blower

Abstract

The present application provides a kind of air supply machine (1), it has: head left and right swing freely air supply part (2), the air supply part (2) has the fan blade (17) for air supply, motor (18) of driving fan blade (17);Control unit (50), the control unit (50) carries out the control of the motor (18) of air supply part (2) and the control of the head left and right swing of air supply part (2), wherein, control unit (50) carries out the following control: compared with the wind speed at the position of the left and right swing of the head of air supply part (2) two ends, the wind speed at the position of the left and right swing of the head of air supply part (2) two ends is smaller.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the invention patent filed on September 27, 2019, with application number 201910922358.2 and invention title "Blower". Technical Field

[0002] This embodiment relates to a blower (circulator). Background Technology

[0003] In recent years, in order to avoid pollen and PM2.5 adhering to outdoor-dried laundry, the demand for indoor drying of laundry has increased, resulting in the following situation: using circulators to agitate indoor air to circulate air and dry laundry.

[0004] Existing technical documents

[0005] Patent documents

[0006] Patent document 1, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-54084 Summary of the Invention

[0007] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0008] However, conventional air circulators are designed to swing their heads left and right at a constant wind speed. If horizontally arranged laundry is to be dried, the laundry in the center receives a strong wind, while the laundry at the ends receives less. Furthermore, if the airflow from the air circulator is too strong, the laundry in the center shifts to the ends due to wind pressure, resulting in uneven airflow and wrinkles during drying.

[0009] This embodiment provides a blower that can dry laundry without wrinkles.

[0010] Methods for solving problems

[0011] According to one aspect of this embodiment, a blower is provided, comprising: a blower head that can swing left and right freely, the blower head having fan blades for blowing air and a motor for driving the fan blades; and a control unit that controls the motor of the blower head and controls the left and right swing of the blower head, wherein the control unit controls the airflow speed at a position near the center of the blower head to be smaller than the airflow speed at positions near the ends when the blower head swings left and right.

[0012] In addition, according to another aspect of this embodiment, a blower is provided, comprising: a blower head that can swing up and down freely, the blower head having fan blades for blowing air and a motor for driving the fan blades; and a control unit that controls the motor of the blower head and controls the swinging up and down of the blower head, wherein the control unit controls the airflow speed at the upper position of the blower head to be greater than the airflow speed at the lower position when the head of the blower swings up and down.

[0013] Invention Effects

[0014] According to this embodiment, unwashed items can be dried without wrinkles. Attached Figure Description

[0015] 【 Figure 1 [A perspective view of the blower in this embodiment.]

[0016] 【 Figure 2 [Front view of the blower in this embodiment]

[0017] 【 Figure 3 [Right view of the blower in this embodiment]

[0018] 【 Figure 4 [Top view of the blower in this embodiment]

[0019] 【 Figure 5 [Rear view of the blower in this embodiment]

[0020] 【 Figure 6 [Cross-sectional view of the blower in this embodiment.]

[0021] 【 Figure 7 [Exploded perspective view of the blower in this embodiment]

[0022] 【 Figure 8 The diagram shows the use of a comparative example blower to dry laundry.

[0023] 【 Figure 9 The diagram shows a scenario where the blower of this embodiment is used to dry laundry.

[0024] 【 Figure 10 The diagram shows a scenario where the blower of this embodiment is used to dry laundry.

[0025] 【 Figure 11 [This is a plan view showing the operation panel of the blower in this embodiment.]

[0026] 【 Figure 12The diagram illustrates the effect of setting the set angle range of the head swinging left and right in the clothes drying mode of the blower of this embodiment to 3 levels (steps). (a) The case of using the blower of the comparative example, and (b) The case of using the blower of this embodiment.

[0027] 【 Figure 13 The diagram illustrates the relationship between the set angle range of the left and right head swing and the wind speed in the clothes drying mode of the blower in this embodiment. (a) The set angle range of the left and right head swing is 60°, and (b) The set angle range of the left and right head swing is 120°.

[0028] 【 Figure 14 [This embodiment of the blower head swings left and right.]

[0029] 【 Figure 15 This is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the base of the blower in this embodiment.

[0030] 【 Figure 16 [This embodiment of the blower head swings up and down.]

[0031] 【 Figure 17 The diagram illustrates the relationship between the set angle of the left-right swing of the blower head and the angle of the up-down swing of the head in this embodiment. (a) The up-down swing angle of the head is 65°. (b) The set angle of the left-right swing of the head is 90°. (c) A picture of the air delivery trajectory.

[0032] 【 Figure 18 [This embodiment of the blower has an explanatory diagram of the head swing latch structure.]

[0033] 【 Figure 19 [This embodiment of the blower has an explanatory diagram of the head swing latch structure.]

[0034] 【 Figure 20 [This embodiment of the blower has an explanatory diagram of the head swing latch structure.]

[0035] 【 Figure 21 [Explanatory diagram of the gear frame of the blower in this embodiment.]

[0036] 【 Figure 22 [Explanatory diagram of the gear frame of the blower in this embodiment.]

[0037] 【 Figure 23 The diagram illustrates the up-and-down swinging motion of the blower head in this embodiment, (a) showing the blower's air delivery direction is horizontal, and (b) showing the blower moving upwards to its upper limit.

[0038] 【 Figure 24 [This embodiment of the blower head swings up and down in other actions illustrated in the diagram.]

[0039] 【 Figure 25 The diagram shows a cross-sectional view of the airflow in the blower of this embodiment.

[0040] 【 Figure 26 [A perspective view of the remote control holder of the blower in this embodiment.]

[0041] 【 Figure 27 The diagram shows the situation where the blower of this embodiment dries the laundry in its operating state.

[0042] 【 Figure 28 The diagram shows the situation where the blower of this embodiment dries the laundry in its operating state.

[0043] 【 Figure 29 The diagram shows the situation where the blower of this embodiment dries the laundry in its operating state.

[0044] 【 Figure 30 [Illustrative diagram of the vertical angle range of the blower in other embodiments]

[0045] 【 Figure 31 The diagram illustrates a scenario where a blower of another embodiment dries laundry.

[0046] 【 Figure 32 The diagram shows the situation where the blower of this embodiment agitates the air in the room.

[0047] 【 Figure 33 [Flowchart showing other head oscillation examples of the forced stirring mode of the blower in this embodiment.]

[0048] 【 Figure 34 The diagram shows the air being stirred in the room by a blower.

[0049] 【 Figure 35 The diagram shows the air being stirred in the room by a blower.

[0050] 【 Figure 36 [This is a perspective view showing the installation position of the distance sensor provided with the blower in this embodiment.]

[0051] 【 Figure 37 [Explanatory diagram of the on / off timer of the blower in this embodiment.]

[0052] 【 Figure 38 [A perspective view of the remote control holder of the blower in this embodiment.] Detailed Implementation

[0053] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, in the accompanying drawings, the same or similar symbols are added to the same or similar parts. However, the drawings are schematic diagrams, and it should be noted that the relationship between thickness and planar dimensions, the ratio of thickness of each layer, etc., differs from the actual object. Therefore, specific thicknesses and dimensions should be determined with reference to the following description. In addition, the accompanying drawings naturally include parts with different dimensional relationships and ratios.

[0054] [summary]

[0055] The blower 1 in this embodiment is a circulator equipped with a DC motor. This blower 1 is most suitable for room drying in the clothes drying mode. The angle of the head swinging left and right is adjustable, and the air supply capacity is improved by increasing the air intake area (UP). In the clothes drying mode, the laundry can be dried without wrinkles because the following control is performed: the air speed gradually decreases as the head rotates from the two ends of the left and right swinging position to the center position.

[0056] [Appearance]

[0057] Figures 1-5 To show the external view of the blower 1 in this embodiment, Figure 1 It is a 3D image. Figure 2 Main view, Figure 3 Right view Figure 4 This is a top view. Figure 5 This is a rear view. The blower 1 is constructed to enhance airflow through a spherical grid structure, while also appearing compact through an improved spherical shape design.

[0058] Specifically, such as Figures 1-5As shown, the blower 1 of this embodiment includes an air supply section 2 with an air outlet 11 on the front side and a grille 12 provided on the air outlet 11, and a base section (support section) 3 supporting the air supply section 2. Regarding the grille 12, a plurality of fins (air supply guide plates) 13 are arranged in a vortex shape. The inner end portion 13A near the center O of the vortex of the plurality of fins 13 protrudes more in the air supply direction 4 than the outer end portion 13B connected to the air outlet 11. In other words, the inner end portion 13A protrudes more in the air supply direction 4 than the outer end portion 13B of the portion 13C in which the plurality of fins 13 are formed within the grille 12. The inner end portion 13A is the inner end side near the center O of the vortex, including the vicinity of the inner end. The outer end portion 13B is the portion connected to the outer end side of the air outlet 11. As a result, the air is concentrated (converged) in the center, which can increase the wind speed at the center of the air supply direction. In addition, it can extend the distance that the air (spiral airflow) blown out from the air outlet 11 can reach. As a result, it can reliably stir the indoor air, making the indoor temperature more uniform and thus contributing to energy conservation.

[0059] Furthermore, a structure with a circular ring 13R is illustrated here, which prevents fingers from entering through the gaps between the multiple fins 13, 13, and also serves to reinforce the grid 12, intersecting with each fin 13, but the ring 13R may be omitted.

[0060] The cover 15 of the air supply section 2 has a front cover 15a and a rear cover 15b. The front cover 15a is a hemispherical cover made of, for example, a synthetic resin material such as polypropylene, and a spherical grille 12 is provided on the circular air supply port 11 that is opened at the front. The rear cover 15b is also a hemispherical cover made of, for example, a synthetic resin material such as polypropylene. A plurality of vents 21 for introducing external gas are formed on approximately the entire surface of the rear cover 15b.

[0061] The grille 12 is, for example, a front surface panel made of a highly impact-resistant synthetic resin material. Specifically, the vortex-shaped fins 13 gradually protrude towards the center O of the vortex, forming a convex curved shape. A cap 14 is installed at the center O of the vortex of the grille 12. If air is supplied from the rear of the grille 12, the airflow (wind) passes through the grille 12 in the front-rear direction, generating a spiral airflow that continues to move forward while forming a vortex.

[0062] The base portion 3 supports the air supply unit 2, allowing it to swing freely from side to side, and is placed on the mounting surface. The base portion 3 has a lower base portion 31 that is circular when viewed from above, and an upper base portion 32 that can be fitted into the lower base portion 31. The outer surface coverings of both the lower base portion 31 and the upper base portion 32 can be formed of, for example, a synthetic resin material such as polypropylene. A leg-shaped support portion 33 is vertically erected further back than the center of the upper base portion 32, and an operation panel 34 is positioned further forward than the support portion 33. Although the base portion 3 is shown here as a support portion 3, the support portion 3 can also be designed to be installed on a ceiling or the like.

[0063] [Internal Structure]

[0064] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view of the blower 1 according to this embodiment. As shown in the figure, the air supply section 2 is an air supply device that generates airflow, and includes a fan blade 17 for air supply and a motor 18 for driving the fan blade 17. An axial-flow propeller-type fan blade is used as the fan blade 17 for air supply. Alternatively, a DC motor 18 can be used as the motor 18 for the fan blade 17, and this DC motor 18 can perform finer wind speed adjustment than an AC motor.

[0065] In this embodiment, the blower 1 is capable of automatically oscillating its head left and right and up and down, so a motor M1 for oscillating the head left and right and a motor M2 for oscillating the head up and down are used. Stepper motors M1 and M2, which can accurately control the rotation angle and rotation speed through pulse signals, are used as the two motors for oscillating the head. In addition, the oscillation of the head up and down can also be performed manually.

[0066] [Control Department]

[0067] Figure 7 This is an exploded perspective view of the blower 1 according to this embodiment. Here, it is shown that the front cover 15a and the rear cover 15b of the air supply section 2 have been removed, and the cover forming the outer surface of the base section 3 has also been removed.

[0068] like Figure 7As shown, the blower 1 in this embodiment includes a control unit 50, which controls the power supply to be turned on / off, the operation of turning off the timer, the operation of turning on the timer, the selection of the air supply mode, the rotation number of the DC motor 18, and the pulse signals sent to the stepper motors M1 and M2. This control unit 50 is implemented using a motherboard equipped with, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), and RAM (Random Access Memory). A power supply board 3A is connected to the motherboard, which generates the output power deemed necessary by the input power. The power supply board 3A can also be replaced by an AC adapter.

[0069] Furthermore, the blower 1 in this embodiment can be operated not only using the control panel 34, but also using the remote control 25. The signal from the remote control 25 is received via a signal receiving unit 25a located at the center of the front surface of the base 3 (see reference). Figure 2 The control unit 50 is notified. The control unit 50 controls the above-mentioned processes based on the signals notified by the remote controller 25 and the operation panel 34. In addition, the remote controller 25 can be mounted on the remote controller holder 26 provided on the upper part of the rear cover 15b of the air supply unit 2.

[0070] [Comparative Example]

[0071] Figure 8 The example shows the use of the comparative example blower 100 to dry laundry items S1 to S20 (hereinafter collectively referred to as "laundry items S"). Here, an example is shown where towels are hung on a rack and arranged in two rows on a drying rod.

[0072] like Figure 8 As shown, the comparative example blower 100 is configured to swing its head left and right at a constant wind speed. When the horizontally arranged laundry S is to be dried by the wind, the laundry S14, S15, S16, S17, etc., which are closer to the center, receive strong wind (refer to symbol 4b), while the laundry S11, S12, S19, S20, etc., which are closer to the ends, receive less wind (refer to symbols 4a, 4c). In addition, if the wind from the blower 100 is too strong, the following problem occurs: the laundry S14, S15, S16, S17, etc., which are closer to the center, are shifted to both ends due to wind pressure, and the laundry S becomes unevenly exposed to wind, resulting in wrinkles when drying.

[0073] [Example 1]

[0074] Figure 9The illustration shows the use of the blower 1 of this embodiment to dry the laundry S. Here, a similar example is shown where towels are hung on a rack and arranged in two rows on a drying rack, as in the comparative example.

[0075] like Figure 9 As shown, in the clothes drying mode, the blower 1 of this embodiment produces a weaker airflow at the center of the head's left-right swaying motion and a stronger airflow at the two ends. Therefore, for the laundry S that is spread out and drying in the left-right direction, a weaker airflow is directed towards the closer center (refer to symbol 4b), while a stronger airflow is directed towards the farther ends (refer to symbols 4a and 4c). That is, for the laundry S11 to S20 at different distances from the blower 1, it is possible to prevent only the centrally located laundry S14, S15, S16, and S17 from receiving a strong airflow, while the ends S11, S12, S19, and S20 are less affected by the airflow. Therefore, the laundry S can be dried without wrinkles.

[0076] As explained, in this embodiment, the blower 1 uses a stepper motor M1 as the motor M1 for left-right head movement. The stepper motor M1 is a motor that operates synchronously with a pulse signal (pulse power), rotating at regular intervals like the second hand of a clock, corresponding to the pulse signal from the control unit 50. Therefore, the stepper motor M1 rotates only in accordance with the pulse signal sent from the control unit 50 to the stepper motor M1. That is, the blower 1 controls the stepper motor M1 by the pulse signal sent from the control unit 50, thus maintaining its posture and achieving high-precision control of left-right head movement. Furthermore, even if the blower 2 is subjected to external force, causing a difference between the pulse signal sent from the control unit 50 and the rotation of the stepper motor M1, the IR sensor 51 (…) can be used to… Figure 15 (Refer to) the detection position, which can correct the deviation between the recognition of the control unit 50 and the posture of the air supply unit 2.

[0077] Furthermore, since a DC motor 18 is used as the motor 18 for the fan blades 17, it is possible to divide the wind speed control into 10 levels corresponding to the left-right swaying of the head caused by the stepper motor M1. For example, in the clothes drying mode, the wind speed at the center of the left-right swaying motion is set to level 6 out of 10. As the air supply unit 2 rotates from the center of the left-right swaying motion towards the end, the wind speed gradually increases from 6 to 7 to 8 to 9 to 10. Then, as the air supply unit 2 returns from the end of the left-right swaying motion towards the center, the wind speed gradually decreases from 10 to 9 to 8 to 7 to 6.

[0078] In addition, regarding the wind speed control of the clothes drying mode, it is preferable to set the wind speed adjustment range to multiple levels, such as strong, medium, and weak (selecting one from multiple strong and weak levels).

[0079] Here, the so-called wind speed adjustment range refers to the amount of wind speed variation with the upper limit at the two ends of the head's left and right movements and the lower limit at the center. Specifically, "strong" in the clothes drying mode means that the wind speed is set to a strong level when the head moves left and right, "medium" means that the wind speed is set to a medium level when the head moves left and right, and "weak" means that the wind speed is set to a weak level when the head moves left and right. The "strong" mode is set to have a relatively higher wind speed adjustment range compared to the "medium" mode, and the "medium" mode is set to have a relatively higher wind speed adjustment range compared to the "weak" mode. Therefore, an appropriate wind speed adjustment range can be selected from the multiple levels based on the distance between the laundry (S) and the blower 1.

[0080] [Example 2]

[0081] Figure 10 This illustration shows a scenario where the blower 1 of this embodiment is used to dry the laundry S. Here, the shirt is hung on a rack and dried on a drying rod.

[0082] like Figure 10 As shown, regarding the blower 1 of this embodiment, when the air supply mode is the clothes drying mode, the airflow is weaker at the lower end (lower limit) where the head swings up and down, and stronger at the upper end (upper limit). Therefore, for the laundry S hanging vertically, a weak airflow is delivered to the lower part of the laundry S that is closer to the blower 1 (refer to symbol 4e), and a strong airflow is delivered to the upper part of the laundry S that is farther from the blower 1 (refer to symbol 4d), preventing wrinkles from forming at the top and bottom of the laundry S during the drying process.

[0083] As already explained, the blower 1 in this embodiment uses a stepper motor M2 as the motor M2 for the head to swing up and down. Therefore, the head swinging up and down can be controlled with high precision by sending pulse signals to the stepper motor M2.

[0084] Furthermore, since a DC motor 18 is used as the motor 18 for the fan blades 17, it is possible to divide the wind speed control into 10 levels corresponding to the head-up-down swing caused by the stepper motor M2. For example, in the clothes drying mode, the wind speed at the lower end of the head-up-down swing is set to level 6 out of 10. As the air supply unit 2 rotates from the lower end of the head-up-down swing to the upper end, the wind speed gradually increases from 6 to 7 to 8 to 9 to 10. Then, as the air supply unit 2 returns from the upper end of the head-up-down swing to the lower end, the wind speed gradually decreases from 10 to 9 to 8 to 7 to 6. In addition, regarding the wind speed control in the clothes drying mode, it is preferable to set the wind speed adjustment range to multiple levels, such as strong, medium, and weak (selecting one from multiple strong and weak levels). Thus, depending on the distance between the laundry S and the air supply unit 1, an appropriate wind speed adjustment range can be selected from the multiple wind speed adjustment ranges to perform the head-up-down swing in the clothes drying mode.

[0085] [Control Panel]

[0086] Figure 11 This is a plan view of the operation panel 34 provided by the blower 1 in this embodiment. On the operation panel 34, as shown... Figure 11 As shown, the unit includes a power button 34a, a timer off button 34b, a timer on button 34c, an airflow mode button 34d, an airflow button 34e, an airflow button 34f, a head tilt button 34g, and a head tilt button 34h. The power button 34a is used to turn the power on / off. The timer off button 34b is used to turn off the timer. The timer on button 34c is used to turn on the timer. The airflow mode button 34d is used to select the airflow mode (continuous mode, rhythm mode, or clothes drying mode). The airflow buttons 34e and 34f are used to adjust the airflow of the air supply unit 2; pressing the airflow button 34e weakens the airflow, and pressing the airflow button 34f strengthens the airflow. The head up / down oscillation button 34g is used to set the head up / down oscillation on / off. The head left / right oscillation button 34h is used to set the head left / right oscillation on / off, and can adjust the oscillation amplitude of the head left / right oscillation to a set angle range of 3 levels (60°, 90°, 120°).

[0087] [Set the head sway angle range in the clothes drying mode to level 3]

[0088] Figure 12This diagram illustrates the effect of setting the set angle range of the head's left-right oscillation in the clothes drying mode of the blower 1 of this embodiment to level 3. That is, when using the blower 100 of the comparative example, because the set angle range (oscillation amplitude) of the head's left-right oscillation cannot be adjusted, when drying a large amount of laundry S spread out to the left and right, air needs to be supplied from a distance far from the laundry S (see reference). Figure 12 (a)). In contrast, when the blower 1 of this embodiment is used, such as Figure 12 As shown in (b), because it is adapted to the width of the laundry S, the swing amplitude of the head can be adjusted in multiple set angle ranges (60°, 90°, 120°), so that the blower 1 does not need to be set far away from the laundry S. In addition, by adjusting the wind speed of the clothes drying mode, the wind with an intensity suitable for drying all the laundry S is delivered, while preventing the laundry S from shifting to both ends, so the drying efficiency can be improved.

[0089] [The fan speed is set according to the angle of the head's left and right movement during the clothes drying mode.]

[0090] Figure 13 This diagram illustrates the relationship between the set angle range of the head's left-right swaying and the wind speed in the clothes drying mode of the blower 1 according to this embodiment. Specifically, if the width of the laundry S is increased by changing the usage scenario of the set angle range (sway amplitude) of the head's left-right swaying, even if the distance between the blower 1 and the center of the width of the laundry S is the same, the distance between the blower 1 and the two ends of the width of the laundry S will increase. Here, it is preferable to set the wind speed increase / decrease range corresponding to each set angle range (60°, 90°, 120°) of the head's left-right swaying. Here, the wind speed increase / decrease range refers to the amount of wind speed change by setting the wind speed at the two ends of the head's left-right swaying as the upper limit and the wind speed at the center as the lower limit; in other words, it can be described as the wind speed adjustment range.

[0091] For example, such as Figure 13 As shown in (a), with the set angle range for the left and right head swing being 60°, the wind speed at the position slightly towards the center of the left and right head swing is set to level 3 out of 10 (refer to symbol 4b). As the head rotates towards the end of the left and right head swing, the wind speed gradually increases from 3 to 4 to 5 (refer to symbols 4a and 4c). When returning from the end of the left and right head swing to the slightly center position, the wind speed gradually decreases from 5 to 4 to 3. That is, with the set angle range for the left and right head swing being 60°, the wind speed is switched to level 3 out of 5.

[0092] On the other hand, such as Figure 13As shown in (b), with the set angle range for the left and right head swing being 120°, the wind speed at the position slightly towards the center of the left and right head swing is set to level 3 out of 10 (refer to symbol 4b). As the head rotates towards the end of the left and right head swing, the wind speed gradually increases from 3 to 4 to 5 to 6 to 7 (refer to symbols 4a and 4c). When returning from the end of the left and right head swing to the slightly center position, the wind speed gradually decreases from 7 to 6 to 5 to 4 to 3. That is, with the set angle range for the left and right head swing being 120°, the wind speed is switched to level 5 out of 3 to 7.

[0093] That is, corresponding to the increase in the width of the laundry S, when the set angle range for the left-right swing of the head is changed from 60° to 120°, although the distance between the blower 1 and the two ends of the width of the laundry S increases, because the wind speed at the ends of the left-right swing of the head is set to be high, appropriate air can still be sent to the laundry S at both ends of the width, so that wrinkles do not appear due to the drying rate of the laundry S at the center and the two ends of the width, and the laundry S can be dried firmly. In other words, the blower 1 of this embodiment can handle a small to a large number of laundry S.

[0094] [Head swaying from side to side: Stepper motor and IR sensor]

[0095] Figure 14 This diagram illustrates the left-right oscillation of the head of the blower 1 in this embodiment. As already explained, the blower 1 in this embodiment uses a stepper motor M1 as the motor M1 for the left-right oscillation of the head. Here, as... Figure 14 As shown, by controlling the pulse signal sent to the stepper motor M1, when the automatic left-right swinging of the head stops (refer to symbol P11), the air supply unit 2 returns to the reference posture facing forward (refer to symbol P10). Similarly, when the power is cut off, the air supply unit 2 also returns to the reference posture facing forward.

[0096] The so-called reference attitude refers to Figures 1-5 The static posture shown. In other words, the so-called reference posture is the posture in which the head of the air supply unit 2 swings left and right at the center position, and the air supply direction 4 of the air supply unit 2 is oriented in a horizontal direction.

[0097] Thus, in this embodiment, the blower 1 returns to the same frontal posture as the reference posture when the left-right oscillation of the head stops and when the power is cut off. Therefore, the blower 2 can maintain a neat, frontal orientation during the standby (stopped) state of the left-right oscillation of the head. Furthermore, if the left-right oscillation of the head in the clothes drying mode is started (restarted) with the blower 2 facing the laundry S, the left-right oscillation of the head is restarted at an equal angle, making it easy to achieve the correct center position for clothes drying applications.

[0098] Figure 15 This is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the base portion 3 of the blower 1 in this embodiment. (See attached image.) Figure 15 As shown, the left-right sway position (at point 1) of the head is detected by an IR (infrared) sensor 51, such as a phototransistor. Therefore, as explained below, the left-right sway position of the head during operation can be corrected.

[0099] That is, the stepper motor M1 is fixed to the upper surface of the mounting plate 41, and the head left-right swing mechanism 43 is connected to the output shaft of the stepper motor M1. When the IR sensor 51 is mounted on the lower part of the mounting plate 41 and the head of the air supply unit 2 is at the center position during left-right swing, the IR sensor 51 is blocked by the light shield 52 provided on the lower part 31 of the base. As a result, since the left-right swing position of the head of the air supply unit 2 can be detected to be at the center position, the number of steps of the stepper motor M1 can be corrected every time it passes the center position. As a result, when an external force is applied to the air supply unit 2, even if the air supply unit 2 becomes immobile, is forcibly rotated, or becomes immobile due to an object during the left-right swing, the left-right swing motion of the head can continue with the correct number of steps.

[0100] [Head moving up and down: Stepper motor]

[0101] Figure 16 This diagram illustrates the up-and-down movement of the head of the blower 1 in this embodiment. As already explained, the blower 1 in this embodiment uses a stepper motor M2 as the motor M2 for the up-and-down movement of the head. Here, as... Figure 16 As shown, by controlling the pulse signal sent to the stepper motor M2, the air supply unit 2 returns to a horizontal reference posture (refer to reference P20) when the automatic up-and-down swing of the head stops (refer to symbol P21). Similarly, the air supply unit 2 also returns to a horizontal reference posture when the power is cut off.

[0102] Thus, in this embodiment, the blower 1 returns to the same horizontal posture as the reference posture when the head stops swinging up and down and when the power is cut off. As a result, the blower 2 can maintain a neat horizontal orientation in the standby state (stop state) when the head is swinging up and down.

[0103] [The center of the ball = the center of rotation for head movement (up, down, left, right)]

[0104] Regarding the blower 1 in this embodiment, as follows: Figure 14 As shown, viewed from above, the rotation axis C1 for the head's left-right swing is positioned at the center of the spherical air supply section 2. Additionally, as... Figure 16 As shown, viewed from the side, the rotation axis C2 for the head's up-and-down movement is positioned at the center of the spherical air supply section 2. Thus, by arranging the rotation axis C1 for the head's left-and-right movement and the rotation axis C2 for the head's up-and-down movement together at the center of the spherical air supply section 2, the outer contour (silk) remains the same shape regardless of whether the head moves left-and-right or up-and-down. Therefore, even when placed in narrow spaces such as near windows or on stairs, it will not come into contact with nearby objects when the head moves.

[0105] [The set angle for left-right head movement is not an integer multiple of the angle for up-down head movement]

[0106] Figure 17 This is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the set angle of the left-right swing of the head of the blower 1 in this embodiment and the angle of the up-down swing of the head. (See diagram) Figure 17 As shown in (a), in this embodiment, the angle of the head's vertical movement is 65°. Furthermore, although the set angle for the head's horizontal movement is any one of 60°, 90°, or 120°, in this embodiment... Figure 17 As shown in (b), the set angle for left-right head swaying is set to 90°. Therefore, the set angle for left-right head swaying is not an integer multiple of the angle for up-down head swaying. When the head sways up-down and left-right simultaneously, if the speeds of the left-right and up-down head swaying are the same, then... Figure 17 As shown in (c), the air supply trajectory becomes random, allowing air to be supplied throughout the entire air supply range.

[0107] The following is for Figure 17 (c) Provide a more detailed explanation. Figure 17 The dashed line in (c) indicates the position of the air supply center of air supply direction 4 when facing the air supply object. Figure 17The arrow in (c) indicates the airflow trajectory. Now, with the head swinging left and right at its leftmost position, we assume the head swinging up and down is at its lowest position. Furthermore, the speed of the left-right and up-down head swings is the same. Imagine a situation where the head moves 90° to the right and 65° upwards simultaneously in this state. In this case, the head moves 65° to the right while moving upwards, and then begins to move downwards, continuing downwards from 65° to 90° to the right. Then, until the head reaches 90° to the right, it moves downwards, thus simultaneously moving downwards and then to the left. This allows for easy airflow along a random trajectory caused by the simultaneous left-right and up-down head swings. Therefore, it prevents skewed airflow and allows the laundry S in airflow direction 4 to dry without wrinkles.

[0108] [Head-mounted latching structure]

[0109] Figures 18-20 This diagram illustrates the head-mounted tilting latch structure of the blower 1 in this embodiment. As will be explained below, the head can be tilted up and down automatically, and the tilting angle can also be adjusted manually.

[0110] like Figure 18 As shown, if the front cover 15a and rear cover 15b of the air supply unit 2 are removed, the stepper motor M2, ratchet mechanism 81, and rack and pinion gear 85 are revealed. The rack and pinion gear 85 is fixed to the support column 70. The motor cover 71 is clamped from both sides by the support column 70, and this clamping position is set as the shaft 72 for the head to swing up and down, so that the air supply unit 2 swings up and down relative to the base unit 3. A gear is mounted on the output shaft of the stepper motor M2, which moves up and down via the rack and pinion gear.

[0111] Specifically, the ratchet mechanism 81 is a pinion gear 82 with a locking recess 82a (see reference). Figure 19 ) and latch base 83 with locking pin 84 (see reference) Figure 20 The structures face each other. The output shaft of the stepper motor M2 enters the central hole 83b of the latch base 83. The pin 84 of the latch base 83 is pressed into the locking recess 82a by a spring force in the axial (axial) direction. Thus, latching is completed within the size range of the pinion 82, so the ratchet mechanism 81 can be made more compact.

[0112] Here, when the head automatically moves up and down, the latch base 83 is driven to rotate by the stepper motor M2. If the latch base 83 rotates, the pinion 82 also rotates simultaneously because the locking pin 84 is pressed against the locking recess 82a.

[0113] On the other hand, when the head's up-and-down tilt angle is manually adjusted, the latch base 83 does not rotate because the stepper motor M2 stops. If the air supply unit 2 is manually operated in this state, only the pinion 82 rotates. That is, the locking pin 84 is stopped by the spring B ( Figure 22 (Refer to) Press down, so the latch base 83 does not rotate. Even if the air supply unit 2 is operated by hand, it will not affect the stepper motor M2.

[0114] Furthermore, although a locking pin 84 is installed on one of the plurality of holes 83a formed in the latch base 83, the number of locking pins 84 can be adjusted appropriately. When multiple locking pins 84 are installed, they are preferably installed in symmetrical positions.

[0115] [Head-mounted, up-and-down latching structure (gear frame)]

[0116] Figures 21-22 This is a diagram illustrating the gear carrier 86 included in the blower 1 of this embodiment. Figures 21-22 As shown, a gear carrier 86 is integrated with the rack and pinion 85. When the stepper motor M2 is driven, the output shaft M2a of the stepper motor M1 rotates, and the rotational force is transmitted to the pinion 82 via the latch base 83. This rotational force causes the pinion 82, which meshes with the rack and pinion 85, to move up and down. At this time, the protrusion 82c formed at the center of the pinion 82 moves along the groove 86a of the gear carrier 86. The gear carrier 86 abuts against a surface opposite to the surface (in the axial direction) on which the pin 84 is pressed against the locking recess 82a of the pinion 82, thereby supporting the pinion 82 and maintaining the locked state of the locking recess 82a and the pin 84. Furthermore, the guide portion 86g of the gear carrier 86 maintains the meshing of the pinion 82 and the rack and pinion 85. Thus, the meshing state can be reliably maintained, preventing malfunctions.

[0117] [Head up and down movement: Head movement after manual adjustment]

[0118] Figure 23 This diagram illustrates the up-and-down movement of the head of the blower 1 in this embodiment. Figure 23 As shown in (a), when the vertical movable area θ2 is 65°, if the air supply direction of the air supply unit 2 is manually moved from a horizontal position to the middle position P22 of the head's vertical swing, a deviation will occur between the recognition position of the stepper motor M2 and the actual head swing position. Therefore, if the head swing starts (restarts) from the stopped state, as shown in (a) the head swing stops, the head swing will be affected. Figure 23As shown in (b), the movement proceeds upward to the upper limit in step (1), stops only the manually moved portion in step (2), and moves downward to the lower limit in step (3). In step (2), the protrusion 82c formed at the center of the pinion 82 is physically locked at the end of the slot 86a of the gear carrier 86. Thus, if the head swing is continuously moved upward when it starts, the deviation generated in the first step (2) can be eliminated.

[0119] [Head bobbing up and down: A variation of manually adjusted head bobbing motion]

[0120] Figure 24 This diagram illustrates other movements of the head of the blower 1 in this embodiment, specifically the up-and-down swinging motion. Also shown here... Figure 23 Similarly, with the movable range θ2 at 65°, it is assumed that the head is manually moved to position P22 while it is in a stopped state of up-and-down movement. Of course, at this time, the position recognized by the stepper motor M2 also deviates from the actual head movement position. Subsequently, if the head starts to move up and down again, the head is moved up and down in small increments at the beginning, as in steps (1)→(2)→(3)→(4), gradually increasing the angle. This reduces the "time lag" in stopping the up-and-down movement caused by the "deviation" between the recognized position of the stepper motor M2 and the actual head movement position. By reducing the "time lag", the number of seconds it takes for the head to remain still while moving up and down can be shortened, reducing malfunctions and misunderstandings for the user.

[0121] [Increased air intake area → Improved air delivery capacity]

[0122] Figure 25 A cross-sectional view showing the airflow in the blower 1 of this embodiment. (See attached image.) Figure 25 As shown, multiple air intake holes 15d are formed at the edge of the front cover 15a. Therefore, external air can be drawn in not only through the vent 21 formed in the rear cover 15b, but also through the multiple air intake holes 15d. As a result, because the air intake area is increased, air can flow smoothly, thus improving air delivery capacity. Consequently, the drying performance of clothing is improved.

[0123] In addition, such as Figure 25 As shown, because a cylindrical wind tunnel section 16 is provided inside the front cover 15a, the wind speed of the air blown out from the air outlet 11 is stable. The air blown out from the circulator is a spiral airflow that swirls forward while forming a vortex, and compared with fans, the air directionality and forward travel are high. By providing the wind tunnel section 16, the characteristic function of such a circulator, namely the directionality and forward travel of the air, can be ensured. Furthermore, in this embodiment, because the curved (spherical) grille 12 produces the effect of forward travel, the wind tunnel section 16 can be shortened.

[0124] [Remote Control Holder]

[0125] Figure 26 This is a perspective view of the remote control holder 26 provided with the blower 1 in this embodiment. Figure 26 As shown, a remote control holder 26 for holding the remote control 25 is provided on the upper part of the rear cover 15b of the air supply section 2. Specifically, a recessed space is provided on the inner side without disrupting the spherical shape, and double-layered plate-shaped members 26a, 26b, 26c, and 26d are provided on the left and right sides of this space. The top of the remote control 25 can be pressed by the upper plate-shaped members 26a and 26b, and the sides of the remote control 25 can be pressed by the lower plate-shaped members 26c and 26d, thus firmly holding the remote control 25. In addition, with the remote control 25 held in the remote control holder 26, inserting a finger into the space above the remote control 25 allows the air supply unit 1 to be lifted, thus creating a structure where the remote control holder 26 and a handle can be used together.

[0126] [Clothes drying mode: Head swaying left and right]

[0127] When the blower 1 of this embodiment is set to the clothes drying mode (head swing left and right), the angle of the head swing left and right is (automatically) set to 60°. Regarding the angle of the head swing left and right, it can be set to 60°→90°→120°→60°→… each time the head swing (left and right) button is pressed for 34 hours. Furthermore, even in the clothes drying mode, when the head swing (left and right) is 60°, the airflow speed can be set to remain unchanged. If the angle of the head swing left and right is switched to 90° / 120°, the left and right airflow speed becomes stronger relative to the front airflow speed.

[0128] Regarding the blower 1, pressing the blower mode button 34d switches between multiple blower modes (continuous mode, rhythm mode, and clothes drying mode) for control. In continuous mode, the motor 18 is controlled to maintain a constant airflow speed while the head of the blower 2 oscillates left and right at a predetermined speed. In clothes drying mode, the motor 18 is controlled so that the airflow speed at the center position is lower than the airflow speed at the ends of the head of the blower 2 during left and right oscillation, and the head of the blower 2 oscillates left and right at a lower speed than the predetermined speed in continuous mode. That is, the speed of the head oscillation in clothes drying mode is set to be slower than the normal (continuous mode) head oscillation. Preferably, the head oscillation in clothes drying mode is performed at a low speed of 1 / 2 to 1 / 4 of the speed of the head oscillation in continuous mode. Specifically, the speed of the head oscillation in clothes drying mode is set to 1 / 3 of the speed of the head oscillation in continuous mode. Furthermore, preferably, the speed of the head's left-right oscillation in the clothes drying mode is set to vary according to the angle of the head's left-right oscillation (60°, 90°, 120°). By performing the left-right oscillation of the head in the clothes drying mode at a low speed, the duration of continuous airflow to the laundry S is increased, promoting drying. To further explain, if the laundry S is exposed to airflow, it shakes, and its direction (angle) facing the blower 1 changes. If the duration of continuous airflow to the laundry S is short, the laundry S is exposed to airflow in an unstable posture. By extending the duration of continuous airflow to the laundry S, there is an advantage that after the shaking of the laundry S stops (after the end), it is exposed to airflow in a stable posture, and the laundry S dries well.

[0129] The inventors of this application conducted a clothing drying experiment. The results showed that, comparing drying clothes in continuous mode at a predetermined (normal) head-swinging speed with drying in clothing drying mode at a low head-swinging speed, the time for the drying rate to decrease from 100% to 72% was 176 minutes in continuous mode and 160 minutes in clothing drying mode, indicating an expected reduction of approximately 10%.

[0130] [Clothes drying mode: Move your head up, down, left, and right simultaneously]

[0131] In this embodiment, the blower 1 moves the head up, down, left, and right simultaneously in the clothes drying mode. The air speed can be adjusted according to the direction of the airflow to ensure that the intensity of the airflow to the laundry S is constant. In other words, when the head is set to move up, down, left, and right simultaneously in the clothes drying mode, the air speed in the left and right directions and the up and down directions is controlled according to the distance between the blower 1 and the laundry S, so that the airflow towards the closer laundry S is weakened and the airflow towards the farther laundry S is strengthened.

[0132] like Figure 27 As shown, the area where the laundry S is dried is divided into 15 zones (3 in the height direction and 5 in the width direction), with the target wind intensity applied to each zone represented by numbers from 1 to 5. A larger number indicates a stronger wind. In this example, the strongest wind ("5" in target 1-5) is applied to the upper left and right ends of the zone containing the laundry S, which is farther from the blower 1, while the weakest wind ("1" in target 1-5) is applied to the center of the lower section containing the laundry S, which is closer to the blower 1. This allows the laundry to dry without wrinkles.

[0133] [Distance Detection Equipment]

[0134] A distance sensor 61 and a distance detection device (refer to) are installed to detect the distance between the distance to the laundry S present in the airflow direction and the laundry. Figure 36 The fan speed can be adjusted by controlling the motor 18 and the head oscillation based on distance detection information detected by the distance sensor 61. Specifically, in clothes drying mode, the fan speed is controlled based on the distance between the fan 1 and the laundry S detected by the distance detection device, reducing the airflow towards the closer laundry S and increasing the airflow towards the farther laundry S. An infrared sensor or an ultrasonic sensor can be used as the distance sensor 61. The installation location of the distance sensor 61 is described below.

[0135] [Humidity Detection Equipment]

[0136] A temperature sensor 62 and other moisture detection equipment are installed to detect the moisture state of the laundry S in the air supply direction. Figure 36 (Referring to the above), the motor 18 and head oscillation can be controlled based on the wetness of the laundry S detected by the temperature sensor 62, and the fan speed can be adjusted to deliver appropriate airflow toward the wet laundry S. As an example of controlling the fan speed and head oscillation, such as... Figure 28 As shown, within the air supply range where there is a damp laundry item S detected by temperature sensor 62, the airflow direction controls the wind speed. In this example, since there is no damp laundry item S in the two areas at the left end of the upper section and the entire area of ​​the lower section, a weak airflow is supplied (target 1 in 5). On the other hand, since there is damp laundry item S in the remaining area (the area with the thick frame), the wind speed is controlled according to the distance between the blower 1 and the laundry item S, reducing the airflow towards the nearby laundry item S and increasing the airflow towards the distant laundry item S. This eliminates the waste of supplying strong airflow to areas where there is no laundry item S, allowing the damp laundry item S to dry efficiently. As the temperature sensor 62, a surface temperature measuring device consisting of a non-contact thermometer, such as an infrared radiation thermometer, can be used. The installation position of the temperature sensor 62 is described below. The wind speed can be controlled by sharing the temperature sensor 62 with the distance sensor 61.

[0137] Other examples of wind speed and head oscillation control for blower 1, such as Figure 29 As shown, the head of the air supply unit 2 can be oscillated to deliver air, increasing the frequency with which the air supply unit 2 directs the airflow towards the wet laundry S detected by the temperature sensor 62. In this example, since there is no wet laundry S in the two leftmost areas of the upper section and the entire area of ​​the lower section, these areas are determined to be non-drying areas and no airflow is delivered. On the other hand, since there is wet laundry S in the remaining areas (the area with the thick frame), the airflow is controlled based on the distance between the blower 1 and the laundry S, reducing the airflow towards the closer laundry S and increasing the airflow towards the farther laundry S. This eliminates the waste of delivering air to areas where there is no laundry S, thus enabling the wet laundry S to dry efficiently.

[0138] The control unit 50 of the blower 1 has a determination device that, based on the moisture state of the laundry S (the object to be air-blown) detected by the temperature sensor 62, determines the area containing the wet laundry S as a drying area and the area containing the dry laundry S as a non-drying area within the airflow range caused by the head's up-down and left-right movements. If a portion of the laundry S in the determined drying area dries, the area containing the dry laundry S is changed from a drying area to a non-drying area. That is, if the laundry S is determined to be dry, that area is excluded, and the range of head movements of the blower 2 can be gradually narrowed. In this way, by gradually reducing the airflow range based on the drying determination of the control unit 50 using the temperature sensor 62, the wet laundry S can be dried more efficiently.

[0139] Other embodiments of the blower 1 in this implementation will be described.

[0140] like Figure 30 As shown, in other embodiments, the vertically movable area θ1 of the blower 1 is from 15° (-15°) downwards to 90° upwards. In the clothes drying mode, the angle range θ2 of the head's vertical swing is limited to 15° (-15°) downwards to 45° upwards. This eliminates the waste of blowing air in the upward direction where there is no laundry S, and allows for concentrated airflow towards the laundry S present at the downward 15° to upward 45° position of the blower 1.

[0141] like Figure 31As shown, in other embodiments, the blower 1 can change the airflow direction upward while maintaining the same head-up / down swing angle range θ2 during the clothes drying mode. This allows the flat drying net (a net for flat drying) 120 and the like to receive air from below, while simultaneously drying the suspended laundry S. Furthermore, although a 60° head-up / down swing angle range is illustrated, it is not limited to this. That is, the head-up / down swing angle of the blower 2 is set to a range of 45° to 75°, and while maintaining this range, the angle can be adjusted in the vertical direction. The 45° angle range includes -15° to 30°, 45° to 90°, etc. The 75° angle range includes -15° to 60°, 15° to 90°, etc. By allowing this adjustable angle range, various user needs can be accommodated.

[0142] [Forced Mixing Mode]

[0143] Figure 32 This diagram illustrates the situation where the blower 1 of this embodiment agitates the air in the room 110.

[0144] The blower 1 is configured to switch from the air supply mode (via the aforementioned air supply mode button 34d) to a forced stirring mode for control. The forced stirring mode is controlled such that the head swings left and right at a higher speed than in the continuous mode (normal). The speed of the head swinging left and right in the forced stirring mode is set to, for example, twice as fast as in the normal (continuous) mode. Preferably, the head swinging left and right in the forced stirring mode is performed at a high speed of 1.5 to 3 times that of the continuous mode. When the blower 1's air supply mode is set to forced stirring mode, even if the head swinging (left and right) is "off", the head swinging (left and right) automatically becomes "on", and the head swinging (up and down) angle is fixed at 45° upwards. In forced stirring mode, the head swinging in the up and down direction of the air supply section 2 is stopped, and while maintaining the up and down angle (45° upwards), the head swings left and right intermittently at a high speed (e.g., twice as fast), repeatedly starting and stopping. Specifically, the head is swung at 15 degrees to the left and right (within a 30° angular range), stopping at each end for only a certain period of time (e.g., 4 seconds). The forced stirring mode creates a longitudinally rotating airflow throughout room 110, circulating the air in room 110.

[0145] like Figure 32 As shown, the forced stirring mode is used when you want to stir the air in room 110 to reduce the temperature difference. By supplying air to the ceiling to circulate the air, the uneven temperature distribution of the air in room 110 can be reduced.

[0146] The inventors of this application set the blower 1 to a forced stirring mode and investigated the improvement rate (hereinafter referred to as the average stirring rate) of temperature unevenness near the ceiling and floor in the center of the room before and after operation. Specifically, using a room with 20 tatami mats, the room was warmed by a heat source (oil stove) without air supply. After setting a temperature difference between the top and bottom of the room (approximately 7-8°C), the blower 1 was run for 0.5 hours to measure the stirring effect. The results showed that the average stirring rate before and after stirring operation in the continuous mode was 92.9%. In contrast, the average stirring rate was 95.8% in the forced stirring mode with the head swinging left and right at twice the speed of the continuous mode, and 88.1% in the comparative example mode with the head swinging left and right at half the speed of the continuous mode. Furthermore, it was found that in the forced stirring mode, the head swinging left and right was set to twice the speed, and the head swinging was performed in 15-degree angles to the left and right, stopping for only 4 seconds at both ends, the average stirring rate increased to 98.9%. Thus, compared to the usual left-right head movements, setting the left-right head movements to a high speed (e.g., twice as fast) has a significantly more efficient effect on stirring the indoor air.

[0147] [Forced Stirring Mode: The head moves left and right intermittently.]

[0148] Figure 33 A flowchart illustrating other examples of head oscillation actions in the forced stirring mode of blower 1. When set to forced stirring mode, as described below, the head oscillates intermittently from side to side, and the action can be repeated and stopped.

[0149] First, regarding the blower 1, if the forced stirring mode is selected (via the blower mode button 34d), the blower 2 will be tilted with its head facing forward in the airflow direction 4, for example, for 10 minutes (step S1). Next, the blower 2 will be tilted 60° to the left in the airflow direction 4, for example, for 5 minutes (step S2). Next, the blower 2 will be tilted with its head facing forward in the airflow direction 4, for example, for 5 minutes (step S3). Next, the blower 2 will be tilted 60° to the right in the airflow direction 4, for 5 minutes (step S4). Next, the blower 2 will be tilted with its head facing forward in the airflow direction 4, for 5 minutes (step S5). The same process is then repeated (steps S2→S3→S4→S5→S2→……). If you intermittently move your head from side to side, repeating the movement and stopping, you can generate an airflow that rotates in the longitudinal direction.

[0150] [Forced Stirring Mode: Distance Sensor]

[0151] The blower 1 is equipped with a distance sensor 61 in the air supply section 2 to detect the wall at the farthest position (i.e., Figure 32 The airflow direction can be adjusted by directing airflow towards corner 111 of room 110. Alternatively, the head can be controlled to swing left and right between two points 111, 112 (or three points 111, 112, 113) in the corner of room 110. Thus, regardless of the location of the blower 1, the furthest corner of room 110 can be located, ensuring efficient air circulation in room 110. The airflow speed can also be adjusted based on the distance from the blower 1 to the corner of room 110.

[0152] [Forced Stirring Mode: Temperature Sensor]

[0153] like Figure 34 As shown, a temperature sensor 62 is installed in the air supply section 2 to detect the location of the air conditioner 115 during heating, allowing air to be supplied to the air conditioner 115. Thus, regardless of the location of the air supply fan 1, warm air stagnating near the air conditioner 115 (near the ceiling) can be circulated. This helps to even out the room temperature and improve heating efficiency. Furthermore, since the cost is only required to install the temperature sensor 62 on the air supply fan 1, it is significantly lower than the cost of linking the air supply fan 1 with the air conditioner 115.

[0154] In addition, such as Figure 35 As shown, preferably, when used for cooling, it is positioned away from the air conditioner 115 to circulate the cold air accumulated below. Doing so generates an airflow that circulates the cold air accumulated near the floor surface, enhancing the cooling sensation.

[0155] Here, based on the temperature information detected by the temperature sensor 62 of the air supply section 2, the cooling and heating operations of the air conditioner 115 are identified, and the air supply method can be changed between cooling and heating operations. Specifically, as follows: Figure 35 When used for cooling, air is supplied horizontally; on the other hand, such as... Figure 34 As shown, the air is directed upwards at an angle during heating operation. This maximizes the effectiveness of the circulator and allows for adjustments to cooling and heating efficiency based on the season.

[0156] Furthermore, the blower 1 is configured to be rotatable (capable of 180-degree directional change), allowing it to deliver air in the most suitable direction during both cooling and heating operations. Specifically, the base 3 of the blower 1 is configured to allow for a change in the movable area, enabling the head to swing left and right by more than 180 degrees. Alternatively, the blower 1 can be equipped with a travel device such as tires, allowing it to change direction. Furthermore, the blower 1 can be allowed to travel independently to the most suitable position within the room, delivering air in the most appropriate direction. This further improves the efficiency of both cooling and heating.

[0157] It also allows manual setting of the airflow direction in forced mixing mode.

[0158] For example, if a blower 1 is installed in room 110 and the blower mode is set to forced stirring mode, a search mode is activated. In search mode, the blower 1 moves its head up, down, left, and right. During this head-moving motion of the blower 1, a remote control 25 or similar device can be used to set operating parameters, such as distance. Figure 32 The search mode ends when the fan 1 in room 110 is positioned at one of the four corners 112 of the farthest wall 116. If this corner 112 is set to its diagonal corner 114, the search mode ends. If the search mode ends, control is applied so that the fan 1 swings its head left and right within the quadrilateral area defined by the two points 112 and 114 of room 110. By doing so, it is possible to adapt to special room shapes where the distance sensor 61 does not operate smoothly. That is, efficient air mixing that conforms to the shape of room 110 can be achieved. In addition, since the distance sensor 61 is not required, cost reduction can be achieved.

[0159] [Sensor Installation Location]

[0160] Figure 36 This is a perspective view showing the mounting position of the distance sensor 61 included in the blower 1 of this embodiment. While the mounting position of the distance sensor 61 is described here, the mounting position of the temperature sensor 62 is also described in the same way. Figure 36 As shown, a distance sensor 61 is installed on the movable part (air supply section 2) of the circulator that moves its head up, down, left, and right. While the example shown here is of the distance sensor 61 being installed at the upper end of the front cover 15a of the air supply section 2, it is also possible to install the distance sensor 61 at the lower end of the front cover 15a of the air supply section 2. This allows the circulator to follow the position of the object detected by the distance sensor 61 or the temperature sensor 62 in the air supply direction 4. The circulator with a spherical grid structure has the advantage that because the airflow is concentrated in a narrow area, even if the position of the object detected by the distance sensor 61 or the temperature sensor 62 is a small area, air can be concentrated towards it.

[0161] [On / Off Timer]

[0162] If the start timer button 34c for blower 1 is pressed (refer to...) Figure 11 If you press the timer button 34b, you can choose to turn on the timer. Similarly, if you press the timer off button 34b, you can choose to turn off the timer. When the operation is stopped (power off), in the timer setting (light flashing), you can set the timer off, airflow mode, head up and down movement, head left and right movement, and airflow.

[0163] Furthermore, when the timer is set to start, the head's vertical and horizontal movement positions remain unchanged when the timer stops running at the set time. When the timer starts running at the set time, the original head movement positions remain unchanged while air is being delivered. Therefore, when going to sleep, if the head movement position is set so that the user is not directly exposed to the airflow, air will not be delivered directly to the user even after the timer starts. During normal operation, when the timer stops, the head's vertical and horizontal movement positions return to their original positions.

[0164] Figure 37 This is an explanatory diagram of the on / off timer for the blower 1 in this embodiment. Here, we first set the off timer, and then imagine setting the on timer. Figure 37 As shown, if an on timer is set during the off timer operation (while the system is running), the system will stop operating after the time set by the off timer, and only the on timer light will illuminate. Alternatively, the on timer light can be switched on based on the remaining time, and the system will start operating after the time set by the on timer.

[0165] [Remote Control Holder]

[0166] Figure 38 This is a perspective view of the remote control holder 26 provided with the blower 1 in this embodiment. As already described, the remote control holder 26 for holding the remote control 25 is provided on the upper part of the rear cover 15b of the air supply section 2. Figure 38 As shown, at least one rib 26e can be erected high within the ribs constituting the remote control holder 26. Therefore, when the remote control 25 is installed in the remote control holder 26, the remote control 25 can be prevented from detaching because the rib 26e is attached to the bottom of the remote control 25.

[0167] As explained above, the blower 1 of this embodiment includes: an air supply section 2 whose head can swing freely left and right, the air supply section 2 having fan blades 17 for air supply and a motor 18 for driving the fan blades 17; and a control section 50, which controls the motor 18 of the air supply section 2 and controls the left and right swing of the head of the air supply section 2. The control section 50 can control the airflow so that the air velocity at the central position when the head of the air supply section 2 swings left and right is lower than the air velocity at the two ends. Therefore, for laundry S that is drying while expanding in the left and right direction, a weaker airflow can be delivered towards the closer central position, while a stronger airflow can be delivered towards the farther two ends, allowing the laundry S to dry without wrinkles.

[0168] Specifically, the blower 1 in this embodiment includes a stepper motor M1 that drives the head of the air supply section 2 to swing left and right. Preferably, the control unit 50 controls the left and right swing of the head of the air supply section 2 by sending pulse signals to the stepper motor M1. Thus, the wind speed can be controlled according to the left and right swing position of the head of the air supply section 2.

[0169] Furthermore, preferably, the air supply unit 2 has a DC motor 18 that drives the fan blades 17, and the control unit 50 controls the DC motor 18 based on the left-right sway of the head of the air supply unit 2 caused by the stepper motor M1. As a result, it becomes possible to control the wind speed at multiple levels on a small scale, and to perform fine-tuned wind speed switching based on the left-right sway position of the head of the air supply unit 2.

[0170] Alternatively, preferably, the wind speed adjustment range can be set to multiple levels (selected from multiple strength levels), with the upper limit being the wind speed at the two ends of the head of the air supply unit 2 swinging left and right, and the lower limit being the wind speed at the center. Thus, the wind speed can be adjusted according to the distance from the laundry S.

[0171] Furthermore, preferably, the oscillation amplitude of the head of the air supply section 2 can be adjusted within multiple set angle ranges. Therefore, since the oscillation angle (amplitude) of the head can be adjusted to match the set width of the laundry item S, the drying efficiency is improved.

[0172] Furthermore, preferably, corresponding to the set angle range of the left and right swing of the head of the air supply unit 2, the wind speed increase / decrease range is set from the upper limit of the wind speed at the two ends of the left and right swing of the head of the air supply unit 2 to the lower limit of the wind speed at the center. As a result, the drying rate of the laundry S is improved, and it can handle small to large quantities of laundry S.

[0173] Furthermore, the control unit 50 preferably performs the following control: when the head of the air supply unit 2 stops swinging left and right and when the power is cut off, it returns the air supply direction 4 of the air supply unit 2 to a reference posture facing forward. As a result, centering the position becomes easier in clothing drying applications.

[0174] Furthermore, preferably, the device includes a detection unit (IR sensor 51) that detects the left-right swing position of the head of the air supply unit 2 to a predetermined position. This makes it possible to correct the left-right swing position of the head during operation.

[0175] Furthermore, the control unit 50 preferably controls the air supply unit 2, which is equipped with a stepper motor M2 that drives the head of the air supply unit 2 to swing up and down, such that the air velocity at the upper position is greater than the air velocity at the lower position when the head of the air supply unit 2 swings up and down. This allows for the delivery of a weaker airflow towards the lower position (closer to the laundry) and a stronger airflow towards the upper position (farther from the laundry), enabling the laundry S to dry without wrinkles.

[0176] Furthermore, the control unit 50 preferably performs the following operation: when the head of the air supply unit 2 stops swinging up and down and when the power is cut off, it returns the air supply direction 4 of the air supply unit 2 to a reference posture facing horizontally. Thus, in the standby state (stopped state) when the head is swinging up and down, the air supply unit 2 can maintain a neat posture always facing horizontally.

[0177] Furthermore, the blower 1 of this embodiment includes: an air supply section 2 with a head that can swing left and right freely, the air supply section 2 having fan blades 17 for air supply and a motor 18 for driving the fan blades 17; and a control section 50, which controls the motor 18 of the air supply section 2 and controls the left and right swing of the head of the air supply section 2. The control section 50 controls the air supply section 2 to swing left and right so that the wind speed at the central position is lower than the wind speed at the two ends. In addition, the control section 50 controls the air supply and the left and right swing of the head of the air supply section 2 to switch between multiple air supply modes. The multiple air supply modes include: a continuous mode in which the motor 18 is controlled to keep the wind speed constant while the head of the air supply section 2 swings left and right at a predetermined speed; and a clothes drying mode in which the motor 18 is controlled to keep the wind speed at the central position of the air supply section 2 lower than the wind speed at the two ends while the head of the air supply section 2 swings left and right at a speed lower than the predetermined speed. Therefore, in the clothes drying mode, by slowly swaying the head from side to side at a low speed, the drying of clothes and other laundry items can be promoted.

[0178] Furthermore, preferably, the air supply unit 2 is equipped with a distance sensor 61 that detects the distance to the laundry S located in the air supply direction 4, and the control unit 50 controls the motor 18 and head oscillation of the air supply unit 2 based on the distance detection information detected by the distance sensor 61. Thus, the most appropriate wind speed can be selected according to the distance from the blower 1 to the laundry S, allowing the laundry S to be exposed to air at a certain speed.

[0179] Furthermore, preferably, the air supply unit 2 is equipped with a temperature sensor 62 that detects the moisture state of the laundry S located in the air supply direction 4, and the control unit 50 controls the motor 18 of the air supply unit 2 and the head oscillation based on the moisture state of the laundry S detected by the temperature sensor 62. This allows the wet laundry S to be dried efficiently.

[0180] Furthermore, the control unit 50 includes a determination device that, based on the moisture state of the laundry S detected by the temperature sensor 62, determines the area within the air supply range of the air supply unit 2 where the laundry S is moist as a drying target area and the area where the laundry S is not moist as a non-drying target area. If a portion of the laundry S in the drying target area is determined to be dry, then preferably, the area where the dry laundry S exists is changed from the drying target area to the non-drying target area. This allows the moist laundry S to be dried efficiently.

[0181] Furthermore, the blower 1 of this embodiment includes: an air supply section 2 whose head can swing freely left and right, the air supply section 2 having fan blades 17 for air supply and a motor 18 for driving the fan blades 17; and a control section 50, which controls the motor 18 of the air supply section 2 and controls the left and right swing of the head of the air supply section 2. The control section 50 controls the airflow so that when the head of the air supply section 2 swings up and down, the airflow speed at the upper position is greater than the airflow speed at the lower position. This allows for the drying of laundry items S without wrinkles.

[0182] Furthermore, preferably, the vertical swing angle of the head of the air supply unit 2 is set within a range of 45 to 75 degrees, allowing for angle adjustment in the vertical direction while maintaining the vertical swing angle range of the head of the air supply unit 2. This ensures that the laundry S receives concentrated airflow, resulting in efficient and effective drying. Additionally, it can handle a variety of usage scenarios for drying clothes.

[0183] Furthermore, the blower 1 of this embodiment includes: an air supply section 2 that can freely swing its head in the vertical and horizontal directions, the air supply section 2 having fan blades 17 for air supply and a motor 18 for driving the fan blades 17; and a control section 50 that controls the motor 18 of the air supply section 2 and controls the vertical and horizontal swinging of the head of the air supply section 2. Specifically, the control section 50 controls the airflow so that when the head of the air supply section 2 swings horizontally, the wind speed at the central position is lower than the wind speed at both ends, and when the head of the air supply section 2 swings vertically, the wind speed at the upper end is higher than the wind speed at the lower end. This allows for the drying of laundry items S without wrinkles.

[0184] Furthermore, the blower 1 of this embodiment includes: an air supply section 2 with a head that can swing left and right freely, the air supply section 2 having fan blades 17 for air supply and a motor 18 for driving the fan blades 17; and a control section 50, which controls the motor 18 of the air supply section 2 and controls the left and right swing of the head of the air supply section 2. The control section 50 controls the air supply of the air supply section 2 and the left and right swing of the head to switch between multiple air supply modes, including: a continuous mode in which the head of the air supply section 2 swings left and right at a predetermined speed; and a forced stirring mode in which the head swings in the left and right direction at a speed higher than the predetermined speed. Thus, in the forced stirring mode, indoor air can be circulated by rapidly swinging the head left and right.

[0185] Furthermore, preferably, the control unit 50 controls the air supply unit 2 to stop its vertical head swing while maintaining the vertical angle, and swings its head horizontally at a speed higher than a predetermined speed. This allows for efficient and effective mixing of indoor air.

[0186] Alternatively, preferably, the control unit 50 controls the air supply unit 2 to oscillate left and right intermittently. This improves the mixing rate of indoor air.

[0187] Furthermore, the air supply unit 2 is equipped with a distance sensor 61 that detects the distance to the laundry S located in the air supply direction 4. Preferably, the control unit 50 controls the motor 18 and head oscillation of the air supply unit 2 based on the distance detection information detected by the distance sensor 61. As a result, indoor air can be efficiently circulated in the forced stirring mode regardless of the location where the blower 1 is installed.

[0188] Furthermore, the air supply unit 2 is equipped with a temperature sensor 62 that detects the temperature of an object located in the air supply direction 4. Preferably, the control unit 50 controls the motor 18 and head oscillation of the air supply unit 2 based on the temperature detection information detected by the temperature sensor 62. This allows for efficient and effective mixing of indoor air.

[0189] Furthermore, the control unit 50 includes a determination device that determines, based on temperature detection information detected by the temperature sensor 62, whether the air conditioner is in cooling mode (lowering the indoor temperature) or heating mode (raising the indoor temperature). Preferably, in cooling mode, the control is performed so that the air supply unit 2 supplies air to a lower position along the floor, and in heating mode, the control is performed so that the air supply unit 2 supplies air to a higher position in the room. This maximizes the effect of the circulator during cooling or heating, improving the efficiency of both cooling and heating.

[0190] Furthermore, preferably, the air supply unit 2 is configured to be 180-degree directionally changeable. This allows for efficient and effective mixing of indoor air.

[0191] Furthermore, preferably, the air supply unit 2 is equipped with a travel device. This allows for efficient and effective mixing of indoor air.

[0192] Furthermore, the remote control 25, which is equipped with a setting device for the air delivery range of the air delivery unit 2, preferably controls the head of the air delivery unit 2 to swing, so as to deliver air towards the air delivery range set by the remote control 25. This eliminates the need for sensors, reducing costs. Additionally, the air delivery range can be set as desired by the user.

[0193] [Other Implementation Methods]

[0194] As described above, although several embodiments have been described, the discussions and drawings that form part of this disclosure are illustrative and should not be construed as limiting. Those skilled in the art will recognize from this disclosure a variety of alternative embodiments, examples, and techniques.

[0195] Thus, this embodiment includes various other embodiments not described herein.

[0196] Figure Labels

[0197] 1…blowing fan

[0198] 2…Air Supply Department

[0199] 17… fan blades

[0200] 18…DC motor

[0201] 25…Remote control (for setting up and operating the device)

[0202] 50…Control Department

[0203] 61… Distance sensor (distance detection device)

[0204] 62…Temperature sensor (humidity detection equipment)

[0205] M1…stepper motor

[0206] M2…stepper motor

Claims

1. An air blower configured to have: a base portion; a support column erected from the base portion; an air blowing portion supported so as to be able to swing up and down with respect to the support column; a motor for swinging up and down a head portion provided with the air blowing portion; a pinion rotatably connected to an output shaft of the motor via a ratchet mechanism; a rack gear provided to the support column and engaged with the pinion; a gear carrier integrated with the rack gear, the air blowing portion being swung up and down by the motor driving the pinion, a latch base mounted to the output shaft of the motor, the ratchet mechanism having a spring accommodated in a hole formed in the latch base and a pin for locking, and a locking recess formed in the pinion, the gear carrier abutting against a surface of the pinion on the opposite side of the locking recess, a guide portion maintaining engagement of the pinion and the rack gear being formed in the gear carrier, and the pinion being located between the guide portion and the rack gear.

2. The air blower according to claim 1, wherein the pinion is provided on the same shaft as the output shaft in a manner opposite to the latch base, the pin being pressed against the locking recess by the spring.

3. The air blower according to claim 2, configured so that a protrusion is formed at the center of the pinion, and the protrusion moves along a groove formed in the gear carrier.

4. The air blower according to claim 3, configured so that the guide portion is formed in a circular arc shape opposite to the rack gear.

5. The air blower according to any one of claims 1 to 4, configured so that, when starting the up-and-down swinging action of the head portion of the air blowing portion by the motor, a deviation of a portion manually moving the air blowing portion is eliminated by causing the air blowing portion to move up to an upper limit, the portion manually moving the air blowing portion stopping the air blowing portion. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

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