Description

STORAGE APPARATUS FOR CONSTANT TEMPERATURE

AND HUMUDITY

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a storage apparatus for a constant temperature and humidity. More specifically, the present invention relates to a constant temperature and humidity that can preserve a storage object even for a relatively long time in a state of good quality, with maintaining a unique original taste and flavor. Background Art

[2] A storage apparatus for a constant temperature and humidity has been existing for a long time in our human history and the apparatus has been developed with various functions, appearances and materials. Such the constant temperature-humidity storage apparatus should have a function of a safe accommodation to prevent food storage objects from going bad or leaking out and it should have also a right appearance to store the storage object conveniently regardless of storage places.

[3] Such the conventional constant temperature-humidity apparatus has been use commonly with a special function, for example, a function of heating-cooling, vacuum maintenance, far infrared ray emission and variations of them. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[4] Some food stuffs are eaten in a predetermined time period, instead of being eaten on the spot. Most of such food stuffs may not go bad even with long time preservation and they are preserved in a predetermined place with a right temperature and right humidity to maintain its unique taste and flavor. However, the long time preservation might cause a high electricity cost to maintain the right temperature and humidity.

[5] Therefore, there have been demands for energy saving type of a constant temperature-humidity storage apparatus that can minimize electricity used to preserve food stuffs, maintain the preset right temperature and humidity. Technical Solution

[6] To solve the problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a storage apparatus for constant temperature and humidity capable of store a storage object for a long time, maintaining an appropriate temperature and humidity constantly.

[7] Another object of the present invention is to provide a storage apparatus for constant temperature and humidity capable of saving electricity consumed to build up a temperature-humidity environment required to store the storage object including food stuffs for a long time.

[8] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a storage apparatus for constant temperature and humidity includes a chamber, a heating unit and a moisture supply unit. Here, the chamber may have a predetermined space to store a storage object.

[9] The heating unit is provided in the chamber to supply heat to the airtight space of the chamber. The heating unit may include an electrothermal wire and the electrothermal wire may be positioned at an inner side surface of the chamber. Especially, it is preferable that the electrothermal wire is positioned at a bottom surface of the chamber to supply the heat to an overall space of the chamber uniformly.

[10] The electrothermal wire may be accommodated by a heat diffusion part having good heat conductivity to diffuse heat into the overall space of the chamber.

[11] Generally, the heat diffusion part may be configured of at least one of aluminum, copper and stainless steel and it is not limited thereto. The heat diffusion part may be manufactured with various kinds of materials having food heat resistance and heat conductivity.

[12] The moisture supply unit may selectively supply moisture to the heating unit from an outside of the chamber and the moisture supply unit may be configured to evaporate the moisture by using the heat supplied by the heating unit to control humidity inside the chamber.

[13] Specifically, the moisture supply unit may include a container in which the moisture is stored; and a connection pipe connected with the container to transfer the moisture into the chamber.

[14] The moisture supply unit may further include a nozzle provided at an end of the connection pipe to spray the moisture into the chamber. The moisture supply unit may further include a valve provided at the connection pipe to adjust the supply of the moisture. Such the valve supplies the moisture in a predetermine direction and it may be configured as a check valve to stop the overflow or a solenoid valve that is controllable electrically.

[15] The moisture supply unit may further include a moisture holding part provided at the heating unit to hold the transferred moisture temporarily. The moisture holding part may be in contact with the heating unit to receive the heat.

[16] The moisture holding part may be configured of textile and the moisture supplied through the nozzle may be held in the moisture holding part temporarily. The moisture held in the moisture holding part receives the heat from the heating unit and it is evaporated to heighten the humidity of the chamber.

[17] The heat diffusion part may have an upper surface recessed to store the moisture.

[18] The storage apparatus for constant temperature and humidity may further include a

sensor unit to measure at least one of a temperature and humidity inside the chamber.

The storage apparatus for constant temperature and humidity may further include a control unit to control an operation of the heating unit and the moisture supply unit based on a temperature signal and a humidity signal measured at the sensor unit. [19] Here, the control unit may control the operation of the heating unit by adjusting electric power that is supplied to the heating unit. The control unit may control the operation of the moisture supply unit by adjusting an amount of the moisture supplied from the moisture supply unit. [20] The control unit may include a display to display a state of the temperature and humidity of the chamber to a user visually. [21] The chamber may include a long term storage part provided in a separate space to store the storage object for a relatively long time. An auxiliary door may be provided at the long term storage part.

Advantageous Effects

[22] The present invention has following advantageous effects.

[23] First, the present invention is configured of a single compact type to maintain an appropriate temperature and humidity required for the long time storage of the storage object. As a result, the fabrication and installation of the present invention is convenient, with good durability and heat insulation and it is easy to maintain the appropriate temperature and humidity.

[24] Furthermore, the electrothermal wire for supplying heat to the chamber is connected with or accommodated by heat diffusion part having good heat conductivity. As a result, the heat may be radiated through an overall portion of an outer surface of the heat diffusion part, not transferred to a portion adjacent to the electrothermal wire. In addition, the heat may be diffused through an overall space of the chamber and storage object stored in the chamber can be stored under the same temperature condition only to have the objects having the identical quality.

[25] A still further, the heating unit for supply the heat is positioned at the bottom of the chamber. As a result, the heat may be transferred to the overall space of the chamber through natural convection and the temperature of every spot in the holding space may be maintained uniformly even without an auxiliary device.

[26] A still further, to heighten humidity, the moisture is sprayed to the heating unit having a relatively high temperature to be evaporated. As a result, the humidity change inside the chamber may be created substantially quickly and the temperature and the humidity may be controlled simultaneously.

[27] A still further, the appropriate temperature and humidity for the long term storage object may be compared and determined based on a data signal of a temperature and

humidity inside the chamber to control an operation of the heating unit and the moisture supply unit automatically. The inconvenience may be relieved that a user should check and adjust the temperature and humidity of the chamber manually.

[28] Lastly, a user may use holding space partitioned into plural ones for various objects.

That is, the storage object a user uses relatively often may be stored in the holding spaces positioned in upper holding spaces for him/her to access easily. The storage object for long term storage may be stored in lower holding spaces having an auxiliary door to close airtight and the object may be stored at the constant appropriate temperature and humidity. Brief Description of the Drawings

[29] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the disclosure.

[30] In the drawings:

[31] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a constant temperature-humidity storage apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment;

[32] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an inside of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 ;

[33] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a heating unit of FIG. 1;

[34] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a process of generating moisture by using the heating unit shown in FIG. 3;

[35] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a heating unit capable of storing moisture according to another example of the heating unit of FIG. 3; and

[36] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a constant temperature-humidity storage apparatus according to another embodiment. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[37] Reference will now be made in detail to the specific embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

[38] In reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, a configuration of a storage apparatus for a constant temperature and humidity (hereinafter, a constant temperature-humidity storage apparatus) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be explained. Here, FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a constant temperature- humidity storage apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an inside of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a heating unit of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a

process of generating moisture by using the heating unit shown in FIG. 3.

[39] As shown in the drawings, the constant temperature-humidity storage apparatus 100 includes a chamber 110, a heating unit 120, a moisture supply unit 130, a sensor unit 140 and a control unit (not shown).

[40] The chamber 110 defines a predetermined size of a holding space in the constant temperature-humidity storage apparatus. In the holding space may be stored food stuffs requiring long time storage to create unique tastes, flavors and special effects such as tea, medical stuffs for Chinese medical treatment, and special favorite foods such as cigarettes and food objects for some experiments, under a condition of a specific temperature and humidity.

[41] Kinds of the storage objects held in the chamber are not limited and Puer tea, for example, may be included.

[42] Generally, puer tea is a kind of tea made by using tea leafs that grows in Yunnam,

China. Puer tea should be preserved in a storage space having a constant temperature and humidity and it can have its unique taste and flavor through the fermentation generated during the above preservation. Commonly, the appropriate temperature for producing Puer tea is 2O ⁰ C ~ 45 ⁰ C and the appropriate humidity is between 65% ~ 75%. If Puer tea is preserved for about 10 years under this temperature and humidity condition, its puckery tannin taste is removed and its unique taste as well as flavor may be maintained only to be the highest grade Puer tea.

[43] On the other hand, experiment objects as storage objects may be exemplified. For example, the experiment objects should be perished firstly to gain the microbial growth of experiment objects as time passes and various data based on the putrefaction. At this time, it takes quite long for the experiment objects to be perished.

[44] However, it is important to reduce the time for the putrefaction of the experiment object to reduce the overall time for the experiment and to increase the time for data analysis. If the experiment object is stored in the constant temperature-humidity storage apparatus 100 of the present invention, the point of time for the experiment object to be putrefied may be advanced and it can save the time and cost needed to proceed the experiment.

[45] An opening is formed at a front of the chamber 110 and the storage object may be put in the chamber through the opening and a door 114 is coupled to a predetermined portion of the chamber to open and close the opening. A first door 114 closes the opening to close an inside of the chamber 110 airtight so that air cannot pass through. For that, a packing member may be coupled to a circumference of the door 114 and the packing member may be configured of rubber having elasticity. If the rubber packing member is used, a function of high airtight close is gained and a shock is reduced that could be generated by a rotational force created when the door 114 closes the front of

the chamber 110.

[46] In addition, a partition shelf 116 is mounted in an inner space of the chamber 110 to support the storage object. The partition shelf 116 is positioned above the heating unit 120 and plural holes 117 are formed at the partition shelf 116. Here, it is preferable that the chamber 110 is manufactured of material that has good heat-resistance and good durability, because the chamber 110 should be used for a relatively long time.

[47] The heating unit 120 is configured of an electrothermal wire 122 and a heat diffusion part 124. The electrothermal wire 122 and the heat diffusion part 124 are provided in the chamber 110 to supply heat.

[48] The electrothermal wire 122 may be connected with the power 126 to generate heat and it is positioned in a lower portion of the chamber 110. The electrothermal wire 122 is provided in the heat diffusion part 124 and it diffuses the heat supplied by the electrothermal wire 122 outside. That is, if the heat is supplied by only the electrothermal wire 122, the heat may be supplied to a portion adjacent to the electrothermal wire 122 particularly a lot. At this time, the heat supplied by the electrothermal wire 122 is conducted to the heat diffusion part 124 and the heat may be diffused uniformly through an outer surface of the heat diffusion part 124.

[49] This embodiment presents that the electrothermal wire 122 is embedded in the heat diffusion part 124. Alternatively, the eletrothermal wire 122 may be provided in contact with a surface of the heat diffusion part 124 to transfer the heat by a heat conduct, one of heat transfer methods.

[50] Also, this embodiment presents the electrothermal wire to generate heat and other embodiments present positive temperature coefficient (PTC) to control an amount of the heat generated by the heating unit 120.

[51] Such the heat diffusion part 124 may be made of metal, for example, aluminum that has high heat transfer coefficient with good corrosion resistance, copper and stainless steel (SUS) and it is not limited thereto.

[52] A surface area of the heat diffusion part 124 may be enlarged for the efficient heat generation and also small protrusions, for example, may be formed at a surface of the heat diffusion part 124.

[53] In this embodiment, the heat diffusion part 124 having the electrothermal wire 122 mounted therein is positioned in a lower portion of the chamber 110 and it is not limited thereto. For example, the heat diffusion part 124 may be mounted in a side wall of the chamber 110.

[54] The moisture supply unit 130 may include a container 132, a connection pipe 134, a nozzle 136 and a valve 138.

[55] The container 132 contains water and the connection pipe 134 is connected with a predetermined portion of the container 132. Water passes through the connection pipe

134. Here, an end of the connection pipe 134 extends to the holding space of the chamber 110 and the other end of the connection pipe 134 extends above the heating unit 120.

[56] The nozzle 136 is formed at the end of the connection pipe 134 and the water transferred through the connection pipe 134 is sprayed toward a spray object. In this embodiment, the spray object is the heating unit 120 and the nozzle 136 is configured to spray the moisture toward an upper surface of the heating unit 120.

[57] FIG. 4 shows an appearance of the moisture sprayed toward the heating unit 120 through the nozzle 136 and also it is possible to supply the moisture toward the heating unit 120 through the connection pipe 134 directly, without the nozzle 136.

[58] The heating unit 120 is connected with the power 126 and its temperature is substantially high. As a result, the sprayed moisture contacts with the heating unit 120 and it is supplied the heat through the heat conduction only to turn into steam. The steam is evaporated only to heighten the humidity of the chamber 110.

[59] The moisture supply unit 130 may further include a moisture holding part 139 to hold the moisture sprayed through the nozzle 136 temporarily. The moisture holding part 139 is provided in contact with the heating unit 120 and it is positioned on an upper surface of the heating unit 120. The moisture sprayed through the nozzle 136 is absorbed in the moisture holding part 139 and the moisture may be evaporated by the heat supplied by the heating unit 120.

[60] According to this embodiment, the amount of the moisture evaporated in the moisture holding part 139 may be maintained constantly at a predetermined value such that the humidity inside the chamber 110 may be maintained constantly.

[61] Such the moisture holding part 139 may be configured of textile having good moisture storage performance and it is not limited thereto.

[62] The sensor unit 140 is configured to measure a temperature or humidity inside the chamber 110. Specifically, the sensor unit 140 includes a temperature sensor 142 for sensing a present temperature inside the chamber 110 and a humidity sensor 144 for sensing a present humidity inside the chamber 110.

[63] The sensor unit 140 may be attached to an inner side surface of the chamber 110 and the sensors 142 and 144 may be configured in plural to enhance the sensing accuracy.

[64] The sensor unit 140 allows a user to know how high the temperature and humidity inside the chamber 110 are and to compensate an appropriate temperature and humidity conveniently.

[65] The control unit (not shown) controls operations of the heating unit 120 and the moisture supply unit 130 such that the temperature and humidity of the chamber 110 may be close to the appropriate temperature and humidity for the long time storage.

[66] More specifically, if the present temperature and humidity of the chamber 110

measured by the temperature sensor 142 and the humidity sensor 144 is below the appropriate temperature and humidity, the power is applied to the heating unit 120 and the temperature of the chamber 110 is heightened through the heat generated at the heating unit 120. At this time, the nozzle 136 sprays moisture toward the moisture holding part 139 configured of textile to heighten the humidity of the chamber together with the temperature.

[67] The sprayed moisture is held in the moisture holding part 139 before being evaporated by the heat supplied by the heating unit 120. Here, since the holding space of the chamber 110 is closed airtight, the humidity of the chamber 110 is increased by the evaporated moisture.

[68] The temperature sensor 142 and the humidity sensor 144 measure the increased temperature and the humidity. The control unit receives information of the measured data in real-time and it controls the amount of the heat supplied from the heating unit 120 together with the amount of the moisture supplied from the moisture supply unit 130.

[69] Hence, if the present temperature of the chamber 110 is close to the preset appropriate temperature, the control unit shuts off the power applied to the heating unit 120 to stop the heat from being supplied to the chamber 110. If the present humidity of the chamber 110 is close to the preset appropriate humidity, the control unit closes the valve 138 to stop the moisture from being supplied to the chamber 110.

[70] Here, the control unit includes an appropriate controller such as a PID controller and it can reduce the time taken for the present temperature and humidity of the chamber 110 to reach the preset appropriate temperature and humidity.

[71] The container 132 in this embodiment is mounted in the chamber 110, being portable. The container 132 may be configured to use an external water supply device. The power 126 connected with the heating unit 120 is may be included in the constant temperature-humidity storage apparatus 100 of the present invention, being portable. Also, the power 126 may be configured to use an external power device.

[72] The control unit may include a display for a user to see the present temperature and the present humidity of the chamber 110. In addition, the control unit may include an auxiliary input part for the user to input the appropriate temperature and humidity, such that the storage object may be stored for a long time.

[73] In reference to FIG. 5, another example of the constant temperature-humidity storage apparatus according to the present invention will be explained. Here, FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a heating unit for storing water according to the example.

[74] As shown in FIG. 5, the heating unit 150 emits heat outside from the surface of the heat diffusion part 152 described above.

[75] An upper surface of the heat diffusion part 152 of the example is recessed downward to form a storage space 154 in which moisture may be stored. That is, the moisture

sprayed through the nozzle may be stored in the storage space 154 recessed from the upper surface of the heat diffusion part 152. The moisture stored in the storage space 154 is evaporated by the heat supplied from the heat diffusion part 152 gradually.

[76] In reference to FIG. 6, a configuration of a constant temperature-humidity storage apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

[77] The constant temperature-humidity storage apparatus 200 according to this embodiment includes a chamber 210, a heating unit 220, a moisture supply unit 230, a sensor unit (not shown) and a control unit (not shown), similar to the above embodiment.

[78] A holding space is formed in the chamber 210 to hole various kinds of storage objects, as mentioned above.

[79] However, in this embodiment the holding space 212 of the chamber 210 may be partitioned into plural holding spaces 212a, 212b, 212c, 212d and 212e. Here, each of the holding spaces 212a, 212b, 212c, 212d and 212e may have an identical temperature and humidity or different temperature and humidity.

[80] The holding space 212 is partitioned into the plural spaces by a partition part 218 and plural holes 219 are formed at the partition part 218. As a result, a user can store different storage objects at each of the holding spaces 212a, 212b, 212c, 212d and 212e.

[81] Commonly, each storage object is required to have a different appropriate storage temperature and humidity in order to gain a unique taste and flavor a user wishes.

[82] According to this embodiment, each present temperature and humidity of the holding spaces 212a, 212b, 212c, 212d and 212e may be maintained as each appropriate temperature and humidity of the storage objects stored in the holding spaces 212a, 212b, 212c, 212d and 212e. As a result, a user can store various kinds of storage objects according to his/her liking at the same time.

[83] In addition, the storage objects the user uses relatively often and the ones needed to be stored for a relatively long time may be dividedly stored in different holding spaces 212a, 212b, 212c, 212d and 212e. For example, the objects the user uses often may be held at a first holding space 212a and the objects needed to be stored at an optimal temperature and humidity constantly for the long term storage may be held at the other holding spaces 212b, 212c, 212d and 212e.

[84] Here, it is preferable that a second door 216 is formed at the chamber, rather than the first door 214, to airtight close a third, fourth and fifth holding spaces 212c, 212d and 212e that are for the long term storage. As a result, although he/she opens the first door 214 to take out the object stored at the first and second holding spaces 212a and 212b, the second door 216 is closed airtight and the temperature and humidity of the third, fourth and fifth holding spaces 212c, 212d and 212e may be maintained at the optimal

temperature and humidity constantly.

[85] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Industrial Applicability

[86] The present invention has an industrial applicability.

[87] First, the present invention is configured of a single compact type to maintain an appropriate temperature and humidity required for the long time storage of the storage object. As a result, the fabrication and installation of the present invention is convenient, with good durability and heat insulation and it is easy to maintain the appropriate temperature and humidity.

[88] Furthermore, the electrothermal wire for supplying heat to the chamber is connected with or accommodated by the heat diffusion part having good heat conductivity. As a result, the heat may be radiated through an overall portion of an outer surface of the heat diffusion part, not transferred to a portion adjacent to the electrothermal wire. In addition, the heat may be diffused through an overall space of the chamber and storage object stored in the chamber can be stored under the same temperature condition only to have the objects having the identical quality.

[89] A still further, the heating unit for supply the heat is positioned at the bottom of the chamber. As a result, the heat may be transferred to the overall space of the chamber through natural convection and the temperature of every spot in the holding space may be maintained uniformly even without an auxiliary device.

[90] A still further, to heighten humidity, the moisture is sprayed to the heating unit having a relatively high temperature to be evaporated. As a result, the humidity change inside the chamber may be created substantially quickly and the temperature and the humidity may be controlled simultaneously.

[91] A still further, the appropriate temperature and humidity for the long term storage object may be compared and determined based on a data signal of a temperature and humidity inside the chamber to control an operation of the heating unit and the moisture supply unit automatically. The inconvenience may be relieved that a user should check and adjust the temperature and humidity of the chamber manually.

[92] Lastly, a user may use holding space partitioned into plural ones for various objects.

That is, the storage object a user uses relatively often may be stored in the holding spaces positioned in upper holding spaces for him/her to access easily. The storage object for long term storage may be stored in lower holding spaces having an auxiliary

door to close airtight and the object may be stored at the appropriate temperature and humidity constantly.