation panel with a display screen, operated by the user, as shown in Figure 9, but is not limited to this, and other input / output units different from the operation panel may be used.

[0046] Figures 11 and 12 show an example of an input / output unit 51 when the display device 511 is a liquid crystal screen and the input unit 512 is a touch panel. The liquid crystal screen displays icons for selecting one of a plurality of magnetic field generating units 20 ("stage 1", "stage 2", "stage 3", "stage 4", "stage 5") and icons for specifying a freezing mode for the selected magnetic field generating unit 20 ("meat", "fish", "vegetables", "processed", "fruit"). Note that the input / output unit 51 shown in Figures 11 and 12 is merely an example, and the input / output unit 51 according to this embodiment is not limited to the configuration shown in the figures.

[0047] The user, for example, uses the input / output unit 51 shown in Figure 11 to cause each of the multiple magnetic field generating units 20 to execute various freezing modes. Specifically, for example, the user taps one of the icons "Stage 1," "Stage 2," "Stage 3," "Stage 4," and "Stage 5" to select one of the multiple magnetic field generating units 20. Then, for the selected magnetic field generating unit 20, the user taps one of the icons "Meat," "Fish," "Vegetables," "Processed Foods," and "Fruits" to select a freezing mode. As a result, the selected magnetic field generating unit 20 generates a magnetic field with a magnetic field strength corresponding to the selected freezing mode.

[0048] Furthermore, the user can set the magnetic field strength for various freezing modes to any value via the input / output unit 51 shown in Figure 12, for example. The liquid crystal screen of the input unit 512 displays icons for selecting one of the various freezing modes ("meat", "fish", "vegetables", "processed food", "fruit") and a numeric keypad for setting the magnetic field strength for the selected freezing mode. The user taps one of the icons ("meat", "fish", "vegetables", "processed food", and "fruit") to select the freezing mode for which they want to set the magnetic field strength. Then, the user inputs a numerical value for the selected freezing mode to set the magnetic field strength for the selected freezing mode to any value. Information regarding the set magnetic field strength is stored in the storage device 542.

[0049] Figure 13 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of the controller 50. As shown in Figure 13, the controller 50 includes an input / output unit 51, a power supply unit 52, a current control circuit 53, and a control unit 54.

[0050] As shown in Figure 13, the control unit 54 includes a control device 541, a storage device 542, and a communication device 543, which are interconnected via a bus 544.

[0051] The control device 541 consists of one or more processors that control the overall operation or a part thereof of the controller 50. For example, the control device 541 may consist of one or more types of processors such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), SPU (Central Processing Unit), DSP (Digital Signal Processor), FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

[0052] The control device 541 causes the controller 50 to perform various processes by executing a program stored in the storage device 542. Examples of such processes include making the magnetic field strength of each of the multiple magnetic field generating units 20 different.

[0053] The storage device 542 is one or more memories that store programs executed by the control device 541 and data used by the control device 541. The storage device 542 is composed of a normal recording medium, such as a magnetic recording medium or a semiconductor recording medium. The storage device 542 may be composed of a combination of multiple types of recording media. The storage device 542 may also be a portable storage medium or an external storage medium that can communicate with the control device 541.

[0054] The communication device 543 is a communication circuit that is connected to the input / output unit 51, the power supply unit 52, and the current control circuit 53 in a communicative manner. The communication device 543 functions as an input / output interface for connections with each of these elements.

[0055] As shown in Figure 13, the controller 50 according to this embodiment further has a communication interface 545 connected to a network N such as the Internet, and may be connected to external devices 60 such as a server, personal computer, smartphone, imaging device, or tablet terminal via this network N. In this case, various types of data may be exchanged between the controller 50 and the external devices 60. The communication interface 545 is, for example, a communication interface composed of a communication device for connecting to the network N. Specifically, the communication interface 545 may be, for example, a communication device for LAN, Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi, or WUSB. The network N connected to the communication interface 545 is a network connected by wire or wireless, and may be, for example, the Internet, a home LAN, or infrared communication.

[0056] In this embodiment, if the external connection device 60 is, for example, a tablet terminal connected to the controller 50 via Bluetooth®, control similar to the freezing method described later (paragraphs

[0064] to

[0074] ) may be performed based on the user's operation of the tablet terminal. Alternatively, if the external connection device 60 is, for example, an imaging device such as a smartphone or camera installed in the tray receiver 12, the display device 511 of the input / output unit 51 displays an image of the inside of the tray unit 10 captured by the smartphone or camera. This allows the user to monitor the condition inside the tray unit 10 without opening the door of the freezing device 2 and to understand the state of the object F to be frozen.

[0057] The current control circuit 53 is a control circuit that controls the amount of alternating current supplied to the magnetic field generation unit 20 based on the control of the control unit 54. In this embodiment, the current control circuit 53 can make the magnetic field strength of each of the multiple magnetic field generation units 20 different by making the amount of alternating current supplied to each of the multiple magnetic field generation units 20 different.

[0058] As shown in Figure 14, the current control circuit 53 includes an MCU (Micro Controller Unit) 531, a synchronization circuit 532, and an AMP circuit 533, which are interconnected via a bus 534.

[0059] The MCU 531 functions as an arithmetic processing unit and controls all or part of the operation within the current control circuit 53 according to the control of the control unit 54. The MCU 531 is a semiconductor chip that integrates, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory) for storing programs and calculation parameters to be used, a RAM (Random Access Memory) for temporarily storing parameters that change as needed, and other peripheral functions on a single chip.

[0060] The synchronous circuit 532 includes, for example, an AC machine (not shown) that generates an alternating current with a frequency determined by the rotor's rotational speed, and a motor (not shown) that rotates the rotor of the AC machine. The rotor rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the motor, to which voltage is applied from the power supply 52. ​​The synchronous circuit 532 supplies the alternating current generated by the AC machine to the AMP circuit 533. The AC machine may be, for example, a single-phase AC type or a three-phase AC type, and its type is not particularly limited.

[0061] The AMP circuit 533 is a control circuit that controls the amount of AC current supplied from the synchronization circuit 532 based on the control of the MCU 531, for example. The AMP circuit 533 controls the magnetic field strength of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generation unit 20 to a strength (for example, strength P) that is set by the user via the input / output unit 51. １ , P ２ or P ３ The amount of alternating current supplied to the magnetic field generating unit 20 is controlled so that the result is as follows.

[0062] The power supply unit 52 supplies power to the microplasma generator 30 and the current control circuit 53. Based on the control of the control unit 54, the power supply unit 52 controls the voltage applied to the motor that rotates the rotor of the AC machine of the synchronous circuit 532, and controls the rotation speed of the rotor. Specifically, the power supply unit 52 controls the rotation speed of the AC machine rotor so that the frequency of the AC current generated by the synchronous circuit 532 is within a predetermined range. As a result, an AC current with a frequency within a predetermined range is supplied to the magnetic field generation unit 20. From the viewpoint of suppressing the expansion of ice crystals of free water contained in the object F to be frozen, the predetermined range is preferably 1 Hz to 1000 Hz, and more preferably 400 Hz to 1000 Hz. Alternatively, the predetermined range may be 1 MHz to 3 MHz.

[0063] The user may set the frequency of the AC current generated by the synchronization circuit 532 to an arbitrary value via the input / output unit 51. In this case, the control unit 54, upon receiving the setting value from the user to the input / output unit 51, outputs a voltage control signal to the power supply unit 52. Upon receiving this control signal, the power supply unit 52 controls the rotational speed of the motor that rotates the rotor of the AC machine so that the frequency of the AC current generated by the AC machine becomes the setting value set by the user.

[0064] [Specific Operating Examples] Figure 14 is a flowchart showing an example of a specific operating example of the refrigeration system 1. Figure 15 is a simplified front view showing an example of the configuration of the tray unit 10 of the magnetic field generator 100 housed in the refrigeration system 1 that performs the example of the specific operating example. In Figure 15, the casters 13 are not shown. Hereinafter, specific examples of the refrigeration method of the refrigeration system 1 will be explained with reference to Figures 14 and 15 as appropriate.

[0065] In the following description of the freezing method, a specific example of the operation method of the freezing system 1 will be described when the objects to be frozen F1, F2, and F3 shown in Figure 15 are meat, fish, and vegetables, respectively, and the input / output unit 51 is configured as shown in Figure 11. It should be noted that the steps shown in Figure 14 are merely examples of the freezing method of the present invention, and the freezing method of the present invention is not limited to the steps shown in the figure.

[0066] The user taps the "POWER" icon of the input / output unit 51 to start the refrigeration system 1 (step St1). Each of the plurality of micro plasma generators 30 performs micro plasma discharge when power is supplied from the power supply device 52 in step St1. The radicals generated by this discharge act in the accommodation space E of the refrigeration device 2 that houses the refrigeration target F and the magnetic field generation device 100. As a result, the various bacteria adhering to the refrigeration target F are killed, and the corrosion of the refrigeration target F is suppressed. Also, since the accommodation space E is sterilized, the frequency of cleaning the accommodation space E can be reduced.

[0067] Next, the user sets the magnetic field strength of the magnetic field generation unit 20a (step St2). Specifically, the user taps the "1-stage" icon of the input / output unit 51 and then taps the "meat" icon corresponding to that icon. As a result, the magnetic field strength of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generation unit 20a is set to the strength P １ pre-set by the user for the refrigeration mode related to meat.

[0068] Next, the user sets the magnetic field strength of the magnetic field generation unit 20b (step St3). Specifically, the user taps the "3-stage" icon of the input / output unit 51 and then taps the "fish" icon corresponding to that icon. As a result, the magnetic field strength of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generation unit 20b is set to the strength P ２ pre-set by the user for the refrigeration mode related to fish.

[0069] Subsequently, the user sets the magnetic field strength of the magnetic field generation unit 20c (step St4). Specifically, the user taps the "5-stage" icon of the input / output unit 51 and then taps the "vegetable" icon corresponding to that icon. As a result, the magnetic field strength of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generation unit 20c is set to the strength P ３ pre-set by the user for the refrigeration mode related to vegetables. Note that the strengths P １ to P ３ may each be different values from one another. Alternatively, the strengths P １ to P ３ do not have to be different values from one another.

[0070] Next, the user taps the "START" icon on the input / output unit 51 to start cell-alive refrigeration in the refrigeration system 1 (step St5). In step St5, the controller 50 supplies alternating current to each of the magnetic field generating units 20a to 20c. This generates a magnetic field in each of the magnetic field generating units 20a to 20c, and these magnetic fields act on each of the corresponding objects to be refrigerated F1 to F3.

[0071] Here, the AMP circuit 533 sets the magnetic field strength of the magnetic field generated in the magnetic field generation unit 20a to the strength P set in the previous step St2. １ The amount of alternating current supplied to the magnetic field generating unit 20a is controlled so that the magnetic field strength of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generating unit 20a is P. １ As a result, a magnetic field of appropriate strength acts on the object F1 to be frozen. This allows the magnetic field to penetrate deep into the interior, even if the object F1 is a large block of meat, ensuring sufficient quality for the frozen object F1 after thawing.

[0072] Furthermore, in step St5, the AMP circuit 533 sets the magnetic field strength of the magnetic field generated in the magnetic field generation unit 20b to the strength P set in the previous step St3. ２ To achieve this, the amount of alternating current supplied to the magnetic field generation unit 20b is also controlled. Therefore, the magnetic field strength of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generation unit 20b is controlled to strength P. ２ As a result, a magnetic field of appropriate strength acts on the object F2 being frozen. This ensures that the frozen object F2 maintains sufficient quality after thawing.

[0073] Furthermore, in step St5, the AMP circuit 533 sets the magnetic field strength of the magnetic field generated in the magnetic field generation unit 20c to the strength P set in the previous step St4. ３ To achieve this, the amount of alternating current supplied to the magnetic field generating unit 20c is also controlled. Therefore, the magnetic field strength of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generating unit 20c is controlled to strength P. ３ As a result, a magnetic field of appropriate strength acts on the object F3 to be frozen. This ensures that sufficient quality is obtained for the object F3 after thawing.

[0074] The control device 541 determines whether the "STOP" icon on the input / output unit 51 has been tapped by the user (step St6). If the control device 541 determines that the icon has been tapped by the user, it stops the operation of the freezing system 1 and stops the refrigeration and freezing for freshness preservation (TERA MAGNETIC-COOLING UNIT) (step St7).

[0075] As described above, the refrigeration system 1 according to this embodiment is a refrigeration system that freezes each of a plurality of objects to be frozen F by applying a magnetic field to each of the objects to be frozen F, thereby causing fluctuations in each of the objects to be frozen F, and comprises a tray unit 10 for accommodating the plurality of objects to be frozen F, a magnetic field generator 100 housed in the tray unit 10 and having a plurality of magnetic field generating units 20 corresponding to each of the plurality of objects to be frozen F, and a controller 50 for individually controlling the magnetic field strength of each of the plurality of magnetic field generating units 20, and a refrigeration device 2 that houses the magnetic field generator 100.

[0076] According to the above embodiment, the controller 50 can adjust the magnetic field strength of each of the multiple magnetic field generating units 20 to an appropriate strength for the corresponding object to be frozen F, as described above. In other words, the controller 50 adjusts the magnetic field strength of the magnetic field generating unit 20a to an appropriate strength P for the object to be frozen F1. １ The magnetic field strength of the magnetic field generating unit 20b is set to a strength P suitable for the object to be frozen F2. ２ The magnetic field strength of the magnetic field generating unit 20c is set to a strength P suitable for the object to be frozen F3. ３ It can be done this way.

[0077] As a result, even if the type, volume, or moisture content of each of the multiple frozen objects F differs, an appropriate magnetic field of strength is applied to each of the multiple frozen objects F, eliminating inconsistencies in the quality of each of the multiple frozen objects F after thawing. In other words, sufficient quality can be obtained for all of the frozen objects F after thawing.

[0078] Furthermore, unlike conventional fluctuating magnetic field sources (see Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003-139460) that surround a holder for holding objects to be frozen, the multiple magnetic field generating units 20 in this embodiment are housed in a tray unit 10, as shown in Figure 2, and are configured to be compact to correspond to each of the multiple objects to be frozen F. This makes it possible to reduce manufacturing costs compared to refrigeration systems that have conventional magnetic field generating devices that apply a magnetic field to objects to be frozen and create fluctuations.

[0079] 2. Modifications The above describes an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and can be modified in various ways. Specific modifications that can be made from the above-described embodiment are illustrated below. The present invention is not limited in any way to the following modifications, except as defined herein.

[0080] [Modification 1] In the above embodiment, the magnetic field generating unit 20 is typically connected to the controller 50 by a wire, but is not limited to this, and may be connected wirelessly. In this case, the controller 50 may be connected wirelessly to the magnetic field generating unit 20 via a power supply unit (not shown) housed in the tray unit 10, for example, and AC current may be supplied to the magnetic field generating unit 20 via this power supply unit. As a result, cables and the like connecting the magnetic field generating unit 20 and the controller 50 are omitted, improving the freedom of layout when arranging the magnetic field generating unit 20 in the tray unit 10.

[0081] [Modification 2] In the above embodiment, the multiple annular coils 22 enclosed in the protective cover 21 are separate, but the embodiment is not limited to this. The coil 22 may be a single coil wound multiple times around the Z axis with respect to the central axis x1 of the magnetic field generating unit 20.

[0082] [Modification 3] Figure 16 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of the magnetic field generating unit according to the modification. The magnetic field generating unit 20 in the above embodiment may be a substrate laminate in which a plurality of substrates 210 are stacked in the Z-axis direction. The substrate 210 consists of an FR4 (Flame Retardant Type 4) substrate S configured in an annular shape around the Z-axis with a central axis x1, and a plurality of annular copper foil patterns P formed on the FR4 substrate S. The thickness of the copper foil patterns P is not particularly limited, but for example, it is preferably 35 μm or 70 μm. Even if the magnetic field generating unit 20 is such a substrate laminate, a magnetic field (see Figure 5) similar to that of the magnetic field generating unit 20 in the above embodiment is generated, and the same effects as in the above embodiment can be obtained.

[0083] 3. Supplementary Information The freezing system and freezing method according to the above embodiment are for freezing food products such as meat or fish to maintain freshness, but are not limited to this. They may also be used to freeze things other than food products (for example, living organisms), and the applications of the freezing system and freezing method of the present invention are not particularly limited.

[0084] Furthermore, the effects described herein are merely descriptive or illustrative and not limiting. In other words, the present invention may produce other effects that will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the description herein, in addition to or instead of the effects described herein.

[0085] Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the attached drawings, the present invention is not limited to this example. It is clear to any person with ordinary skill in the art of the present invention that various modifications or alterations can be conceived within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims, and these are also understood to fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0086] 4. The following aspects can be understood from the embodiments exemplified above.

[0087] A freezing system according to one aspect of the present invention (Aspect 1) is a freezing system that freezes each of a plurality of objects to be frozen while causing fluctuations in each of the plurality of objects to be frozen by applying a magnetic field to each of the plurality of objects to be frozen, comprising: a tray unit for accommodating the plurality of objects to be frozen; a magnetic field generating device housed in the tray unit and having a plurality of magnetic field generating units corresponding to each of the plurality of objects to be frozen, and a controller for individually controlling the magnetic field strength of each of the plurality of magnetic field generating units; and a freezing device housing the magnetic field generating device.

[0088] According to Embodiment 1, the controller can adjust the magnetic field strength of each of the multiple magnetic field generating units to an appropriate strength for the corresponding object to be frozen. As a result, even if the types, volumes, or moisture content of the multiple objects to be frozen differ, an appropriate magnetic field strength acts on each of the multiple objects to be frozen, eliminating inconsistencies in the quality of each of the multiple objects to be frozen after thawing. In other words, sufficient quality can be obtained for all of the objects to be frozen after thawing.

[0089] In the refrigeration system according to a specific example of Embodiment 1 (Embodiment 2), the magnetic field generator further comprises a microplasma generator provided in the tray unit that discharges microplasma. As a result, radicals generated by this discharge act on the object to be frozen, killing bacteria attached to the object and suppressing corrosion of the object.

[0090] In the refrigeration system according to a specific example of Embodiment 2 (Embodiment 3), the tray unit has an input port into which the object to be frozen is placed, and the magnetic field generator is provided on the tray unit and further has an antibacterial curtain that covers the input port. This makes it possible to suppress the drying of the object to be frozen contained in the tray unit. It also makes it possible to suppress the escape of cold air when the door of the refrigeration device is opened. Furthermore, the antibacterial effect of the antibacterial curtain suppresses the growth of bacteria attached to the curtain, thereby suppressing the amount of bacteria that enter the tray unit. Accordingly, according to Embodiment 3, the amount of bacteria attached to the object to be frozen can be suppressed, and the corrosion of the object to be frozen can be suppressed.

[0091] In the refrigeration system according to a specific example of Embodiment 3 (Embodiment 4), the tray unit is a rack, and the rack has a plurality of casters. This improves the portability of the tray unit and the convenience of removing the tray unit housed in the refrigeration device from the refrigeration device, compared to the case where casters are not provided.

[0092] A freezing method according to one aspect of the present invention (Aspect 5) uses a freezing system described in any one of aspects 1 to 4.

[0093] According to embodiment 5, the controller can set the magnetic field strength of each of the multiple magnetic field generating units to an appropriate strength for the corresponding object to be frozen. As a result, even if the types, volumes, or moisture content of the multiple objects to be frozen differ, an appropriate magnetic field strength acts on each of the multiple objects to be frozen, eliminating inconsistencies in the quality of each of the multiple objects to be frozen after thawing. In other words, sufficient quality can be obtained for all of the objects to be frozen after thawing.

[0094] 1...Freezing system 2...Freezing device 10...Tray unit 13...Caster 14...Input opening for tray unit 20...Magnetic field generator 30...Microplasma generator 40...Antibacterial curtain 50...Controller 100...Magnetic field generator F...Object to be frozen

Claims

1. A freezing system that freezes each of a plurality of objects to be frozen while causing fluctuations in each of the plurality of objects to be frozen by applying a magnetic field to each of the plurality of objects to be frozen, comprising: a tray unit for housing the plurality of objects to be frozen; a magnetic field generating device housed in the tray unit and having a plurality of magnetic field generating units corresponding to each of the plurality of objects to be frozen, and a controller for individually controlling the magnetic field strength of each of the plurality of magnetic field generating units; and a freezing device housing the magnetic field generating device.

2. The refrigeration system according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field generating device further comprises a microplasma generating device provided in the tray unit and which performs microplasma discharge.

3. The freezing system according to claim 2, wherein the tray unit has an input port into which the object to be frozen is introduced, and the magnetic field generating device is provided on the tray unit and further comprises an antibacterial curtain covering the input port.

4. The refrigeration system according to claim 3, wherein the tray unit is a rack, and the rack has a plurality of casters.

5. A freezing method using the freezing system described in any one of claims 1 to 4.

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