CN113382642A

CN113382642A - Storage cabinet and electrostatic field forming device

Info

Publication number: CN113382642A
Application number: CN202080012513.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 大野正树; 大平刚
Original assignee: Mars Inc
Current assignee: Mars Inc
Priority date: 2019-03-27
Filing date: 2020-03-11
Publication date: 2021-09-10
Also published as: JP7244831B2; JP2020159631A; WO2020195849A1

Abstract

A storage cabinet is capable of effectively applying an electrostatic field to an object in the cabinet. The storage cabinet (1) is provided with an electrostatic field forming device (2) which forms an electrostatic field in a storage chamber (10) capable of storing objects. The electrostatic field forming device (2) comprises: 1 st electrodes (20A, 20B) disposed in the housing chamber (10); 2 nd electrodes (20C, 20D) disposed in the housing chamber (10) separately from the 1 st electrodes (20A, 20B); and a voltage application unit (29) that applies an alternating voltage of opposite phases to the 1 st electrode (20A, 20B) and the 2 nd electrode (20C, 20D). The amplitude of the alternating voltage is preferably 0.1kV to 20 kV.

Description

Storage cabinet and electrostatic field forming device

Technical Field

The invention relates to a storage cabinet and an electrostatic field forming device.

Background

For example, as described in patent document 1, by forming an electrostatic field in a refrigerator and storing fresh food in the atmosphere, the freshness of the fresh food can be maintained for a longer period of time than in the case where the electrostatic field is not formed.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: international publication No. 98/41115

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

However, in patent document 1, an electrode for forming an electrostatic field is disposed in the refrigerator, and a housing of the refrigerator is grounded. Therefore, an electrostatic field is formed between the electrodes and the casing, and the electrostatic field may not be sufficiently applied to the fresh food in the cabinet due to the arrangement of the electrodes.

The invention aims to provide a storage cabinet and an electrostatic field forming device which can effectively act an electrostatic field on an object in the cabinet.

Means for solving the problems

The object is achieved by the following means.

(1) A storage cabinet is characterized by comprising an electrostatic field forming device for forming an electrostatic field in a storage chamber capable of storing an object,

the electrostatic field forming device comprises:

a 1 st electrode disposed in the housing chamber;

a 2 nd electrode disposed in the housing chamber so as to be separated from the 1 st electrode; and

and a voltage applying unit for applying an alternating voltage having an opposite phase to the 1 st electrode and the 2 nd electrode.

(2) The storage cabinet according to the above (1), wherein the amplitude of the alternating voltage is 0.1kV to 20 kV.

(3) The storage case according to the above (1) or (2), wherein the 1 st electrode and the 2 nd electrode each have an electrode body insulated from an inner wall of the storage chamber,

the electrode main body is rod-shaped.

(4) The storage case according to the above (3), wherein the 1 st electrode and the 2 nd electrode each have an insulator between the electrode main body and the housing chamber.

(5) The storage case according to any one of the above (1) to (4), wherein the 1 st electrode is disposed at a central portion of the storage chamber,

the 2 nd electrode is disposed at both ends of the housing chamber so as to sandwich the 1 st electrode.

(6) The storage cabinet according to any one of the above (1) to (5), comprising a cooling device for cooling the storage chamber.

(7) An electrostatic field forming apparatus for forming an electrostatic field in a storage chamber capable of storing an object, comprising:

a 1 st electrode disposed in the housing chamber;

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, since the opposite-phase alternating voltages are applied to the 1 st electrode and the 2 nd electrode, the potential difference between the 1 st electrode and the 2 nd electrode increases, and an electrostatic field can be more reliably formed therebetween, that is, in the storage chamber. Therefore, an electrostatic field can be effectively applied to the object in the cabinet.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a storage cabinet according to a preferred embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the storage cabinet of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the storage case of fig. 1 as viewed from the side.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing electrodes disposed in the storage case of fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing a modification of the storage cabinet of fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an alternating voltage applied to the electrodes.

Detailed Description

The storage cabinet 1 shown in fig. 1 is used as a refrigerator for performing refrigerated storage of food items to be preserved. However, the storage cabinet 1 is not limited thereto, and may also be used as a room temperature cabinet, a heating cabinet, a freezer cabinet, or the like, for example. The food is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include marine products such as fish, shrimp, crab, squid, octopus, and shellfish, and processed foods thereof; fruits such as strawberry, apple, banana, orange, grape, pear, etc. and processed food thereof; cabbage, lettuce, cucumber, tomato and other vegetables and their processed food; fresh food of meat such as beef, pork, chicken, horse meat, etc.; milk, cheese, yogurt, and other various dairy products; cereals such as wheat flour, rice flour, buckwheat flour, etc., and flour made from these cereals. The object stored in the storage cabinet 1 is not limited to food, and may be, for example, a product other than food such as a flower, a medicine, and an organ.

The storage 1 may be a fixed storage disposed in a home, a store, a warehouse, or the like, a mobile storage provided in a truck cargo box, or a container-type storage mounted on a truck, a ship, an airplane, or the like.

The storage cabinet 1 has: the food container comprises a main body 11 and an electrostatic field forming device 2, wherein the main body 11 is internally provided with a containing chamber 10 for containing food, and the electrostatic field forming device 2 forms an electrostatic field in the containing chamber 10.

As shown in fig. 2, the main body 11 includes, for example: an outer wall 111, an inner wall 112, and an insulating material 113 disposed between the outer wall 111 and the inner wall 112. In addition, an opening connected to the housing chamber 10 is formed in the front surface of the main body 11. In addition, the storage cabinet 1 has a pair of doors 12 closing the opening of the main body 11. The pair of doors 12 are of a split type and are connected to the main body 11 so as to be openable and closable. Food can be taken out of and put into the storage chamber 10 by opening the door 12, and the food in the storage chamber 10 can be cooled by closing the door 12 to enclose the cool air in the storage chamber 10. These main body 11 and door 12 are grounded (0V).

The structure of the main body 11 and the door 12 is not particularly limited as long as the functions can be exerted. For example, in the present embodiment, the main body 11 has one accommodation chamber 10, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the main body 11 may have a plurality of accommodation chambers 10. In the present embodiment, the opening is formed in the front surface of the body 11, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and for example, an opening may be formed in the upper surface or the side surface of the body 11. In the present embodiment, a pair of doors 12 is provided, but the number of doors 12 is not limited to this, and for example, one door or three or more doors may be provided.

As shown in fig. 2, the storage cabinet 1 includes a plurality of storage shelves 13 disposed in the storage chamber 10. The plurality of storage racks 13 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction, and food can be placed on each storage rack 13.

As shown in fig. 2, the electrostatic field forming device 2 includes: a plurality of electrodes 20 disposed in the housing chamber 10, and a voltage applying unit 29 for applying an alternating voltage to the plurality of electrodes 20. The plurality of electrodes 20 includes two 1

st electrodes

20A and 20B electrically connected to each other and two 2

nd electrodes

20C and 20D electrically connected to each other. Then, an alternating voltage is applied between the 1

st electrodes

20A, 20B and the 2

nd electrodes

20C, 20D by the voltage applying section 29, thereby forming an electrostatic field therebetween. Such an electrostatic field forming device 2 can be easily provided in any storage cabinet 1. In particular, subsequent mounting is possible. Therefore, whatever the storage cabinet, it can be improved to a storage cabinet having an electrostatic field forming function. Therefore, the electrostatic field forming device 2 has excellent convenience and versatility.

The 1

st electrodes

20A and 20B are arranged in parallel on the front surface side and the back surface side at the center in the vertical direction of the housing chamber 10. The 2 nd electrode 20C on one side is disposed in the lower depth direction center portion of the housing chamber 10, and the 2 nd electrode 20D on the other side is disposed in the upper depth direction center portion of the housing chamber 10. That is, the 2

nd electrodes

20C and 20D are disposed at both ends in the vertical direction of the housing chamber 10 so as to sandwich the 1

st electrodes

20A and 20B. As shown in fig. 3, when the housing chamber 10 is viewed from the side, the 1

st electrodes

20A and 20B and the 2

nd electrodes

20C and 20D are arranged so as to be positioned at the corners of the diamond. With this arrangement, the 1

st electrodes

20A and 20B and the 2

nd electrodes

20C and 20D can be disposed in the housing chamber 10 as far as possible, and an electrostatic field can be formed in a wider range in the housing chamber 10.

The electrodes 20 (1

st electrodes

20A, 20B and 2

nd electrodes

20C, 20D) have the same structure. As shown in fig. 4, each electrode 20 has: a rod-shaped electrode main body 21 electrically connected to the voltage applying unit 29, and a pair of support units 22 for supporting the electrode main body 21 at both ends thereof. Each support portion 22 includes: an insulator 23 attached to the inner wall 112, and a connecting portion 24 attached to the insulator 23 and connected to the electrode main body 21. By forming the electrode main body 21 in a rod shape, the electrode 20 can be downsized. Therefore, the reduction of the housing space of the housing chamber 10 due to the arrangement of the electrodes 20 can be suppressed.

Each insulator 23 has a function of insulating the electrode main body 21 from the inner wall 112, and is formed of an insulator, for example. Each insulator 23 is fixed to the inner wall 112 by various fixing mechanisms such as an adhesive and a bolt lock. Each connecting portion 24 is a semi-cylindrical member extending coaxially with the electrode body 21, and an end portion of the electrode body 21 is inserted therein. The electrode body 21 is slidable with respect to the connecting portion 24, and the entire length of the electrode 20 can be adjusted by sliding the electrode body. Therefore, the electrode 20 can be adapted to various storage chambers 10 having different sizes, and the versatility of the electrode 20 can be improved.

Each connection portion 24 may be insulating or conductive, but is preferably conductive. In this case, the connection portion 24 is in contact with the electrode main body 21 and electrically connected to the electrode main body 21, whereby the connection portion 24 and the electrode main body 21 function as an electrode together, and the area of the portion functioning as an electrode can be secured more largely. Therefore, the electrostatic field can be effectively applied to a wider range in the housing chamber 10.

The structure of the electrode 20 is not particularly limited as long as it can function. For example, the connection portion 24 may be omitted and the electrode body 21 and the insulator 23 may be directly connected. The connecting portion 24 may have a cylindrical shape, and the electrode body 21 may be inserted therein. For example, when the surface of the electrode body 21 is covered with an insulating layer, the insulator 23 and the connecting portion 24 may be omitted, and the electrode body 21 may be directly attached to the inner wall 112.

The shape of the electrode body 21 is not particularly limited, and may be not a rod, and may be, for example, a plate, a mesh, or a block. In this case, the electrode 20 can be used as the storage rack 13. That is, it is also possible to replace several storage shelves 13 with the electrodes 20. For example, the electrode body 21 may be configured to be expandable and contractible, having an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder inserted into the outer cylinder. With this configuration, the entire length of the electrode 20 can be adjusted, and the electrode 20 can be accommodated in various storage chambers 10 having different sizes, thereby further improving the versatility of the electrode 20.

In addition, the electrode 20 may have at least one 1 st electrode and at least one 2 nd electrode. Therefore, for example, one of the 1

st electrodes

20A and 20B may be omitted, or one or more 1 st electrodes may be added. Similarly, one of the 2

nd electrodes

20C and 20D may be omitted, or one or more 2 nd electrodes may be further added. In the illustrated configuration, the 1 st and 2 nd electrodes 20A to 20D have the same configuration as each other, but at least one of the electrodes may have a different configuration from the other electrodes. The arrangement of the 1

st electrodes

20A, 20B and the 2

nd electrodes

20C, 20D is not particularly limited, and for example, two 1

st electrodes

20A, 20B may be arranged below the housing chamber 10 in the depth direction, and two 2

nd electrodes

20C, 20D may be arranged above the housing chamber 10 in the depth direction. As shown in fig. 5, the 1

st electrodes

20A and 20B and the 2

nd electrodes

20C and 20D may be arranged to stand vertically. In the case where the 1

st electrodes

20A, 20B and the 2

nd electrodes

20C, 20D are arranged upright in this manner, they may be bonded to the inner wall 112 with a magnet, for example.

In addition, as shown in fig. 1, the storage cabinet 1 has a machine room 19 located above the main body 11. The machine chamber 19 is provided with a cooling device 16 for cooling the housing chamber 10 and a voltage application unit 29 for applying an alternating voltage to the 1 st and 2 nd electrodes 20A to 20D. A touch panel type display screen 191 is provided on the front surface of the machine room 19, and various settings can be made from the display screen 191. The arrangement of the machine chamber 19 is not particularly limited, and may be provided below the main body 11 or behind the main body 11. The cooling device 16 and the voltage applying unit 29 may be provided at different positions from the machine room 19.

The cooling device 16 includes a compressor 161, a condenser 162, and the like, and cools the storage chamber 10 by supplying cool air into the storage cabinet 1. The temperature in the storage chamber 10 is not particularly limited, but is preferably, for example, about 0 ℃ to 10 ℃.

The voltage applying unit 29 has a high-voltage transformer, and applies an alternating voltage to the electrode 20. Specifically, as shown in fig. 6, the voltage application unit 29 applies a 1 st alternating voltage Vac1 to the 1

st electrodes

20A and 20B, and applies a 2 nd alternating voltage Vac2 having an opposite phase to the 1 st alternating voltage Vac1 to the 2

nd electrodes

20C and 20D. Thereby, a potential difference is generated between the 1

st electrodes

20A, 20B and the 2

nd electrodes

20C, 20D, and an electrostatic field is formed between them, that is, in the housing chamber 10. By forming the electrostatic field, the freshness of the food stored in the storage chamber 10 can be maintained and the ripening of the food can be promoted. Therefore, the food can be preserved for a longer period of time than in the case where the electrostatic field is not formed, and the degree of deliciousness of the food can be increased.

When the 1 st alternating voltage Vac1 and the 2 nd alternating voltage Vac2 are made to be opposite in phase, even if the phases are shifted by 180 °, the potential difference Δ V1 between the 1

st electrodes

20A and 20B and the 2

nd electrodes

20C and 20D becomes larger than the potential difference Δ V2 between the 1

st electrodes

20A and 20B and the inner wall 112 and the potential difference Δ V3 between the 2

nd electrodes

20C and 20D and the inner wall 112. That is, Δ V1 > Δ V2 and Δ V3 are in the relationship. Therefore, an electrostatic field is more easily formed between the 1

st electrodes

20A, 20B and the 2

nd electrodes

20C, 20D than between the 1

st electrodes

20A, 20B and the inner wall 112 and between the 2

nd electrodes

20C, 20D and the inner wall 112. Therefore, an electrostatic field can be formed in a wider range, preferably in the entire area, in the housing chamber 10, and the electrostatic field can be effectively applied to the food placed at any position in the housing chamber 10. The term "reverse phase" means that a slight error (for example, ± 10%) may be technically generated in addition to the case where the phase difference between the 1 st alternating voltage Vac1 and the 2 nd alternating voltage Vac2 is equal to 180 °.

The amplitudes of the 1 st and 2 nd alternating voltages Vac1 and Vas2 are not particularly limited, but are preferably, for example, about 0.1kV to 20kV, and more preferably about 1kV to 10 kV. By applying the 1 st and 2 nd alternating voltages Vac1 and Vac2 having such amplitudes to the electrode 20, an electrostatic field of sufficient intensity can be formed in the housing chamber 10, and the above-described effects can be exhibited more reliably. The frequencies of the 1 st and 2 nd alternating voltages Vac1 and Vac2 are not particularly limited, and are preferably, for example, about 5Hz to 50 kHz. In fig. 6, the 1 st and 2 nd alternating voltages Vac1 and Vas2 are sine waves, but are not limited thereto, and may be square waves, for example.

The voltage applying unit 29 is provided with a safety device, not shown, for preventing a user from getting an electric shock, a fire, or the like. The safety device may be configured such that, for example, a sensor for detecting the opening/closing of the door 12 provided in the main body 11 is provided, and the voltage application to the electrode 20 is stopped after the door 12 is opened. The safety device may be configured to stop the application of the voltage to the electrode 20 when the abnormal voltage is detected.

The storage cabinet and the electrostatic field forming apparatus according to the present invention have been described above based on the illustrated embodiments, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the structure of each part may be replaced with any structure that performs the same function, and any structure may be added.

Industrial applicability

As described above, the storage cabinet 1 of the present invention includes the electrostatic field forming device 2, and the electrostatic field forming device 2 forms an electrostatic field in the storage chamber 10 capable of storing the object. Further, the electrostatic field forming device 2 includes: 1

st electrodes

20A, 20B disposed in the housing chamber 10; 2

nd electrodes

20C and 20D disposed in the housing chamber 10 so as to be separated from the 1

st electrodes

20A and 20B; and a voltage applying unit 29 for applying an alternating voltage having an opposite phase to the 1

st electrodes

20A, 20B and the 2

nd electrodes

20C, 20D. With such a storage container 1, the potential difference Δ V1 between the 1

st electrodes

20A, 20B and the 2

nd electrodes

20C, 20D is larger than the potential difference Δ V2 between the 1

st electrodes

20A, 20B and the inner wall 112, and the potential difference Δ V3 between the 2

nd electrodes

20C, 20D and the inner wall 112. Therefore, an electrostatic field is easily formed between the 1

st electrodes

20A, 20B and the 2

nd electrodes

20C, 20D, as compared with between the 1

st electrodes

20A, 20B and the inner wall 112 and between the 2

nd electrodes

20C, 20D and the inner wall 112. Therefore, an electrostatic field can be formed in a wider range, preferably the entire area, in the housing chamber 10, and the electrostatic field can be effectively applied to the food placed at any position in the housing chamber 10. Therefore, the present invention has excellent industrial applicability.

Description of the reference numerals

1 storage cabinet

10 receiving chamber

11 main body

111 outer wall

112 inner wall

113 heat insulating material

12 door

13 storage rack

16 Cooling device

161 compressor

162 condenser

19 mechanical chamber

191 display screen

2 electrostatic field forming device

20 electrodes

20A 1 st electrode

20B No. 1 electrode

20C No. 2 electrode

20D 2 nd electrode

21 electrode body

22 support part

23 insulator

24 connecting part

29 voltage applying part

Vac 11 st alternating voltage

Vac 22 nd alternating voltage

Claims

1. A storage cabinet is characterized by comprising an electrostatic field forming device for forming an electrostatic field in a storage chamber capable of storing an object,

the electrostatic field forming device comprises:

a 1 st electrode disposed in the housing chamber;

2. The storage cabinet according to claim 1, wherein the amplitude of the alternating voltage is between 0.1kV and 20 kV.

3. The storage cabinet according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the 1 st electrode and the 2 nd electrode each have an electrode body insulated from an inner wall of the receiving chamber,

the electrode main body is rod-shaped.

4. A storage cabinet according to claim 3, wherein the 1 st and 2 nd electrodes each have an insulator between the electrode body and the receiving chamber.

5. A storage cabinet according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the 1 st electrode is disposed at a central portion of the receiving chamber,

6. A storage cabinet according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein there is cooling means for cooling the interior of the receiving compartment.

7. An electrostatic field forming apparatus for forming an electrostatic field in a storage chamber capable of storing an object, the electrostatic field forming apparatus comprising:

a 1 st electrode disposed in the housing chamber;