Food strorage apparatus and method for controlling the same

Abstract

A food storage apparatus to sterilize bacteria living in food and a method of controlling the same. The method includes starting an ordered fermentation (maturing) operation in response to a user's input including setting of a target degree of fermentation, detecting a present degree of fermentation of food stored in a storage container, and applying electric energy to the food stored in the storage container if the present degree of fermentation of the food reaches the target degree of fermentation set by the user, to sterilize fermentation fungi, and consequently, to restrict further fermentation of the food.

1 . A food storage apparatus comprising at least one storage container, wherein electric energy in the form of electric current is applied to food stored in the storage container, to enable sterilization of the food. 
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least two first electrode units provided at the storage container and adapted to transmit the electric energy in the form of electric current to the food stored in the storage container.   
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 at least one storage chamber provided with at least two second electrode units and configured to receive the storage container,   wherein the at least two second electrode units come into contact with the at least two first electrode units, respectively, to achieve electric connection therebetween if the storage container is put into the storage chamber, thereby allowing the electric current to flow through the food inside the storage container.   
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein each of the at least two second electrode units includes:
 an electrode housing;   an elastic member seated in the electrode housing while being fixed at a first end thereof to the electrode housing; and   a first electrode fixed to a second end of the elastic member while protruding outward from an entrance of the electrode housing,   wherein, if an external force is applied to the first electrode, the first electrode is inserted into the electrode housing as the elastic member is compressed.   
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a door to open and close the storage chamber;   a door sensor to detect the opening and closing of the door;   a power source to supply electric power to the at least two first electrode units;   a switch provided on a conductive path defined between the power source and the at least two first electrode units; and   a controller to turn off the switch if the door sensor detects the opening of the door, so as to intercept the supply of electric power from the power source to the at least two first electrode units.   
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein each of the at least two first electrode units includes:
 a second electrode mounted to come into contact with an outer wall surface of the storage container, and to come into contact with a respective one of the first electrodes; and   a third electrode mounted to come into contact with an inner wall surface of the storage container,   wherein the second and third electrodes are coupled to each other by passing through a hole perforated through the storage container, to be fixedly mounted to the storage container at the outside and inside of the storage container, respectively.   
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sterilizing operation mode to sterilize the food stored in the storage container. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a display device and/or speaker to inform a user of completion of sterilization if the food stored in the storage container is completely sterilized.   
   
   
       9 . A food storage apparatus comprising at least one storage container, wherein electric energy in the form of an electric field is applied to food stored in the storage container, to enable sterilization of the food. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 at least one storage chamber to receive the storage container; and   one or more electrode units to create the electric field in an interior space of the storage chamber.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a door to open and close the storage chamber;   a door sensor to detect the opening and closing of the door;   a power source to supply electric power to the one or more electrode units;   a switch provided on a conductive path between the power source and the one or more electrode units; and   a controller to turn off the switch if the door sensor detects the opening of the door, so as to intercept the supply of electric power from the power source to the one or more electrode units.   
   
   
       12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein a voltage of the electric power being supplied from the power source to the one or more electrode units is in a range from 100V to 10 kV, AC or DC. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the electrode units include first and second electrode units in the form of a plate having a predetermined area, the first and second electrode units forming at least one pair, and being arranged at an inner wall surface of the storage chamber at positions facing each other. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the electrode units include a storage chamber electrode mounted at a wall surface of the storage chamber and adapted to receive power, and a plate-shaped storage container electrode mounted to the storage container,
 and the storage chamber electrode and storage container electrode come into contact with each other if the storage container is put into the storage chamber, to allow the power received by the storage chamber electrode to reach the storage container electrode.   
   
   
       15 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , further comprising a sterilizing operation mode to sterilize the food stored in the storage container. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a display device and/or speaker to inform a user of completion of sterilization if the food stored in the storage container is completely sterilized.   
   
   
       17 . A method of controlling a food storage apparatus comprising:
 starting an ordered fermentation operation in response to a user's input including setting of a target degree of fermentation;   detecting a present degree of fermentation of food stored in a storage container; and   applying electric energy to the food stored in the storage container if the detected present degree of fermentation of the food reaches the set target degree of fermentation, comprising comparing the detected present degree of fermentation with the set target degree of fermentation, to sterilize fermentation fungi, and consequently, to restrict further fermentation of the food.   
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the detecting of the present degree of fermentation of food comprises determining a state of fermentation gas generated from the food stored in the storage container. 
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the detecting of the present degree of fermentation of food further comprises determining a content of carbon dioxide of the fermentation gas generated from the food. 
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the detecting of the present degree of fermentation of food comprises determining an acidity of the fermentation gas generated from the food. 
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the detecting of the present degree of fermentation of food comprises determining an interior pressure of the storage container storing the food. 
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 applying electric energy to the food stored in the storage container for a limited period to sterilize harmful bacteria regardless of the fermentation of the food, prior to the detecting of the present degree of fermentation of the food stored in the storage container.   
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 informing a user of the completion of sterilization via a display device and/or speaker if the food stored in the storage container is completely sterilized.   
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 performing a safety mode preventing the electric energy from being applied to the food stored in the storage container if a door of the food storage apparatus is opened during the ordered fermentation operation.   
   
   
       25 . A food storage apparatus comprising at least one storage container, wherein electric energy is applied to food stored in the storage container, to enable sterilization of the food. 
   
   
       26 . A method of controlling a food storage apparatus comprising:
 detecting a present degree of fermentation of food stored in a storage container; and   applying electric energy to the food stored in the storage container if the detected present degree of fermentation of the food reaches a set target degree of fermentation.