Sanitation management device

Abstract

To provide a sanitation management device that enables excellent prevention of food poisoning and viral infections by using the sterilizing and deodorizing abilities of ozone, and that ensures high safety without exerting harmful effects on the human body.SOLUTION: A sanitation management device comprises a housing 2 having an air suction port 11 and an air discharge port 12, an air-blowing passage 10 formed inside the housing 2 through which air sucked from the suction port 11 and discharged from the discharge port 12 flows, an ozone generator 4 provided in the air-blowing passage 10 and generating ozone, a temperature sensor 13 that detects a temperature of a target space, a humidity sensor 14 that detects a humidity of the target space, and a controller 5 that controls the ozone generator 4, the controller 5 controlling generation of ozone in the ozone generator 4 based on temperature data detected by the temperature sensor 13 and humidity data detected by the humidity sensor 14. As a result, sterilization and deodorization can be performed safely and efficiently.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sanitation management device, and more particularly to a sanitation management device that can sterilize and deodorize an indoor space by generating ozone. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, devices that use ozone to disinfect and deodorize indoor spaces have been known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a space disinfection device that has an ozone generator that generates ozone in the internal space of a housing, and causes air drawn in through an air intake port to rise along a passage in the internal space and be exposed to the ozone from the ozone generator.

[0003] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses that a pest control device in which a chemical solution is dropped into an evaporation chamber heated by a heater to evaporate, is provided with an ozone generator that generates ozone inside a duct, and the ozone generated by the ozone generator is diffused throughout the facility to disinfect and deodorize the facility. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-129469 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-52261 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Ozone has a strong oxidizing effect, and exhibits excellent functions such as sterilization and deodorization, and is used for disinfecting indoor spaces, as described above. For example, the disinfecting properties of ozone can be used to inactivate bacteria that cause food poisoning, such as norovirus. Ozone has also been reported to have the effect of suppressing the infectivity of infectious viruses, such as influenza viruses and coronaviruses, and is therefore expected to be used for preventing infectious diseases.

[0006] However, ozone has the potential to have harmful effects on human health, so in addition to its effectiveness as a disinfectant, sufficient attention must be paid to safety when using ozone.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its object is to provide a sanitation control device which utilizes the sterilizing and deodorizing properties of ozone to obtain excellent effects in preventing food poisoning, viral infections, etc., and which is highly safe and does not have any harmful effects on the human body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The sanitation management device of the present invention comprises a housing having an air intake port and an air outlet formed therein, an air flow path formed inside the housing through which air flows, the air being sucked in through the intake port and blown out through the air outlet, an ozone generator provided in the air flow path and generating ozone, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of a target space, a humidity sensor for detecting the humidity of the target space, and a control device for controlling the ozone generator, wherein the control device controls the generation of ozone in the ozone generator based on temperature data detected by the temperature sensor and humidity data detected by the humidity sensor. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The sanitation management device of the present invention comprises a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet, an air passage formed inside the housing through which air flows, the air being drawn in through the inlet and blown out through the air outlet, an ozone generator provided in the air passage for generating ozone, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of a target space, a humidity sensor for detecting the humidity of the target space, and a control device for controlling the ozone generator, the control device controlling the generation of ozone from the ozone generator based on the temperature data detected by the temperature sensor and the humidity data detected by the humidity sensor. This allows the device to emit an appropriate amount of ozone according to the conditions of the target space, perform sterilization and deodorization using ozone at a safe ozone concentration that is not harmful to the human body, and prevent food poisoning, viral infections, etc.

[0010] In addition, in the sanitation management device of the present invention, a sensor space not communicating with the air flow path may be formed inside the housing, and the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor may be installed side by side inside the sensor space. This allows the temperature sensor and humidity sensor to be less affected by the air flowing through the air flow path and to accurately detect the temperature and humidity of the target space. Therefore, safe and high-performance ozone sterilization and deodorization can be performed with an appropriate amount of ozone generated.

[0011] In addition, in the sanitation management device of the present invention, the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor may be arranged side by side at an upper part of the interior of the sensor space, and a vent opening may be formed on the side of the housing that connects the exterior of the housing to an upper part of the interior of the sensor space. This allows the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor to accurately detect the temperature and humidity of the target space. Therefore, safe and high-performance ozone sterilization and deodorization can be performed at an ozone concentration appropriate for the conditions of the target space.

[0012] Furthermore, in the sanitation management device of the present invention, the control device may store ozone generation reference data set from data showing the relationship between temperature and humidity and the infection rate of the disease to be prevented, and control the generation of ozone in the ozone generator based on the temperature data, the humidity data, and the ozone generation reference data. This makes it possible to generate ozone at an appropriate concentration to prevent food poisoning, viral infections, and other infections. This allows for safe and highly efficient infection prevention using ozone.

[0013] In the sanitation management device of the present invention, the control device may have a timer that can be set to a time and control the generation of ozone in the ozone generator based on the temperature data, the humidity data, and the time data of the timer. This allows, for example, high-concentration ozone to be released when the target space is unoccupied, thereby performing safe and highly efficient sterilization and deodorization.

[0014] The sanitation management device of the present invention may also include an evaporation chamber formed inside the housing and connected to the outside of the housing via an evaporation port formed adjacent to the outlet, a tank for containing a chemical solution, a pump for delivering the chemical solution from the tank and dripping it into the evaporation chamber, and a heater provided in the evaporation chamber for heating and evaporating the chemical solution. With this configuration, the chemical solution evaporated inside the evaporation chamber can be sucked in by the flow of air discharged from the outlet and diffused into the target space. Therefore, in addition to sterilization and deodorization using ozone, pest control by evaporation of the chemical solution can be efficiently performed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a hygiene management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control system of a sanitation management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a control flow in an automatic mode of the sanitation management device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4]FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of control data of the sanitation management device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a control flow in a manual mode of the sanitation management device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a sanitation management device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a sanitation management device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a sanitation management device according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] A sanitation management device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of a sanitation management device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 1, the flow of air is indicated by arrows. Referring to Fig. 1, the sanitation management device 1 is a device that generates ozone to sterilize and deodorize indoor spaces, and is used in hotels, offices, restaurants, warehouses, and various other facilities.

[0017] The hygiene management device 1 includes an air supply path 10 formed inside the housing 2, an ozone generator 4 provided in the air supply path 10, a temperature sensor 13 that detects the temperature of the target space, a humidity sensor 14 that detects the relative humidity of the target space, and a control device 5 that controls the ozone generator 4.

[0018] The housing 2 is formed, for example, from a metal plate such as a stainless steel plate or a synthetic resin material, and has a shape such as a substantially rectangular parallelepiped. An air flow path 10 is formed inside the housing 2. The air flow path 10 is an air passage through which air from the target space is drawn in and flows. The housing 2 is formed with an intake port 11, which is an opening through which air from the target space is drawn into the air flow path 10, and an outlet port 12, which is an opening through which air from the air flow path 10 is blown out into the target space.

[0019] The ozone generator 4 is provided inside the air blowing path 10 and is a device that generates ozone in the air flowing through the air blowing path 10. The generation of ozone by the ozone generator 4 is controlled by a control device 5, the details of which will be described later.

[0020] A blower 3 for blowing air is provided inside the airflow path 10. The blower 3 is, for example, an axial flow fan, a centrifugal fine fan, a sirocco fan, or the like, and has a fan that is rotationally driven by a blower motor 27. The blower motor 27 is connected to the control device 5, and is drive-controlled by the control device 5.

[0021] Specifically, the control device 5 drives the blower motor 27, causing the fan of the blower 3 to rotate, and air in the target space is drawn into the inside of the air flow path 10 through the air inlet 11. Then, the air in the air flow path 10, together with ozone generated by the ozone generator 4, is sent from the air outlet 12 to the target space outside the housing 2.

[0022] Temperature sensor 13 is a sensor that measures the temperature of the target space, and is provided inside housing 2. Specifically, a sensor space 15 is formed inside housing 2, and temperature sensor 13 is provided inside sensor space 15.

[0023] Humidity sensor 14 is a sensor that measures the relative humidity of the target space, and is provided inside housing 2. Specifically, humidity sensor 14 is provided inside sensor space 15 alongside temperature sensor 13 so as to detect the relative humidity at approximately the same position as temperature sensor 13.

[0024] The temperature sensor 13 and the humidity sensor 14 are connected to the control device 5. The control device 5 controls the generation of ozone in the ozone generator 4 based on the temperature data detected by the temperature sensor 13 and the humidity data detected by the humidity sensor 14.

[0025] This configuration allows the release of an appropriate amount of ozone according to the conditions of the target space, and enables sterilization and deodorization using ozone at a safe ozone concentration that does not have any harmful effects on the human body, thereby preventing food poisoning, viral infections, etc.

[0026] As described above, sensor space 15 is a space in which temperature sensor 13 and humidity sensor 14 are provided, and is formed inside housing 2. Sensor space 15 and air flow path 10 are separated by partition member 17 made of a metal plate such as a stainless steel plate or a synthetic resin plate material, and sensor space 15 is formed so as not to communicate with air flow path 10.

[0027] In this way, by providing the temperature sensor 13 and humidity sensor 14 in the sensor space 15 that does not communicate with the airflow path 10, the temperature sensor 13 and humidity sensor 14 are less susceptible to the influence of the air flowing through the airflow path 10, and can accurately detect the temperature and humidity of the target space. Therefore, safe and high-performance ozone sterilization and deodorization can be performed with an appropriate amount of ozone generated.

[0028] Furthermore, a partition member 18 made of a metal plate such as a stainless steel plate or a synthetic resin plate material may be provided between the sensor space 15 and the control device 5, etc. By providing the partition member 18, the sensor space 15 and the space in which the control device 5, etc. are provided are separated so that they do not communicate with each other.

[0029] With this configuration in which the partition member 18 is provided, the temperature sensor 13 and humidity sensor 14 are less susceptible to the influence of heat radiation from the control device 5, etc., and can accurately detect the temperature and humidity of the target space. Therefore, safe and high-performance ozone sterilization and deodorization can be performed with an appropriate amount of ozone generated that is not harmful to the human body.

[0030] In addition, the temperature sensor 13 and the humidity sensor 14 may be arranged side by side at the top inside of the sensor space 15, and an air vent 16, which is an opening that connects the outside of the housing 2 to the top inside of the sensor space 15, may be formed near the temperature sensor 13 and the humidity sensor 14 of the housing 2.

[0031] With this configuration, fresh air is supplied to the target space near the temperature sensor 13 and humidity sensor 14 by ventilation through the air vent 16, allowing the temperature sensor 13 and humidity sensor 14 to accurately detect the temperature and humidity of the target space. Therefore, the sanitation management device 1 can perform safe and high-performance ozone sterilization and deodorization at an ozone concentration appropriate for the conditions of the target space.

[0032] Furthermore, in the above configuration, sensor space 15 may be formed in the upper interior of housing 2. For example, sensor space 15 may be formed in the upper interior along the side surface of housing 2, and vent hole 16 may be formed in the upper side of housing 2 or on the top surface of housing 2. Temperature sensor 13 and humidity sensor 14 are provided in the upper interior of sensor space 15 near vent hole 16.

[0033] With this configuration, the temperature sensor 13 and humidity sensor 14 can accurately detect the temperature and humidity of the target space at a position higher than the floor of the target space, etc. Therefore, safe and high-performance ozone sterilization and deodorization can be performed at an ozone concentration appropriate for the conditions of the target space.

[0034] Although not shown, the temperature sensor 13 and humidity sensor 14 may be provided outside the housing 2 and connected to the control device 5 inside the housing 2 by wire or wirelessly. With this configuration, the temperature sensor 13 and humidity sensor 14 can accurately detect the air temperature and humidity near a location in the target space where sterilization and deodorization with ozone is required. Therefore, it is possible to generate ozone at a concentration appropriate for the space requiring sterilization and deodorization, enabling safe and high-performance ozone sterilization and deodorization.

[0035] A display 19 that displays the operating status of the sanitation management device 1 is also connected to the control device 5. The display 19 is provided, for example, on the front surface of the housing 2, and displays the temperature of the target space detected by the temperature sensor 13, the humidity of the target space detected by the humidity sensor 14, the ozone generation status by the ozone generator 4, the operating mode, the timer setting, the area setting value of the target space, and other setting information and operating information of the sanitation management device 1, various information about the target space, and the like.

[0036] An operation unit 20 is connected to the control device 5 so that the user can input various operation control commands, etc. The operation unit 20 is provided with a space area setting switch 21 for inputting the area of ​​the target space, and other switches for inputting various operation control information, etc.

[0037] The display 19 and the operation unit 20 may be provided so as to be freely detachable from the housing 2. Alternatively, the display 19 and the operation unit 20 may be provided outside the housing 2 and detachably connected by wire or wirelessly from the outside of the housing 2 to the control device 5 inside.

[0038] Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the control system of the sanitation management device 1. Referring to Fig. 2, the control device 5 has a microcontroller 22, which is an integrated circuit that executes calculations of a control program. The microcontroller 22 has a temperature signal conversion circuit 23, a humidity signal conversion circuit 24, and a calculation circuit 25.

[0039] The temperature signal conversion circuit 23 is a converter circuit that converts an analog signal of temperature data detected by the temperature sensor 13 into a digital signal and sends it to the arithmetic circuit 25. The temperature sensor 13 is connected to the temperature signal conversion circuit 23.

[0040] The humidity signal conversion circuit 24 is a converter circuit that converts an analog signal of humidity data detected by the humidity sensor 14 into a digital signal and sends it to the arithmetic circuit 25. The humidity sensor 14 is connected to the humidity signal conversion circuit 24.

[0041] The arithmetic circuit 25 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read-Only Memory), a RAM (Random-Access Memory), etc., and is a circuit that executes various calculations of the control program and reads and writes various data.

[0042] Specifically, the calculation circuit 25 performs a predetermined calculation based on the temperature data detected by the temperature sensor 13, the humidity data detected by the humidity sensor 14, the spatial area data input and set from the spatial area setting switch 21, etc.

[0043] The control device 5 has a driver 26 connected to the microcontroller 22. The driver 26 is a circuit that controls the generation of ozone by the ozone generator 4 and the blowing of air by the blower 3 based on the calculation results of the arithmetic circuit 25, and is connected to an ozone generator power supply 28, which is a power supply circuit for the ozone generator 4, and a blower motor 27 that drives the blower 3 to rotate.

[0044] The control device 5 may also have a timer in the arithmetic circuit 25 that can be set to a time, and may control the generation of ozone in the ozone generator 4 based on the temperature data, humidity data, and timer time data. This allows the timer setting to be used to release high-concentration ozone when the target space is unoccupied, for example, to perform safe and highly efficient sterilization and deodorization.

[0045] The control device 5 has a power supply circuit 29, an external communication port 30, and an external power supply port 31. The power supply circuit 29 is a circuit that supplies power to the microcontroller 22, and is connected to the microcontroller 22 and an external power supply 32, converting AC power to DC power and supplying it to the microcontroller 22.

[0046] The external communication port 30 is a terminal for detachably connecting an external information communication terminal such as a Web server (not shown) or a control device to the microcontroller 22 via a communication cable (not shown).

[0047] By connecting a web server or the like to the external communication port 30, it is possible to connect information communication terminals such as personal computers and smartphones (not shown) to the microcontroller 22 so that they can communicate with the web server via the Internet.

[0048] In this way, by connecting an external information and communication terminal or the like to the microcontroller 22 via the external communication port 30, the operating status of the hygiene management device 1, the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 13, the humidity detected by the humidity sensor 14, and other history can be recorded in the external information and communication terminal or the like.

[0049] Then, by using data recorded on an external information communication terminal connected to the external communication port 30 or various other big data recorded on the Internet, the incidence of food poisoning caused by norovirus or infectious diseases caused by influenza viruses, etc. can be predicted and the generation of ozone by the ozone generator 4 can be controlled. Therefore, a suitable ozone generation operation can be performed that can effectively suppress the occurrence of food poisoning and infectious diseases.

[0050] Furthermore, by utilizing an external information and communication terminal connected to the external communication port 30 and making full use of IoT (Internet of Things) technology, safe control can be performed automatically. Furthermore, in the event of an emergency in which it is determined that an emergency response is required regarding the operation control of the sanitation management device 1, it is possible to send an alert or warning by email or the like to a pre-set information and communication terminal such as a user's personal computer or smartphone. In this way, by providing the external communication port 30, a safe and secure sanitation management system can be constructed using the sanitation management device 1.

[0051] The external power supply port 31 is a terminal for supplying DC power to an external information and communication terminal or the like connected to the external communication port 30. Stable DC power converted by the power supply circuit 29 is supplied to the external information and communication terminal or the like connected to the external power supply port 31. Therefore, as described above, it is possible to perform safe and high-performance ozone sterilization, deodorization, and infection prevention using the external information and communication terminal or the like.

[0052] Next, the control operation of the sanitation management device 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. Fig. 3 is a flow diagram showing the control flow of the automatic mode of the sanitation management device 1. Referring to Fig. 3, first, in step S01, program control by the control device 5 (see Fig. 1) is started, and the process proceeds to step S10, where the control device 5 determines whether or not the automatic mode is set.

[0053] The automatic mode is an operation mode in which automatic operation is performed by the control device 5. Information on the automatic mode is set in advance by the user operating a setting switch or the like on the operation unit 20 (see FIG. 2), and is recorded in the microcontroller 22 (see FIG. 2).

[0054] If it is determined in step S10 that the automatic mode is not selected, the process proceeds to step S11, where, if ozone generation by the ozone generator 4 and air blowing by the air blower 3 are being performed, these are controlled to be turned off. Then, the control process returns to step S10, and the determination of the automatic mode is repeated.

[0055] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S10 that the automatic mode is set, the process proceeds to step S20, where the temperature of the target space is detected by the temperature sensor 13 (see FIG. 1). Specifically, the temperature data detected by the temperature sensor 13 is read into the arithmetic circuit 25 (see FIG. 2) of the control device 5.

[0056] Next, in step S30, a process is executed to determine whether or not ozone generation is necessary by comparing the temperature data read in step S20 with ozone generation reference data, which is control data previously stored in a database of the arithmetic circuit 25. Details of the ozone generation reference data and the determination of whether or not ozone generation is necessary will be described later.

[0057] In step S30, if it is determined that ozone generation is not necessary as a result of comparing the temperature data measured by the temperature sensor 13 with the ozone generation reference data, the process proceeds to step S31. In step S31, if ozone generation by the ozone generator 4 and air blowing by the air blower 3 are being performed, these are controlled to be turned off. Then, the process returns to step S10, and the automatic mode is determined.

[0058] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S30 that ozone generation is necessary, the control process proceeds to step S40, where humidity in the target space is detected by the humidity sensor 14 (see FIG. 1). Specifically, humidity data detected by the humidity sensor 14 is read into the arithmetic circuit 25 of the control device 5. Then, the process proceeds to step S50.

[0059] In step S50, the temperature data read in step S20 and the humidity data read in step S40 are compared with the ozone generation reference data stored in the database of the arithmetic circuit 25, and a process is executed to determine whether ozone generation is necessary.

[0060] In step S50, if it is determined that ozone generation is not necessary as a result of comparing the measured temperature data and humidity data with the stored ozone generation reference data, the control process proceeds to step S51. In step S51, if ozone generation by the ozone generator 4 and air blowing by the air blower 3 are being performed, these are controlled to be turned off. Then, the process returns to step S10.

[0061] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S50 that ozone generation is necessary, the control process proceeds to step S60, where a process is performed in which air is started to be blown by the blower 3. Specifically, power is supplied by the driver 26 (see FIG. 2) of the control device 5, and the blower motor 27 (see FIG. 2) is driven, and air is blown by the blower 3.

[0062] Next, the process proceeds to step S70, where the operation of the interval timer of the arithmetic circuit 25 is confirmed to determine whether or not ozone generation is to be performed. The interval timer controls the continuous ozone generation time so that the ozone concentration in the target space does not exceed a preset safe concentration. The interval timer is set in advance based on the area data of the target space, etc., input and set by the user by operating the space area setting switch 21 (see Figure 2).

[0063] If the interval timer determines in step S70 that ozone generation is possible, the process proceeds to step S80, where the ozone generation process is executed. Specifically, power for ozone generation is supplied from the driver 26 of the control device 5 to the ozone generator power supply 28. This causes ozone to be generated from the ozone generator 4. Once ozone generation by the ozone generator 4 begins, the arithmetic circuit 25 records the continuous ozone generation time for determination by the interval timer described above.

[0064] On the other hand, if the interval timer determines in step S70 that ozone generation is not possible, the control process proceeds to step S90. In step S90, if ozone generation by the ozone generator 4 is being performed, control is performed to turn off ozone generation. Then, the control process returns to step S10.

[0065] That is, if it is determined in steps S10, S30, and S50 that ozone generation is still necessary, the process of generating ozone in step S80 and the process of not generating ozone in step S90 are repeatedly and alternately performed based on the determination by the interval timer in step S70.

[0066] In this way, the sanitation management device 1 detects the temperature and humidity of the target space using the temperature sensor 13 and humidity sensor 14, and can automatically control the generation of ozone according to the conditions of the target space using the interval timer. Therefore, automatic control allows the generation of ozone at an appropriate concentration safely and securely, enabling highly efficient sterilization and deodorization.

[0067] Next, a detailed description will be given of the determination of whether or not ozone generation is necessary using the ozone generation reference data as control data. FIG. 4 is a graph showing an example of ozone generation reference data, which is control data for the sanitation management device 1, with the vertical axis representing temperature (° C.) and the horizontal axis representing relative humidity (%).

[0068] As control data for determining whether or not ozone generation is necessary, the arithmetic circuit 25 of the control device 5 shown in FIG. 2 stores ozone generation reference data such as that shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 4, the ozone generation standard data is set from data showing the relationship between the temperature and humidity of the target space and the infection rate of a disease such as influenza, which is to be prevented from infection.

[0069] Specifically, the ozone generation standard data is set as an ON area 46 where data areas of temperature and humidity conditions where the infection rate of infectious diseases is high are determined to be necessary for ozone generation, and as an OFF area 47 where data areas of temperature and humidity conditions where the infection rate is low are determined to be unnecessary for ozone generation.

[0070] For example, in the case of infectious diseases such as influenza and norovirus, an area of ​​low temperature and low humidity becomes the ON area 46, and an area of ​​high temperature and high humidity becomes the OFF area 47. The boundary between the ON region 46 and the OFF region 47 is the control reference value 45 for switching the ozone generator 4 (see FIG. 1) between ON and OFF.

[0071] 1 and 4, the generation of ozone in the ozone generator 4 is controlled based on the temperature data detected by the temperature sensor 13, the humidity data detected by the humidity sensor 14, and the ozone generation reference data. This makes it possible to generate ozone at a concentration suitable for preventing food poisoning, viral infections, and the like. This allows for safe and highly efficient infection prevention using ozone.

[0072] Specifically, the control device 5 determines that ozone generation is necessary when the temperature and humidity of the target space detected by the temperature sensor 13 and humidity sensor 14 are in the ON region 46. On the other hand, the control device 5 determines that ozone generation is unnecessary when the temperature and humidity of the target space detected by the temperature sensor 13 and humidity sensor 14 are in the OFF region 47.

[0073] 3 and 4, in step S30, it is determined that ozone generation is unnecessary if the temperature data of the target space is higher than the maximum reference temperature value T0, which is the maximum value of the control reference value 45. Then, as described above, the control process proceeds to step S31, where ozone generation is turned off.

[0074] If the temperature data of the target space is lower than the maximum reference temperature T0, the control process proceeds from the determination step in step S30 to the determination step in step S50, where the temperature data and humidity data are compared with the control reference value 45. That is, it is determined whether the data point corresponding to the detected temperature data and humidity data is in the ON region 46 or the OFF region 47.

[0075] The control method using the ozone generation standard data described above enables safe and efficient automatic operation that responds to changes in temperature and humidity in the target space, providing effective infection prevention for specific infectious diseases.

[0076] The control reference value 45 may have a differential range so that the ozone generator 4 can be appropriately controlled to be turned on and off. This allows for stable automatic operation without excessively repeating on and off.

[0077] Although not shown, the ON region 46 may be set to multiple control regions depending on the required ozone concentration. For example, the ON region 46 may be set to a high-concentration region where a high concentration of ozone is required, a medium-concentration region where a medium concentration of ozone is required, a low-concentration region where a low concentration of ozone is required, etc. This allows ozone to be generated at a concentration appropriate for the state of the target space, enabling safe, high-performance sterilization and deodorization.

[0078] The ozone generation standard data is adjusted and updated to provide optimal infection prevention depending on the type of virus to be prevented, the prevalence of the virus at the time of operation, etc. In other words, the control standard value 45, the ON region 46, and the OFF region 47 can be selectively adjusted depending on the infectious disease to be prevented, the infection state, etc.

[0079] The ozone generation standard data may be updated using infectious disease data on the Internet via an external information communication terminal connected to the external communication port 30 (see Figure 2). The user can also select a virus to be prevented from infection and set the control standard value 45, ON region 46, and OFF region 47 of the ozone generation standard data to be used for control.

[0080] Fig. 5 is a flow diagram showing the control flow in the manual mode of the sanitation management device 1. In Fig. 5, processes that are the same as or similar to the control flow in the automatic mode already explained with reference to Fig. 3 are given the same reference numerals, and their explanation will be omitted.

[0081] Referring to Figure 5, the hygiene management device 1 can operate in a manual mode in which ozone is generated by user operation without using temperature data detected by the temperature sensor 13 (see Figure 1) or humidity data detected by the humidity sensor 14 (see Figure 1).

[0082] First, the user can select and execute the manual mode by operating the setting switch or the like of the operation unit 20 (see FIG. 2). Then, when the control process by the control device 5 is started and is being executed in step S01, it is determined in step S05 whether or not the manual mode is set.

[0083] If it is determined in step S05 that the mode is not the manual mode, the process proceeds to step S06, and if ozone generation by the ozone generator 4 and air blowing by the blower 3 are being performed, control is performed to turn off the ozone generator 4 and the blower 3. Then, the control process returns to step S05, and the determination of the manual mode is repeated.

[0084] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S05 that the automatic mode is set, the control process proceeds to step S60, and the blower 3 starts blowing air. Then, the process proceeds to step S70, where the operation of the interval timer of the arithmetic circuit 25 (see FIG. 2) is confirmed to determine whether or not ozone generation is to be performed.

[0085] If it is determined in step S70 by the interval timer that ozone generation is possible, the process proceeds to step S80, where the ozone generator 4 is turned on to perform the process of generating ozone.

[0086] On the other hand, if the interval timer determines in step S70 that ozone generation is not possible, the control process proceeds to step S90. In step S90, if ozone generation by the ozone generator 4 is being performed, control is performed to turn off ozone generation. Then, the control process returns to step S05.

[0087] In this way, the sanitation management device 1 can operate in manual mode to generate ozone based on user operation using an interval timer, without using the temperature and humidity data of the target space detected by the temperature sensor 13 and humidity sensor 14. This allows for safe generation of ozone at an appropriate concentration in response to the user's request, enabling highly efficient sterilization and deodorization.

[0088] Next, a sanitation management device 101 according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Figures 6 to 8. Note that components that have the same or similar functions and effects as those of the sanitation management device 1 already described will be given the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted.

[0089] Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a sanitation management device 101 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 6, the sanitation management device 101 has a fumigation-type pest control function in which an insecticide liquid is heated and evaporated, i.e., a heating evaporation-type pest control function.

[0090] As shown in Fig. 6, in the sanitation management device 101, an outlet 12 through which air containing ozone is blown out and an evaporation port 39 through which evaporated medicinal liquid is released are formed on the front surface of the housing 2. In addition, an intake port 11 through which air for releasing ozone is taken in is formed on the top surface of the housing 2. As with the sanitation management device 1 already described, by operating the blower 3 (see Fig. 7), air is drawn into the housing 2 through the intake port 11 and blown out to the outside from the outlet 12 on the front surface of the housing 2.

[0091] The evaporation port 39 is formed adjacent to and directly below the air outlet 12. As a result, the medicinal liquid evaporated inside an evaporation chamber 33 (see FIG. 7 ), which will be described later and is connected to the evaporation port 39, is sucked in by the air flow blown out from the air outlet 12, and is released from the evaporation port 39 to the outside of the housing 2 and diffused into the target space.

[0092] The front of the housing 2 is recessed near the center in a roughly U-shaped horizontal cross section, and a display 19 and an operation unit 20 are provided in this recessed portion of the front. The display 19 displays various set values ​​and operating conditions. The operation unit 20 is used to perform the various settings related to the ozone generation described above, as well as operations to start or stop chemical evaporation, setting the amount of chemical evaporation, setting a timer, and other settings related to the automatic operation of chemical evaporation. The operation unit 20 is provided with various switches for performing each operation.

[0093] Fig. 7 is a side cross-sectional view showing the schematic configuration of the sanitation management device 101, showing a cross section taken approximately at the center of the sanitation management device 101. In Fig. 7, the flow of air is indicated by solid arrows, and the flow of evaporated chemical solution is indicated by dashed arrows.

[0094] 7, an airflow path 10 is formed inside the housing 2, connecting an air inlet 11 formed on the top surface of the housing 2 with an air outlet 12 formed on the front surface of the housing 2. The airflow path 10 is formed, for example, by combining a plurality of partition members formed by bending a stainless steel plate or the like into a predetermined shape.

[0095] Inside airflow path 10, more specifically near intake port 11 of airflow path 10, there is disposed a blower 3 that draws in air from outside housing 2 and sends it into airflow path 10. By operating blower 3, outside air is drawn into airflow path 10 from intake port 11 and blown out from air outlet 12 on the front surface of housing 2.

[0096] An ozone generator 4 that generates ozone to sterilize and deodorize the air is provided inside the air blowing path 10. By operating the blower 3 and the ozone generator 4, the ozone generated by the ozone generator can be diffused into the target space to sterilize and deodorize.

[0097] Although not shown, the air passage 10 may be provided with a UV sterilization device that irradiates the inside of the air passage 10 with ultraviolet rays. In an apparatus equipped with a UV sterilization device, the sterilization and deodorization performance can be further improved by the ultraviolet rays.

[0098] An evaporation chamber 33 for evaporating the chemical solution is formed below the air flow path 10. The evaporation chamber 33 is a space defined by, for example, a combination of a cup 35 and a partition member 34 above it. The cup 35 and the partition member 34 are formed by bending a stainless steel plate, an aluminum steel plate, or the like. The partition member 34 is a generally plate-shaped member that separates the air flow path 10 and the evaporation chamber 33.

[0099] The evaporation chamber 33 is formed with an evaporation port 39 that opens to the front of the housing 2 and an air intake port that opens to the interior or rear of the housing 2. An evaporation tray 36 that receives the chemical solution dropped from above is detachably provided inside the evaporation chamber 33, more specifically inside the cup 35. The evaporation tray 36 has a generally box-like shape that is bent and formed from, for example, a stainless steel plate or an aluminum steel plate, and is disposed so that its bottom is in close contact with the bottom of the cup 35.

[0100] Further, a heater 37 is attached, for example, below the evaporation chamber 33, for heating the interior of the evaporation chamber 33 and evaporating the chemical solution dropped into the evaporation chamber 33. The heater 37 is an electric resistance heater having a substantially plate-like shape, and includes, for example, a substantially plate-like heating resistor such as a nichrome wire, insulators covering the upper and lower surfaces of the heating resistor, and a metal plate covering the outer surface of the heating resistor.

[0101] A heating temperature sensor 38 that detects the heating temperature by heater 37 is attached near heater 37, for example, near the bottom of cup 35 of evaporation chamber 33. Specifically, heating temperature sensor 38 is inserted from above into a through-hole formed in approximately the center of heater 37, and the vicinity of its tip is sandwiched between the bottom of cup 35 and heater 37 and fixed so as to be in direct contact with the bottom of cup 35. This makes it possible to accurately detect the temperature near the bottom of cup 35, which serves as a plate that heats the chemical solution.

[0102] A control device 5 is disposed in front of the air flow path 10 inside the housing 2. The control device 5 performs predetermined calculations based on temperature data and humidity data detected by the temperature sensor 13 (see FIG. 8), humidity sensor 14 (see FIG. 8), heating temperature sensor 38, etc., as well as various set values, and controls the operation of the blower 3, ozone generator 4, heater 37, pump 41 (described later), etc.

[0103] Fig. 8 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of sanitation management device 101. Referring to Fig. 8, a tank 40 for holding a chemical solution and a pump 41 for pumping out the chemical solution are provided inside housing 2. As described above, pump 41 is driven and controlled by control device 5 based on the heating temperature of the chemical solution detected by heating temperature sensor 38, etc.

[0104] Tank 40 is a container that stores the chemical solution inside, and is made of synthetic resin such as polyethylene. Tank 40 is disposed at the bottom of housing 2. This keeps the center of gravity of sanitation management device 101 low and stable when filled with the chemical solution.

[0105] The pump 41 is, for example, an electromagnetic pump, and is configured so that the flow rate can be freely adjusted by a signal from the control device 5. The pump 41 is installed in a pipe 42 connecting the tank 40 and the evaporation chamber 33, and pumps the chemical solution from inside the tank 40 to inside the evaporation chamber 33.

[0106] In this way, by providing a pump 41 with an adjustable flow rate, the chemical liquid can be dropped at a supply rate that is suitable for evaporation depending on the type of chemical liquid, etc., and efficient evaporation with little evaporation residue is possible.

[0107] A temperature sensor 13 for detecting the temperature of the target space and a humidity sensor 14 for detecting the humidity are provided at the upper interior side of the housing 2. That is, a sensor space 15 is formed at the upper interior side of the housing 2, and the temperature sensor 13 and humidity sensor 14 are provided at the upper part of the sensor space 15. In addition, an air vent 16, which is an opening that connects the sensor space 15 with the outside of the housing 2, is formed at the upper part of the side of the housing 2, i.e., near the temperature sensor 13 and humidity sensor 14.

[0108] As described above, sensor space 15 is separated from air flow path 10 by partition member 17, and is also separated from the space in which control device 5 is provided by partition member 18. Sensor space 15 is also separated from the space in which evaporation chamber 33, heater 37, pump 41, etc. are disposed by partition member 43 formed from a metal plate such as a stainless steel plate or a synthetic resin plate material.

[0109] In this way, by separating the sensor space 15 from the space in which the evaporation chamber 33 and the like are provided by the partition member 43 and the like, the temperature sensor 13 and the humidity sensor 14 are less susceptible to the effects of chemical evaporation, such as heating by the heater 37 and heat generation by the pump 41. This makes it possible to accurately detect temperature and humidity, and to perform high-performance control of ozone generation appropriate for the target space.

[0110] As explained above, the sanitation management device 101 has a heating and evaporation type pest control function that heats and evaporates the insecticide liquid, and the chemical liquid evaporated inside the evaporation chamber 33 can be sucked in by the flow of air containing ozone discharged from the outlet 12 and efficiently diffused into the target space. Therefore, in addition to sterilization and deodorization using ozone, pest control by evaporation of the chemical liquid can be efficiently performed.

[0111] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0112] 1: Hygiene control device 2: Housing 3: Blower 4: Ozone generator 5: Control device 10: Air flow path 11: Intake port 12:Air outlet 13: Temperature sensor 14: Humidity sensor 15: Sensor space 16: Ventilation hole 17: Partition member 18: Partition member 19: Display 20:Operation section 21: Space area setting switch 22: Microcontroller 23: Temperature signal conversion circuit 24: Humidity signal conversion circuit 25: Arithmetic circuit 26: Driver 27: Blower motor 28: Ozone generator power supply 29: Power supply circuit 30: External communication port 31: External power port 32: Power supply 33: Evaporation chamber 34: Partition member 35: Cup 36: Evaporating dish 37: Heater 38: Heating temperature sensor 39: Evaporation port 40: Tank 41: Pump 42: Piping 43: Partition member 45: Control reference value 46 :ON area 47 :OFF area 101: Hygiene control equipment T0: Maximum reference temperature

Claims

1. a housing having an air intake port and an air outlet formed therein; an air flow path formed inside the housing through which the air flows, the air being sucked in through the air inlet and blown out through the air outlet; an ozone generator provided in the air blowing path for generating ozone; a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the target space; a humidity sensor for detecting the humidity of the target space; a control device for controlling the ozone generator; The sanitation management device is characterized in that the control device controls the generation of ozone in the ozone generator based on temperature data detected by the temperature sensor and humidity data detected by the humidity sensor.

2. a sensor space that does not communicate with the air flow path is formed inside the housing, 2. The hygiene management device according to claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor are arranged side by side inside the sensor space.

3. the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor are arranged side by side in an upper part of the interior of the sensor space, The hygiene management device according to claim 2, wherein a vent hole is formed on a side surface of the housing, the vent hole connecting the outside of the housing to an upper portion of the inside of the sensor space.

4. The hygiene management device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device stores ozone generation standard data set from data showing the correlation between temperature and humidity and the infection rate of a disease to be prevented, and controls the generation of ozone in the ozone generator based on the temperature data, the humidity data, and the ozone generation standard data.

5. 2. The hygiene management device according to claim 1, wherein the control device has a timer capable of setting a time, and controls the generation of ozone in the ozone generator based on the temperature data, the humidity data, and the time data of the timer.

6. an evaporation chamber formed inside the housing and connected to the outside of the housing via an evaporation port formed adjacent to the air outlet; A tank for storing chemicals, a pump that sends out the chemical solution from the tank and drops it into the evaporation chamber; 6. The hygiene management device according to claim 1, further comprising: a heater provided in the evaporation chamber for heating and evaporating the chemical solution.

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