Drying equipment

Abstract

To provide a drying apparatus capable of effectively performing both drying and light irradiation. [Solution] The hair dryer 1 comprises a cylindrical main body housing 2 having an air outlet 22 on the front side and an air intake 21 on the rear side, a blower 7 disposed inside the main body housing 2, a light-emitting element 26 that emits light, and a reflector 27 that guides the light emitted from the light-emitting element 26 toward the front of the main body housing 2. The air outlet 22 is configured as a plurality of radially extending divided air outlets 22, and the light-emitting element 26 and the reflector 27 are arranged in a divided space 39 partitioned by circumferentially adjacent divided air outlets 22.

Description

Technical Field

[0005] ,

[0001] The present invention relates to a drying device for drying an object, and more specifically, to a hair dryer that dries hair and irradiates light onto the scalp.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, arcuate air outlets are respectively formed on the left and right of the outer edge side on the front surface of a cylindrical main body housing, and the air from a blower device arranged inside the main body housing is discharged forward from these air outlets. At the same time, a plurality of irradiation units for irradiating light are provided inside the formation positions of the air outlets on the front surface of the main body housing, and a hair dryer configured to irradiate LED light from these irradiation units toward the scalp is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

[0003] According to the hair dryer described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to part the hair with the air blown out from the left and right air outlets on the front surface of the main body housing, and it is possible to efficiently irradiate the scalp with LED light from the plurality of irradiation units arranged inside the air outlets. Therefore, it is said that the environment of the scalp can be adjusted while drying the hair on the scalp.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the hair dryer described in Patent Document 1, since the air blows out from the air outlets in the outer region when viewed from the front of the main body housing, and the light is irradiated from the irradiation units in the inner region, there is room for improvement from the viewpoint of effectively performing both hair drying and light irradiation onto the scalp.

[0006] This invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a drying apparatus capable of effectively performing both drying and light irradiation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To achieve the above objective, one aspect of the present invention is a drying apparatus comprising: a cylindrical main body housing having an air outlet on the front side and an air intake on the rear side; a blower disposed within the main body housing; a light-emitting element that emits light; and a reflector that guides the light emitted from the light-emitting element toward the front of the main body housing, wherein the air outlet has a plurality of radially extending divided air outlets, and the light-emitting element and the reflector are arranged in a space partitioned by the circumferentially adjacent divided air outlets. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a drying apparatus that can effectively perform both drying and light irradiation. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the hair dryer according to the embodiment, seen from the front. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of a hair dryer from the rear. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view along the line III-III in Figure 1. [Figure 4] This is a disassembled perspective view of a hair dryer. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view of the cylindrical housing, airflow cover, and connector. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view along the line VI-VI in Figure 1. [Figure 7] This is a block diagram of the control unit included in a hair dryer. [Figure 8] This is a front view of the hair dryer, showing the main housing from the front. [Figure 9] This is a cross-sectional view of the main part of a modified hair dryer. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the drying apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, using a hair dryer as an example.

[0011] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the hair dryer 1 according to an embodiment, viewed from the front; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the hair dryer 1, viewed from the rear; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along the line III-III in Figure 1; Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the hair dryer 1; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the cylindrical housing, airflow cover, and connector; and Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view along the line VI-VI in Figure 1.

[0012] [Overall configuration of Hair Dryer 1] As shown in Figures 1 to 6, the hair dryer 1 according to this embodiment mainly comprises a cylindrical main body housing 2, a handle portion 3 connected to the main body housing 2, a fan 4 for blowing air arranged inside the main body housing 2, a motor 5 for driving the fan 4, a heater 8, a light-emitting element 26 that emits light, and a reflector 27 that guides the light emitted from the light-emitting element 26 toward the front of the main body housing 2.

[0013] The main housing 2 has an air intake port 21 and an air outlet port 22 at opposite ends in the axial direction. The air intake port 21 is located at the rear end of the main housing 2, and air is drawn into the main housing 2 through this air intake port 21.

[0014] The fan 4 and the motor 5 constitute a blower device 7 that outputs the air sucked in from the air inlet 21 as an air current toward the air outlet 22. The motor 5 is a small motor such as a DC motor. The blower device 7 is arranged on the central axis O (see FIG. 3) of the main body housing 2 with the fan 4 facing the air inlet 21. Hereinafter, the upstream side of the air current generated by the blower device 7 (the side where the air inlet 21 is located with respect to the blower device 7) is simply referred to as the "upstream side", and the downstream side of the air current (the side where the air outlet 22 is located with respect to the blower device 7) is simply referred to as the "downstream side". Further, inside the main body housing 2, a heater 8 for heating the air current generated by the blower device 7 to warm air is arranged.

[0015] The handle portion 3 is provided with a push switch 9 for turning on / off the power supply and the like, and a slide switch 10 for performing switching operations of various operation modes such as a normal mode / a quick drying mode and a styling mode. Further, inside the handle portion 3, a circuit board 11 for a control circuit that controls the entire hair dryer 1 is housed, and electronic components such as switches and sensors are also mounted on this circuit board 11. A power cord 12 is connected to the circuit board 11, and this power cord 12 is led out to the outside from the lower end of the handle portion 3.

[0016] The air inlet 21 is provided in an annular shape at the rear end portion of the main body housing 2, and the inside of the air inlet 21 is covered with a grill cover 24. Further, a circular display portion 25 is provided inside the grill cover 24. The display portion 25 has a plurality of types (for example, four types) of display modes 25a. These display modes 25a correspond to the operation mode selected by the slide switch 10, and are configured to notify the operating state by means of blinking of a lamp or the like. Further, a mesh filter 23 is disposed on the downstream side of the grill cover 24, and a porous member 31 such as a sponge is disposed between the air inlet 21 and the mesh filter 23. These porous member 31 and the mesh filter 23 make it difficult for foreign matters such as dust and hair to enter the main body housing 2.

[0017] Inside the main body housing 2, a cylindrical housing 32, an air passage cover 33, a connector 34, and a holder 35 are provided. The cylindrical housing 32 and the air passage cover 33 are arranged along the direction of the central axis O of the main body housing 2, and a fan 4 and a motor 5 that constitute the blower device 7 are housed inside the cylindrical housing 32. The upstream side of the cylindrical housing 32 is covered by the aforementioned mesh filter 23, and the air passage cover 33 is connected to the downstream side of the cylindrical housing 32 using joining means such as snap coupling.

[0018] The air passage cover 33 is a cylindrical member that defines the air passage of the air flow generated by the blower device 7, and a heater 8 and a heater support plate 47 are arranged inside the air passage cover 33. In the example shown in FIG. 5, six heater support plates 47 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction inside the air passage cover 33, and the heater 8 is supported by these heater support plates 47. The heater 8 is, for example, a bent heating wire and is wound spirally around the outer edge of the heater support plate 47. The heater 8 is supplied with power under the control of a control circuit (see FIG. 7) described later, and the temperature rises. As a result, the air flow blown from the blower device 7 is heated inside the air passage cover 33, and the heated air is discharged from the air outlet 22.

[0019] The connector 34 is integrally connected to the downstream side of the air passage cover 33 and has a throttle passage 40 inside. A branch passage 41 communicating with the throttle passage 40 is formed on the downstream side of the connector 34, and the branch passage 41 is covered with a dust-proof net 29. The branch passage 41 extends radially in three directions while maintaining an equal angle from the central axis O of the main body housing 2, and the air flow passing through the air passage in the air passage cover 33 is guided to the branch passage 41 in a state where the flow velocity is increased in the throttle passage 40.

[0020] A heat relaxation space 42 is defined between the airflow cover 33 and the main housing 2. This heat relaxation space 42 is enclosed by the outer circumferential walls of the cylindrical housing 32, the airflow cover 33 and the connecting body 34, the inner circumferential wall of the main housing 2, and a partition plate 48 provided on the upstream side of the cylindrical housing 32, and is isolated from the airflow passage inside the airflow cover 33. This ensures that even if the airflow inside the airflow cover 33 becomes warm air due to the heater 8, the air in the heat relaxation space 42 will not rise due to the heat of the warm air.

[0021] The holder 35 is made of a molded product press-formed from a metal such as aluminum, or a die-cast molded product made from a metal such as aluminum, and is arranged to surround the connector 34. The holder 35 has a three-pronged branch hole 36 through which the branch passage 41 of the connector 34 is inserted, and a total of six reflectors 27 are formed in the three sections partitioned by these branch holes 36, with two reflectors in each section.

[0022] The reflector 27 is formed as a conical curved surface with an opening on the front side, and the outer surface of the reflector 27 is located inside the heat relaxation space 42 defined between the air passage cover 33 and the main housing 2. A light-emitting element 26 is positioned at the inner bottom of the reflector 27. The inside of the reflector 27 is a reflective surface that guides the light emitted from the light-emitting element 26 toward the front opening, and such a reflective surface is formed by polishing or mirror-finishing a metal such as aluminum, which is the material of the holder 35. Alternatively, the holder 35 may be constructed as a molded product made of resin material, and the reflective surface of the reflector 27 may be formed by applying a reflective material to its surface or by plating.

[0023] A filter 28 is positioned on the front side of the reflector 27 so as to cover the opening. The filter 28 blocks the transmission of visible light from the light emitter 26, allowing only infrared light to pass through. The light emitter 26, reflector 27, and filter 28 constitute one heat source unit 30, and in this embodiment, six heat source units 30 are provided in the holder 35. The heat source units 30 will be described in detail later.

[0024] The main housing 2 has a fixed ring 38 that covers the downstream side of the holder 35. This fixed ring 38 is fixed to the front end ring portion 37 of the main housing 2 using a joining means such as a snap connector. An outlet 22 is formed in the fixed ring 38, located in front of the branch hole 36 of the holder 35. The outlet 22 is configured as three divided outlets 22 that extend radially from the central axis O of the main housing 2. The fixed ring 38 has three divided spaces 39 separated by each divided outlet 22, and two sets of heat source units 30 are arranged in each of these divided spaces 39. An airflow guide may be provided in the throttling passage 40 or branch passage 41 to cover the reflector 27 and guide the airflow to the outlet 22.

[0025] Figure 7 is a block diagram of the control unit provided in the hair dryer 1. As shown in Figure 7, the push switch 9 and the slide switch 10 are connected to a control circuit 14 that controls the entire hair dryer 1. The control circuit 14 controls the operation of the motor 5, heater 8, light-emitting element 26, and display unit 25 based on the input signals from these push switches 9 and slide switches 10.

[0026] For example, when the push switch 9 is turned ON, the control circuit 14 operates the motor 5 to discharge the airflow generated by the blower 7 from the outlet 22 (split outlet 22). Also, when the slide switch 10 is switched while the push switch 9 is ON, the control circuit 14 switches the rotation speed of the motor 5 between low and high speed, or operates either the heater 8 or the light-emitting element 26, or both. In this case, if only the heater 8 is operated without operating the light-emitting element 26, no light is emitted from the light-emitting element 26, and warm air is discharged from the outlet 22. If only the light-emitting element 26 is operated without operating the heater 8, cool air is discharged from the outlet 22 while light is emitted from the light-emitting element 26. Furthermore, if both the heater 8 and the light-emitting element 26 are operated simultaneously, warm air is discharged from the outlet 22 while light is emitted from the light-emitting element 26. When a desired operating mode is selected by switching the slide switch 10 in this manner, the control circuit 14 illuminates the display mode 25a corresponding to the selected operating mode among the multiple display modes 25a formed on the display unit 25 to notify the outside.

[0027] Figure 8 is a front view of the hair dryer 1, showing the main housing 2 from the front; the handle 3 is not shown.

[0028] [Configuration of the heat source unit 30] As shown in Figure 8, when the hair dryer 1 is viewed from the front, three divided air outlets 22 radiate outwards from the center of the front of the main housing 2. Inside the three divided spaces 39 separated by these divided air outlets 22, there are two sets of heat source units 30 in each space, for a total of six sets. Each heat source unit 30 consists of a light-emitting element 26, a reflector 27, and a filter 28. Inside one divided space 39, there are two light-emitting elements 26 and two reflectors 27 covered by a common filter 28. The six light-emitting elements 26 located inside each divided space 39 are arranged on the same circumference centered on the central axis O of the main housing 2.

[0029] The light-emitting element 26 is a radiating element that emits light of a predetermined wavelength (e.g., 700 to 1500 nm), and is, for example, an infrared light-emitting diode (LED). The reflector 27 protects the light-emitting element 26 and guides the light emitted from the light-emitting element 26 toward the front of the main housing 2. The reflector 27 can adjust the direction and angle of emission of light emitted from the light-emitting element 26 by appropriately setting the shape and size of the reflective surface. In this embodiment, the emission spots of two light-emitting elements 26 arranged in one divided space 39 are set to partially overlap, and the emission spots of two light-emitting elements 26 arranged adjacent to each other on either side of the divided outlet 22 are also set to partially overlap.

[0030] The filter 28 is an optical element that transmits only light within a specific wavelength range of incident light, while blocking other light, and is positioned to block the aperture of the reflector 27. The filter 28 prevents the transmission of visible light from the light emitter 26, so that only infrared light is directed forward towards the main housing 2. Infrared light is an electromagnetic wave with a wavelength longer than red visible light and shorter than radio waves, and is divided into near-infrared, mid-infrared, and far-infrared depending on its wavelength. The filter 28 can direct only the near-infrared, mid-infrared, and far-infrared light, which are included in the infrared spectrum, from the light emitted by the light emitter 26 towards the main housing 2.

[0031] In this embodiment, the two reflectors 27 arranged within a single divided space 39 are configured to have their respective openings covered by a single filter 28. However, the openings of these two reflectors 27 may be covered by separate filters 28.

[0032] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the same type of filter 28 is used to cover the openings of all reflectors 27, but it is also possible to use multiple types of filters 28 with different wavelength ranges that can be transmitted to cover the openings of the reflectors 27. For example, filters 28 with different wavelength ranges that can be transmitted may be placed in each of the three divided spaces 39 separated by each divided outlet 22, or the openings of two reflectors 27 provided in one divided space 39 may be individually blocked with filters 28 with different wavelength ranges that can be transmitted.

[0033] In the hair dryer 1 configured as described above, when the push switch 9 is turned ON to operate the motor 5, the airflow W1 generated by the blower 7 passes from the intake port 21 through the inside of the cylindrical housing 32, the air passage cover 33, and the connector 34, and heads towards the divided outlet 22 (outlet 22). At this time, if the heater 8 located inside the air passage cover 33 is operating, the airflow W1 is heated inside the air passage cover 33, and heated air (warm air) is discharged from the divided outlet 22. If the heater 8 is not operating, cold air is discharged from the divided outlet 22.

[0034] Furthermore, when the motor 5 is operated and airflow is generated from the blower 7, power is supplied to the heat source unit 30 to cause the light emitter 26 to emit light. The light emitted from the light emitter 26 is guided to the reflector 27 and heads towards the front filter 28. By passing through the filter 28, only infrared light is irradiated onto the front of the main housing 2. As a result, air (cold / warm air) is blown out from each divided outlet 22 towards the user's hair, and the infrared light emitted from the light emitter 26 is irradiated onto the user's scalp. In this way, air from the blower 7 is blown out from three divided outlets 22 that radiate from the center of the front of the main housing 2, and infrared light is irradiated from the heat source unit 30 located within the divided space 39 partitioned by these divided outlets 22, so that both hair drying and light irradiation of the scalp can be effectively performed.

[0035] [Effects of the Embodiment] As described above, the hair dryer 1 according to this embodiment can provide the following effects.

[0036] The air outlet 22 located on the front side of the main housing 2 consists of three radially extending divided air outlets 22. The heat source unit 30 (light-emitting element 26, reflector 27, and filter 28) is arranged within the divided space 39 partitioned by these divided air outlets 22. As a result, the air blown out from the divided air outlets 22 and the light emitted from the heat source unit 30 are evenly distributed over the user's head, effectively drying the hair and irradiating the scalp with light. The air outlet 22 is divided into three radial sections from the center of the main housing 2, but it may also be a four-part divided air outlet in a cross shape, or a multi-part divided air outlet with four or more sections. Furthermore, the divided air outlets may extend radially from a point other than the center of the main housing 2, or multiple independent air outlets may be arranged radially.

[0037] Furthermore, by switching the slide switch 10, it is possible to operate either the heater 8 or the light-emitting element 26 independently, or both simultaneously. This allows the user to choose a mode that suits their needs, such as when they want to reduce power consumption or dry something quickly.

[0038] Furthermore, an air passage cover 33 is provided inside the main housing 2 to define the airflow path for the airflow generated by the blower 7. The heater 8 is located inside this air passage cover 33, and the air passage cover 33 and the divided outlet 22 are connected via a throttling passage 40. As a result, high-velocity warm air can be blown onto the user's hair, effectively shortening the drying time.

[0039] Furthermore, a heat relaxation space 42 is defined between the outer periphery wall of the air duct cover 33 and the inner periphery wall of the main housing 2. Since this heat relaxation space 42 is isolated from the air passage flowing inside the air duct cover 33, the air inside the heat relaxation space 42 is prevented from rising due to the heat of the heater 8. In addition, since the reflector 27 of the heat source unit 30 is located inside the heat relaxation space 42, isolated from the air passage inside the air duct cover 33, the temperature rise of the light-emitting element 26 and the reflector 27 is suppressed, and the lifespan of the light-emitting element 26 can be extended. Moreover, since the airflow generated by the blower 7 is less affected by the heat dissipation from the reflector 27, the temperature of the air passing through the air passage can be kept stable.

[0040] [Differentiation] Next, a modified example of the heat relaxation space 42 will be described. Figure 9 is a perspective view of the main part of the hair dryer 1 showing a modified example of the heat relaxation space 42.

[0041] In the modified example shown in Figure 9, a communication opening 49 is provided in the partition plate 48 located upstream of the heat relaxation space 42, and the heat relaxation space 42 and the air intake port 21 are in communication through this communication opening 49. The other configurations are basically the same as those of the hair dryer 1 according to the above embodiment, so a redundant explanation is omitted here.

[0042] In this modified configuration, when the motor 5 of the blower 7 is operated and the fan 4 rotates, as shown by the arrow W2 in Figure 9, the airflow W2, which is part of the air drawn in from the intake port 21, enters the interior of the heat relaxation space 42 through the communication opening 49. As a result, the air inside the heat relaxation space 42 is cooled, and the temperature rise of the light-emitting element 26 and the reflector 27 of the heat source unit 30 located inside the heat relaxation space 42 can be effectively suppressed.

[0043] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. All technical matters included in the technical concept described in the claims are subject to the present invention. The embodiments described above are preferred examples, but those skilled in the art can realize various alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements from the contents disclosed herein, and these are included in the technical scope described in the appended claims.

[0044] For example, in the above embodiment, the heat source unit 30 (light-emitting element 26, reflector 27, and filter 28) is located at the downstream end within the divided space 39. However, the location of the heat source unit 30 within the divided space 39 is not particularly limited, and the heat source unit 30 may be located on the upstream side (to the side of the motor 5) within the divided space 39.

[0045] Alternatively, the wavelength of light emitted from the light emitter 26 may be changed by varying the reflectivity of the reflective surfaces formed on the reflector 27.

[0046] Alternatively, a window opening may be provided on the circumferential surface of the main housing 2, allowing ambient light to enter between the reflector 27 and the filter 28 through this window opening, thereby changing the amount of light emitted from the light-emitting element 26.

[0047] Furthermore, although the above embodiment described a hair dryer 1 as an example of a drying device, the present invention is applicable to other drying devices as well. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0048] 1. Hair dryer 2 Main Housing 3. Handle section 4 Fans 5 Motors 7. Blower 8 Heaters 14 Control circuits 21 Air intake 22 Split air outlet (air outlet) 26 Light-emitting element 27 Reflector 28 filters 30 Heat source units 32 Cylindrical housing 33. Airflow cover 34 connectors 35 Holding body 36 branch holes 38 Fixed ring 39 Divided space 40 Narrow passage 41 Branching passage 42 Thermal relaxation space 48 Partition Plates 49 Communication opening

Claims

1. A drying apparatus comprising: a cylindrical main housing having an air outlet on the front side and an air intake on the rear side; a blower disposed inside the main housing; a light-emitting element that emits light; and a reflector that guides the light emitted from the light-emitting element toward the front of the main housing, The aforementioned outlet has a plurality of divided outlets extending radially, The light-emitting element and the reflector are arranged within a space partitioned by the circumferentially adjacent divided air outlets. A drying apparatus characterized by the following features.

2. In the drying apparatus according to claim 1, The device further comprises an air passage cover that defines an airflow path for the airflow generated by the blower, and a heater disposed inside the air passage cover. Multiple of the aforementioned divided air outlets are connected to the air passage cover via a throttling passage. A drying apparatus characterized by the following features.

3. In the drying apparatus according to claim 2, The heater is positioned downstream of the airflow path relative to the blower. A drying apparatus characterized by the following features.

4. In the drying apparatus according to claim 2, A heat relaxation space is defined between the outer peripheral wall of the air passage cover and the inner peripheral wall of the main housing. The reflector is located within the heat relaxation space, isolated from the air passage. A drying apparatus characterized by the following features.

5. In the drying apparatus according to claim 4, A communication opening is provided in the heat relaxation space that communicates with the air intake port. A drying apparatus characterized by the following features.

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