KR20070045482A - Refrigerator using the same and method for keeping food - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator and a food storage method, wherein a storage room for storing food and a plurality of light emitting colors are combined with the storage room to irradiate light in a visible light region and to emit light corresponding to the color of food stored in the storage room. And a photo deodorization module including a different setting device, an ultraviolet light emitting device mounted on a storage room, and irradiating ultraviolet light, and a photocatalyst filter irradiated with ultraviolet light of the ultraviolet light emitting device and coated with a photocatalyst.

Refrigerator, photo deodorization, photocatalyst, freshness

Description

Refrigerator using the same and Method for keeping food}

1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator provided with a conventional food container.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the food storage container according to the present invention is applied to the side by side of the refrigerator.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the food container of Figure 2;

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II of the first embodiment of the food container of FIG.

5 is a sectional view showing the optical deodorization module of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the plate type photocatalyst filter of FIG. 5. FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the photocatalyst filter of the mesh type of FIG. 5. FIG.

8 shows schematically a selection device of the invention.

9 is a bottom perspective view schematically showing the top panel of FIG. 4.

10 is a bottom perspective view showing an upper panel according to a second embodiment of a food container.

11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II of the third embodiment of the food container of FIG.

12 is a perspective view showing a state in which the food storage container according to the present invention is applied to a top mount refrigerator.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a food container of FIG. 12. FIG.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of the fourth embodiment of the food container of FIG. 12; FIG.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

20: refrigerator 200: food container

210a, 210b, 210c: Storage compartments 230a, 230b, 230c: Irradiation device

231a, 231b, and 231c: light emitting element 231aR: red light emitting diode

231aG: Green Light Emitting Diode 231aW: White Light Emitting Diode

233a, 233b, 233c: substrate 237a, 237b, 237c: protective cover

250a, 250b, 250c: Input device 230a, 230b, 230c: Irradiation device

240: photo deodorization module 243: photocatalyst filter

270a, 270b, 270c: top panel 280: temperature controller

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator and a food storage method for improving the freshness of food stored in the refrigerator.

Generally, a refrigerator includes a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment, and either side of the refrigerating compartment is separately provided with a vegetable compartment for adjusting humidity to store vegetables and fruits (hereinafter collectively referred to as "vegetables") more freshly. . Therefore, the vegetable compartment in the refrigerating compartment may be an example of a food storage container.

Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 1, a refrigerator equipped with a conventional food storage container will be described.

FIG. 1 illustrates a case in which the food storage container 20 is applied to a top-mounted refrigerator in which a freezing compartment is located at an upper portion of the refrigerators of various types and a refrigerating compartment is located at the lower portion of the freezing compartment.

Factors affecting the freshness of vegetables are known as temperature, humidity, environmental gases, microorganisms, light, and the like. Since vegetables continue to breathe and transpire, the inhibition of breathing and transpiration is essential to maintain the freshness of vegetables. Specifically, most vegetables except for some of the vegetables that cause the disturbance at low temperatures can be suppressed breathing at low temperatures, can be prevented from evaporating at high humidity.

For this reason, in order to keep vegetables fresh for a long time, a typical home refrigerator is provided with a food storage container which is a space for storing vegetables as a space independent of the refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator. The food container is controlled to maintain the humidity by the moisture that is increased from the vegetables, while maintaining the appropriate low temperature state of vegetables. Therefore, by the food container it is possible to maintain vegetables fresh for a long time.

On the other hand, while maintaining the freshness of vegetables for a long time by properly maintaining the temperature and humidity as described above, in recent years, methods for maintaining the freshness of vegetables using light, which is another influence factor of freshness, have been proposed.

Strong light has a negative effect of promoting the color change and transpiration of food, while relatively weak light is known to improve the freshness of vegetables and the like. In addition, such weak light is known to inhibit the decomposition of chlorophyll (chlorophyll), especially in green leafy vegetables, and is known to be effective in the maintenance of vitamin C.

The refrigerator shown in FIG. 1 is as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-28363, and includes an irradiation device 23 for irradiating weak light to a food storage container 20 provided below the refrigerator 10, in particular, The concentration of chlorophyll in the green leafy vegetables is prevented from being lowered, and consequently, the quality of the leafy vegetables is prevented.

Particularly, when the drawer type food container is open, the refrigerator 10 operates an illumination lamp 29 for allowing a user to visually recognize an object inside the storage room 21, and the drawer type food container is closed. In this state, the irradiation apparatus 23 was operated to prevent the degradation of the quality of the green leafy vegetables caused by the light as described above.

On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-159953 configures the irradiation apparatus 23 as a light emitting diode (LED) in the visible light region, thereby minimizing the heat generated by the irradiation apparatus 23, thereby reducing the temperature in the storage chamber 21. Is prevented from rising and can be driven with higher efficiency than other irradiation devices.

In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-49093 discloses a form in which a red light emitting diode having a wavelength of about 660 nm is applied to green leafy vegetables.

In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-65622 proposes an irradiation apparatus for classifying food storage containers into a plurality of storage rooms and irradiating light of an appropriate wavelength according to the type of vegetables. More specifically, the light emitting diode device is configured to be selected by using a combination of light emitting colors according to the type of vegetables, etc. using a three-color light emitting diode device of red, blue, green.

However, the refrigerator provided with a food storage container according to the prior art had the following problems.

First, the conventional irradiation apparatus can be selected by combining the light emission color in the three-color light emitting diode element, but it is not clear which foods are particularly effective for red, blue, and green light emitting diodes, The effect of reducing freshness or chlorophyll was minimal.

Second, even if the food storage container is divided into a plurality of storage rooms, the standard of which classification criteria should be separately stored is not clear, and thus the effectiveness of the storage container is divided into a plurality of storage rooms.

Third, although the conventional irradiation apparatus is provided with a selection means for selecting the emission color by the three-color light emitting diode element, as described above, the selection means for selecting the emission color because the emission color of light suitable for any food is not known. This had no high effectiveness.

Even though the experiment shows that the light emission color of light is effective according to the type of food, it is very cumbersome for the user to select the emission color by remembering this information one by one, or to select the emission color of the irradiated light by searching for related information. There was this.

Fourth, it is not possible to determine which emission color to be irradiated for foods that have not been experimentally identified, and the user may not know whether the emission color selected by the user is suitable for the stored food, thereby giving confidence in the irradiation apparatus. There was no problem.

Fifth, in the refrigerating compartment, the humidity in the refrigerating compartment is set higher to improve the freshness maintaining effect of the food. However, when the humidity in the refrigerating chamber becomes high, there is a problem in that propagation of various germs in the refrigerating chamber is facilitated, and thus there is a problem of bad smell generation in the refrigerating chamber.

The present invention has been made to solve the problems as described above, to provide a refrigerator that can maintain the freshness and nutritional content of food for a long time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a food storage container with improved user convenience.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator which suppresses propagation of various bacteria in the refrigerating compartment and prevents the occurrence of odors.

The present invention for achieving the above object, a refrigerator body having a refrigerating chamber; A storage compartment compartment mounted in the refrigerating compartment and storing food; An irradiation apparatus configured to irradiate light in a visible light region by combining a plurality of emission colors to the storage compartment, and to set different emission colors of light corresponding to the color of food stored in the storage compartment; And a photodeodorization module mounted to the storage room to irradiate ultraviolet rays, and a photodeodorization module including a photocatalyst filter irradiated with ultraviolet rays of the ultraviolet light emitting device and coated with a photocatalyst.

In the present invention, the ultraviolet light emitting device is characterized in that the ultraviolet lamp.

) 광촉매 용액이 도포되는 메쉬(MESH) 부재로 구비되는 것을 특징으로 한다.In the present invention, the photocatalyst filter is mounted to the storage chamber and is made of titanium oxide (

A) a mesh (MESH) member to which the photocatalyst solution is applied.

) 광촉매 용액이 도포되며, 다수개의 통공이 형성되는 플레이트부재로 구비되는 것을 특징으로 한다.In the present invention, the photocatalyst filter is mounted to the storage chamber and is made of titanium oxide (

) Photocatalyst solution is applied, characterized in that provided with a plate member is formed a plurality of through holes.

In the present invention, the irradiation device is characterized in that it is provided with a light emitting diode (LED).

In the present invention, it is characterized in that it further comprises a selection device for selecting the color of the food stored in the storage chamber, corresponding to the color of the selected food to switch the emission color of the light irradiated by the irradiation apparatus.

In the present invention, the light irradiated by the irradiating device is characterized by being made of a combination of light including red, green, and white.

In the present invention, when the color of the food is a red series, the irradiation device is characterized in that for irradiating red light.

In the present invention, the irradiation apparatus is characterized in that the irradiation of green light when the color of the food is a green series.

In the present invention, the irradiation device is characterized in that the irradiation further comprises a white light.

) 광촉매제에 자외선을 조사하여 광탈취를 실시하는 광탈취단계;를 포함한다.The present invention for achieving the above object, the storage step of storing the food to separate according to the color of the food; Irradiating the food in the visible light region to the separated and stored food, and setting an emission color of light to be irradiated corresponding to the color of the stored food; And titanium oxide provided at the stored food location (

And a photo deodorizing step of performing photo deodorization by irradiating ultraviolet rays to the photocatalyst.

In the present invention, the irradiation step, characterized in that made by a combination of light including red, green and white.

In the present invention, the irradiating step, characterized in that to irradiate red light when the color of the food is a red series.

In the present invention, the irradiating step is characterized in that the green light is irradiated when the color of the food is green.

In the present invention, the irradiation step is characterized in that the irradiation further comprises a white light.

Hereinafter, a refrigerator and a food storage method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but will be implemented in various forms, and only the present embodiments are intended to complete the disclosure of the present invention and to those skilled in the art to fully understand the scope of the invention. It is provided to inform you.

2 to 4, the basic configuration of a first embodiment of a refrigerator having a food container according to the present invention will be described.

The refrigerator 100 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a refrigerator main body 110 having a refrigerating compartment and an internal light in the main body 110 to correspond to the color of food and selectively irradiate light in a visible light region and It is provided with a food storage container 200 to perform the deodorizing action.

This embodiment illustrates a form in which a food storage container according to the present invention is applied to a refrigerator of a side-by-side type in which a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment are divided into right and left sides among various types of refrigerators. Accordingly, the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment are provided on the right and left sides of the refrigerator, respectively, and a food storage container is provided below the refrigerator compartment.

The food storage container according to the present embodiment basically includes a plurality of storage chambers 210a, b, and c, irradiation devices 230a, b, and c, and selection devices 250a, b, and c.

The plurality of storage chambers 210a, b, and c are storage spaces for storing food, and are formed by a bottom surface and left and right side walls. In the present embodiment, the storage compartments 210a, b, and c are configured to be opened and closed in a sliding manner so that the user can easily put or take out food.

However, the opening and closing method of the storage compartments 210a, b, and c are not limited to the present exemplary embodiment, and the doors having a hinge structure may be opened and closed at the top of the storage compartments 210a, b, and c. It can be configured to be, and can be modified in various other forms.

And the food container 200 is preferably designed in a sealed structure in order to prevent the humidity from leaking to the outside. By configuring the storage compartments 210a, b, and c in a sealed structure, humidity in the storage compartments 210a, b, and c may be maintained for a long time due to moisture evaporated from food.

On the other hand, the storage chamber (210a, b, c) is composed of a plurality of compartments. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, the food container 200 illustrates a form consisting of a total of three storage compartments (210a, b, c) partitioned in the vertical direction.

And one or more of the storage compartment (210a, b, c) may be further provided with a temperature control device 280 that can adjust the temperature in the storage compartment (210a, b, c) to serve as a storage function of meat or vegetables. .

The irradiation apparatuses 230a, b, and c serve to irradiate light in a visible light region to each of the plurality of compartments 210a, b, and c which are divided into a plurality of compartments.

For reference, visible light refers to light having a wavelength in the visible range of the human eye. Although it varies slightly depending on the human, the wavelength range is generally 380 to 770 nm. In visible light, the change of properties according to the wavelength appears in each color, and the wavelength becomes shorter from red to purple. For example, in the case of monochromatic light, 700 to 610 nm is red, 610 to 590 nm is orange, 590 to 570 nm is yellow, 570 to 500 nm is green, 500 to 450 nm is blue, and 450 to 400 nm is purple. .

When irradiating light in the infrared region with a wavelength longer than 770 nm, the temperature in the storage chambers 210a, b, and c is raised, and the surface temperature of the food being stored is increased and the food surface is discolored to maintain the freshness of the food. Adversely affects. Therefore, it is preferable that the irradiation apparatus 230a, b, c irradiate light in the visible light region.

However, since the visible light region and the infrared region of the red series and the visible region and the ultraviolet region of the purple series are not precisely distinguished, the visible light region according to the present invention is a part of the infrared region and the ultraviolet region in the wavelength range adjacent to the visible region. Also includes.

On the other hand, the irradiation apparatus (230a, b, c) is a substrate (233a, b, c), the light emitting elements (231a, b, c) provided on the substrate (233a, b, c), the light emitting element (231a) and protective covers 237a, b, and c for preventing moisture from penetrating into b, c, and preventing damage to the light emitting devices 231a, b, and c.

There is no limitation on the kind of the light emitting elements 231a, b, and c, but it is preferable to include a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs). Since the light emitting diodes generate less heat and have relatively higher efficiency than other light emitting devices 231a, b, and c, the light emitting diodes are suitable for the food container 200.

In this embodiment, since the light emitting devices 231a, b, and c are formed of light emitting diodes, the temperature generated by the light emitting devices 231a, b, and c is minimized by minimizing heat generated by the irradiation devices 230a, b, and c. Minimize, and can be driven at a lower power than the other irradiation apparatus (230a, b, c).

On the other hand, the irradiation apparatus 230a, b, c according to the invention corresponding to the color of the food stored in the storage chamber (210a, b, c), the light emission color of the irradiated light is set differently.

The present inventors determine the light emission color of the most effective light to the food stored by the experiment according to the color of the food stored, if the color of the food stored is red-based, irradiated with red-based light, Irradiating green light was found to be the most effective in maintaining food freshness and impact ingredients.

With this in mind, the present embodiment is configured to classify various types of food according to the color of the food, and to set the emission color of light to be irradiated accordingly. More specifically, when the food color is a red series, the irradiation apparatuses 230a, b, and c are set to irradiate the stored food with red, and when the food color is green, the irradiation apparatus 230a, b, c) was set to irradiate a combination of green and white to the food stored.

In particular, the inventors of the present invention are more effective in maintaining freshness and preventing chlorophyll concentration when irradiating a combination of green and white light, as in the present embodiment, with respect to green-based food, rather than irradiating green light alone. It was found through experiments.

For reference, the food stored in the food container 200 may be mainly classified into vegetables and fruits. And the vegetables can be classified more specifically according to the use portion, leafy vegetables (잎 葉菜 類) using leaves or stems, root vegetables (roots) using roots or trunks (根菜類), fruit vegetables (果菜類) using fruits. .

According to the present invention, various types of vegetables and fruits are classified into a red series and a green series according to colors, and light emission colors of light irradiated to each other are set differently.

Examples of red foods include strawberries, tomatoes, plums, etc. Examples of green foods include spinach, bok choy, cabbage, and the like.

The present inventors classify foods into a red series and a green series as described above, and irradiate foods classified as a red series with a red light emitting diode, respectively, and combine green and white light emitting diodes with a food classified as a green series. After that, the change in freshness of the stored food was measured.

As a result, it was confirmed that discoloration of food is significantly reduced and drying phenomenon is remarkably reduced in foods of green type than those irradiated with visible white light emitting diodes uniformly. It was confirmed that the phenomenon hardly occurred.

4 is categorized according to the color of the food stored as described above, the first storage room (210a) located at the top of the storage room (210a, b, c) to store the bok chokchae and green corresponding to the green series, The second storage room (210b) located in the middle stores the tomato and strawberry corresponding to the red series, and the third storage room (210c) located at the bottom exemplifies the use state storing the cabbage corresponding to the green series and have.

On the other hand, the position of the irradiation apparatus (230a, b, c) is not limited. That is, it may be provided above or below the storage chambers 210a, b, and c. As shown in FIG. 4, the irradiation apparatuses 230a, b, and c are provided on the upper sides of the storage chambers 210a, b, and c as shown in FIG. 4.

On the other hand, in the storage chamber (210a, b, c) is equipped with a light deodorization module 240 in the storage room direction. The photo deodorization module 240 is mounted in the storage chambers 210a, b, and c and the ultraviolet light emitting device 241 for irradiating ultraviolet rays, and the photocatalyst filter 243 to which the ultraviolet light of the ultraviolet light emitting device 241 is irradiated and the photocatalyst is applied. ).

The ultraviolet light emitting device 240 emits ultraviolet light toward the storage compartments 210a, b, and c. As shown in FIG. 4, the upper panel 270a, b, and c does not interfere with the food being stored. It is preferable to be inserted into the inside of). The mounting position of the ultraviolet light emitting device 240 is not limited to the mounting of the inside of the upper panels 270a, b, and c, and is easy to irradiate toward the storage rooms 210a, b, and c. Of course, it can be selectively applied to the inner side of the left side or the inner side of the right side. Reference numeral 242 denotes a substrate on which the light emitting device is mounted.

The ultraviolet light emitting device 240 may be applied as an ultraviolet lamp (UV-LED). The ultraviolet lamp can be used for low pressure or high pressure, in this embodiment it is preferable to use a low pressure. Specifically, the low-pressure ultraviolet lamp refers to a lamp having high energy efficiency by generating ultraviolet rays in the vicinity of 253.7 mm having a high sterilization efficiency more efficiently. The low pressure UV lamp has an advantage that contaminants do not adhere to the UV lamp surface because the surface temperature of the lamp is low. The ultraviolet lamp is preferably provided in plurality to achieve an improvement in the ultraviolet light emission intensity. The ultraviolet lamp is not limited to the low pressure of the present embodiment, of course, can be selectively used for high pressure for a wider ultraviolet light emission range.

Preferably, an airtight member 245 is installed in the insertion part 244 into which the ultraviolet light emitting device 240 is inserted to prevent moisture from the storage chambers 210a, b, and c from penetrating into the ultraviolet light emitting device 241. The airtight member 245 is mounted to seal the insertion part 244 and is mounted to the outside of the first sealing member 247 and the first sealing member 247 to transmit ultraviolet rays, and thus the insertion part 244 and the first sealing member 245 are sealed. A second sealing member 249 sealing the sealing member 247 is provided. The first sealing member 247 is preferably provided with a glass material that is easy to transmit ultraviolet rays. In addition, the second sealing member 249 is preferably provided with a rubber member to prevent the penetration of moisture. The photocatalyst filter 243 is mounted below the hermetic member 245.

) 광촉매 용액(246)이 도포되며 통공(248)이 형성되는 플레이트부재로 구비된다. 즉, 상기 통공(248)은 보관실(210a,b,c)의 공기가 삽입부(244) 측으로 용이하게 유입 가능하도록, 플레이트부재의 넓이 방향에 다수개로 구비됨이 바람직하다. As shown in FIG. 5, the photocatalyst filter 243 is mounted to the insertion portion 244 downward of the airtight member 247. As shown in FIG. 6, the photocatalyst filter 243 includes a titanium oxide (

The photocatalyst solution 246 is applied and is provided as a plate member in which a through hole 248 is formed. That is, the through hole 248 is preferably provided in plurality in the width direction of the plate member so that the air in the storage compartment (210a, b, c) can be easily introduced to the insertion portion 244 side.

) 광촉매 용액(246)에 자외선이 조사되면, 산화티탄(

)은 전자(e-)와 정공(e+)으로 나누어지고, 활성종(O

-, OH-)이 생성되어 강한 산화력으로 보관실(210a,b,c) 내부 공기의 살균 및 탈취 작용이 이루어지도록 한다. 여기서, 산화티탄(

) 내부에서 발생되는 전자란, 광촉매 필터(243)의 표면 흡착산소와 반응하여 슈퍼 옥사이드 음이온(O

-)이 생성되는 것을 말하며, 정공이란 흡착수와 반응하여 수산 라디칼(OH-)을 생성하는 것을 말한다.The photocatalyst filter 243 is irradiated with ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light emitting device 241 to generate a light deodorizing action, so that sterilization and deodorization of the internal air of the storage chambers 210a, b, and c are performed. Specifically, titanium oxide (

) When ultraviolet rays are irradiated to the photocatalyst solution 246, titanium oxide (

) Is divided into electron (e-) and hole (e +), and active species (O

-, OH-) is generated so that the sterilization and deodorization of the air inside the storage chamber (210a, b, c) with a strong oxidizing power. Here, titanium oxide (

Electrons generated in the inside) react with the surface adsorbed oxygen of the photocatalyst filter 243 to form a super oxide anion (O

-) Refers to the formation of holes, and holes refers to the generation of hydroxyl radicals (OH-) by reaction with adsorbed water.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of the photocatalyst filter, and illustrates a mesh (MESH) type photocatalyst filter.

) 광촉매 용액(246)이 도포되는 메쉬부재로 구비된다. 상기 메쉬부재의 그물 형상은 보관실(210a,b,c)의 공기의 유입이 용이하도록 선택적인 크기를 갖도록 한다. As shown, the photocatalyst filter 243a according to another embodiment of the present invention is provided in the insertion portion 244 downward of the airtight member 247, and the titanium oxide (

) Is provided with a mesh member to which the photocatalyst solution 246 is applied. The mesh shape of the mesh member is to have a selective size to facilitate the inflow of air into the storage chamber (210a, b, c).

Decomposition of odor components and bacteria floating in the storage chambers 210a, b, and c through the mesh type photocatalyst filter 240a having the above structure is easily decomposed by the above-described light deodorizing action.

The optical deodorization module 240 enables a selective operation through the selection device (250a, b, c) described later.

The selection devices 250a, b, and c are provided in front of each of the upper panels 270a, b, and c. 8 is a selection device (250a, b, c) is composed of a total of four buttons are provided with an operation button 253 when the food is stored in the red series and an operation button 255 in the green series, respectively, For example, a button 251 for turning off the operation of the irradiation apparatuses 230a, b, and c and a button 257 for the selective operation of the photocatalyst module 240 are illustrated. Accordingly, the selection device 250a, b, c selectively enables the simultaneous operation of the photocatalyst module 240 and the irradiation devices 230a, b, c or any one selective operation. In addition, according to the user's selection, the operation of the photocatalyst module 240 and the irradiation apparatus 230a, b, c at regular intervals through the selection device (250a, b, c) can be alternately operated.

On the other hand, the selection device (250a, b, c) serves to switch the emission color of the light irradiated by the irradiation device in response to the color of the selected food. For example, the switching device converts the green light emitting diodes 231aR from the red light emitting diodes 231aR in the first storage chamber 211a to be irradiated in combination, or conversely, the green and white light emitting diodes ( In the combination of 231aG and 231aW, the red light emitting diode 231aR is switched to be irradiated.

By providing the selection device (250a, b, c) as described above, the user selects through the button whether the color of the food is stored in the red or green series, by the switching device corresponding to the color of the selected food In the red light emitting diode, the green and white light emitting diodes may be converted to be irradiated in combination, or in the combination of the green and white light emitting diodes, the red light emitting diode may be converted to be irradiated.

Referring to Figure 9, the light emitting device arrangement in the first embodiment of the food storage container will be described.

The location and arrangement of the light emitting devices 231a, b, and c may be implemented in various forms, but it is preferable to arrange the light emitting devices 231a, b, and c so that light is evenly applied to the food. 5 is an example of the position and arrangement of the light emitting elements 231a, b, and c, and shows a configuration of an irradiation apparatus for the first storage chamber 230a among the three storage compartments 210a, b, and c. . As shown in FIG. 9, a red light emitting diode 231aR, a green light emitting diode 231aG, and a white light emitting diode 231aW are disposed at a central portion of the upper panel 270a provided above the storage chamber 210a. . And, the optical deodorization module 240 is to be mounted in a plurality in the width direction of the upper panel (270a) to facilitate the light deodorizing action of the storage room.

More specifically, the circle formed by the central portion is divided at the same angle, and red, green, and white light emitting diodes 231aR, 231aG, and 231aW are disposed in each of the divided fan-shaped spaces.

Here, the green and white light emitting diodes 231aG and 231aW are configured to be irradiated together with the green food, and are disposed adjacent to each other in the partitioned fan-shaped space.

In addition, the light emitting device is preferably to increase the irradiation angle of the light so as to evenly irradiate the food stored in the light.

On the other hand, although not shown, the food storage container 200 preferably includes an opening and closing detection sensor for detecting whether the storage chamber (210a, b, c) opening and closing. In addition, it is preferable to configure whether the storage chambers 210a, b, c are opened or closed through the open / close detection sensor, and when the storage chamber is closed, the light is irradiated by the irradiation devices 230a, b, c.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the irradiation apparatus has been exemplified as including red, green, and white light emitting devices, but it is of course possible to configure other light emitting devices of indigo blue or yellow color.

Referring to Figure 10, a second embodiment of the food storage container according to the present invention will be described.

For convenience, the upper panel 370a for the first storage chamber 210a positioned at the top will be described.

The basic configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment described above. However, in the present embodiment, the irradiation apparatus 230a is not centrally disposed at the center of the upper panel 370a and is disposed at a predetermined interval on the upper panel 370a. And the optical deodorization module 240 can be mounted in a plurality of upper panels (370a).

That is, in the present invention, as a method for evenly radiating light to food, the red light emitting diode 331aR and the green and white light emitting diodes 331aG and 331aW throughout the upper panel 370a provided on the upper side of the storage compartment 210a. ) Are arranged at regular intervals in the horizontal and vertical directions.

On the other hand, as described above, the green and white light emitting diodes 331aG and 331aW are irradiated in combination with each other in a green food, and are arranged adjacent to each other in each partitioned fan-shaped space. .

Referring to FIG. 11, a third embodiment of a food container according to the present invention will be described.

In the present embodiment, unlike the first and second embodiments described above, the irradiation apparatuses 430a, b, and c are provided on the outer rear side of the storage chambers 210a, b, and c, not on the upper side.

That is, the irradiation apparatuses 430a, b, and c are integrally formed with the refrigerator main body at the outer rear of the storage compartment. Accordingly, the light irradiated from the irradiation apparatuses 430a, b, and c passes through sidewalls forming the storage chambers 210a, b, and c, and is irradiated into the storage chambers 210a, b, and c.

Accordingly, in the present embodiment, the sidewalls forming the storage chambers 210a, b, and c are preferably made of a material that transmits light.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the irradiation apparatus is similar to the first embodiment described above, the substrates 433a, b, c, the substrates 433a, Protection to prevent damage to the light emitting elements 431a, b, c by preventing moisture from penetrating into the light emitting elements 431a, b, c provided on the b and c and the light emitting elements 431a, b, c. The cover 437a, b, and c is comprised.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the irradiation apparatuses 430a, b, and c exemplify a form in which the light emitting elements 431a, b, and c are concentrated on one side of the outer rear, but in the outer rear as in the above-described second embodiment. It can be installed at regular intervals in the horizontal and vertical directions over a wide range.

12 to 14, the fourth embodiment of the food storage container according to the present invention will be described.

As shown in FIG. 12, the present embodiment applies a food storage container 500 to a top mount refrigerator 30 having a freezer compartment at the top and a refrigerator compartment at the bottom.

The food storage container 500 is located in the lower part of the refrigerating chamber, and the storage chambers 510a and b are divided into two sides by partitioning the left side and the right side.

FIG. 14 exemplifies a state in which the green groceries and green onions are stored in the first storage room 510a, and the tomatoes and strawberries are stored in the second storage room 510b.

That is, in the present embodiment, the plurality of storage compartments 510a and b partitioned to the left and the right side, and the irradiation apparatuses 530a and b for irradiating light in the visible light region to each of the left and right storage compartments 510a and b, the food stored And selecting devices 550a and b for selecting the color of the light source and switching the emission color of the irradiating device accordingly.

As shown in FIG. 14, the irradiation apparatus illustrates a form located at the center of the upper panels 570a and b provided above the storage chambers 510a and b as in the first embodiment. As shown in the second embodiment, the shape is arranged at a predetermined interval in the horizontal and vertical directions, or is provided at the outer rear side of the storage chambers 510a and b as in the third embodiment, and is irradiated through the storage chambers 510a and b. It is also possible to configure.

Referring to the principle of operation of the refrigerator provided with a food storage container according to the present invention.

First, the user stores food by separating it according to the color of the food. The light of visible light is irradiated to each of the storage compartments classified according to colors, and the emission color of the irradiated light is set corresponding to the color of the food stored in the storage compartment as described above.

And, the smell and bacteria floating in the storage room is to be sterilized and deodorized through the optical deodorization module.

On the other hand, the user can select the color of the food stored by the selection device as described above, the color of the stored food can be selected by the selection device to switch the emission color corresponding to the color of the selected food. In addition, through the selection device to facilitate the selective switching operation of the optical deodorization module and the irradiation device.

Up to now, mainly for vegetables, but described an example in which the food storage container is applied to the refrigerator, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and targets various types of food, such as meat, grains, kimchi, liquor, In addition to the refrigerator, it can be applied to various products such as kimchi refrigerator, rice barrel, and wine cellar.

Refrigerator and food storage method according to the present invention as described above has the following effects.

First, by separating and storing according to the color of the food, and configured to irradiate the emission color of the light most suitable for the color of the food, there is an advantage of maximizing the effect of maintaining the freshness of the food by the irradiation device and preventing the decrease in chlorophyll concentration.

Secondly, by clarifying the classification criteria of the food stored in a plurality of storage rooms, there is an advantage that can be improved by the effect of partitioning into a plurality of storage rooms.

Third, the user can select the color of the food is stored, there is an advantage that can be set to the light emitting color of the light suitable for the stored food as needed.

Fourth, by providing a clear and intuitive criteria for selecting the emission color of the light to be irradiated, the user can easily select the emission color, there is an advantage that can give the user confidence in the irradiation apparatus.

Fifth, by applying the optical deodorization module to enable the deodorization and sterilization of the odor floating in the food storage room, it is possible to improve the freshness maintenance effect of the food.

The present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications or other embodiments falling within the scope equivalent to the present invention are possible by those skilled in the art. Therefore, the true scope of protection of the present invention should be defined by the following claims.

Claims (15)

A refrigerator body having a refrigerator compartment; A storage compartment compartment mounted in the refrigerating compartment and storing food; An irradiation apparatus configured to irradiate light in a visible light region by combining a plurality of emission colors to the storage compartment, and to set different emission colors of light corresponding to the color of food stored in the storage compartment; And And a photo deodorization module mounted to the storage room and irradiating ultraviolet rays, and a photo deodorization module including a photocatalyst filter irradiated with ultraviolet rays of the ultraviolet light emitting device and coated with a photocatalyst. The method of claim 1, The ultraviolet light emitting device is a refrigerator comprising a ultraviolet lamp. The method of claim 1, The photocatalyst filter, It is mounted in the storage room and titanium oxide (

A refrigerator comprising: a mesh (MESH) member to which a photocatalyst solution is applied. The method of claim 1, The photocatalyst filter, It is mounted in the storage room and titanium oxide (

The photocatalyst solution is applied, the refrigerator characterized in that the plate member is provided with a plurality of through-holes are formed. The method of claim 1, The irradiation device is a refrigerator, characterized in that provided with a light emitting diode (LED). The method of claim 1, And a selection device for selecting a color of the food stored in the storage room and switching the emission color of light irradiated by the irradiation device in response to the color of the selected food. The method of claim 1, The light irradiated by the irradiation device, A refrigerator characterized by the combination of light including red, green and white. The method of claim 4, wherein When the color of the food is a red series, the irradiating apparatus is characterized in that the irradiation of red light. The method of claim 4, wherein And the irradiator irradiates green light when the color of the food is green. The method of claim 9, The irradiating apparatus further comprises irradiating white light. A storage step of separating the food according to the color of the food and storing the food; Irradiating the food in the visible light region to the separated and stored food, and setting an emission color of light to be irradiated corresponding to the color of the stored food; And Titanium oxide provided in the stored food location (

And a photodeodorization step of performing photodeodorization by irradiating ultraviolet rays to the photocatalyst. The method of claim 11, The investigation step, A food storage method, comprising a combination of light including red, green and white. The method of claim 12, The investigation step, If the food color is a red-based food storage method characterized in that the red light irradiation. The method of claim 12, The investigation step, If the food color is a green-based food storage method characterized in that the irradiation of green light. The method of claim 14, The irradiation step is a food storage method, characterized in that further comprising a white light irradiation.

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