Air conditioners

Abstract

To provide an air conditioner in which a drying operation to be executed after cleaning a heat exchanger is executed surely.SOLUTION: When a detector 120 as opening / closing detection means detects that a water pouring port 23 is opened / closed by a water pouring lid 90 as opening / closing switching means, and after that, a water level sensor 62 detects that the water level in a drain tank 51 has risen, a control part 55 drives a sirocco fan 42 only for predetermined time. As a drying operation is executed only in the case where washing water is surely poured by a user, generation of molds and bacteria can be prevented which is caused by water content being left in a heat exchanger 46, and the drying operation being executed even when the washing water is not poured can be prevented.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 21

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioner. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, this type of system performs a dehumidification operation in which low-temperature refrigerant is cooled by passing it through a heat exchanger that functions as an evaporator, and a blower fan is driven to blow air through the heat exchanger, causing condensation water to adhere to the heat exchanger and dehumidifying the room. When the dehumidification operation is completed and low-temperature refrigerant is no longer passing through the heat exchanger, the blower fan is driven for a predetermined time to perform a drying operation to dry the heat exchanger, preventing the growth of mold and bacteria caused by moisture remaining in the heat exchanger (for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2005-334795 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, this conventional system cannot remove dust that has adhered to the heat exchanger. One possible solution to this problem is for the user to pour cleaning water into the heat exchanger to remove dust, but unless a drying operation is performed in which the blower fan is turned on to dry the heat exchanger after it is reliably detected that water has been poured into the heat exchanger, the growth of mold and bacteria in the heat exchanger cannot be prevented, so there is room for improvement. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to solve the above problem, the present invention provides a housing and A blower fan that is housed in the housing and draws air into the housing; a heat exchanger housed in the housing and performing heat exchange with the air sucked in by the blower fan; a water inlet for cleaning water formed in the housing for cleaning the heat exchanger; An open / close switching means is provided at the water inlet and is capable of switching between opening and closing the water inlet; an open / close detection means for detecting that the water inlet has been opened or closed by the open / close switching means; a flush water receiver disposed vertically above the heat exchanger and having a drain hole for discharging the flush water poured through the water pouring port to the heat exchanger; a drain tank into which the cleaning water flows after dropping from the drain hole of the cleaning water receiver and cleaning the heat exchanger; A water level sensor that detects the water level of the drain tank; a control unit that controls the operation of the blower fan based on the water level of the drain tank detected by the water level sensor, The control unit is characterized in that after the opening / closing detection means detects that the water inlet has been opened or closed by the opening / closing switching means, when the water level sensor detects that the water level in the drain tank has risen, it drives the blower fan for a predetermined period of time.

[0006] In addition, claim 2 is characterized in that the control unit is configured to lengthen the specified time for driving the blower fan as the amount of rise in the water level in the drain tank detected by the water level sensor increases.

[0007] In claim 3, the open / close switching means is composed of a water inlet cover having a water inlet section supported retractably on the housing, which closes the water inlet and receives the flush water when pulled out from the housing, and a drain section which is located at least vertically above the flush water receptacle when pulled out from the housing and drains the flush water received by the water inlet section into the flush water receptacle, The opening / closing detection means is characterized by comprising a detector that detects when the water pouring port cover is pulled out from the water pouring port. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to this invention, after the heat exchanger has been reliably cleaned with cleaning water, a drying operation can be carried out to dry the heat exchanger, thereby preventing the growth of mold and bacteria in the heat exchanger. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is an external perspective view of a dehumidifier according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is a left side view of the dehumidifier with the front and rear frames removed. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] Diagram explaining the structure around the drain tank of a dehumidifier [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic functional block diagram showing a functional configuration of the dehumidifier. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the water inlet palate mainly from above. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram particularly showing the flush lever disposed on the rear frame. [Figure 13] FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the water inlet of the rear frame from the rear. [Figure 15] A cross-sectional view showing the relationship between the water inlet and the water inlet cover from the rear and right. [Figure 16] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the water inlet and the water inlet cover from the front and left. [Figure 17] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the water storage section drain hole in a closed state from the front. [Figure 18] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view from the left showing the water storage section drain hole in a closed state. [Figure 19] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the water storage section drain hole from the front in an open state. [Figure 20] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view from the left showing the water storage section drain hole in an open state. [Figure 21] 5 is a flowchart illustrating the control process from cleaning of the heat exchanger to stopping of the drying operation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] An embodiment of an air conditioner according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, the air conditioner according to the present invention will be described as being applied to a dehumidifier 1 that uses a vapor compression refrigeration cycle to condense moisture contained in the air and dehumidify it.

[0011] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a dehumidifier 1 according to the present embodiment.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a left side view of the dehumidifier 1 with the front frame 11 and rear frame 12 removed.

[0013] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the dehumidifier 1. As shown in FIG.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the structure around the drain tank 51 of the dehumidifier 1. As shown in FIG.

[0015] FIG. 5 is a schematic functional block diagram showing the functional configuration of the dehumidifier 1. As shown in FIG.

[0016] In the following description, the definitions of front, back, up, down, left and right will be used in accordance with the drawings. Note that the vertical direction is the up-down direction, and the horizontal direction is a direction included in the plane directions including the front, back, left and right directions.

[0017] The dehumidifier 1 has a housing 10 that forms the exterior of the dehumidifier 1. The housing 10 has a front frame 11, a rear frame 12, a rear frame decorative plate 13, an upper panel 14, and a base 15.

[0018] The front frame 11 and the rear frame 12 are combined with each other to form a housing 10 that faces in the front-rear direction of the dehumidifier 1.

[0019] The rear frame 12 has an intake port 21, a tank insertion port 22, a water inlet 23, and a lever support port 24. The intake port 21 has a plurality of slits 26, and has a filter 27 and a filter case 28 on its outer surface. The filter 27 is made of a resin net or nonwoven fabric, and removes dust and odor components mixed into the intake air. The filter case 28 fixes the filter 27 to the intake port 21. The tank insertion port 22 is disposed below the intake port 21, and the drain tank 51 is inserted and removed from here. The water inlet 23 and the lever support port 24 are disposed above the intake port 21 (details will be described later). The rear frame decorative plate 13 is attached to the upper part of the rear frame 12 to conceal parts of the rear frame 12 that should not be seen.

[0020] The top panel 14 is disposed above the combined front frame 11 and rear frame 12, forming the housing 10 facing upward. The top panel 14 has an air outlet 31, an operation unit 32, and an LED display unit 33. The air outlet 31 is disposed on the surface of the top panel 14 facing upward. The air outlet 31 has a louver unit 35 that can control the blowing direction of the dry air from diagonally above to the horizontal direction. The louver unit 35 has louvers 36 and a louver motor 37 that drives the louvers 36.

[0021] The operation unit 32 and the LED display unit 33 are disposed on a surface that slopes diagonally downward from the top surface. The operation unit 32 is a touch panel that realizes, for example, an operation switch, a timer switch, an operation mode selection switch, etc. The LED display unit 33 displays the operation state of the dehumidifier 1, etc., by the lighting state of an LED (Light Emitting Diode).

[0022] The base 15 is disposed below the combined front frame 11 and rear frame 12, and serves as a foundation for the dehumidifier 1.

[0023] The dehumidifier 1 has, as its main internal components housed in the housing 10, a fan case 41, a sirocco fan 42, a blower motor 43, a compressor 45, a heat exchanger 46, a drain pan 49, a drain tank 51, and a control unit 55.

[0024] The fan case 41 is disposed on the base 15 and mainly supports and positions a sirocco fan 42 serving as a blower fan, a blower motor 43, and a drain tank 51.

[0025] Sirocco fan 42 rotates by the rotation of blower motor 43, drawing air in through suction port 21 and forming a flow of air that is blown out through air outlet 31. Sirocco fan 42 and blower motor 43 are attached to fan case 41 so that their rotation axes are aligned in the front-rear direction.

[0026] The compressor 45 is fixed on the base 15, and is connected to the heat exchanger 46 via a pipe 45a and a pressure reducing device 45b.

[0027] The heat exchanger 46 exchanges heat with the air sucked through the suction port 21. The heat exchanger 46 has an evaporator 46a arranged in a position close to the suction port 21, and a condenser 46b arranged forward of the evaporator 46a. The evaporator 46a and the condenser 46b are fin-tube type heat exchangers in which fins 48 are attached to a U-shaped refrigerant tube 47. As shown in FIG. 2, the refrigerant tube 47 has a plurality of straight portions 47a extending horizontally (left-right direction) and a bent portion 47b that bends in the up-down direction and connects the two straight portions 47a, and the straight portions 47a and the bent portions 47b appear continuously along the length of the refrigerant tube 47.

[0028] The compressor 45, the pipe 45a, the pressure reducing device 45b, and the heat exchanger 46 form a refrigeration cycle through which the refrigerant flows. The refrigeration cycle includes the compressor 45, the condenser 46b, the pressure reducing device 45b, and the evaporator 46a in the order in which the refrigerant flows. When the refrigerant flows through the evaporator 46a, it absorbs heat from the air passing through the evaporator 46a and evaporates. When the refrigerant flows through the condenser 46b, it reheats and condenses the air passing through the condenser 46b. As a result, the air sucked in from the suction port 21 is cooled and dehumidified by the evaporator 46a after dust and odor components are removed by the filter 27, and then heated by the condenser 46b and discharged from the air outlet 31 as low-humidity air.

[0029] The drain pan 49 supports and fixes the heat exchanger 46 from below on the front-to-rear direction opposite to the side of the fan case 41 where the sirocco fan 42 is arranged. The drain pan 49 supports the heat exchanger 46 in the front-to-rear and left-to-right directions by engaging with the refrigerant pipes 47 and fins 48 located below the heat exchanger 46. The drain pan 49 has a drain outlet 49a, which receives drain water generated and falling in the evaporator 46a and washing water used to wash the evaporator 46a, and discharges them from this drain outlet 49a.

[0030] The drain tank 51 stores wastewater discharged from the drain outlet 49a of the drain pan 49. The drain tank 51 is attached to and detached from the housing 10 by sliding in the front-rear direction from the tank insertion opening 22. The drain tank 51 inserted into the housing 10 is disposed in a tank chamber 41b formed by the fan case 41.

[0031] The drain tank 51 has a tank lid 54. The tank lid 54 has a wastewater inlet 54a, and drain water and the like that drips from the drain outlet 49a of the drain pan 49 drops into the drain tank 51 through the wastewater inlet 54a and is stored therein.

[0032] A water level sensor 62 made of a metal plate is installed on the side of the drain tank 51 and is capable of detecting the water level in the drain tank 51 from a change in capacitance value caused by a rise in the water level. The water level sensor 62 is connected to the control unit 55 by wiring (not shown) and transmits detected water level information in the drain tank 51 to the control unit 55. By transmitting water level information in the drain tank 51 based on the changed capacitance value from the water level sensor 62 to the control unit 55, the control unit 55 controls the operation of each unit based on the water level in the drain tank 51.

[0033] The control unit 55 is supported by the case 56 and disposed to the left of the fan case 41. The control unit 55 electrically controls each unit, such as the louver motor 37, the blower motor 43, the compressor 45, and the LED display unit 33, based on instructions from the operation unit 32 or a program stored in advance, thereby comprehensively controlling the operation of the dehumidifier 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 55 has a memory unit 57 and a timer 58. The memory unit 57 stores operation programs for each unit. The timer 58 measures time for timer operation of the dehumidifier 1. The control unit 55 also controls the operation of each unit based on the detection result of the water inlet 23 being opened or closed by a detector 120 serving as an open / close detection means, which will be described later.

[0034] The control unit 55 has a temperature sensor 59 and a humidity sensor 60. The temperature sensor 59 and the humidity sensor 60 are provided at predetermined positions on the main body of the dehumidifier 1 and measure the ambient temperature and humidity of the dehumidifier 1. The control unit 55 uses the temperature and humidity as necessary to control each unit. The notification unit 61 outputs an alarm sound based on an instruction from the control unit 55 to notify the user of the situation.

[0035] The dehumidifier 1 further has, as internal parts housed in the housing 10, a cleaning water receiver 70, a drain hole holder 80, a water inlet cover 90, and a cleaning lever 100.

[0036] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the flush water receiver 70 and the drain hole holder 80. As shown in FIG.

[0037] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the wash water receiver 70 mainly from above.

[0038] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG.

[0039] 2, the cleaning water receiver 70 is disposed vertically above the heat exchanger 46 and to the rear of the fan case 41. The cleaning water receiver 70 has the function of storing cleaning water for cleaning the heat exchanger 46, draining the stored cleaning water, and supporting the heat exchanger 46. The cleaning water receiver 70 has a water storage section 71, an overflow section 74, a support piece 76, and a heat exchanger presser 79.

[0040] The water storage section 71 is a storage space for flushing water that opens upward. The water storage section 71 is disposed at least above the evaporator 46a. The water storage section 71 is preferably disposed over substantially the entire area of ​​the left-right length of the heat exchanger 46. The water storage section 71 has a capacity capable of storing at least a predetermined amount of flushing water (e.g., 200 ml) required for washing the heat exchanger 46. The water storage section 71 has a pair of spring stop portions 72 on the left and right outer surfaces. The water storage section 71 has a rear wall 71a, a front wall 71b, and left and right walls 71d. The front wall 71b is lower than the rear wall 71a and the left and right walls 71d. This allows flushing water to overflow from the front wall 71b when flushing water is poured in excess of the capacity of the water storage section 71.

[0041] The water storage section 71 has a water storage section drain hole 73 (drain hole) on the bottom surface 71c. The water storage section drain hole 73 is a slit-shaped hole that is preferably arranged over substantially the entire left-right length of the water storage section 71, i.e., substantially the entire left-right length of the heat exchanger 46. The water storage section drain hole 73 is arranged along the direction in which the straight portion 47a of the refrigerant pipe 47 extends. In the example of FIG. 6, the water storage section drain hole 73 is divided into two in the left-right direction. The water storage section drain hole 73 drains the cleaning water downward toward the heat exchanger 46. Specifically, the water storage section drain hole 73 is arranged above the evaporator 46a, which is close to the suction port 21 and prone to dust accumulation, and is far from electrical components such as the control section 55 and the blower motor 43, and is formed at a position that allows the drained cleaning water to reach the refrigerant pipe 47 and the fins 48 of the evaporator 46a.

[0042] The overflow section 74 is disposed in front of the water storage section 71 and above the condenser 46b. The overflow section 74 is spatially connected to the water storage section 71 above the front wall 71b of the water storage section 71. The overflow section 74 receives flush water that is poured beyond the water storage capacity of the water storage section 71 and overflows from the front wall 71b. The overflow section 74 has an overflow section drain hole 75 below. The overflow section 74 has a flush water flow path and an overflow section drain hole 75 so that the flush water is guided to the evaporator 46a side. In other words, while the overflow section 74 is positioned above the condenser 46b, the flush water is discharged to the rear evaporator 46a side.

[0043] The support piece 76 is a plate-like portion that extends forward from the front right end of the overflow portion 74. The support piece 76 has a support hole 77, and engages with a claw 41a (FIG. 2) that is arranged at a corresponding position on the fan case 41 through the support hole 77. In this way, the wash water receiver 70 is supported by the fan case 41.

[0044] The heat exchanger presser 79 is a plate-like member formed downward from the left and right ends of the cleaning water receiver 70, and having a surface direction along the up-down direction. As shown in Fig. 2, the heat exchanger presser 79 supports the heat exchanger 46 in the front-rear and left-right directions by engaging with the refrigerant pipes 47 and fins 48 located above the heat exchanger 46. The heat exchanger presser 79 also supports the heat exchanger 46 in the up-down direction by pairing with the drain pan 49 that similarly supports the heat exchanger 46.

[0045] The drain hole holder 80 is a generally frame-shaped member extending in the left-right direction that is supported against the flush water receiver 70 in order to open and close the water storage section drain hole 73 of the water storage section 71. The drain hole holder 80 has a seal portion 81, an arm portion 83, and a lever connection portion 87.

[0046] Sealing portion 81 is a lower end portion extending in the left-right direction of drain hole holder 80, and has a left-right length corresponding to the left-right length of water storage portion drain hole 73. Sealing portion 81 has a sealing member 82, and when water storage portion drain hole 73 is in a closed state, it reliably closes water storage portion drain hole 73 so that flush water stored in water storage portion 71 does not leak.

[0047] The arms 83 are disposed on the left and right ends of the drain hole holder 80, and have a pair of horizontal surfaces that face in the vertical direction. The arms 83 have a pair of spring holes 84. The pair of spring holes 84 support one ends of a pair of drain hole presser springs 85. The other ends of the pair of drain hole presser springs 85 are supported by a pair of spring stoppers 72 of the flush water receiver 70. As a result, the pair of drain hole presser springs 85 have a restoring force in the vertical direction, thereby supporting the drain hole holder 80 on the flush water receiver 70. When the drain hole holder 80 is unloaded, it is pulled downward, causing the seal portion 81 to close the water storage section drain hole 73, and when it is pulled upward against the restoring force, the seal portion 81 opens the water storage section drain hole 73.

[0048] The lever connection part 87 engages with the flush lever 100 and is the part that converts the left-right movement of the flush lever 100 into a force for operating the drain hole holder 80. The lever connection part 87 has a lever opening 88, and engages with the flush lever 100 that is inserted into the lever opening 88. Lever connection part 87 has a shape that can convert left-right movement of flush lever 100 into up-down movement of drain hole holder 80. Specifically, upper edge 88a of lever opening 88 slopes downward from right to left, so that when flush lever 100 moves to the left, drain hole holder 80 moves upward, and when flush lever 100 moves to the right, drain hole holder 80 moves downward.

[0049] FIG. 9 is a perspective view mainly showing the water inlet cover 90 from above.

[0050] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX in FIG.

[0051] The water inlet lid 90, which serves as an opening / closing switching means, normally blocks the water inlet 23, and during cleaning has the function of pouring cleaning water into the cleaning water receiver 70 from outside the housing 10. The water inlet lid 90 has a drawer shape, and is slid in the front-rear direction relative to the water inlet 23 of the rear frame 12. The water inlet lid 90 has a water inlet section 91 and a drain section 96.

[0052] The water injection section 91 is formed by a rear wall 91a, left and right walls 91b, a front wall 91c, and a bottom surface 91d, each of which extends in the vertical direction, and forms a space that is open at the top. The rear surface of the rear wall 91a is flush with the rear frame 12 and is exposed to the outside of the dehumidifier 1. The rear wall 91a has a handle 92 that extends rearward. The handle 92 is used by a user when the water injection port cover 90 is pulled out from the housing 10. The front wall 91c is formed in a lattice shape and has an opening, and flushing water poured into the water injection section 91 is drained from this opening. The front wall 91c is lower in height than the rear wall 91a and the left and right walls 91b. The left and right walls 91b extend further forward than the front wall 91c. The left and right walls 91b each have a stopper rib 93 that extends in the vertical direction on the surface facing outward.

[0053] The drainage section 96 is disposed in front of the front wall 91c and has a splash prevention wall 97 and a lower opening 98. The splash prevention wall 97 is a wall-shaped portion that slopes downward toward the front from the upper end of the front wall 91c to approximately the same plane as the bottom surface 91d of the water pouring section 91. The lower opening 98 is formed by the lower end 97a of the splash prevention wall 97, the front end 99 of the bottom surface 91d, and left and right walls 91b that connect the left and right ends of the lower end 97a and the front end 99. The lower opening 98 is located approximately above the water storage section 71 of the flush water receiver 70 when the water pouring port cover 90 is pulled out relative to the rear frame 12 and is in a state in which water can be poured.

[0054] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the flush lever 100 from the front.

[0055] FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram particularly showing the flush lever 100 disposed on the rear frame 12. As shown in FIG.

[0056] The flush lever 100 (instruction input unit) has a function of receiving an instruction from the user to open the drain hole holder 80. The flush lever 100 slides left and right relative to the lever support opening 24 of the rear frame 12. The flush lever 100 has a thin plate portion 101, a finger hook recess 102, a transmission portion 103, and a spring support portion 105.

[0057] The thin plate portion 101 is a plate-like member disposed substantially parallel to the rear surface 12a (front facing surface) of the rear frame 12. The finger hook recess 102 is formed in the substantially central portion of the thin plate portion 101 in the left-right direction, and is a substantially rectangular recessed portion toward the front. The finger hook recess 102 is hooked by the user's finger when the user moves the cleaning lever 100 to the left. The transmission portion 103 is a cylindrical portion having a substantially trapezoidal cross section that protrudes toward the front substantially perpendicularly to the thin plate portion 101. The transmission portion 103 is disposed at a position overlapping with the finger hook recess 102 when viewed in the front-rear direction. The transmission portion 103 has an upper surface 103a that faces substantially upward and is inclined downward from right to left. The transmission portion 103 has a plurality of contact ribs 104 (three in FIG. 10) on the upper surface 103a. The contact rib 104 is formed for the purpose of reducing the contact area with the upper side 88a of the lever opening 88 of the drain hole holder 80 through which the transmission portion 103 passes.

[0058] The spring support portion 105 is a small piece that rises forward from the right end side of the thin plate portion 101 and has a spring hole 106. The spring hole 106 supports one end of a lever spring 107. The other end of the lever spring 107 is supported by a spring stop portion 123 of the rear frame 12. As a result, the lever spring 107 has a restoring force in the left-right direction, thereby supporting the flush lever 100 on the rear frame 12. When no load is applied, the flush lever 100 is pulled to the right, and when it receives a force to the left from the finger hook recess 102, it slides to the left against the restoring force.

[0059] Next, the water inlet 23 and the lever support opening 24 of the rear frame 12 will be described.

[0060] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the rear frame 12 from the front.

[0061] FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the water inlet 23 of the rear frame 12 from the rear.

[0062] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing the relationship between the water inlet 23 and the water inlet cover 90, viewed from the rear and right.

[0063] FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the water inlet 23 and the water inlet cover 90 from the front and left.

[0064] The water inlet 23 has a water inlet opening 111 , a pair of guide rails 113 , a pair of lid retaining pieces 115 , an elastic claw portion 116 , and a protective wall 118 .

[0065] Water inlet opening 111 is an opening formed in rear frame 12, and corresponds to the dimensions of rear wall 91a of water inlet cover 90. A pair of guide rails 113 are members with a generally U-shaped cross section that extend forward from left and right edges 111a of water inlet opening 111. Guide rails 113 fit into grooves in left and right sides 94 of bottom surface 91d of water inlet cover 90, thereby positioning water inlet cover 90 and guiding it to slide in the front-to-rear direction.

[0066] The pair of lid retaining pieces 115 are elastic small pieces that extend forward from the left and right edges 111a of the water inlet opening 111 above the pair of guide rails 113. The pair of lid retaining pieces 115 have front ends located at positions corresponding to the anti-slip ribs 93 on the left and right walls 91b of the water inlet lid 90, and engage with the anti-slip ribs 93 in the front-to-rear direction to support the water inlet lid 90 so that it does not slide rearward unintentionally. Furthermore, when the water inlet lid 90 is pulled rearward by the user, the pair of lid retaining pieces 115 bend left and right to escape, releasing their engagement with the anti-slip ribs 93.

[0067] Elastic claw portion 116 is an elastic thin plate member with a generally U-shaped cross section that extends forward from upper edge 111b of water inlet opening 111 and extends rearward via bent portion 116a. Elastic claw portion 116 has a function of preventing water poured from water inlet opening 111 from entering the inside of housing 10 by the internal space of this U-shape. Elastic claw portion 116 has a retaining claw 117 at its tip. As shown in Fig. 14, when water inlet cover 90 is pulled rearward a required amount, retaining claw 117 catches on the upper end of front wall 91c, thereby functioning as a retainer to prevent water inlet cover 90 from being pulled out more than the required amount.

[0068] The protective wall 118 is a member with a substantially L-shaped cross section that extends forward from the upper edge 111b of the water inlet opening 111. The protective wall 118 divides the space of the water inlet opening 111 into left and right directions. As shown in FIG. 16, a detector 120 as an open / close detection means composed of a microswitch is disposed on the left side of the protective wall 118, and the protective wall 118 protects the detector 120 from flush water poured from the water inlet 23. The detector 120 detects whether the water inlet cover 90 is open or closed by contacting the left wall 91b and switching to the ON state when the water inlet cover 90 is inserted, and by not contacting the left wall 91b and switching to the OFF state when the water inlet cover 90 is pulled out. The ON / OFF state of the detector 120 is transmitted to the control unit 55. The detector 120 may be disposed so as to switch to the OFF state when the water inlet cover 90 is inserted, and to the ON state when the water inlet cover 90 is pulled out.

[0069] 12 and 13, the lever support opening 24 holds the flush lever 100 so that it can slide left and right relative to the rear frame 12. The lever support opening 24 has a support opening 121, a pair of guide rails 122, and a spring stop portion 123 (FIG. 12).

[0070] The support opening 121 exposes the finger recess 102 and a part of the thin plate portion 101 of the flushing lever 100 from the rear frame 12, enabling the user to perform a sliding operation via the finger recess 102.

[0071] The pair of guide rails 122 are disposed on the rear surface 12a of the rear frame 12, above and below the upper and lower edges 121a of the support opening 121, and parallel to the upper and lower edges 121a. The pair of guide rails 122 fit into grooves in the upper and lower edges 101a (FIGS. 11 and 12) of the thin plate portion 101 of the flushing lever 100, thereby positioning the flushing lever 100 and guiding its sliding in the left and right directions.

[0072] The spring stop portion 123 is disposed on the rear surface 12a of the rear frame 12, to the right of the right edge 121b of the support opening 121. The spring stop portion 123 supports the other end of the lever spring 107, as described above.

[0073] Next, the cleaning process for the heat exchanger 46 in the dehumidifier 1 will be specifically described.

[0074] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing the water storage section drain hole 73 in a closed state, as viewed from the front.

[0075] FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing the water storage section drain hole 73 in a closed state, as viewed from the left.

[0076] FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view showing the water storage section drain hole 73 in an open state, as viewed from the front.

[0077] FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view from the left showing the water storage section drain hole 73 in an open state.

[0078] The dehumidifier 1 is operated for a certain period of time, and when it becomes time for the heat exchanger 46 to be cleaned, the cleaning process is started by the user.

[0079] In the cleaning process, first, the water inlet cover 90 is pulled out by the user, and a predetermined amount of water is poured into the water inlet section 91 as cleaning water. At this time, if the water is poured with force, there is a risk that the water will splash on the bottom surface 91d and the left and right walls 91b. However, the elastic claw section 116 of the U-shaped water inlet 23 isolates the water inlet section 91 from the inside of the housing 10, preventing water from entering the inside of the housing 10. In addition, the protective wall 118 isolates the detector 120 from the water inlet section 91, thereby preventing water from adhering to the detector 120.

[0080] The flushing water is drained from an opening formed by the lattice of the front wall 91c. At this time, the lattice-shaped front wall 91c prevents foreign objects from flowing down and prevents the user's fingers from entering inside. The flushing water falls downward from the lower opening 98 of the drainage section 96. The fallen flushing water is stored in the water storage section 71 of the flushing water receiver 70. At this time, there is a risk that more water than the capacity of the water storage section 71 will be poured from the water pouring port 23. To cope with this, the overflow section 74 can receive the water overflowing from the front wall 71b and lead it to the evaporator 46a side, which is the object to be washed, from the overflow section drainage hole 75, thereby preventing the water from unintentionally entering the inside of the housing 10.

[0081] Once a predetermined amount of water has been poured and water pouring port 90 is closed, an instruction to open drain hole holder 80 is received from the user. Specifically, the user slides flush lever 100 to the left via finger hook recess 102, causing transmission part 103 to move left and transmit force to lever connection part 87 which is connected via lever opening 88. Lever connection part 87 converts the left-right movement of flush lever 100 into up-down movement as described above. This causes drain hole holder 80 to rise.

[0082] When the drain hole holder 80 rises, the water storage drain hole 73 is opened and the flush water stored in the water storage 71 is drained. The flush water flows down from above the evaporator 46a, removing dust adhering to the evaporator 46a. The flush water and dust that flows down reach the drain pan 49 and are discharged into the drain tank 51, just like the drain water that falls from the evaporator 46a.

[0083] At this time, since flush water is drained after a predetermined amount of flush water is stored in the water storage section 71, the flush water is drained with more force than, for example, when the water is poured from the water inlet 23 and led to the heat exchanger 46 without being stored. This makes it easier to remove dust from the evaporator 46a.

[0084] When all the water in the water storage section 71 has been drained, the flush lever 100 is released from the user's operation and automatically slides to the right and automatically returns to its normal position due to the restoring force of the lever spring 107. At the same time, the drain hole holder 80 also automatically moves downward due to the restoring force of the drain hole holder spring 85 and returns to its normal position, closing the water storage section drain hole 73.

[0085] In the dehumidifier 1, dust accumulated in the heat exchanger 46 is washed away with cleaning water. For example, the moisture in the dust can be removed by simply blowing air over it to dry it. Compared to removing dust by hand, the dehumidifier 1 can remove the dust itself, making it more hygienic. is.

[0086] Next, the cleaning process and the subsequent drying operation in the dehumidifier 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0087] First, when the user presses the operation mode switch on the operation unit 32 and the compressor 45 and the blower motor 43 are operating at a predetermined rotation speed, the control unit 55 judges whether the user has pulled the water inlet lid 90 out of the water inlet 23 and the detector 120 has switched to the OFF state (step S101), and if it judges that the detector 120 is in the OFF state, it stops the driving of the compressor 45 and the blower motor 43 to put the device in an operation stop state, and checks the water level of the drain tank 51 detected by the water level sensor 62 and stores it in the memory unit 57 (step S102). If the control unit 55 judges in step S101 that the water inlet lid 90 has not been pulled out of the water inlet 23 and the detector 120 has not switched to the OFF state, it repeats the judgment of step S101.

[0088] If the user pours water through the water inlet lid 90 and operates the flush lever 100, causing the drain hole holder 80 to rise and flush water collected in the flush water receiver 70 to fall into the evaporator 46a, and the sirocco fan 42 is operating at the same time, the flush water will be guided in the direction of the outlet 31 and blown out, which may wet the area around the dehumidifier 1. By stopping the operation of the dehumidifier 1 when the user pulls the water inlet lid 90 out of the water inlet 23, the flush water is prevented from blowing out from the outlet 31.

[0089] If the operation is stopped at the time of the judgment in step S101 and the compressor 45 and the blower motor 43 are not driven, the operation is maintained in the stopped state.

[0090] After performing the process of step S102, the control unit 55 determines whether the user has inserted the water inlet cover 90 into the water inlet 23 and the detector 120 has switched to the ON state (step S103). If it is determined that the detector 120 has switched to the ON state, the control unit 55 starts counting the elapsed time with the timer 58, and determines whether a predetermined waiting time (e.g., 3 minutes) has elapsed since the detector 120 switched to the ON state based on the timer count with the timer 58 (step S104). If the control unit 55 determines in step S103 that the detector 120 has not switched to the ON state, it repeats the determination of step S103. If the control unit 55 determines in step S104 that 3 minutes have not elapsed since the detector 120 switched to the ON state, it repeats the determination of step S104.

[0091] When the control unit 55 determines in step S104 that three minutes have passed since the detector 120 was switched to the ON state, it compares the water level in the drain tank 51 detected by the water level sensor 62 with the water level detected in step S102 and stored in the memory unit 57 to determine whether the water level has risen (step S105). If the control unit 55 determines in step S105 that the water level in the drain tank 51 has risen, it presumes that the evaporator 46a has been washed with washing water and proceeds to the next step, and if it determines that the water level has not risen, it presumes that the evaporator 46a has not been washed with washing water and ends control.

[0092] The water level in the drain tank 51 is compared with the water level when the water inlet lid 90 is pulled out from the water inlet 23. If the water level has risen, it can be determined that the evaporator 46a has been washed by the user pouring water in and that the washing water after washing the evaporator 46a has flowed into the drain tank 51. If the water level has not risen, it can be determined that the user mistakenly opened and closed the water inlet lid 90 from the water inlet 23 and that the evaporator 46a has not been washed. Whether the evaporator 46a has been washed with washing water can be reliably determined based on whether the water level in the drain tank 51 has risen, and if the evaporator 46a has not been washed, the control is terminated, so that the drying operation performed after step S106 can be prevented from being wasted.

[0093] If the control unit 55 determines in step S105 that the water level in the drain tank 51 is rising, it determines whether the amount of rise in the water level in the drain tank 51 is greater than a predetermined reference value (step S106). If the control unit 55 determines in step S106 that the amount of rise in the water level is greater than the predetermined reference value, it sets the predetermined time of the drying operation time to a long time (e.g., 30 minutes), starts counting with the timer 58, drives the blower motor 43, and starts the drying operation in which the sirocco fan 42 is driven at a predetermined rotation speed (e.g., minimum rotation speed) (step S107). If the control unit 55 determines that the amount of rise in the water level is equal to or less than the predetermined reference value, it sets the predetermined time of the drying operation time to a short time (e.g., 20 minutes), starts counting with the timer 58, drives the blower motor 43, and starts the drying operation in which the sirocco fan 42 is driven at a predetermined rotation speed (e.g., minimum rotation speed) (step S108).

[0094] After performing the process of step S107 or step S108, control unit 55 judges whether the count value of timer 58 has reached the drying operation time set in step S107 or step S108 (step S109). If control unit 55 judges in step S109 that the drying operation time has elapsed, it stops driving sirocco fan 42 to stop the drying operation and terminates control (step S110), and if it judges that the drying operation time has not elapsed, it repeats the judgment of step S109.

[0095] During the flushing operation of the evaporator 46a, there is variation in the amount of flush water poured by the user through the water pouring port 90, which results in differences in the degree to which the evaporator 46a is wetted by the flush water that has dropped from the flush water receiver 70. Since the amount of rise in the water level in the drain tank 51 changes depending on the amount of flush water poured, the amount of flush water poured can be estimated based on the amount of rise in the water level in the drain tank 51. When the amount of rise in the water level in the drain tank 51 is greater than a predetermined reference value, it can be estimated that more flush water is poured and the evaporator 46a is more wet than when the amount is equal to or less than the predetermined reference value.

[0096] In the step S106, when the amount of rise in the water level of the drain tank 51 is greater than a predetermined reference value and it is estimated that the evaporator 46a is highly wet, the drying operation time of the evaporator 46a is set to be longer than when the amount of rise in the water level of the drain tank 51 is equal to or less than a predetermined reference value, so that it is possible to prevent mold growth due to insufficient drying of the evaporator 46a after cleaning with cleaning water. Also, in the step S106, when the amount of rise in the water level of the drain tank 51 is equal to or less than a predetermined reference value and it is estimated that the evaporator 46a is not highly wet, the drying operation time of the evaporator 46a is set to be shorter, so that it is possible to prevent the drying operation from continuing for a long time even though the evaporator 46a is dry.

[0097] In this embodiment, the amount of rise in the water level in the drain tank 51 is compared with a predetermined reference value in step S106, and the drying operation time is set to a fixed value such as 30 minutes or 20 minutes, but this is not limited to the above. For example, a variable value may be set for the drying operation time, which is longer in proportion to the amount of rise in the water level in the drain tank 51. This sets the drying operation time to be longer as the user pours more flush water, thereby preventing mold and bacteria from growing in the evaporator 46a due to insufficient drying of the evaporator 46a, and preventing the drying operation from continuing for a long time even though the evaporator 46a is dry.

[0098] During drying operation, the blower motor 43 is driven at the lowest possible rotation speed. After washing with wash water, there is a possibility that a small amount of water droplets that do not fall into the drain pan 49 may remain in the evaporator 46a. During drying operation, if the blower motor 43 is driven at a high rotation speed to increase the amount of air blown by the sirocco fan 42, water adhering to the evaporator 46a may be guided toward the outlet 31, which may result in the water being blown out from the outlet 31. During drying operation, by driving the blower motor 43 at the lowest possible rotation speed, the evaporator 46a can be dried while preventing water from being blown out from the outlet 31.

[0099] Next, the effects of the present invention will be described.

[0100] The control unit 55 drives the sirocco fan 42 for a predetermined time after the water inlet 23 is opened or closed by the water inlet lid 90 as the open / close switching means, which is detected by the detector 120 as the open / close detection means, and then detects that the water level in the drain tank 51 has risen by the water level sensor 62. By detecting the opening and closing of the water inlet lid 90 by the detector 120, it can be presumed that flush water has been poured by the user, but there is a possibility that the water inlet lid 90 has been opened and closed by mistake. If the water level rise in the drain tank 51 is detected after the detector 120 detects the opening and closing of the water inlet lid 90, it is determined that flush water has been poured by the user, and the sirocco fan 42 is driven for a predetermined time to perform a drying operation to dry the heat exchanger 46. Since the drying operation is performed only when flush water is reliably poured by the user, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of mold and bacteria due to moisture remaining in the heat exchanger 46, and it is also possible to prevent the drying operation from being performed even if flush water has not been poured.

[0101] In addition, after the detector 120 detects that the water inlet 23 has been opened or closed by the water inlet cover 90, the control unit 55 sets the predetermined time for driving the sirocco fan 42 to be longer as the water level rise in the drain tank 51 detected by the water level sensor 62 increases. The degree of wetness of the heat exchanger 46 by the flush water increases in proportion to the amount of flush water poured in. The amount of flush water poured in by the user is estimated based on the amount of rise in the water level in the drain tank 51, and if the amount of rise in the water level is large, a large amount of flush water is poured in and the degree of wetness of the heat exchanger 46 is determined to be large, and the drying operation time for driving the sirocco fan 42 is set to be longer. The drying operation can reliably dry the heat exchanger 46, and the occurrence of mold and bacteria due to moisture remaining in the heat exchanger 46 can be prevented in advance.

[0102] The open / close switching means is composed of a water inlet cover 90 having a water inlet section 91 that is supported retractably on the housing 10, blocks the water inlet 23, and receives flush water when it is pulled out of the housing 10, and a drain section 96 that is located at least vertically above the flush water receptacle 70 when it is pulled out of the housing 10 and drains the flush water received by the water inlet section 91 into the flush water receptacle 70, and the open / close detection means is composed of a detector 120 that detects that the water inlet cover 90 has been pulled out from the water inlet 23. The user can easily pour flush water, and the simple configuration can detect whether there is a possibility of pouring flush water from the water inlet 23.

[0103] In this embodiment, the water inlet lid 90 that is installed so as to be able to be pulled out from the water inlet 23 has been described as the opening / closing switching means, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as another opening / closing switching means, a configuration in which an openable / closable shutter is installed in the water inlet 23 may be used, and when washing the heat exchanger 46, a method in which a user opens the shutter and pours washing water into the washing water receiver 70 using a bottle with a nozzle or the like may be used. In this case, the opening and closing of the shutter is configured to be detectable by a detector 120 such as a microswitch, and the control unit 55, after detecting the opening of the shutter with the detector 120, determines that the water level in the drain tank 51 has risen with the water level sensor 62, and then drives the sirocco fan 42 to start a drying operation, thereby cleaning the evaporator 46a and washing away dust, and preventing the occurrence of mold and bacteria due to moisture remaining in the evaporator 46a.

[0104] In the present embodiment, the microswitch that detects whether the water inlet lid 90 is pulled out is used as the detector 120, and the water inlet judgment means judges whether flush water is poured using the detector 120, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as another detector, an optical sensor capable of detecting the presence or absence of water in the flush water receptacle 70 may be applied inside the housing 10. After the optical sensor detects that the water in the flush water receptacle 70 has disappeared, if it is judged that the water level sensor 62 has detected a rise in the water level in the drain tank 51, the sirocco fan 42 is driven to start a drying operation, whereby the evaporator 46a can be cleaned to wash away dust, and the occurrence of mold and bacteria due to moisture remaining in the evaporator 46a can be prevented in advance.

[0105] Also, in this embodiment, the water level is detected using the water level sensor 62 that detects the water level from a change in capacitance value, but this is not limited to this. For example, the water level sensor 62 may be a float that has a magnet and floats on water, stored in the drain tank 51, and multiple proximity sensors that detect the water level in the drain tank 51 by detecting the magnetic field of the magnet according to the water level and are provided in the vertical direction. Any configuration that can detect a rise in the water level in the drain tank 51 when flush water is poured by the user from the water pouring port 23 falls within the category of a water level sensor in the present invention.

[0106] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims.

[0107] For example, the air conditioner of the present invention can be applied to other appliances such as air conditioners, humidifiers, dryers, etc. that have heat exchangers that need to be cleaned of dust contained in the drawn-in air, in addition to the dehumidifier 1.

[0108] Although an example of the water storage section drain hole 73 being a slit extending in the left-right direction has been described, as long as it can drain cleaning water from above the heat exchanger 46, it may be a slit divided into two or more parts, or multiple small circular, elliptical, or polygonal holes.

[0109] An example has been described in which the drain hole holder 80 is raised and the water storage section drain hole 73 is opened by manual operation by the user via the flush lever 100, but the drain hole holder 80 may also be opened and closed by user operation or automatically by an electrical mechanism. [Explanation of symbols]

[0110] 1 dehumidifier 10. Chassis 23 Water inlet 42 Sirocco fan (blower fan) 43 Blower motor 46 Heat exchanger 46a Evaporator 46b Condenser 55 Control section 70 Cleaning water tray 73 Water storage drain hole 90 Water inlet cover (opening / closing switching means) 91 Water injection section 96 Drainage section 120 Detector (open / close detection means)

Claims

1. A housing and A blower fan that is housed in the housing and draws air into the housing; a heat exchanger housed in the housing and performing heat exchange with the air sucked in by the blower fan; a water inlet for cleaning water formed in the housing for cleaning the heat exchanger; An open / close switching means is provided at the water inlet and is capable of switching between opening and closing the water inlet; an open / close detection means for detecting that the water inlet has been opened or closed by the open / close switching means; a flush water receiver disposed vertically above the heat exchanger and having a drain hole for discharging the flush water poured through the water pouring port to the heat exchanger; a drain tank into which the cleaning water flows after dropping from the drain hole of the cleaning water receiver and cleaning the heat exchanger; A water level sensor that detects the water level of the drain tank; a control unit that controls the operation of the blower fan based on the water level of the drain tank detected by the water level sensor, The control unit detects via the opening / closing detection means that the water inlet has been opened or closed by the opening / closing switching means, and then when the water level sensor detects that the water level in the drain tank has risen, the control unit drives the blower fan for a predetermined period of time.

2. 2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to lengthen the predetermined time for driving the blower fan as the amount of rise in the water level in the drain tank detected by the water level sensor increases.

3. the open / close switching means is composed of a water inlet cover having a water inlet section supported retractably on the housing, which closes the water inlet and receives the flush water when pulled out from the housing, and a drain section which is located at least vertically above the flush water receptacle when pulled out from the housing and drains the flush water received by the water inlet section into the flush water receptacle, 3. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the open / close detection means is configured with a detector that detects when the water inlet cover is pulled out from the water inlet.

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