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Refrigerator

Abstract: To provide a refrigerator including: a heat-insulating main body; a storage compartment defined in the heat-insulating main body; and a mist spray apparatus that sprays a fine mist into the storage compartment. The fine mist generated by the mist spray apparatus has a nano-size particle diameter and reduces microorganisms adhering to the Inside of the storage compartment and to vegetable surfaces, the microorganisms including molds, bacteria, yeasts, and viruses.

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Notices, Deadlines & Correspondence

Patent Information

Application #
Filing Date
12 April 2010
Publication Number
38/2010
Publication Type
INA
Invention Field
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Status
Email
Parent Application
Patent Number
Legal Status
Grant Date
2018-10-31
Renewal Date

Applicants

PANASONIC CORPORATION
1006, OAZA KADOMA, KADOMA-SHI, OSAKA 571-8501

Inventors

1. TSUJIMOTO, KAHORU
C/O PANASONIC CORPORATION, 1006, OAZA KADOMA, KADOMA-SHI, OSAKA-571-8501
2. KAMISAKO, TOYOSHI
C/O PANASONIC CORPORATION, 1006, OAZA KADOMA, KADOMA-SHI, OSAKA-571-8501
3. UEDA, YOSHIHIRO
C/O PANASONIC CORPORATION, 1006, OAZA KADOMA, KADOMA-SHI, OSAKA-571-8501
4. ADACHI, TADASHI
C/O PANASONIC CORPORATION, 1006, OAZA KADOMA, KADOMA-SHI, OSAKA-571-8501
5. NAKANISHI, KAZUYA
C/O PANASONIC CORPORATION, 1006, OAZA KADOMA, KADOMA-SHI, OSAKA-571-8501

Specification

1. A refrigerator (700) comprising:
a heat-insulated storage compartment (710); a back partition wall (711) and a partition wall (723);
an atomization unit (739) included in a mist spray apparatus (731) that sprays a mist into said storage compartment (710) and that has an external case (737) being arranged in a depression (711a,723a) of the back partition wall (711) or the partition wall (723) of the refrigerator (700);
an atomization tip (735) included in said atomization unit (739), the mist being sprayed from said atomization tip (735);
a temperature detection unit (812) configured to detect the temperature of said atomization tip (735), and
a temperature adjustment unit (712,754) configured to adjust a temperature of said atomization tip (735);
characterized by a heat transfer connection member (734) fixed to the external case (737) of the atomization unit (739) and thermally connected with the atomization tip (735),
wherein said heat transfer connection member (734) has a projection (734a) which protrudes from the external case (737), wherein the projection (734a) is located opposite to the atomization tip (735) and is located into a deepest depression (711b) or a through part (711c) of the back partition wall (711) or into a deepest depression (723b) of the partition wall (723), and
wherein said temperature adjustment unit (712,754) is configured to indirectly adjust the temperature of said atomization tip (735) by cooling or heating said atomization tip (735) to a dew point or below, to cause water in air to form dew condensation at said atomization tip (735), and said atomization unit (739) is configured to generate the mist containing radicals, the generated mist adhering to vegetables and fruit stored in said storage compartment (710) to suppress low temperature damage.

2. The refrigerator (700) according to Claim 1,
wherein said heat-insulated storage compartment (710) is substantially sealed and has a mechanism of keeping a high humidity to prevent drying of the vegetables and fruit, and drying after the mist adheres to the vegetables and fruit is also prevented to suppress drying of the mist containing radicals, thereby suppressing the low temperature damage.
3. The refrigerator (700) according to Claim 1 or 2,
wherein the mist containing radicals adheres to skins of the vegetables and fruit, and the radicals penetrate from the skins and inhibit an enzyme reaction, thereby suppressing the low temperature damage.
4. The refrigerator (700) according to any of Claims 1 to 3,
wherein the mist containing radicals adheres to skins of the vegetables and fruit and the radicals penetrate from the skins, thereby suppressing leakage of potassium ions.
5. The refrigerator (700) according to any of Claims 1 to 4,
wherein the mist containing radicals sprayed into said storage compartment (710) decomposes ethylene gas.
6. The refrigerator (700) according to any of Claims 1 to 5,
wherein the mist generated by said mist spray apparatus (731) has a nano-size particle diameter and reduces microorganisms adhering to inside of said storage compartment (710) and to vegetable surfaces, the microorganisms including molds, bacteria, yeasts, and viruses.
7. The refrigerator (700) according to any of Claims 1 to 6, comprising:
a section in said storage compartment (710), said section being set in a different environment from an environment of said storage compartment (710).
8. The refrigerator (700) according to any of Claim 1 to 7,
wherein said temperature adjustment unit (712,754) configured to adjust the temperature of said atomization tip (735) includes a cooling unit (712) and a heating unit (754).

9. The refrigerator (700) according to Claim 8,
wherein said cooling unit (712) is a cooling source generated in a refrigeration cycle of said refrigerator (700), and said heating unit (754) is a heater.
10. The refrigerator (700) according to any of Claims 1 to 9,
wherein a main body of said refrigerator (700) includes a plurality of storage compartments (710) and a cooling compartment that houses a cooler for cooling said plurality of storage compartments (710), and said atomization unit (739) is attached on a cooling compartment side of said storage compartment (710).
11. The refrigerator (700) according to any of Claims 1 to 9,
wherein a main body of said refrigerator (700) includes a plurality of storage compartments (710),
a lower temperature storage compartment (710) kept at a lower temperature than said storage compartment (710) provided with said atomization unit (739) is situated on a bottom side of said storage compartment (710), and
said atomization unit (739) is attached to the bottom side of said storage compartment (710).
12. The refrigerator (700) according to any of Claims 1 to 11,
wherein a main body of said refrigerator (700) includes at least one air path (741) for conveying cool air to a storage compartment (710) or a cooling compartment, and
a cooling unit (712) uses cool air generated in said cooling compartment.
13. The refrigerator (700) according to any of Claims 1 to 12,
wherein an atomization unit (739) included in said mist spray apparatus (731) includes a counter electrode (736) positioned facing said atomization tip (735), and a voltage application unit (733) configured to generate a high-voltage potential difference between said atomization tip (735) and said counter electrode (736).

14. The refrigerator (700) according to Claim 13, comprising:
said storage compartment (710); and
a holding member installed in said storage compartment (710) and grounded to a reference potential part,
wherein said voltage application unit (733) is configured to generate the potential difference between said atomization tip (735) and said holding member.
15. A method of storage in a refrigerator (700),
wherein the refrigerator (700) includes: a heat-insulated storage compartment (710); a back partition wall (711) and a partition wall (723), an atomization unit (739) that is included in a mist spray apparatus (731) that sprays a mist into said compartment (710) and that has an external case (737) being arranged in a depression (711a,723a) of the back partition wall (711) or the partition wall (723) of the refrigerator (700);
an atomization tip (735) which is included in the atomization unit (739) and from which the mist is sprayed; a temperature detection unit (812) configured to detect the temperature of said atomization tip (735), and a temperature adjustment unit (712,754) configured to adjust a temperature of the atomization tip (735),
characterized by providing a heat transfer connection member (734) fixed to the external case (737) of the atomization unit (739) and thermally connected with the atomization tip (735),
wherein said heat transfer connection member (734) has a projection (734a) which protrudes from the external case (737), wherein the projection (734a) is located opposite to the atomization tip (735) and is located into a deepest depression (711b) or a through part (711c) of the back partition wall (711) or into a deepest depression (723b) of the partition wall (723),
said storage method comprises:
indirectly adjusting the temperature of the atomization tip (735) by cooling or heating said heat transfer connection member (734) to a dew point or below via the projection (734a), to cause water in air to form dew condensation at the atomization tip (735); and
generating the mist containing radicals by the atomization unit (739) and causing the mist to

16. The storage method according to Claim 15, comprising
keeping a high humidity to prevent drying of the vegetables and fruit and prevent drying after the mist containing radicals adheres to the vegetables and fruit to suppress drying of the mist, thereby suppressing the low temperature damage, said keeping being performed by a mechanism included in the heat-insulated storage compartment (710) which is substantially sealed.
17. The storage method according to Claim 15 or 16, comprising
inhibiting enzyme reaction by causing the mist containing radicals to adhere to skins of the vegetables and fruit and the radicals to penetrate from the skins, thereby suppressing the low temperature damage.
18. The storage method according to any of Claims 15 to 17, comprising
suppressing leakage of potassium ions by causing the mist containing radicals to
adhere to skins of the vegetables and fruit and the radicals to penetrate from the skins.
19. The storage method according to any of Claims 15 to 18, comprising
decomposing ethylene gas using the mist containing radicals sprayed into the
storage compartment (710).

Documents

Application Documents

# Name Date
1 2037-chenp-2010 form-5 12-04-2010.pdf 2010-04-12
1 2037-CHENP-2010-RELEVANT DOCUMENTS [13-08-2021(online)].pdf 2021-08-13
2 2037-chenp-2010 form-3 12-04-2010.pdf 2010-04-12
2 2037-CHENP-2010-RELEVANT DOCUMENTS [04-03-2020(online)].pdf 2020-03-04
3 2037-CHENP-2010-RELEVANT DOCUMENTS [26-02-2019(online)].pdf 2019-02-26
3 2037-chenp-2010 form-1 12-04-2010.pdf 2010-04-12
4 2037-CHENP-2010-IntimationOfGrant31-10-2018.pdf 2018-10-31
4 2037-chenp-2010 correspondence others 12-04-2010.pdf 2010-04-12
5 2037-CHENP-2010-PatentCertificate31-10-2018.pdf 2018-10-31
5 2037-chenp-2010 pct 12-04-2010.pdf 2010-04-12
6 Abstract_Granted 302695_31-10-2018.pdf 2018-10-31
6 2037-chenp-2010 form-2 12-04-2010.pdf 2010-04-12
7 Claims_Granted 302695_31-10-2018.pdf 2018-10-31
7 2037-chenp-2010 drawings 12-04-2010.pdf 2010-04-12
8 Description_Granted 302695_31-10-2018.pdf 2018-10-31
8 2037-chenp-2010 description(complete) 12-04-2010.pdf 2010-04-12
9 2037-chenp-2010 abstract 12-04-2010.pdf 2010-04-12
9 Drawings_Granted 302695_31-10-2018.pdf 2018-10-31
10 2037-chenp-2010 claims 12-04-2010.pdf 2010-04-12
10 Marked Up Claims_Granted 302695_31-10-2018.pdf 2018-10-31
11 2037-CHENP-2010 POWER OF ATTORNEY 27-09-2010.pdf 2010-09-27
11 Correspondence by Agent_Assignment_17-07-2018.pdf 2018-07-17
12 2037-chenp-2010 form 3 27-09-2010.pdf 2010-09-27
12 2037-CHENP-2010-ABSTRACT [12-07-2018(online)].pdf 2018-07-12
13 2037-CHENP-2010 FORM-18 26-09-2011.pdf 2011-09-26
13 2037-CHENP-2010-Amendment Of Application Before Grant - Form 13 [12-07-2018(online)].pdf 2018-07-12
14 2037-CHENP-2010 FORM-13 26-09-2011.pdf 2011-09-26
14 2037-CHENP-2010-CLAIMS [12-07-2018(online)].pdf 2018-07-12
15 2037-CHENP-2010 AMENDED CLAIMS 26-09-2011.pdf 2011-09-26
15 2037-CHENP-2010-COMPLETE SPECIFICATION [12-07-2018(online)].pdf 2018-07-12
16 2037-CHENP-2010 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 26-09-2011.pdf 2011-09-26
16 2037-CHENP-2010-DRAWING [12-07-2018(online)].pdf 2018-07-12
17 2037-CHENP-2010-Form-13-260911.pdf 2016-10-24
17 2037-CHENP-2010-FER_SER_REPLY [12-07-2018(online)].pdf 2018-07-12
18 2037-CHENP-2010-FER.pdf 2018-02-12
18 2037-CHENP-2010-FORM 3 [12-07-2018(online)].pdf 2018-07-12
19 2037-CHENP-2010-MARKED COPIES OF AMENDEMENTS [12-07-2018(online)].pdf 2018-07-12
19 2037-CHENP-2010-Proof of Right (MANDATORY) [12-07-2018(online)].pdf 2018-07-12
20 2037-CHENP-2010-OTHERS [12-07-2018(online)].pdf 2018-07-12
20 2037-CHENP-2010-PETITION UNDER RULE 137 [12-07-2018(online)].pdf 2018-07-12
21 2037-CHENP-2010-OTHERS [12-07-2018(online)].pdf 2018-07-12
21 2037-CHENP-2010-PETITION UNDER RULE 137 [12-07-2018(online)].pdf 2018-07-12
22 2037-CHENP-2010-MARKED COPIES OF AMENDEMENTS [12-07-2018(online)].pdf 2018-07-12
22 2037-CHENP-2010-Proof of Right (MANDATORY) [12-07-2018(online)].pdf 2018-07-12
23 2037-CHENP-2010-FER.pdf 2018-02-12
23 2037-CHENP-2010-FORM 3 [12-07-2018(online)].pdf 2018-07-12
24 2037-CHENP-2010-Form-13-260911.pdf 2016-10-24
24 2037-CHENP-2010-FER_SER_REPLY [12-07-2018(online)].pdf 2018-07-12
25 2037-CHENP-2010 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 26-09-2011.pdf 2011-09-26
25 2037-CHENP-2010-DRAWING [12-07-2018(online)].pdf 2018-07-12
26 2037-CHENP-2010 AMENDED CLAIMS 26-09-2011.pdf 2011-09-26
26 2037-CHENP-2010-COMPLETE SPECIFICATION [12-07-2018(online)].pdf 2018-07-12
27 2037-CHENP-2010 FORM-13 26-09-2011.pdf 2011-09-26
27 2037-CHENP-2010-CLAIMS [12-07-2018(online)].pdf 2018-07-12
28 2037-CHENP-2010 FORM-18 26-09-2011.pdf 2011-09-26
28 2037-CHENP-2010-Amendment Of Application Before Grant - Form 13 [12-07-2018(online)].pdf 2018-07-12
29 2037-chenp-2010 form 3 27-09-2010.pdf 2010-09-27
29 2037-CHENP-2010-ABSTRACT [12-07-2018(online)].pdf 2018-07-12
30 2037-CHENP-2010 POWER OF ATTORNEY 27-09-2010.pdf 2010-09-27
30 Correspondence by Agent_Assignment_17-07-2018.pdf 2018-07-17
31 2037-chenp-2010 claims 12-04-2010.pdf 2010-04-12
31 Marked Up Claims_Granted 302695_31-10-2018.pdf 2018-10-31
32 2037-chenp-2010 abstract 12-04-2010.pdf 2010-04-12
32 Drawings_Granted 302695_31-10-2018.pdf 2018-10-31
33 2037-chenp-2010 description(complete) 12-04-2010.pdf 2010-04-12
33 Description_Granted 302695_31-10-2018.pdf 2018-10-31
34 2037-chenp-2010 drawings 12-04-2010.pdf 2010-04-12
34 Claims_Granted 302695_31-10-2018.pdf 2018-10-31
35 2037-chenp-2010 form-2 12-04-2010.pdf 2010-04-12
35 Abstract_Granted 302695_31-10-2018.pdf 2018-10-31
36 2037-chenp-2010 pct 12-04-2010.pdf 2010-04-12
36 2037-CHENP-2010-PatentCertificate31-10-2018.pdf 2018-10-31
37 2037-CHENP-2010-IntimationOfGrant31-10-2018.pdf 2018-10-31
37 2037-chenp-2010 correspondence others 12-04-2010.pdf 2010-04-12
38 2037-CHENP-2010-RELEVANT DOCUMENTS [26-02-2019(online)].pdf 2019-02-26
38 2037-chenp-2010 form-1 12-04-2010.pdf 2010-04-12
39 2037-CHENP-2010-RELEVANT DOCUMENTS [04-03-2020(online)].pdf 2020-03-04
39 2037-chenp-2010 form-3 12-04-2010.pdf 2010-04-12
40 2037-CHENP-2010-RELEVANT DOCUMENTS [13-08-2021(online)].pdf 2021-08-13
40 2037-chenp-2010 form-5 12-04-2010.pdf 2010-04-12

Search Strategy

1 2037CHENP2010_22-06-2017.pdf

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