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EP 3 214 394 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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05.02.2020 Bulletin 2020/06 |
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Date of filing: 01.03.2016 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC):
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REFRIGERATOR WITH A DRAWER FOR VEGETABLES AND THE LIKE
KÜHLSCHRANK MIT SCHUBLADE FÜR GEMÜSE UND DERGLEICHEN
RÉFRIGÉRATEUR DOTÉ D'UN TIROIR POUR LÉGUMES ET SIMILAIRES
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Designated Contracting States: |
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AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL
NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
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Date of publication of application: |
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06.09.2017 Bulletin 2017/36 |
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Proprietor: Whirlpool Corporation |
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Benton Harbor, MI 49022 (US) |
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Inventors: |
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- Moroni, Matteo
21025 Comerio (IT)
- Pirovano, Maria Paola
21025 Comerio (IT)
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Representative: Spina, Alessandro et al |
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Whirlpool EMEA SpA
Via Carlo Pisacane, 1 20016 Pero (MI) 20016 Pero (MI) (IT) |
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References cited: :
EP-A1- 2 525 173 JP-A- H04 353 379
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JP-A- H0 293 279 JP-A- 2007 278 569
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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator comprising a refrigerating compartment,
a vegetable storage drawer slidably mounted on a bottom wall of the refrigerating
compartment and an absorbing member disposed in said compartment.
[0002] A refrigerator of this kind is disclosed by
US5253488 where the absorbing member is a gas absorbing member mounted above the vegetable
storage drawer and used for absorbing a noxious gas, particularly ethylene, generated
from the vegetables. Further relevant documents disclosing refrigerating compartments
with a similar structure are the following ones: JPH04353379,
JP2007278569,
JPH0293279 and
EP2525173.
[0003] Usually in the vegetable storage drawer, known also as "crisper drawer", there is
quite a huge amount of humidity that is generated by food and it can lead to an increase
of microbial growth and in some case to a presence of molds on food surface or rotten
food items. These phenomena cause the food waste at consumer level.
[0004] Usually, in order to reduce the amount of humidity in the crisper drawer, a fan is
used to increase the air circulation but this solution implies a high energy consumption.
[0005] The problem of condensation of humidity in the area of the crisper drawer is even
exacerbated in built-in "bottom mount" products where a freezer compartment is placed
below a refrigeration compartment. The applicant has discovered evidences of internal
condensation issue under the shelf, above the crisper drawer and below the drawer,
in a portion of the refrigerator cavity inner liner which is designed in such a way
to increase its overall capacity but that actually reduces the insulation properties
of the insulated wall (mullion) between the freezer cavity and the refrigeration cavity.
[0006] In figures 1 and 2 it is shown a built-in refrigerator according to prior art, where
RC indicates the refrigerator cavity (with temperatures usually ranging from 1°C to
5°C) and FC indicates the freezer cavity (with temperatures ranging from -20°C to
-18°C). In figure 2 it is shown the zones where applicant has discovered major condensation
issues.
[0007] The above issues have been discovered by using an internal test procedure carried
out on bottom mount built-in commercial refrigerator Whirlpool CB310 Revo, where the
objective was to assess the presence of internal condensation under crisper shelf
in the refrigerating cavity RC. According to the applicant's internal procedure, the
test is considered successful if there are no drops of condensation under the crisper
shelf during a five days period with a wet leafy vegetables load placed inside the
drawer.
[0008] After the tests, water drops formation was observed on the bottom part of the liner
as well as fog and condensation dripping under the crisper glass, especially on the
rear surface. Condensation issue is much more evident in built-in products rather
than free standing products because of the configuration of the mullion and the reduced
foam wall thicknesses. Moreover, because of the temperature difference between the
top surface of freezer cavity FC and bottom of the refrigerating cavity RC, condensation
issue occurs mainly on the bottom side of refrigerating cavity RC due to water drops
falling / accumulation, or to a temperature distribution between the surface of the
mullion close to the air temperature dew point.
[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator of the type mentioned
at the beginning of the description in which the above water condensation issues are
solved in an effective and economical way.
[0010] The above object is reached thanks to the features listed in the attached claims.
The present invention is disclosed in the independent claim 1. Further embodiments
are disclosed in the dependent claims.
[0011] According to the invention, the applicant has discovered a simple way to absorb the
water drops on the bottom surface of the refrigerating compartment RC by using a tray
in which it is placed an absorbing material in the form of a zeolite powder.
[0012] Zeolite powder is able to absorb water drops as well as fog and humidity so that
condensation tests can be passed without changing the liner shape (which could lead
to a decrease of overall capacity of the storage cavity) or the crisper shelf position
and configuration.
[0013] In order to avoid a decrease of the refrigeration capacity, to keep the same liner
shape and to avoid a change of the crisper shelf position, according to the invention
the humidity is absorbed by using a zeolite tray, positioned under the crisper drawer,
which is designed with a grid on the bottom surface, so that water drops can be collected
by the lower tray. Being placed below the crisper drawer and not above it, the zeolite
powder is able to collect the humidity of the whole refrigerating compartment RC,
acting like a sponge.
[0014] Therefore, according to the invention, the tray below the crisper has actually two
main functions, i.e. to collect the water drops coming from the crisper and to collect
the humidity that occurs because of the low foam wall thickness between the refrigerating
compartment RC and the freezer compartment FC (mullion).
[0015] The water drops that usually occur into the crisper and under the shelf above it
are expected to fall down and drip through to the grid into the zeolite powder.
[0016] The zeolite powder is preferably not directly accessible: it is preferably positioned
in a small tray placed under the crisper, onto the bottom surface of the RC liner.
The zeolite tray is made by two components: the slab made of molded zeolite powder
and a cover with grid, through which the water drops coming from the above crisper
and fog are expected to pass through.
[0017] Further advantages and features of a refrigerator according to the present invention
will be clear from the following detailed description, provided as non limiting examples,
with reference to the attached drawings in which:
- Figures 1 and 2 are section views of a built-in refrigerator according to prior art;
- Figure 3 is a section view of a refrigerator according to the invention;
- Figure 4 is a perspective sectioned view of the refrigerator of figure 3;
- Figure 5 is an enlarged view of a detail of figure 3; and
- Figures 6-7 are perspective views of a component used in the refrigerator of figures
3-5, in an exploded and mounted configurations respectively.
[0018] With reference to the drawings, a built-in refrigerator 10 comprises a top fresh
food compartment RC and a bottom freezer compartment FC which are separated one from
the other by a mullion 12. On a bottom surface 12a of the compartment RC, a crisper
drawer 14 is slidably mounted. Such drawer is sliding on guide rails 15 provided on
the side walls of the liner, so that an inner space S is defined between the drawer
outer walls and the liner in order to increase the air flow around the crisper drawer
14.
[0019] In such space S and on the bottom wall 12a of the compartment, a tray 16 is placed
which is formed by a plate or slab 16a of molded zeolite powder, sandwiched between
a bottom plastic support 16b and a top plastic grid 16c which covers the plate 16a
of zeolite.
[0020] The crisper drawer 14 is provided, on its bottom wall 14a, with a plurality of apertures
18 defining a further grid which faces the grid 16c of the tray 16. In this way the
plate 16a of the tray 16 is not only able to absorb humidity and/or other noxious
gases, but it allows the condensed water in the crisp drawer 14 to drip in the tray
16 and to be absorbed by the zeolite material. In order to allow absorption of any
water resting on the bottom surface 12a of the compartment RC, the bottom plastic
support 16b of the tray 16 is provided with apertures 20.
[0021] In another embodiment of the invention, the tray 16 may be placed directly inside
the drawer 14, for instance as an auxiliary small drawer sliding inside the crisper
drawer 14.
[0022] Independently on the actual position of the tray 16 within the refrigerating compartment
RC, the zeolite material contained therein can be easily regenerated by placing the
entire tray 16 in an oven at a temperature around 100°C for few minutes. The same
regeneration process may happen by simply taking out the tray 16 from the refrigerator
and leave it in a room whose air has a usual humidity content (up to 50% relative
humidity).
[0023] The technical solution hereby disclosed allows applying a sort of calcareous stone
self-regenerating as filters to absorb relative humidity inside the crisper drawer
for fruits and vegetables. The proposed solution is made by a removable tray in which
there is the zeolite molded podwer presenting as a stone. The tray is placed in the
bottom part of RC compartment and presents a grid facing a corresponding grid provided
on the bottom wall of the drawer to hold and support all the vegetables inside the
drawer, keeping them separated by the zeolite. The humidity level is reduced by zeolite
that absorbs the water drop/condensation and moisture through both grids. It is not
necessary to remove the water from the tray 16 because the stone absorb it and it
self-regenerates. Zeolites are widely used as ion-exchange beds in domestic and commercial
water purification while in chemistry they are widely used to separate molecules;
they are also widely used as catalysts and sorbents. Their well-defined pore structure
and adjustable acidity make them highly active in a large variety of reactions. Zeolites
have the potential of providing separation of gases including the removal of H2O,
CO2 and SO2 from low-grade natural gas streams. The solution according to the invention
provides several benefits to an user: no bacterial contamination coming from high
humidity environmental on fruits and vegetables surface and in this way reducing food
waste; no formation of drops of water inside crisper bin during vegetables storage;
no needed use of fans or similar devices to reduce the condensation and therefore
reduced energy consumption; zeolites do not need to be replaced due to natural capability
to regenerate; zeolites permit to reduce the cleaning activities at consumer level;
zeolites are not in direct contact with food; zeolites have a wide range to work both
in terms of temperature and relative humidity; zeolites can be also used as effective
odor absorber.
1. Refrigerator (10) comprising a refrigerating compartment (RC), a vegetable storage
drawer (14) slidably mounted on a bottom wall (12a) of the refrigerating compartment
(RC) and an absorbing member (16) disposed in said compartment (RC), wherein such
absorbing member (16) is placed below said drawer (14), characterized in that it can absorb water dripping from such drawer (14) and/or condensing on said bottom
wall (12a), or directly inside the drawer (14), and wherein said absorbing member
(16) is a tray containing a zeolite powder.
2. Refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said tray (16) is formed by a plate (16a)
molded from a zeolite powder placed on the bottom wall (12a) of the refrigerating
compartment (RC), said plate (16a) being sandwiched between a bottom plastic support
(16b) and a top plastic grid (16c) which covers the zeolite plate (16a).
3. Refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the tray (16) is placed below the vegetable
storage drawer (14) and wherein the vegetable storage drawer (14) is provided with
a plurality of apertures (18) on a bottom wall (14a) thereof.
4. Refrigerator according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the tray (16) is placed below the
vegetable storage drawer (14) and wherein the bottom plastic support (16b) of the
tray (16) is provided with apertures (20).
5. Refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the tray (16) is removably
arranged in the refrigerator compartment (RC).
6. Refrigerator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the refrigerating
compartment (RC) is placed above a freezing compartment (FC) and separated therefrom
by an insulated mullion (12).
1. Kühlschrank (10), umfassend ein Kühlfach (RC), eine Gemüseaufbewahrungsschublade (14),
die verschiebbar auf einer unteren Wand (12a) des Kühlfachs (RC) montiert ist, und
ein absorbierendes Glied (16), das in dem Fach (RC) angeordnet ist,
wobei das absorbierende Glied (16) unter der Schublade (14) platziert ist,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es
Wasser absorbieren kann, das von der Schublade (14) tropft und/oder auf der unteren
Wand (12a) oder direkt im Inneren der Schublade (14) kondensiert, und wobei das absorbierende
Glied (16) ein Einsatz ist, der ein Zeolith-Pulver enthält.
2. Kühlschrank nach Anspruch 1, wobei der Einsatz (16) von einer Platte (16a) gebildet
ist, die aus einem Zeolith-Pulver gegossen und auf der unteren Wand (12a) des Kühlfachs
(RC) platziert ist, wobei die Platte (16a) zwischen eine untere Plastikstütze (16b)
und ein oberes Plastikgitter (16c), das die Zeolith-Platte (16a) abdeckt, zwischengesetzt
ist.
3. Kühlschrank nach Anspruch 2, wobei der Einsatz (16) unter der Gemüseaufbewahrungsschublade
(14) platziert ist, und wobei die Gemüseaufbewahrungsschublade (14) mit einer Vielzahl
von Öffnungen (18) auf einer unteren Wand (14a) derselben versehen ist.
4. Kühlschrank nach Anspruch 2 oder 3, wobei der Einsatz (16) unter der Gemüseaufbewahrungsschublade
(14) platziert ist, und wobei die untere Plastikstütze (16b) des Einsatzes (16) mit
Öffnungen (20) versehen ist.
5. Kühlschrank nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, wobei der Einsatz (16) entfernbar in
dem Kühlschrankfach (RC) angeordnet ist.
6. Kühlschrank nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, wobei das Kühlfach (RC) über einem
Gefrierfach (FC) platziert und von diesem durch einen isolierten Pfosten (12) getrennt
ist.
1. Réfrigérateur (10) comprenant un compartiment de réfrigération (RC), un tiroir de
stockage de légumes (14) monté de manière coulissante sur une paroi inférieure (12a)
du compartiment de réfrigération (RC) et un élément absorbant (16) disposé dans ledit
compartiment (RC),
dans lequel ledit élément absorbant (16) est placé sous ledit tiroir (14), caractérisé en ce qu'il peut absorber de l'eau ruisselant de ce tiroir (14) et/ou se condensant sur ladite
paroi inférieure (12a), ou directement à l'intérieur du tiroir (14) et dans lequel
ledit élément absorbant (16) est un plateau contenant une poudre de zéolite.
2. Réfrigérateur selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit plateau (16) est formé par
une plaque (16a) moulée à partir d'une poudre de zéolite placée sur la paroi inférieure
(12a) du compartiment de réfrigération (RC), ladite plaque (16a) étant enserrée entre
un support inférieur en plastique (16b) et une grille supérieure en plastique (16c)
qui recouvre la plaque de zéolite (16a).
3. Réfrigérateur selon la revendication 2, dans lequel le plateau (16) est placé sous
le tiroir de stockage de légumes (14) et dans lequel le tiroir de stockage de légumes
(14) est pourvu d'une pluralité d'ouvertures (18) sur une paroi inférieure (14a) de
celui-ci.
4. Réfrigérateur selon la revendication 2 ou 3, dans lequel le plateau (16) est placé
sous le tiroir de stockage de légumes (14) et dans lequel le support en plastique
inférieur (16b) du plateau (16) est pourvu d'ouvertures (20).
5. Réfrigérateur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, dans lequel le plateau
(16) est disposé de manière amovible dans le compartiment de réfrigération (RC).
6. Réfrigérateur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le
compartiment de réfrigération (RC) est placé au-dessus d'un compartiment de congélation
(FC) et séparé de celui-ci par une cloison isolée (12).
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only.
It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has
been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and
the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description