Freezer-refrigerator

A refrigeration device comprising:

• a compartment;
• a refrigeration cycle comprising a compressor, a condenser, a first capillary tube and a first cooler connected with a refrigerant channel into a loop for circulating a refrigerant therethrough,
• a quick freezing refrigerant circuit connected in parallel with the first cooler and comprising a second capillary tube and a second cooler connected in series therewith, the circuit having a junction for connection to the refrigerant channel from the first capillary tube to the first cooler,
• a change-over valve provided in the refrigerant channel between the junction and the first cooler inclusive of the junction for changing a flow of the refrigerant toward the first cooler to a flow of the refrigerant toward the second cooler,
• means for supplying air cooled by the first cooler to the compartment, and control means for driving the compressor, the means for supplying air and the change-over valve,
• control means for driving the compressor, the fan and the change-over valve,
• the second cooler being disposed within the compartment, the refrigerant being supplied to the first cooler for usual refrigeration to cool the compartment, the refrigerant being supplied to the second cooler for quick freezing to freeze an article to be frozen in contact with the second cooler,
• said control means including a temperature sensor for detecting the ambient temperature, a timer, a mode selector for selecting a mode corresponding to the ambient temperature from among a plurality of operation modes having set therefor varying periods of supply of the refrigerant to the first and second coolers, and a controller for controlling the change-over valve in accordance with the selected operation mode.

A refrigeration device comprising:

• a compartment,
• a refrigeration cycle comprising a compressor, a condenser, a first capillary tube and a first cooler connected with a refrigerant channel into a loop for circulating a refrigerant therethrough,
• a quick freezing refrigerant circuit connected in parallel with the first cooler and comprising a second capillary tube and a second cooler connected in series therewith, the circuit having a junction for connection to the refrigerant channel from the first capillary tube to the first cooler,
• a change-over valve provided in the refrigerant channel between the junction and the first cooler inclusive of the junction for changing a flow of the refrigerant toward the first cooler to a flow of the refrigerant toward the second cooler,
• means for supplying air cooled by the first cooler to the compartment, and control means for driving the compressor, the means for supplying air and the change-over valve,
• control means for driving the compressor, the fan and the change-over valve,
• the second cooler being disposed within the compartment, the refrigerant being supplied to the first cooler for usual refrigeration to cool the compartment, the refrigerant being supplied to the second cooler for quick freezing to freeze an article to be frozen in contact with the second cooler,
• said control means including a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the article, a temperature sensor for detecting the ambient temperature, a timer, a mode selector for selecting a mode corresponding to the ambient temperature from among a plurality of operation modes having set therefor the temperature of the article at which the change-over valve is to be driven and varying periods of supply of the refrigerant to the first and second coolers, and a controller for controlling the change-over valve in accordance with the selected operation mode.

A refrigeration system for cooling foods comprising:

• a compressor;
• a primary refrigeration circuit, driven by said compressor for cooling the food by developing chilled air to be provided in proximity to said food;
• quick freeze means, driven by said compressor, having a chilled plate for cooling food placed on said plate by direct conduction therewith;
• means for selectively coupling said quick freezing means to said compressor to enable drive of said quick freezing means thereby;
• and
• control means for controlling operation of said means for coupling, said controlling means including,
• temperature sensing means for sensing the ambient temperature in which the refrigerator system is disposed,
• said control means controlling the operation of said means for selectively coupling based on at least one control parameter, said cotnrol means varying the relationship between a said control parameter and its control of said means for selective coupling in response to changes in the ambient temperature sensed by said temperature sensing means.

The refrigeration system for cooling foods comprising:

• a compressor;
• a primary refrigeration circuit, driven by said compressor for cooling the food by developing chilled air to be provided in proximity to said food;
• quick freeze means, driven by said compressor, having a chilled plate for cooling food placed on said plate by direct conduction therewith;
• means for selectively coupling said quick freezing means to said compressor to enable drive of said quick freezing means thereby;
• and
• control means for controlling operation of said means for coupling, said controlling means including,
• food temperature sensor means for sensing temperature related to the temperature of the food placed on said plate, and
• timer means for measuring elapsed time from a time at which cooling of the food placed on said plate begins;
• said control means controlling operation of said means for selectively coupling based on changes in the temperature of the food placed on said plate and the elapsed time measured by said timer means;
• said control means coupling said quick freezing means to said compressor when said temperature measured by said food temperature sensor means drops to a predetermined level.

A method of feezing a food comprising the steps of:

• (a) cooling the food by cooling the air around the food until the food approaches a zone of maximum ice crystal formation;
• (b) measuring the temperature of the food to determine the beginning of the zone of maximum ice crystal formation;
• (c) cooling the food by cooling a plate directly contacting the food when said step (b) has sensed the beginning of the zone of maximum ice crystal formation;
• (d) measuring the elapsed time from when cooling of the food began;
• (e) determining when said elapsed time equals a predetermined maximum time to estimate the end of the zone of maximum ice crystal formation;
• and
• (f) cooling the food to a temperature only by resumption of the cooling of the air around the food when said step (e) determines that the predetermined maximum time has been reached.