Dust collection system, management method, and management program

By using multiple dust collection equipment and management equipment systems in large machining plants, combined with environmental detection and precise control technology, the problem that traditional systems are difficult to effectively control dust emissions in large environments is solved, and more efficient environmental improvement and energy consumption reduction is achieved.

JP2025054498APending Publication Date: 2025-04-08AMANO KK
View PDF 1 Cites 0 Cited by

Patent Information

Application Number
JP2023163563
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2023-09-26
Publication Date
2025-04-08

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Traditional dust collection systems are difficult to effectively control dust emissions in large machining plants, resulting in environmental pollution of workers and equipment and high energy consumption.

Method used

A system using multiple dust collection equipment and management equipment is used to detect indoor conditions through environmental testing units, control branch pipe parts and wind direction change units, and accurately control the direction and amount of dust emissions.

Benefits of technology

Improves the quality of the working environment around workers and equipment, reduces the demand for large dust collectors, and reduces energy consumption.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

  • Figure 2025054498000001_ABST
    Figure 2025054498000001_ABST
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

To improve work environment of surroundings of a sprayed target by properly controlling a dust collection apparatus installed in a wider indoor space and suppress energy consumption.SOLUTION: A dust collection system 100 according to the present invention has two or more dust collection apparatuses 1 and a dust collection management server 101. The duct collection apparatus 1 has a suction part 3, a main dust removing part 4, an additional dust removing part 6, an environment detection unit 10, a branch part 5 for branching an exhaustion flow path into a first exhaustion flow path 13a for circulation exhaust and a second exhaustion flow path 13b for blow exhaustion, a wireless communication unit 9, and a control unit 8. The dust collection management server 101 generates a control program for controlling the branch part 5 based on the detection result of the environment detection unit 10 for each dust collection apparatus 1 to transmit the control program to the corresponding dust collection apparatus 1. The control unit 8 receives the control program from the dust collection management server 101 to control the branch part 5 based on the control program.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 17
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a dust collection system including a dust collector that sucks and removes dust in the air indoors, and a management method and management program for managing the dust collector. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in factories where parts are processed, such as machine factories equipped with automatic processing equipment (work equipment) such as laser processing machines, dust is generated by the processing work, which deteriorates the working environment of the workers and the installation environment of the work equipment, so it is necessary to protect the workers and the work equipment from such dust. For this reason, indoor dust collectors that suck and remove dust are often installed around the work equipment. In such cases, there are dust collectors that change the operating state depending on the presence or absence of people in order to operate the dust collector efficiently.

[0003] For example, in Patent Document 1, an air conditioner includes a fan that creates an air flow from an inlet to a plurality of outlets, a wind direction adjustment device that is arranged at each of the plurality of outlets and adjusts the wind direction of the air flowing through each of the plurality of outlets in an up-down direction, a camera that captures an image of the indoor space, and a control unit that adjusts the wind direction adjustment device based on the image information acquired from the camera. The control unit divides the plurality of outlets into a first area outlet facing the living area and a second area outlet facing the non-living area based on accumulated data of image information acquired by the camera, and adjusts each of the plurality of wind direction adjustment devices so that the air discharged from the first area outlet and the air discharged from the second area outlet are formed in different up-down directions. Specifically, the control unit captures an image taken by the camera, detects a human body based on the acquired image, and accumulates position information of the human body based on the accumulated image information, and can determine the area where the position information of the human body is accumulated as the living area. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2023-016767 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the conventional dust collector as in Patent Document 1, the camera image data is divided into sections, the presence of a human body is determined, and the wind direction (exhaust direction) in the section where the human body is located can be controlled. However, in a large indoor space such as a machine factory equipped with automatic processing equipment, many workers are present, so the conventional dust collector that controls the exhaust direction depending on the presence or absence of a worker needs to exhaust air in multiple directions evenly for many workers. This requires the installation of a large indoor dust collector, and a lot of energy is required to operate this dust collector. A lot of dust is generated near the automatic processing equipment, and the conventional dust collector cannot distinguish the automatic processing equipment and control the wind direction.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the problems described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an indoor dust collection system, a management method, and a management program that can appropriately control a dust collection device installed in an indoor space such as a large machine factory, thereby improving the working environment around targets to be sprayed, such as workers and work equipment, while reducing energy consumption. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, a first dust collection system of the present invention is a dust collection system including two or more dust collection devices that suck and remove dust in the air indoors, and a management device that manages the two or more dust collection devices, wherein the dust collection devices include a housing, a suction unit that sucks air in the room into the housing and sends it to an exhaust side, at least one dust collection unit that removes dust in the sucked air, an environment detection unit that detects the environmental condition in the room, a branching unit that branches an exhaust flow path of the sucked air into a first exhaust flow path that exhausts the air for circulation in the room and a second exhaust flow path that exhausts the air for blowing in the room, and a communication unit that communicates with the management device. the management device comprises a wireless communication unit that receives communication signals from the suction unit, the dust collection unit, the environmental detection unit, the branching unit, and a control unit that controls the suction unit, the dust collection unit, the environmental detection unit, the branching unit, and the wireless communication unit, and the management device creates a control program or control data for each of the dust collection devices based on detection results from the environmental detection units of two or more of the dust collection devices, and transmits the control program or control data to the corresponding dust collection device, and the control unit receives the control program or the control data from the management device via the wireless communication unit, and controls the branching unit based on the control program or the control data via the control unit.

[0008] According to the first dust collection system of the present invention, the exhaust from two or more dust collection devices installed in an indoor space such as a large machine factory can be appropriately controlled according to the position of the worker who is the target of the blowing and the operating status of the dust generating source such as the processing machine, thereby efficiently improving the working environment around the worker and the processing machine. This dust collection system does not require the installation of a large indoor dust collection device, and does not require a lot of energy to operate the large indoor dust collection device, so energy consumption can be reduced.

[0009] In addition, in order to solve the above problem, in the second dust collection system of the present invention, the dust collection device is provided with an air direction changing unit that changes the direction of the air exhausted from the second exhaust flow path, and the management device creates the control program or the control data for each dust collection device based on the detection results of the environmental detection units of two or more of the dust collection devices, which controls the branching unit and the air direction changing unit of each of the dust collection devices, and the control unit controls the branching unit and the air direction changing unit based on the control program or the control data.

[0010] According to the second dust collection system of the present invention, by controlling not only the branching section but also the airflow direction changing section, more appropriate blow-out exhaust can be performed.

[0011] In addition, in order to solve the above problem, in the third dust collection system of the present invention, the environmental detection unit detects at least one of the environmental conditions: the dust concentration in the room, the presence of a target to be sprayed in the room, the operating status of the target to be sprayed, and the operating status of the dust collection device arranged corresponding to the target to be sprayed.

[0012] According to the third dust collection system of the present invention, the level of air pollution in a factory can be accurately determined, and workers or processing machines can be set as targets for spraying, and highly purified exhaust gas can be precisely aimed at the targets to quickly improve the working environment around them.

[0013] In order to solve the above problems, in the fourth dust collection system of the present invention, the management device detects a target to be sprayed in the room based on the detection results of the environmental detection units of two or more of the dust collection devices, sets the dust collection device to spray the target, and creates the control program or control data for the dust collection device to spray the target.

[0014] According to the fourth dust collection system of the present invention, by setting the object to be sprayed and the dust collection device that will perform the spraying in association with each other, it is possible to operate the dust collection device efficiently on the object to be sprayed and perform appropriate spraying.

[0015] In order to solve the above problems, in the fifth dust collection system of the present invention, the management device sets a priority for spraying the spray target based on the detection results of the environmental detection units of two or more of the dust collection devices, and creates the control program or the control data for spraying the spray target based on the detection results and the priority of the spray target, for each dust collection device.

[0016] According to the fifth dust collection system of the present invention, by spraying a plurality of targets according to priority, the work environment around the targets can be improved more efficiently.

[0017] In order to solve the above problems, in the sixth dust collection system of the present invention, when the multiple spray targets that exist facing the exhaust direction of the second exhaust flow path of the dust collection device are located away from the dust collection device by more than a predetermined distance threshold, the management device sets a higher priority for the spray target the closer it is to the dust collection device, and when the multiple spray targets that exist facing the exhaust direction of the second exhaust flow path of the dust collection device are located within a predetermined distance threshold from the dust collection device, the management device sets a higher priority for the spray target that is a worker among the multiple spray targets, and when the multiple spray targets that exist facing the exhaust direction of the second exhaust flow path of the dust collection device include a dust source and multiple workers, the management device sets a higher priority for the spray target that is the worker the closer it is to the dust source.

[0018] According to the sixth dust collection system of the present invention, appropriate priorities can be set for multiple targets to be sprayed, and the work environment around the multiple targets to be sprayed can be improved more efficiently.

[0019] In order to solve the above problem, in the seventh dust collection system of the present invention, when the multiple spray targets located opposite the exhaust direction of the second exhaust flow path of the dust collection device include multiple work equipment, the longer the operating time based on the work schedule of the work equipment, the higher the priority of the spray target that is the work equipment is set, and also, the heavier the work content based on the work schedule of the work equipment, the higher the priority of the spray target that is the work equipment is set.

[0020] According to the seventh dust collection system of the present invention, appropriate priorities can be set for multiple targets to be sprayed, and the work environment around the multiple targets to be sprayed can be improved more efficiently.

[0021] In order to solve the above problems, in an eighth dust collection system of the present invention, the environmental detection unit acquires image data of the room as the environmental condition, and the management device determines the respective positions of the dust source and the worker to be sprayed in the room based on the image data, determines the relative positions of the dust source and the worker with respect to the exhaust direction of the second exhaust flow path of the dust collection device, and creates the control program or the control data so that, if the worker is located upstream of the dust source in the exhaust direction of the second exhaust flow path of the dust collection device, spraying is performed with exhaust air that passes through the second exhaust flow path, and on the other hand, creates the control program or the control data so that, if the dust source is located upstream of the worker in the exhaust direction of the second exhaust flow path of the dust collection device, spraying is not performed with exhaust air that passes through the second exhaust flow path.

[0022] According to the eighth dust collection system of the present invention, it is possible to prevent dust such as mist generated from a dust source such as a processing machine from being blown onto workers via the exhaust gas from the dust collection device, thereby preventing the working environment from deteriorating.

[0023] In order to solve the above problem, in a ninth dust collection system of the present invention, two or more of the dust collection devices are arranged in parallel in a direction intersecting the exhaust direction, with the exhaust direction of the second exhaust flow path facing the dust source that is the target of blowing, or are arranged in parallel in a direction parallel to the exhaust direction, with the exhaust direction of the second exhaust flow path facing the dust source that is the target of blowing.

[0024] According to the ninth dust collection system of the present invention, dust in a factory can be efficiently collected by two or more dust collection devices, thereby improving the working environment.

[0025] In order to solve the above problems, in the tenth dust collection system of the present invention, the management device determines whether the room is a non-contaminated space or a contaminated space based on the detection results of the environmental detection units of two or more of the dust collection devices, determines whether a target to be sprayed exists in each of the non-contaminated space and the contaminated space, and determines whether two or more of the dust collection devices are located in the non-contaminated space or the contaminated space based on the detection results of the environmental detection units of the two or more dust collection devices, and creates the control program or the control data for each of the dust collection devices so that the two or more dust collection devices work together to protect the target to be sprayed in each of the non-contaminated space and the contaminated space and purify the dust-laden air.

[0026] According to the tenth dust collection system of the present invention, it is possible to efficiently remove dust from and improve a contaminated space while maintaining an uncontaminated space in a clean state.

[0027] In order to solve the above problem, in the 11th dust collection system of the present invention, when the spray target is present in the contaminated space, the management device sets a spray priority for the spray target based on the detection results of the environmental detection units of two or more of the dust collection devices, and creates the control program or the control data based on the detection results and the priority of the spray target for spraying the spray target with exhaust gas passing through the second exhaust flow path of the dust collection device corresponding to the contaminated space, and when the spray target is present in the non-contaminated space, creates the control program or the control data for generating an air curtain between the non-contaminated space and the contaminated space by spraying the target with exhaust gas passing through the second exhaust flow path of the dust collection device corresponding to the non-contaminated space.

[0028] According to the eleventh dust collection system of the present invention, the working environment of the detected target, such as a worker, can be improved, and the contaminated space can be efficiently removed and improved while maintaining the non-contaminated space in a clean state.

[0029] In order to solve the above problem, in the 12th dust collection system of the present invention, the management device periodically acquires the detection results of the environmental detection units of two or more of the dust collection devices, detects new targets to be sprayed in the room based on the detection results, determines whether the new target to be sprayed is located in the non-contaminated space or the contaminated space based on the detection results, resets the spray priority for the new target to be sprayed based on the detection results, and creates the control program or the control data for each of the dust collection devices based on the detection results and the priority of the target to be sprayed so that the two or more dust collection devices work together to protect the targets to be sprayed in each of the non-contaminated space and the contaminated space and purify the dust-containing air.

[0030] According to the 12th dust collection system of the present invention, the working environment of a newly detected worker or other target to be sprayed can be improved, and the contaminated space can be efficiently removed and improved while maintaining the non-contaminated space in a clean state.

[0031] In order to solve the above problems, the management method of the present invention is a management method for managing two or more dust collecting devices that suck in and remove dust in the air indoors, wherein the dust collecting devices include a housing, a suction unit that sucks in air in the room into the housing and sends it to an exhaust side, at least one dust collecting unit that removes dust in the suctioned air, an environment detection unit that detects the environmental condition of the room, a branching unit that branches an exhaust flow path of the suctioned air into a first exhaust flow path that exhausts air for circulation in the room and a second exhaust flow path that exhausts air for blowing in the room, an air direction changing unit that changes the direction of air exhausted from the second exhaust flow path, a wireless communication unit that communicates with a management device, and a control unit that controls the suction unit, the dust collecting unit, the environment detection unit ... and a control unit that controls the detection unit, the branching unit, the airflow direction changing unit, and the wireless communication unit. When the management device is equipped with a control unit, the management device creates a control program or control data for each dust collecting device based on the detection results of the environmental detection units of two or more of the dust collecting devices, and transmits the control program or control data to the corresponding dust collecting device; and receives the control program or the control data from the management device via the wireless communication unit, and controls the branching unit and the airflow direction changing unit based on the control program or the control data.

[0032] In order to solve the above problem, the management program of the present invention is a management program for managing two or more dust collecting devices that suck in and remove dust in the air indoors, and when the dust collecting devices include a housing, a suction unit that sucks in air in the room into the housing and sends it to the exhaust side, at least one dust collecting unit that removes dust in the sucked air, an environment detection unit that detects the environmental condition in the room, a branching unit that branches the exhaust flow path of the sucked air into a first exhaust flow path that exhausts air for circulation in the room and a second exhaust flow path that exhausts air for spraying in the room, and an air direction changing unit that changes the direction of air exhausted from the second exhaust flow path, the management program is characterized in that it causes a computer to execute a process of creating a control program or control data for each dust collecting device to control the branching unit and the air direction changing unit of each dust collecting device based on the detection results of the environment detection units of the two or more dust collecting devices, and transmitting the control program or control data to the corresponding dust collecting device. Effect of the Invention

[0033] According to the present invention, there is provided an indoor dust collection system, management method, and management program that can appropriately control a dust collection device installed in an indoor space such as a large machine factory, improve the working environment around the objects to be sprayed, such as workers and work equipment, while reducing energy consumption. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0034] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a dust collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a dust collection device of a dust collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the side; [Diagram 3] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an installation of a dust collection device of a dust collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the side. [Figure 4] 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a main electrostatic precipitator section and an additional electrostatic precipitator section of a dust collector of a dust collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 5]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an outline of an example of a charged electrode in a main electrostatic precipitator section and an additional electrostatic precipitator section of a dust collector in a dust collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating generally another example of the charged electrodes in the main electrostatic precipitator section and the additional electrostatic precipitator section of the dust collector of the dust collection system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an outline of examples of collecting electrodes in a main electrostatic precipitator section and an additional electrostatic precipitator section of a dust collector in a dust collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an outline of another example of a main electrostatic precipitator section and an additional electrostatic precipitator section of a dust collector of a dust collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a front view showing, in outline, another example of the main electrostatic precipitator section and the additional electrostatic precipitator section of the dust collecting device of the dust collecting system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a branch portion of a dust collection device of a dust collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from above. FIG. [Figure 11] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a branch portion of a dust collection device of a dust collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the side. FIG. [Figure 12] 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an exhaust flow path of a dust collection device of a dust collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the side. FIG. [Figure 13] 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an airflow direction changing section of a dust collection device of a dust collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the inside. FIG. [Figure 14] 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an airflow direction changing section of a dust collection device of a dust collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the side. FIG. [Figure 15] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an airflow direction changing section for a processing machine in a dust collection device of a dust collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 16] 13 is a schematic diagram showing another example of an airflow direction changing section for a processing machine in a dust collection device of a dust collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the dust collection system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18]1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an installation of a dust collection device of a dust collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the side. [Figure 19] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of installation of two or more dust collecting devices in a dust collecting system according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from above. [Figure 20] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of setting priorities of targets to be sprayed in a dust collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from above; FIG. [Figure 21] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of setting a priority space to be sprayed in a dust collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from above. FIG. [Figure 22] 5 is a table showing an example of the relationship between the detection result of the environmental condition and the control of each part in the dust collection system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 23] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the dust collection system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 24] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the dust collection system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 25] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the dust collection system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 26] 5 is a timing chart showing an example of the operation of the dust collection system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 27] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing, from the side, an example of a situation in which the same spray target is set for two or more dust collecting devices 1 in a dust collecting system according to a modified example of the present invention. [Figure 28] 10 is a schematic diagram showing, from above, an example of a situation in which a non-contaminated space and a contaminated space are set in a dust collection system according to a modified example of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 29] 10 is a schematic diagram showing, from above, an example of a situation in which a non-contaminated space and a contaminated space are set in a dust collection system according to a modified example of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 30] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing, from above, an example of a dust collection system according to another example of the present invention, in which exhaust control of one dust collection device is performed in accordance with the detection result of an environment detection unit of another dust collection device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0035] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are preferred specific examples of the present invention and disclose various preferred techniques, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to these aspects.

[0036] A dust collection system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the dust collection system 100. The dust collection system 100 includes two or more dust collection devices 1 that suck and remove dust in the air indoors, and a dust collection management server 101 (management device) that manages the two or more dust collection devices 1. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the dust collection device 1, and Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the installation of the dust collection device 1.

[0037] The dust collection system 100 of this embodiment is applied to a factory where parts are processed, such as a machine factory equipped with automatic processing equipment (work equipment) such as a laser processing machine. In the dust collection system 100, two or more dust collection devices 1 are installed in a factory where a plurality of workers 105 and a plurality of processing machines 106 (work equipment) exist. The dust collection system 100 includes a work management server 102 that manages the plurality of processing machines 106. The work management server 102 and each processing machine 106 are connected to each other so as to be able to wirelessly communicate with each other and transmit and receive data.

[0038] The dust collection system 100 uses the dust collector 1 to suck and remove dust in the air in a factory (room) and exhausts the air to circulate it in the room, thereby improving the work environment for people such as workers 105 and the installation environment of work equipment such as processing machines 106. Also, the dust collection system 100 uses the dust collector 1 to exhaust air in a manner that sprays it onto targets such as people and work equipment, thereby quickly improving the work environment around the people and work equipment.

[0039] Specifically, in order to achieve a high dust removal rate of 99% or more when the dust collector 1 processes dust-containing air in one pass indoors such as in a factory, a high-performance and large dust removal section is required, which results in a large device. In contrast, in this embodiment, taking into consideration economic efficiency and efficiency, the dust removal rate achieved when the dust collector 1 processes dust-containing air in one pass is reduced to a minimum target value (e.g., 90%), and the exhausted air is circulated indoors and processed again by the dust collector 1.

[0040] Furthermore, when the dust collecting device 1 applies the circulation system, the dust-containing air in the room is not immediately purified, so it may take time to improve the work environment in the room. Therefore, in this embodiment, the dust collecting device 1 not only exhausts the air to be circulated, but also exhausts the air that has been purified to a high dust removal rate (for example, 99%) by an additional dust removal section, so that the air is sprayed onto targets such as people and work equipment, thereby suppressing the accumulation of dust around people and work equipment and improving the work environment without taking much time.

[0041] Next, the dust collecting device 1 will be described. The dust collecting device 1 may be installed indoors regardless of the dust generating source such as the processing machine 106, or may be installed in a position avoiding work equipment. The dust collecting device 1 is installed at a predetermined height (for example, 4 m) from the ground as shown in Fig. 3 by hanging from the ceiling so that it can efficiently suck in dust-containing air indoors. For example, the front surface of the dust collecting device 1 faces the inside of the room in order to suck in air from the front, and the back surface and the top surface are placed at a predetermined distance from the wall or ceiling in order to exhaust air circulating backward or upward.

[0042] For example, as shown in Fig. 19, two or more dust collecting devices 1 installed in a factory are arranged in parallel in a direction intersecting the exhaust airflow (exhaust direction) to which the air is blown, facing the dust source to which the air is blown, (horizontal direction). Alternatively, two or more dust collecting devices 1 installed in a factory are arranged in parallel in a direction parallel to the exhaust airflow (vertical direction) to which the air is blown, facing the dust source to which the air is blown, for example, arranged vertically with the dust source in between.

[0043] Each dust collecting device 1 may be arranged so that the exhaust direction for blowing air is perpendicular to and faces the front, back or side of the dust source that is the target, or it may be arranged so that the exhaust direction for blowing air is diagonally facing the front, back or side of the dust source that is the target.

[0044] 2, the dust collecting device 1 includes a housing 2, a suction section 3, a main dust removing section 4, a branching section 5, an additional dust removing section 6, an airflow direction changing section 7, a control unit 8, a wireless communication section 9, and an environment detection section 10. The suction section 3, the main dust removing section 4, the branching section 5, and the additional dust removing section 6 are provided inside the housing 2, and the airflow direction changing section 7, the control unit 8, the wireless communication section 9, and the environment detection section 10 are provided inside or outside the housing 2.

[0045] The housing 2 is configured to have a substantially box-like shape and has an inlet 11 for sucking in air in a room in which the dust collecting device 1 is installed and an outlet 12 for exhausting the sucked air, forming a flow direction of air from the inlet 11 to the outlet 12. The housing 2 has, as exhaust paths for the sucked air, a first exhaust path 13a for exhausting air to be circulated in the room and a second exhaust path 13b for exhausting air to be sprayed on a target in the room, and the exhaust path 12 has a first exhaust port 12a for exhausting air from the first exhaust path 13a and a second exhaust port 12b for exhausting air from the second exhaust path 13b.

[0046] For example, the suction port 11 is provided on the front surface of the housing 2. The first exhaust port 12a is provided on the rear surface, top surface, or side surface of the housing 2, and the second exhaust port 12b is provided so that the exhausted airflow does not interfere with the first exhaust port 12a, for example, provided on the front lower side. In order to provide the second exhaust port 12b at a position that does not interfere with the first exhaust port 12a, the housing 2 may have an extension portion 2a that extends from the bottom surface of the housing 2 in the exhaust direction at the second exhaust port 12b (for example, forward lower side), and the second exhaust port 12b may be provided on the tip surface of the extension portion 2a.

[0047] 2 shows an example in which the suction port 11, main dust removal section 4, suction section 3, and branch section 5 are arranged in this order from the front to the rear in the housing 2. In this example, air is sucked into the inside of the housing 2 from the suction port 11 provided on the front surface of the housing 2, and the sucked air flows from the front to the rear, passing through the main dust removal section 4 and the suction section 3 and reaching the branch section 5. In the housing 2, behind the suction section 3, the exhaust flow path for the sucked air is branched into a first exhaust flow path 13a that faces further rearward and a second exhaust flow path 13b that faces downward and forward.

[0048] The suction unit 3 draws indoor air into the housing 2 and sends it out to the exhaust side, and is composed of a fan member 3a such as a sirocco fan or a turbo fan, and a fan motor unit (not shown) that rotates the fan member 3a. The suction unit 3 has a relatively strong wind volume (for example, 60 m) that can exhaust the air to be circulated indoors. 3 / min). The suction unit 3 is disposed so that the fan member 3a faces the direction in which air is suctioned from the suction port 11. The suction unit 3 may be multi-staged depending on the pressure loss of the dust collecting device 1.

[0049] The main dust removing section 4 removes dust in the air (suctioned air) sucked into the housing 2, and is disposed between the suction port 11 and the suction section 3. The main dust removing section 4 is, for example, configured as an electric dust removing section, and includes a prefilter 20 and a main electric dust collecting section 21. As shown in FIG. 4, the main electric dust collecting section 21 includes a high-voltage power supply section 22 and an electrode section 23, and charges dust in the air flowing inside the main electric dust collecting section 21, and collects the charged dust. The prefilter 20 may be made of a nonwoven fabric made of chemical fibers such as polypropylene, or may be made of metal fibers (demister) such as wire mesh.

[0050] The dust removal section may be a filter type. For example, the filter is made of a spunbond type nonwoven fabric made of chemical fibers such as polypropylene, and is formed with pleats (creases).

[0051] In the main electrostatic precipitator 21, the high-voltage power supply 22 includes a high-voltage transformer 22a and a voltage multiplier 22b as a high-voltage power supply that applies a high voltage of 4 KV to 10 KV to the electrode unit 23, and the AC voltage from the AC power supply is boosted by the high-voltage transformer 22a and converted to a DC voltage by the voltage multiplier 22b.

[0052] In the main electrostatic precipitator 21, the electrode unit 23 has a main charging electrode 24 as a charging electrode that charges dust in the air by corona discharge, and a main dust collecting electrode 25 as a dust collecting electrode that collects the charged dust. In the air flow direction, the main charging electrode 24 is disposed on the upstream side, and the main dust collecting electrode 25 is disposed on the downstream side. The main charging electrode 24 and the main dust collecting electrode 25 may be configured separately, or may be configured integrally.

[0053] An example in which the main charging electrode 24 and the main dust collecting electrode 25 of the main electrostatic precipitator 21 are configured as separate bodies will be described below.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 5 or 6, the main charged electrode 24 extends parallel to the air flow direction and is composed of a discharge electrode 26 to which a high voltage is applied and a ground electrode 27 that is grounded to a reference potential point (earth), and the discharge electrode 26 is sandwiched by the ground electrodes 27 at a predetermined interval from both sides in a direction intersecting the air flow direction.

[0055] 5, the discharge electrode 26 includes a plurality of needle electrodes 26a, which are supported by a support member 26b while extending parallel to the air flow direction (for example, upstream or downstream of the air flow direction, or in a cross direction). The needle electrodes 26a are made of tungsten or titanium, and by making them of titanium-64 in particular, the amount of ozone generated can be kept low. A high voltage of 7 KV to 10 KV is applied to the needle electrodes 26a by the high voltage power supply unit 22.

[0056] The ground electrode 27 is formed of a flat plate made of metal such as aluminum or stainless steel parallel to the air flow direction, and a pair of ground electrodes 27 are arranged at a predetermined interval, and the discharge electrode 26 is arranged between the pair of ground electrodes 27. The main charge electrode 24 may be configured to include a plurality of discharge electrodes 26 and a plurality of ground electrodes 27, with the discharge electrodes 26 and the ground electrodes 27 alternately arranged in a direction intersecting the air flow direction, and with the ground electrodes 27 arranged at both ends.

[0057] Alternatively, the discharge electrode 26 may be provided with a plurality of brush electrodes 26c formed by bundling a number of wires instead of the plurality of needle electrodes 26a, and supported by a support member 26b, as shown in Fig. 6. The brush electrodes 26c are formed of non-magnetic stainless steel fibers or the like. A high voltage of 4 KV to 6 KV is applied to the brush electrodes 26c by the high voltage power supply unit 22. Alternatively, the discharge electrode 26 may be provided with a plurality of metallic pointed members instead of the needle electrodes 26a and the brush electrodes 26c, and supported by a support member 26b.

[0058] The brush electrode 26c is formed by bundling, for example, about 100 wires. The brush electrode 26c may also be formed by bundling 10 to 200 wires with a diameter of 5 to 25 μm. For example, the wire of the brush electrode 26c is formed of non-magnetic stainless steel fibers with a diameter of 12 μm, and the stainless steel used is SUS304 containing 18% Cr and 8% Ni, which is highly marketable, economical, and corrosion-resistant. Note that, as long as the wire is non-magnetic stainless steel, other materials such as SUS316 containing 18% Cr, 12% Ni, and molybdenum (Mo) may be used. By using non-magnetic stainless steel fibers for the wire in this way, the wires are easily separated, and the discharge performance can be improved. For example, in the case of a magnetic ferrite system, the wires are difficult to separate, so that the effect of electric field interference is large, and it is difficult to generate a corona discharge with a strong electric field.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 7, the main collecting electrode 25 is composed of a discharge electrode 28 to which a high voltage is applied and a ground electrode 29 grounded to a reference potential point (earth). The discharge electrode 28 is composed of, for example, a flat plate parallel to the air flow direction. The ground electrode 29 is formed of a metal such as aluminum or stainless steel as a flat plate parallel to the air flow direction, and a pair of ground electrodes 29 are arranged at a predetermined interval, and the discharge electrode 28 is arranged between the pair of ground electrodes 29. The main collecting electrode 25 collects dust charged by the main charging electrode 24 by high-voltage discharge (strong electric field) between the discharge electrode 28 and the ground electrode 29. The main collecting electrode 25 may be configured to include a plurality of discharge electrodes 28 and a plurality of ground electrodes 29, and to arrange the discharge electrodes 28 and the ground electrodes 29 alternately in a direction intersecting the air flow direction, with the ground electrodes 29 arranged at both ends.

[0060] The main electrostatic precipitator 21 can have a large electrode structure by applying a needle electrode 26a to the discharge electrode 26 of the main charged electrode 24 and applying a parallel plate to the ground electrode 29. In addition, the main electrostatic precipitator 21 can ensure a sufficient area for removing dust by applying parallel plates to both the discharge electrode 28 and the ground electrode 29 of the main dust collecting electrode 25.

[0061] An example in which the main charging electrode 24 and the main dust collecting electrode 25 of the main electrostatic precipitator 21 are integrally formed will be described below.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 8, the main charged electrode 24 extends parallel to the air flow direction and is composed of a discharge electrode 30 to which a high voltage is applied, and a ground electrode 31 that is positioned upstream of the discharge electrode 30 in the air flow direction and is grounded to a reference potential point (earth).

[0063] The ground electrode 31 is made of a metal such as aluminum or stainless steel and is formed as a flat plate extending in a direction intersecting the air flow direction, and has a plurality of circular openings 31a as shown in Figures 8 and 9. In the ground electrode 31, the plurality of openings 31a are arranged in a staggered pattern such that adjacent openings 31a on the left and right are shifted vertically by half an opening or more, compared to a state in which the openings are equally spaced vertically and horizontally when viewed from the air flow direction.

[0064] The discharge electrode 30 includes a plurality of needle electrodes 30a, the base ends of which are supported by a support member 30b extending in a direction intersecting the air flow direction (for example, vertical direction), and the tips of which extend upstream in the air flow direction. A plurality of support members 30b are provided in accordance with the arrangement of the plurality of needle electrodes 30a. Each needle electrode 30a is arranged such that its tip is located at a predetermined distance away from the opening 31a of the ground electrode 31 and on the center line of the opening 31a. The needle electrodes 30a are made of tungsten or titanium, and in particular, by making them of 64 titanium, the amount of ozone generation can be kept low. A high voltage of 7 KV to 10 KV is applied to the needle electrodes 30a by the high voltage power supply unit 22.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 8, the main dust collecting electrode 25 extends parallel to the air flow direction and is composed of a discharge electrode 32 to which a high voltage is applied, and a ground electrode 33 extends parallel to the air flow direction and is grounded to a reference potential point (earth).

[0066] The ground electrode 33 is made of a metal such as aluminum or stainless steel and is formed of a flat plate parallel to the air flow direction. The discharge electrode 32 is made of a flat plate parallel to the air flow direction and is disposed between a pair of flat plates of the ground electrode 33. The flat plates of the discharge electrode 32 are provided on both sides of the position of the support member 30b of the discharge electrode 30 of the main charge electrode 24 in a direction intersecting the air flow direction (for example, the left-right direction).

[0067] In the case of an indoor environment where the dust concentration sucked into the dust collector 1 is high, for example, where the dust concentration is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, an electrode structure that is resistant to dirt is required when removing dust-laden air, so it is advisable to apply the open discharge type main electrostatic precipitator 21 in which the ground electrode 31 of the main charging electrode 24 is open, as described above. The open discharge type main electrostatic precipitator 21 generates a corona discharge between the tip of the discharge electrode 30 and the edge of the opening 31a of the ground electrode 31, so that dust does not easily adhere to the ground electrode 31, and has a structure that is resistant to dirt.

[0068] In addition, the main charging electrode 24 of the main electrostatic precipitator 21 may be configured so that the discharge electrode 30 protrudes both upstream and downstream in the air flow direction in order to improve the charging efficiency of dust in the suction air. In this case, the position of the discharge point of the discharge electrode 30 may be shifted up and down or left and right so that the discharge areas of the discharge electrodes 30 on the upstream and downstream sides do not interfere with each other or overlap and fall out. For example, the position of the discharge point of the discharge electrode 30 may be offset obliquely, or the discharge electrode 30 may be shifted by the distance (gap) between the ground electrode 31 and the discharge point of the discharge electrode 30.

[0069] The branching section 5 branches the exhaust flow path of the suction air, and is disposed downstream of the main dust removal section 4 and the suction section 3 in the air flow direction. The branching section 5 is, for example, composed of a damper, and includes a collision plate 15 attached to a rotating shaft formed of metal and extending in a direction intersecting the air flow direction (left-right direction) as shown in FIG. 10, and a branching motor unit 16 for rotating the collision plate 15. The branching section 5 can branch the exhaust flow path by rotating the collision plate 15 by the branching motor unit 16 controlled by the control unit 8, and causing the air flow to collide with the collision plate 15 and block it. The branching motor unit 16 is, for example, composed of a combination of a step motor and a gear. The branching section 5 may be provided with a small fan in addition to the damper to promote the flow of the branched exhaust air.

[0070] The branching unit 5 can change the flow rate (flow rate) of the suction air flowing from the housing 2 to the outside between the first exhaust flow path 13a and the second exhaust flow path 13b, depending on the rotation angle of the collision plate 15 that rotates toward the first exhaust flow path 13a side or the second exhaust flow path 13b side. At this time, as shown in Fig. 11, the branching unit 5 switches the exhaust of the suction air from the housing 2 to the outside to any one of state A (see Fig. 12(a)) in which the air flows only through the first exhaust flow path 13a, state B (see Fig. 12(b)) in which the air flows both through the first exhaust flow path 13a and the second exhaust flow path 13b, and state C (see Fig. 12(c)) in which the air flows only through the second exhaust flow path 13b. For example, the branching section 5 can be switched to exhaust only through the first exhaust flow path 13a (state A) by blocking the second exhaust flow path 13b with the collision plate 15, and can be switched to exhaust only through the second exhaust flow path 13b (state C) by blocking the first exhaust flow path 13a with the collision plate 15.

[0071] The additional dust removing unit 6 removes dust from the air (suctioned air) sucked into the housing 2, and is provided in the second exhaust flow path 13b. The additional dust removing unit 6 is a small dust removing unit added to further remove dust from the sucked air branched from the first exhaust flow path 13a to the second exhaust flow path 13b, and exhaust the highly purified air. The additional dust removing unit 6 further removes dust from the dust-containing air removed by the main dust removing unit 4, so the amount of air flowing through the additional dust removing unit 6 is set to be less than the amount of air flowing through the main dust removing unit 4, for example, about 1 / 2 to 1 / 10 of the amount of air passing through the main dust removing unit 4. The size of the additional dust removing unit 6 may be smaller than that of the main dust removing unit 4.

[0072] The additional dust removing unit 6, like the main electrostatic precipitator 21 of the main dust removing unit 4, includes an additional electrostatic precipitator 41 consisting of a high-voltage power supply unit 42 and an electrode unit 43, and charges dust in the air flowing through the additional electrostatic precipitator 41 and collects the charged dust. In this case, like the main electrostatic precipitator 21, the electrode unit 43 of the additional electrostatic precipitator 41 includes an additional charged electrode 44 that charges dust in the air by corona discharge and an additional dust collecting electrode 45 that collects the charged dust. The additional electrostatic precipitator 41 may have the same structure as the main electrostatic precipitator 21 in terms of the additional charged electrode 44 and the additional dust collecting electrode 45, or may have a different structure.

[0073] In order to make the additional electric dust collecting unit 41 compact (small), for example, it is preferable to use a brush electrode 46c for the discharge electrode 46 of the additional charging electrode 44 and a parallel plate for the ground electrode 47. A plurality of brush electrodes 46c are provided, and each brush electrode 46c is formed by bundling a number of wires, so that a number of discharge points can be stably secured, and therefore a stable corona discharge can be maintained even if the additional electric dust collecting unit 41 is made small. Also, it is preferable to use parallel plates for the discharge electrode 48 and the ground electrode 49 of the additional dust collecting electrode 45 of the additional electric dust collecting unit 41.

[0074] The additional electric dust collecting section 41 may be configured such that the additional charged electrode 44 and the additional dust collecting electrode 45 are separate bodies as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, or may be configured such that the additional charged electrode 44 and the additional dust collecting electrode 45 are integrally formed as shown in Figures 8 and 9 for the purpose of miniaturization.

[0075] Alternatively, the electrode section 43 of the additional electrostatic precipitator 41 may operate only the additional dust collecting electrode 45 without operating the additional charging electrode 44 depending on the situation, so that dust charged by the main charging electrode 24 of the main electrostatic precipitator 21 is captured by the additional dust collecting electrode 45 of the additional electrostatic precipitator 41, or may be provided with only the additional dust collecting electrode 45 without the additional charging electrode 44.

[0076] Alternatively, the additional dust removing unit 6 may be configured with a filter type dust collecting unit such as a finer HEPA filter or an electret filter made of electrically charged filter material, instead of the additional electrostatic precipitator 41. When the additional dust removing unit 6 is configured with a filter type dust collecting unit, the pressure loss is higher and a larger filter area is required than when the additional electrostatic precipitator 41 is provided, which is disadvantageous in terms of miniaturization. Furthermore, although the pressure loss does not increase even if multiple additional electrostatic precipitators 41 are arranged in series, the pressure loss increases accordingly when multiple filter dust collecting units are arranged in series, so the filter type dust collecting unit is also disadvantageous in terms of pressure loss.

[0077] The combination of the main dust removing section 4 and the additional dust removing section 6 may be any of a combination of electric dust removing sections, a combination of filter type dust collecting sections, and a combination of an electric dust removing section and a filter type dust collecting section.

[0078] In the dust collector 1, the air exhausted via the first exhaust passage 13a for circulating indoors can be removed by only the main dust remover 4, and the air exhausted via the second exhaust passage 13b for blowing indoors can be removed by the main dust remover 4 and the additional dust remover 6. Here, design items such as the target value (level) to which the dust removal rate by the main dust remover 4 should be reduced from 99%, the extent to which the dust collection area of ​​the main dust remover 4 should be reduced, and the extent to which the size of the additional dust remover 6 should be reduced can be designed by calculating the dust removal rate in advance based on the following Deutsch formula (1). In the dust collector 1 of the circulation type, the size of the main dust remover 4 of the indoor dust collector 1 can be reduced by designing the effective dust collection area to, for example, 1 / 2 or less. Deutsch formula: η = 1-exp(-wA / Q) (1) η: Dust removal rate w: Dust movement speed (m / s) A: Effective dust collection area (m 2 ) Q: Processing gas flow rate (m 3 / s)

[0079] The discharge electrodes 26, 28, 46, 48 of the main electrostatic precipitator 21 and the additional electrostatic precipitator 41 may be set to either positive or negative discharge polarity. Negative discharge has a higher corona discharge stability than positive discharge but has a tendency to generate ozone, so the main electrostatic precipitator 21 and the additional electrostatic precipitator 41 should basically apply positive discharge to suppress the amount of ozone generated. However, when the dust concentration is high, the main electrostatic precipitator 21 and the additional electrostatic precipitator 41 should apply negative discharge, which has high discharge stability. In addition, to deal with odors in the room, the main electrostatic precipitator 21 and the additional electrostatic precipitator 41 may apply negative discharge to efficiently generate ozone and ions.

[0080] The airflow direction changing unit 7 is provided at the tip of the extension 2a at the front lower side of the housing 2, that is, at the second exhaust port 12b at the tip of the second exhaust flow path 13b. As shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the airflow direction changing unit 7 includes a louver 17 that fixes the airflow of the exhaust air in a predetermined direction (e.g., downward), and a louver motor unit 18 that rotates the louver 17 in a direction intersecting the air flow direction in the second exhaust flow path 13b. The airflow direction changing unit 7 can change the airflow of the air exhausted from the louver 17 of the second exhaust port 12b in the up, down, left, or right direction by rotating the louver 17 with the louver motor unit 18. When the airflow direction changing unit 7 is not operated, the rotation position of the louver 17 may be maintained as it is, or the rotation position of the louver 17 may be set to an initial state (e.g., downward). The louver motor unit 18 is configured, for example, by combining a step motor and a gear. The airflow direction changing section 7 may be configured to change the airflow volume by combining louvers 17 of a cooler of the air conditioner with gears.

[0081] For example, as shown in Fig. 15, the air direction changing unit 7 can blow air onto a processing machine 106 of the indoor work equipment by directing the louvers 17 downward and discharging air downward from the second exhaust port 12b. Also, if a worker 105 is present near the processing machine 106 of the indoor work equipment, as shown in Fig. 16, the louvers 17 can be rotated to discharge air from the second exhaust port 12b in a diagonally downward direction (direction D) toward the worker 105, thereby blowing air onto the worker 105.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 17, the control unit 8 includes a control unit 50 such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and a storage unit 51 such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), or a hard disk.

[0083] The control unit 50 may start the dust collecting device 1 in cooperation with work equipment such as the processing machine 106 in the room, or may start the dust collecting device 1 when a start signal is received from a separately provided remote control via wireless communication in response to a start operation of the remote control. Alternatively, the control unit 50 may start the dust collecting device 1 when a start signal is received via wired communication from an integrated control panel separately provided in the room in response to a start operation by the integrated control panel.

[0084] The control unit 50 performs calculations based on the programs and data stored in the memory unit 51, thereby controlling each unit and each function of the dust collecting device 1. For example, a computer such as the control unit 50 executes the programs stored in the memory unit 51 to operate as a branch control unit 52, a main dust removal control unit 53, an additional dust removal control unit 54, a fan rotation speed control unit 55, and an airflow direction change control unit 56.

[0085] The wireless communication unit 9 is an interface for wireless communication with an external device by wireless LAN such as Wi-Fi or short-range wireless such as Bluetooth (registered trademark). The wireless communication unit 9 is communicably connected to, for example, an environment detection unit 10 such as an external dust concentration meter 60, a dust collection management server 101, and other dust collection devices 1, and transmits and receives data by wireless communication.

[0086] The environment detection unit 10 constantly detects the indoor environmental conditions (e.g., dust generation conditions and the operating conditions of the processing machine 106) and transmits data on the detection results of the environmental conditions to the dust collection management server 101 via the wireless communication unit 9.

[0087] For example, the environment detection unit 10 includes a spray target detection device 62 that detects the presence of a spray target such as a person such as a worker 105 in a room or a work equipment such as a processing machine 106, and the spray target detection device 62 may be composed of a camera, an LRF, a TOF camera, or the like. The spray target detection device 62 may be attached to the outer surface (e.g., the underside) of the housing 2 as shown in FIG. 2, or, as another example, may be installed indoors as an external device. By analyzing image data acquired by a camera, an LRF, a TOF camera, or the like, the presence and position of a spray target such as a person or work equipment can be detected. Work equipment such as the processing machine 106 is a dust source that generates dust due to processing work, etc., and therefore is a spray target. Work equipment for performing welding work and handy tools for performing part processing are also dust sources and can therefore be spray targets.

[0088] Alternatively, the environment detection unit 10 may be provided with an infrared or ultrasonic human sensor that detects people as the spray target detection device 62, or may be provided with a wind speed sensor to detect the spray target while taking into consideration the effect of wind disturbances detected by the sensor on air conditioning. The human sensor as the spray target detection device 62 is provided in the dust collection device 1 or the processing machine 106.

[0089] The environment detection unit 10 may also include a dust concentration meter 60 that measures the concentration of dust in the air at a location where the environment detection unit 10 is installed indoors. The dust concentration meter 60 may be, for example, a handheld particle counter, or may be a simple optical (infrared) dust concentration meter. The dust concentration meter 60 may be attached to the housing 2 (for example, the suction port 11), or may be installed indoors as an external device as shown in FIG. 2. The handheld dust concentration meter 60 is installed in a factory by adjusting the height with a tripod or a dedicated tool. The dust concentration meter 60 of the external device includes a wireless communication unit (not shown) and is connected to the dust collection device 1 and the dust collection management server 101 so as to be able to wirelessly communicate with each other, and transmits dust concentration data of the measurement result to the dust collection device 1 and the dust collection management server 101 via wireless communication.

[0090] Alternatively, the environment detection unit 10 may be a dust collector 1 (control unit 8) or a work management server 102 that determines the dust concentration by referring to the operating status of an electric dust collector 107 connected to a processing machine 106 as an auxiliary device, as shown in FIG. 18. The electric dust collector 107 may be configured, for example, in the same manner as the main dust removal unit 4 (main electric dust collector unit 21) of the dust collector 1. The electric dust collector 107 is equipped with a wireless communication unit (not shown) and configured to be capable of wireless communication with the dust collector 1 and the work management server 102, and transmits its own operating status to the dust collector 1 and the work management server 102. The electric dust collector 107 detects, for example, the current and voltage of the electrodes (charged electrode and dust collecting electrode) and transmits them to the dust collector 1 and the work management server 102 as the operating status.

[0091] The dust collector 1 and the work management server 102 functioning as the environment detection unit 10 judge whether the electrostatic precipitator 107 is operating normally based on the operating status of the electrostatic precipitator 107, and when it is judged that the electrostatic precipitator 107 is operating normally, it judges that the dust concentration is low and dust is not leaking (below a predetermined concentration threshold). On the other hand, when it is judged that the electrostatic precipitator 107 is not operating normally, it judges that the dust concentration is high and dust is leaking (above a predetermined concentration threshold). For example, the dust collector 1 and the work management server 102 judge that the electrostatic precipitator 107 is operating normally when the difference between the current and voltage of the electrodes of the electrostatic precipitator 107 during normal operation or the average value is less than a predetermined difference threshold. On the other hand, the dust collector 1 and the work management server 102 judge that the electrostatic precipitator 107 is not operating normally when the difference between the current and voltage of the electrodes during normal operation or the average value is equal to or greater than a predetermined difference threshold, or when the current and voltage of the electrodes are equal to or greater than a predetermined abnormal value.

[0092] Furthermore, the environment detection unit 10 may be a work management server 102 that refers to equipment data of work equipment such as a processing machine 106 installed in a room. The work management server 102 holds the work schedule (ON / OFF), operation time, work type, type of work parts, amount of work oil such as cutting oil used, etc. of the work equipment as equipment data. The work management server 102, which is an external device, is connected to the dust collection management server 101 so as to be able to wirelessly communicate with it, and transmits the equipment data to the dust collection management server 101.

[0093] Next, the dust collection management server 101 will be described. The dust collection management server 101 determines an exhaust control pattern for each dust collection device 1 based on the detection results of the environment detection unit 10 of two or more dust collection devices 1, and creates, for example, a control program or control data for each dust collection device 1 that controls the main dust removal unit 4 and additional dust removal unit 6 as well as the branch unit 5 and airflow direction changing unit 7 of each dust collection device 1 as the exhaust control pattern. The dust collection management server 101 transmits the control program or control data created for each of the two or more dust collection devices 1 to the corresponding dust collection devices 1 and executes the program or data, so that the multiple dust collection devices 1 cooperate to control the exhaust so as to protect the working environment of the worker 105.

[0094] As shown in FIG. 17, the dust collection management server 101 includes a control unit 110 and a wireless communication unit 111. The control unit 110 includes a control unit 112 such as a CPU, and a storage unit 113 such as a ROM, a RAM, or a hard disk.

[0095] The control unit 112 performs calculation processing based on the programs and data stored in the memory unit 113, thereby controlling each unit and each function of the dust collection management server 101. For example, a computer such as the control unit 112 executes the programs stored in the memory unit 113 to operate as a dust concentration determination unit 115, a spray target determination unit 116, an operating status determination unit 117, a priority setting unit 118, and a control program creation unit 119.

[0096] The wireless communication unit 111 is an interface for wireless communication with an external device via a wireless LAN such as Wi-Fi or a short-range wireless such as Bluetooth (registered trademark). The wireless communication unit 111 is communicably connected to, for example, two or more dust collecting devices 1 and a work management server 102, and transmits and receives data via wireless communication.

[0097] Next, the dust concentration determination unit 115, the spray target determination unit 116, and the operating status determination unit 117 of the control unit 110 of the dust collection management server 101 will be described.

[0098] The dust concentration determination unit 115 determines the dust concentration in the air in a room, and for example, acquires dust concentration data as a measurement result from a dust concentration meter 60, which is an environment detection unit 10 installed in a room, by receiving it wirelessly via the wireless communication unit 111. The dust concentration determination unit 115 determines whether the acquired dust concentration is equal to or greater than a predetermined concentration threshold.

[0099] Alternatively, the dust concentration determination unit 115 may receive a dust concentration determination result based on the operating status of the electric dust collector 107 of the processing machine 106 from the dust collecting device 1 or the work management server 102. Alternatively, the dust concentration determination unit 115 may receive and acquire equipment data such as the work schedule, operation time, work type, type of work parts, and amount of use of work oil such as cutting oil of the work equipment such as the processing machine 106 by wireless communication from the work management server 102 using the wireless communication unit 111, and determine whether the dust concentration is equal to or higher than a predetermined concentration threshold based on the equipment data. For example, the dust concentration determination unit 115 may determine that the longer the operating time of the processing machine 106, the more likely dust is to be generated in the processing machine 106.

[0100] The blow target determination unit 116 determines the presence of a blow target, such as a person such as a worker 105 in the room or work equipment such as a processing machine 106, as a target to which air (exhaust air) is blown by the dust collecting device 1, and acquires image data of the room from a blow target detection device 62 (such as a camera, LRF, or TOF camera) which is the environment detection unit 10. The blow target determination unit 116 analyzes the acquired image data and determines whether or not a blow target, such as a person or work equipment, is present in the room.

[0101] At this time, the spray target determination unit 116 may detect the presence of the spray target in the image data using learning data of images of people and work equipment learned using artificial intelligence, or may classify the spray target in the image data by segmentation to detect the presence of the spray target. The spray target determination unit 116 may also determine the position of the spray target of people or work equipment by dividing the image data into multiple grids and determining in which grid the person or work equipment is present. Furthermore, the spray target determination unit 116 may convert the image data into data in a spatial coordinate system and grasp the coordinates of the spray target of people or work equipment in the image data to determine the position of the spray target.

[0102] Alternatively, the spray target determination unit 116 may obtain a human detection result from a human presence sensor that is the environment detection unit 10, and determine whether or not there is a human spray target in the room based on the detection result.

[0103] The spray target determination unit 116 may obtain interior drawing data indicating the layout of the factory in which the dust collecting device 1 is installed and the arrangement of the processing machine 106 from an external server (not shown) or may further obtain interior drawing data of each factory in Japan that is generally provided by the Japan Construction Information Technology Center (JCITC) as BIM (Building Information Modeling) data. The spray target determination unit 116 uses such interior drawing data to obtain position information of the worker 105 and the processing machine 106 in the factory.

[0104] In addition, even if the spray target determination unit 116 determines the presence of a worker 105 or a processing machine 106, if it determines that the worker 105 or the processing machine 106 is away from the dust collection device 1 by more than a predetermined upper limit distance threshold, it may exclude the worker 105 or the processing machine 106 from the spray targets and determine them as non-spray targets, as shown in Figure 19.

[0105] The operation status determination unit 117 determines the operation status of the work equipment such as the processing machine 106 in the room that is the target of the spraying, and for example, receives and acquires equipment data of the work equipment (such as the work schedule, operation time, work type, type of work parts, and amount of work oil used of the work equipment) from the work management server 102, which is the environment detection unit 10, by wireless communication using the wireless communication unit 9. The operation status determination unit 117 determines the operation status of the target of the spraying based on the acquired equipment data, the dust concentration determination result by the dust concentration determination unit 115, the determination result of the target of the spraying by the spraying target determination unit 116, and so on, and determines, for example, which operation status the processing machine 106 that is the target of the spraying is in, among pause operation (operation stopped), normal operation, partial operation, and heavy processing operation (heavy work operation). The dust concentration determination unit 115 may determine whether the concentration of dust generated near the target of the spraying is equal to or higher than a predetermined concentration threshold based on the determination result of the operation status of the target of the spraying by the operation status determination unit 117.

[0106] 20(a) and 20(b), when the spray target determination unit 116 determines that multiple spray targets are to be applied to the dust collecting device 1, the priority setting unit 118 sets a priority for each spray target. The priority setting unit 118 sets the priority of the spray targets for one dust collecting device 1 based on the detection results of the environment detection units 10 of two or more dust collecting devices 1, or based on the detection result of the environment detection unit 10 of the one dust collecting device 1. For example, the priority setting unit 118 classifies and sets the priority of multiple spray targets into multiple stages of high>medium>low or multiple stages of 5>4>3>2>1.

[0107] When multiple targets to be sprayed that exist facing the exhaust direction of the second exhaust flow path 13b of one dust collecting device 1 are located away from the one dust collecting device 1 by more than a predetermined distance threshold, the priority setting unit 118 sets a higher priority for the target to be sprayed that is closer to the dust collecting device 1. Furthermore, when multiple targets to be sprayed that exist facing the exhaust direction of the second exhaust flow path 13b of one dust collecting device 1 are located within a predetermined distance threshold from the one dust collecting device 1, the priority setting unit 118 sets a higher priority for the target to be sprayed that is the worker 105 than for the target to be sprayed that is the processing machine 106. Furthermore, when a processing machine 106 and multiple workers 105 exist as multiple targets to be sprayed, the priority setting unit 118 sets a higher priority for the worker 105 that is closer to the processing machine 106.

[0108] When there are multiple processing machines 106 as multiple spray targets, the priority setting unit 118 sets a higher priority for the processing machine 106 as the spray target, the longer the operating time based on the work schedule of the processing machine 106. Also, the priority setting unit 118 sets a higher priority for the processing machine 106 as the spray target, the heavier the work content based on the work schedule of the processing machine 106 is, for example, when the amount of cutting is large or cutting oil is consumed a lot.

[0109] Furthermore, the priority setting unit 118 may set the priority space 108 in the factory where the dust collector 1 blows exhaust gas and the time period thereof, regardless of the positions and operating status of the workers 105 and the processing machines 106, as shown in FIG. 21(a), based on the layout of the factory and the arrangement of the processing machines 106, the image data acquired by the blowing target detection device 62, which is the environment detection unit 10, the detection results by the LRF, and the like. For example, the priority setting unit 118 can confirm the priority space 108 where many workers 105 are present during the working hours of the factory and the time period thereof, as shown in FIG. 21(b), by comparing and examining the past image data and the detection results of the LRF by learning using artificial intelligence. The priority setting unit 118 sets the priority space 108 as shown in FIG. 21(a) based on the distribution of the workers 105 in the past as shown in FIG. 21(b).

[0110] The control program creation unit 119 determines an exhaust control pattern for each dust collector 1 based on the detection results of the environment detection units 10 of two or more dust collectors 1, and creates, for example, a control program or control data for each dust collector 1 that controls the main dust removal unit 4 and additional dust removal unit 6, as well as the suction unit 3, branch unit 5, and air direction changing unit 7 of each dust collector 1 as the exhaust control pattern. In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the control program creation unit 119 creates a control program that controls each dust collector 1, but the present invention is not limited to this example, and in other examples, the control program creation unit 119 may create control data used in the control program that controls each dust collector 1.

[0111] By referring to the detection results of the environmental detection units 10 of two or more dust collecting devices 1, it is possible to obtain the judgment results of the operating status of the processing machine 106 by the operating status judgment unit 117, the judgment results of the spray target by the spray target judgment unit 116, the judgment results of the dust concentration by the dust concentration judgment unit 115, and the priority setting results by the priority setting unit 118, and the control program creation unit 119 determines the exhaust control pattern of the dust collecting device 1 based on these judgment results and setting results (see Figure 22).

[0112] For example, the control program creation unit 119 creates a control program for each dust collector 1 so as to operate (ON) or stop (OFF) each of the main electric dust collector 21 of the main dust remover 4 and the additional electric dust collector 41 of the additional dust remover 6. The control program creation unit 119 also creates a control program for each dust collector 1 so as to switch the exhaust state of the branch unit 5 to one of state A (see FIG. 12(a)) in which only circulation is performed via only the first exhaust flow path 13a, state B (see FIG. 12(b)) in which both circulation and blowing are performed via the first exhaust flow path 13a and the second exhaust flow path 13b, and state C (see FIG. 12(c)) in which only blowing is performed via only the second exhaust flow path 13b. The control program creation unit 119 also creates a control program for each dust collector 1 so as to direct the exhaust airflow (exhaust direction) via the second exhaust flow path 13b toward the blowing target by the airflow direction changing unit 7. Furthermore, the control program creation unit 119 creates a control program for each dust collecting device 1 so as to set the exhaust air volume of the first exhaust flow path 13a and the second exhaust flow path 13b by controlling the suction unit 3 and the branch unit 5.

[0113] When the exhaust state of the branching section 5 is switched to state B by the control program created by the control program creation unit 119, the collision plate 15 is disposed at a predetermined rotation angle set in advance between the first exhaust flow path 13a and the second exhaust flow path 13b. At this time, the rotation angle of the collision plate 15 may be stored in advance in the dust collector 1, or may be set by the control program created by the control program creation unit 119. For example, the rotation angle of the collision plate 15 is set so that an air volume of 1 / 2 to 1 / 10 of the total air volume of the dust collector 1 flows through the second exhaust flow path 13b. Various relationships between the rotation angle of the collision plate 15 and the air volume of the second exhaust flow path 13b (or the first exhaust flow path 13a) relative to the total air volume are measured by a test run in advance, and the rotation angle can be set so that a desired air volume can be obtained depending on the situation.

[0114] The state B of the branching unit 5 may be set to any one of a plurality of rotation angles of the collision plate 15. The larger the rotation angle of the collision plate 15 relative to the position blocking the second exhaust flow path 13b, the greater the volume of exhaust air passing through the second exhaust flow path 13b (volume of air blown onto the target). For example, as the state B of the branching unit 5, a state B1 in which the rotation angle of the collision plate 15 is set so that the volume of air blown is a normal volume, and a state B2 in which the rotation angle of the collision plate 15 is set so that the volume of air blown is greater than that of the state B1 may be prepared in advance, and the control program creation unit 119 may switch to the state B2 when the dust concentration in the room is higher, thereby blowing a greater volume of exhaust air onto the target and improving the working environment more quickly.

[0115] The control program creation unit 119 creates a control program for controlling only ON / OFF of the main electrostatic precipitator 21 and the additional electrostatic precipitator 41 and the increase / decrease in the air volume of the circulating exhaust air, as the simplest exhaust air control of the dust collector 1 in the factory, according to the dust concentration determination result by the dust concentration determination unit 115 and the determination result of the blowing target by the blowing target determination unit 116. The circulating exhaust air is exhausted directly from the first exhaust flow path 13a to the upper space of the factory and circulated while maintaining the airflow. The circulating air volume is the air volume exhausted by the dust collector 1 from the first exhaust flow path 13a to the upper space and circulated, and the blowing air volume is the air volume blown to the blowing target by the exhaust branched from the second exhaust flow path 13b.

[0116] Since dust tends to accumulate in the upper space of a factory, the control program creation unit 119 usually creates a control program to circulate air in the upper space by recirculating exhaust air from the first exhaust flow path 13a. On the other hand, when dust accumulates in the lower part of the factory or when the main dust remover 4 is not normally operating, the control program creation unit 119 may create a control program to circulate air in the factory by operating the additional dust remover 6 by blowing exhaust air from the second exhaust flow path 13b. In this case, the blowing air volume becomes the circulating air volume.

[0117] The control program creation unit 119 creates a control program for controlling the suction unit 3 and the branching unit 5 so as to increase the circulating air volume (or the blown air volume) when the dust concentration is high (above a predetermined concentration threshold), decrease the circulating air volume (or the blown air volume) when the dust concentration is low (below a predetermined concentration threshold), and stop or wait when the dust concentration is below a predetermined lower limit.

[0118] When the circulating air volume (or blown air volume) is increased, the control program creation unit 119 creates a control program by setting the circulating air volume (or blown air volume) within a range that does not decrease the dust removal rate of the dust collector 1. At this time, the lower limit of the dust removal rate is determined according to the results of a prior test run of the dust collector 1 or past test runs in the factory.

[0119] Furthermore, when a worker 105 and a processing machine 106 are present as targets to be sprayed, the control program creation unit 119 determines the relative positions of the worker 105 and the processing machine 106 with respect to the dust collecting device 1, and creates a control program based on the determination result to control spraying from the worker 105 to the processing machine 106. For example, the control program creation unit 119 creates a control program that sets the exhaust direction so that the worker 105 is on the front side (upstream side) and the processing machine 106 is on the back side (downstream side), or a control program that switches the exhaust direction to face the worker 105 and then to face the processing machine 106, or a control program that repeatedly switches the exhaust direction from facing the worker 105 to facing the processing machine 106.

[0120] Specifically, in response to the detection results of the environment detection units 10 of two or more dust collecting devices 1, the control program creation unit 119 determines the exhaust control pattern of the dust collecting device 1 based on the judgment result of the operating status of the processing machine 106 by the operating status judgment unit 117, the judgment result of the spray target by the spray target judgment unit 116, and the judgment result of the dust concentration by the dust concentration judgment unit 115, as shown in FIG. 22.

[0121] [Pause operation (operation stopped)] When the processing machine 106(β) to be sprayed is in pause (stopped), there is no worker 105 to be sprayed, and the dust concentration is below a predetermined concentration threshold, the control program creation unit 119 creates a control program to turn off the main electrostatic precipitator 21, turn off the additional electrostatic precipitator 41, put the branch unit 5 in state A, not operate the air direction changing unit 7, and reduce the circulating air volume. As a result, the exhaust from the dust collector 1 is controlled to only the low-volume circulating exhaust from the first exhaust flow path 13a.

[0122] The control program creation unit 119 creates a control program so that, when the processing machine 106(β) to be sprayed is in pause (stopped), there is no worker 105 to be sprayed, and the dust concentration is equal to or higher than a predetermined concentration threshold, the main electrostatic precipitator 21 is turned ON, the additional electrostatic precipitator 41 is turned OFF, the branch unit 5 is in state A, and the air direction changing unit 7 is not operated. As a result, the exhaust from the dust collector 1 is controlled to only the circulating exhaust from the first exhaust flow path 13a accompanied by dust removal in the main dust removal unit 4.

[0123] The control program creation unit 119 creates a control program so that, when the processing machine 106(β) to be sprayed is in paused operation (stopped), a worker 105(α) to be sprayed is present, and the dust concentration is below a predetermined concentration threshold, the main electrostatic precipitator 21 is turned ON, the additional electrostatic precipitator 41 is turned OFF, the branch unit 5 is in state C, and the air direction changing unit 7 is directed toward the worker 105(α). As a result, the exhaust of the dust collector 1 is controlled so that the blown exhaust from the second exhaust flow path 13b accompanied by dust removal in the main dust removal unit 4 is blown toward the worker 105(α) without circulating exhaust from the first exhaust flow path 13a.

[0124] The control program creation unit 119 creates a control program so that, when the processing machine 106(β) to be sprayed is in pause (stopped), a worker 105(α) to be sprayed is present, and the dust concentration is equal to or higher than a predetermined concentration threshold, the main electrostatic precipitator 21 is turned on, the additional electrostatic precipitator 41 is turned on, the branch unit 5 is in state B1, and the air direction changing unit 7 is directed toward the worker 105(α). As a result, the exhaust from the dust collector 1 is controlled so that the exhaust is circulated from the first exhaust flow path 13a accompanied by dust removal in the main dust remover 4, and the blown exhaust from the second exhaust flow path 13b accompanied by dust removal in the main dust remover 4 and the additional dust remover 6 is blown toward the worker 105(α) at ​​a low air volume.

[0125] [Normal operation] The control program creation unit 119 creates a control program so that, when the processing machine 106(β) to be sprayed is in normal operation, the worker 105 to be sprayed is not present, and the dust concentration is below a predetermined concentration threshold, the main electrostatic precipitator 21 is turned ON, the additional electrostatic precipitator 41 is turned OFF, the branch unit 5 is in state A, and the air direction changing unit 7 is not operated. As a result, the exhaust from the dust collector 1 is controlled to only be circulated exhaust from the first exhaust flow path 13a accompanied by dust removal in the main dust removal unit 4.

[0126] When the processing machine 106(β) to be sprayed is in normal operation, the worker 105 to be sprayed is not present, and the dust concentration is equal to or higher than a predetermined concentration threshold, the control program creation unit 119 creates a control program to turn on the main electrostatic precipitator 21, turn on the additional electrostatic precipitator 41, put the branch unit 5 in state B1, and direct the airflow direction changing unit 7 toward the processing machine 106(β). As a result, the exhaust from the dust collector 1 is controlled to perform circulating exhaust from the first exhaust flow path 13a accompanied by dust removal in the main dust remover 4, and to blow exhaust from the second exhaust flow path 13b accompanied by dust removal in the main dust remover 4 and the additional dust remover 6 at a low air volume toward the processing machine 106(β).

[0127] The control program creation unit 119 creates a control program so that, when the processing machine 106(β) to be sprayed is in normal operation, a worker 105(α) to be sprayed is present, and the dust concentration is less than a predetermined concentration threshold, the main electrostatic precipitator 21 is turned ON, the additional electrostatic precipitator 41 is turned OFF, the branch unit 5 is in state C, and the air direction changing unit 7 is directed toward the worker 105(α). As a result, the exhaust of the dust collector 1 is controlled so that the blown exhaust from the second exhaust flow path 13b accompanied by dust removal in the main dust removal unit 4 is blown toward the worker 105(α) without circulating exhaust from the first exhaust flow path 13a.

[0128] When the processing machine 106(β) to be sprayed is in normal operation, the worker 105(α) to be sprayed is present, and the dust concentration is equal to or higher than a predetermined concentration threshold, the control program creation unit 119 creates a control program to turn on the main electrostatic precipitator 21, turn on the additional electrostatic precipitator 41, put the branch unit 5 in state B1, and direct the airflow direction changing unit 7 to the worker 105(α) and the processing machine 106(β) in turn. At this time, the control program creation unit 119 may control the airflow direction changing unit 7 to be such that the worker 105(α) is on the near side (upstream side) and the processing machine 106(β) is on the far side (downstream side), or to direct the exhaust direction toward the worker 105(α) and then toward the processing machine 106(β), or to repeatedly switch the exhaust direction to be directed toward the worker 105(α) and then toward the processing machine 106(β). As a result, the exhaust from the dust collection device 1 is circulated from the first exhaust flow path 13a accompanied by dust removal in the main dust removal section 4, and is controlled so that the exhaust is blown from the second exhaust flow path 13b accompanied by dust removal in the main dust removal section 4 and the additional dust removal section 6 at a low air volume in the order of the worker 105 (α) to the processing machine 106 (β).

[0129] [Partial operation] When the processing machine 106(β) to be sprayed is in partial operation, the worker 105 to be sprayed is not present, and the dust concentration is below a predetermined concentration threshold, the control program creation unit 119 creates a control program to turn the main electrostatic precipitator 21 ON or OFF, turn the additional electrostatic precipitator 41 OFF, put the branching unit 5 into state A, and not operate the air direction changing unit 7 in accordance with the operating status (ON / OFF) of the processing machine 106(β). As a result, the exhaust from the dust collecting device 1 is controlled to be only the circulating exhaust from the first exhaust flow path 13a.

[0130] The control program creation unit 119 creates a control program so that, when the processing machine 106(β) to be sprayed is in partial operation, the worker 105 to be sprayed is not present, and the dust concentration is equal to or higher than a predetermined concentration threshold, the main electrostatic precipitator 21 is turned ON, the additional electrostatic precipitator 41 is turned OFF, the branch unit 5 is in state C, and the air direction changing unit 7 is directed toward the processing machine 106(β). As a result, the exhaust of the dust collector 1 is controlled so that the blown exhaust from the second exhaust flow path 13b accompanied by dust removal in the main dust removal unit 4 is blown toward the processing machine 106(β) without circulating exhaust from the first exhaust flow path 13a.

[0131] The control program creation unit 119 creates a control program so that, when the processing machine 106(β) to be sprayed is in partial operation, the worker 105(α) to be sprayed is present, and the dust concentration is less than a predetermined concentration threshold, the main electrostatic precipitator 21 is turned ON, the additional electrostatic precipitator 41 is turned OFF, the branch unit 5 is in state C, and the air direction changing unit 7 is directed toward the worker 105(α). As a result, the exhaust of the dust collector 1 is controlled so that the blown exhaust from the second exhaust flow path 13b accompanied by dust removal in the main dust removal unit 4 is blown toward the worker 105(α) without circulating exhaust from the first exhaust flow path 13a.

[0132] The control program creation unit 119 creates a control program so that, when the processing machine 106(β) to be sprayed is in partial operation, the worker 105(α) to be sprayed is present, and the dust concentration is equal to or higher than a predetermined concentration threshold, the main electrostatic precipitator 21 is turned ON, the additional electrostatic precipitator 41 is turned ON, the branch unit 5 is in state B1, and the air direction changing unit 7 is directed toward the worker 105(α). As a result, the exhaust from the dust collector 1 is controlled so that the exhaust is circulated from the first exhaust flow path 13a accompanied by dust removal in the main dust remover 4, and the blown exhaust from the second exhaust flow path 13b accompanied by dust removal in the main dust remover 4 and the additional dust remover 6 is blown at the worker 105(α) at ​​a low air volume.

[0133] [Heavy processing operation] The control program creation unit 119 creates a control program so that, when the processing machine 106(β) to be sprayed is in heavy processing operation, the worker 105 to be sprayed is not present, and the dust concentration is below a predetermined concentration threshold, the main electrostatic precipitator 21 is turned ON, the additional electrostatic precipitator 41 is turned OFF, the branch unit 5 is in state B1, and the air direction changing unit 7 is directed toward the processing machine 106(β). As a result, the exhaust from the dust collector 1 is controlled so that circulating exhaust is performed from the first exhaust flow path 13a accompanied by dust removal in the main dust removal unit 4, and the blown exhaust from the second exhaust flow path 13b accompanied by dust removal in the main dust removal unit 4 is blown at a low air volume toward the processing machine 106(β).

[0134] The control program creation unit 119 creates a control program so that, when the processing machine 106(β) to be sprayed is in heavy processing operation, the worker 105 to be sprayed is not present, and the dust concentration is equal to or higher than a predetermined concentration threshold, the main electrostatic precipitator 21 is turned ON, the additional electrostatic precipitator 41 is turned ON, the branch unit 5 is in state B2, and the air direction changing unit 7 is directed toward the processing machine 106(β). As a result, the exhaust from the dust collector 1 is controlled so that the exhaust is circulated from the first exhaust flow path 13a accompanied by dust removal in the main dust remover 4, and the blown exhaust from the second exhaust flow path 13b accompanied by dust removal in the main dust remover 4 and the additional dust remover 6 is blown at a high air volume toward the processing machine 106(β).

[0135] When the processing machine 106(β) to be sprayed is in heavy processing operation, the worker 105(α) to be sprayed is present, and the dust concentration is less than a predetermined concentration threshold, the control program creation unit 119 creates a control program to turn the main electrostatic precipitator 21 ON, turn the additional electrostatic precipitator 41 OFF, put the branch unit 5 in state B1, and direct the airflow direction changing unit 7 sequentially to the worker 105(α) and the processing machine 106(β). At this time, the control program creation unit 119 may control the airflow direction changing unit 7 to be in such a way that the worker 105(α) is on the near side (upstream side) and the processing machine 106(β) is on the far side (downstream side), or to switch the exhaust direction to the worker 105(α) and then to the processing machine 106(β), or to repeatedly switch the exhaust direction to the worker 105(α) and then to the processing machine 106(β). As a result, the exhaust from the dust collection device 1 is circulated from the first exhaust flow path 13a accompanied by dust removal in the main dust removal section 4, and is controlled so that the exhaust is blown from the second exhaust flow path 13b accompanied by dust removal in the main dust removal section 4 and the additional dust removal section 6 at a low air volume in the order of the worker 105 (α) to the processing machine 106 (β).

[0136] The control program creation unit 119 creates a control program so that, when the processing machine 106(β) to be blown is in heavy processing operation, the worker 105(α) to be blown is present, and the dust concentration is equal to or higher than a predetermined concentration threshold, the main electrostatic precipitator 21 is turned ON, the additional electrostatic precipitator 41 is turned ON, the branch unit 5 is in state B2, and the air direction changing unit 7 is directed toward the worker 105(α). As a result, the exhaust from the dust collector 1 is controlled so that the exhaust is circulated from the first exhaust flow path 13a accompanied by dust removal in the main dust remover 4, and the blown exhaust from the second exhaust flow path 13b accompanied by dust removal in the main dust remover 4 and the additional dust remover 6 is blown at the worker 105(α) at ​​a high air volume.

[0137] As yet another example, when the control program creation unit 119 creates a control program for spraying a target to be sprayed, it is preferable to control the program so that the higher the priority of the target to be sprayed, the higher the priority of the target to be sprayed, based on the priority setting result by the priority setting unit 118.

[0138] Furthermore, based on the results of priority setting by priority setting unit 118, control program creation unit 119 may control the spraying volume, spraying operation time, and / or number of spraying repetitions to be increased the higher the priority of the sprayed target, so that more spraying is performed. For example, the spraying volume, spraying operation time, and / or number of spraying repetitions may be increased by a factor of two, for example, compared to normal.

[0139] In addition, the control program creation unit 119 may determine when to stop the processing machine 106 and for how long based on the judgment result of the operating status of the processing machine 106 by the operating status judgment unit 117 and the work schedule of the processing machine 106, and create a control program for controlling the spraying of the processing machine 106 based on the judgment result.

[0140] Furthermore, when the processing machine 106 to be sprayed has a work space inside and is equipped with a door for opening and closing the work space, the control program creation unit 119 may create a control program to control spraying on the processing machine 106 and the surrounding worker 105 according to the open / closed state of the door of the processing machine 106. For example, when the spray target determination unit 116 determines the processing machine 106 to be sprayed based on image data acquired by the environment detection unit 10 (spray target detection device 62), the control program creation unit 119 may determine the open / closed state of the door of the processing machine 106 based on the image data. Alternatively, when the processing machine 106 is equipped with a sensor such as a limit switch that detects the open / closed state of the door, the control program creation unit 119 may determine the open / closed state of the door of the processing machine 106 based on the detection result.

[0141] The control program creation unit 119 may create a control program such that, when the door of the processing machine 106 is open and the worker 105 to be sprayed is present in front of the door of the processing machine 106, the control program creation unit 119 may create a control program such that, when the door of the processing machine 106 is open and within a predetermined time since the processing machine 106 stopped operating, the control program creation unit 119 may create a control program such that the processing machine 106 is sprayed with priority. Note that, when the door of the processing machine 106 is closed, the control program creation unit 119 does not need to perform these preferential controls.

[0142] Furthermore, when a priority space 108 has been set in the factory by the priority setting unit 118, the control program creation unit 119 may create a control program to have the dust collector 1 blow exhaust air into the priority space 108 regardless of the positions and operating conditions of the workers 105 and the processing machines 106. In this case, the control program creation unit 119 causes the dust collector 1 to blow exhaust air in advance in accordance with the time period related to the priority space 108, thereby purifying the air in the priority space 108 in advance and maintaining a high-quality work environment (clean space).

[0143] If an area occurs in the factory where the exhaust air blown from two or more dust collectors 1 does not reach, the dust collection management server 101 may set the area as a caution area. In this case, the dust collection management server 101 may send a message indicating the occurrence of the caution area to the PC or terminal of the factory manager or worker 105 to warn them not to enter the caution area.

[0144] Next, the branch control unit 52, the main dust removal control unit 53, the additional dust removal control unit 54, the fan rotation speed control unit 55, and the air direction change control unit 56 of the control unit 8 of the dust collecting apparatus 1 will be described.

[0145] The dust collection device 1 receives a control program from the dust collection management server 101, and the branching control unit 52, main dust removal control unit 53, additional dust removal control unit 54, fan rotation speed control unit 55, and airflow direction change control unit 56 control the branching unit 5, main dust removal unit 4, additional dust removal unit 6, suction unit 3, and airflow direction change unit 7 based on the received control program. Figure 22 shows the relationship between the detection result of the environmental condition and the control of each unit.

[0146] The branch control unit 52 controls the branch unit 5 based on a control program to switch the exhaust state of the branch unit 5 to one of state A (see Figure 12(a)), in which exhaust passes only through the first exhaust path 13a, state B (see Figure 12(b)), in which exhaust passes both the first exhaust path 13a and the second exhaust path 13b, and state C (see Figure 12(c)), in which exhaust passes only through the second exhaust path 13b.

[0147] When switching to state A, the branch control unit 52 controls the branch unit 5 so that the collision plate 15 blocks the second exhaust flow path 13b as shown in Fig. 12(a). When switching to state B, the branch control unit 52 controls the branch unit 5 so that the collision plate 15 rotates to a predetermined rotation angle and positions the collision plate 15 between the first exhaust flow path 13a and the second exhaust flow path 13b as shown in Fig. 12(b). When switching to state C, the branch control unit 52 controls the branch unit 5 so that the collision plate 15 blocks the first exhaust flow path 13a as shown in Fig. 12(c).

[0148] The main dust removal control unit 53 controls the main dust removal unit 4 based on a control program to switch whether or not to operate the main electrostatic dust collector unit 21, specifically, to switch whether or not to apply high voltage to the electrode unit 23 by the high-voltage power supply unit 22.

[0149] The additional dust removal control unit 54 controls the additional dust removal unit 6 based on a control program to switch whether or not to operate the additional electrostatic dust collector unit 41, specifically, to switch whether or not to apply a high voltage to the electrode unit 43 by the high-voltage power supply unit 42.

[0150] Alternatively, the main dust removal control unit 53 and the additional dust removal control unit 54 may stop the operation of the main electrostatic precipitator 21 and the additional electrostatic precipitator 41 when the dust concentration becomes less than a predetermined concentration threshold as a result of the detection of the environmental condition, thereby suppressing adhesion of dirt to the electrode units 23, 43 and extending the life of the electrode units 23, 43. In this case, the dust collector 1 may be left running as a standby operation, and the detection of the environmental condition by the environment detection unit 10 (dust concentration meter 60, spray target detection device 62, dust collection management server 101), and the determination of the environmental condition by the dust concentration determination unit 115, the spray target determination unit 116, and the operating status determination unit 117 may continue. In addition, the main dust removal control unit 53 and the additional dust removal control unit 54 may resume the operation of the main electrostatic precipitator 21 and the additional electrostatic precipitator 41 when the dust concentration becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined concentration threshold.

[0151] The fan rotation speed control unit 55 controls the suction unit 3 based on a control program to switch whether or not to rotate the fan member 3a, and also controls the rotation speed of the fan member 3a.

[0152] For example, if the detection result of the environmental condition is that the processing machine 106 (work equipment) is in operation, the fan rotation speed control unit 55 rotates the fan member 3a to create a flow of air from the suction port 11 of the housing 2 to the exhaust port 12, regardless of whether a worker 105 (person) is detected or not, and regardless of whether the dust concentration is above a predetermined concentration threshold.

[0153] When the dust concentration becomes less than a predetermined concentration threshold as a result of the detection of the environmental condition, the fan rotation speed control unit 55 may stop the rotation of the fan member 3a while the dust collector 1 remains activated in standby operation, or may rotate the fan member 3a at a low airflow rate. This prevents dirt from adhering to the electrode units 23, 43 of the main electrostatic precipitator 21 and the additional electrostatic precipitator 41, and can extend the life of the electrode units 23, 43. Furthermore, when the dust concentration becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined concentration threshold, the fan rotation speed control unit 55 may resume the rotation of the fan member 3a, or may return the airflow rate of the fan member 3a to normal.

[0154] The airflow direction change control unit 56 controls the airflow direction change unit 7 based on a control program, specifically, rotates the louver 17 using the louver motor unit 18, and changes the airflow of the air exhausted from the louver 17 of the second exhaust port 12b of the second exhaust flow path 13b in the up, down, left, or right direction.

[0155] Next, an example of the operation of the dust collecting device 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. 23, 24 and 25 and the timing chart of FIG.

[0156] First, when the dust collecting device 1 is started (step S1 in FIG. 23, step S31 in FIG. 26), the control unit 8 acquires the detection result of the environment detection unit 10 (step S2 in FIG. 23). In addition, the control unit 8 transmits the detection result of the environment detection unit 10 to the dust collection management server 101 and requests a control program (step S32 in FIG. 26).

[0157] When the dust collection management server 101 receives the detection result of the environment detection unit 10 from the dust collection device 1 (step S33 in FIG. 26), it proceeds to creating a control program for the dust collection device 1 in accordance with the detection result of the environment detection unit 10 (step S3 in FIG. 23, step S34 in FIG. 26).

[0158] 24, in creating the control program, first, the spray target determination unit 116 of the dust collection management server 101 determines the presence of a worker 105 or a processing machine 106 that may be a spray target corresponding to the dust collection device 1 based on the detection result of the environment detection unit 10 (step S11 in FIG. 24). If a processing machine 106 corresponding to the dust collection device 1 exists, the dust collection management server 101 receives equipment data of the processing machine 106 from the work management server 102.

[0159] Furthermore, the spray target determination unit 116 of the dust collection management server 101, by referring to the detection result of the environment detection unit 10 as well as to floor plan data of the factory in which the dust collection device 1 is installed, specifies the number and positions of the workers 105 corresponding to the dust collection device 1, and specifies the number and positions of the processing machines 106 corresponding to the dust collection device 1 (step S12 in FIG. 24). Furthermore, the spray target determination unit 116 sets the specified workers 105 and processing machines 106 as spray targets (step S13 in FIG. 24).

[0160] When there are multiple targets to be sprayed (Step S14 in FIG. 24: Yes), the priority setting unit 118 of the dust collection management server 101 sets the priority of each target to be sprayed (Step S15 in FIG. 24).

[0161] Furthermore, the control program creation unit 119 of the dust collection management server 101 determines the relative positions of the worker 105 and the processing machine 106 that may be targets of spraying with respect to the dust collection device 1 (step S16 in FIG. 24). Then, based on the determination results of the relative positions of the worker 105 and the processing machine 106, the control program creation unit 119 determines whether or not spraying is required for the worker 105 and the processing machine 106 as targets of spraying (step S17 in FIG. 24).

[0162] If it is determined that spraying is not necessary (step S17 in Figure 24: No), the control program creation unit 119 creates a control program to turn on the main electric dust collector unit 21, turn off the additional electric dust collector unit 41, put the branch unit 5 in state A, and not operate the air direction changing unit 7 (step S18 in Figure 24).

[0163] On the other hand, if it is determined that spraying is necessary (step S17 in FIG. 24: Yes), the control program creation unit 119 proceeds to creating a control program involving spraying (step S19 in FIG. 24).

[0164] In creating a control program involving spraying (step S19 in FIG. 24), the control program creation unit 119 first determines whether the processing machine 106 to be sprayed is out of operation, in normal operation, partial operation, or in heavy processing operation based on the determination result of the operation status of the processing machine 106 by the operation status determination unit 117, as shown in FIG. 25 (step S21 in FIG. 25). In the following operation example, it is assumed that the processing machine 106 is in normal operation (step S22 in FIG. 25).

[0165] Since the processing machine 106 is in normal operation, the control program creation unit 119 creates a control program so that the fan rotation speed control unit 55 operates the suction unit 3 .

[0166] The control program creation unit 119 determines whether the dust concentration is equal to or higher than a predetermined concentration threshold based on the dust concentration determination result by the dust concentration determination unit 115 (step S23 in FIG. 25), and determines whether or not a worker 105 who is a target to be sprayed is present based on the determination result by the spray target determination unit 116 (steps S24 and S25 in FIG. 25).

[0167] If the concentration threshold is met (step S23 in FIG. 25: Yes) and an operator 105 is present (step S24 in FIG. 25: Yes), the control program creation unit 119 creates a control program to turn on the main electric dust collector unit 21, turn on the additional electric dust collector unit 41, set the branch unit 5 to state B1, and operate the air direction changing unit 7 in the order from the operator 105 to the processing machine 106 (step S26 in FIG. 25).

[0168] If the concentration threshold is met (step S23 in FIG. 25: Yes) and the worker 105 is not present (step S24 in FIG. 25: No), the control program creation unit 119 creates a control program to turn on the main electric dust collector unit 21, turn on the additional electric dust collector unit 41, set the branch unit 5 to state B1, and operate the air direction changing unit 7 toward the processing machine 106 (step S27 in FIG. 25).

[0169] If the concentration is below the concentration threshold (step S23 in Figure 25: No) and an operator 105 is present (step S25 in Figure 25: Yes), the control program creation unit 119 creates a control program to turn the main electric dust collector unit 21 ON, turn the additional electric dust collector unit 41 OFF, set the branch unit 5 to state C, and operate the air direction changing unit 7 toward the operator 105 (step S28 in Figure 25).

[0170] If the concentration is below the concentration threshold (step S23 in Figure 25: No) and the worker 105 is not present (step S25 in Figure 25: No), the control program creation unit 119 creates a control program to turn the main electric dust collector unit 21 ON, turn the additional electric dust collector unit 41 OFF, put the branch unit 5 in state A, and not operate the air direction changing unit 7 (step S29 in Figure 25).

[0171] Furthermore, the control program creation unit 119 creates a control program based on the results of priority setting by the priority setting unit 118 so that the higher the priority of the spray target, the higher the selection priority for spraying (step S30 in FIG. 25).

[0172] Next, the dust collection management server 101 transmits the control program created by the control program creation unit 119 to the dust collection device 1 (step S35 in FIG. 26). The dust collection device 1 receives the control program from the dust collection management server 101 (step S36 in FIG. 26), and controls the exhaust according to the received control program (step S37 in FIG. 26).

[0173] Furthermore, after controlling the dust collecting device 1 using the control program created as described above, the dust collection management server 101 determines whether or not to continue operating the dust collecting device 1 (step S4 in FIG. 23, step S38 in FIG. 26), and, for example, if the dust concentration remains above a predetermined concentration threshold, determines to continue operation (step S4 in FIG. 23: Yes, step S38 in FIG. 26: Yes), and returns to step S2 in FIG. 23 and step S33 in FIG. 26 to continue operating the dust collecting device 1.

[0174] On the other hand, when the dust concentration falls below a predetermined concentration threshold, the dust collection management server 101 determines not to continue operation of the dust collection apparatus 1 (step S4 in FIG. 23: No, step S38 in FIG. 26: No), and transmits an operation stop instruction to the dust collection apparatus 1 (step S39 in FIG. 26). When the dust collection apparatus 1 receives the operation stop instruction from the dust collection management server 101 (step S40 in FIG. 26), it stops operation in response to the operation stop instruction (step S41 in FIG. 26).

[0175] As described above, according to this embodiment, the dust collection system 100 includes two or more dust collection devices 1 that suck up and remove dust in the air indoors, and a dust collection management server 101 (management device) that manages the two or more dust collection devices 1. The dust collection device 1 comprises a housing 2, a suction section 3 that draws indoor air into the housing 2 and sends it out to the exhaust side, at least one dust collection section (main dust removal section 4, additional dust removal section 6) that removes dust in the suctioned air, an environment detection section 10 that detects the indoor environmental conditions, a branching section 5 that branches the exhaust flow path of the suctioned air into a first exhaust flow path 13a that exhausts air for circulation in the room and a second exhaust flow path 13b that exhausts air for spraying in the room, an airflow direction changing section 7 that changes the direction of the air exhausted from the second exhaust flow path 13b, a wireless communication section 9 that communicates with a dust collection management server 101, and a control section 50 of a control unit 8 that controls the suction section 3, the main dust removal section 4, the additional dust removal section 6, the environment detection section 10, the branching section 5, the airflow direction changing section 7, and the wireless communication section 9. The dust collection management server 101 creates a control program or control data for each dust collection device 1 for controlling the branching unit 5 and the airflow direction changing unit 7 of each dust collection device 1 based on the detection results of the environment detection units 10 of two or more dust collection devices 1, and transmits the control program or control data to the corresponding dust collection device 1. The control unit 8 receives the control program or control data from the dust collection management server 101 via the wireless communication unit 9, and controls the branching unit 5 and the airflow direction changing unit 7 by the control unit 8 based on the control program or control data.

[0176] With this configuration, the dust collection system 100 according to this embodiment can appropriately control the exhaust of two or more dust collection devices 1 installed in an indoor space such as a large machine factory according to the position of the worker 105 who is the target of the blowing in the factory and the operating status of the dust generating source such as the processing machine 106, thereby efficiently improving the working environment around the worker 105 and the processing machine 106. With this dust collection system 100, there is no need to install a large indoor dust collection device, and a lot of energy is not required to operate a large indoor dust collection device, so energy consumption can be reduced.

[0177] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the dust collecting device 1 is equipped with an airflow direction changing section 7 that changes the direction of the air exhausted from the second exhaust flow path 13b, and the dust collection management server 101 creates a control program or control data for each dust collecting device 1 that controls the branching section 5 and the airflow direction changing section 7 of each dust collecting device 1 based on the detection results of the environmental detection sections 10 of two or more dust collecting devices 1, and the control unit 8 controls the branching section 5 and the airflow direction changing section 7 based on the control program or control data.

[0178] With this configuration, the dust collection system 100 according to this embodiment can control not only the branching section 5 but also the airflow direction changing section 7, thereby enabling more appropriate blow-out exhaust.

[0179] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the environmental detection unit 10 detects at least one of the environmental conditions: the dust concentration in the room, the presence of a target to be sprayed in the room, the operating status of the target to be sprayed, and the operating status of the dust collection device 1 arranged in correspondence with the target to be sprayed.

[0180] With this configuration, the dust collection system 100 according to this embodiment can accurately determine the level of air pollution in the factory, set a worker 105 or a processing machine 106 as a target for spraying, and precisely direct the highly purified exhaust air at the target to quickly improve the working environment around the target.

[0181] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the dust collection management server 101 detects targets to be sprayed in the room based on the detection results of the environment detection units 10 of two or more dust collection devices 1, sets the dust collection device 1 to spray the targets, and creates a control program or control data for the dust collection device 1 to spray the targets.

[0182] With this configuration, the dust collection system 100 of this embodiment can associate the object to be sprayed with the dust collection device 1 that performs the spraying, thereby allowing the dust collection device 1 to operate efficiently and perform appropriate spraying on the object to be sprayed.

[0183] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the dust collection management server 101 sets a priority for spraying the target based on the detection results of the environmental detection units 10 of two or more dust collection devices 1, and creates a control program or control data for each dust collection device 1 for spraying the target based on the detection results and the priority of the target.

[0184] With this configuration, the dust collection system 100 according to this embodiment can more efficiently improve the work environment around a plurality of targets by spraying the targets according to priority.

[0185] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, when multiple targets to be sprayed that face the exhaust direction of the second exhaust flow path 13b of the dust collecting apparatus 1 are located away from the dust collecting apparatus 1 by more than a predetermined distance threshold, the dust collection management server 101 sets a higher priority for the target to be sprayed, the closer the target is to the dust collecting apparatus 1, and when multiple targets to be sprayed that face the exhaust direction of the second exhaust flow path 13b of the dust collecting apparatus 1 are located within a predetermined distance threshold from the dust collecting apparatus 1, the dust collection management server 101 sets a higher priority for the target to be sprayed that is a worker 105, and when the multiple targets to be sprayed that face the exhaust direction of the second exhaust flow path 13b of the dust collecting apparatus 1 include a dust generation source such as a processing machine 106 and multiple workers 105, the closer the target is to the dust generation source, the higher the priority for the target to be sprayed that is a worker 105 is set.

[0186] With this configuration, the dust collection system 100 according to this embodiment can set appropriate priorities for multiple targets to be sprayed, and can more efficiently improve the work environment around the multiple targets to be sprayed.

[0187] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, when the multiple targets to be sprayed that exist facing the exhaust direction of the second exhaust flow path 13b of the dust collection device 1 include multiple pieces of work equipment such as processing machines 106, the longer the operating time based on the work schedule of the processing machine 106, the higher the priority of the processing machine 106 to be sprayed is set, and the heavier the work content based on the work schedule of the processing machine 106, the higher the priority of the processing machine 106 to be sprayed is set.

[0188] With this configuration, the dust collection system 100 according to this embodiment can set appropriate priorities for multiple targets to be sprayed, and can more efficiently improve the work environment around the multiple targets to be sprayed.

[0189] According to the present embodiment, the environment detection unit 10 acquires image data of the room as the environmental condition, and the dust collection management server 101 determines the respective positions of the processing machine 106 and the worker 105, which are dust generating sources to be blown in the room, based on the image data, and determines the relative positions of the processing machine 106 and the worker 105 with respect to the exhaust direction of the second exhaust flow path 13b of the dust collection device 1. Furthermore, when the worker 105 is located upstream of the processing machine 106 in the exhaust direction of the second exhaust flow path 13b of the dust collection device 1, the dust collection management server 101 creates a control program or control data so as to blow with exhaust air passing through the second exhaust flow path 13b, and on the other hand, when the processing machine 106 is located upstream of the worker 105 in the exhaust direction of the second exhaust flow path 13b of the dust collection device 1, creates a control program or control data so as not to blow with exhaust air passing through the second exhaust flow path 13b.

[0190] With such a configuration, the dust collection system 100 of this embodiment can prevent dust such as mist generated from the processing machine 106 from being blown onto the worker 105 via the exhaust gas from the dust collection device 1, thereby preventing the working environment from deteriorating.

[0191] In addition, according to this embodiment, two or more dust collecting devices 1 are arranged in parallel in a direction intersecting the exhaust direction, with the exhaust direction of the second exhaust flow path 13b facing the processing machine 106, which is the dust source that is the target to be blown, or are arranged in parallel in a direction parallel to the exhaust direction, with the exhaust direction of the second exhaust flow path 13b facing the processing machine 106, which is the target to be blown.

[0192] With such a configuration, the dust collection system 100 according to this embodiment can efficiently collect dust in a factory using two or more dust collection devices 1, thereby improving the working environment.

[0193] Furthermore, in the dust collection system 100 relating to the modified example, as shown in Figures 27(a) and (b), when the spraying target determination unit 116 of the dust collection management server 101 determines that the processing machine 106, which is the same dust generating source, is a target for spraying for two or more dust collection devices 1, the control program creation unit 119 may create different exhaust control programs for each dust collection device 1.

[0194] For example, the control program creation unit 119 creates a control program for a dust collector 1 that is closer in relative distance to perform blowing on the processing machine 106 as a blowing target, while for a dust collector 1 that is farther in relative distance, the control program creates a control program for not performing blowing on the processing machine 106 as a non-blowing target, rather than as a blowing target. Note that the control program creation unit 119 may create a control program for a dust collector 1 that is farther in relative distance to perform circulating exhaust or blowing exhaust to generate an air curtain in the space in which the processing machine 106, which is a non-blowing target, is located.

[0195] Alternatively, the control program creation unit 119 may create a control program depending on the position of the worker 105 around the processing machine 106 as seen from each dust collecting device 1.

[0196] For example, the control program creation unit 119 may create a control program so that, when the worker 105 is between the dust collecting device 1 and the processing machine 106, the worker 105 blows onto the processing machine 106, whereas, when the worker 105 is on the opposite side of the processing machine 106 as viewed from the dust collecting device 1, the control program may be created so that the worker 105 and the processing machine 106 are not targets to be blown onto and are not blown onto. Note that, when the worker 105 is on the opposite side of the processing machine 106 as viewed from the dust collecting device 1, the control program creation unit 119 may create a control program so that the dust collecting device 1 performs blowing and exhaust to generate an air curtain in the space where the processing machine 106, which is not a target to be blown onto, is located.

[0197] The dust collecting device 1 is expected to be effective in preventing dust from entering in the direction of the non-spray targets by generating an air curtain in the space where the non-spray targets exist.

[0198] In addition, in the dust collection system 100 of the modified example, the control program creation unit 119 may distinguish and determine non-contaminated spaces (clean spaces) and contaminated spaces (dust-containing spaces) within the room based on the detection results of the environment detection units 10 of two or more dust collection devices 1, as shown in Figures 28(a) and (b) and Figures 29(a) and (b).

[0199] For example, the control program creation unit 119 determines a space in which the dust concentration is equal to or greater than a predetermined concentration threshold as a contaminated space, and determines a space in which the dust concentration is less than the predetermined concentration threshold as a non-contaminated space, based on the dust concentration determination result by the dust concentration determination unit 115. At this time, the spray target determination unit 116 determines spray targets that exist in the non-contaminated space and the contaminated space, and the priority setting unit 118 sets priorities for spraying for the spray targets.

[0200] Then, the control program creation unit 119 creates a control program that efficiently switches between the exhaust control of circulating exhaust and blowing exhaust of two or more dust collecting devices 1 according to the judgment result by the blowing target judgment unit 116 and the setting result by the priority setting unit 118, thereby generating an air curtain between the non-contaminated space and the contaminated space to keep the non-contaminated space clean while actively removing dust from the contaminated space to purify it.

[0201] For example, when the target to be sprayed is in a non-contaminated space, the control program creation unit 119 creates a control program so that an air curtain is generated between the non-contaminated space and the contaminated space by circulating exhaust air rather than by the spray exhaust air of the dust collecting device 1.

[0202] Furthermore, if a door (entrance) is provided adjacent to the contaminated space, the control program creation unit 119 detects the opening of the door and the entry of the worker 105, who is the target of spraying, through the door based on image data acquired by the spray target detection device 62, which is the environment detection unit 10, the detection results by the LRF, etc. At this time, the control program creation unit 119 creates a control program by switching the exhaust control of two or more dust collectors 1 so as to preferentially protect the worker 105 entering through the door from dust.

[0203] For example, the control program creation unit 119 creates a control program so that the dust collecting device 1, which has been blowing and exhausting air onto the processing machine 106, which is a dust generating source, in a contaminated space adjacent to the door, generates an air curtain between the contaminated space and the door side. Also, the control program creation unit 119 creates a control program so that the dust collecting device 1, which has been generating an air curtain onto the contaminated space, blows and exhausts air onto the processing machine 106, which is a dust generating source. In addition, the control program creation unit 119 may create a control program so that, when a worker 105, who is a target to be blown and who entered through the door, remains in a non-contaminated space, the dust collecting device 1 alternately blows an air curtain onto the target to be blown and the contaminated space, which is a dust generating source.

[0204] As described above, according to the modified example of the dust collection system 100, the dust collection management server 101 determines whether a space in a room is non-contaminated or contaminated based on the detection results of the environmental detection units 10 of two or more dust collection devices 1, determines whether a target to be sprayed exists in each of the non-contaminated and contaminated spaces, determines whether the two or more dust collection devices 1 are located in a non-contaminated space or a contaminated space based on the detection results of the environmental detection units 10 of the two or more dust collection devices 1, and creates a control program or control data for each dust collection device 1 so that the two or more dust collection devices 1 work together to protect the targets to be sprayed in each of the non-contaminated and contaminated spaces and purify the dust-laden air.

[0205] With this configuration, the dust collection system 100 according to the modified example can efficiently remove dust from and improve a contaminated space while maintaining a non-contaminated space in a clean state.

[0206] In addition, according to a modified example, when a target to be sprayed is present in a contaminated space, the dust collection management server 101 sets a priority for spraying the target based on the detection results of the environmental detection units 10 of two or more dust collection devices 1, and creates a control program or control data based on the detection results and the priority of the target to be sprayed for spraying the target with exhaust air passing through the second exhaust flow path 13b of the dust collection device 1 corresponding to the contaminated space, and when a target to be sprayed is present in a non-contaminated space, creates a control program or control data for generating an air curtain between the non-contaminated space and the contaminated space by exhaust air passing through the second exhaust flow path 13b of the dust collection device 1, without spraying the target with exhaust air passing through the second exhaust flow path 13b of the dust collection device 1 corresponding to the non-contaminated space.

[0207] With such a configuration, the dust collection system 100 according to the modified example can improve the working environment of the detected target, such as the worker 105, and can efficiently remove dust and improve the contaminated space while maintaining the non-contaminated space in a clean state.

[0208] As yet another example, in the dust collection system 100, when creating a control program for one dust collection device 1, the control program creation unit 119 may refer not only to the detection results of the environmental detection unit 10 of one dust collection device 1, but also to the detection results of the environmental detection units 10 of other dust collection devices 1.

[0209] 30(a) and (b), when two or more dust collectors 1 facing a processing machine 106, which is a dust generating source, are arranged vertically with the processing machine 106 in between, the dust collector 1 that is closer to the processing machine 106 performs blowing on the processing machine 106 as a blowing target, while the dust collector 1 that is farther away from the processing machine 106 performs circulating exhaust without blowing on the processing machine 106. In such a situation, even if the environment detection unit 10 of the dust collector 1 that is closer to the processing machine 106 detects the worker 105 who is the new blowing target, the environment detection unit 10 of the dust collector 1 that is farther from the processing machine 106 may not be able to detect the worker 105 who is the new blowing target due to a blind spot.

[0210] In this case, the control program creation unit 119 may identify the relative position of the worker 105 who is the new target to be sprayed from the dust collection device 1 farther from the processing machine 106 based on the detection results of the environment detection units 10 of both dust collection devices 1, and create a control program to spray the worker 105 who is the new target to be sprayed by the dust collection device 1 farther from the processing machine 106.

[0211] When the priority setting unit 118 has set a priority for a target to be sprayed, if a new target to be sprayed is detected, the priority setting unit 118 resets the priorities for multiple targets to be sprayed including the new target to be sprayed.

[0212] 30(a) and (b), a new target worker 105 is present across the processing machine 106 from the dust collecting device 1 far from the processing machine 106, so that dust collecting device 1 would not normally blow air onto the worker 105. However, in FIG. 30(a) and (b), of the two dust collecting devices 1 arranged vertically, the dust collecting device 1 closer to the processing machine 106 blows air onto the processing machine 106, so the control program creation unit 119 may determine that there is no problem with additional blowing by the dust collecting device 1 far from the processing machine 106. At this time, the control program creation unit 119 may increase the amount of blown air.

[0213] As described above, according to another example of the dust collection system 100, the dust collection management server 101 periodically acquires the detection results of the environmental detection units 10 of two or more dust collection devices 1, detects new targets to be sprayed in the room based on the detection results, determines whether the new targets to be sprayed are located in a non-contaminated space or a contaminated space based on the detection results, resets the spray priority for the new targets to be sprayed based on the detection results, and creates a control program or control data for each dust collection device 1 based on the detection results and the priority of the targets to be sprayed so that the two or more dust collection devices 1 work together to protect the targets to be sprayed in the non-contaminated space and the contaminated space and purify the dust-laden air.

[0214] With such a configuration, the dust collection system 100 according to the modified example can improve the working environment of the target to be sprayed, such as a newly detected worker 105, and can efficiently remove dust and improve the contaminated space while maintaining the non-contaminated space in a clean state.

[0215] In the above embodiment, the dust collector 1 has one suction flow path that circulates air from the suction port 11 to the inside of the housing 2, one first exhaust flow path 13a that serves as a circulation flow path as an exhaust flow path, and one second exhaust flow path 13b that serves as an air blowing flow path, but the present invention is not limited to this example. In other examples, the dust collector 1 may have multiple suction flow paths, multiple first exhaust flow paths 13a, and multiple second exhaust flow paths 13b. This allows one dust collector 1 to select and suck and remove dust generated in a wider area in the factory, and also allows the surrounding work environment to be quickly restored by blowing clean exhaust air onto more workers 105 and processing machines 106.

[0216] In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the dust collection management server 101, which is separate from the dust collecting device 1, operates as the dust concentration determination unit 115, the spray target determination unit 116, the operating status determination unit 117, the priority setting unit 118, and the control program creation unit 119, but the present invention is not limited to this example. In another example, one of the multiple dust collecting devices 1 may have the same functions as the dust collection management server 101 and be configured to operate as the dust concentration determination unit 115, the spray target determination unit 116, the operating status determination unit 117, the priority setting unit 118, and the control program creation unit 119.

[0217] Furthermore, the present invention can be modified as appropriate within the scope that does not contradict the gist or idea of ​​the invention that can be read from the claims and the entire specification, and the dust collection system, management method, and management program that involve such modifications are also included in the technical idea of ​​the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0218] INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be suitably used in a dust collection system including two or more dust collection devices that collect dust generated from processing equipment (work equipment) in a room (in a factory), and in a management method and management program thereof. [Explanation of symbols]

[0219] 1 Dust collector 2. Chassis 3 Suction part 4 Main dust removal section 5 Branch 6 Additional dust removal section 7 Wind direction change section 8. Control Unit 9. Wireless Communication Section 10. Environmental sensing section 13a First exhaust passage 13b Second exhaust passage 15 Collision plate 16 Branch motor unit 17 Louver 18 Louver motor unit 21 Main electrostatic precipitator 41 Additional electrostatic precipitator 50 Control section 51 Storage section 52 Branch control section 53 Main dust removal control section 54 Additional dust removal control section 55 Fan speed control unit 56 Wind direction control unit 60 Dust concentration meter 62 Airflow target detection device 100 Dust Collection System 101 Dust collection management server 102 Work Management Server 107 Electrostatic Precipitator 108 Priority space 110 Control Unit 111 Wireless Communication Department 112 Control section 113 Storage section 115 Dust concentration determination section 116 Spray target determination unit 117 Operation status determination unit 118 Priority setting section 119 Control Program Creation Department

Claims

1. A dust collection system comprising two or more dust collection devices that suck and remove dust in the air indoors, and a management device that manages the two or more dust collection devices, The dust collecting device includes: A housing and a suction unit that draws air from the room into the housing and sends it to an exhaust side; At least one dust collecting unit that removes dust from the suction air; An environment detection unit that detects an environmental condition in the room; a branching section that branches an exhaust flow path of the suction air into a first exhaust flow path that exhausts the suction air for circulation in the room and a second exhaust flow path that exhausts the suction air for spraying in the room; A wireless communication unit that communicates with the management device; a control unit that controls the suction unit, the dust collection unit, the environment detection unit, the branching unit, and the wireless communication unit, the management device creates a control program or control data for each of the dust collecting devices based on detection results of the environment detection units of the two or more dust collecting devices, and transmits the control program or control data to the corresponding dust collecting device; The control unit receives the control program or the control data from the management device via the wireless communication unit, and controls the branch unit based on the control program or the control data by the control unit.

2. The dust collecting device includes an airflow direction changing unit that changes a direction of air exhausted from the second exhaust flow path, the management device creates the control program or the control data for each of the dust collecting devices, which controls the branching unit and the airflow direction changing unit of each of the dust collecting devices, based on detection results of the environment detection units of the two or more dust collecting devices; The dust collection system according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit controls the branching unit and the airflow direction changing unit based on the control program or the control data.

3. The dust collection system according to claim 1, characterized in that the environmental detection unit detects at least one of the environmental conditions: dust concentration in the room, the presence of a target to be sprayed in the room, the operating status of the target to be sprayed, and the operating status of the dust collection device arranged corresponding to the target to be sprayed.

4. The dust collection system described in claim 1, characterized in that the management device detects a target to be sprayed in the room based on the detection results of the environmental detection units of two or more of the dust collection devices, sets the dust collection device to spray the target, and creates the control program or the control data for the dust collection device so as to spray the target.

5. The dust collection system described in claim 4, characterized in that the management device sets a priority for spraying the spray target based on the detection results of the environmental detection units of two or more of the dust collection devices, and creates the control program or the control data for spraying the spray target for each of the dust collection devices based on the detection results and the priority of the spray target.

6. When the plurality of targets to be sprayed that face the exhaust direction of the second exhaust flow path of the dust collector are located away from the dust collector by more than a predetermined distance threshold, the management device sets a higher priority for the target to be sprayed as the target is closer to the dust collector, In addition, when the plurality of targets to be sprayed that exist facing the exhaust direction of the second exhaust flow path of the dust collecting device are located within a predetermined distance threshold from the dust collecting device, a priority of the target to be sprayed that is a worker is set to be high among the plurality of targets to be sprayed, The dust collection system according to claim 5, further characterized in that, when the multiple targets to be sprayed that exist facing the exhaust direction of the second exhaust flow path of the dust collection device include a dust source and multiple workers, the priority of the targets to be sprayed that are the workers is set higher the closer they are to the dust source.

7. In a case where a plurality of work equipment are included as the plurality of spray targets that are present opposite to the exhaust direction of the second exhaust flow path of the dust collecting device, The longer the operation time based on the work schedule of the work equipment, the higher the priority of the spray target that is the work equipment is set, and The dust collection system according to claim 5, wherein the heavier the work content based on the work schedule of the work equipment, the higher the priority of the target to be sprayed that is the work equipment.

8. The environment detection unit acquires image data of the room as the environmental condition, The management device determines the positions of a dust generation source to be sprayed and a worker in the room based on the image data, determining a relative position of the dust generation source and the worker with respect to an exhaust direction of the second exhaust flow path of the dust collecting device; creating the control program or the control data so that, when the worker is located upstream of the dust generation source in an exhaust direction of the second exhaust flow path of the dust collecting device, the control program or the control data is so created that exhaust gas passing through the second exhaust flow path is sprayed onto the worker; On the other hand, the dust collection system according to claim 1, characterized in that when the dust source is located upstream of the worker in the exhaust direction of the second exhaust flow path of the dust collection device, the control program or the control data is created so as not to spray exhaust air passing through the second exhaust flow path.

9. the two or more dust collecting devices are arranged in parallel in a direction intersecting the exhaust direction of the second exhaust flow path, with the exhaust direction facing a dust generation source that is a target to be blown, The dust collection system according to claim 1, further comprising: a pair of exhaust passages, each of which is arranged in parallel with a direction parallel to the exhaust direction, with the exhaust direction of the second exhaust passage facing a dust source that is a target for blowing.

10. The management device determines whether a non-contaminated space or a contaminated space in the room is present based on the detection results of the environment detection units of two or more of the dust collection devices, and determines whether a target to be sprayed is present in each of the non-contaminated space and the contaminated space; determining whether the two or more dust collecting devices are located in the non-contaminated space or the contaminated space based on detection results of the environment detection units of the two or more dust collecting devices; The dust collection system according to claim 1, characterized in that the control program or the control data is created for each of the dust collection devices so that two or more of the dust collection devices work together to protect the targets to be sprayed in each of the non-contaminated space and the contaminated space and purify the dust-laden air.

11. the management device, when the target to be sprayed exists in the contaminated space, sets a priority of spraying for the target to be sprayed based on the detection results of the environment detection units of two or more of the dust collecting devices, and creates the control program or the control data for spraying the target to be sprayed with exhaust air passing through the second exhaust flow path of the dust collecting device corresponding to the contaminated space based on the detection results and the priority of the target to be sprayed, The dust collection system described in claim 10, characterized in that when the target to be sprayed is present in the non-contaminated space, the control program or control data is created to generate an air curtain between the non-contaminated space and the contaminated space by spraying exhaust air via the second exhaust flow path of the dust collection device corresponding to the non-contaminated space.

12. The management device periodically acquires detection results of the environment detection units of the two or more dust collection devices, and detects a new target to be sprayed in the room based on the detection results; Based on the detection result, it is determined whether the new spray target is located in the non-contaminated space or the contaminated space; Based on the detection result, reset the priority of spraying to the new spraying target; The dust collection system described in claim 10, characterized in that the control program or the control data is created for each dust collection device so that two or more dust collection devices work together to protect the targets to be sprayed in each of the non-contaminated space and the contaminated space and purify the dust-laden air based on the detection results and the priority of the targets to be sprayed.

13. A method for managing two or more dust collecting devices that suck and remove dust in the air indoors, comprising the steps of: The dust collecting device, A housing and a suction unit that draws air from the room into the housing and sends it to an exhaust side; At least one dust collecting unit that removes dust from the suction air; An environment detection unit that detects an environmental condition in the room; a branching section that branches an exhaust flow path of the suction air into a first exhaust flow path that exhausts the suction air for circulation in the room and a second exhaust flow path that exhausts the suction air for spraying in the room; A wireless communication unit that communicates with a management device; a control unit that controls the suction unit, the dust collection unit, the environment detection unit, the branching unit, and the wireless communication unit, creating a control program or control data for each of the dust collecting devices based on detection results of the environment detection units of the two or more dust collecting devices by the management device, and transmitting the control program or control data to the corresponding dust collecting device; receiving, by the control unit, the control program or the control data from the management device via the wireless communication unit, and controlling, by the control unit, the branch unit based on the control program or the control data; A management method comprising the steps of:

14. A management program for managing two or more dust collectors that suck and remove dust in the air indoors, The dust collecting device, A housing and a suction unit that draws air from the room into the housing and sends it to an exhaust side; At least one dust collecting unit that removes dust from the suction air; An environment detection unit that detects an environmental condition in the room; In the case where the exhaust flow path of the suction air is provided with a branching portion that branches into a first exhaust flow path that exhausts the suction air for circulation in the room and a second exhaust flow path that exhausts the suction air for spraying in the room, A management program that causes a computer to execute a process of creating a control program or control data for each dust collecting device, based on the detection results of the environmental detection units of two or more of the dust collecting devices, and transmitting the control program or control data to the corresponding dust collecting device.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Air conditioner and method for controlling the same

    JP2023016767A