Partitioning screen for prevention of droplet infection and droplet nuclei infection

Abstract

To provide a partitioning screen that can effectively prevent droplet infection and droplet nuclei infection.SOLUTION: A partitioning screen includes at least one shutter, a support mechanism, and a light irradiation device. The at least one shutter has multiple first slats and multiple second slats arranged parallel to each other. The support mechanism is configured to support the at least one shutter. The light irradiation device is configured to emit light on one side of the at least one shutter. The first slats and the second slats are arranged alternately. Each of the first slats and the second slats is curved. The width of each of the first slats is equal to or greater than that of each of the second slats.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] One embodiment of the present invention relates to a partition for preventing droplet infection and droplet nucleus infection. For example, one embodiment of the present invention relates to a partition that can effectively eliminate or reduce bacteria, viruses, and the like that cause droplet infection and droplet nucleus infection contained in exhaled breath. [Background technology]

[0002] Droplet infection and droplet nucleus infection occur when particles containing pathogens emitted from the respiratory tract are moved and diffused by air currents. As a partition for preventing droplet infection and droplet nucleus infection indoors, a partition equipped with an electric fan and a light source capable of emitting ultraviolet light is known. With these partitions, the fan is used to actively draw indoor air into the partition, and the sucked air is irradiated with ultraviolet light to sterilize and purify the air (see Patent Documents 1 and 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5916070 [Patent Document 2] Utility Model Registration No. 3118531 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] An object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a screen that can effectively prevent droplet infection and droplet nuclei infection. For example, an object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a screen that has low power consumption, can effectively capture droplets and droplet nuclei originating from exhaled breath, and can irradiate light of a wavelength band capable of inactivating infectious disease-causing substances contained in the droplets and droplet nuclei. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] One embodiment of the present invention is a partition for preventing droplet infection and droplet nucleus infection. The partition includes at least one shutter, a support mechanism, and a light irradiation device. The at least one shutter has a plurality of first slats and a plurality of second slats arranged parallel to each other. The support mechanism is configured to support the at least one shutter. The light irradiation device is configured to irradiate light on one side of the at least one shutter. The first slats and the second slats are arranged alternately. Each of the plurality of first slats and the plurality of second slats is bent or curved. The width of each of the plurality of first slats is equal to or greater than the width of each of the plurality of second slats. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a partition according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2A] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a partition according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2B] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a light irradiation device for a partition according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3A] FIG. 2 is a schematic end view of a first slat of a partition according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3B] FIG. 2 is a schematic end view of a first slat of a partition according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3C] FIG. 2 is a schematic end view of a first slat of a partition according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4A] FIG. 4 is a schematic end view of a second slat of a partition according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4B] FIG. 4 is a schematic end view of a second slat of a partition according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4C] FIG. 4 is a schematic end view of a second slat of a partition according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5A] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a first slat of a partition according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5B] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a first slat of a partition according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6A] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a second slat of a partition according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6B] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a second slat of a partition according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7A] FIG. 2 is a schematic end view of a portion of a shutter of a screen according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7B] FIG. 2 is a schematic end view of a portion of a shutter of a screen according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a partition according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a partition according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a partition according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a partition according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12A] FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a partition according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12B] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of a partition according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a partition according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a partition according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a straightening plate of a partition according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of a partition according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a partition according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a partition according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19A] FIG. 2 is a schematic end view of a portion of a shutter of a screen according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19B] FIG. 2 is a schematic end view of a portion of a shutter of a screen according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 20] FIG. 2 is a schematic end view of a portion of a shutter of a screen according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 21] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a partition according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 22] FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a partition according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 23] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a partition according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 24] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a third slat of a partition according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 25A] FIG. 4 is a schematic end view of a third slat of a partition according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 25B] FIG. 4 is a schematic end view of a third slat of a partition according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 26] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a partition according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0007] Hereinafter, each embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, etc. However, the present invention can be embodied in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention, and should not be construed as being limited to the description of the embodiments exemplified below.

[0008] In order to make the explanation clearer, the drawings may show the width, thickness, shape, etc. of each part diagrammatically compared to the actual embodiment, but these are merely examples and are not intended to limit the interpretation of the present invention.

[0009] First Embodiment 1. Structure of the partition Hereinafter, a screen for preventing droplet infection and droplet nucleus infection according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. The screen functions as a partition plate that captures particles, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc., which are substances contained in human breath and cause droplet infection and droplet nucleus infection. The screen can be installed in various locations, such as on the floor, on movable furniture such as a desk, next to a window, or on fixed fixtures indoors or outdoors, such as a counter. Schematic front and side views of an example of a screen 100 are shown in Figs. 1 and 2A, respectively. As shown in these figures, the screen 100 basically comprises at least one shutter 130, a support mechanism 110 that supports the shutter 130, and one or more light irradiation devices 150. In the following, the vertical direction when the screen 100 is installed is the z direction, and the x and y directions are the horizontal directions. The x and y directions are the longitudinal direction of the screen 100 in a horizontal plane and the direction perpendicular thereto, respectively.

[0010] (1)Shutter The shutter 130 is configured to pass an airflow containing particles and convert the airflow into an upward flow that flows along the surface of the shutter 130 (the surface opposite to the surface on which the airflow collides). As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2A, the shutter 130 has two types of slats (hereinafter, slats). Specifically, the shutter 130 has a plurality of first slats 132 and a plurality of second slats 134 arranged parallel to each other. The plurality of first slats 132 and the plurality of second slats 134 are arranged in stripes so that their longitudinal directions are parallel to each other. In addition, the first slats 132 and the second slats 134 are arranged alternately to each other. Therefore, one second slat 134 is located between adjacent first slats 132, and one first slat 132 is located between adjacent second slats 134 (FIG. 2A). Since there is a gap between the adjacent first slat 132 and second slat 134, the shutter 130 does not block sound as much as an acrylic panel that is commonly used to prevent droplet infection and droplet nucleus infection. Therefore, people are not required to speak loudly when talking through the partition 100, and the amount of breath emitted by people is reduced, resulting in more effective prevention of droplet infection and droplet nucleus infection.

[0011] The first slat 132 and the second slat 134 are configured to transmit visible light. This allows people to enjoy a natural conversation without feeling any discomfort when talking through the partition 100. At the same time, it is preferable that the first slat 132 and the second slat 134 do not transmit the light irradiated from the light irradiation device 150. For this reason, it is preferable that the first slat 132 and the second slat 134 contain a resin that has a high transmittance for visible light, such as aromatic polycarbonate or polyester having an aromatic substituent such as polyethylene terephthalate, and absorbs ultraviolet light and infrared light.

[0012] The first slat 132 and the second slat 134 are provided to pass the airflow containing particles and then flow upward, so that when the airflow hits the first slat 132 and the second slat 134, the airflow is bent and the pressure on the upper surface of each slat is smaller than the pressure on the lower surface. The first slat 132 and the second slat 134 may have any structure as long as such a function can be realized, and may have a curved or bent structure, for example. More specifically, as shown in the schematic end view observed from the x direction (FIG. 3A), the first slat 132 may have a bent portion. In the example shown in FIG. 3A, two flat portions are connected with one bent portion as a boundary, and the normal N1 of the upper surface of the flat portion on the upstream side with respect to the airflow containing particles (white arrow) is inclined from the z direction to the upstream side, and the angle of the normal N1 with respect to the z direction is larger than that of the normal N2 of the upper surface of the flat portion on the downstream side. In other words, the normal to the upper surface of the first slat 132 approaches the z direction as it moves from the upstream side to the downstream side of the airflow.

[0013] In addition, the lengths of the two flat parts (the shortest length along the main surface of the bent part from the bent part to the end of the flat part; the same applies below) are different from each other. Specifically, the length L1 of the flat part on the upstream side with respect to the airflow is shorter than the length L2 of the flat part on the downstream side. The lengths L1 and L2 are appropriately adjusted according to the size of the shutter 130, and for example, the length L1 can be selected from a range of 10 mm or more and 20 mm or less, and the length L2 can be selected from a range of 20 mm or more and 40 mm or less. The bending angle θ1 (the angle formed by the two flat parts) can also be appropriately determined, and can be selected from a range of, for example, 20° or more and 40° or less. By adopting such a structure, the airflow is bent along the surface of the first slat 132, and a pressure difference can be generated between the top and bottom of the first slat 132.

[0014] Alternatively, the first slat 132 may have multiple bends (FIG. 3B). In this case, the normal to the upper surface of the first slat 132 changes stepwise multiple times. However, even in this case, the distance from the most upstream bend of the airflow to the downstream end is longer than the distance from this bend to the upstream end. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3C, the first slat 132 may be curved so that the end face in the yz plane is composed of a curve such as a circular arc, that is, the entire upper and lower surfaces are composed of curved surfaces. Even in this case, the first slat 132 is configured so that the normal to the upper surface on the upstream side is inclined in the opposite direction to the traveling direction of the airflow, and approaches the vertical direction continuously as it approaches the downstream side.

[0015] The second slat 134 has a structure similar to that of the first slat 132. However, the width (length in the y direction) of the second slat 134 is shorter than or equal to the width of the first slat 132. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4A, the second slat 134 may have a bent portion, similar to the first slat 132, and two flat portions may be connected with one bent portion as a boundary. The bend angle θ2, which is the angle between the flat portions, may be the same as or different from the bend angle θ1. However, the length L4 of the flat portion downstream of the bend in the airflow is shorter than or equal to that of the first slat 132 (length L2). The length L3 of the first slat 132 upstream of the airflow may be the same as that of the first slat 132 (length L1), or may be the same as the length L4. The second slat 134 may also have multiple bends (FIG. 4B), or may be curved such that the entire upper and lower surfaces are formed by curved surfaces such as circular arcs (FIG. 4C).

[0016] FIG. 5A shows a schematic perspective view of the first slat 132. As can be seen from this figure, the first slat 132 extends in the longitudinal direction. Each of the first slats 132 is supported by a support mechanism 110, which will be described in detail below. For this reason, depending on the structure of the support mechanism 110, the first slat 132 may have a plurality of through holes 132a for passing the lift cord 120 shown by the dashed line. Furthermore, both sides of the first slat 132 may be fixed to the ladder cord 118 of the support mechanism 110. The first slat 132 and the ladder cord 118 may be fixed with a fixing material such as an adhesive, a fastener, or a string. Also, as shown in FIG. 5B, the first slat 132 may be provided with a notch 132b for accommodating the ladder cord 118. As described above, the width of the second slat 134 is less than or equal to the width of the first slat 132. Therefore, by providing a notch 132b in the first slat 132, the first slat 132 and the second slat 134 can be fixed to the ladder cord 118 with the ladder cord 118 arranged linearly in the vertical direction.

[0017] The same is true for the second slat 134, and as shown in the schematic perspective views of Figures 6A and 6B, the second slat 134 may also have a through hole 134a for passing the lift cord 120 through. In addition, both side surfaces of the second slat 134 may also be fixed to the ladder cord 118. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6B, the second slat 134 may be provided with a notch 134b for accommodating the ladder cord 118. However, since the width of the second slat 134 is equal to or smaller than the width of the first slat 132, the length of the notch 134b (the length in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction) may be equal to or smaller than the length of the notch 132b.

[0018] The first slats 132 are arranged at equal intervals in the z direction, and the second slats 134 are also arranged at equal intervals in the z direction. However, as shown in FIG. 7A, the first slats 132 and the second slats 134 that alternate with each other are not arranged at equal intervals. Specifically, when focusing on two consecutive first slats 132 and second slats 134 (i.e., adjacent first slats 132 and the second slats 134 sandwiched therebetween), the interval D1 between one first slat 132 and the second slat 134 is different from the interval D2 between the other first slat 132 and the second slat 134. The interval D2 is preferably 1.5 times to 3 times the interval D1, and is typically twice as long. Focusing on a pair of first slats 132 and second slats 134 separated by a narrow gap D1, the first slat 132 is disposed above the second slat 134. This arrangement makes it possible to form a relatively large gap D2, as well as the small gap D1, between the adjacent first slats 132 and second slats 134. By providing this large gap D2, it is possible to reduce the component of the airflow containing particles that hits the shutter 130 and flows up, down, left and right. As a result, the resistance of the shutter 130 to the airflow is reduced, and most of the airflow can pass through the shutter 130.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 7B, when an airflow containing particles represented by a white arrow collides with a shutter 130 including a first slat 132 and a second slat 134 having the above-mentioned shape and arrangement, a region R with reduced pressure is formed on the lower and upper surfaces of the pair of first slats 132 and second slats 134. L and the pressure increased region R H At this time, the region R L The airflow flows downstream along the lower surface of the second slat 134 as shown by the curved arrow in FIG. 7B, and is then attracted to the lower surface of the nearby first slat 132, and flows further downstream along the first slat 132 without being separated from the first slat 132. Furthermore, since the pressure between the first slat 132 and the second slat 134 is also low, the airflow passing between the first slat 132 and the second slat 134 also becomes an upward flow. In this way, the pair of first slats 132 and second slats 134 function together, and this airflow becomes a relatively strong upward flow. As a result, even the airflow generated during conversation, that is, the exhaled breath with a low flow rate, can reliably form an upward flow that can counter gravity by passing through the shutter 130. In other words, an upward flow containing particles can be effectively formed on the surface of the shutter 130 without using a device such as a fan that actively generates an airflow using electricity.

[0020] (2) Light irradiation device The light irradiation device 150 is configured to emit light in a wavelength band capable of destroying substances that cause infectious diseases, such as viruses and bacteria. Examples of such light include ultraviolet light including deep ultraviolet light, or infrared light including near infrared light and far infrared light. As described above, the airflow containing particles becomes an upward flow after passing through the shutter 130 and flows on the surface of the shutter 130, so the light irradiation device 150 is disposed on one side of the shutter 130 (the opposite side to the surface where the airflow collides) above the shutter 130 or above the shutter 130 (see FIG. 1). It is preferable that the light irradiation device 150 is disposed so that the traveling direction of light is parallel to the surface of the shutter 130. That is, the light irradiation device 150 is disposed so that it has a light component parallel to the surface of the shutter 130. The light irradiation device 150 may be housed in the support mechanism 110 or may be connected to the support mechanism 110.

[0021] The light irradiation device 150 includes a light source 152 capable of emitting light in a wavelength band capable of destroying viruses and bacteria (FIG. 2B). When ultraviolet light is used, examples of the light source 152 include a low-pressure mercury lamp, a high-pressure mercury lamp, an excimer lamp, and a light-emitting diode. Examples of the excimer lamp include a KrCl excimer lamp capable of emitting light of about 250 nm, which is light with high sterilizing power, and a XeCl excimer lamp that emits light of 308 nm. Examples of the light-emitting diode include a light-emitting diode that includes a GaN-based compound semiconductor such as AlGaN in its active layer. Alternatively, the light source 152 may be a laser light source. Examples of the laser light source include an ArF excimer laser, a KrF excimer laser, a KrCl excimer laser, and a XeCl excimer laser.

[0022] The light irradiation device 150 may further include a housing 154 for collecting light from the light source 152 and selectively irradiating the light onto the airflow rising along the shutter 130. An inner surface 154a of the housing 154 is coated with a highly reflective material such as silver or aluminum, and the light from the light source 152 housed in the housing 154 is reflected on the inner surface 154a. As a result, a light component parallel to the surface of the shutter 130 can be created.

[0023] (3) Support mechanism The support mechanism 110 is provided to support a plurality of first slats 132 and a plurality of second slats 134 at an optimal angle of attack with respect to the airflow. Therefore, the structure of the support mechanism 110 is not particularly restricted as long as it can realize the above-mentioned functions. For example, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2A, the support mechanism 110 may include a head box 112, a bottom rail 114, a tilt pole 116, a pair of ladder cords 118, a lift cord 120, and the like.

[0024] The head box 112 houses a worm gear, a rotating drum, a pulley, a locking mechanism (not shown) and the like required for moving the ladder cord 118 and winding up the lifting cord 120. When the tilt pole 116 is rotated, the worm gear rotates, which rotates the rotating drum to which the ladder cord 118 is fixed, and as a result, the ladder cord 118 moves up and down. This allows the first slats 132 and the second slats 134 fixed to the ladder cord 118 to rotate reversibly around axes parallel to their respective longitudinal directions (see FIG. 8). Therefore, by utilizing this function, the first slats 132 and the second slats 134 can be positioned at an ideal angle of attack with respect to the airflow containing particles. In addition, the pair of lifting cords 120 pass through the through holes 132a, 134a provided in the first slats 132 and the second slats 134, and are connected to the bottom rail 114 located below the lowest second slat 134 (see FIG. 1). By pulling the pair of lifting cords 120 downward, the bottom rail 114 rises via the pulley in the head box 112, and the first slats 132 and the second slats 134 can be moved upward together with the bottom rail 114 (see FIG. 9). That is, the distance between the adjacent first slats 132 and the second slats 134 can be reversibly changed. The positions of the first slats 132 and the second slats 134 in the vertical direction are fixed by a locking mechanism combined with the pulley. Therefore, when the screen 100 is not in use, the shutter 130 can be stored in a compact shape.

[0025] By adopting the support mechanism 110 having the above-mentioned configuration, it is possible to provide a partition 100 that can be suspended from a ceiling or a wall. However, the aspect of the partition 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the support mechanism 110 may have a base frame 124 and a pair of side frames 122 that connect the base frame 124 and the head box 112 in addition to the head box 112 described above. The base frame 124 functions as a base that supports the pair of side frames 122, the head box 112, and the shutter 130 suspended from the head box 112. Therefore, by providing the base frame 124, the partition 100 can be installed on a floor surface, or on furniture or fixtures such as a desk or counter. Although not shown, the partition 100 can also be easily moved by providing a plurality of wheels under the base frame 124. The side frame 122 is a member that connects the base frame 124 and the head box 112, and may be integrated with the base frame 124, or may be fixed to the base frame 124 by fasteners such as screws or bolts, or by welding, for example.

[0026] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 12A, the first slats 132 and the second slats 134 may be connected to the side frame 122. In this case, the bottom rail 114, the tilt pole 116, the pair of ladder cords 118, the lift cord 120, and the configuration for operating them may not be provided. In this case, the first slats 132 and the second slats 134 may be fixed to the side frame 122 so as not to rotate, or, as shown in FIG. 12B, the first slats 132 and the second slats 134 may be connected to the side frame 122 via a rotating rod 128. By configuring the rotating rod 128 to rotate around its central axis, the first slats 132 and the second slats 134 can be rotated reversibly, so that an appropriate angle of attack can be created for the airflow containing particles.

[0027] 2. Variations Although one shutter 130 is disposed on the above-mentioned partition 100, the partition 100 may have a pair of shutters 130-1, 130-2 (FIG. 13). In this case, the support mechanism 110 has a bottom rail 114, tilt pole 116, ladder cord 118, lift cord 120, etc. corresponding to each shutter 130. Also, two head boxes 112 may be provided to correspond to each shutter 130, or, as shown in FIG. 13, the partition 100 may be configured so that one head box 112 drives a pair of shutters 130.

[0028] In this configuration, the pair of shutters 130 are arranged symmetrically facing each other. Specifically, the pair of shutters 130 are arranged so that the side of the shutter 130 on which the particle-containing airflow (indicated by the white arrow in the figure) collides faces the outside. In other words, the pair of shutters 130 are arranged so that the distance between the first slat 132 of one shutter 130 and the first slat 132 of the other shutter 130 is smaller than the distance between the second slat 134 of one shutter 130 and the second slat 134 of the other shutter 130. The distance D3 between the pair of shutters 130 (the distance between the first slat 132 of one shutter 130 and the first slat 132 of the other shutter 130) can be set arbitrarily, and may be selected from a range of, for example, 50 mm or more and 1000 mm or less. The light irradiation device 150 is arranged so as to irradiate light from above into the space sandwiched between the pair of shutters 130. The light irradiation device 150 may be housed within the head box 112 or may be disposed below the head box 112 .

[0029] By adopting such a configuration, air currents containing particles can be introduced from both sides of the partition 100 into the space between the pair of shutters 130, and an upward flow can be selectively formed in this space (see the straight arrows). Therefore, the upward flow can be confined within this space, and light can be efficiently irradiated onto the particles.

[0030] When a pair of shutters 130 is used, the partition 100 may further include a straightening plate 140 between the pair of shutters 130 (FIG. 14). The straightening plate 140 is arranged so that its main surface is parallel to the shutters 130 (i.e., the normal line is in the y direction). By using the partition 100 including the straightening plate 140, the Coanda effect works, and it is possible to suppress the turbulence of the upward flow in the space between the pair of shutters 130. As a result, the leakage of the airflow containing the particles from the space between the pair of shutters 130 is suppressed, and the particles can be efficiently irradiated with light. The height of the straightening plate 140 can be determined arbitrarily, and for example, its upper end may be higher than, the same as, or lower than the upper ends of the pair of shutters 130. There are no restrictions on the material contained in the straightening plate 140, and materials such as wood, paper, resin, and metal can be used. For example, by using a straightening plate 140 containing a resin that transmits visible light, such as polycarbonate or polyester, the view is not obstructed when talking through the partition 100, so that the conversation can be carried out without feeling uncomfortable.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 15, a plurality of grooves 140a may be provided on both sides of the straightening plate 140. The grooves 140a are provided so as to extend in the z direction. The width w of the grooves 140a is selected, for example, from a range of 3 mm to 100 mm. The interval g between adjacent grooves 140a is selected, for example, from a range of 3 mm to 100 mm. The depth d of the grooves is selected, for example, from a range of 3 mm to 50 mm. The cross-sectional shape of the plurality of grooves 140a is not limited to the rectangular shape shown in FIG. 15, and may be wavy or polygonal. By providing the grooves 140a, the effect of suppressing turbulence of the upward flow in the space between the pair of shutters 130 can be improved.

[0032] Although a detailed explanation is omitted, the above-mentioned various types of support mechanisms 110 can be used in this modified example as well. Therefore, the partition 100 of this modified example can also be configured so that it can be placed on the floor surface or the like.

[0033] Furthermore, it is also possible to use a plurality of partitions 100 each having one shutter 130. For example, as shown in FIG. 16, which is a schematic top view of the xy plane, by arranging a plurality of partitions 100 on the sides of a polygon, it can also be applied to a round table conference by a plurality of people. In this case, the breath of the plurality of people mainly advances toward the center of the polygon, so that the breath of each person passes through the shutter 130, and light can be irradiated onto the particles in the space surrounded by the plurality of partitions 100. In this case, it is not necessarily necessary to arrange a light irradiation device 150 on each partition 100, and one or more light irradiation devices 150 may be arranged in the space surrounded by the plurality of partitions 100.

[0034] As described above, in the partition 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention, the shutter 130 against which the airflow containing particles collides is provided with a plurality of first slats 132 and a plurality of second slats 134 arranged alternately. Therefore, there is a gap between the first slats 132 and the second slats 134, and even if a conversation is conducted through the partition 100, the sound is not blocked, and there is no need to speak loudly during the conversation. This reduces the amount of exhaled air generated. Also, as described above, the plurality of first slats 132 and the plurality of second slats 134 are configured and arranged so that the airflow is converted into an upward flow after being introduced into the shutter 130. In particular, since the widths of the first slats 132 and the second slats 134 may be different from each other, even the exhaled air with a low flow rate generated during a conversation can be efficiently converted into an upward flow after passing through the shutter 130. Furthermore, there is no need to use electricity in forming the upward flow, and the configuration of a fan or the like that requires electricity is limited to the light irradiation device 150. This makes it possible to reduce power consumption during use and also to prevent noise caused by fans and the like.

[0035] <Second embodiment> In this embodiment, a partition 102 having a different structure from the partition 100 described in the first embodiment will be described. Descriptions of configurations that are the same as or similar to those described in the first embodiment may be omitted.

[0036] 17 and 18 show schematic front and side views of the partition 102. One of the differences between the partition 102 and the partition 100 is that the partition 102 converts the airflow that has passed through the shutter 130 into a downward flow. For this reason, the arrangement of the first slat 132 and the second slat 134, and the arrangement of the light irradiation device 150 are different.

[0037] Specifically, as shown in Figures 17 and 18, similarly to the partition 100, the partition 102 has a plurality of first slats 132 arranged at equal intervals in the z direction, and a plurality of second slats 134 also arranged at equal intervals in the z direction. Moreover, the alternating first slats 132 and second slats 134 are not arranged at equal intervals, and when focusing on two consecutive second slats 134 and first slats 132, the interval D3 between one second slat 134 and the first slat 132 is different from the interval D4 between the other second slat 134 and the first slat 132 (Figure 19A). The interval D4 is preferably 1.5 to 3 times the interval D3, and is typically twice as long. However, unlike the partition 100, when attention is focused on the pair of first slat 132 and second slat 134 that are spaced apart by a narrow gap D3, the second slat 134 is disposed above the first slat 132.

[0038] 19B, the normal N of the upper surface of the first slat 132 is inclined from the z direction toward the traveling direction of the airflow (white arrow) (i.e., downstream of the airflow), and the inclination from the z direction increases continuously or stepwise as it approaches the downstream side from the upstream side. The same is true for the second slat 134, although not shown.

[0039] By adopting such an arrangement, as shown in FIG. 20, when an airflow containing particles represented by a hollow arrow collides with the shutter 130, a region R where pressure is increased is generated on the lower and upper surfaces of the pair of first slats 132 and second slats 134. H and the pressure drop region R L At this time, the region R L20, the airflow flows downstream along the upper surface of the second slat 134 and is attracted to the upper surface of the nearby first slat 132. At this time, the airflow flows further downstream without separating from the upper surface of the first slat 132, and then descends. As a result, a downward flow containing particles can be effectively formed on the surface of the shutter 130 without using a device such as a fan that actively generates an airflow using electricity.

[0040] Since the shutter 130 creates a downward flow of air containing particles, the light irradiation device 150 is disposed downstream of the air flow with the shutter 130 at the center, and below or below the shutter 130 (see Figs. 17 and 18). This allows the particles contained in the downward flow to be effectively irradiated with light.

[0041] Although not shown, the support mechanism 110 of the partition 102 can take various forms, just like the partition 100. Therefore, the partition 102 can also be hung from a wall or ceiling, and can also be configured so that it can be placed on a floor, desk, counter, etc. In addition, the plurality of first slats 132 and the plurality of second slats 134 may be fixed to the support mechanism 110, or may be configured so that they can rotate around an axis extending in the x direction. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 21, the partition 102 can also have a pair of shutters 130, and a light irradiation device 150 may be disposed so that light can be irradiated into the space between the pair of shutters 130. In this case, the light irradiation device 150 may be disposed on the base frame 124, or may be disposed between two base frames 124 (see FIG. 11) that respectively support the pair of shutters 130. Although not shown, a straightening plate 140 may also be disposed.

[0042] In the partition 102 according to one embodiment of the present invention, when an airflow containing particles passes through a gap between a first slat 132 and a second slat 134 of the same or different width, the airflow is converted into a downward flow and is used for light irradiation. This makes it possible to effectively prevent droplet infection and droplet nucleus infection, which are the main causes of infectious disease transmission. In addition, no electricity is required to form the downward flow, and the components that require electricity, such as a fan, are limited to the light irradiation device 150. This not only reduces power consumption during use, but also makes it possible to prevent noise caused by fans and the like.

[0043] <Third embodiment> In this embodiment, a partition 104 having a different structure from the partitions 100 and 102 described in the first and second embodiments will be described. Descriptions of structures that are the same as or similar to those described in the first and second embodiments may be omitted.

[0044] 22 and 23 are schematic front and side views of the partition 104, respectively. As shown in these figures, one of the differences between the partition 104 and the partition 102 is that the shutter 130 can be divided into two regions (a first region 138-1 and a second region 138-2) vertically, and the structure of the shutter 130 is different between these two regions 138. The structure of the shutter 130 in the first region 138-1 located below the second region 138-2 is the same as that of the partition 102. That is, a plurality of first slats 132 and a plurality of second slats 134 are alternately arranged. On the other hand, in the second region 138-2, instead of the second slats 134, a plurality of third slats 136 having a structure different from the first slats 132 and the second slats 134 are arranged. Therefore, also in the second region 138-2, a plurality of first slats 132 and a plurality of third slats 136 are arranged alternately.

[0045] A schematic perspective view of the third slat 136 is shown in FIG. 24, and schematic end views in the yz plane are shown in FIG. 25A and FIG. 25B. As can be seen from FIG. 24, the third slat 136 is provided with a plurality of notches 136a on the downstream side with respect to the airflow containing particles. The notches 136a are provided at a constant interval d' (or a constant pitch), and the width w' and the interval d' are selected, for example, from a range of 5 mm to 100 mm. The width w' and the interval d' may be the same as each other, or may be different. In the portion where no notches are provided, as shown in FIG. 25A, the lengths L5 and L6 of the flat portions on the upstream and downstream sides with respect to the airflow may be the same as each other, or may be the same as the length L1 of the first slat 132 or the length L3 of the second slat 134 (see FIG. 3A and FIG. 4A). On the other hand, in the portion where the notch 136a is provided, as shown in Fig. 25B, the lengths L5 and L7 of the flat portions on the upstream and downstream sides of the airflow are different from each other, the former being longer than the latter. The length L7 may be shorter than the length L3 or L4 (see Fig. 4A) of the second slat 134.

[0046] Although not shown, the end surface structure of the third slat 136 is not limited to the above-mentioned structure, and similar to the first slat 132 and the second slat 134, the third slat 136 may be configured so that when placed in an airflow, it bends the airflow together with the first slat 132, generating areas of reduced pressure and areas of increased pressure on the upper and lower surfaces. For this reason, the normal N of the upper surface of the third slat 136 is inclined from the z direction toward the downstream side of the airflow, and the angle from the z direction increases continuously or stepwise as it approaches the downstream side from the upstream side (see FIG. 25A).

[0047] By providing the third slat 136 having a plurality of cutouts in the second region 138-2, it is possible to reduce the resistance when the airflow collides with the shutter 130. As a result, it is possible to reduce the component of the part of the airflow that does not pass through the shutter 130 and proceeds up, down, left, and right after colliding with the shutter 130. As a result, it is possible to make most of the airflow pass through the shutter 130 and convert it into a downward flow, and to guide it toward the light irradiation device 150.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 23, when a conversation is held through the partition 104 placed on the floor, the airflow generated by exhalation mainly collides with the upper side of the partition 104 (see FIG. 23). For this reason, by providing the second region 138-2, which has low resistance to the airflow, above the first region 138-1, the airflow can easily pass through the shutter 130. On the other hand, a downward flow flows toward the light irradiation device 150 along the first region 138-1 located on the lower side. For this reason, in the first region 138-1, it is not necessary to actively allow the airflow to pass through the shutter 130 so as not to cause turbulence in the downward flow and to prevent the airflow from leaking. In this way, by providing the regions with low and high resistance to the airflow on the upper and lower sides of the shutter 130, respectively, it is possible to effectively prevent droplet infection and droplet nuclei infection.

[0049] In the partition 104 according to this embodiment, the air current passing through the shutter 130 is a downward current, but the shutter 130 may be configured so that the air current passing through the shutter 130 is an upward current, as in the partition 100 according to the first embodiment. In this case, the first slat 132, the second slat 134, and the third slat 136 are each configured so that the normal line of the upper surface on the upstream side of the air current is inclined toward the upstream side with respect to the air current, and the inclination of the normal line gradually or continuously approaches the z direction as it approaches the downstream side of the air current. In this case, the light irradiation device 150 may be disposed above the shutter 130 or on the shutter 130.

[0050] Although not shown, the support mechanism 110 of the partition 104 can take various forms, as in the partitions 100 and 102. Therefore, the partition 104 can also be configured so that it can be hung from a wall or ceiling, or placed on a floor, desk, or counter. The first slats 132 and the third slats 136 may be fixed to the support mechanism 110, or may be configured so that they can rotate around an axis extending in the x-direction. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 26, the partition 104 can also have a pair of shutters 130, and a light irradiation device 150 may be disposed so that light can be irradiated into the space between the pair of shutters 130. In this case, the light irradiation device 150 may be provided on the base frame 124 (see FIG. 11) or between two base frames 124 that support the pair of shutters 130, respectively.

[0051] The above-described embodiments of the present invention may be combined as appropriate as long as they are not mutually inconsistent. Any embodiment in which a person skilled in the art appropriately adds or deletes components or modifies the design based on each embodiment is also included in the scope of the present invention as long as it includes the gist of the present invention.

[0052] Even if there are other effects and advantages different from those brought about by the respective embodiments described above, those which are clear from the description in this specification or which can be easily predicted by a person skilled in the art are naturally understood to be brought about by the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 100: partition, 102: partition, 104: partition, 110: support mechanism, 112: head box, 114: bottom rail, 116: tilt pole, 118: ladder cord, 120: lift cord, 122: side frame, 124: base frame, 128: rotating rod, 130: shutter, 130-1: shutter, 130-2: shutter, 132 : first slat, 132a: through hole, 132b: cutout, 134: second slat, 134a: through hole, 134b: cutout, 136: third slat, 136a: cutout, 138-1: first region, 138-2: second region, 140: straightening plate, 140a: groove, 150: light irradiation device, 152: light source, 154: housing, 154a: inner surface

Claims

1. at least one shutter having a plurality of first slats and a plurality of second slats arranged parallel to one another; A support mechanism for supporting the at least one shutter; and a light irradiation device configured to irradiate light on one side of the at least one shutter; The first slats and the second slats are arranged alternately, each of the first plurality of slats and the second plurality of slats is bent or curved; A screen, wherein the width of each of the plurality of first slats is greater than or equal to the width of each of the plurality of second slats.

2. The at least one shutter includes a pair of shutters facing each other, The partition according to claim 1 , wherein the light irradiation device is configured to irradiate the light in an upward or downward direction into the space between the pair of shutters.

3. Further comprising a flow rectifier disposed in the space, The screen according to claim 2 , wherein the air straightening plate has a plurality of grooves extending in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the first slats and the second slats.

4. The screen of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of slats and the second plurality of slats are configured to transmit visible light.

5. The partition as described in claim 1, wherein the plurality of first slats and the plurality of second slats are configured so that an airflow toward the at least one shutter flows upward or downward along the at least one shutter after the airflow passes through the plurality of first slats.

6. 2. The partition according to claim 1, wherein, for two of the first slats and the second slats arranged in succession, a first distance between one of the first slats and the second slats is different from a second distance between the other of the first slats and the second slats.

7. The partition according to claim 6 , wherein the second distance is 1.5 to 3 times the first distance.

8. the at least one shutter further comprises a plurality of third slats parallel to the plurality of first slats and the plurality of second slats; the at least one shutter having a first region and a second region over the first region; The first slats and the second slats are alternately arranged in the first region, The screen according to claim 1 , wherein the first slats and the third slats are alternately arranged in the second region.

9. The screen according to claim 8 , wherein each of the third slats has a plurality of notches arranged at a regular pitch in the longitudinal direction.

10. The screen according to claim 1 , wherein the support mechanism is configured to rotate the first slat and each of the plurality of second slats about a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction.

11. The screen according to claim 1 , wherein the support mechanism is configured to reversibly change the distance between adjacent first and second slats.

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