air purifier

Abstract

To provide an air cleaner for determining whether or not a filter is covered with a shield.SOLUTION: An air cleaner 1 includes a casing 2, an air blowing part 4, collection parts 51, 52, a measurement part 3 and a determination part 13. The casing 2 includes a suction port to which air is sucked and a blowout port 25C from which air is blown out. The air blowing part 4 is disposed in the casing 2. The casing 2 generates an air flow to suck air into the casing 2. The air blowing part 4 blows out the sucked air to outside of the casing 2. The collection parts 51, 52 collect particles included in the air sucked into the casing 2. The measurement part 3 measures physical properties of the air beforehand. The air cleaner 1 determines whether or not the collection parts 51, 52 are covered with a shield on the basis of a measurement value measured by the measurement part 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] For example, the air purifier shown in Patent Document 1 is provided with a cover that allows a user (operator) of the air purifier to visually confirm that the filter is sealed in a plastic bag before use. This allows the user to know that the filter is sealed in a plastic bag. Once the user knows that the filter is sealed in a plastic bag, they remove the plastic bag from the filter. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-132341 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, there are still cases where the plastic bag is not removed from the filter, and the air purifier is operated with the filter sealed with the plastic bag as a shield.

[0005] The present invention is devised to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides an air purifier that determines whether a filter is covered by an obstruction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, an air purifier includes a housing, a blower, a collection unit, a measurement unit, and a determination unit. The housing has an inlet through which air is drawn and an outlet through which air is blown out. The blower is disposed inside the housing. The blower draws air into the housing by generating an air flow. The blower blows the drawn air out of the housing. The collection unit collects particles contained in the air flow drawn into the housing. The measurement unit measures physical properties of the air in advance. The air purifier determines whether the collection unit is covered by an obstruction based on the measured values ​​obtained by the measurement unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an air purifier that determines whether a collection unit such as a filter is covered by an obstruction based on a measurement value from a measurement unit. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an air purifier according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an air purifier according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an air purifier according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the air purifier according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the air purifier according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the air purifier according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of an air purifier according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description will not be repeated. In addition, to facilitate understanding of the drawings, in this embodiment, front, back, left, right, up and down directions will be appropriately described.

[0010] [Embodiment 1] The configuration of an air purifier 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 3. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the air purifier 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the air purifier 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the air purifier 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] The air purifier 1 has an air purification function. When performing the air purification function, the air purifier 1 draws in air around the air purifier 1, removes harmful particles contained in the drawn-in air, and then blows out the air. Harmful particles include, for example, dust and odorous components. Dust includes, for example, fine particles such as PM2.5 with a particle size smaller than 3 μm. Odorous components include, for example, acetaldehyde, ammonia, and acetic acid.

[0012] Furthermore, in addition to the air purification function, the air purifier 1 may also have, for example, a humidification function or a dehumidification function. In the humidification function, the air purifier 1 increases the moisture content of the air it draws in and then blows it out. In the dehumidification function, the air purifier 1 draws in the air around the air purifier 1, removes the moisture content of the air it draws in, and then blows it out. The air purifier 1 can dry clothes by blowing dehumidified air onto the clothes.

[0013] The configuration of the air purifier 1 will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. The air purifier 1 includes a housing 2 and a rear panel 8. The rear panel 8 can be attached to and detached from the housing 2.

[0014] The housing 2 is a hollow member. The housing 2 is made of a material such as metal or synthetic resin. However, the material of the housing 2 is not particularly limited. The housing 2 includes a front cover 21, a rear cover 23, a pair of left and right side plates 22, and a handle 24. Note that only one of the pair of side plates 22 is shown in FIG. 1, with the other of the pair of side plates 22 hidden.

[0015] The front cover 21 is positioned in a direction that allows the user to primarily use the air purifier 1. The rear cover 23 is positioned opposite the front cover 21. The rear cover 23 has a rear panel mounting opening 23A that penetrates in the front-to-rear direction. The rear panel 8 is attached to the rear panel mounting opening 23A. The pair of side plates 22 are positioned between the front cover 21 and the rear cover 23. A handle 24 is formed on each of the pair of side plates 22. The user grasps the handle 24 to lift the air purifier 1.

[0016] The rear panel 8 has a rear plate 81 and a pre-filter 82. The rear plate 81 is a plate having a through-hole (not shown) penetrating in the front-to-rear direction. The pre-filter 82 is a filter that collects dust. The pre-filter 82 is fixed to the rear plate 81 so as to overlap with the through-hole of the rear plate 81. The rear plate 81 is attached by fitting it into the rear panel mounting opening 23A of the rear cover 23 so that the pre-filter 82 is positioned in the forward direction. In other words, the rear panel 8 is attached to the housing 2 so that the pre-filter 82 is positioned inside the panel mounting opening 23A in the housing 2.

[0017] The inside of the air purifier 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. The air purifier 1 includes a housing 2 therein, a deodorizing filter 51, a dust collecting filter 52, and a blower 4.

[0018] The housing 2 is connected between the outside and the inside via the pre-filter 82 on the rear panel 8. The housing 2 also has an air passage 25 and an air outlet 25C. The air outlet 25C is provided at the top of the housing 2, facing both forward and rearward, and connects the inside and outside of the housing 2. Air present around the housing 2 is drawn into the housing 2 through the pre-filter 82. The air passage 25 is an air passage provided inside the housing 2. The air drawn into the housing 2 by the blower 4 is then drawn into the air passage 25. The air drawn into the air passage 25 passes through the air passage 25. The air that has passed through the air passage 25 is blown out from the air outlet 25C in the front and rearward directions. As can be understood from the above description, the through-hole in the rear panel 81 is an example of an "intake port" in the present invention. It has been explained that the air present around the housing 2 is drawn into the housing 2 through the pre-filter 82 of the rear panel 8, but the housing 2 and rear panel 8 may have any structure as long as air can be drawn into the housing 2. For example, the housing 2 may be provided with a through-hole (not shown) for drawing in surrounding air. Also, for example, the pre-filter 82 may not be provided.

[0019] The blower unit 4 is disposed inside the ventilation passage 25 and generates an airflow. The blower unit 4 is configured, for example, by a centrifugal fan such as a sirocco fan. That is, the blower unit 4 draws air from the blower rear region 25A of the ventilation passage 25 and blows it to the blower upper region 25B of the ventilation passage 25. When the blower unit 4 is operating, the air present around the housing 2 is drawn into the housing 2. The air drawn into the housing 2 passes through the ventilation passage 25 and is blown out to the outside of the housing 2. As a result, the air present around the housing 2 is replaced with air that has passed through the deodorizing filter 51 and the dust collecting filter 52 inside the air purifier 1.

[0020] Dust collection filter 52, an example of a "collection unit," is disposed in blower rear region 25A and passes airflow generated by blower unit 4 through it to capture particles contained in the air. The air from which the trapped particles have been collected is blown out of air purifier 1. As a result, the air present around air purifier 1 is replaced with the air from which the particles have been collected. The particles collected by dust collection filter 52 include, for example, fine dust and microparticles such as PM2.5 having a particle size smaller than a predetermined particle size (for example, 3 μm), as described above. Dust collection filter 52 includes, for example, a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter made of nonwoven fabric formed into a paper-like material.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1 , the dust collecting filter 52 is shipped from the factory covered with the shield 6. The dust collecting filter 52 covered with the shield 6 is protected by the shield 6. As a result, the dust collecting filter 52 is protected by the shield 6 during transportation. On the other hand, when the dust collecting filter 52 covered with the shield 6 is attached to the air purifier 1, the shield 6 blocks the ventilation path 25. When the air purifier 1 has the ventilation path 25 blocked by the shield 6, the air cannot pass through the ventilation path 25 due to the blocking by the shield 6. Furthermore, the dust collecting filter 52 cannot capture particles.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, deodorizing filter 51, which, like dust collecting filter 52, is an example of a "collection section," is disposed behind dust collecting filter 52 in air blower rear area 25A. Like dust collecting filter 52, deodorizing filter 51 also passes airflow generated by the action of air blower 4 and captures odors contained in the air. Odor components captured by deodorizing filter 51 include, for example, acetaldehyde, ammonia, and acetic acid. Deodorizing filter 51 is made, for example, of a polyester nonwoven fabric with activated carbon uniformly dispersed therein.

[0023] 1, deodorizing filter 51 is also shipped from the factory covered with shielding material 6, similar to dust collecting filter 52. When deodorizing filter 51 covered with shielding material 6 is attached to air purifier 1, shielding material 6 blocks ventilation passage 25, similar to dust collecting filter 52.

[0024] The airflow inside the air purifier 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the blower unit 4 draws in air present outside the housing 2 to generate a first airflow F1. The air present outside the housing 2 becomes the first airflow F1 and flows into the ventilation path 25 via the pre-filter 82. The air that flows into the ventilation path 25 passes through the deodorizing filter 51 and the dust-collecting filter 52 to become a second airflow F2 toward the blower unit 4, and then becomes a third airflow F3 toward the inside of the blower unit 4. The air drawn into the blower unit 4 becomes a fourth airflow F4 toward the blower unit upper region 25B and moves to the blower unit upper region 25B. The air that moves to the blower unit upper region 25B becomes a fifth airflow F5 toward the outlet 25C and moves to the outlet 25C. The air that moves to the outlet 25C becomes a sixth airflow F6 and is blown out of the housing 2 from the outlet 25C.

[0025] The air purifier 1 will be described in further detail with reference to Figures 1 and 3. As shown in Figure 3, the air purifier 1 includes a measurement unit 3, an airflow measurement unit 11, a memory unit 12, a control unit 10, and a notification unit 13.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 1 , the measurement unit 3 is attached to the right side of the housing 2. The measurement unit 3 measures the physical properties of the air present around the housing 2. The air purifier 1 acquires information about the physical properties of the air using the measurement unit 3. As a result, the air purifier 1 can perform control, such as increasing or decreasing the amount of air drawn in, based on the information about the physical properties of the air present around the housing 2. The physical properties of the air refer to, for example, the amount of harmful particles present in the air, humidity, etc. The amount of particles includes, for example, the mass or number of particles contained per unit volume. The measurement unit 3 may include, for example, a dust sensor, an odor sensor, or a humidity sensor. Hereinafter, the physical properties of the air measured by the measurement unit 3 are referred to as "measurements." The measurement values ​​measured by the measurement unit 3 shown in FIG. 3 are output to the control unit 10. In the first embodiment, the measurement unit 3 measures the amount of particles present in the air. Although the measurement unit 3 has been described as being attached to the right side of the housing 2, it may be located anywhere on the housing 2 as long as it can measure the physical properties of the air present around the housing 2. For example, a measurement inlet (not shown) is provided separately to communicate between the inside and outside of the housing 2 without using a component that changes the physical properties of the air, such as a pre-filter 82. The measurement unit 3 may be placed inside the housing 2, where it communicates with the measurement inlet. When the measurement unit 3 is placed in this manner, air with the same physical properties as the air present around the housing 2 is sucked in through the inlet and reaches the measurement unit 3.

[0027] Air flow rate measurement unit 11 measures information necessary to estimate the amount of airflow generated by blower unit 4. For example, if blower unit 4 generates airflow by rotation, air flow rate measurement unit 11 is configured with a rotation sensor or the like and measures the number of rotations of blower unit 4. Air flow rate measurement unit 11 outputs information for estimating the amount of airflow generated by blower unit 4 to control unit 10.

[0028] The storage unit 12 is housed in the housing 2 and stores data and computer programs. The storage unit 12 includes a storage device (main storage device and auxiliary storage device), which is configured, for example, by a memory and a hard disk drive. The storage unit 12 may also include removable media.

[0029] The control unit 10 is housed in the housing 2 and includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), and a storage device. The processor of the control unit 10 controls the measurement unit 3, the storage unit 12, and the notification unit 13 by executing a computer program stored in the storage device of the storage unit 12.

[0030] Furthermore, the control unit 10 determines whether or not at least one of the deodorizing filter 51 and the dust collecting filter 52 is covered by the shielding object 6. The determination is made based on whether or not the measurement value obtained by the measurement unit 3 is within a range that serves as a reference for determination.

[0031] The ranges used as the criteria for the determination include a first predetermined range and a second predetermined range. The first predetermined range and the second predetermined range are set by the control unit 10 based on measurements taken in advance. The control unit 10 estimates the amount of particles contained in the air present around the air purifier 1 based on the measurements. The particles contained in the air present around the air purifier 1 are removed from the air as the air passes through the deodorizing filter 51 and the dust collecting filter 52. The amount of particles removed from the air increases in proportion to the amount of air passing through the deodorizing filter 51 and the dust collecting filter 52. In other words, the control unit 10 can estimate the amount of particles removed from the air based on the amount of air passing through the deodorizing filter 51 and the dust collecting filter 52.

[0032] The control unit 10 sets the first predetermined range and the second predetermined range based on a reference value obtained by subtracting the amount of particles estimated to be removed from the air from the amount of particles contained in the air previously measured by the measurement unit 3. Hereinafter, the reference value estimated by the control unit 10 will be referred to as the "reference value." The first predetermined range has an upper limit and a lower limit set based on the reference value. The second predetermined range has an upper limit and a lower limit set based on the amount of change per hour in the reference value. The upper limit and the lower limit are set based on the environmental conditions in which the air purifier 1 is expected to be used.

[0033] The control unit 10 determines whether the measurement value is within the first predetermined range and the second predetermined range. If the measurement value is not within the first predetermined range and the second predetermined range, it is determined that at least one of the deodorizing filter 51 and the dust collecting filter 52 is covered by the shielding object 6. As a result, the air purifier 1 acquires information that at least one of the deodorizing filter 51 and the dust collecting filter 52 is covered by the shielding object 6.

[0034] When the control unit 10 determines that at least one of the dust collection filter 52 and the deodorizing filter 51 is covered by the shielding object 6, the control unit 10 controls the notification unit 13. As can be understood from the above description, the control unit 10 is an example of the "blow-air volume estimation unit," "particle volume estimation unit," "first predetermined range setting unit," "second predetermined range setting unit," and "determination unit" of the present invention.

[0035] When the control unit 10 determines that at least one of the deodorizing filter 51 and the dust collecting filter 52 is covered by the shielding object 6, the notification unit 13 notifies the user of this fact to make the user aware of it. The notification unit 13 includes, for example, a lighting part for indicating an error, a display, a speaker, or a communication device.

[0036] Next, the operation of the air purifier 1 according to embodiment 1 will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the air purifier 1 according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in Figure 4, the operation of the air purifier 1 includes steps S1 to S9.

[0037] First, in step S1, the blower 4 of the air purifier 1 is activated.

[0038] Next, in step S2, the measurement unit 3 measures in advance the amount of particles contained in the air present around the air purifier 1. The advance measurement value by the measurement unit 3 is output to the control unit 10. The control unit 10 controls the memory unit 12 to store the advance measurement value. Note that in step S2, if the measurement value is equal to or greater than a certain amount, the control unit 10 may control the blower unit 4 to increase the air flow rate.

[0039] Next, in step S3, control unit 10 estimates the amount of airflow generated by blower unit 4 based on the information output from blower volume measurement unit 11. Control unit 10 controls memory unit 12 to store the amount of airflow generated by blower unit 4.

[0040] Next, in step S4, the control unit 10 reads out the amount of airflow generated by the blower unit 4 from the memory unit 12, and based on that amount, estimates the amount of particles contained in the air present around the air purifier 1. The control unit 10 controls the memory unit 12 to store the estimated amount of particles.

[0041] Next, in step S5, the control unit 10 sets a first predetermined range and a second predetermined range, and controls the storage unit 12 to store the first predetermined range and the second predetermined range.

[0042] Next, in step S6, the control unit 10 controls the measurement unit 3 to measure the amount of particles contained in the air present around the air purifier 1. The measurement unit 3 outputs the measurement value at that time to the control unit 10. The control unit 10 controls the memory unit 12 to store the measurement value.

[0043] Next, in step S7, the control unit 10 reads out the measured value and the first predetermined range from the storage unit 12, and determines whether the measured value is within the first predetermined range. If the determination in step S7 is affirmative (Yes), the processing ends.

[0044] On the other hand, if a negative determination (No) is made in step S7, the process proceeds to step S8.

[0045] In step S8, the control unit 10 reads out the measured value and the second predetermined range from the storage unit 12, and determines whether the measured value is within the second predetermined range. If the determination in step S8 is affirmative (Yes), the processing ends.

[0046] On the other hand, if a negative determination (No) is made in step S8, the process proceeds to step S9. In step S9, the control unit 10 controls the notification unit 13 to notify that at least one of the deodorizing filter 51 and the dust collecting filter 52 is covered by the shielding object 6.

[0047] As described above with reference to Fig. 4, in the first embodiment, after starting ventilation, the air purifier 1 determines whether at least one of the deodorizing filter 51 and the dust collecting filter 52 is covered by the shielding object 6, based on the amount of particles contained in the surrounding air. If it is determined that at least one of the deodorizing filter 51 and the dust collecting filter 52 is covered by the shielding object 6, the air purifier 1 notifies the user of the determination result. Therefore, the user can recognize that at least one of the deodorizing filter 51 and the dust collecting filter 52 is covered by the shielding object 6.

[0048] [Embodiment 2] An air purifier 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. The air purifier 1 according to the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment mainly in that a humidifier unit 7A is operated. The air purifier 1 also differs from the first embodiment mainly in that a measuring unit 3 measures humidity and determines whether at least one of the deodorizing filter 51 and the dust collecting filter 52 is covered by a shielding object 6 based on the humidity. The following mainly describes the differences between the second embodiment and the first embodiment.

[0049] First, an air purifier 1 according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the air purifier 1 according to the second embodiment operates a humidifier unit 7A. The humidifier unit 7A is disposed inside the ventilation passage 25. The humidifier unit 7A is disposed between the dust collecting filter 52 and the air blower unit 4. The humidifier unit 7A humidifies the air passing through the humidifier unit 7A. The air humidified by the humidifier unit 7A is blown out of the air purifier 1 through the air outlet 25C. As a result, the air around the air purifier 1 is replaced with the humidified air. This increases the humidity around the air purifier 1. The humidifier unit 7A includes, for example, a water-absorbing and breathable humidifying filter and a tank. The inside of the tank is filled with water. The humidifying filter absorbs water from the tank and passes the air through it. This humidifies the air.

[0050] Next, the operation of the air purifier 1 according to the second embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

[0051] 3 measures the humidity of the air present around the housing 2. The air purifier 1 acquires humidity information using the measurement unit 3, and determines whether at least one of the deodorizing filter 51 and the dust collecting filter 52 is covered by a shield 6 based on the acquired humidity information.

[0052] The present embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the control unit 10 sets the first and second predetermined ranges based on humidity instead of the amount of particles. Specifically, the method of estimating the reference values ​​for determining the first and second set ranges differs from the first embodiment. The reference values ​​are estimated using the humidity of the air present around the air purifier 1. The air present around the air purifier 1 is humidified as the air passes through the humidifying unit 7A. The amount of humidification of the air increases in proportion to the amount of air passing through the humidifying unit 7A. In other words, the humidity of the air present around the air purifier 1 can be estimated based on the amount of air passing through the humidifying unit 7A.

[0053] The control unit 10, which is an example of the "first humidity estimation unit" of the present invention, estimates the humidity of the air present around the air purifier 1 in this way and sets it as a reference value. The lower limit of the first predetermined range is determined based on the reference value. The lower limit is determined in advance based on the environmental conditions in which the air purifier 1 is expected to be used, and a value such as an expected humidity of 50% is adopted. A lower limit of 50% expected humidity is a normal value for operating the air purifier 1. The lower limit of the second predetermined range is also determined based on the reference value. The lower limit of the second predetermined range is also determined based on the environmental conditions in which the air purifier 1 is expected to be used. The control unit 10 also controls the humidifier 7A.

[0054] Next, the operation of the air purifier 1 according to embodiment 2 will be described with reference to Fig. 3 and Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the air purifier 1 according to embodiment 2 of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 5, the operation of the air purifier 1 includes steps S11 to S19.

[0055] First, in step S11, the blower 4 of the air purifier 1 is activated. Also in step S11, the control unit 10 starts controlling the humidifier 7A.

[0056] Next, in step S12, the measurement unit 3 preliminarily measures the humidity of the air present around the air purifier 1. The control unit 10 controls the memory unit 12 to store the measurement value of the measurement unit 3. Note that in step S12, if the measurement value does not satisfy a certain humidity standard, the control unit 10 may control the blower unit 4 to increase the air flow rate.

[0057] Next, in step S13, the same operation as in step S3 is performed.

[0058] Next, in step S14, the control unit 10 reads the amount of air blown by the blower unit 4 from the memory unit 12. The control unit 10 estimates the humidity of the air present around the air purifier 1 based on the amount of air blown by the blower unit 4. The control unit 10 controls the memory unit 12 to store the estimated humidity.

[0059] Next, in step S15, the control unit 10 sets a first predetermined range and a second predetermined range. The first predetermined range and the second predetermined range are set based on the humidity estimated in step S14. The control unit 10 controls the storage unit 12 to store the first predetermined range and the second predetermined range.

[0060] Next, the process proceeds to step S 16. Steps S16 to S19 are the same as steps S6 to S9, respectively.

[0061] As described above with reference to Fig. 5, in the second embodiment, after starting ventilation, the air purifier 1 determines whether or not at least one of the deodorizing filter 51 and the dust collecting filter 52 is covered by the shielding object 6, based on the humidity (degree of humidification) of the surrounding air. If it is determined that at least one of the deodorizing filter 51 and the dust collecting filter 52 is covered by the shielding object 6, the air purifier 1 notifies the user of the determination result, so that the user can recognize it.

[0062] [Embodiment 3] An air purifier 1 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. The air purifier 1 according to the third embodiment differs from the second embodiment mainly in that a dehumidifying section 7B is operated instead of a humidifying section 7A. The following mainly describes the differences between the third embodiment and the second embodiment.

[0063] First, an air purifier 1 according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the air purifier 1 according to the third embodiment further operates a dehumidifier 7B. The dehumidifier 7B is disposed inside the ventilation passage 25. The dehumidifier 7B is disposed between the dust collecting filter 52 and the air blower 4. The dehumidifier 7B dehumidifies the air passing through the dehumidifier 7B. The air dehumidified by the dehumidifier 7B is blown out of the air purifier 1 through the outlet 25C. As a result, the air around the air purifier 1 is replaced with the dehumidified air. This reduces the humidity around the air purifier 1. The dehumidifier 7B is, for example, a refrigeration cycle that combines a cooling section, a heat dissipation section, a compression section, and an expansion section. The refrigeration cycle is a cycle in which a circulation path is formed by connecting the compression section, the heat dissipation section, the expansion section, and the cooling section in a ring shape, and a refrigerant is circulated through the circulation path by the compression section. The compression section compresses and delivers the refrigerant. The expansion section reduces the pressure of the refrigerant. The heat dissipation section dissipates heat from the refrigerant to air that has passed through the heat dissipation section. The expansion section reduces the pressure of the air that has passed through the heat dissipation section to produce low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant.

[0064] Next, the air purifier 1 according to the third embodiment will be described in further detail with reference to FIG.

[0065] The control unit 10 determines the reference values ​​for the first and second predetermined ranges using a calculation process different from that in the second embodiment. The reference values ​​are estimated in advance using the humidity of the air present around the air purifier 1. Meanwhile, the air present around the air purifier 1 is dehumidified as this air passes through the dehumidifying unit 7B. The amount of dehumidification increases in proportion to the amount of air passing through the dehumidifying unit 7B. In other words, the humidity of the air present around the air purifier 1 can be estimated based on the amount of air passing through the dehumidifying unit 7B.

[0066] The control unit 10, which is an example of the "second humidity estimation unit" of the present invention, estimates the humidity of the air present around the air purifier 1 and sets it as a reference value. The upper limit of the first predetermined range is set based on the reference value. The upper limit is set in advance based on the environmental conditions in which the air purifier 1 is expected to be used. The upper limit of the second predetermined range is also set based on the reference value. The upper limit of the second predetermined range is also set based on the environmental conditions in which the air purifier 1 is expected to be used. The control unit 10 also controls the dehumidification unit 7B.

[0067] Next, the operation of the air purifier 1 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 3 and Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the air purifier 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 6, the operation of the air purifier 1 includes steps S21 to S29.

[0068] First, in step S21, the blower 4 of the air purifier 1 is activated. Also in step S21, the control unit 10 starts controlling the dehumidifier 7B. Steps S22 to S24 perform the same operations as steps S12 to S14, respectively.

[0069] Next, in step S25, the control unit 10 sets a first predetermined range and a second predetermined range. The first predetermined range and the second predetermined range are set based on the humidity estimated in step S24. Note that, unlike in the second embodiment, the reference values ​​of the first predetermined range and the second predetermined range are estimated based on the dehumidification amount. The control unit 10 controls the storage unit 12 to store the first predetermined range and the second predetermined range.

[0070] Next, the process proceeds to step S26. Steps S26 to S29 are the same as steps S16 to S19, respectively.

[0071] As described above with reference to Fig. 6, in the third embodiment, after starting ventilation, the air purifier 1 determines whether or not at least one of the deodorizing filter 51 and the dust collecting filter 52 is covered by the shielding object 6, based on the humidity of the surrounding air (degree of dehumidification). If it is determined that at least one of the deodorizing filter 51 and the dust collecting filter 52 is covered by the shielding object 6, the air purifier 1 notifies the user of the determination result. Therefore, the user can recognize that at least one of the deodorizing filter 51 and the dust collecting filter 52 is covered by the shielding object 6.

[0072] [Embodiment 4] An air purifier 1 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 3. The air purifier 1 according to the fourth embodiment differs from the first to third embodiments mainly in that, when the control unit 10 determines that at least one of the deodorizing filter 51 and the dust collecting filter 52 is covered by a shielding object 6, the control unit 10 controls the blower unit 4. Below, the differences between the first to third embodiments of the present invention will be mainly described.

[0073] First, an air purifier 1 according to embodiment 4 will be described. As shown in Fig. 3, control unit 10, which is an example of the "air blowing control unit" of the present invention, differs from embodiments 1 to 3 in that, after air blower 4 starts blowing air, if it determines that at least one of deodorizing filter 51 and dust collecting filter 52 is covered by a shielding object 6, control unit 10 controls air blower 4 to increase the amount of airflow generated by air blower 4. As a result, deodorizing filter 51 and dust collecting filter 52, humidifying unit 7A, or dehumidifying unit 7B promotes a change in the amount of particles or humidity in the air present around air purifier 1.

[0074] Furthermore, after the blower 4 increases the air flow rate, the controller 10 controls the measuring unit 3 to perform measurement. The controller 10 determines whether or not at least one of the deodorizing filter 51 and the dust collecting filter 52 is covered by the shield 6, based on the measurement value measured after the blower 4 increases the air flow rate.

[0075] Next, the operation of the air purifier 1 according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 3 and Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the air purifier 1 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 7, the operation of the air purifier 1 includes steps S31 to S37.

[0076] First, in step S31, the blower unit 4 of the air purifier 1 is activated.

[0077] Next, in step S32, the measurement unit 3 preliminarily measures the physical properties of the air present around the air purifier 1. The measurement values ​​of the measurement unit 3 are output to the control unit 10. The control unit 10 controls the memory unit 12 to store the measurement values ​​of the measurement unit 3.

[0078] Next, in step S33, the control unit 10 reads out the measurement value from the storage unit 12. The control unit 10 determines whether the measurement value is within a first predetermined range and a second predetermined range. The first predetermined range and the second predetermined range are set in the same manner as described in the first to third embodiments. If a positive determination (Yes) is made in step S33, the processing ends.

[0079] On the other hand, if a negative determination (No) is made in step S33, the process proceeds to step S34. The control unit 10 controls the blower unit 4 to increase the amount of airflow generated.

[0080] Next, in step S35, the control unit 10 controls the measurement unit 3 to measure the physical properties of the air present around the air purifier 1.

[0081] Next, in step S36, the control unit 10 reads out the measurement value measured in step S35 from the storage unit 12. The control unit 10 determines whether the measurement value is within a first predetermined range and a second predetermined range. The first predetermined range and the second predetermined range are set in the same manner as described in the first to third embodiments. If a positive determination (Yes) is made in step S36, the processing ends.

[0082] On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S36, the process proceeds to step S37. The operation in step S37 is the same as that in step S10.

[0083] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The drawings mainly show each component in a schematic manner for ease of understanding, and the thickness, length, number, spacing, etc. of each component shown in the drawings may differ from the actual ones due to the convenience of creating the drawings. Furthermore, the materials, shapes, dimensions, etc. of each component shown in the above embodiments are merely examples and are not particularly limited, and various modifications are possible within a scope that does not substantially deviate from the configuration of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0084] The present invention provides an air purifier and has industrial applicability. [Explanation of symbols]

[0085] 1. Air purifier 3 Measuring part 4. Blower 6 Shield 7A Humidification part 7B Dehumidification section 10 Control Unit 13. Information Department 51 Deodorizing filter 52 Dust collection filter

Claims

1. Equipped with a housing, The housing includes: An intake port through which air is drawn in, an air outlet through which the air is blown out; and a blower unit that is disposed inside the housing and generates the air flow to draw the air into the housing and blow the drawn air out of the housing; a collection unit that collects particles contained in the air sucked into the housing; a measuring unit that measures the amount of particles in the air present around the housing; a determination unit that determines whether the collection unit is covered by a shielding object based on a change over time in the amount of particles measured by the measurement unit; An air purifier equipped with

2. The determination unit determines that the collection unit is covered by an obstruction when the amount of reduction in the particle amount is equal to or less than a threshold value. The air purifier according to claim 1 .

3. A housing is provided, The housing includes: An intake port through which air is drawn in, an air outlet through which the air is blown out; and a blower unit that is disposed inside the housing and generates the air flow to draw the air into the housing and blow the drawn air out of the housing; a collection unit that collects particles contained in the air sucked into the housing; a humidifying unit that humidifies the air drawn into the housing; a measuring unit that measures the humidity of the air present around the housing; a determination unit that determines whether the collection unit is covered by a shielding object based on the change over time of the humidity measured by the measurement unit; An air purifier equipped with

4. The determination unit determines that the collection unit is covered by an obstruction when the increase in humidity is equal to or less than a threshold value. The air purifier according to claim 3.

5. A housing, The housing includes: An intake port through which air is drawn in, an air outlet through which the air is blown out; and a blower unit that is disposed inside the housing and generates the air flow to draw the air into the housing and blow the drawn air out of the housing; a collection unit that collects particles contained in the air sucked into the housing; a dehumidifying unit that dehumidifies the air drawn into the housing; a measuring unit that measures the humidity of the air present around the housing; a determination unit that determines whether the collection unit is covered by a shielding object based on the change over time of the humidity measured by the measurement unit; An air purifier equipped with

6. The determination unit determines that the collection unit is covered by a shield when the amount of reduction in humidity is equal to or less than a threshold value. The air purifier according to claim 5.

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