Refrigerator comprising a sterilizing and thawing compartment

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator ( 1 ) of the present invention comprising at least one fresh food compartment ( 2 ) wherein foods to be cooled are placed, a thawing compartment ( 3 ) disposed in the fresh food compartment ( 2 ), wherein the frozen foods are placed for being stored without being spoiled during and after the thawing process and a heater ( 4 ) providing the heating of the thawing compartment ( 3 ).

1 . A refrigerator ( 1 ) comprising at least one fresh food compartment ( 2 ) wherein foods to be cooled are placed, a thawing compartment ( 3 ) disposed in the fresh food compartment ( 2 ), wherein the frozen foods are placed for being stored without being spoiled during and after the thawing process and a heater ( 4 ) providing the heating of the thawing compartment ( 3 ), characterized by at least one ultraviolet lamp ( 5 ) disposed on the thawing compartment ( 3 ), providing sterilization during a predetermined sterilization time (t s ) and a control unit ( 6 ) providing the ultraviolet lamp ( 5 ) to be activated when the heater ( 4 ) is deactivated. 
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator ( 1 ) as in  claim 1 , characterized by the ultraviolet lamp ( 5 ) which is never operated simultaneously with the heater ( 4 ). 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator ( 1 ) as in  claim 1 , characterized by the ultraviolet lamp ( 5 ) that emits ultraviolet rays with wavelengths between 240 nm and 280 nm. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator ( 1 ) as in  claim 1 , characterized by the control unit ( 6 ) that activates the ultraviolet lamp ( 5 ) and deactivates the heater ( 4 ) during the predetermined sterilization time (t s ) when the time (t) elapsed since the initiation of the thawing process reaches the thawing time (t 1 ). 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator ( 1 ) as in  claim 1 , characterized by the control unit ( 6 ) that activates the ultraviolet lamp ( 5 ) and deactivates the heater ( 4 ) during the predetermined sterilization time when the time (t) elapsed since the initiation of the thawing process reaches the surface thawing time lower value (t 2 ), and deactivates the ultraviolet lamp ( 5 ) and activates the heater ( 4 ) when the time (t) elapsed since the initiation of the thawing process reaches the surface thawing time upper value (t 3 ). 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator ( 1 ) as in  claim 1 , comprising at least one valve ( 7 ) disposed on the thawing compartment ( 3 ) and that allows the flow of cold air into the thawing compartment ( 3 ), characterized by the control unit ( 6 ) that activates the ultraviolet lamp ( 5 ) during the predetermined sterilization time (t s ) when the valve ( 7 ) is changed from the open position to the closed position. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator ( 1 ) as in  claim 2 , characterized by the ultraviolet lamp ( 5 ) that emits ultraviolet rays with wavelengths between 240 nm and 280 nm. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator ( 1 ) as in  claim 2 , characterized by the control unit ( 6 ) that activates the ultraviolet lamp ( 5 ) and deactivates the heater ( 4 ) during the predetermined sterilization time (t s ) when the time (t) elapsed since the initiation of the thawing process reaches the thawing time (t 1 ). 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator ( 1 ) as in  claim 2 , characterized by the control unit ( 6 ) that activates the ultraviolet lamp ( 5 ) and deactivates the heater ( 4 ) during the predetermined sterilization time when the time (t) elapsed since the initiation of the thawing process reaches the surface thawing time lower value (t 2 ), and deactivates the ultraviolet lamp ( 5 ) and activates the heater ( 4 ) when the time (t) elapsed since the initiation of the thawing process reaches the surface thawing time upper value (t 3 ). 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator ( 1 ) as in  claim 2 , comprising at least one valve ( 7 ) disposed on the thawing compartment ( 3 ) and that allows the flow of cold air into the thawing compartment ( 3 ), characterized by the control unit ( 6 ) that activates the ultraviolet lamp ( 5 ) during the predetermined sterilization time (t s ) when the valve ( 7 ) is changed from the open position to the closed position. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator ( 1 ) as in  claim 3 , characterized by the control unit ( 6 ) that activates the ultraviolet lamp ( 5 ) and deactivates the heater ( 4 ) during the predetermined sterilization time (t s ) when the time (t) elapsed since the initiation of the thawing process reaches the thawing time (t 1 ). 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator ( 1 ) as in  claim 3 , characterized by the control unit ( 6 ) that activates the ultraviolet lamp ( 5 ) and deactivates the heater ( 4 ) during the predetermined sterilization time when the time (t) elapsed since the initiation of the thawing process reaches the surface thawing time lower value (t 2 ), and deactivates the ultraviolet lamp ( 5 ) and activates the heater ( 4 ) when the time (t) elapsed since the initiation of the thawing process reaches the surface thawing time upper value (t 3 ). 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator ( 1 ) as in  claim 3 , comprising at least one valve ( 7 ) disposed on the thawing compartment ( 3 ) and that allows the flow of cold air into the thawing compartment ( 3 ), characterized by the control unit ( 6 ) that activates the ultraviolet lamp ( 5 ) during the predetermined sterilization time (t s ) when the valve ( 7 ) is changed from the open position to the closed position. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator ( 1 ) as in  claim 4 , characterized by the control unit ( 6 ) that activates the ultraviolet lamp ( 5 ) and deactivates the heater ( 4 ) during the predetermined sterilization time when the time (t) elapsed since the initiation of the thawing process reaches the surface thawing time lower value (t 2 ), and deactivates the ultraviolet lamp ( 5 ) and activates the heater ( 4 ) when the time (t) elapsed since the initiation of the thawing process reaches the surface thawing time upper value (t 3 ). 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator ( 1 ) as in  claim 4 , comprising at least one valve ( 7 ) disposed on the thawing compartment ( 3 ) and that allows the flow of cold air into the thawing compartment ( 3 ), characterized by the control unit ( 6 ) that activates the ultraviolet lamp ( 5 ) during the predetermined sterilization time (t s ) when the valve ( 7 ) is changed from the open position to the closed position. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator ( 1 ) as in  claim 5 , comprising at least one valve ( 7 ) disposed on the thawing compartment ( 3 ) and that allows the flow of cold air into the thawing compartment ( 3 ), characterized by the control unit ( 6 ) that activates the ultraviolet lamp ( 5 ) during the predetermined sterilization time (t s ) when the valve ( 7 ) is changed from the open position to the closed position. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator ( 1 ) as in  claim 7 , characterized by the control unit ( 6 ) that activates the ultraviolet lamp ( 5 ) and deactivates the heater ( 4 ) during the predetermined sterilization time (t s ) when the time (t) elapsed since the initiation of the thawing process reaches the thawing time (t 1 ). 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator ( 1 ) as in  claim 17 , characterized by the control unit ( 6 ) that activates the ultraviolet lamp ( 5 ) and deactivates the heater ( 4 ) during the predetermined sterilization time when the time (t) elapsed since the initiation of the thawing process reaches the surface thawing time lower value (t 2 ), and deactivates the ultraviolet lamp ( 5 ) and activates the heater ( 4 ) when the time (t) elapsed since the initiation of the thawing process reaches the surface thawing time upper value (t 3 ). 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator ( 1 ) as in  claim 18 , comprising at least one valve ( 7 ) disposed on the thawing compartment ( 3 ) and that allows the flow of cold air into the thawing compartment ( 3 ), characterized by the control unit ( 6 ) that activates the ultraviolet lamp ( 5 ) during the predetermined sterilization time (t s ) when the valve ( 7 ) is changed from the open position to the closed position.