Electric air filter at ventilation air inlet

Abstract

An electric air filter for a ventilation air inlet (3) present in a casing (4) of a mechanical or electrical device requiring filtration of drawn air, comprising: a dispenser (1) having a roll filter (2); and a filter extraction mechanism for unwinding the roll filter from the dispenser, wherein a movable lever presser (14) has an extraction mechanism (5, 29, 35, 45) including a lever mechanism (12) that presses an extraction device (15) present at its front end (16) against the filter (2) during each extraction cycle and extracts the filter downward by a predetermined length, the extraction mechanisms being provided on both sides of the filter (2) unwound by the dispenser (1), and the extraction mechanisms on each side are provided with a lever mechanism (12), the two lever mechanisms of the same extraction mechanism having the same extraction length, being driven synchronously, and performing one complete cycle during each extraction operation, and the lever mechanism (12) is connected to an electric motor on at least one side of the extraction mechanism. Various configurations of the drawer mechanism are disclosed.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a motorized air filter in a ventilation air inlet, i.e. to an arrangement of an air filter extractor in which a filter, typically of a filtering fabric, serves as the filter casing and support, which is wound in a roll and is dispensed for use in an air inlet arranged there for filtering the air drawn in. The arrangement of said extractor allows easy availability of the required roll filter size for use. This filter, with a dispenser casing for dispensing the roll, is known to be used in the suction inlets of electrical panels, electronic equipment and similar containers, where it is necessary to remove atmospheric dust from the incoming cooling air. The extractor thus provides a cadenced movement of the filter fabric to dispense a new filter fabric without manual intervention. [Background technology]

[0002] In the art there are filters for ventilation air inlets, in which a roll of filter fabric is housed in a casing with a square base parallelepiped and sized to accommodate a wound roll of filter fabric. The filter fabric is unrolled from the casing located near the air inlet to cover the inlet itself in order to filter the aspirated cooling air of the device to be filtered. Furthermore, these roll filters are used in a continuous cadence motion depending on the application of the equipment to which they are assembled, but it is necessary to present a new fabric covering the air inlet to replace the filter fabric that becomes soiled with dust from the aspirated air during use.

[0003] Thus, use of the filter fabric roll is accompanied by ongoing maintenance and control of the air filtering capacity of the portion of the filter fabric covering the suction inlet, which requires a maintenance technician to periodically check the filtering capacity of the filter fabric and ensure that new filter fabric is placed over the air inlet, which can be very time-consuming when performed on a large number of filtration devices.

[0004] Therefore, the prior art has developed a device for winding up a filter fabric from a dispenser of the filter fabric wound in rolls, which is also disclosed in the patent application DE 10 200 43 33. In that device, a device with a filter is provided with an electrically controlled unwinding for retrieving the filter and with various assembly possibilities. The device comprises a filter casing which rotatably receives the filter unwound from the roll. The winding device rotates a shaft to wind up the filter. Furthermore, the winding device has a motor connected to the filter winding shaft, and a control unit includes a power supply unit which checks the operation of the motor and supplies power to the motor and to the control unit. The control unit is configured to rotate the motor in an intermittent or continuous winding mode. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-213898 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In this device, there is a limit to the control of the filter winding, since the diameter of the motorized winding roller increases as the filter is wound up. In fact, even if the rotation control is performed via an encoder that ascertains the rotation angle, the thickness of the wound filter will increase with the diameter of the roller itself, with the length of the wound filter changing at the same rotation angle measured. In other words, the verification of the rotation angle of the filter winding roller alone does not ensure the continuous and partial correct advancement of the new filter provided in front of the suction air inlet. The materials used for this type of textile filter are known to have variations in thickness. In addition, if the assembly of the filter dispenser or winding device is not performed accurately, it may involve unbalanced withdrawal, since the rotation of the winding roller takes the full width of the filter. Furthermore, after assembly, the device is forced to operate with a fixed width of the filter to be wound, due to the presence of rollers with precise axial dimensions. In fact, the filter winding device cannot be used to wind filters of different widths, i.e. each winding device can be used with a filter and a casing of a corresponding precise width.

[0007] Indeed, the main limitation of the solution disclosed in this document is the winding of the filter onto the roller and the fact that, at the end of the winding, said roller must be removed from the casing of the motorized winding device, with a rather lengthy intervention by a maintenance technician. A new filter dispenser can be arranged to replace the empty one, but the roller, full of said wound and dusty filters, must be removed from the device. Furthermore, in addition to the length limit of the filter to be built into the new filter dispenser, said device also has a load limit of the filter to be wound onto the winding roller, which cannot exceed the dimensions of the winding roller container, further limiting the versatility of use of the filter winding device, i.e. each winding device can be used with a filter of a predefined thickness in a corresponding casing of a length that can be accommodated in the winding casing.

[0008] There is considerable room for improvement in the art regarding the possibility of creating powered air filters in ventilation air inlets, thereby overcoming the above-mentioned limitations in the prior art and allowing a diversity of applications not previously achievable.

[0009] The technical problem underlying the present invention is therefore to provide a motorized air filter for ventilation air inlets similar to those known in the art, but which is versatile and usable for all dimensions of filter width and thickness of the material that constitutes the filter.

[0010] An underlying objective of the above technical problem is to provide a filter feeding mechanism that is independent of the filter width itself and the thickness of the material used in said filter.

[0011] A further object of the present invention is to obtain the above-mentioned mechanism, thereby providing a pull-out device that is versatile and reusable even after maintenance and / or relocation to another ventilation air inlet requiring different width and thickness dimensions from the filter of the filter fabric used, without major intervention in the above-mentioned mechanism, simply by changing the roll filter dispenser and adjusting the filter pull-out device to the new dimensional parameters.

[0012] Yet another aspect of the technical problem to be addressed relates to the remote control of the filter extraction device, allowing continuous visibility by a maintenance technician at a remote location, and automatic control of the filter extraction device within the global control of the mechanical system in which it is installed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] This object is achieved according to the invention by an electric air filter at a ventilation air inlet present in a casing of a machine or electrical equipment requiring filtration of the drawn-in air, comprising a dispenser with a roll filter and a filter extraction mechanism for unwinding the roll filter from the dispenser, characterized in that the extraction mechanism comprises a lever mechanism, the lever mechanism being pressed against the filter by an extraction device at its front end and extracting the filter downwards by a predetermined length in each extraction cycle, the extraction mechanisms being provided on both sides of the filter unwound by the dispenser, the extraction mechanisms on each side being provided with the lever mechanism, the two lever mechanisms of the same extraction mechanism having the same extraction length, being driven synchronously and performing a full cycle with each extraction operation, and the lever mechanism being connected to an electric motor on at least one side of the extraction mechanism.

[0014] In another configuration, the lever mechanism includes a crank button about which the movable lever retainer pivots, and a tracking wheel at the rear end of the lever that contacts a contrast cam.

[0015] Additionally, in an improved configuration, a presser is disposed near the filter's extraction surface and prior to the extraction point of the extraction device to maintain the filter in intimate contact with the extraction surface.

[0016] Furthermore, in certain preferred embodiments, the movable lever presser and the extraction device are associated with a resilient means which presses the extraction device against the unwound filter, and which resilient means retracts the movable lever presser so as to return it to its starting point upon completion of an extraction cycle of the lever mechanism.

[0017] Moreover, in a further constructional variant, said crank button is associated with a circular cam which, during the rotation of said circular cam, comes into contact with a microswitch which stops the rotation cycle.

[0018] Furthermore, in a particular refinement, said withdrawal surface is the same surface of said casing in which is present the suction air inlet in which said electrically powered filter is provided.

[0019] In addition, in a further advantageous configuration, the pull-out mechanism is divided into two sides, having a motor-driven side and a driven side, and the drive synchronization of the two lever mechanisms is obtained by a lateral shaft connecting them.

[0020] In a further configuration variant, the pull-out mechanism is divided into two sides, both of which are motor-driven, and drive synchronization of the two lever mechanisms is achieved by electronic signal connection via Ether between electronic control and command circuit boards in the lever mechanisms of each motor-driven side.

[0021] Additionally, in a practical and economical configuration, the motor-driven side and the driven side of the drawer mechanism are connected to a structure by a connecting bracket or a lower connecting bracket.

[0022] Further, instead of the previous configuration variation, the motorized filter has a set of extraction mechanisms with the motorized filter, the set of extraction mechanisms including a dispenser with a rolled up filter, an extraction mechanism having a permanently fixed magnet in a sleeve on each side of the mechanism, a set of pressers having a length equal to the expected filter width, a set of lateral axes for connecting the motor driven side and the powered side with a length equal to the expected filter width, and an adjustable template for positioning both the dispenser and the extraction mechanism.

[0023] Further, the pull-out mechanism divided into two sides has a motor-driven side and a driven side, the drive synchronization of the two lever mechanisms is obtained by a transverse shaft connecting them, and to join the two sides there is a lower stiffening current with a presser, the mechanism is tilted on a fixed structure by means of a pin and its rotation seat in the sleeves of both the motor-driven side and the driven side, the fixed structure is provided with a connecting bracket with a magnetic grip on a casing in which a suction inlet is present, and a hook lever allows the opening and closing of the tilt of the grip pull-out mechanism against the retaining notch of the fixed structure.

[0024] Additionally, there is a gripping surface coupled to the hook lever and coupled to sleeves on each tilting side of the motor drive mechanism and the powered mechanism to facilitate manual actuation of the hook lever by an operator.

[0025] Furthermore, if a wide roll filter dispenser of the modular dispenser type is present, the pull-out mechanism has a further central pull-out mechanism rigidly connected to the tilting motor-driven side and the tilting driven side by a further upper stiffening current, said central pull-out mechanism being formed by and operating like the mechanisms present on said two sides.

[0026] In addition, in a variant of the withdrawal mechanism, both the lower current and the upper current are accommodated in special fixed seats provided on the sleeves in the central mechanism and on the sleeves on the motor driving side and the driven side.

[0027] Finally, in addition to the roll filter dispenser, there is a tilt-pull mechanism with a presser foot, with a lower current and a lateral axis of a length adapted for use with the dispenser, and in addition, in the case of a modular dispenser, the upper current also has a length adapted for use with the tilt-pull mechanism of the variant.

[0028] Further features and advantages of the present invention in providing an electrically powered air filter for a ventilation air inlet can be seen from the following description of constructional forms and embodiments, given as illustrative and non-limiting examples with reference to the 14 attached drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic view of an electric air filter for a ventilation air inlet according to the present invention, which is applied to a casing wall to cover the air inlet sucking in from the outside, showing a roll-type fiber filter dispenser, a filter pull-out device and a dust and dirt filter collecting tray. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the motorized filter of FIG. 1, with dashed lines indicating the air inlet that is protected by the filter as it draws in air. [Diagram 3] 1A-1D are schematic cross-sectional views of a filter extraction mechanism in various positions, showing the start of gripping of the filter with the movable presser; [Figure 4] 1A-1D are schematic cross-sectional views of a filter extraction mechanism in various positions, including during filter extraction, where the presser pulls the filter. [Diagram 5] 1A-1C are schematic cross-sectional views of the filter extraction mechanism in various positions, showing the end of the extraction process at the moment of release of the movable presser; [Figure 6] 1A-1D are schematic cross-sectional views of the filter extraction mechanism in various positions, showing the movable presser returning to its starting position; [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a drawing mechanism. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view of a drawing mechanism on the transmission side. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a drawing mechanism on the motor drive side. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a schematic front view of the extraction mechanism without the outer sleeve, looking at the motor drive side and the powered filter control and command panel from the front. [Figure 11]FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of the pull-out mechanism showing the motor driven side without the outer sleeve, viewed from the side of the mechanical rotational connection with the driven side of the pull-out mechanism. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a schematic side view of the pull-out mechanism, looking from the side of the pull-out mechanism at the motor drive side without the outer sleeve. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view of the pull-out mechanism, viewed from the side of the pull-out mechanism, showing the motor drive side without the outer sleeve. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a schematic plan view from underneath the pull-out mechanism showing the motor-driven side without the outer sleeve to show the electric motor that drives the pull-out mechanism and the battery for powering the electric filter. [Figure 15] FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of the connecting bracket between the motor-driven side and the driven side of the extraction mechanism in the first embodiment of the motorized filter, showing the magnets for gripping onto the metal part of the magnetic material in the casing where the inlet for the drawn air to be filtered is located. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the bracket of FIG. 15. [Figure 17] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the bracket of FIG. 15 made with the application of a magnet. [Figure 18] FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view of the pull-out mechanism from the motor driving side of the electric filter in the second configuration form when there is no connecting bracket between the motor driving side and the driven side of the pull-out mechanism, and the fixed magnets to the casing are directly accommodated in the sleeves of the motor driving mechanism and the driven mechanism, and when positioning the electric filter in the casing while protecting the suction air inlet, it is necessary to use a horizontal control template between the motor driving side and the driven side. [Figure 19] FIG. 2 is a perspective schematic view of a motorized air filter at a ventilation air inlet similar to FIG. 1 , where the motorized filter puller in a third configuration has two sides that are both motorized and synchronized over Ether using electronic commands managed by motorized filter drive software which controls the motorized side of the mechanism described above. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a schematic front view of the motorized filter of FIG. 19, with the dashed lines indicating the air inlet that is protected when suctioning air from the filter, and further showing a template for use when placing the motorized filter in a casing with the suction air inlet protected, which template can also be used in the embodiment of FIG. 18. [Figure 21] FIG. 18 is a schematic perspective view of an electric air filter for a ventilation air inlet similar to FIG. 1, where the filter extraction device in a fourth configuration has two motor-driven and driven sides connected to each other by a rigid lower bracket, i.e. is positioned differently from FIG. 1 above, and the fixing of the extraction mechanisms is performed as shown in FIG. 18, i.e. both the motor-driven and driven sides have magnets housed in the sleeves of each mechanism. [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is a schematic front view of the motorized filter of FIG. 21, with dashed lines indicating the air inlet that is protected from the intake of air through the filter. [Figure 23] 1 is a schematic perspective view of an electric air filter for a ventilation air inlet, the filter extracting device of the fifth configuration form having two sides, a motor-driven side and a powered side as in FIG. 1, which are connected to each other by lateral pressures and lower currents between them, i.e. positioned in a different state than described in FIG. 1, the fixing of the extracting mechanism is performed as shown in FIG. 1, but in this embodiment the extracting devices on the motor-driven side and the powered side are tilted relative to a support structure magnetically connected to the wall as in FIG. 1 in order to facilitate the introduction of a filter roll during maintenance into the extracting mechanism. [Figure 24]1 is a schematic perspective view of an electric air filter for a ventilation air inlet, the filter extracting device of the fifth configuration form having two sides, a motor-driven side and a powered side as in FIG. 1, which are connected to each other by lateral pressures and lower currents between them, i.e. positioned in a different state than described in FIG. 1, the fixing of the extracting mechanism is performed as shown in FIG. 1, but in this embodiment the extracting devices on the motor-driven side and the powered side are tilted relative to a support structure magnetically connected to the wall as in FIG. 1 in order to facilitate the introduction of a filter roll during maintenance into the extracting mechanism. [Diagram 25] FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a tilting drawer mechanism with the support structure in a closed position. [Figure 26] FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a tilting drawer mechanism with the support structure in an open position. [Figure 27] FIG. 2 shows a schematic, front perspective view of a tilting support structure without a pull-out mechanism; [Figure 28] FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the rear of the support structure allowing tilting without the pull-out mechanism. [Figure 29] FIG. 2 shows a schematic front perspective view of a tilting drawer mechanism with the components for opening and closing by tilting separated. [Diagram 30] FIG. 2 shows a schematic rear perspective view of a tilting drawer mechanism with the components for opening and closing by tilting separated. [Diagram 31] 23-24 show schematic perspective views of a modification of the fifth configuration form, in which an upper reinforcing current and driven pull-out mechanism are added in a central position in the presence of a significant width at the front of the filter, and shown in the closed position in this figure as a structural tilting variation. [Diagram 32] 23-24 show schematic perspective views of a modified example of the fifth configuration form, in which an upper reinforcing current and driven pull-out mechanism are added in a central position, in the presence of a significant width at the front of the filter, and shown in the open position in this figure as a structural tilting variation. [Diagram 33]FIG. 1 shows a schematic front view of a tilt mechanism with a modification of the central withdrawal mechanism, here applied to a large suction inlet where a filter of suitable width is spread out, extracted from a modular dispenser of known type. [Diagram 34] 34 shows a schematic side view of the tilted version of FIG. 33 and the motorized filter in a closed position. [Diagram 35] 34 shows a limited schematic cross-sectional view of the central pull-out mechanism as viewed in the CC direction of FIG. 33. [Diagram 36] 34 shows a schematic diagram of the central pull-out mechanism as viewed in the CC direction of FIG. 33. [Figure 37] FIG. 37 is a schematic perspective view of the central drawing mechanism of the above-mentioned FIGS. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] 1-6 and 15-17 show a first embodiment of an electric filter according to the invention, which is provided with a filter withdrawal mechanism, which has a dispenser 1 for a filter 2 as a rolled filter fabric of known type, which is arranged to cover a suction air inlet 3 in a part of a machine casing 4, which has to be cooled by a flow of air drawn through said suction inlet. The withdrawal mechanism 5 comprises a motor-driven side 6, i.e. an electric mechanism for withdrawing the filter 2 downwards, and a driven side 7, i.e. a mechanism mechanically driven and driven in synchronism with the mechanism of the motor-driven side, registered in its setting and for withdrawing the filter 2 by a distance identical in construction to the motor-driven side. A transverse shaft 8 is rotatably keyed to both sides, i.e. the motor-driven side 6 and the driven side 7, to obtain a mechanical synchronization between the two withdrawal mechanisms. A lateral hold-down 9 is placed at the inlet point of the filter 2 in the extraction mechanism 5 and keeps the filter 2 in contact with the wall of the casing 4 while it is being extracted, thereby covering its air suction port 3 and preventing air from re-entering through the suction port 3 right between the wall of the casing 4 and the filter 2 itself. A collection tray 10 for the filter 2 is placed below the extraction mechanism 5 and is used to prevent it from falling to the floor or flat surface below the casing 4 in the absence of the tray. The motorized side 6 of the extraction mechanism 5 has a control panel 11 for appropriate switching on command and control of the various functions described below as well as the mode and value of the extraction distance of the filter 2.

[0031] In the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 3 to 6, the shape of the lever mechanism 12 can also be seen, which is made identical on both the motor driving side 6 and the driven side 7 of the pull-out mechanism 5.

[0032] The lever mechanism 12 comprises a crank button 13 around which the movable lever presser 14 swings, the crank button 13 being provided at the front end 16 of the lever with the pull-out device 15 towards the face from which the filter 2 is pulled out, and a wheel 17 at the rear end 19 of the lever, in contrast to a contrast guide cam 18, for positioning the movable presser 14 apart during the return phase. As shown in FIG. 6, a resilient means of traction 20, i.e. a normal helical spring, is provided to keep the wheel 17 in contact with the contrast cam 18 during the return phase of the lever mechanism 12, so that the pull-out device 15 is pulled away from the filter 2. A rotating shaft 21 is keyed to the crank button 13 and at both the driven side 6 and the motor-driven side 7, the end of which projects outside the sleeve 22 of the pull-out mechanism 5. At the opposite end of the shaft 21, a transverse shaft 8 for mechanical synchronization is keyed. A circular cam 32 is associated with the rotating shaft 21, only on the side 6 of the motor driven pull-out mechanism 5, for rotating together with said crank button in synchronism with the crank button 13 itself, and this circular cam is associated with a microswitch 33 which detects a complete revolution of the shaft 21 so as to interrupt the rotation in the case of a single and non-repeated cycle.

[0033] The connection between the two sides of the pull-out mechanism 5 is achieved by a coupling bracket 23 fixed on both sides of the driven side 6 and the motor-driven side 7, on which the filter 2 is pulled out by contact made by the pull-out device 15 with the action of the lever mechanism 12 on both sides of the pull-out mechanism 5. The coupling bracket also serves as the pull-out surface of the filter 2. The coupling bracket fixes the relative position between the motor-driven side 6 and the driven side 7, and in addition this bracket has a housing 24 for a permanent magnet 25 for fixation to the ferromagnetic material of the casing 4, as used in dispensers 1 with a roll of filter 2, on the surface intended for contact with the surface of the casing 4, as shown in Figures 15-17.

[0034] 9-14 also show the internal configuration of the motor drive side 6 of the pull-out mechanism 5. Reference numeral 26 denotes an electric motor that drives the rotating shaft 21. Reference numeral 27 denotes an electronic control and drive circuit board of the electric filter pull-out mechanism 5, and reference numeral 28 denotes a power battery for the electric motor 26 and the electronic circuit board 27. The power supply can be doubled, but as an alternative to a battery, a normal external power supply can be used to power the electronic board 27 and the electric motor 26 for their operation.

[0035] 18 shows a second configuration of the pull-out mechanism 29, in which the magnetic fixation on the two sides of the pull-out mechanism 5, i.e. the motor-driven side 6 and the driven side 7, is provided directly by permanent magnets 30 accommodated in different configurational variants of sleeves 31 with magnet housings on both sides of the pull-out mechanism described above, and the pull-out device 15 acts directly on the filter 2 on the surface of the casing 4, so that the pull-out surface of the filter 2 corresponds to the outer surface of the casing 4 on which the pull-out mechanism 29 is arranged.

[0036] A third configuration shown in figures 19-20 is provided to obtain a pull-out mechanism 35, in which two motor-driven sides 36 are obtained, which are mechanically independent but synchronized in their movement via ether. Both sides are provided with the above-mentioned lever mechanism 12, with an electric motor 26 for driving the single lever mechanism, with a power supply battery 28, and with an electronic synchronization circuit board 37 for independently driving, controlling and managing the single motor drive mechanism in each motor-driven side 36. The pull-out device 15 acts directly on the filter 2 at the surface of the casing 4, whereby the pull-out face of the filter 2 corresponds to the outer surface of the casing 4 on which the pull-out mechanism 35 is arranged. The electronic synchronization circuit board 37 is automatically self-adjusted via software, while the management parameters of the electric filter are controlled by a control and command panel 38 present on one of the two motor-driven sides 36 of the pull-out mechanism 35. Synchronisation between the two motor driven sides 36 occurs by actuation at the start of a rotational cycle of the lever mechanisms 12, and after initiation, each lever mechanism progresses to complete a single cycle such that it maintains synchronous cooperation with the lever mechanism on the other motor driven side 36 only upon re-actuation in the next cycle.

[0037] FIG. 20 shows an adjustable template 39 for guiding the two sides in position on the casing 4 of the machine affected by the filtering of the air sucked in by the suction inlet 3. The template 39 has an air bubble 40 for checking the horizontal positioning direction of said sides of the pull-out mechanism 35. A similar template must be used for positioning the motor-driven side 6 and the driven side 7 in the second configuration of FIG. 18. This adjustable template includes two recesses 41 that define the distance for fixing the sleeves of both sides of the pull-out mechanism 35 as well as the pull-out mechanism 29, and two round recesses 44 that are connected to the ends 46 of the dispenser 1 and that detect its width and guide the assembler to fix the dispenser 1 correctly horizontally. Template body 47 includes a case 48 which is connected to a template fixed rod 49 into which a movable rod 50 of adjustable template 39 slides, the end 51 of said movable rod 50 being visible inside case 48 and compared with graduations 52 on the position of end 51 which correspond to the size of the dispenser to be assembled. A lock screw 53, when tightened, keeps the width adjustment of adjustable template 39 fixed.

[0038] A fourth configuration of the pull-out mechanism 45 of the motorized filter according to the invention is shown in Figures 21 and 22, in which the motor-driven side 6 and the driven side 7 of the pull-out mechanism are connected to a sleeve 42 by a lower bracket 43 connected to the two sides of the pull-out mechanism 45 shown. The lower connecting bracket 43 properly aligns the two sides of the mechanism when fixed to the machine casing 4 having the suction air inlet 3. The connecting bracket is spaced from the surface of the casing 4 and does not interfere with the pull-out, so that the pull-out surface of the filter 2 corresponds to the outer surface of the casing 4 on which the pull-out mechanism 45 is located.

[0039] 2, 20 and 22 further show an adjustable support 54, which projects towards the centre of the suction air inlet 3 but is spaced from it, and which is inserted between the filter 2 and said suction air inlet and is arranged on the motor-driven side 6 or 36 of the pull-out mechanism, at the end of which is arranged an optical sensor 55 for detecting the light reflected from the surface of the filter 2 when it is soiled by dust collected by said filter itself. The reflected brightness of the filter surface varies according to the level of soiling by dust filtered from the aspirated air: a new filter has a maximum brightness and a dirty filter has a low brightness. This determination, which is transmitted by an electronic signal to the circuit board 27, allows the cycle of the pull-out mechanism 5, 29, 35 or 45 to be automatically controlled, which control is initiated when a minimum brightness threshold is reached.

[0040] 23-30 show a fifth embodiment 57 of the motorized filter pull-out mechanism, in which the components, the motor-driven side 58 and the driven side 59, are tilted on a fixed support structure of the tilting pull-out mechanism 57. Identical parts and components with the same functions are referred to by the same reference numerals. The two sides 58 and 59 of the tilting pull-out mechanism 57 are connected by a lateral presser 9 and a lower current 61, which makes the tilting movement rigid with respect to the fixed structure 60. The tilting movement is caused by a pin 62, which is present in the lower right part 63 and the lower left part 64 of the fixed structure 60, which is connected to a corresponding rotating seat 65, which is present in the sleeves of the tilting motor-driven side 58 and the tilting driven side 59 of the tilting pull-out mechanism. 23 and 25 occurs by means of a hook lever 66 from a retention notch 67 present in an upper right hand 68 portion and an upper left hand 69 portion of the securing structure 60. This opening is facilitated by the presence of a gripping surface 70 associated with the hook lever and secured to a sleeve on each side of the fifth form extraction mechanism.

[0041] In figures 31-37 a variant 72 for the fifth configuration of the motorized filter pull-out mechanism 2 is shown, in which variant 72, for application to a large suction inlet 73, is protected by a filter from a modular dispenser 74 of the type disclosed in WO 2020 / 089955, known for its wide filter width. In this specification, identical components or parts having the same function are referred to with the same reference numbers. A wide front face of the filter 2 is shown in figure 33, where, taking into account that the width of the pull-out front face is much larger than the width of the filter in figures 1, 2, 19-24, a correct pull-out in the center of the filter 2 itself is necessary to avoid bending. In the central part of the variant of the pull-out mechanism 72, a central pull-out mechanism 75 is arranged, which is driven by a transverse shaft 8 for synchronous rotation with the pull-out mechanisms of the motor-driven side variant 76 and the driven side variant 77. The stiffening of the draw-out mechanism of variant 72 is achieved by having an upper current 78 connected to the two sides, the motor-driving side 76 and the driven side 77, and a central driven draw-out mechanism 75. Tilting of the mechanism is obtained similarly to the fifth configuration of the fixed structure 60. The resulting tilting structure is stiff, since the sleeve 79 of the central draw-out mechanism allows the passage of the lower current 61 and the upper current 78 in the current housing seats 80, which are also present in the sleeves on the motor-driving side 81 and the driven side 82.

[0042] The use of the motorized air filter in a ventilation air inlet according to the invention is carried out as disclosed below, in which the positioning of the motorized filter in the wall of the casing 4 is carried out by placing a dispenser 1 of the rolled filter 2 above the suction air inlet 3. Whereas in manual use said positioning may be inaccurate, in the motorized filter disclosed here said positioning must be approximately horizontal in order to allow correct withdrawal of the filter 2 of known type fabric material.

[0043] For the correct positioning of the dispenser 1, and thus of the withdrawal mechanism 5, 29, 35 or 45, a positioning template is used, not shown, similar to the adjustable template 39, which has a body and a recess obtained at the predetermined width for the particular filter 2 to be attached. This positioning template may have a recess formed in a groove 44 to receive the end of the dispenser 1, as well as the recess 41 itself, which is located at the predetermined width of the dispenser 1.

[0044] If the motorized filter 2 is instead included in an assembly set with the possibility of making subsequent variations in the use of the pull-out mechanism 29 or 35 at different widths of the dispenser 1, the mechanism itself includes a positioning at a preset width of the filter 2, i.e. it can be used even with changing dimensions of different suction air inlets 3. In this case, the assembly set, in addition to the adjustable template 39 already disclosed, is made up of a set of pressers 9 for the pull-out mechanism 35 for use at the width of the predetermined scale width 52, and also includes a set of transverse shafts 8, necessary for the pull-out mechanism 29. This assembly set combination is useful for users who need to gradually position the motorized filter at different points of the machine that need to be protected from dust, i.e. at the suction air inlets, the width of which is not known at the time of purchase of the motorized filter disclosed here, but when changing machines, the user wants to place the motorized filter of the invention on the new machine.

[0045] Furthermore, the configuration of the pull-out mechanism allows the number of parts in the configuration, i.e. simplifying the material that needs to be stocked, to be quickly, easily and simply obtained by the purchaser a motorized filter 2 of the desired width by assembling parts of different widths and pressure feet 9 of different widths or in a configuration with a fixed width of the connecting bracket 23 or the lower connecting bracket 43 and the lateral shaft 8. These pressure feet 9 and / or lateral shaft 8 can then be combined into a motorized filter assembly set with maximum versatility as disclosed.

[0046] After assembling the motorized filter, the user selects the pull-out operating mode. In the different pull-out modes, the movement of the pull-out mechanism is always the same. In fact, when switched on, the lever mechanism 12 always starts to rotate in the same direction by moving the circular cam 32 and pressing the microswitch 33, which causes the crank button 13 to rotate and causes the lever mechanism 12 to carry out all the stages shown in figures 3, 4, 5 and 6. During the stage of pressing the pull-out device 15 against the filter 2, the filter itself is pulled out by a preset length with each cycle, i.e. by rotating the crank button. During the pressing of the pull-out device 15 against the filter, the wheel 17 moves away from the contrast cam 18 and the elastic means 20 continue to keep the pressure of the pull-out device 15 against the filter 2 constant, ensuring said pressure and allowing the pull-out to be obtained. By continuing the rotation, the crank button 13 moves the movable lever presser 14 away from the filter 2 and returns said movable lever presser to the starting position by the contact between the wheel 17 and the contrast cam 18. That position is reached when the circular cam 32 causes the microswitch 33 to block said rotation, and the same is completed with the rotation angle.

[0047] The rotary movement from the motor drive side 6 is mechanically transmitted in synchronism to the lever mechanism 12 present on the driven side 7. The lever mechanism 12 of the driven side does not have either the circular cam 32 or the microswitch 33. In the third configuration of Figs. 19 and 20, each side is a motor drive side 36, which is equipped with the same electric and mechanical means for moving the corresponding lever mechanism 12. Furthermore, the motor drive side 36 has an electronic synchronization board 37, which allows the switching on of the simultaneous cycles of the two lever mechanisms. The electronic control and command board 27 of the motor drive side in this case can be present on one or both of the motor drive sides. In the case of two electronic boards 27, only one of them is active, controls the operating mode of the motorized filter and interfaces to the electronic synchronization board of the motor drive side on which it operates. The electronic control and command board and the electronic synchronization board of the same motor drive side can be obtained together in this third configuration in a single interface board of the pull-out mechanism 36.

[0048] Additionally, the disclosed motorized filter in its various forms has an Ether connection to an electronic circuit board 27 that coordinates the overall control and command of the motorized filter. An activated data connection of known type with the smartphone, for example via Wi-Fi, exchanges data regarding the status of the motorized filter it controls, providing a maintenance technician checking the proper operation of the motorized filter with updates regarding its operating status, the expected lifespan of the filter 2, i.e. the need to replace the dispenser 1 in the future, as well as any blockages or malfunctions that may have occurred in the motorized filter.

[0049] In the fifth configuration, tilting is provided to facilitate the introduction of a new filter 2 when replacing a roll of filter fabric. The previous configurations described above can cause discomfort when introducing a filter 2 with a thick filter fabric, and in fact it has been found that the introduction is cumbersome with thick fabrics if the pressure foot 9 is maintained in the position of Figs. 1-22 when replacing the filter. This fifth configuration, Figs. 23-37, including the variant with the central pull-out device 75, is therefore very practical and allows the maintenance technician to easily introduce the leading edge of a new roll of filter 2 into the open pull-out mechanism 57 or 72. The opening is operated by the maintenance technician pressing the hook lever 66 with his finger, in contrast to which he also presses the gripping surface 70 below each hook lever. By rotating, the tilting pull-out mechanism 57 or 72 allows the pressure foot 9 to be moved away from the connecting bracket 23 to facilitate the introduction of the leading edge of the filter. The closure is simply achieved by repositioning the extraction mechanism and lever hook 66 inside the respective retention notches 67 of the fixing structure 60 .

[0050] The advantages of using a powered air filter in the ventilation air inlet can be summarized as follows:

[0051] The motorized filters of the invention disclosed herein are easy to assemble, both motorized filters with mechanical synchronization and motorized filters with electronic synchronization. The selection of the withdrawal mode, whether timed with a precise preset time or duration, whether continuous or as steps performed successively, or by verification of the parameters of the filter availability (optical sensor) or the functions required for the machine, is easy, since these options are programmable from the control panel 11 where each withdrawal mechanism is present, in all the configurations disclosed. That is, due to the presence of a data connection via ether to a maintenance technician, it is easy to verify the specific parameters set for the intervention timing, i.e. start-stop timing, or even switching on as a function of the clogging of the filter itself, determined by the user, or detected by the optical sensor 55 and transmitted to the electronic circuit board 27, and controlled externally by the setting commands for the specific installation of the motorized filter to be performed.

[0052] Furthermore, unwinding by lever mechanism 12 is practical and provides a uniform unwinding, i.e. independent of fluctuations in the delivery parameters, since used, dirty filters are not wound up. Operation is always guaranteed by battery 28, even in the absence of power supply from the external mains.

[0053] Further advantages are obtained in the manufacture of the motorized filter according to the invention. In fact, this type of filter manufacture requires obtaining dimensions in which the width of the filter 2 can range from a few tens of centimeters to a considerable length, even a meter or even more. That is, the withdrawal mechanism in all its configurations reduces the inventory, i.e. the number of parts forming the above-mentioned parts can be kept low, but since the withdrawal mechanism can be adapted to a dispenser of a specific width, motorized filters with widths that exceed the standard can be obtained quickly. That is, the resizing of the motorized filter is practical and economical.

[0054] Furthermore, the practicality of introducing a new replacement roll of filter fabric into the filter 2, which is made possible by the fifth configuration, is particularly advantageous in all installations in which frequent replacement of the roll of said filter is required.

[0055] Finally, this versatility is also offered to the maintenance technician using the motorized filter, who can position it at the width of the filter 2 that he must specifically use if it is not the one provided by the manufacturer. In this case, as can be seen in Figures 19 and 20, the only part that has to be adapted to the unexpected width is the pressure foot 9, while the adjustable template 39 can also be adjusted to intermediate values ​​of the available width scale 52.

[0056] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make numerous modifications to the powered ventilation air inlet air filter as described above to meet specific contingency requirements, all of which are within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims. Furthermore, the filter collection tray 10 is optional since its use is a maintenance user's choice.

Claims

1. An electric air filter for a ventilation air inlet (3) present in a casing (4) of a machine or electrical device requiring filtration of the drawn-in air, comprising a dispenser (1) with a roll filter (2) and a filter withdrawing mechanism (5, 29, 35, 40) for withdrawing the roll filter from the dispenser, 45) has a lever mechanism (12) in which a movable lever presser (14) is pressed against the roll filter (2) by an extracting device (15) present at its front end (16) and extracts the roll filter downwards by a predetermined length in each extraction cycle, the filter extracting mechanism is provided on both sides of the roll filter (2) dispensed by the dispenser (1), the filter extracting mechanism on each side is provided with the lever mechanism (12), the two lever mechanisms of the same filter extracting mechanism have the same extraction length and are driven synchronously and perform a full cycle in each extraction operation, and the lever mechanism (12) is connected to an electric motor (26) on at least one side of the filter extracting mechanism.

2. 2. The electric air filter of claim 1, wherein the lever mechanism (12) includes a crank button (13) by which the movable lever retainer (14) swings, and a tracking wheel (17) at a rear end (19) of the movable lever retainer that contacts a contrast cam (18).

3. 3. The electric air filter according to claim 1, wherein a presser (9) is disposed near the pull-out surface of the roll filter (2) and at a position preceding the pull-out point of the pull-out device (15) for maintaining the roll filter (2) in intimate contact with the pull-out surface.

4. In the electric air filter according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the movable lever presser (14) and the pulling device (15) are associated with elastic means (20) which presses the pulling device against the unwound roll filter (2), and the elastic means retracts the movable lever presser (14) so ​​as to return it to its starting point upon completion of an extraction cycle of the lever mechanism.

5. 3. The electric air filter according to claim 2, wherein the crank button (13) is associated with a circular cam (32) which, during rotation of the circular cam (32), contacts a rotation cycle stop microswitch (33).

6. 4. The electric air filter according to claim 3, wherein the exit surface is the same surface of the casing (4) on which the suction air inlet (3) in which the electric air filter is located is present.

7. In the electric air filter according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the filter pulling mechanism is divided into two sides, having a motor driving side (6) and a driven side (7), and the drive synchronization of the two lever mechanisms (12) is obtained by a lateral shaft (8) connecting them.

8. The electric air filter according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the filter pull-out mechanism (35) is divided into two sides, both of which are motor-driven sides (36), and the drive synchronization of the two lever mechanisms (12) is achieved by an electronic signal connection via Ether between electronic circuit boards (27, 37) for controlling and commanding the lever mechanisms present on each motor-driven side.

9. 8. The electric air filter according to claim 7, wherein the motor-driven side (6) and the driven side (7) of the filter pull-out mechanism (5, 45) are connected to a structure by a connecting bracket (33) or a lower connecting bracket (43).

10. 8. A set of pull-out mechanisms with an electric air filter according to claim 7, comprising: a dispenser (1) having a roll filter (2) wound on a roll; a filter pull-out mechanism (29, 35) having a permanent fixed magnet (30) present in a sleeve (31) on each side (6, 7 or 35) of the filter pull-out mechanism; a set of pressers (9) having a length equal to the expected width of the roll filter (2); a set of lateral shafts (8) for connecting the motor-driven side (6) and the driven side (7) with a length equal to the expected width of the roll filter (2); and an adjustable template (39) for positioning both the dispenser (1) and the filter pull-out mechanism (29 or 35).

11. 6. The electric air filter according to claim 1, wherein the filter pull-out mechanism (57, 72) is divided into two sides, a motor drive side (58) and a driven side (59), the drive synchronization of the two lever mechanisms (12) is obtained by a transverse shaft (8) connecting them, there is a lower stiffening current (61) with a presser (9) to connect the two sides, the filter pull-out mechanism is tilted on a fixed structure (60) by means of a pin (62) and its rotation seat (65) in the sleeves of both the motor drive side and the driven side, the fixed structure is provided with a connecting bracket (23) with a magnetic grip on a casing (4) in which a suction inlet (3) is present, and a hook lever (66) allows the opening and closing of the tilt of the filter pull-out mechanism and the grip of the filter pull-out mechanism against the retention notch (67) of the fixed structure.

12. 12. The electric air filter of claim 11, wherein there is a gripping surface (70) coupled to the hook lever and to a sleeve on each of the tilting sides of the motor driven side (58) and the driven side (59) for facilitating manual actuation of the hook lever (66) by an operator.

13. In the electric air filter according to claim 11 or 12, when a dispenser for a roll filter (2) on a wide roll is present which is of the modular dispenser type (74), the filter pull-out mechanism has a further central driven pull-out mechanism (75) rigidly connected to the tilting motor-driven side variant (76) and to the tilting driven side variant (77) by a further upper stiffening current (78), the central driven pull-out mechanism being formed by a mechanism similar to the filter pull-out mechanisms present on the two sides and acting like the filter pull-out mechanisms.

14. 14. The electric air filter according to claim 13, characterized in that the variant of the filter pull-out mechanism (72) in which both the lower stiffening current (61) and the upper stiffening current (78) are accommodated in special fixed seats (80) provided on the sleeve (80) in the central drive pull-out mechanism (75) and on the sleeve (80) in the tilting motor-driven side variant and in the tilting drive side variant.

15. A set of pull-out mechanisms with an electric air filter according to claim 13 or 14, wherein in addition to the dispenser (1) of the roll filter (2), a tilting pull-out mechanism (57) with a presser (9) is present with a lower stiffening current (61) and a lateral axis (8) of a length adapted for use with the dispenser, and in addition, in the case of a modular dispenser (74), the upper stiffening current (78) further has a length adapted for use with the filter pull-out mechanism (72) which tilts the tilting motor-driven side variant (76) and the tilting driven side variant (77).

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