Air cleaner

Abstract

To provide an air cleaner which can draw in and clarify smoke generated during inhaling of a cigarette, and can efficiently use a filter.SOLUTION: An air cleaner 10 comprises an air inlet 22, an air outlet, a case 11 in which an air passage 18 extending from the air inlet 22 to the air outlet is defined, a filter 12 arranged in the air passage 18, a fan 13 arranged in the air passage 18 and generating an airflow from the air inlet 22 toward the air outlet, and an air mixing part 30 arranged in the air passage 18 between the air inlet 22 and the filter 12. The air mixing part 30 forms a mixing passage 29 having an inflow part 37 into which air drawn from the air inlet 22 flows, and an outflow part 36 which is smaller than the inflow part 37 and discharges the air which has flowed in from the inflow part 37, and the air flowing into the inflow part 37 of the air mixing part 30 is mixed as it moves toward the outflow part 36 which is smaller than the inflow part 37, and is discharged from the outflow part 36.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an air purifier. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an air purifier. A fan unit is attached to the rear case of the air purifier body, and an operation panel is attached to the front case. A dust collection filter is fixed to the front case, and a front panel with an intake port is attached to the front case. An air outlet is provided at the top of the rear case, and a movable louver is attached to the air outlet to change the direction of the airflow from left to right. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-057919 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, the smoke emitted when smoking a cigarette includes smoke exhaled from the smoker's mouth and smoke coming from the cigarette held in the hand. For this reason, it is difficult for an air purifier to completely inhale and purify the smoke emitted when smoking a cigarette. To prevent the smoke from spreading throughout the room, smokers may smoke under the hood where the kitchen exhaust fan is installed, or leave the room and smoke on the balcony, etc. In particular, while it is possible for the smoke exhaled from the smoker's mouth to be inhaled and purified by the air purifier by the smoker exhaling the smoke into the air purifier's intake port, it is difficult for an air purifier to inhale and purify the smoke coming from a cigarette held in the hand.

[0005] In addition, smoke is drawn into a certain area of ​​the air purifier's intake port, which means that the intake surface of the filter inside the air purifier has areas that draw in air with a high smoke content and areas that draw in air with a low smoke content, making it difficult to use the filter efficiently.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an air purifier that can suck in and purify the smoke emitted when smoking a cigarette and that can use filters efficiently. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the air purifier of a first aspect of the present invention comprises a case having an air inlet and an air outlet, and defining an air passage extending from the air inlet to the outlet, a filter arranged in the air passage, a fan arranged in the air passage and generating an air flow from the air inlet to the outlet, and an air mixing section arranged in the air passage between the air inlet and the filter, wherein the air mixing section forms a flow path having an inlet section into which air sucked in from the air inlet flows, and an outlet section that is smaller than the inlet section and through which the air that has flowed in from the inlet section flows out, and the air that has flowed in from the inlet section of the air mixing section flows toward the outlet section which is smaller than the inlet section, whereby the air is mixed and flows out from the outlet section.

[0008] A second aspect of the present invention is an air purifier according to the first aspect, further comprising an air diffusion section disposed between the air mixing section and the filter, which diffuses air flowing out from the outlet section of the air mixing section.

[0009] A third aspect of the present invention is the air purifier of the second aspect, wherein the air mixing section and the air diffusing section are integrally molded.

[0010] A fourth aspect of the present invention is an air purifier according to any one of the first to third aspects, comprising an inflow volume setting section arranged between the inflow section of the air mixing section and the intake port of the case, and set so that the amount of air flowing into the inflow section is greater at the top than at the bottom. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an air purifier that can inhale and purify smoke emitted when smoking a cigarette and that can use filters efficiently. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a front external perspective view of an air purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the air purifier. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the main parts of the air purifier of FIG. 1. [Figure 5] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first airflow control member and a second airflow control member. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a first airflow control member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, FR indicates the side where the air purifier's intake port is provided (front side), UP indicates the upper side, and IN indicates the inside in the width direction. In the following description, the front-to-rear direction is a direction that intersects with the up-down direction, and the side where the air purifier's intake port is provided is the front side, and the opposite side is the rear side. The width direction is a direction that intersects with both the up-down direction and the front-to-rear direction. The inside in the width direction means the direction toward the center in the width direction, and the outside in the width direction means the direction away from the center in the width direction. Furthermore, the "upstream side" means the upstream side in the air flow direction, and the "downstream side" means the downstream side in the air flow direction.

[0014] Fig. 1 is an external perspective view from the front of an air purifier according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is an external perspective view from the rear of the air purifier. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrows III-III in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the main parts of the air purifier in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an oblique view of a first airflow control member and a second airflow control member. Fig. 6 is an oblique view of the first airflow control member.

[0015] The air purifier according to this embodiment is applied to, for example, a portable air purifier for use in the home. In particular, the air purifier of the present disclosure is ideal as a "cigarette smoke purifier (air purifier dedicated to cigarettes)" specialized for purifying cigarette smoke, capable of completely removing harmful substances from cigarette smoke with a single inhalation (passage through a filter). The air purifier purifies the surrounding air by purifying air drawn in from the outside with an internal filter and then discharging it from an outlet.

[0016] (Air purifier) 1 to 6, air purifier 10 according to this embodiment includes case 11, filter 12 disposed within case 11, fan 13 disposed within case 11, and first airflow control member 14 and second airflow control member 15 disposed within case 11. In addition to these, air purifier 10 also includes a control unit (not shown) that controls fan 13, a sensor (not shown), and the like.

[0017] (case) Case 11 has case main body 16 that houses various parts including filter 12, fan 13, first airflow control member 14, and second airflow control member 15, and front case 17 that is detachably attached to case main body 16, and defines air passage 18 therein through which air flows. Details of front case 17 will be described later.

[0018] (Case body) The case body 16 is formed in a box shape with a case opening 19 (see FIG. 4) on the front side. The case body 16 also has an outlet 20 (see FIG. 2) formed therein, through which purified air can be discharged. The case opening 19 is covered by the front case 17, which will be described later. The outlet 20 serves as an air outlet for discharging the air purified by the air purifier 10 to the outside of the case 11. In this embodiment, the outlet 20 is formed on the rear surface of the case body 16, at a lower position on one side in the width direction. The shape of the outlet 20 is not particularly limited. The position at which the outlet 20 is formed is not limited to the above, and the outlet 20 may be formed on the top surface or side surface of the case body 16, for example.

[0019] Within case body 16, a region of air passage 18 through which air flows, continuing from case opening 19 to discharge port 20 (a region downstream of case opening 19) is defined. Filter 12 is disposed in the air passage 18 of case body 16 near the rear of case opening 19. The region of air passage 18 upstream of case opening 19 is defined by front case 17.

[0020] (filter) The filter 12 is a filter for purifying air drawn in from the outside. In this embodiment, three rectangular plate-shaped filters 12a to 12c are arranged (see FIG. 3). The three filters 12a to 12c are, in order from the case opening 19 side (front side), a first filter 12a, a second filter 12b, and a third filter 12c. The three filters 12a to 12c are arranged in layers crossing the front-to-rear direction so that air passes from the front side to the rear side. The suction surface 21 (front surface) of the first filter 12a stands upright in the vicinity of the case opening 19 of the case main body 16 crossing the front-to-rear direction. In this embodiment, the suction surface 21 of the first filter 12a is provided over substantially the entire area inside the case opening 19. The number, arrangement position, and shape of the filters 12 are not limited to those described above, and may be any as long as they are capable of purifying air drawn in from the outside.

[0021] The first filter 12a and the second filter 12b may be, for example, a HEPA filter that removes cigarette smoke components. The HEPA filter can remove the fine particles that make up cigarette smoke by blocking them with glass fibers, contact with glass fibers due to inertia, settling due to gravity, Brownian motion, and electrostatic force.

[0022] The third filter 12c may be, for example, a gas filter that removes tobacco odor components. The third filter 12c is preferably an activated carbon filter that carries activated carbon that adsorbs tobacco odor components.

[0023] (fan) As shown in FIG. 3, the fan 13 is disposed in the air passage 18 of the case body 16 downstream of the third filter 12c (rearward in this embodiment). That is, the fan 13 in this embodiment is disposed downstream of the filter 12 in the air passage 18. The space in the air passage 18 where the fan 13 is disposed communicates with the outside via an outlet 20 (see FIG. 2). The fan 13 generates an air flow from an intake port 22 (described later) of the front case 17 to the outlet 20. The type of the fan 13 is not particularly limited, but examples include a sirocco fan and a propeller fan. The fan 13 in this embodiment is a sirocco fan.

[0024] (front case) As shown in Figures 1, 3, and 4, front case 17 is disposed so as to cover the entire case opening 19 on the front of case body 16, and is detachably attached to case body 16. Front case 17 has an intake port 22 that can draw in outside air. That is, case 11 has an intake port 22 that can draw in outside air. Intake port 22 is formed to be large enough to allow at least a cigarette to be inserted. Note that, although an example of front case 17 will be described below, the shape of front case 17 is not limited to this.

[0025] In this embodiment, front case 17 is formed to bulge forward as a whole, and defines within it a region of air passage 18 upstream of case opening 19 of case main body 16. First airflow control member 14 and second airflow control member 15, which will be described later, are disposed within front case 17. The front surface of front case 17 has a curved surface that is recessed rearward at the center in the width direction when viewed from above, and air inlet 22 is formed at the bottom (the center in the width direction) of this curved surface. This forms a space 23 that is recessed rearward in front of air inlet 22 of front case 17 (see FIG. 3 ). Air inlet 22 is formed to be longer in the up-down direction than in the width direction and opens forward (penetrates in the front-to-rear direction). In this embodiment, both sides of air inlet 22 on the front surface of front case 17 in the width direction are curved surfaces. However, this is not limited to this. For example, the front surface may be an inclined surface that extends linearly from the outer side in the width direction toward air inlet 22 on the inner side. That is, the front surface of the front case 17 may be formed in a valley shape that is recessed rearward at the center side in the width direction when viewed from above.

[0026] (First airflow control member) As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, first airflow control member 14 controls the flow of air drawn in through suction port 22 and is disposed within front case 17 near the rear of suction port 22. First airflow control member 14 has upper plate 14a, lower plate 14b, side plate sections (inflow rate setting sections) 14c and 14d on both widthwise sides, and rear plate section 14e, and is formed in a box shape that opens forward. Front opening 14f of first airflow control member 14 is formed to be approximately the same size as suction port 22 and is disposed behind and along suction port 22 (see FIG. 1). Inside first airflow control member 14, cigarette insertion space 24 is provided, extending rearward from suction port 22. Note that cigarette insertion space 24 is a space into which a cigarette can be inserted through suction port 22, but the device may be used without inserting a cigarette into cigarette insertion space 24.

[0027] As shown in Figure 6, rear plate 14e of first airflow control member 14 is formed in a convex shape with its widthwise central portion protruding forward in top view and extends in the vertical direction. Rear plate 14e has a pair of inclined surfaces 14h that extend rearward on both widthwise sides from apex 14g at the widthwise central portion. The pair of inclined surfaces 14h of rear plate 14e guide the air drawn in through suction port 22 to both widthwise sides. In other words, first airflow control member 14 of this embodiment controls the air drawn in through suction port 22 so that it flows to both widthwise sides. Furthermore, by being positioned behind suction port 22, rear plate 14e also functions as a filter guard that protects suction surface 21 of filter 12 (first filter 12a in this embodiment) from cigarettes inserted into cigarette insertion space 24 through suction port 22.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 3, the side plates 14c, 14d on both widthwise sides of the first airflow control member 14 are positioned and stand between the air inlet 22 of the case 11 and an inlet section 37 of an air mixing section 30 of the second airflow control member 15, which will be described later. As shown in Fig. 6, the side plates 14c, 14d on both widthwise sides of the first airflow control member 14 have multiple side plate openings 25. The multiple side plate openings 25 allow air to flow from the cigarette insertion space 24 to the widthwise outer side of the side plates 14c, 14d. The multiple side plate openings 25 are preferably configured so that the flow rate (inflow volume) of air flowing into the inlet section 37 of the air mixing section 30, which will be described later downstream, is greater in an upper region 27 (above the vertical center) of the side plates 14c, 14d than in a lower region 26 (above the vertical center) of the side plates 14c, 14d. For example, in this embodiment, the total area of ​​the side plate openings 25 provided in the upper region 27 of the side plate portions 14c, 14d is larger than the total area of ​​the side plate openings 25 provided in the lower region 26. In other words, the side plate portions (inflow amount setting portions) 14c, 14d are disposed between the inflow portion 37 of the air mixing portion 30 and the suction port 22 of the case 11, and are set so that the amount of air flowing into the inflow portion 37 is greater on the upper side than on the lower side. This allows the wind speed of air drawn in from the upper region 27 of the side plate portions 14c, 14d to be faster than that in the lower region 26, so that smoke flowing upward in the cigarette insertion space 24 can be drawn in efficiently.

[0029] In this embodiment, the rear plate portion 14e, which guides the air sucked in from the suction port 22 to both sides in the width direction, and the side plate portions (inflow amount setting portions) 14c, 14d, which set the air flow rate to the filter 12 side, are integrally provided as part of the first airflow control member 14, but this is not limited to this, and components having these functions may be provided separately as different components.

[0030] (Second airflow control member) As shown in Figures 3 to 5, second airflow control member 15 is a member that controls the flow of air drawn in through air inlet 22, and is disposed within front case 17. Second airflow control member 15 integrally includes a housing section 28 that houses first airflow control member 14, air mixing sections 30 on both sides of housing section 28 in the width direction, and an air diffusion section 31 disposed downstream of air mixing section 30. Second airflow control member 15 of the present embodiment also integrally includes an air dispersion section 32 between air mixing section 30 and air diffusion section 31.

[0031] (Storage section) The accommodation section 28 forms a portion that accommodates the first airflow control member 14. In this embodiment, the second airflow control member 15 is disposed in approximately the same front-to-rear position as the first airflow control member 14, and therefore accommodation section 28 is provided to accommodate the first airflow control member 14. In this embodiment, accommodation section 28 defines an accommodation space large enough to accommodate the first airflow control member 14 in the upper, lower, and rear sections. The front and outer width directions of this accommodation space are open, and the first airflow control member 14 is accommodated in the accommodation space of accommodation section 28 from the front. Note that the shape of accommodation section 28 is not limited to this, and other shapes and structures may be used as long as interference with the first airflow control member 14 can be avoided.

[0032] (Air mixing section) As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the air mixing section 30 is a section that can mix the air drawn in through the suction port 22. The air mixing section 30 is disposed in the air passage 18, between the suction port 22 and the filter 12. The air mixing section 30 is disposed on the outer side in the width direction of the side plate portions 14c, 14d of the first airflow control member 14 housed in the housing portion 28. The air mixing section 30 defines a mixing flow path (flow path) 29 through which air flows that has passed through the multiple side plate openings 25 of the side plate portions 14c, 14d of the first airflow control member 14. The mixing flow path 29 extends from the side plate portions 14c, 14d of the first airflow control member 14 toward the outer side in the width direction. The air mixing section 30 of this embodiment has a rear plate section 33 that faces the rear surface of the front case 17 and defines the rear of the mixing flow path 29, and a partition plate section 34 that defines the upper, lower, and outer width sides of the mixing flow path 29, and defines the mixing flow path 29 between itself and the rear surface of the front case 17.

[0033] As shown in Figure 3, the rear plate 33 of the air mixing section 30 faces the rear surface of the front case 17 at a position spaced rearward from the rear surface of the front case 17, and defines the rear of the mixing flow path 29. In a top view, the rear plate 33 extends continuously from both widthwise ends of the storage section 28 outward in the widthwise direction and forward at an angle relative to the widthwise direction. The outer widthwise edge 33a of the rear plate 33 is curved so that its vertical central portion bulges outward in the widthwise direction. The inner widthwise edge 33b of the rear plate 33 extends linearly in the vertical direction along the outer widthwise edge of the storage section 28.

[0034] The partition plate portion 34 of the air mixing section 30 defines the outside of the mixing flow path 29 in the width direction, and separates the space outside the partition plate portion 34 in the width direction from the mixing flow path 29. The partition plate portion 34 extends in a curved shape along the outer edge 33a of the rear plate portion 33 in the width direction, with the central portion in the up-down direction bulging outward in the width direction, and stands upright (extends forward) from the outer edge 33a of the rear plate portion 33 in the width direction.

[0035] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 , the front edge of the partition plate 34 is located near the rear surface of the front case 17. A notch 35 is formed in the vertical center of the partition plate 34, cutting from front to rear. The front edge of the notch 35 is spaced from the rear surface of the front case 17, and the space between the notch 35 and the rear surface of the front case 17 functions as an outlet 36 for air from the mixing flow path 29. The outlet 36 is smaller than an inlet 37 (described later) of the mixing flow path 29. In this embodiment, the notch 35 is located in the vertical center of the partition plate 34, so that the partition plate 34 above and the partition plate 34 below the notch 35 become closer to each other as they move outward in the width direction. In this embodiment, the outlet 36 is located in the vertical center of the partition plate 34, but this is not limited to this.

[0036] The widthwise inner end of the partition plate 34 extends to the vicinity of the upper and lower ends of the side plates 14c, 14d of the first airflow control member 14. The space defined between the widthwise inner end of the partition plate 34 and the widthwise inner edge 33b of the rear plate 33 and the rear surface of the front case 17 functions as an inlet section 37 through which air drawn in from the suction port 22 flows into the mixing flow path 29. In this embodiment, the inlet section 37 faces substantially the entire widthwise outer surface of the side plates 14c, 14d of the first airflow control member 14. In other words, the air mixing section 30 forms a flow path (mixing flow path 29) that has the inlet section 37 through which the air drawn in from the suction port 22 flows and the outlet section 36 that is smaller than the inlet section 37 and through which the air drawn in from the inlet section 37 flows out. In this embodiment, the inlet section 37 is located at the widthwise inner end of the mixing flow path 29.

[0037] Mixing flow path 29 formed by air mixer 30 is a flow path in which air drawn in through suction port 22 is mixed, and extends from inlet 37 to outlet 36 on the outside in the width direction. Air flowing in from inlet 37 flows toward outlet 36, which is smaller than inlet 37, where it is mixed and flows out from outlet 36. In other words, air mixer 30 mixes the air flowing in from inlet 37 with a simple structure in which outlet 36 is smaller than inlet 37, without the need for a device to stir the air. Mixing air means mixing relatively clean air (for example, air flowing in from side plate openings 25 in lower regions 26 of side plate portions 14c, 14d of first airflow control member 14 (see FIG. 6 )) with air containing a large amount of cigarette smoke components and the like (for example, air flowing in from side plate openings 25 in upper regions 27 of side plate portions 14c, 14d), thereby making the air contaminants, such as smoke components, more uniform. The mixing flow channel 29 of this embodiment is formed so that the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the width direction (flow direction) becomes smaller from the upstream side (inlet section 37) to the downstream side (outlet section 36). Note that, hereinafter, air containing a large amount of cigarette smoke components and the like may be referred to as "relatively dirty air" as opposed to "relatively clean air."

[0038] (Air distribution section) The air dispersion section 32 is a section that vertically disperses air flowing out from the outlet section 36 of the air mixing section 30, and is disposed in a position facing the outlet section 36 of the partition plate section 34 in the air passage 18 downstream of the air mixing section 30 on both sides in the width direction. The air dispersion section 32 of this embodiment has a mountain-shaped guide surface 32a whose vertical center portion protrudes inward in the width direction when viewed from the front, and is supported by the air diffusion section 31 described below. The apex of the mountain-shaped guide surface 32a is disposed at approximately the same height as the outlet section 36. The mountain-shaped guide surface 32a of the air dispersion section 32 faces the outlet section 36 and vertically disperses air flowing out from the outlet section 36. Note that in this embodiment, the air dispersion section 32 that vertically disperses air is provided downstream of the outlet section 36 of the air mixing section 30, but the air dispersion section 32 is not necessarily provided.

[0039] (Air diffusion section) The air diffusion section 31 is disposed between the air mixing section 30 and the filter 12 and diffuses the air flowing out from the outlet section 36 of the air mixing section 30 so that the air spreads over the suction surface 21 of the filter 12 .

[0040] In this embodiment, the air diffusion section 31 is formed in a plate shape that intersects the front-to-rear direction and extends outward in the width direction from outer widthwise edges 33a (lower edges of the partition plate sections 34) of the rear plate sections 33 of the air mixing section 30 on both widthwise sides. The air diffusion section 31 is formed in a flat plate shape and stands upright on both widthwise outer sides of the storage section 28 and the air mixing section 30, dividing the air passage 18 into a flow path upstream of the second airflow control member 15 and a flow path downstream of the second airflow control member 15. Because the second airflow control member 15 is disposed in front of the filter 12, the air diffusion section 31 stands upright on the upstream side of the suction surface 21 of the filter 12. The air diffusion section 31 is provided around the storage section 28 and the air mixing section 30 when viewed from the front, so that the second airflow control member 15 is disposed within substantially the entire area inside the case opening 19 of the case body 16. As a result, the air flowing out of the air mixing section 30 is diffused by spreading out over the entire air passage 18 along the front surface of the plate-shaped air diffusion section 31. In this embodiment, the air dispersion section 32 is provided integrally with the front surface of the air diffusion section 31. That is, in this embodiment, the air mixing section 30, air diffusion section 31, and air dispersion section 32 are integrally molded to form the second airflow control member 15.

[0041] The air diffusion section 31 has a plurality of openings 38. The sizes (areas) of the plurality of openings 38 are set so that the air flow rates on the suction surface 21 of the filter 12 are uniform. For example, the size of the openings 38 in the region on the front side of the air diffusion section 31 where the air flow velocity is high is set relatively small, and the size of the openings 38 in the region on the front side of the air diffusion section 31 where the air flow velocity is low is set relatively large. This reduces the difference in the flow rate of air passing through the openings 38 and impinging on the suction surface 21 of the filter 12 between the region on the front side of the air diffusion section 31 where the air flow velocity is high and the region on the front side of the air diffusion section 31 where the air flow velocity is low. In other words, "so that the air flow rates on the suction surface 21 of the filter 12 are uniform" does not mean that the air flow rates are exactly uniform, but rather means that the air flow rates are made nearly uniform in order to reduce the difference in the air flow rate at each location on the suction surface 21 of the filter 12.

[0042] In this embodiment, air mixing section 30, air diffusion section 31, and air dispersion section 32 are provided integrally as second airflow control member 15, but this is not limited thereto, and air mixing section 30, air diffusion section 31, and air dispersion section 32 may be provided separately as different members. Furthermore, in this embodiment, first airflow control member 14 and second airflow control member 15 are provided separately, but this is not limited thereto, and they may be molded integrally.

[0043] Next, the air flow will be described.

[0044] Air drawn in through the suction port 22 of the case 11 first flows from the cigarette insertion space 24 behind the suction port 22 through the multiple side plate openings 25 in the side plate sections 14c, 14d of the first airflow control member 14 on both sides in the width direction and through the inlet section 37 into the mixing flow path 29 of the air mixing section 30. The air that has flowed into the mixing flow path 29 flows toward the outlet section 36, which is smaller than the inlet section 37, where it is mixed and flows out from the outlet section 36. The air that has flowed out from the outlet section 36 is guided by the mountain-shaped guide surface 32a of the opposing air dispersion section 32 and dispersed vertically. The air dispersed vertically by the air dispersion section 32 flows along the front surface of the air diffusion section 31, spreading out to fill the air passage 18 and being diffused, passes through the multiple openings 38 of the air diffusion section 31, and is drawn into the filter 12. The air sucked into the filter 12 is purified by the filter 12, passes around the fan 13, and is discharged from the outlet 20 of the case 11.

[0045] In air purifier 10 configured as described above, air mixer 30 for mixing the air drawn in through inlet 22 is provided on the upstream side (front side) of filter 12, so that the relatively clean air and the relatively dirty air drawn in through inlet 22 can be mixed in advance on the upstream side of filter 12, making the smoke components closer to uniformity. This prevents uneven use of the filter 12, allowing for efficient use of filter 12.

[0046] Furthermore, the flow path (mixing flow path 29) formed by air mixing section 30 has an air inlet section 37 and an air outlet section 36 that is smaller than inlet section 37, and the air that flows in from inlet section 37 flows toward outlet section 36 that is smaller than inlet section 37, whereby the air is mixed and flows out from outlet section 36. In this way, air can be mixed with a simple structure in which outlet section 36 of mixing flow path 29 is made smaller than inlet section 37.

[0047] Furthermore, by exhaling smoke into the inlet 22 of the air purifier 10, the smoke exhaled from the mouth can be inhaled and purified by the air purifier 10. Furthermore, when a smoker is simply holding a cigarette in their hand without inhaling it (hereinafter referred to as "when not inhaling a cigarette"), they can insert the cigarette they are holding into the cigarette insertion space 24 through the inlet 22, allowing the air purifier 10 to reliably inhale and purify the smoke coming out of the cigarette they are holding. Furthermore, by smoking a cigarette while it remains inserted into the cigarette insertion space 24 through the inlet 22, the smoke coming out of the cigarette can be reliably inhaled and purified by the air purifier 10, not only when they are not inhaling the cigarette, but also when they are inhaling the cigarette.

[0048] Thus, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide an air purifier 10 that can inhale and purify the smoke produced when smoking a cigarette and that can use the filter 12 efficiently.

[0049] In addition, an air diffusion section 31 that diffuses the air flowing out from the outlet section 36 of the air mixing section 30 is provided between the air mixing section 30 and the filter 12. Therefore, the air in which the smoke components have been homogenized by the air mixing section 30 can be diffused by the air diffusion section 31 over the entire suction surface 21 of the filter 12, allowing the filter 12 to be used even more efficiently.

[0050] Furthermore, the sizes of the multiple openings 38 provided in the air diffusion section 31 are set so that the air flow rate at the suction surface 21 of the filter 12 is uniform. This makes it possible to suppress bias in the flow rate (wind speed) of the air impinging on the suction surface 21 of the filter 12, allowing the filter 12 to be used more efficiently.

[0051] The filter 12 also includes an air dispersion section 32 that vertically disperses the air flowing out from the outlet section 36 of the air mixing section 30. Therefore, even when the outlet section 36 of the air mixing section 30 is provided in the vertical center as in this embodiment, the air flowing out from the outlet section 36 can be dispersed vertically. This prevents dirty air from being concentrated in a specific area of ​​the suction surface 21 of the filter 12, allowing the suction surface 21 of the filter 12 to be used over a wide area, thereby enabling the filter 12 to be used more efficiently.

[0052] Furthermore, because air mixing section 30 and air diffusion section 31 are integrally molded as second airflow control member 15, the number of parts can be reduced. Therefore, when removing front case 17 to access filter 12, filter 12 can be easily accessed by removing first airflow control member 14 and second airflow control member 15. Furthermore, by integrally molding first airflow control member 14 and second airflow control member 15, the number of parts can be further reduced and filter 12 can be even more easily accessed.

[0053] Furthermore, side plate portions (inflow amount setting portions) 14c, 14d of first airflow control member 14 are arranged between inflow portion 37 of air mixing section 30 and suction port 22 of case 11, and are set so that the amount of air flowing into inflow portion 37 is greater at the top than at the bottom. This allows the wind speed of air drawn in from upper region 27 of side plate portions 14c, 14d to be faster than that of lower region 26, so that smoke flowing upward in cigarette insertion space 24 can be drawn in efficiently.

[0054] In this embodiment, side plate portions (inflow amount setting portions) 14c, 14d are provided on the first airflow control member 14, but the inflow portion 37 of the mixing flow path 29 may be left open widely inward in the width direction without providing the side plate portions 14c, 14d.

[0055] In addition, in this embodiment, in order to equalize the air flow rate at the suction surface 21 of the filter 12, multiple openings 38 of different sizes are provided in the air diffusion section 31, but this is not limited to this, and for example, the multiple openings 38 may be made to be of equal size.

[0056] In addition, in this embodiment, the air diffusion section 31 is formed in a plate shape having a plurality of openings 38, but the shape of the air diffusion section 31 is not limited to this. For example, the air diffusion section may be an air diffusion section that defines a flow path that gradually widens from the outlet section 36 of the air mixing section 30 toward the downstream side, and that diffuses air toward the suction surface 21 of the filter 12 by circulating the air through the flow path.

[0057] In addition, in this embodiment, the front case 17 is provided with one suction port 22 through which a cigarette can be inserted, but the number of suction ports 22 is not limited to this, and for example, multiple suction ports 22 may be provided.

[0058] In addition, in this embodiment, the case 11 is configured by the case main body 16 and the front case 17 fixed to the case main body 16, but is not limited to this. For example, the case 11 may be configured by integrally molding the case main body 16 and the front case 17, or the case 11 may be configured by further divided members than in this embodiment.

[0059] Furthermore, the positions of the filter 12 and the fan 13 are not limited to those described above.

[0060] Although the present invention has been described above based on the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the content of the above embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the scope of the present invention. In other words, all other embodiments, examples, operational techniques, etc. made by those skilled in the art based on this embodiment are naturally included in the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 10: Air purifier 11: Case 12: Filter 13: Fan 14: First airflow control member 14c, 14d: Side plate part (inflow rate setting part) 15: Second airflow control member 18: Air passage 20:Discharge port 21: Intake surface 22: Intake port 29: Mixing channel (channel) 30: Air mixing section 31: Air diffusion section 36: Outlet 37:Inflow part

Claims

1. a case having an air inlet and an air outlet, the case defining an air passage extending from the air inlet to the air outlet; a filter disposed in the air passage; a fan disposed in the air passage to generate an air flow from the inlet to the outlet; an air mixing section disposed in the air passage between the suction port and the filter, The air mixing section forms a flow path having an inlet section into which air sucked from the suction port flows, and an outlet section formed smaller than the inlet section and through which the air flowing in from the inlet section flows out, The air that flows in from the inlet portion of the air mixing section flows toward the outlet portion, which is smaller than the inlet portion, and is mixed with the air and flows out from the outlet portion. An air purifier characterized by:

2. an air diffusion section disposed between the air mixing section and the filter, which diffuses the air flowing out from the outlet section of the air mixing section; 2. The air purifier according to claim 1 .

3. The air mixing section and the air diffusion section are integrally molded.

3. The air purifier according to claim 2.

4. an inflow amount setting unit disposed between the inflow portion of the air mixing unit and the suction port of the case, and set so that the amount of air flowing into the inflow portion is greater on the upper side than on the lower side; 4. The air purifier according to claim 1, wherein the air purifier is a condenser.

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