Air treatment apparatus

Abstract

To provide an air treatment apparatus capable of being used in a variety of places.SOLUTION: An air treatment apparatus 10 includes an air treatment apparatus body 12, and a mounting unit 13. The air treatment apparatus body 12 includes a photocatalyst body carried with a photocatalyst disposed in the case 20, a case 20, and a light source for irradiating the photocatalyst body with light which excites the photocatalyst. The mounting unit 13 to which the air treatment apparatus body 12 is attachable and detachable supplies power to the air treatment apparatus body 12 when attached, and cuts the electric power supply to the air treatment apparatus body 12 when detached.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE Embodiments of the present invention relate to an air treatment device. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an air treatment device in which a photocatalyst and a light source for irradiating light onto the photocatalyst are disposed inside a housing.

[0003] Such air treatment devices are generally of a stationary type having an integrated structure and are not designed to be used in a variety of locations. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2022-88778 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an air treatment device that can be used in a variety of locations. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The air treatment device of the embodiment includes an air treatment device main body and an attachment unit. The air treatment device main body has a housing, a photocatalyst body carrying a photocatalyst arranged in the housing, and a light source that irradiates the photocatalyst body with light that excites the photocatalyst. The attachment unit is detachable from the air treatment device main body, supplies power to the air treatment device main body when attached, and cuts off power supply to the air treatment device main body when detached. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the embodiment, it is expected that an air treatment device that can be used in a variety of locations can be provided. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an air treatment device in use. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the air treatment device in use with the air treatment device main body removed from the mounting unit. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the air treatment device main body and the mounting unit of the air treatment device. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the structure for attaching and detaching the photocatalyst to the air treatment device main body. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the air treatment device body. [Figure 6] FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the air treatment device main body as seen from FIG. 5A-A. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the internal configuration of the air treatment device main body. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the internal configuration of the air treatment device main body. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] The air treatment device in the following embodiment is a device that performs air treatment of any of sterilization, disinfection, sterilization, sterilization, deodorization, and deodorization by a predetermined method on the air circulating inside the air treatment device. The air treatment of the air treatment device can be interpreted as any of sterilization, disinfection, sterilization, sterilization, deodorization, and deodorization. The predetermined method here is light irradiation, photocatalysis, and the like. Light irradiation refers to irradiation with light of wavelengths such as the UV-C region, UV-B region, UV-A region, visible light region, and infrared region. Photocatalysis refers to suppressing the activity of bacteria, viruses, and odor sources floating in the air, or decomposing them into water and carbon dioxide, by active enzymes and OH radicals generated by irradiating light (ultraviolet light or visible light) to a photocatalyst such as titanium oxide arranged inside the air treatment device.

[0011] Figures 1 to 3 show an air treatment device 10. The air treatment device 10 is directly plugged into a wall outlet 11 installed on the wall of a room, which is a space, and is disposed on the wall at a position above the floor surface, and operates by receiving power to treat the air in the room. The outlet to which the air treatment device 10 is connected may be any outlet, such as an extension cord outlet connected to the wall outlet 11.

[0012] The air processing device 10 comprises an air processing device main body 12 and an attachment unit 13 to which the air processing device main body 12 is detachably attached. The attachment unit 13 is directly plugged into an outlet 11. The air processing device main body 12 is attached and detached by moving the attachment unit 13 in the front-rear direction from the front side thereof.

[0013] 1 to 6 show the air treatment device main body 12. The air treatment device main body 12 is a small air treatment device main body configured to be 50 mm or less in length, 50 mm or less in width, and 100 mm or less in height. Here, length, width, and height are directions perpendicular to each other. The length is the direction of gravity and is parallel to the wall surface on which the outlet 11 is disposed. The height is the direction parallel to the wall surface on which the outlet 11 is disposed. The width is the direction perpendicular to the wall surface on which the outlet 11 is disposed. The air treatment device main body 12 includes a housing 20, a photocatalyst 21, a light source 22, a fan 23, and a support 24 disposed in the housing 20, and a power receiving terminal 25 disposed on the rear side of the housing 20.

[0014] Furthermore, the air treatment device 10 of this embodiment is a small air treatment device constructed with a weight that allows it to be fixed even when it is connected to a wall outlet 11 in the form shown in Fig. 1. For example, the air treatment device 10 weighs 5 kg or less, and preferably weighs 3 kg or less.

[0015] The housing 20 is made of, for example, resin or a metal such as aluminum die-cast, and is formed into a cube or rectangular parallelepiped shape, for example, a rectangular tube shape that is long in the axial direction (the longitudinal direction of the housing 20 is called the axial direction). The shape of the housing 20 may be cylindrical or the like.

[0016] The housing 20 has a first housing part 28 and a second housing part 29 which are divided into two parts, for example in the vertical direction, which intersect in the axial direction, and these housing parts 28, 29 are combined to form a single unit, and the photocatalyst 21, light source 22, fan 23, support body 24, and power receiving terminal 25 which are arranged inside are sandwiched and held.

[0017] An air processing area 30 is provided inside the housing 20, and an air intake port 31 communicating with the air processing area 30 is provided at one axial end of the housing 20, and an air exhaust port 32 communicating with the air processing area 30 is provided at the other axial end of the housing 20. In other words, the air processing area 30 is an area connected to the air intake port 31 and the air exhaust port 32.

[0018] In the air processing area 30 inside the housing 20, the fan 23 and the support 24 are arranged in the central region in the axial direction, and the photocatalysts 21 are arranged at positions between the central region where the fan 23 and the support 24 are arranged and the air inlet 31 side and the air outlet 32 ​​side, and further, the light sources 22 are arranged on both the inside and outside of each photocatalyst 21 corresponding to the central side and each end side of the housing 20. In other words, the photocatalyst 21 includes the photocatalyst 21 (first photocatalyst 21a) arranged between the fan 23 and the air inlet 31, and the photocatalyst 21 (second photocatalyst 21b) arranged between the fan 23 and the air outlet 32. The light source 22 includes a light source 22 arranged between the intake port 31 and the first photocatalyst 21a, a light source 22 arranged between the first photocatalyst 21a and the fan 23, a light source 22 arranged between the fan 23 and the second photocatalyst 21b, and a light source 22 arranged between the second photocatalyst 21 and the exhaust port 32.

[0019] A pair of central holding walls 34 are provided protruding around the entire periphery of the inner circumferential surface of the housing 20 in the central region in the axial direction, and a groove-shaped central holding portion 33 is formed around the entire periphery between the pair of central holding walls 34, which holds the support 24 supporting the fan 23 and the periphery of the inner light source 22. A plurality of restricting ribs 33a for restricting the movement range of the support 24 protrude around the entire periphery from the inner surface of the central holding portion 33. The protruding width of the restricting ribs 33a from the inner circumferential surface of the housing 20 is smaller than the protruding width of the central holding wall 34.

[0020] A pair of photocatalyst holding walls 35 are protruded around the entire circumference of the inner surface of the housing 20 between the axial central region and both end regions, and a groove-shaped photocatalyst holding portion 36 that positions and holds the periphery of the photocatalyst 21 is formed around the entire circumference between the pair of photocatalyst holding walls 35.

[0021] A pair of end side retaining walls 37 are protruded around the entire circumference of the inner surface of the housing 20 in the end regions on both sides in the axial direction, and a groove-shaped end side retaining portion 38 that positions the periphery of the outer light source 22 is formed around the entire circumference between the pair of end side retaining walls 37.

[0022] On the outer peripheral surface of the housing 20, mounting groove portions 39 are formed around the entire circumference between each adjacent central holding portion 33 and photocatalyst holding portion 36, and between each adjacent photocatalyst holding portion 36 and end side holding portion 38.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 4, the rear side of the housing 20 is provided with an attachment / detachment opening 40 that communicates with the inside of each photocatalyst holding part 36 and allows the photocatalyst 21 to be attached and detached. The attachment / detachment opening 40 is continuously opened from the lateral rear side of the housing 20 (the side facing the wall when installed as in Fig. 1) to a part of the upper and lower sides, and it is possible to pinch the upper and lower surfaces of the photocatalyst 21 arranged inside the photocatalyst holding part 36 with fingers and pull it out through the openings on the upper and lower sides of the housing 20. The attachment / detachment opening 40 is covered by an attachment / detachment opening cover 41 that is attached detachably from the rear side of the housing 20, and the attached attachment / detachment opening cover 41 holds the photocatalyst 21 in the photocatalyst holding part 36. The attachment / detachment port cover 41 includes a cover portion 42 that forms part of the outer shape of the photocatalyst holding portion 36 of the housing 20 when attached to the housing 20, and a locking portion 43 that protrudes from both ends of the cover portion 42 and is inserted into the inside of the photocatalyst holding portion 36. The locking portion 43 has a claw portion 45 that is locked into a locking hole 44 provided in the photocatalyst holding portion 36 of the housing 20. The claw portion 45 is configured as a release button that releases the lock of the attachment / detachment port cover 41 and allows it to be removed by pushing the claw portion 45 into the inside of the housing 20. From the above configuration, when the photocatalyst 21 is pulled out from the housing 20, the attachment / detachment port cover 41 is pulled out first, and then the photocatalyst 21 is pulled out. In addition, the attachment / detachment port cover 41 may be configured to clamp the photocatalyst 41 by performing an operation to release the engagement of the attachment / detachment port cover 41 (i.e., an operation to remove the claw portion 45 from the engagement hole 44), so that the attachment / detachment port cover 41 and the photocatalyst 21 can be pulled out simultaneously.

[0024] A frame portion 46 is provided on both end faces in the axial direction of the housing 20, forming the intake port 31 and the exhaust port 32 so as to be recessed inward of the housing 20. The frame portion 46 includes a rectangular cylindrical peripheral surface portion 47 that protrudes from the intake port 31 and the exhaust port 32 toward the inside of the housing 20, and an end surface portion 48 provided on the tip surface side of the peripheral surface portion 47. A rectangular vent hole 49 is formed in the center of the end surface portion 48. The intake port 31, the exhaust port 32, and the vent hole 49 are formed in a rectangular shape similar to the outer peripheral shape of the housing 20. The end surface portion 48 also serves as the end side holding wall portion 37 that constitutes the end side holding portion 38.

[0025] A rectangular plate-shaped light shielding portion 51 is provided on the outer surface of the end surface portion 48 via a plurality of supports 50 around the periphery of the vent 49. The light shielding portion 51 is disposed inside the outermost end position of the housing 20 and inside the intake port 31 and the exhaust port 32. The area of ​​the light shielding portion 51 is larger than the area of ​​the vent 49, and the periphery of the light shielding portion 51 is located on a virtual line connecting the outer end side edge portions (the outer end edge portions of the peripheral surface portion 47) of the intake port 31 and the exhaust port 32 and the outer end edge portion of the vent 49, so that light passing through the vent 49 from inside the air processing area is not directly emitted from the intake port 31 and the exhaust port 32 to the outside of the housing 20 (that is, the direct light of the light irradiated from the light source 22 is not emitted to the outside of the housing 20).

[0026] A display section m, for example a triangle, indicating the flow of air to be treated is displayed on at least the upper surface of the housing 20. The display section m is disposed at least on the upper surface of the end-side holding section 38 on the intake port 31 side to indicate the direction in which air is sucked in, and is disposed at least on the upper surface of the end-side holding section 38 on the exhaust port 32 side to indicate the direction in which air is exhausted.

[0027] A terminal cover part 52 in which the power receiving terminal 25 is arranged is provided in the central holding part on the rear side of the housing 20. The terminal cover part 52 is divided into two parts, a first housing part 28 and a second housing part 29, and the terminal cover part 52 of the first housing part 28 and the terminal cover part 52 of the second housing part 29 sandwich and hold the power receiving terminal 25.

[0028] Furthermore, two identical photocatalysts 21 are used and are arranged in the air processing area 30 of the housing 20, at the photocatalyst holder 36 on the intake port 31 side and at the photocatalyst holder 36 on the exhaust port 32 side.

[0029] The photocatalyst 21 includes a support 54 and a photocatalyst 55 supported on the surface of the support 54. The support 54 is a rectangular flat plate corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the inner peripheral surface of the housing 20, and has a plurality of ventilation holes 56 formed therethrough in the thickness direction. The photocatalyst 55 may also be supported on the ventilation holes 56. The photocatalyst 55 is made of titanium oxide or the like, and is applied and supported on the surface of the support 54 (i.e., the surface that comes into contact with air). The photocatalyst 55 generates active enzymes and OH radicals when it receives ultraviolet light of a wavelength component of UV-A of, for example, 360 nm to 420 nm, or visible light from the light source 22, and the generated active enzymes and OH radicals decompose odor components in the air to deodorize or eliminate odors, or suppress the activity of bacteria and viruses floating in the air.

[0030] The photocatalyst 21 is positioned so that the peripheral portion of the photocatalyst 21 is placed in the photocatalyst holding portion 36 of the housing 20, thereby blocking the entire cross-sectional area in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the air treatment area 30 of the housing 20, and the axial direction of the multiple air vents 56 of the photocatalyst 21 is aligned along the axial direction of the housing 20 and along the air flow direction F in which air flows from the intake port 31 to the exhaust port 32.

[0031] The light source 22 also includes two inner light source substrates 59 arranged between each photocatalyst 21 and the fan 23 in the air processing area 30 of the housing 20, and two outer light source substrates 60 arranged between each photocatalyst 21 and the air intake 31 and the air exhaust 32. A light emitting element 61 that emits light that excites the photocatalyst 55 and a connector 62 are mounted on light source surfaces 59a, 60a, which are one surface of each light source substrate 59, 60.

[0032] Each of the light source substrates 59 and 60 has a rectangular flat plate shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the inner peripheral surface of the housing 20, and is made of a metal substrate such as aluminum in consideration of heat dissipation. Note that the light source substrates 59 and 60 may also be made of a resin substrate.

[0033] The inner light source substrate 59 is arranged so that the light source surface 59a faces the photocatalyst 21 in the opposite direction to the fan 23, and the peripheral portion is arranged inside the central holding portion 33 of the housing 20, and the peripheral portion of the light source surface 59a abuts against the side surface of the central holding wall portion 34. As shown in Figs. 6 to 8, the inner light source substrate 59 is provided with a mounting portion 63 for mounting the light emitting element 61 in the center, and an opening 64 through which air flows is formed in the peripheral portion of the mounting portion 63. The mounting portion 63 is circular and is supported by a plurality of support portions 65 that cross the opening 64. The opening 64 is formed corresponding to the shape of the air passage of the fan 23, and is arranged at a position that overlaps with the air passage of the fan 23 in the air flow direction F when the inner light source substrate 59 is arranged in the central holding portion 33 of the housing 20. At least two support portions 65 are necessary to support the mounting portion 63, and in this embodiment, four support portions 65 are provided on the top, bottom, left, and right.

[0034] The outer light source substrate 60 is arranged in a direction in which the light source surface 60a faces the photocatalyst 21, facing away from the end side of the housing 20, and the peripheral portion is arranged inside the end side holding portion 38 of the housing 20. As shown in Figs. 6 to 8, the outer light source substrate 60 is provided with a mounting portion 66 for mounting the light emitting element 61 on the peripheral portion, and an opening 67 through which air flows is formed in the central portion on the central side of the mounting portion 66. The mounting portion 66 is formed in a rectangular frame shape. The opening 67 is formed in a rectangular shape that is approximately the same shape as the ventilation hole 49 of the housing 20, and is arranged at a position overlapping with the ventilation hole 49 in the air flow direction F when the outer light source substrate 60 is arranged on the end side holding portion 38 of the housing 20.

[0035] A photocatalyst excitation LED is used for the light emitting element 61, which emits light in the ultraviolet region with a UV-A wavelength component of at least 360 nm to 420 nm, or light with a wavelength component in the visible region, for exciting the photocatalyst 55 supported on the photocatalyst body 21. In addition to the photocatalyst excitation LED, a sterilization LED may also be used that emits ultraviolet light with a UV-C wavelength component with a peak wavelength of 300 nm or less for sterilizing the air, preferably with a wavelength component of 200 to 280 nm.

[0036] The light emitting element 61 preferably has a lens portion disposed on the light emitting surface to irradiate light over a wide range. The resin material that is the sealing member of the light emitting element 61 may be formed in a convex shape so as to form a lens portion in the light irradiating direction, so that the light emitting element 61 functions as a lens portion.

[0037] In addition, the light emitting element 61 mounted on the inner light source substrate 59 and the light emitting element 61 mounted on the outer light source substrate 60 may be configured to have different light distributions of emitted light. For example, the light distribution of light irradiated from the light emitting element 61 mounted on the inner light source substrate 59 is configured to be wider than the light distribution of light irradiated from the light emitting element 61 mounted on the outer light source substrate 60. By configuring in this way, the light distribution of light irradiated from the light emitting element 61 mounted on the outer light source substrate 60 approaches a direction parallel to the ventilation hole 56 of the photocatalyst 21, so that the light irradiated from the light emitting element 61 mounted on the outer light source substrate 60 is easily introduced into the ventilation hole 56. In other words, it is possible to suppress the light irradiated from the light emitting element 61 mounted on the outer light source substrate 60 from being reflected on the surface of the photocatalyst 21 and heading toward the intake port 31 or the exhaust port 32. It is also possible to suppress the light from the light emitting element 61 from leaking from the housing 20.

[0038] The light emitting elements 61 mounted on the mounting portion 63 of the light source surface 59a of the inner light source substrate 59 are arranged, for example, at four locations on the top, bottom, left and right sides corresponding to the positions of the support portions 65 that support the mounting portion 63. The inner light source substrate 59 may have one or more and three or less light emitting elements 61, or five or more light emitting elements 61 arranged thereon. Note that the light emitting elements 61 may also be arranged in areas of the inner light source substrate 59 other than the mounting portion 63.

[0039] The light emitting elements 61 mounted on the mounting portion 66 of the light source surface 60a of the outer light source substrate 60 are arranged, for example, at eight locations including the four corners and the middle positions of the four sides of the rectangular frame-shaped mounting portion 66. The outer light source substrate 60 may have one to seven light emitting elements 61 or nine or more light emitting elements 61 arranged thereon.

[0040] The connectors 62 of the light source boards 59 and 60 are connected to one end of a wire (not shown), and the other end of the wire is connected to the power receiving terminal 25 .

[0041] In this embodiment, the light emitting element 61 of the inner light source substrate 59 and the light emitting element 61 of the outer light source substrate 60 arranged on both sides of the photocatalyst 21 are arranged at different opposing positions. That is, the light emitting element 61 of the inner light source substrate 59 faces the center of the photocatalyst 21, and the light emitting element 61 of the outer light source substrate 60 faces the peripheral portion of the photocatalyst 21. Also, as shown in FIG. 6 (illustration of the photocatalyst 21 is omitted for the sake of explanation), when viewed from the opening direction of the opening 67 of the outer light source substrate 60, the light emitting element 61 of the inner light source substrate 59 (opposing via the photocatalyst 21) is arranged within the inner range of the opening 67 of the outer light source substrate 60. Furthermore, the opening 67 of the outer light source substrate 60 is larger than the area of ​​the mounting portion 63 of the inner light source substrate 59. Due to these relationships, the light of the light emitting element 61 is irradiated to the vent holes 56 in the entire area of ​​the photocatalyst 21 from both sides of the photocatalyst 21, and the photocatalytic action is obtained in the entire area of ​​the photocatalyst 21.

[0042] Furthermore, the total area of ​​the openings 64 of the inner light source substrate 59 is greater than the total area of ​​the openings 67 of the outer light source substrate 60. This allows the openings 64 of the inner light source substrate 59 to have good air circulation due to the air blown by the fan 23, and the openings 67 of the outer light source substrate 60 to have a high air flow rate, making it possible to take in and exhaust air over a wide range around the air processing device 10 through the intake port 31 and the exhaust port 32.

[0043] The light intensity of the light emitting element 61 of the inner light source substrate 59 that irradiates both sides of the photocatalyst 21 with light and the light intensity of the light emitting element 61 of the outer light source substrate 60 may be made the same, or the illuminance intensity of the light irradiated from the light emitting element 61 of the inner light source substrate 59 and the light emitting element 61 of the outer light source substrate 60 to both sides of the photocatalyst 21 may be made the same on both sides of the photocatalyst 21, thereby making the air processing capacity of the entire photocatalyst 21 uniform. Note that the light intensity referred to here is a parameter indicating the intensity of light, such as the overall light intensity, luminous flux, or luminous intensity, including the multiple light emitting elements 61.

[0044] Furthermore, the light intensity (total light intensity including the multiple light-emitting elements 61) of the light-emitting elements 61 of the inner light source substrate 59, which radiates light outward in the direction opposite to the fan 23, toward the air intake 31 and the exhaust 32, may be made smaller than the light intensity (total light intensity including the multiple light-emitting elements 61) of the light-emitting elements 61 of the outer light source substrate 60, which radiates light inward, thereby reducing the leakage of light from the air intake 31 or the exhaust 32.

[0045] Furthermore, the light intensity of the light source 22 on the intake side that irradiates the photocatalyst 21 on the intake side with light may be greater than the light intensity of the light source 22 on the exhaust side that irradiates the photocatalyst 21 on the exhaust side with light. This increases the processing capacity of the photocatalyst 21 on the intake side, since the air before processing is processed by the photocatalyst 21 on the intake side. In other words, since the air after processing by the photocatalyst 21 on the intake side is processed by the photocatalyst 21 on the exhaust side, there is little effect even if the processing capacity of the light source 22 on the exhaust side is reduced, and the light intensity of the light source 22 on the exhaust side may be reduced.

[0046] The distance between the inner light source substrate 59 and the photocatalyst 21 is also greater than the distance between the outer light source substrate 60 and the photocatalyst 21, so that even if the light emitting elements 61 are densely arranged in the center of the inner light source substrate 59, the light from the light emitting elements 61 can be irradiated over a wide range of the photocatalyst 21. Also, due to this relationship, on the outer circumferential surface of the housing 20, the width of the mounting groove 39 between the center holding part 33 and the photocatalyst holding part 36 is greater than the width of the mounting groove 39 between the photocatalyst holding part 36 and the end side holding part 38.

[0047] The fan 23 is an axial fan. The fan 23 includes a fan case 70 having a substantially rectangular outer shape and a cylindrical inner circumferential surface, a fan body 71 rotatably arranged in the fan case 70, and a motor (not shown) housed inside the fan body 71 and rotating the fan body 71 relative to the fan case 70. A plurality of blades 72 protrude from the outer circumferential surface of the fan body 71. An air passage 73 is formed between the inner circumferential surface of the fan case 70 and the fan body 71, and the plurality of blades 72 of the fan body 71 are rotatably arranged in the air passage 73. The fan body 71 rotates in a predetermined air flow direction by the motor, so that air is blown in the air flow direction F from the intake port 31 of the housing 20 to the exhaust port 32. The openings 64 of the inner light source substrate 59 face the intake port side and the exhaust port side of the air passage 73 and are in communication with each other.

[0048] 5 and 8, the support 24 is integrally formed from, for example, a synthetic resin having elasticity. The support 24 has a mounting portion 76 in the form of a rectangular frame with an opening therein, and the fan 23 is disposed inside the mounting portion 76. The support 24 holds the fan 23 by fitting the mounting portion 76 around the periphery of the fan case 70.

[0049] A plurality of support parts 77, which are connected and arranged, for example, in a substantially H-shape, are protruded from each of the four side parts constituting the circumferential surface of the mounting part 76. The plurality of support parts 77 protrude obliquely with the connecting part as a fulcrum, with the tip side away from each side part, and a contact part 78 that abuts against the inner surface of the housing 20 is provided on the tip side.

[0050] Flange portions 79 are provided on both sides of the mounting portion 76 so as to protrude around the entire periphery, and a plurality of board retaining portions 80, which serve as board support portions, are provided to protrude from the outer surfaces of the flange portions 79. The plurality of board retaining portions 80 elastically contact the periphery of the inner light source board 59 arranged in the central retaining portion 33, and sandwich and retain the inner light source board 59 between the central retaining wall portion 34.

[0051] Moreover, the power receiving terminal 25 is sandwiched and held between the terminal cover part 52 of the first housing part 28 and the terminal cover part 52 of the second housing part 29 on the rear side of the housing 20. The power receiving terminal 25 is electrically connected to each of the light source boards 59, 60 and the motor of the fan 23 by wiring.

[0052] To assemble the air treatment device main body 12, for example, the peripheral portion of the support 24 combined with the fan 23 and the peripheral portion of the inner light source board 59 arranged on both sides of the fan 23 are assembled in the central holding portion 33 of the lower second housing portion 29, the peripheral portion of the outer light source board 60 is assembled in each end side holding portion 38, and the power receiving terminal 25 connected to the fan 23 and each light source board 59, 60 by wiring is arranged in the terminal cover portion 52. After that, the upper first housing portion 28 is placed on the second housing portion 29 with the parts assembled therein, and the first housing portion 28 and the second housing portion 29 are assembled and fixed. The photocatalyst 21 is inserted from the attachment / detachment opening 40 of the housing 20, and the attachment / detachment opening cover 41 that covers the attachment / detachment opening 40 is attached to the housing 20.

[0053] In the housing 20, the contact parts 78 of the support parts 77 provided on the four faces of the support 24 come into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the housing 20, elastically supporting the fan 23. Furthermore, the multiple board pressing parts 80 of the support 24 come into elastic contact with the peripheral part of the inner light source board 59 arranged in the central holding part 33, and hold the inner light source board 59 by sandwiching it between the central holding wall part 34. Furthermore, the peripheral part of the outer light source board 60 is held in the photocatalyst holding part 36 of the housing 20. Furthermore, the peripheral part of the photocatalyst 21 is held by the photocatalyst holding part 36 and the attachment / detachment opening cover 41 of the housing 20.

[0054] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the mounting unit 13 includes a unit main body 83, a power supply terminal 84 provided on the front side of the unit main body 83, an outlet connection portion 85 provided on the rear side of the unit main body 83, and a power supply portion 86 disposed within the unit main body 83.

[0055] The unit body 83 is made of, for example, synthetic resin, and comprises a main body portion 88, a rear portion 89, an attachment portion 90 provided above the main body portion 88 and in front of the rear portion 89, and a rear plate (not shown) that closes the rear side of the unit body 83.

[0056] The air treatment device main body 12 is removably attached to the mounting part 90 by movement in the front-rear direction. The mounting part 90 is provided with a plurality of holding parts 91 that removably hold the air treatment device main body 12. The holding parts 91 are formed in a roughly U-shape, with the back side and bottom side of the holding parts 91 being formed integrally with the rear part 89 and main body part 88 of the unit main body 83, and the upper side of the holding parts 91 protruding from the rear part 89 toward the front of the upper area of ​​the mounting part 90.

[0057] Each holding portion 91 is provided corresponding to the groove width and position of each mounting groove portion 39 on the outer circumferential surface of the air processing device main body 12, and holds the air processing device main body 12 by fitting into each mounting groove portion 39. A stopper portion 92 that wraps around and engages with the front side of the air processing device main body 12 is provided on the tip side of the holding portion 91. When attaching or detaching the air processing device main body 12, the upper side of the holding portion 91 elastically deforms upward, so that the air processing device main body 12 can be attached or detached by moving it in the front-rear direction from the front side of the mounting portion 90.

[0058] A light transmitting portion 93 is provided on the front side or the bottom side, or from the front side to the bottom side, of the main body portion 88. An illumination light source (not shown) that irradiates visible light for illumination is disposed inside this light transmitting portion 93.

[0059] The power supply terminal 84 is provided on the front side of the rear portion 89, and the power receiving terminal 25 of the air treatment device main body 12, which is moved from the front and attached to the attachment portion 90, is inserted into the power supply terminal 84 for electrical connection.

[0060] The outlet connection portion 85 also includes a plug 95 that is inserted into the outlet 11 for connection.

[0061] The power supply unit 86 is disposed within the main body 88 of the unit main body 83, and is electrically connected by wiring to the power supply terminal 84 and the plug 95 of the outlet connection unit 85. The power supply unit 86 converts external power, such as commercial AC power, supplied from the outlet 11 via the plug 95 into a predetermined operating power, and supplies it to the air treatment device main body 12 via the power supply terminal 84.

[0062] The power supply unit 86 supplies the converted power to the illumination light source arranged inside the light transmitting unit 93 to turn it on. The power supply unit 86 may use a human presence sensor or an illuminance sensor to turn on the illumination light source for a predetermined period of time when the human presence sensor detects a human body, or may control the turning on and off of the illumination light source according to the brightness detected by the illuminance sensor.

[0063] The operation of air treatment device 10 will now be described.

[0064] The air processing device 10 is used by mounting the air processing device main body 12 to the mounting unit 13 and connecting the outlet connection part 85 on the rear side of the mounting unit 13 to the outlet 11.

[0065] The air treatment device main body 12 operates when a predetermined operating power is supplied from the power supply section 86 of the mounting unit 13 .

[0066] When the fan 23 of the air processing device main body 12 operates, the fan main body 71 rotates, drawing in outside air from the intake port 31 into the air processing area 30 and exhausting the air processed in the air processing area 30 to the outside from the exhaust port 32, thereby forming an air flow in the air circulation direction F within the air processing area 30.

[0067] An inner light source substrate 59 is arranged on the inlet and outlet sides of the air passage 73 of the fan 23, and openings 64 provided on the periphery of the inner light source substrate 59 face and are connected to the inlet and outlet sides of the air passage 73 of the fan 23. This reduces the effects of pressure loss of the air blown by the fan 23, improves the efficiency of air circulation between the outside and the air processing area 30, and enhances air processing efficiency.

[0068] The operation of the fan 23 generates vibrations, but since the fan 23 is elastically supported by the support 24 relative to the housing 20 , the support 24 reduces the vibrations of the fan 23 and makes it difficult for the vibrations of the fan 23 to be transmitted to the housing 20 .

[0069] Furthermore, the light emitting elements 61 of the light source boards 59, 60 of the air treatment device main body 12 are turned on, and the light from the light emitting elements 61 is irradiated from both sides of the photocatalyst 21. When the photocatalyst 21 is irradiated with light in the ultraviolet region of the UV-A wavelength component of, for example, 360 nm to 420 nm, or visible light from the light emitting elements 61, it generates active enzymes and OH radicals, and the generated active enzymes and OH radicals decompose and deodorize odorous components in the air passing through the treatment area 28, or suppress the activity of bacteria and viruses floating in the air.

[0070] In addition, when the light source 22 is equipped with a light-emitting element 61 that emits ultraviolet light, for example, a UV-C wavelength component with a peak wavelength of 300 nm or less, preferably ultraviolet light with a wavelength component of 200 to 280 nm, the ultraviolet light from the light-emitting element 61 is irradiated into the air in the air treatment area 30, thereby sterilizing the air.

[0071] The light-emitting elements 61 of the inner light source substrate 59 and the light-emitting elements 61 of the outer light source substrate 60, which are arranged on both sides of the photocatalyst 21, are arranged at different opposing positions (i.e., the light-emitting elements 61 of the inner light source substrate 59 and the light-emitting elements 61 of the outer light source substrate 60 are arranged so as not to overlap when the air treatment device 10 is viewed from the intake port 31 and exhaust port 32 sides). In other words, the light-emitting elements 61 of the inner light source substrate 59 face the center of the photocatalyst 21, and the light-emitting elements 61 of the outer light source substrate 60 face the periphery of the photocatalyst 21. Therefore, the light of the light-emitting elements 61 can be irradiated to the air vents 56 throughout the entire photocatalyst 21 from both sides of the photocatalyst 21, and photocatalytic action can be obtained throughout the entire photocatalyst 21, improving the air treatment efficiency.

[0072] Furthermore, when viewed from the opening direction of the opening 67 of the outer light source substrate 60, the light-emitting element 61 of the inner light source substrate 59 facing the opening 67 of the outer light source substrate 60 via the photocatalyst 21 is arranged within the inner range of the opening 67 of the outer light source substrate 60, and the opening 67 of the outer light source substrate 60 is larger than the area of ​​the mounting portion 63 of the inner light source substrate 59. This also allows the light of the light-emitting element 61 to be irradiated to the air holes 56 throughout the photocatalyst substrate 21 from both sides of the photocatalyst substrate 21, resulting in photocatalytic action throughout the entire photocatalyst substrate 21 and improving air treatment efficiency.

[0073] The distance between the inner light source substrate 59 and the photocatalyst 21 is also large relative to the distance between the outer light source substrate 60 and the photocatalyst 21, and even if the light-emitting elements 61 are densely arranged in the center of the inner light source substrate 59, the light from the light-emitting elements 61 can be irradiated over a wide area of ​​the photocatalyst 21, improving air treatment efficiency.

[0074] In addition, the total area of ​​the openings 64 of the inner light source substrate 59 is larger than the total area of ​​the openings 67 of the outer light source substrate 60. As a result, the openings 64 of the inner light source substrate 59 improve the air circulation caused by the air blown by the fan 23, and the openings 67 of the outer light source substrate 60 increase the air flow speed, making it possible to take in and exhaust air over a wide range around the air processing device 10 through the intake port 31 and the exhaust port 32.

[0075] In addition, since a light-shielding portion 51 is provided at the air intake port 31 and the exhaust port 32 of the housing 20, the light from the light-emitting element 61 traveling from the inside of the air processing area 30 to the outside can be blocked, thereby reducing light leakage from the air intake port 31 and the exhaust port 32.

[0076] Moreover, heat generated by the lit light emitting element 61 is dissipated to the air flowing through the air processing area 30. Furthermore, a portion of the heat of the light emitting element 61 is transferred from the light source boards 59 and 60 to the housing 20 and dissipated to the outside.

[0077] In addition, the processing capacity of the photocatalyst 21 decreases as the operating time passes, but since the processing capacity can be continuously maintained by cleaning, the photocatalyst 21 is removed from the housing 20 and cleaned every specified operating time.

[0078] To remove the photocatalyst 21 from the housing 20, the air processing device main body 12 is removed from the mounting portion 90 of the mounting unit 13 to expose the attachment / detachment opening cover 41 arranged on the rear side of the air processing device main body 12.

[0079] At this time, even if the outlet connection part 85 on the rear side of the mounting unit 13 is connected to the outlet 11 and the air processing device main body 12 is operating with operating power supplied from the power supply part 86, by removing the air processing device main body 12 from the mounting part 90 of the mounting unit 13 to expose the attachment / detachment port cover 41, the power receiving terminal 25 comes off from the power supply terminal 84 and the supply of operating power is cut off, so that the photocatalyst 21 can be removed with the air processing device main body 12 stopped operating.

[0080] The claws 45 on both ends of the attachment / detachment opening cover 41 are pushed into the housing 20 to release the lock, and the attachment / detachment opening cover 41 is pulled out to open the attachment / detachment opening 40 of the housing 20. The photocatalyst 21 is pulled out from the attachment / detachment opening 40 of the housing 20, removed, and cleaned. After cleaning, the photocatalyst 21 is inserted into the attachment / detachment opening 40 of the housing 20, and the attachment / detachment opening cover 41 is attached to the housing 20 so as to cover the attachment / detachment opening 40.

[0081] In this way, since the air treatment device 10 is constructed to be small enough to be directly plugged into the outlet 11, there is a concern that the air treatment performance may be reduced. However, by arranging two photocatalysts 21 on the intake port 31 side and the exhaust port 32 side of the housing 20 and irradiating light from the light source 22 to excite the photocatalyst from both sides of each photocatalyst 21, it is possible to improve the air treatment performance even when the device is compact.

[0082] Furthermore, when the device is made smaller, there is a concern that noise from the fan 23 during operation may leak to the outside. However, by disposing the fan 23 between two photocatalysts 21, the noise from the fan 23 is attenuated by the photocatalyst 21, so that even when the device is made smaller, it is possible to reduce the noise from the fan 23 during operation from leaking to the outside.

[0083] Furthermore, since the air treatment device 10 is configured by combining the air treatment device main body 12 and the mounting unit 13, the configuration of the mounting unit 13 can be changed according to the place of use and the usage situation, making it possible to use it in various places.

[0084] The mounting unit 13 may take any form, such as being directly plugged into the outlet 11 described above, being placed on a desk, being hung on a wall, being mounted in a vehicle and receiving power from a cigarette lighter socket or the like, or being battery-powered.

[0085] The mounting unit 13 may take the form of an AC adapter, and may be in a mounted state and supply power by connecting the air processing device main body 12 to a connector of the AC adapter, and in a separated state and cut off power supply by removing the air processing device main body 12 from the connector of the AC adapter. In any form of the mounting unit 13, it is preferable that when the air processing device main body 12 is mounted on the mounting unit 13, the attachment / detachment port cover 41 of the air processing device main body 12 faces at least a part of the mounting unit 13, and is configured so that the attachment / detachment port cover 41 cannot be removed from the air processing device main body 12.

[0086] The air treatment device main body 12 may be made common so that it can be attached to various types of mounting units 13. In this case, the air treatment device main body 12 can be carried and used by attaching it to the mounting unit 13 at the place of use.

[0087] In addition, by using terminals with a symmetrical contact structure that has no connection direction for the power receiving terminal 25 of the air processing device main body 12 and the power supply terminal 84 of the mounting unit 13, the air processing device main body 12 can be positioned so that the orientation of the intake port 31 and exhaust port 32 relative to the mounting unit 13 can be arbitrarily switched depending on the location where the air processing device 10 is placed.

[0088] Furthermore, the unit body 83 and the power supply section 86 of the fitting unit 13 may be configured as separate bodies and connected by an electric wire.

[0089] Also, when it is time to clean the photocatalyst 21, the notification may be given by blinking the illumination light source arranged inside the light transmitting section 93 of the mounting unit 13. In this case, the operating time is counted by the control section of the power supply section 86 or the like, and when the count value reaches a predetermined value, the illumination light source is blinked, and after the photocatalyst 21 is cleaned, the count of the operating time may be reset by operating a reset button arranged on the outer surface of the mounting unit 13. Also, a light source such as a monitor lamp separate from the illumination light source may be provided to notify the time to clean the photocatalyst 21.

[0090] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0091] 10 Air Treatment Equipment 11. Outlet 12 Air treatment device main body 13 Mounting unit 20. Cabinet 21 Photocatalyst 22 Light source 55 Photocatalyst 85 Outlet connection

Claims

1. an air treatment device body having a housing, a photocatalyst body carrying a photocatalyst disposed in the housing, and a light source that irradiates the photocatalyst body with light that excites the photocatalyst; an attachment unit to which the air treatment device main body is detachable, which supplies power to the air treatment device main body when attached and cuts off power supply to the air treatment device main body when detached; An air treatment device comprising:

2. When the air treatment device main body is separated from the mounting unit, the photocatalyst body is in a state where it can be attached and detached to the housing, and when the air treatment device main body is attached to the mounting unit, the photocatalyst body is in a state where it can be prevented from being attached and detached to the housing by the mounting unit.

2. The air treatment system of claim 1.

3. The mounting unit has a power outlet connector that is connected to a power outlet.

3. An air treatment device according to claim 1 or 2.

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