KR20100065499A - A conservation method of food for refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method of storing food in a refrigerator is provided to change the temperature condition of a storage space by detecting the concentration of Volatile Basic Nitrogen produced in the decomposition process of food. CONSTITUTION: A method of storing food in a refrigerator comprises the following steps. The concentration of volatile basic nitrogen of the stored food is checked. The storage temperature condition of the stored food is controlled depending on the concentration of the detected volatile basic nitrogen. The concentration of the volatile basic nitrogen produced from the food is classified into 2 or more steps. The concentration of the volatile basic nitrogen is classified into a first state of requiring over-cooling storage of the food and a second state of requiring the freezing storage of the food. In the first state, the over-cooling function of the over-cooling device for over-cooling the food is operated and after the second state, the over-cooling function of the over-cooling device stops.

Description

A conservation method of food for refrigerator

The present invention relates to a food storage method of a refrigerator to keep food fresh.

Food in general storage condition is exposed to the temperature of about 20 ~ 40 ℃, which is a good condition for breeding bacteria, and proper humidity, so that bacteria grow actively. In this case, protein is decomposed by microorganisms that cause decay. You can get lost.

The refrigerator is a home appliance that has a storage space shielded by a door to store food at low temperature. The refrigerator cools the air by using a circulation cycle of the refrigerant and causes the cooled air to circulate inside the storage space, thereby storing the food. Ensure that they are kept in optimal condition.

However, when the food is stored in the freezer, the food stored may freeze at sub-zero temperatures, thereby changing the quality of the food. In other words, when the water contained in the food is frozen, the volume increases, which destroys the nucleus or tissue of the food, thereby changing its shape or color before storage.

In addition, when the food is stored in the refrigerating chamber, the food is relatively frozen and can be kept fresh. However, if the food is stored for a long time in the refrigerating chamber there is a risk of food corruption.

Therefore, there is a need for a method that can be stored in a fresh state for a long time without food corruption.

The present invention provides a food storage method of the refrigerator for storing food stored in the refrigerator to maintain a fresh state for a long time.

The present invention detects the concentration of volatile basic nitrogen (VBN: Volatile Basic Nitrogen) generated during the decay of food in the storage compartment provided in the refrigerator to provide a food storage method of the refrigerator controlled to change the temperature conditions inside the storage compartment. will be.

The present invention includes a sensing step of confirming the concentration of volatile basic nitrogen (VBN: Volatile Basic Nitrogen) of the stored food and a temperature-controlled storage step of adjusting the storage temperature conditions of the food being stored according to the detected concentration of volatile basic nitrogen. It is characterized by.

In another aspect, the present invention is a detection step of confirming the volatile basic nitrogen (VBN: Volatile Basic Nitrogen) concentration of the stored food, and a step of notifying the storage state of the food corresponding to the detected volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) concentration range to the outside And a temperature controlled storage step of controlling storage temperature conditions of the food being stored according to the detected concentration of volatile basic nitrogen or the storage state of the food shown to the outside.

The present invention detects the volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) concentration generated in the food to inform the storage state of the food to the outside, and set the temperature conditions for the storage environment of the food by setting the steps according to the volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) concentration Controlled to adjust.

In addition, the food is stored in the temperature condition is controlled so that it can be stored in the subcooled and frozen state, the food is no longer stored can be discarded so that the user can not eat.

Therefore, the user can keep the food fresh for a long time without freezing, and the fresh food is automatically frozen and stored for a longer time.

In addition, there is an advantage in that the user can check the corruption state of the food through a message that is notified to the outside and do not eat, thereby preventing the possibility of disease caused by eating of the corrupted food.

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings will be described a specific embodiment of the present invention. However, the spirit of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments presented, and those skilled in the art who understand the spirit of the present invention can easily suggest other embodiments within the scope of the same idea.

1 is a view showing a refrigerator to which the present invention is applied.

Prior to the description, in the present invention, the refrigerator compartment 100 is provided on the left side for convenience, and the refrigerator 1 of the side by side type having the freezer compartment 200 on the right side will be described. It is also applicable to both Top Mount Type and Bottom Freezer Type.

In the refrigerator 1, the freezer compartment 200 generally stores food by maintaining the temperature condition below zero, and the refrigerating chamber 100 stores the food by maintaining the temperature conditions of a relatively high image.

In addition, the refrigerator 1 has an external appearance formed by a main body, and a predetermined space is provided inside the main body to generate and supply a refrigerant cycle device.

In detail, the refrigerator 1 generally maintains the inside of the refrigerator at a low temperature by using a refrigerant cycle device housed in a machine room (not shown) formed at the lower part of the main body, and maintains the freshness of foods stored therein.

Cool air generated by the refrigerant cycle device may be supplied to the storage chamber 300 to be described below.

Meanwhile, the refrigerating chamber 100 and the freezing chamber 200 are selectively shielded by the refrigerating chamber door 120 and the freezing chamber door 220 which are rotatably mounted on the main body, respectively, and the user has food in the freezing chamber door 220. It is provided with a storage room 300 that can be stored separately.

The storage chamber 300 is preferably formed to be sealed from another area inside the freezing chamber 200 so that the storage chamber 300 may not be influenced when the interior of the storage chamber 300 is cooled or overheated separately. In one embodiment of the invention is provided on the inner wall of the freezing chamber door 220 as shown in FIG. However, the storage chamber 300 may be provided inside the freezing chamber 200.

In addition, the storage chamber 300 provided as described above may be formed to have a container having an upper side opened and a lid for shielding it so as to easily accommodate food, and a sealing member having elasticity between the lid and the container for sealing performance. It may be further provided.

Meanwhile, one side of the refrigerating chamber door 120 or the freezing chamber door 220 may further include a display 600 for notifying the control situation of the refrigerator 1 to the outside. In the embodiment of the present invention, the display 600 may be provided. Is formed in the freezer door 220.

The display 600 may express a variety of messages according to the operation state of the refrigerator 1 in a pattern or a text, and the like, and the volatile base inside the storage room 300 detected by the volatile basic nitrogen detection sensor described in detail below. Nitrogen (VBN) concentration is detected and a message corresponding to the detected concentration is shown to the outside.

2 shows a system block diagram for the present invention.

In the food storage method of the refrigerator according to the present invention, a system configuration therefor is used to measure the concentration of volatile nitrogen chloride (VBN) in the supercooling device 400 and the supercooling device 400 to selectively supercool the inside of the storage compartment 300. Base nitrogen detection sensor 500 is included.

In general, decay is a complex biochemical process that is not well known for reaction mechanisms or the production of products.However, decay is an important process for converting complex organic nitrogen compounds to simpler organic and inorganic nitrogen compounds. Since the content of volatile basic nitrogen (VBN: Volatile Basic Nitrogen) increases, the volatile basic nitrogen detection sensor 500 can determine the freshness of the food by measuring this.

The supercooling device 400 is a temperature sensor 440 for measuring the temperature of the inside of the storage chamber 300, and the sensor value detected by the volatile basic nitrogen detection sensor 500 and the temperature sensor 440. The controller 420 is configured to include a control unit 420 that receives an input and transmits a control command, and a cold air supply unit 460 and a heating unit 480 operated by the control unit 420.

More specifically, the cold air supply means 460 to supply the cold air into the storage chamber 300, and guides the cold air generated by the above-described refrigerant cycle device into the storage chamber 300.

That is, the cold air supply means 460 is configured to include a duct forming a flow path of cold air, a fan that can suck or discharge cold air through the duct, and a damper for adjusting the suction or discharge of cold air.

In addition, the heating means 480 is configured to control the storage temperature of the food by heating the inside of the storage chamber 300 to increase the internal temperature of the storage chamber 300, and comprises a heater and a fan.

As described above, the controller 420 may receive a result detected from the temperature sensor 440 and the volatile basic nitrogen detection sensor 500.

In addition, the temperature inside the storage chamber 300 may be controlled by controlling the cold air supply unit 460 and the heating unit 480 using the input sensing result. That is, the controller 420 may selectively operate the cold air supply means 460 and the heating means 480 to vary the internal temperature of the storage chamber 300.

Hereinafter, a method of storing food provided in the storage room 300 will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 is a flow chart showing a food storage method of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

As shown, the food storage method of the refrigerator according to the present invention first, by opening the lid of the storage compartment 300 provided on the inner wall of the freezer compartment 220 to accommodate food in the container and shield the lid to keep food Seal the interior space.

Then, using the subcooling device 400 to supercool the food stored as described above.

That is, the control unit 420 starts to cool the inside of the storage chamber 300 by operating the cold air supply means 460. At this time, the moisture contained in the food does not immediately freeze with ice, for a predetermined period of time. Maintain supercooled state.

And, if such a supercooled state is not continuously maintained and the supply of cold air continues, the moisture contained in the food begins to freeze first, and the inside of the storage room 300 changes the phase while the water contained in the food is frozen. The temperature rises by a predetermined range due to the energy discharged for harm.

On the other hand, the inside of the control unit 420 defines the temperature at which the moisture contained in the food begins to freeze as described above as a supercooled release temperature and is stored as a preset value.

The set value stored as described above is compared with the temperature value when the temperature inside the storage room 300 rises by a predetermined range by the temperature sensor 440 from the time when the inside of the storage room 300 starts to cool down.

When the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 440 is compared with the temperature set in the controller 420, the result is that the supercooling is terminated and the food does not reach the temperature at which the food starts to freeze. The cold air supply is continuously maintained through the cold air supply means 460, and when the temperature exceeds the set temperature, it is determined that the supercooled release temperature at which the food freezes is operated to defrost the food by operating the heating means 480.

The thawing process is continued until the thawing of the food is completely completed, and whether the thawing of the food is completed can be determined by measuring whether the temperature of the food reaches 3 to 4 degrees, and for this purpose, the temperature sensor 440 should be provided in contact with or in close proximity to the food.

When the thawing is completed, the cold air supply means 460 is operated again, and the food is cooled again to the supercooled release temperature, and when the supercooled release temperature is reached, the heating means 480 is operated again to alternately perform the release process. The supercooled state is stored.

In addition, when the period of supercooling and storing food is increased as described above, microorganisms are propagated in the food and the concentration of volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) is generated in the storage chamber 300 by the production of ammonia due to the deamino acid reaction. Will increase.

Therefore, the concentration of volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) thus increased may be detected by the volatile basic nitrogen detection sensor 500, and the detected result may be input to the controller 420.

 On the other hand, the control unit 420 is divided into a plurality of steps to send a control command to the supercooling device 400 according to the change range of the concentration value of the volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) input as described above The range value of the (VBN) concentration is set.

The range of the volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) concentration set as described above may be variously classified according to the type of food stored, but the first state in which the food is generally stored, and the second state in which the food is initially decayed. And the third state in which the food is completely decayed.

The concentration value of volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) generated in the storage chamber 300 is compared with the set range value in a state in which concentration range values of volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) separated as described above are set in the controller 420. do.

When the concentration of the volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) is less than the first state, the first message indicating that the food storage state is a general supercooled storage state or the food is decaying on the display 600 (620 degrees). 4).

In addition, in such a state as the operation of the subcooling device 400 is maintained to keep the plant in a supercooled state.

On the other hand, when the concentration value of the compared volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) exceeds the first state, it is compared with the second state.

When the concentration of volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) compared to the second state is less than the second state, the operation of the supercooling device 400 is maintained together with the first message 620 as in the first state. do.

In contrast, when the concentration value of the volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) exceeds the second state, the supercooling operation of the subcooling device 400 is stopped and only cold air is continuously supplied. That is, even when the heating means 480 of the subcooling device 400 exceeds the subcooling termination temperature, the food is continuously cooled to freeze the food.

In addition, while the food is frozen as described above, the display 600 shows a second message (see FIG. 4) indicating that the food is being frozen.

Meanwhile, when the frozen food is stored for a long time as described above, the concentration of volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) generated in the food increases as the microorganism propagates again.

Thus, the increased concentration of volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) is detected by the volatile basic nitrogen sensor (500).

When the concentration value of the detected volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) is less than the third state, the second message 640 is continuously shown through the display 600 while maintaining the frozen state of the food.

On the contrary, when the concentration value of volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) exceeds the set third state, the operation of the cold air supply unit 460 of the subcooling device 400 is stopped and the food is decayed through the display 600. A third message 660 is shown notifying that it will be discarded.

Hereinafter will be described an embodiment of a food storage method of the refrigerator according to the present invention having the above steps.

Figure 4 is a view showing an embodiment implemented according to the food storage method of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

In the present embodiment, the meat is stored in the storage room 300.

When the meat is accommodated in the storage chamber 300 and the freezing chamber door 220 is shielded, the meat is stored while maintaining the supercooled state through the supercooling device 400.

That is, the cold air supply means 460 and the heating means 480 are alternately controlled by the controller 420 to alternately perform cooling and thawing to store meat in a supercooled state.

In addition, the supercooled storage state of the meat is maintained for a certain period of time, the microorganisms start to breed in the stored meat, the concentration of volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) occurs.

When the concentration value of the volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) generated as described above is detected by the volatile basic nitrogen detection sensor and the detected value is in the range of 10 mg%, the result detected by the controller 420 is input, and the controller In 420, the control command is transmitted to the display 600 to transmit the first message 620 indicating that the supercooled storage state or the food is corrupt.

Subsequently, when the supercooled state of the meat is maintained and the concentration value of the volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) reaches 15 mg%, the volatile basic nitrogen detection sensor 500 detects it and delivers it to the controller 420. do. In addition, the control unit 420 stops the subcooling function of the subcooling device 400 and continuously supplies cold air into the storage chamber 300 to freeze the meat.

In this case, the display 600 is shown a second message 640 indicating the frozen state of the meat.

On the other hand, when the breeding of microorganisms in the meat stored in the frozen as described above further increases the concentration value of volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) to 20mg%, the volatile basic nitrogen detection sensor 500 detects this and the control unit 420 To pass).

In addition, the control unit 420 stops the operation of the supercooling device 400 to block the cold air supplied into the storage room 300, and the meat stored in the display 600 is decayed so that the user can check the corruption. The third message 660 is provided to guide the disposal.

Therefore, the user can confirm the message as described above to discard the meat in storage, thereby preventing the eating of corrupt meat.

1 is a view showing a refrigerator to which the present invention is applied.

2 is a system block diagram for the present invention.

Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating a food storage method of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

Figure 4 is a view showing an embodiment implemented according to the food storage method of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

100 ..... Refrigerator 120 ..... Refrigerator Door

200 ..... Freezer 220 ..... Freezer Door

300 ..... Storage 400 ..... Supercooling System

420 ..... Control unit 440 ..... Temperature sensor

460 ..... means for supplying cold 480 ..... means for heating

500 ..... VOC sensor 600 ..... display

620 ..... First Message 640 ..... Second Message

660 ..... The Third Message

Claims (12)

Detecting to check the volatile basic nitrogen (VBN: Volatile Basic Nitrogen) concentration of the stored food; And A food storage method of a refrigerator comprising a; temperature control storage step of adjusting the storage temperature conditions of the food being stored according to the detected concentration of volatile basic nitrogen. The method of claim 1, wherein in the sensing step, Food storage method of the refrigerator to divide the volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) concentration generated in the food in two or more stages. The method of claim 2, wherein in the sensing step, A first state requiring supercooling of food, A food storage method of a refrigerator classified into a second state requiring freezing storage of food. The method of claim 2, wherein in the sensing step, A first state requiring supercooling of food, A second condition requiring freezing of food and A food storage method of a refrigerator classified into a third state requiring the disposal of food. The method of claim 3 or 4, wherein the temperature control storage step, In the case of the first state, the subcooling function of the subcooling device for cooling the food is operated, and after the second state the operation of the subcooling function of the subcooling device food storage method of the refrigerator. The method of claim 5, wherein in the temperature control storage step, A cooling process of cooling food through cold air supply means constituting the supercooling device; Confirming the storage temperature of the food through a temperature sensor provided inside the food storage chamber; The food storage method of the refrigerator comprising the step of storing the food in a supercooled state by checking the supercooling termination temperature set in the control unit of the supercooling device. According to claim 6, In the temperature control storage step, And a step of raising the storage temperature of the food using the heating means constituting the subcooling device as necessary after the cold air supply of the cold air supply means is stopped. Detecting to check the volatile basic nitrogen (VBN: Volatile Basic Nitrogen) concentration of the stored food; Informing the outside of the storage state of the food corresponding to the detected volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) concentration; and Food control method of a refrigerator comprising a; temperature control storage step of adjusting the storage temperature conditions of the food being stored in accordance with the detected concentration range of the volatile basic nitrogen or the storage state of the food shown to the outside. The method of claim 8, The storage state of the food notified to the outside is notified in the first message notified in the first state range in which the concentration of the volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) is set, in the second message notified in the set second state range and in the set third state or more. Food storage method of the refrigerator comprising a third message. The method of claim 8, wherein in the temperature control storage step, The food storage method of the refrigerator for storing the food in storage in a super-cooled state until the second message is notified. The method of claim 8, wherein in the temperature control storage step, Food storage method of the refrigerator for freezing the food stored in the second message when the notification. The method of claim 8, wherein in the temperature control storage step, When the third message is notified, the food storage method of the refrigerator to stop the creation of food storage environment and induce disposal of food to the user.

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