Ultraviolet sterilization device

Abstract

Provided is an ultraviolet sterilization device which can be easily used. An ultraviolet sterilization device 1 comprises: a base 10; a cylindrical air introducing member 20 one end of which in the axis direction is attachably / detachably connected to the base 10; an air blower 30 that is disposed on the base 10 and generates an air current inside the air introducing member 20; and a light source 40 that is fixed to the base 10 so as to be disposed inside the air introducing member 20 and emits ultraviolet rays.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an ultraviolet sterilization device that performs sterilization by irradiating ultraviolet rays.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, for example, in the medical field, ultraviolet sterilization devices that kill or inactivate harmful bacteria, viruses, etc. by irradiating ultraviolet rays from an ultraviolet lamp or the like have been widely used. Such ultraviolet sterilization devices include an irradiation sterilization type that performs irradiation sterilization (irradiation disinfection) by directly irradiating ultraviolet rays on indoor walls, equipment, etc., and an air sterilization type that performs air sterilization (air disinfection) by irradiating ultraviolet rays on the air circulated indoors. There are two types.

[0003] Among these, the irradiation sterilization type is limited to use in a room where entry is prohibited because there is a risk that the human body will be exposed to the irradiated ultraviolet rays, and thus requires careful handling. On the other hand, the air sterilization type can be used even in a room with people by shielding the light source such as an ultraviolet lamp, but the sterilization effect is limited to bacteria, viruses, etc. floating in the air.

[0004] In contrast, a combined type ultraviolet sterilization device that can be used as either the irradiation sterilization type or the air sterilization type has been proposed by the present applicant (see Patent Document 1). According to the combined type ultraviolet sterilization device, it is possible to selectively use irradiation sterilization and air sterilization according to the time and situation, so that sterilization can be performed efficiently.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] However, the ultraviolet sterilization device described in Patent Document 1 above had a relatively large and complex configuration, including a light-shielding door that could be opened and closed, and multiple ultraviolet lamps. For this reason, there was a demand for an ultraviolet sterilization device with a compact and simple configuration that could be used more easily.

[0007] In view of these circumstances, the present invention aims to provide an ultraviolet sterilization device that can be used easily. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The ultraviolet sterilization apparatus of the present invention comprises a base, a cylindrical air guide member with one end detachably connected to the base in the axial direction, a blower positioned on the base and generating airflow within the air guide member, and a light source fixed to the base so as to be positioned within the air guide member and irradiating with ultraviolet light. A louver member having a plurality of vanes arranged at the other end in the axial direction of the air guide member, inclined parallel to each other with respect to the axis of the air guide member, and covering a portion of the opening of the air guide member in a plan view, and a shielding plate arranged perpendicular to the axis of the air guide member so as to cover the remaining portion of the opening of the air guide member in a plan view, It is characterized by being equipped with [the following features].

[0009] According to the ultraviolet sterilization device of the present invention, it is possible to switch between irradiation sterilization and air sterilization with a simple mechanism consisting of a detachable cylindrical air guide member. This allows for a compact and simple device configuration, making it easy to carry and handle, and also reduces the limitations on the installation location. In other words, it is possible to realize an ultraviolet sterilization device that is easier to use.

[0010] Furthermore, it is preferable that the ultraviolet sterilization device of the present invention be equipped with a detection switch for detecting the attachment or detachment of the air guide member.

[0011] This design eliminates the need for any operations other than removing the air guide when switching between irradiation sterilization and air sterilization, thus simplifying handling. Furthermore, by utilizing a detection switch to detect unintentional removal of the air guide during air sterilization, it is possible to prevent the leakage of ultraviolet light, thus achieving both simplicity and safety.

[0012] Furthermore, in the ultraviolet sterilization device of the present invention, it is preferable that the air guide member is connected to the upper part of the base.

[0013] This allows for a reduction in the installation space required for the device, thus increasing flexibility in placement. Furthermore, because it can generate vertical airflow for air sterilization, it can efficiently circulate and sterilize indoor air despite its compact and simple configuration.

[0014] Furthermore, in the ultraviolet sterilization apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the blower has a rotating impeller and is positioned such that the rotation center of the impeller coincides with the axis of the air guide member.

[0015] This approach improves both the airflow within the air guide and the space efficiency within the device. In other words, it enables efficient air sterilization while maintaining a compact and simple configuration.

[0016] Furthermore, in the ultraviolet sterilization device of the present invention, it is preferable that the impeller has a hub and a plurality of blades provided on the outer circumferential surface of the hub, and that the light source is positioned on the rotation center side of the impeller than the maximum outer diameter portion of the hub.

[0017] According to this, it becomes possible to prevent the airflow within the air guide from being obstructed by the light source, thus enabling efficient air sterilization.

[0018] Furthermore, in the ultraviolet sterilization device of the present invention, it is preferable to provide an air guide duct that is provided on the base, communicates with the inside of the air guide member, and opens on the side surface of the base.

[0019] According to this, for example, it becomes possible to efficiently suck air from the side of the device and discharge it upward, so that the indoor air can be efficiently circulated. Further, when the air guide duct is opened at the bottom surface of the base, a plurality of legs of a certain height are required, whereas by opening the air guide duct at the side surface of the base, it becomes possible to increase the degree of freedom in the configuration of the bottom of the base, so that the stability during installation can be increased and the installation location can be made unrestricted.

[0020] Further, in the ultraviolet sterilization device of the present invention, it is preferable that the air guide duct opens on two opposite side surfaces of the base.

[0021] According to this, it becomes possible to more efficiently suck air from the side of the device, so that the indoor air can be efficiently circulated. Further, since it becomes possible to configure the path of the air guide duct two-dimensionally, the space efficiency inside the base can be increased, and the device can be configured to be more compact and simple.

[0023] According to this, while having a simple configuration, it becomes possible to prevent the leakage of ultraviolet rays from the air guide member without hindering the flow of air, so that both simplicity and safety can be achieved. Further, since it becomes possible to arrange the axial end portions of the air guide members that serve as air discharge ports or suction ports at positions that catch the eyes of people around, the device can be configured to be compact and the installation location can be made unrestricted.

[0024] Further, in the ultraviolet sterilization device of the present invention, it is preferable to include a plurality of the louver members having the same shape, and the louver members are arranged in a posture in which the inclination directions of the louver blades are different between the adjacent louver members.

[0025] According to this, while suppressing an increase in manufacturing cost, it becomes possible to more reliably prevent the leakage of ultraviolet rays from the air guide member, so that both simplicity and safety can be achieved.

[0026] In addition, in the ultraviolet sterilization device of the present invention, it is preferable to include a human presence sensor that is disposed on the base and detects the presence of people around.

[0027] According to this, when people are present around during irradiation sterilization, it becomes possible to automatically stop the irradiation of ultraviolet rays, so that both simplicity and safety can be achieved.

Effects of the Invention

[0028] According to the ultraviolet sterilization device of the present invention, it is possible to achieve an excellent effect of being able to be used simply.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0029] [Figure 1] A is a front view of an ultraviolet sterilization device that is an embodiment of the present invention. B is a right side view of the ultraviolet sterilization device. [Figure 2] A is a plan view of the ultraviolet sterilization device. B is a bottom view of the ultraviolet sterilization device. [Figure 3] A is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I of FIG. 2A. B is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 2A. [Figure 4] It is a front view showing a state in which the air guiding member is separated from the base. [Figure 5] It is a cross-sectional view showing the louver part disassembled.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0030] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that in each figure, there are parts where the description is omitted or simplified.

[0031] FIG. 1A is a front view of an ultraviolet sterilization device 1 that is an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a right side view of the ultraviolet sterilization device 1. Further, FIG. 2A is a plan view of the ultraviolet sterilization device 1, and FIG. 2B is a bottom view of the ultraviolet sterilization device 1. Further, FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I of FIG. 2A, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 2A.

[0032] As shown in these figures, the ultraviolet sterilization device 1 comprises a truncated pyramidal base 10, a cylindrical air guide member 20 detachably connected to the upper part of the base 10, a blower 30 disposed inside the base 10, an ultraviolet lamp 40 fixed to the base 10 so as to be disposed inside the air guide member 20, a power supply unit 50 disposed inside the base 10, and a control unit 60 disposed inside the base 10.

[0033] The ultraviolet sterilization device 1 of this embodiment is configured to operate in two modes: an air sterilization mode (air disinfection mode) in which ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet lamp 40 is irradiated onto air introduced into the air guide member 20 by the blower 30, and an irradiation sterilization mode (irradiation disinfection mode) in which ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet lamp 40 is irradiated directly onto the walls and equipment of the room by removing the air guide member 20 from the base. In this embodiment, the air sterilization mode is a mode that operates continuously for up to 8 hours, while the irradiation sterilization mode is a mode that operates only for a preset irradiation time (operating time).

[0034] The base 10 is the part that houses or supports the various components of the ultraviolet sterilization device 1. The base 10 is constructed as a truncated pyramidal box by combining multiple components made of appropriate resins. An operating switch 11 for the user to operate the ultraviolet sterilization device 1 is provided on the front surface 10a of the base 10.

[0035] Furthermore, multiple status indicators 12a to 12c and 12d to 12g, each consisting of LEDs, are provided on the left and right sides of the operation switch 11. Status indicator 12a indicates that the device is operating in air sterilization mode, status indicator 12b indicates the status of the battery 52, and status indicator 12c indicates the occurrence of an abnormality.

[0036] Furthermore, status indicators 12d to 12g indicate that the device is operating in irradiation sterilization mode at each irradiation time (operating time). Specifically, status indicator 12d indicates that the device is operating in irradiation sterilization mode with an irradiation time of 10 minutes, status indicator 12e indicates that the device is operating in irradiation sterilization mode with an irradiation time of 60 minutes, status indicator 12f indicates that the device is operating in irradiation sterilization mode with an irradiation time of 180 minutes, and status indicator 12g indicates that the device is operating in irradiation sterilization mode with an irradiation time of 420 minutes. In this embodiment, the irradiation time for irradiation sterilization mode can be selected from 10 minutes, 60 minutes, 180 minutes, and 420 minutes.

[0037] Furthermore, an infrared receiver 13 is provided on the front 10a and rear 10b of the base 10 to receive infrared signals from a remote control device (so-called remote control), which is not shown in the diagram. The infrared receiver 13 has a known configuration and transmits an operation signal based on the received infrared signal to the control unit 60.

[0038] The base 10 is equipped with three motion sensors (pyroelectric infrared sensors) 14 on its front 10a, right side 10c, and left side 10d, respectively, to detect the presence of people in the surrounding area. These motion sensors 14 are evenly spaced at 120° intervals around the vertical axis C1 of the base 10, so as to cover all directions around the base 10. The motion sensors 14 have a known configuration and detect when a person enters within a radius of approximately 5m from the axis C1, and transmit a detection signal to the control unit 60.

[0039] Two detection switches 15 for detecting the attachment and detachment of the air guide member 20 are provided on the upper surface 10e of the base 10. These detection switches 15 have a known configuration and are configured to turn ON when pressed downward by the air guide member 20 connected to the base 10, and to turn OFF when the pressure from the air guide member 20 is released. The control unit 60 determines that the air guide member 20 is connected to the base 10 when both detection switches 15 are ON. The control unit 60 also determines that the air guide member 20 has fallen off or been removed from the base 10 when at least one of the two detection switches 15 is OFF.

[0040] A protective fence 16 for protecting the ultraviolet lamp 40 is also erected on the upper surface 10e of the base 10. This protective fence 16 consists of four upright rod-shaped members 16a and connecting members 16b that connect the base ends and tip ends of the four rod-shaped members 16a to each other. Both the rod-shaped members 16a and the connecting members 16b are made of a suitable metal (stainless steel in this embodiment) and are joined together by welding.

[0041] Inside the base 10, there is an air guide duct 17 for introducing air into the air guide member 20. This air guide duct 17 is configured in an inverted T shape. Specifically, the air guide duct 17 consists of a horizontal section 17a that is continuous horizontally and opens on the right side 10c and left side 10d of the base 10 (i.e., opposite sides), a vertical section 17b that extends upward from the center of the horizontal section 17a, and a protruding section 17c that extends further upward from the upper end of the vertical section 17b and protrudes from the upper surface 10e of the base 10. The air guide duct 17 is in communication with the inside of the air guide member 20 via the protruding section 17c.

[0042] The cross-sectional shape of the air guide duct 17 is a horizontally elongated rectangle in the horizontal section 17a and a square in the vertical section 17b. Furthermore, the cross-sectional shape of the protruding section 17c is a circular shape with a smaller diameter than the width dimension of the vertical section 17b.

[0043] Inside the base 10, the control unit 60 is located on the front side of the air duct 17. The power supply unit 50 is located on the rear side of the air duct 17. A DC jack 51 is provided on the back surface 10b of the base 10 to which an AC adapter (not shown) is connected. Inside the base 10, a battery housing 18 for housing the battery 52 is provided adjacent to the power supply unit 50. A removable cover 10f1 is provided on the bottom surface 10f of the base 10, and the battery 52 can be inserted and removed by removing this cover 10f1.

[0044] In this embodiment, by opening the air guide duct 17 on the right side 10c and the left side 10d, air is efficiently drawn in from the side of the base 10 and discharged upward from the tip of the air guide member 20, enabling efficient circulation of air in the room. Furthermore, by configuring the air guide duct 17 in an inverted T-shape with a two-dimensional path, various components, including the relatively large battery 52, can be placed in front of and behind the air guide duct 17 (front and rear sides), thereby improving space efficiency within the base 10. In addition, by opening the horizontal section 17a in two places, the cross-sectional area of ​​the horizontal section 17a is reduced, making the base 10 more compact.

[0045] Furthermore, if, for example, the air guide duct 17 is configured linearly and opens at the bottom surface 10f, it becomes necessary to provide multiple legs to separate the bottom surface 10f from the floor, which reduces the contact area with the floor and may make the device unstable, potentially limiting the installation location. In this embodiment, by making the air guide duct 17 open on the right side 10c and the left side 10d, it is possible to configure the bottom surface 10f to be substantially flat, thereby increasing the contact area with the floor and improving stability during installation.

[0046] The air guide member 20, in air sterilization mode, guides the air from the air guide duct 17 upward and covers the ultraviolet lamp 40 to prevent people in the vicinity from being exposed to ultraviolet light. The air guide member 20 consists of a cylindrical tube portion 21, a skirt portion 22 provided on one axial end (base 10 side) of the tube portion 21, and a louver portion 23 provided on the other axial end (tip side) of the tube portion 21.

[0047] Furthermore, the air guide member 20 is erected on the upper part of the base 10 with its axis C2 substantially aligned with the axis C1 of the base 10. In this embodiment, by arranging the air guide member 20 in this manner, the required installation space is reduced, and efficient circulation of indoor air is made possible by generating vertical airflow.

[0048] The cylindrical portion 21 is made of a suitable metal (in this embodiment, an aluminum alloy), and its inner circumferential surface 21a reflects ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet lamp 40, thereby efficiently killing or inactivating bacteria and other particles in the air flowing through the air guide member 20. By constructing the cylindrical portion 21 from a suitable metal, mirror finishing of the inner circumferential surface 21a is omitted, resulting in lower costs. Furthermore, in this embodiment, by constructing the cylindrical portion 21 from an aluminum alloy, the air guide member 20 is made lighter, making it easier to attach and detach from the base 10.

[0049] The skirt portion 22 is a funnel-shaped member made of a suitable resin, and is connected to the cylindrical portion 21 by having its cylindrical tip portion 22a housed inside the cylindrical portion 21. Furthermore, the outer circumferential surface 22b of the skirt portion 22 is configured to be smoothly continuous with the surface of the base 10, thereby enhancing the sense of unity between the base 10 and the air guide member 20 and improving the overall design.

[0050] The inner circumferential surface 22c of the skirt portion 22 is provided with an annular contact surface 22d that abuts against the tip surface 17c1 of the protruding portion 17c of the air guide duct 17, and an annular detection projection 22e that abuts against the detection switch 15. Furthermore, an annular outer circumferential wall 22f is provided on the outer circumferential wall 22f1. The outer surface 22f1 of this outer circumferential wall 22f is provided with two engaged projections 22g that engage with the two engaging projections 19 of the base 10, respectively.

[0051] Figure 4 is a front view showing the air guide member 20 separated from the base 10. The engaging projection 19 is configured in a rectangular prism shape and is provided on the inner circumferential surface 10e2 of a circular recess 10e1 on the upper surface 10e of the base 10 in plan view. The engaged projection 22g is configured in an L-shape, consisting of an axial portion 22g1 extending downward in the axial direction along the outer circumferential wall 22f from the inner circumferential surface 22c of the skirt portion 22, and a circumferential portion 22g2 extending clockwise in the circumferential direction in plan view along the outer circumferential wall 22f from the tip of the axial portion 22g1. The engaging projection 19 and the engaged projection 22g are engaged when the circumferential portion 22g2 of the engaged projection 22g is positioned below the engaging projection 19.

[0052] To connect the air guide member 20 to the base 10, first, the air guide member 20 is brought close to the upper surface 10e of the base 10 from above, with the ultraviolet lamp 40 and protective fence 16 housed inside, and the air guide member 20 is placed on the base 10 in a rotational position around the axis C2 in which the engaging projection 19 and the engaged projection 22g do not interfere with each other. As a result, the contact surface 22d comes into contact with the tip surface 17c1 of the protruding portion 17c, and the air guide duct 17 and the inside of the cylindrical portion 21 communicate. Also, the detection switch 15 is pressed by the detection projection 22e and turns ON.

[0053] Next, the air guide member 20 is rotated clockwise in a plan view, engaging the engaging projection 19 with the engaged projection 22g. This connects the air guide member 20 to the upper surface 10e of the base 10 in a state where it cannot easily fall off. The detection switch 15 is also kept in the ON state. The outer circumferential surface 22b of the skirt portion 22 and the upper surface 10e of the base 10 are marked with indicators 22h, 10g1, and 10g2, which indicate the rotational position just before the engaged projection 22g and the engaging projection 19 begin to engage, and the rotational direction for engaging the engaged projection 22g and the engaging projection 19.

[0054] The air guide member 20 is removed from the base 10 by rotating the air guide member 20 counterclockwise in a plan view to release the engagement between the engaging projection 19 and the engaged projection 22g, and then separating the air guide member 20 from the base 10.

[0055] Thus, in this embodiment, the air guide member 20 can be attached to and detached from the base 10 very easily. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the protective fence 16 prevents the air guide member 20 from colliding with the ultraviolet lamp 40 during attachment and detachment, making the attachment and detachment of the air guide member 20 even easier. It goes without saying that the protective fence 16 also protects the ultraviolet lamp 40 from any collision even when the air guide member 20 is separated from the base.

[0056] The louver section 23 allows air to flow out from the air guide member 20 while preventing ultraviolet rays from leaking out of the air guide member 20. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the louver section 23 in an exploded state. In this embodiment, the louver section 23 is constructed by arranging and combining three louver members 24 of the same shape in the axial direction.

[0057] The louver member 24 is a stepped cylindrical member made of a suitable resin, and is composed of a small-diameter section 24a with a small inner and outer diameter, a large-diameter section 24b with a larger inner and outer diameter than the small-diameter section 24a, and a plurality of vanes 24c provided to span the inside of the small-diameter section 24a. The outer diameter of the small-diameter section 24a and the inner diameter of the large-diameter section 24b are configured to fit together, and it is possible to connect two louver members 24 by inserting the small-diameter section 24a of one louver member 24 into the large-diameter section 24b of another louver member 24. The small-diameter section 24a is also configured to be enclosed when inserted into the cylindrical section 21.

[0058] The vanes 24c are plate-shaped members arranged at an inclination with respect to the axis C2 of the air guide member 20. Multiple vanes (four in this embodiment) are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the axis C2 and the spanning direction, thereby allowing airflow while shielding from ultraviolet rays. In this embodiment, a plate-shaped shielding plate 24d is further provided at one end of the vanes 24c in the arrangement direction, positioned substantially perpendicular to the axis C2, thereby adjusting the airflow and ultraviolet shading performance.

[0059] In this embodiment, a positioning groove 24e is provided on the outer circumferential surface 24a1 of the small diameter portion 24a, and a positioning projection 24f housed within the positioning groove 24e is provided on the inner circumferential surface 24b1 of the large diameter portion 24b. The positioning groove 24e and the positioning projection 24f are provided at positions opposite to each other with respect to the axis C2. Therefore, when the two louver members 24 are connected, the inclination directions of the two slats 24c are diametrically opposed.

[0060] In this embodiment, by making the inclination directions of the fins 24c of the interconnected louver members 24 different, the shielding of ultraviolet rays is enhanced, thereby improving safety. Furthermore, by making the louver members 24 members of the same shape that can be interconnected, it is possible to stack multiple rows of fins 24c in the axial direction to further enhance the shielding of ultraviolet rays while reducing the number of molds required and lowering manufacturing costs.

[0061] Furthermore, the way in which the inclination directions are differed is not limited to being in exact opposite directions; for example, they may differ by 90° around the axis C2 in a plan view, or other methods may be used. It also goes without saying that the number of louver members 24 constituting the louver section 23 is not limited to three.

[0062] The blower 30 is for generating airflow within the air guide member 20. Specifically, the blower 30 draws outside air into the air guide duct 17 and sends it into the air guide member 20, releasing it to the outside through the louver section 23. The blower 30 in this embodiment is an axial flow fan and is positioned within the vertical section 17b of the air guide duct 17, as shown in Figures 3A and 3B. The blower 30 consists of a frame 31 fixed to the air guide duct 17, a motor 32 fixed to the frame 31, and an impeller 33 that rotates driven by the motor 32. The impeller 33 consists of a cylindrical or cylindrical hub 33a connected to the motor 32 and a plurality of blades 33b provided on the outer circumferential surface 33a1 of the hub 33a.

[0063] In this embodiment, the blower 30 is positioned within the vertical section 17b of the air guide duct 17, and the rotation center C3 of the impeller 33 is made to substantially coincide with the axis C2 of the air guide member 20, thereby enabling efficient flow of air discharged by the blower 30 within the air guide member 20. Furthermore, the blower 30 is positioned directly below the ultraviolet lamp 40, and the horizontal section 17a of the air guide duct 17 is positioned below it, improving space efficiency within the base 10.

[0064] The ultraviolet lamp 40 is a light source with a known configuration that generates ultraviolet light by discharging electricity within a glass tube 41 filled with mercury vapor. As shown in Figures 3A and 3B, a support member 42 is provided above the blower 30 in the vertical section 17b of the air duct 17, spanning across the vertical section 17b, and the ultraviolet lamp 40 is fixed to this support member 42.

[0065] The ultraviolet lamp 40 in this embodiment is equipped with an elongated cylindrical glass tube 41 and is positioned such that its axis C4 is approximately parallel to the axis C2 of the air guide member 20, at a location where its axis C4 is near the axis C2 of the air guide member 20. Furthermore, the ultraviolet lamp 40 is positioned so that it is located on the rotation center C3 side of the impeller 33, beyond the maximum outer diameter portion of the hub 33a of the impeller 33. In other words, the ultraviolet lamp 40 is positioned and positioned so as not to obstruct the airflow of the air sent out from the blower 30.

[0066] Furthermore, the ultraviolet lamp 40 is positioned such that the entire axial range of the glass tube 41 from which ultraviolet light is emitted is covered by the inner circumferential surface 21a of the cylindrical portion 21 that reflects ultraviolet light, so that almost the entire amount of ultraviolet light emitted from the glass tube 41 is reflected by the inner circumferential surface 21a of the cylindrical portion 21.

[0067] This embodiment allows air to flow smoothly around the ultraviolet lamp 40, and efficiently irradiates this flowing air with ultraviolet radiation from the glass tube 41 and reflected ultraviolet radiation from the inner surface 21a of the cylindrical portion 21. In other words, it is possible to efficiently discharge and circulate the efficiently sterilized air within the room.

[0068] The power supply unit 50 has a known configuration and supplies power to each part from the DC jack 51 or the battery 52. ​​In this embodiment, a secondary battery is used as the battery 52, and the power supply unit 50 charges the battery 52 with power from the DC jack 51.

[0069] The control unit 60 is equipped with a known configuration including a CPU, ROM, and RAM, and controls and operates each part of the ultraviolet sterilization device 1, such as the blower 30, ultraviolet lamp 40, power supply unit 50, infrared receiver unit 13, and human presence sensor 14. The control unit 60 is also equipped with a buzzer 61 that outputs a warning sound, and when operating in irradiation sterilization mode, it outputs a warning sound from the buzzer 61 in a predetermined manner.

[0070] Next, we will explain the operation of the ultraviolet sterilization device 1.

[0071] First, let's explain the operation in air sterilization mode. When operating the ultraviolet sterilizer 1 in air sterilization mode, the user connects the AC adapter, which is connected to the commercial power supply, to the DC jack 51, and with the air guide member 20 connected to the base 10, press and hold the operation switch 11 for about 1 second. This activates the control unit 60. Note that in air sterilization mode, which is intended for long-term continuous operation, the ultraviolet sterilizer 1 will only operate when power is supplied from the DC jack 51.

[0072] If both detection switches 15 are ON and power is supplied from the DC jack 51, the control unit 60 rotates the impeller 33 of the blower 30 and lights up the ultraviolet lamp 40. The control unit 60 also lights up the status indicator 12a to indicate that it is operating in air sterilization mode and measures the operating time. Furthermore, if both detection switches 15 are ON, the control unit 60 does not operate the motion sensor 14, or ignores the signal from the motion sensor 14 (disables the motion sensor 14).

[0073] The control unit 60 stops the operation of the blower 30 and turns off the ultraviolet lamp 40, thereby stopping the operation of the ultraviolet sterilization device 1, if the operation switch 11 is briefly pressed, if either of the two detection switches 15 is turned OFF (if the air guide member 20 is removed), if power is lost from the DC jack 51, or if 8 hours have elapsed since the start of operation. When the control unit 60 turns off the ultraviolet lamp 40, it also stores the measured operating time cumulatively as the illumination time of the ultraviolet lamp 40.

[0074] Next, the operation in irradiation sterilization mode will be described. When the user operates the ultraviolet sterilizer 1 in irradiation sterilization mode, they press and hold the operation switch 11 for approximately 1 second with the air guide member 20 removed from the base 10. This activates the control unit 60. Since the irradiation sterilization mode operates only for the initially set irradiation time, the ultraviolet sterilizer 1 can also be operated by power supplied from the battery 52.

[0075] If both detection switches 15 are in the OFF state, the control unit 60 puts the ultraviolet sterilization device 1 into standby mode and starts measuring the standby time (1 minute). The control unit 60 also sets the irradiation time to 10 minutes and makes the status indicator 12d, which indicates that the irradiation time is 10 minutes, blink.

[0076] The user can switch the irradiation time setting by pressing the operation switch 11 while the device is in standby mode. When the control unit 60 is powered by the DC jack 51, each time the operation switch 11 is pressed while the device is in standby mode, the control unit 60 sequentially switches the irradiation time setting from 10 minutes → 60 minutes → 180 minutes → 420 minutes → 10 minutes, and sequentially flashes the status indicators 12d to 12g that display each irradiation time. When the device is powered by the battery 52, each time the operation switch 11 is pressed while the device is in standby mode, the control unit 60 sequentially switches the irradiation time setting from 10 minutes → 60 minutes → 10 minutes, and sequentially flashes the status indicators 12d and 12e that display each irradiation time.

[0077] When the standby time has elapsed, the control unit 60 starts detecting people in the surrounding area using the motion sensor 14 and turns on the ultraviolet lamp 40. The control unit 60 also turns on the status indicator 12d to 12g that displays the set irradiation time to indicate that it is operating in irradiation sterilization mode and starts measuring the irradiation time (operating time). Furthermore, while the ultraviolet lamp 40 is lit, the control unit 60 controls the buzzer 61 to output a warning sound periodically (for example, every 3 seconds).

[0078] While operating in irradiation sterilization mode, the control unit 60 turns off the ultraviolet lamp 40 when it receives a human detection signal from the human presence sensor 14 indicating the presence of a person. The control unit 60 keeps the ultraviolet lamp 40 off while it is receiving a human detection signal from the human presence sensor 14. After that, if the control unit 60 does not receive a human detection signal from the human presence sensor 14 for 10 seconds, it turns the ultraviolet lamp 40 back on.

[0079] Once the set irradiation time has elapsed, the control unit 60 turns off the ultraviolet lamp 40, stores the irradiation time (operating time) cumulatively as the illumination time of the ultraviolet lamp 40, and then stops the operation of the ultraviolet sterilization device 1. In this embodiment, the measurement of irradiation time continues even when the ultraviolet lamp 40 is turned off based on the human detection signal from the human presence sensor 14, but the measurement of irradiation time may be stopped when the ultraviolet lamp 40 is turned off based on the human detection signal. Also in this embodiment, the output of a warning sound from the buzzer 61 continues even when the ultraviolet lamp 40 is turned off based on the human detection signal, but the type of warning sound may be different when the ultraviolet lamp 40 is turned off based on the human detection signal.

[0080] Furthermore, if the operation switch 11 is briefly pressed or both detection switches 15 are turned ON before the set irradiation time has elapsed (when the air guide member 20 is placed on the base 10), the control unit 60 stores the irradiation time up to that point as the time the ultraviolet lamp 40 is lit, and then stops the operation of the ultraviolet sterilization device 1. Normally, in these cases, the ultraviolet lamp 40 is already turned off based on the human detection signal from the human motion sensor 14, but if it is lit, the control unit 60 first turns off the ultraviolet lamp 40.

[0081] In both the air sterilization mode and the irradiation sterilization mode, the control unit 60 flashes the status indicator 12b red when the battery 52 is being charged by power supplied from the DC jack 51, and lights up the status indicator 12b green when the battery 52 is fully charged. Furthermore, when power is not supplied from the DC jack 51, the control unit 60 lights up the status indicator 12b green when the voltage of the battery 52 is above a predetermined voltage (in this embodiment, a voltage that allows operation for 10 minutes in irradiation sterilization mode), and lights up the status indicator 12b red when the voltage of the battery 52 is below the predetermined voltage.

[0082] Furthermore, if power is not supplied from the DC jack 51 and the voltage of the battery 52 is below a predetermined voltage, the control unit 60 will disable the selection of the irradiation time for the irradiation sterilization mode even if the operation switch 11 is pressed after a long press, and will remain in standby mode.

[0083] Furthermore, if the control unit 60 detects an abnormality in any part during operation, it lights up the status indicator 12b and, depending on the type of abnormality, lights up one of the other status indicators 12a, 12c to 12g. In other words, the control unit 60 notifies the user of the occurrence of an abnormality in a manner that allows the type of abnormality to be determined by lighting up the status indicators 12a to 12g in predetermined combinations.

[0084] Furthermore, if the cumulative operating time of the ultraviolet lamp 40 exceeds a predetermined service life (for example, 6000 hours) at startup, the control unit 60 flashes the status indicator 12b to indicate that the ultraviolet lamp 40 needs to be replaced. The control unit 60 also resets the cumulative operating time of the ultraviolet lamp 40 if the operation switch 11 is pressed and held for approximately 10 seconds after startup. Therefore, if the user replaces the ultraviolet lamp 40, they need to press and hold the operation switch 11 after startup to reset the cumulative operating time.

[0085] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the same operation as the operation performed by pressing the operation switch 11 can also be performed by a remote control device (not shown). In this case, the control unit 60 performs the various processes described above based on the operation signal received from the infrared receiver 13.

[0086] As described above, the ultraviolet sterilization device 1 of this embodiment achieves switching between air sterilization mode and irradiation sterilization mode without requiring a complex mechanism, resulting in a simple and compact overall configuration. This makes it easy to carry and handle, and it can be installed not only on the floor but also on a tabletop, thus limiting its installation location. Furthermore, it automatically operates in air sterilization mode when the air guide member 20 is connected, and automatically operates in irradiation sterilization mode when the air guide member 20 is removed, making it extremely easy to use.

[0087] Furthermore, the ultraviolet sterilization device 1 is designed to be both simple and safe, as it detects the removal or detachment of the air guide member 20 in air sterilization mode using a detection switch 15, and detects the presence of people in the surrounding area in irradiation sterilization mode using a motion sensor 14 to turn off the ultraviolet lamp 40. In particular, the detection switch 15 also serves as a switch to detect the switching between air sterilization mode and irradiation sterilization mode, thus achieving a high level of both simplicity and safety.

[0088] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the ultraviolet sterilization apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0089] For example, the shape and arrangement of each part of the ultraviolet sterilization device 1 are not limited to the shapes and arrangements shown in the embodiments described above, and various known shapes and arrangements can be adopted. Also, the direction of air flow within the ultraviolet sterilization device 1 may be in the opposite direction.

[0090] Furthermore, the horizontal section 17a of the air guide duct 17 may be provided to open on sides other than the right side 10c and left side 10d, i.e., the front 10a and rear 10b. Alternatively, the horizontal section 17a may be configured in a cross shape in plan view, with openings on all sides.

[0091] Furthermore, the air guide member 20 may be connected to a part of the base 10 other than the upper surface 10e, and the tip of the air guide member 20 may be directed, for example, to the side or diagonally upward. Also, the air guide member 20 may be bent or curved, and the direction of air discharge (or suction) may be changed by bending or curving it.

[0092] Furthermore, the blower 30 may be of other types, such as a supercharger or a centrifugal fan. Also, the blower 30 may be located within the horizontal section 17a of the air duct 17, or multiple blowers 30 may be provided.

[0093] Furthermore, the ultraviolet lamp 40 may be a light source of other types, such as an ultraviolet LED, and multiple ultraviolet lamps 40 may be provided. In this case, they may be covered by a single air guide member 20, or they may be individually covered by multiple air guide members 20.

[0094] Furthermore, the actions and effects described in the embodiments described above are merely a list of the most preferred actions and effects resulting from the present invention, and the actions and effects according to the present invention are not limited to these. [Explanation of symbols]

[0095] 1 Ultraviolet sterilizer 10 bases 10c Right side of the base 10d Left side of the base 14 motion sensors 15 Detection switch 17. Air duct 20 Air guide member 24 Louver components 24c feather board 30 Blower 33 Impeller 33a Hub 33a1 Outer surface of the hub 33b Feather 40 UV lamps C2 Axis of the air guide member C3 Impeller rotation center

Claims

1. Base and, A cylindrical air guide member, one end of which is detachably connected to the base in the axial direction, A blower, which is placed on the base and generates airflow within the air guide member, A light source that emits ultraviolet light is fixed to the base so as to be positioned within the air guide member, An ultraviolet sterilization device comprising a louver member having a plurality of vanes arranged at the other axial end of the air guide member, inclined parallel to each other with respect to the axis of the air guide member, and covering a portion of the opening of the air guide member in a plan view, and a shielding plate arranged perpendicular to the axis of the air guide member so as to cover the remaining portion of the opening of the air guide member in a plan view.

2. In the ultraviolet sterilization apparatus according to claim 1, An ultraviolet sterilization device characterized by comprising a detection switch for detecting the attachment or detachment of the aforementioned air guide member.

3. In the ultraviolet sterilization apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, The ultraviolet sterilization device is characterized in that the air guide member is connected to the upper part of the base.

4. In the ultraviolet sterilization apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The blower is characterized in that it has a rotating impeller and is positioned such that the rotation center of the impeller coincides with the axis of the air guide member.

5. In the ultraviolet sterilization apparatus according to claim 4, The impeller has a hub and a plurality of blades provided on the outer surface of the hub, The ultraviolet sterilization device is characterized in that the light source is positioned on the rotational center side of the impeller more than the maximum outer diameter portion of the hub.

6. In the ultraviolet sterilization apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, An ultraviolet sterilization device characterized by comprising an air guide duct provided on the base, communicating with the inside of the air guide member, and opening on the side surface of the base.

7. In the ultraviolet sterilization apparatus according to claim 6, The ultraviolet sterilization device is characterized in that the air guide duct opens on two mutually opposite sides of the base.

8. In the ultraviolet sterilization apparatus according to claim 1, The system comprises multiple louver members of the same shape, The ultraviolet sterilization device is characterized in that the louver members are arranged so that adjacent louver members have different orientations in which the inclination direction of the fins is different.

9. In the ultraviolet sterilization apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, An ultraviolet sterilization device characterized by being equipped with a motion sensor that is placed on the base and detects the presence of people in the surrounding area.

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