Temperature controlling unit and container using the same

Abstract

A temperature controlling subunit, which includes a Stirling refrigerator as a temperature controlling device, is attached to an insulative lid. A heat absorbing sink which constitutes a temperature control effect member of the temperature controlling subunit is thermally exposed at one surface side of the lid. The resultant structure functions as a temperature controlling unit. Accordingly, the interior of the insulating container of an arbitrary size can be cooled with its opening closed and sealed by the temperature controlling unit, and items to be stored can be continuously stored for a longer time compared with a case of cooling the interior of the insulating container with solid carbon dioxide and a cold reserving agent conventionally used.

1 . A temperature controlling unit comprising: 
 an insulative lid; and    a temperature controlling subunit which includes a temperature controlling device provided on said lid, and includes a temperature control effect member which is thermally exposed at one surface side of said lid.    
   
   
       2 . The temperature controlling unit according to  claim 1 , wherein said temperature controlling subunit further includes an attachment member for attaching said temperature controlling subunit to said lid.  
   
   
       3 . The temperature controlling unit according to  claim 1 , wherein said temperature controlling device includes a Stirling refrigerator.  
   
   
       4 . A container comprising: 
 an insulating container which has an opening; and    said temperature controlling unit of  claim 1  which is independent of said insulating container, wherein said temperature controlling unit is detachably attached to said opening of said insulating container in such a manner as to close and seal said opening.    
   
   
       5 . The container according to  claim 4 , wherein said lid and said insulating container are made of foam synthetic resins.  
   
   
       6 . The container according to  claim 4 , wherein said opening of said insulating container is allowed to be closed and sealed selectively by said temperature controlling unit or an insulative second lid.  
   
   
       7 . The container according to  claim 4 , wherein said temperature control effect member is thermally exposed at an interior of said insulating container.  
   
   
       8 . The container according to  claim 4 , wherein said temperature controlling device includes a Stirling refrigerator.  
   
   
       9 . A temperature controlling unit comprising: 
 an insulative main lid;    an insulative sub-lid; and    a temperature controlling subunit which includes a temperature controlling device provided on said sub-lid,    wherein said temperature controlling subunit includes a temperature control effect member which is thermally exposed at one surface side of said sub-lid.    
   
   
       10 . The temperature controlling unit according to  claim 9 , wherein said temperature controlling subunit further includes an attachment member for attaching said temperature controlling subunit to said sub-lid.  
   
   
       11 . The temperature controlling unit according to  claim 9 , wherein said temperature controlling device includes a Stirling refrigerator.  
   
   
       12 . A container comprising: 
 an insulating container which has an opening; and    said temperature controlling unit of  claim 9  which is independent of said insulating container, wherein:    said sub-lid of said temperature controlling unit is detachably attached to said opening of said insulating container in such a manner as to close and seal a portion of said opening, and    said main lid of said temperature controlling unit is attached to said opening of said insulating container in such a manner as to close and seal an other portion of said opening.    
   
   
       13 . The container according to  claim 12 , wherein said main lid, said sub-lid and said insulating container are made of foam synthetic resins.  
   
   
       14 . The container according to  claim 12 , wherein said temperature controlling device includes a Stirling refrigerator.  
   
   
       15 . A temperature controlling unit comprising: 
 a frame which has an opening;    an insulative main lid so attached to said frame as to freely open and close a portion of said opening of said frame;    an insulative sub-lid so attached to said frame as to cover an other portion of said opening of said frame,    wherein said temperature controlling subunit includes a temperature controlling subunit which is attached to said sub-lid, and includes a Stirling refrigerator and a temperature control effect member thermally exposed at one surface side of said sub-lid.    
   
   
       16 . The temperature controlling unit according to  claim 15 , wherein said temperature controlling subunit further includes an attachment member for attaching said temperature controlling subunit to said sub-lid.  
   
   
       17 . A container comprising: 
 an insulating container which has an opening: and    said temperature controlling unit of  claim 15  which is independent of said insulating container, and is detachably attached to said opening of said insulating container in such a manner as to close and seal said opening.    
   
   
       18 . The container according to  claim 17 , wherein said main lid, said sub-lid and said insulating container are made of insulative materials in tabular shapes.  
   
   
       19 . The container according to  claim 15 , wherein said frame is made of a low heat-conductive material.  
   
   
       20 . The container according to  claim 17 , wherein said insulating container has a foldable structure.