Air conditioner and clothing drying method

Abstract

To provide an air conditioner having a dehumidifying function and an air cleaning function which can suppress stains attached on clothing during clothing drying operation.SOLUTION: An air conditioner according to the present disclosure includes: a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet; air sending means for generating an air flow from the air inlet to the air outlet; an air cleaning part for cleaning the air taken in from the air inlet; a dehumidifying part for removing moisture contained in the air taken in from the air inlet; and an air flow changing part for changing a wind direction from the air outlet. The air conditioner includes: a first process for performing first wind direction control for blowing out air passed through the air cleaning part from the air outlet; and a second process executed after the first process for performing drying of clothing by second wind direction control which is different from the first wind direction control. The first wind direction control includes a clothing drying mode controlled to provide a wind direction with less amount of air hitting the clothing than the second wind direction control.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an air conditioning apparatus and a clothes drying method. [Background technology]

[0002] Air conditioners with a dehumidifying function can be used to dry clothes hung out to dry indoors. By removing moisture from the air using a dehumidifying means and sending the air toward the clothes, the time it takes to dry the clothes can be shortened. Patent Document 1 discloses a dehumidifier with three operating modes: dehumidifying operation, air purification operation, and clothes drying operation. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-221496 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the technology described in Patent Document 1, each operation mode is controlled independently. Therefore, if the clothes drying operation is selected in a room where the air is not purified, unpurified air from the room is blown toward the clothes, which may cause a lot of dirt in the air to stick to the clothes.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems. An object of the present disclosure is to suppress dirt from adhering to clothes during clothes drying operation in an air conditioner having a dehumidifying function and an air purifying function. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The air conditioning apparatus according to the present disclosure comprises a housing having an intake port and an exhaust port, a blowing means for generating an airflow from the intake port to the exhaust port, an air purifying section for purifying the air taken in through the intake port, a dehumidifying section for removing moisture contained in the air taken in through the intake port, and an air direction changing section for changing the direction of air from the exhaust port, and has a first step for performing first air direction control to blow air that has passed through the air purifying section out through the exhaust port, and a second step that is performed after the first step and dries clothes with second air direction control different from the first air direction control, and is equipped with a clothes drying mode in which the first air direction control is controlled to a wind direction in which less air hits the clothes than under the second air direction control. In addition, the clothes drying method according to the present disclosure is a clothes drying method that uses an air conditioning device equipped with an air purification section that purifies the air and a dehumidification section that removes moisture contained in the air, and dries clothes hung out to dry in a space in which the air conditioning device is installed, and includes a first step in which air purified by the air purification section is blown in a direction away from the clothes, and a second step that is performed after the first step and in which air from which moisture has been removed by the dehumidification section is blown in a direction toward the clothes. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, in an air conditioner having a dehumidifying function and an air purifying function, it is possible to suppress dirt adhering to clothes during clothes drying operation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is an external perspective view of an air conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. [Figure 2] 1 is an external perspective view of an air conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1, as viewed from the rear side. [Figure 3] 1 is an exploded perspective view of an air conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 1 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6]3 is a cross-sectional view showing a flow path that draws air from an air inlet according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] 4 is a flowchart of an air cleaning operation mode of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart when the air cleaning operation mode of the air conditioner according to Embodiment 1 includes a third step. [Figure 9] 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration for realizing the functions of a control board according to the first embodiment. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. Common or corresponding elements in each drawing are designated by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be simplified or omitted. Note that the configurations shown in the following embodiments are examples of the technical ideas of the present disclosure, and may be combined with other known technologies, or multiple technical ideas described in the present disclosure may be combined. Furthermore, the configurations disclosed in the following embodiments may be partially omitted or modified without departing from the gist of the present disclosure.

[0010] Embodiment 1 Fig. 1 is an external perspective view of an air conditioning apparatus 1 according to embodiment 1. Fig. 2 is an external perspective view of the air conditioning apparatus 1 according to embodiment 1 as seen from the rear side. Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the air conditioning apparatus 1 according to embodiment 1. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in Fig. 1.

[0011] The air conditioning device 1 has a dehumidifying function and an air purifying function. The air conditioning device 1 is used, for example, to dehumidify or purify the air in a room. The air conditioning device 1 may be a so-called "dehumidifier" or a so-called "air purifier." In this disclosure, the air conditioning device 1 will be described, with each direction defined based on the state in which the air conditioning device 1 is placed on a horizontal surface such as a floor.

[0012] As described above, the air conditioning apparatus 1 includes a housing 10. The housing 10 is a member that forms the outer shell of the air conditioning apparatus 1. The housing 10 is formed, for example, in the shape of a box that can stand on its own. Wheels 5 may be provided on the bottom of the housing 10. The wheels 5 allow the user to easily move the air conditioning apparatus 1.

[0013] The housing 10 is formed with an air inlet 11 and an air outlet 12. The air inlet 11 is an opening for taking in air from the outside of the housing 10 to the inside. The air outlet 12 is an opening for blowing air from the inside of the housing 10 to the outside. As shown in FIG. 5, as an example, the air inlet 11 includes a first air inlet 11a and a second air inlet 11b. The first air inlet 11a and the second air inlet 11b are formed, for example, in the rear surface portion of the housing 10. The air outlet 12 is formed, for example, in the upper part of the front surface portion of the housing 10.

[0014] The air conditioning device 1 is provided with an inlet cover 13 that covers the first inlet 11a and the second inlet 11b. The inlet cover 13 is formed, for example, in a lattice shape. The inlet cover 13 prevents foreign matter from entering the inside of the housing 10 through the first inlet 11a and the second inlet 11b. A mesh is attached to the surface of the inlet cover 13 to prevent the entry of foreign matter. Alternatively, the inlet cover 13 may be formed by integral molding from a plastic material. The inlet cover 13 is formed so as to be detachable from the housing 10.

[0015] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the air conditioner 1 is equipped with an air purifying unit 14 as an example of an air purifying means that purifies the air taken in through the air inlet 11. The air purifying unit 14 removes dust, odorous components, and the like from the air. The air purifying unit 14 includes, for example, a HEPA filter and an activated carbon filter, which are filters for purifying the air. In this embodiment, the air purifying unit 14 is detachably housed inside the housing 10.

[0016] An air passage is formed inside the housing 10, extending from the air inlet 11 to the air outlet 12. The air conditioner 1 is equipped with a blower means 16 that generates an airflow in this air passage. An example of the blower means 16 is a blower fan and a fan motor that rotates the blower fan. The blower fan may be, for example, a sirocco fan. The blower fan is a device that draws air into the housing 10 and sends the drawn-in air to the outside of the housing 10. When the blower fan is rotated by the fan motor, an airflow is generated that flows from the air inlet 11 to the air outlet 12.

[0017] In the present disclosure, the upstream side and downstream side are defined using the airflow flowing through the air passage leading from the air inlet 11 to the air outlet 12. In the air passage leading from the air inlet 11 to the air outlet 12, the air inlet 11 side is defined as the upstream side, and the air outlet 12 side is defined as the downstream side. When the blower 16 is driven, air flows from the upstream side to the downstream side in the air passage.

[0018] The air conditioner 1 is equipped with a dehumidifying unit 15 as an example of a dehumidifying means for removing moisture contained in the air taken in through the air inlet 11. The dehumidifying unit 15 is a device that condenses and discharges moisture from the air. As an example, the dehumidifying unit 15 drips the condensed moisture downward as liquid water. The dehumidifying unit 15 removes moisture from the air, i.e., dehumidifies the air. The air dehumidified by the dehumidifying unit 15 becomes dry air.

[0019] The dehumidifying unit 15 has, for example, an evaporator 15a and a condenser 15b. The evaporator 15a and the condenser 15b, together with the electric compressor 6 and a pressure reducing device (not shown), form a refrigerant circuit. The evaporator 15a, the electric compressor 6, the condenser 15b, and the pressure reducing device are connected in this order via piping through which the refrigerant flows. The refrigerant discharged from the electric compressor 6 circulates in the refrigerant circuit formed by the evaporator 15a, the electric compressor 6, the condenser 15b, and the pressure reducing device.

[0020] The dehumidifying unit 15 may be, for example, a desiccant-type device. The desiccant-type dehumidifying unit 15 is composed of an adsorbent that adsorbs moisture in the air, a heat exchanger, etc. The desiccant-type dehumidifying unit 15 condenses the moisture adsorbed by the adsorbent using the heat exchanger.

[0021] The dehumidifying unit 15 is provided inside the housing 10. As an example, the dehumidifying unit 15 is arranged between the air inlet 11 and the air blowing means 16. In the present embodiment, the dehumidifying unit 15 is arranged upstream of the air blowing means 16. In the present embodiment, the air inlet 11, the dehumidifying unit 15, the air blowing means 16, and the air outlet 12 are arranged in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side.

[0022] In the present embodiment, for example, a main air passage is formed within housing 10, passing from first air inlet 11a through air purifying unit 14 to dehumidifying unit 15. Also, a bypass air passage is formed within housing 10, passing from second air inlet 11b to dehumidifying unit 15 without passing through air purifying unit 14. Air that has passed through both the main air passage and the bypass air passage is blown out from outlet 12. The main air passage corresponds to a first air passage through which air that enters through air inlet 11 passes through air purifying unit 14, dehumidifying unit 15, and blowing means 16, and is blown out from outlet 12. The bypass air passage corresponds to a second air passage through which air that enters through air inlet 11 passes through dehumidifying unit 15 and blowing means 16 without passing through air purifying unit 14, and is blown out from outlet 12.

[0023] The water removed from the air by the dehumidifying unit 15 is stored in a tank 17 provided inside the housing 10. The tank 17 is detachably attached to the housing 10.

[0024] The air conditioning device 1 also includes an air direction changing unit 18. The air direction changing unit 18 is made up of a plate-shaped member. The air direction changing unit 18 is used to adjust the direction in which air is sent out from the air outlet 12. The air direction changing unit 18 is disposed near the air outlet 12. The air direction changing unit 18 is controlled by a control board 20a, which is an example of control means, driving a motor for driving the air direction changing unit, which rotates the air direction changing unit 18.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 5, the air conditioning apparatus 1 is equipped with a flow rate changer 19 that changes the amount of air passing through the second air inlet 11b. The flow rate changer 19 is an example of a flow rate change means that changes the flow rate of air flowing through the bypass air passage, i.e., the second air passage. The flow rate changer 19 is, for example, located downstream of the second air inlet 11b. The flow rate changer 19 is, for example, a shutter that can open and close the bypass air passage. This shutter is rotatably supported on the upper and lower wall surfaces of the wall surfaces that form the bypass air passage. The rotational position of the shutter is controlled by a control board 20a, which is an example of control means, driving a shutter drive motor that rotates the shutter.

[0026] 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the flow paths through which air is drawn from first inlet 11a and second inlet 11b in embodiment 1. When flow rate changer 19 opens the inlet of the bypass air passage, air is also drawn from second inlet 11b, passes through the bypass air passage, and is blown out from outlet 12. On the other hand, when flow rate changer 19 blocks the inlet of the bypass air passage or blocks part of the inlet of the bypass air passage, air is drawn only from first inlet 11a, or a small amount of air is drawn from second inlet 11b, and a large amount of air passes through first inlet 11a and the main air passage and is blown out from outlet 12.

[0027] The air conditioning apparatus 1 is equipped with an operation display unit 20. The operation display unit 20 is used by the user to operate the air conditioning apparatus 1. The operation display unit 20 also displays the status of the air conditioning apparatus 1 to the user. The operation display unit 20 has, for example, an operation switch for starting and stopping the operation of the air conditioning apparatus 1, an operation mode changeover switch for changing the operation mode, a wind direction switch for changing the wind direction mode, and an LCD display unit.

[0028] A control board 20a is disposed inside the housing 10 so as to face the operation and display unit 20. The control board 20a is electrically connected to the operation and display unit 20 and controls the operation and display unit 20. The control board 20a also controls the operation of a fan motor that rotates the blower fan in response to the operation of the operation and display unit 20 by the user. The control board 20a is an example of a control means that controls the blower unit 16. The control means may be configured as a control device separate from the control board 20a. The control means may also have a function of controlling the dehumidifier 15.

[0029] The air conditioner 1 has several preset operation modes stored in the memory unit of the control board 20a. Examples of the operation modes include a dehumidification operation mode, an air purification operation mode, and a clothes drying operation mode. The operation modes can be switched sequentially by pressing the operation mode switch on the operation display unit 20.

[0030] Furthermore, four wind direction modes, for example, "stop," "forward," "upward," and "wide area," are set in advance and stored in the memory unit of the control board 20a as wind direction modes that control the direction in which air is blown out from the air outlet 12. The wind direction modes can be switched sequentially by pressing the wind direction switch on the operation display unit 20.

[0031] The air conditioning device 1 has a humidity sensor 21 (see FIG. 6). The humidity sensor 21 is disposed inside the housing 10. An opening (not shown) that communicates with the outside of the housing 10 is provided near the humidity sensor 21 in the housing 10. Humidity detection information is acquired from the humidity sensor 21 by the control board 20a, and the humidity sensor 21 is able to measure the relative humidity in the room. The measurement results of the humidity sensor 21 are displayed on the operation display unit 20 as humidity detection information acquired by the control board 20a.

[0032] The air conditioning apparatus 1 also has a dust sensor 22 (see FIG. 4). The dust sensor 22 is disposed inside the housing 10. An opening (not shown) that communicates with the outside of the housing 10 is provided near the dust sensor 22 in the housing 10. The dust sensor 22 can measure the amount and concentration of dust in the room by acquiring dust detection information from the control board 20a. The dust sensor 22 has the ability to detect particles of, for example, 0.1 μm. The detection results of the dust sensor 22 are displayed on the operation display unit 20 as dust detection information acquired by the control board 20a.

[0033] The air conditioning apparatus 1 also has a gas sensor 23 (see FIG. 4). The gas sensor 23 is disposed inside the housing 10. An opening (not shown) that communicates with the outside of the housing 10 is provided near the gas sensor 23 in the housing 10. Gas detection information is acquired from the gas sensor 23 by the control board 20a, and the gas sensor 23 is able to measure odors in the air within the room. The measurement results of the gas sensor 23 are displayed on the operation and display unit 20 as gas detection information acquired by the control board 20a.

[0034] Next, the dehumidification operation mode will be described. The dehumidification operation mode is an operation mode for dehumidifying the room. In the dehumidification operation mode, the dehumidification unit 15, the blower means 16, and the airflow direction changing unit 18 are driven. The flow rate changing unit 19 is open, and the air passes through the bypass air passage and the main air passage. Because the airflow also passes through the bypass air passage, less air passes through the air purifying unit 14 than when the bypass air passage is closed, and pressure loss is reduced. Therefore, when the same amount of air flows as when the bypass air passage is closed, the fan rotation speed is lower and the load on the blower means 16 is also smaller, resulting in lower operating noise. Dry air dehumidified by the dehumidification unit 15 is blown into the room from the air outlet 12.

[0035] Next, the air purification operation mode will be described. The air purification operation mode is an operation mode for purifying the air in the room. In the air purification operation mode, the dehumidifying unit 15 is stopped, and the blower means 16 and the air direction changing unit 18 are driven. The flow rate changing unit 19 is closed, and all the air passes through the air purification unit 14. The air that has passed through the air purification unit 14 and been purified is sent into the room from the air outlet 12.

[0036] Next, the clothes drying operation mode will be described. The clothes drying operation mode is an operation mode for drying clothes hung out to dry indoors. Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation in the clothes drying operation mode. The clothes drying operation mode comprises a first step and a second step that is executed after the first step.

[0037] The first step is a step of purifying the air in the room before drying the clothes. In the first step, the air blowing means 16 and the air direction changing unit 18 are driven. The flow rate changing unit 19 is closed, and all the air passes through the air purifying unit 14. The air that has passed through the air purifying unit 14 and been purified is blown into the room from the air outlet 12. In the first step, driving the dehumidifying unit 15 is optional.

[0038] The second step is a step of drying the clothes. In the second step, the dehumidifying unit 15, the air blowing means 16, and the air direction changing unit 18 are driven. The flow rate changing unit 19 is open, and the air passes through the bypass air passage and the main air passage. The dry air dehumidified by the dehumidifying unit 15 is blown from the air outlet 12 mainly toward the clothes.

[0039] The operation of the clothes drying operation mode will now be described. When the user turns on the operation button on the operation display unit, in the first step, the control board 20a drives the airflow direction changing unit 18 (step S1). At this time, the airflow direction changing unit 18 is driven with a first airflow direction control that reduces the amount of air that hits the clothes compared to the second step. One example of the first airflow direction control is a means for setting a predetermined operating direction relative to the air conditioning device 1 that excludes the direction in which clothes are expected to be hung out to dry. For example, assuming that clothes are hung out to dry above the air conditioning device 1, the direction of the airflow direction changing unit 18 is fixed and air is blown forward or backward, excluding a predetermined range above.

[0040] Next, the control board 20a closes the flow rate change unit 19 (step S2) and drives the air blowing means 16 (step S3). The control board 20a controls the dust sensor 22 to start detecting dust in the air around the dust sensor 22, and determines the level of air contamination (step S4). If the air contamination is equal to or greater than the threshold, the process returns to step S4. If the air contamination is less than the predetermined threshold, the process proceeds to the second step.

[0041] In the second step, the control board 20a drives the airflow direction changing unit 18 in a second airflow direction control mode so that the amount of air hitting the clothes is greater than in the first airflow direction control mode (step S5). For example, the second airflow direction control mode operates within a predetermined range above the air conditioning device 1, which is excluded from the operating range of the airflow direction changing unit 18 in the first step. At this time, the airflow direction changing unit 18 operates while changing direction within the predetermined operating range. Next, the control board 20a opens the flow rate changing unit 19 (step S6) and drives the dehumidifying unit 15 (step S7). The control board 20a starts the humidity sensor 21 to detect the humidity of the air around the humidity sensor 21 and determines whether the humidity is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold (step S8). If the humidity is equal to or greater than the threshold, the process returns to step S8. If the humidity is less than the threshold, the process determines whether the operating time of the second step is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold (step S9). If the operating time is less than the threshold, the process returns to step S9. If the operating time is equal to or greater than the threshold, the control board 20a ends the clothes drying operation mode.

[0042] According to this embodiment, in the clothes drying operation mode, in the first step, flow rate change unit 19 is closed and air is passed through air purifying unit 14 to purify the indoor air. At this time, air direction change unit 18 is operated to reduce the amount of air that hits the clothes, thereby preventing dirt in the indoor air from adhering to the clothes due to the air being blown. Thereafter, in the second step, dehumidifying unit 15 is driven to perform the clothes drying operation. At this time, flow rate change unit 19 is opened to reduce the amount of air passing through air purifying unit 14, thereby reducing the operating noise of blowing means 16. Furthermore, because the indoor air is purified in the first step, even when air is blown toward the clothes, dirt in the indoor air is prevented from adhering to the clothes.

[0043] The air conditioning device 1 may be equipped with a position detection means such as a thermal image sensor or a camera that can detect the position of clothes hung out to dry. The air conditioning device 1 may perform first airflow direction control and second airflow direction control according to the detection result of the position detection means.

[0044] The clothes drying operation mode also includes a mode in which only the second step is performed without the first step. If the air purification operation is not necessary because the indoor air is sufficiently clean, the user can dry clothes by performing only the second step. In this case, the operating range of the airflow direction changing unit 18 is selected from four airflow direction modes: "Stop," "Forward," "Upward," and "Wide Area" using the airflow direction button.

[0045] In this embodiment, the air pollution level is determined in step S4 of the first process and the process proceeds to the second process, but step S4 may also be used to determine the operating time. That is, if the operating time of the first process is less than a predetermined threshold, the process returns to step S4, and if it is equal to or greater than the threshold, the process proceeds to the second process. The operating time threshold is a preset value or a value that can be selected arbitrarily by the user.

[0046] The operating ranges of the first airflow direction control and the second airflow direction control may be set arbitrarily by the user. As an example of a method, the operating range of each airflow direction control can be set from four pre-stored airflow direction modes: "Stop," "Forward," "Upward," and "Wide." Based on the relative positions of the air conditioning device 1 installed indoors and the clothes hanging out to dry, the user can set the appropriate airflow direction for the first step when performing air purification operation and the second step when performing clothes drying operation.

[0047] The clothes drying operation mode may also include a third step, which is a finishing operation. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation when the clothes drying operation mode includes the third step. The third step is executed after it is determined in step S9 of the second step that the operation time is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. In the third step, the flow rate change unit 19 is closed (step S10) to allow air to pass through the air purifying unit 14. The dehumidifying unit 15 continues to operate from the second step, and the operating range of the airflow direction change unit 18 is the same as in the second airflow direction control. The control board 20a determines whether the operation time after transitioning to the third step is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold (step S11). If the operation time is less than the threshold, the process returns to step S11. If the operation time is equal to or greater than the threshold, the clothes drying operation mode is terminated.

[0048] As the clothes dry, there is a possibility that adhesions on the surface of the clothes or fibers from the clothes may become airborne due to the airflow from the air conditioner 1. Therefore, in the third step, just before the end of the clothes drying operation, the clothes are dried while passing the air through the air purifying unit 14, thereby finishing the drying of the clothes and removing fibers and the like that have been blown from the clothes into the indoor air, thereby cleaning the air. When the clothes drying operation mode includes the third step, the threshold value of the operation time in step S9 of the second step is set shorter than when the clothes drying operation mode does not include the third step.

[0049] The control board 20a may be capable of communicating with external devices such as smartphones and smart speakers. When the first step of the clothes drying mode is completed, the operation display unit 20 or the external device may notify the user. For example, the user may be notified with a message urging them to move the air conditioning apparatus 1 closer to the clothes hanging out to dry.

[0050] The clothes drying method according to the first embodiment utilizes an air conditioner 1 equipped with an air purifying section 14 that purifies the air and a dehumidifying section 15 that removes moisture from the air, and dries clothes hung out to dry in a space in which the air conditioner 1 is installed. The clothes drying method includes a first step in which air purified by the air purifying section 14 is blown out in a direction away from the clothes, and a second step, which is performed after the first step, in which air from which moisture has been removed by the dehumidifying section 15 is blown out in a direction toward the clothes. According to the clothes drying method according to the first embodiment, by performing the first step of purifying the air in the room before the second step, it is possible to suppress dirt from adhering to the clothes during the clothes drying operation.

[0051] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration for realizing the functions of the control board 20a in the first embodiment. Each function of the control board 20a is realized by, for example, a processing circuit. The processing circuit may be dedicated hardware 600. The processing circuit may include a processor 601 and a memory 602. A part of the processing circuit may be formed as the dedicated hardware 600, and the processing circuit may further include the processor 601 and the memory 602. In the example shown in FIG. 9, a part of the processing circuit is formed as the dedicated hardware 600. Furthermore, in the example shown in FIG. 9, the processing circuit further includes the processor 601 and the memory 602 in addition to the dedicated hardware 600.

[0052] The processing circuitry of which at least one portion is dedicated hardware 600 may be, for example, a single circuit, a multiple circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof.

[0053] When the processing circuit includes at least one processor 601 and at least one memory 602, the functions of each part of the control board 20a are realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware.

[0054] The software and firmware are written as programs and stored in memory 602. The programs may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. The processor 601 realizes the functions of each unit by reading and executing the programs stored in memory 602. The processor 601 is also called a CPU (Central Processing Unit), central processing unit, processing unit, arithmetic unit, microprocessor, microcomputer, or DSP. The memory 602 may be, for example, a non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as RAM, ROM, flash memory, EPROM, or EEPROM, or a magnetic disk, flexible disk, optical disk, compact disk, minidisk, DVD, etc.

[0055] In this way, the processing circuit can realize the functions of the control board 20a by hardware, software, firmware, or a combination of these. Note that each function of the control board 20a may be realized by multiple devices working together, or by a single device. Furthermore, at least some of the functions of the control board 20a may be implemented on a server or the like on an external network.

[0056] Various aspects of the present disclosure are summarized below as appendices.

[0057] (Appendix 1) a housing having an inlet and an outlet formed therein; a blowing means for generating an airflow from the air inlet to the air outlet; an air purifying unit that purifies the air taken in through the air inlet; a dehumidifying unit that removes moisture contained in the air taken in through the suction port; an airflow direction changing unit that changes the airflow direction from the air outlet; Equipped with An air conditioning apparatus having a clothes drying mode that includes a first step of performing a first airflow direction control to blow air that has passed through the air purification section out of the air outlet, and a second step that is performed after the first step and dries clothes using a second airflow direction control that is different from the first airflow direction control, and in which the first airflow direction control is controlled to be a wind direction that causes less air to hit the clothes than the second airflow direction control. (Appendix 2) 2. The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a user can arbitrarily set the air direction of the first air direction control and the air direction of the second air direction control. (Appendix 3) The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the clothes drying mode is executed after the second step and includes a third step of performing the second airflow direction control to blow air that has passed through the air purification section out of the air outlet. (Appendix 4) a first air passage through which air entering through the air inlet passes through the air purifying unit, the dehumidifying unit, and the air blowing means and is blown out through the air outlet; a second air passage in which air entering through the air inlet passes through the dehumidifying section and the air blowing means without passing through the air purifying section, and is blown out from the air outlet; a flow rate changing means for changing the flow rate of the second air passage; Furthermore, The air conditioner according to any one of Supplementary Note 1 to Supplementary Note 3, wherein the flow rate changing means is closed in the first step, and the flow rate changing means is opened in the second step. (Appendix 5) A clothes drying method for drying clothes hung out to dry in a space in which an air conditioner is installed, using an air conditioner equipped with an air purifying unit that purifies the air and a dehumidifying unit that removes moisture contained in the air, comprising: a first step of blowing out the air purified by the air purification unit in a direction away from the clothes; a second step, which is carried out after the first step, of blowing the air from which moisture has been removed by the dehumidifying section in a direction toward the clothes. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 air conditioning device, 5 wheels, 10 housing, 11 intake port, 11a first intake port, 11b second intake port, 12 outlet port, 13 intake port cover, 14 air purifying section, 15 dehumidifying section, 15a evaporator, 15b condenser, 16 air blowing means, 17 tank, 18 air direction changing section, 19 flow rate changing section, 20 operation display section, 20a control board, 21 humidity sensor, 22 dust sensor, 23 gas sensor, 600 dedicated hardware, 601 processor, 602 memory

Claims

1. a housing having an inlet and an outlet formed therein; a blowing means for generating an airflow from the air inlet to the air outlet; an air purifying unit that purifies the air taken in through the air inlet; a dehumidifying unit that removes moisture contained in the air taken in through the suction port; an airflow direction changing unit that changes the airflow direction from the air outlet; Equipped with An air conditioning apparatus having a clothes drying mode that includes a first step of performing a first airflow direction control to blow air that has passed through the air purification section out of the air outlet, and a second step that is performed after the first step and dries clothes using a second airflow direction control that is different from the first airflow direction control, and in which the first airflow direction control is controlled to be a wind direction that causes less air to hit the clothes than the second airflow direction control.

2. The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a user can arbitrarily set the air direction of the first air direction control and the air direction of the second air direction control.

3. The air conditioning apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the clothes drying mode is executed after the second step, and includes a third step of performing the second airflow direction control to blow air that has passed through the air purification section out of the air outlet.

4. a first air passage through which air entering through the air inlet passes through the air purifying unit, the dehumidifying unit, and the air blowing means and is blown out through the air outlet; a second air passage in which air entering through the air inlet passes through the dehumidifying section and the air blowing means without passing through the air purifying section, and is blown out from the air outlet; a flow rate changing means for changing the flow rate of the second air passage; Furthermore, 3. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the flow rate changing means is closed in the first step, and the flow rate changing means is opened in the second step.

5. A clothes drying method for drying clothes hung out to dry in a space in which an air conditioner is installed, using an air conditioner equipped with an air purifying unit that purifies the air and a dehumidifying unit that removes moisture contained in the air, comprising: a first step of blowing out the air purified by the air purification unit in a direction away from the clothes; a second step, which is carried out after the first step, of blowing the air from which moisture has been removed by the dehumidifying section in a direction toward the clothes.

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