A refrigerator includes a cabinet coupled to one or more doors forming a storage compartment. The refrigerator additionally includes a first fan assembly positioned on an interior surface of a first cabinet wall, and a second fan assembly positioned on the interior surface of a second cabinet wall. The first and second fan assemblies each include: two or more circulation fans; a filter coupled to a photocatalyst to form an activated filter; and a plurality of UV LEDs positioned to project light on the activated filter. An air circulation path is configured to direct air born bacteria and particulate matter within the storage compartment contemporaneously into the first and second fan assemblies using the two or more circulation fans and circulate filtered air into the storage compartment through the activated filter disposed in the air circulation path.

A merchandiser for storing refrigerated product for purchase by a customer is provided. The merchandiser includes a housing defining a cavity; an opening defined by the housing, the opening providing access to the cavity; a door coupled to the housing and movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the door covers the opening in the first position and the door is positioned away from the opening in the second position such that the cavity is accessible; a lock coupled to the door, the lock actuable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the lock is configured to lock the door in the first position in the locked position; and a controller coupled to the lock, the controller configured to actuate the lock to the unlocked position in response to receiving an unlock signal from a remote device.

The present invention relates to an apparatus capable of purifying air and maintaining freshness inside a refrigerator while minimizing deformation of the structure of an existing refrigerator, and a method for controlling the same. The apparatus for air purification and freshness maintenance according to the present invention is formed separately from a storage space (12) of a refrigerator (10) and is installed on a cooling passage (14) which communicates with the storage space (12) through an inlet (13) and an outlet (15), wherein a photocatalyst filter (30) is installed in the vicinity of the outlet (15) within the cooling passage (14), and a plurality of cells (32) forming an air vent are formed in the photocatalyst filter (30) in the same direction as the air flow direction within the cooling passage (14), in which a UV LED (41) for radiating ultraviolet rays toward the cells (32) of the photocatalyst filter (30) is installed.

A deodorization module and a storage apparatus, the deodorization module including: a housing having one surface including a curved surface; a suction port formed on one surface of the housing to draw in external air; a fan disposed in the suction port and drawing in air; a discharge port formed on one surface of the housing to discharge the air drawn through the fan into the outside of the housing; a photocatalytic filter disposed between the fan and the discharge port and including a through hole through which air passes; and a light source module for irradiating ultraviolet rays onto the photocatalytic filter.

An air purification module comprises: a housing having an interior space provided with an air inlet and an air outlet; an axial type blowing fan, mounted in the housing, for moving air from the air inlet to the air outlet; an air purifying unit, provided on a flow path of the air, for purifying the air; and a first guide for reducing the flow rate of the air between the blowing fan and the air purifying unit. The air purifying unit includes: a filter provided between the blowing fan and the air outlet; and a light source unit for providing light to the filter.

A photocatalytic air treatment system, including apparatuses and methods, for killing and/or mineralizing bacteria, viruses, mold, fungi, spores, mycotoxins, allergens, and other similar microorganisms or agents, and for oxidizing volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The system comprises one or more reactor beds configured in one or more stages with each reactor bed including a plurality of photocatalyst coated media substantially surrounding a plurality of sheathed ultraviolet light sources that may be arranged in a plurality of configurations. Adjacent ultraviolet light sources are positioned so as to create killing zones of photocatalyst coated media therebetween that are irradiated with ultraviolet light from multiple sources and in which an increased number of hydroxyl radicals are present. The photocatalyst generally comprises titanium dioxide, but may include one or more enhancers. The media is formed from or is coated with a material that induces the photocatalyst to form a nano-particle structure.

A deodorizing apparatus including: a base, in which a suction port and a discharge port are disposed; a cover coupled to the base; a suction fan fixed to the base so as to suction air through the suction port; a first fixing member disposed between the suction port and the discharge port so as to support a filter; a light emitting module including a light emitting diode; and a second fixing member for supporting the light emitting module. The first fixing member includes a first body part for spacing the filter apart from the base.

A deodorization module including a housing having a suction port and a discharge port formed therein, a fan disposed between the suction port and the discharge port, a photocatalytic filter disposed between the suction port and the fan, a light source module including a substrate and an ultraviolet light source and configured to irradiate the photocatalytic filter with ultraviolet light, and an ion generator disposed between the fan and the discharge port.

An ice merchandiser for storing bagged ice for purchase by a customer is provided. The ice merchandiser includes a payment system structured to enable a patron to facilitate a bagged ice product transaction at the ice merchandiser, and an access control system structured to selectively provide access to the ice merchandiser during the bagged ice product transaction based on the payment system providing an indication that payment for the ice product has been validated.

Ultraviolet radiation is directed within an area. Items located within the area and/or one or more conditions of the area are monitored over a period of time. Based on the monitoring, ultraviolet radiation sources are controlled by adjusting a direction, an intensity, a pattern, and/or a spectral power of the ultraviolet radiation generated by the ultraviolet radiation source. Adjustments to the ultraviolet radiation source(s) can correspond to one of a plurality of selectable operating configurations including a storage life preservation operating configuration, a disinfection operating configuration, and an ethylene decomposition operating configuration.