Air conditioning unit

Abstract

To provide an air conditioner which enables easy attachment / detachment of an air filter without impairing the appearance of the product and is excellent in convenience and sanitation.SOLUTION: An air conditioner includes: an air purification part 22 which purifies air; and a prefilter 21 which collects relatively large dust. Further, a filter case 3 which houses an air filter 4 is detachably provided at the upstream of a suction port 18. The air filter 4 collects dust in air before the air flows into a body interior, and thus the maintenance frequency of the body interior can be reduced. When the air filter 4 is replaced, a user can take out the filter case 3 including the air filter 4 without touching the dirty air filter 4 directly. Hence, the air conditioner achieves excellent maintainability and can be used in a sanitary manner. Furthermore, since the filter case 3 forms a surface continuous with a front panel 12, the filter case 3 forms a part of the appearance to avoid impairment of the design.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioner having an air purification function that purifies air and releases it into a room. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, air conditioners with air purification capabilities have a fan that generates an airflow and a dust-collecting filter that captures substances contained in the air taken into the main body, and are configured to exhaust air that has been purified by the dust-collecting filter. Furthermore, a pre-filter is provided upstream of the dust-collecting filter, and relatively large dust particles are captured by this pre-filter. Such air conditioners require regular maintenance to maintain their air purification performance, and generally, the pre-filter and air purification unit must be removed from the main body every two weeks to one month to remove the captured dust (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] A filter that is attached to the air intake of an air conditioner to remove dust and other particles from the air that flows into the main body has also been proposed (Patent Document 2). Such filters have a fixing part equipped with adhesive or double-sided tape, which is attached to the outside of the air intake, and when the filter becomes dirty it is replaced with a new one. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-99858 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2018 / 062344 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, replaceable filters like those mentioned above require the time and effort of peeling off the adhesive release paper and then reattaching them. Furthermore, because the filter is attached to the main body with adhesive, it is difficult to remove once attached, and there are hygiene issues as hands may come into contact with a surface that is covered in dirt and dust when removing the filter. Furthermore, the attached filter is visible from the outside, which detracts from the appearance of the product.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an air conditioner that allows the air filter to be easily attached and detached without damaging the appearance of the product, and that is highly convenient and hygienic. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention provides a fan that blows air into a ventilation path from an intake port to an outlet port; an air purification unit that captures and purifies substances contained in the air taken in through the air intake; It is installed upstream of the air purification unit and captures relatively large dust particles. Mesh-like A pre-filter; a main body including the fan, the air purification unit, and the pre-filter; a front panel that covers at least the front surface of the main body; a filter case that houses an air filter and is detachably provided upstream of the air intake port and forms a surface continuous with the front panel; 、 The air filter and the filter case are rectangular or square in plan view, The air filter has a filter material and a frame portion made of a fiber material provided on the outer periphery of the filter material, The filter case has a mounting portion on which the air filter is mounted and a pressing portion provided on only one of the four sides, The frame portion is sandwiched between the placing portion and the pressing portion at the one side. It is an air conditioning unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] With the above-mentioned configuration, the air filter is housed in a filter case and attached to the main body, resulting in an air conditioner that is both convenient and hygienic. In addition, the filter case forms part of the exterior, so it does not detract from the design of the product. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is an external view of an air purifier, which is an example of an air conditioning device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view of an air purifier, which is an example of an air conditioning device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of an air purification unit of the present embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a view showing a filter case according to the present embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an air filter attached to the filter case of the present embodiment. [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of a filter case attachment according to the present embodiment. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating another example of the filter case attachment of the present embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 7. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be briefly described below, showing the operation of the present invention.

[0011] The present invention includes an air purifying unit that captures and purifies substances contained in the air taken in through the air intake, a pre-filter that is located upstream of the air purifying unit and captures relatively large dust particles, and a filter case that houses the air filter is detachably located upstream of the air intake. Because the air filter captures dust particles in the air before they enter the main body, the frequency of maintenance inside the main body can be reduced. Furthermore, when replacing the air filter, the entire filter case can be removed from the front without directly touching the dirty air filter, making it easy to maintain and hygienic to use. Furthermore, because the filter case forms a continuous surface with the front panel, the filter case does not constitute part of the exterior and detract from the design.

[0012] The filter case has a pressing part on only one side, and the air filter is held in the filter case by being sandwiched between the pressing part and the mounting part. This allows the air filter to be removed simply by turning the filter case upside down, and allows for easy disposal without touching surfaces that may be contaminated with dust, etc., making it hygienic.

[0013] In addition, the retaining portion is provided on the side of the filter case that is on the rear side of the main body, i.e., the edge that is located at the tip side in the insertion direction, so that the air filter is prevented from getting caught when the filter case is attached to the main body, and the filter case can be attached and removed smoothly.

[0014] Furthermore, since the retaining portions are provided at both ends of the sides, even if the air filter is deformed, the corners of the air filter are prevented from getting caught on the main body portion when attaching or detaching the filter case, allowing for smoother attachment and detachment.

[0015] Furthermore, by not disposing a placing portion below the pressing portion, it becomes easier to clean the filter case when it becomes dirty.

[0016] Furthermore, by providing a wall portion on the filter case, the air filter's placement position is prevented from shifting left or right, so the air filter can be easily installed in the correct position by simply hooking the tip of the air filter under the retaining portion and dropping it in.

[0017] The filter case also has an exterior part that forms a continuous surface with the front panel when attached to the main body, and an extension part that connects the exterior part to the mounting part. When replacing the air filter, the filter case can be removed from the main body by holding the exterior part and the extension part without touching the air filter.

[0018] In addition, first convex portions are provided near the back and front of the guide rails along which the filter case slides, and second convex portions are provided on the filter case that abut against the first convex portions when the filter case is completely attached to the main body. A clearance is provided between the filter case and the main body to prevent friction during sliding, but once the filter case is completely attached, the second convex portions abut against the apex of the first convex portions, lifting the filter case and absorbing the clearance. This prevents air from entering between the filter case and the main body without passing through the air filter, without compromising ease of attachment or removal. Also, in terms of appearance, the boundary between the filter case and the front panel is less noticeable, improving the design.

[0019] In addition, a support part is provided on the rear side of the main body, and a detachable locking part is provided on the filter case, allowing it to rotate around the support part as an axis. The filter case is attached to the main body by fitting the locking part into the support part and rotating the support part around the axis. This reduces the gap between the filter case and the main body, preventing air from entering without passing through the air filter. Also, in terms of appearance, the boundary between the filter case and the front panel is inconspicuous, improving the design. [Example]

[0020] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, an air purifier will be described as an example of an air conditioning device. However, the air conditioning device is not limited to an air purifier and may be any device that has an air purification function, such as a humidifier, a dehumidifier, a heater, or a combination thereof.

[0021] Fig. 1 is an external view of an air purifier, which is an example of an air conditioning device of this embodiment, and Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of the air purifier, which is an example of an air conditioning device of this embodiment. Air purifier 1 has a top panel 11, a front panel 12, left and right side panels 13, a back panel (not shown), and a bottom frame 14. Top panel 11 is provided with an operation unit 15 having various buttons for instructing the operation of air purifier 1, and an air outlet 17 having a lattice-shaped grill 16.

[0022] The main body 2 of the air purifier 1 is supported by a bottom frame 14. A front opening 12a is formed between the bottom frame 14 and the front panel 12 on the front side of the main body 2, and a rear opening is similarly formed on the rear side. In addition, a side opening 13a is formed by an opening provided below the side panel 13. An air intake port 18 that introduces air into the main body 2 is formed at the bottom of the air purifier 1, and air that flows in through the front opening 12a, the rear opening, and the side opening 13a is taken in by the air intake port 18.

[0023] 2, inside air purifier 1, there are provided, in order from upstream in the air flow direction, a mesh-like prefilter 21 that captures relatively large dust particles from the air taken in through intake port 18, an air purification unit 22 that captures substances that have passed through prefilter 21, and a fan 26 that sends air to an air passage leading from intake port 18 to outlet port 17. Main body 2 is configured to include prefilter 21, air purification unit 22, and fan 26, and front panel 12 is attached to cover the front of main body 2.

[0024] Furthermore, below the air intake 18, i.e., upstream in the air flow direction, a detachable filter case 3 containing an air filter 4 is provided. Because the air filter 4 is contained in the filter case 3, it cannot be seen from the outside. The filter case 3 is attached to the main body 2 from the front panel 12 side, and together with the front panel 12, it forms part of the exterior.

[0025] 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the air purifier of this embodiment. Air purifier 22 of this embodiment includes an electrostatic precipitator 23, a dust collection filter 24, and a deodorizing filter 25. Electrostatic precipitator 23, located at the most upstream of air purifier 22, electrically charges and collects substances contained in the air. Dust collection filter 24, located downstream of electrostatic precipitator 23, collects particles that could not be collected by electrostatic precipitator 23, as well as fine substances such as viruses. Deodorizing filter 25, located further downstream, adsorbs odors and purifies the air.

[0026] The above-described configuration is an example of air purification unit 22. Therefore, it may be configured to include one of electrostatic precipitator 23, dust collection filter 24, and deodorizing filter 25. It may also be configured to include other means.

[0027] Air purification unit 22 and pre-filter 21 require regular maintenance. The frequency of maintenance varies depending on usage, but it is necessary to remove the substances trapped in air purification unit 22 and pre-filter 21 and replace them with new ones about once a year. For maintenance, the air purification unit 22 and pre-filter 21 can be removed by removing the rear panel.

[0028] Furthermore, air filter 4 also requires periodic maintenance. Because air filter 4 is located at the most upstream position and is prone to large dust particles adhering thereto, it requires more frequent maintenance (for example, once every two months) than pre-filter 21 and air purification unit 22. However, air filter 4 is housed in filter case 3 and can be accessed from the front of air purifier 1, making it easy to remove. Furthermore, the provision of air filter 4 reduces the amount of dust trapped in pre-filter 21 and air purification unit 22, thereby reducing the frequency of maintenance of pre-filter 21 and air purification unit 22, and providing excellent convenience.

[0029] Fig. 4 shows the filter case of this embodiment, and Fig. 5 shows an air filter attached to the filter case. Air filter 4 is rectangular and has filter material 41 made of nonwoven fabric that captures dust and the like, and frame 42 provided in a cross shape around the outer periphery and center of filter material 41. Frame 42 is made of a fibrous material such as cardboard and has higher rigidity than filter material 41. By configuring air filter 4 from filter material 41 and frame 42 made of a fibrous material in this way, the effort of separating used air filter 4 can be eliminated when disposing of it.

[0030] Furthermore, frame 42 need only be able to maintain the shape of air filter 4 when held in the hand, and does not need to cover the entire outer periphery of filter medium 41. Furthermore, as in this embodiment, frame 42 can be extended not only to the outer periphery but also to the center, if necessary.

[0031] Like the air filter 4, the filter case 3 is rectangular in plan view, with four sides 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d provided with mounting sections 31 on which the air filter 4 is placed. Furthermore, one of the four sides constituting the outer frame of the filter case 3 has a pressing section 32 that presses down on the frame section 42 of the air filter 4 from above. The frame section 42 is sandwiched between the pressing section 32 and the mounting section 31, thereby holding the air filter 4 in the filter case 3. Therefore, when installing the air filter 4, it is sufficient to simply insert the frame section 42 of the air filter 4 between the mounting section 31 and the pressing section 32. As a result, one side of the air filter 4 is sandwiched from above and below, and the other side is placed on the mounting section 31, holding it in place in the filter case 3. Conversely, when removing the air filter 4, the filter case 3 is held by holding an edge and turning it upside down. The air filter 4 falls under its own weight, allowing for hygienic removal without touching any surfaces that may be contaminated with dust.

[0032] The air filter 4 may be square in shape. In this case, the air filter 4 can be attached without worrying about the orientation.

[0033] Additionally, side 3a of filter case 3 has exterior portion 33, which forms a surface continuous with front panel 12 when attached to main body 2, and extension portion 34, which connects exterior portion 33 and mounting portion 31, and exterior portion 33 and extension portion 34 form grip portion 35, which serves as a handle when attaching or detaching filter case 3. By holding grip portion 35, filter case 3 can be removed from the main body without touching air filter 4.

[0034] The retaining portion 32 only needs to be provided on one of the four sides, and can be provided on any of the sides. In this embodiment, the retaining portion 32 is formed on side 3c. Side 3c is the side that is located on the rear side of the air purifier 1 when the filter case 3 is attached to the main body 2, in other words, the side that is on the leading edge in the attachment direction. By providing the retaining portion 32 on side 3c, the air filter 4 is prevented from getting caught when the filter case 3 is attached to the main body 2, allowing for smooth attachment.

[0035] The retaining portions 32 are provided at least at both ends of the side. Specifically, as shown in the figure, they may be provided in two separate locations only at both ends, or at both ends and multiple locations between them, or they may be provided along the entire side. Providing the retaining portions 32 at both ends prevents the corners of the air filter 4 from getting caught when attaching or detaching the filter case 3 to the main body 2, allowing for smoother attachment and detachment.

[0036] The pressing portion 32 and the mounting portion 31 can be provided in positions where they do not face each other across the air filter 4. In other words, the mounting portion 31 is not provided where the pressing portion 32 is provided. This makes it possible to prevent dust and other particles from adhering to the gap between the pressing portion 32 and the mounting portion 31, and also makes it easier to clean the filter case 3 itself.

[0037] Walls 36 are provided on sides 3b and 3d of the outer frame of filter case 3. Walls 36 extend upward from mounting portion 31, with the tip of wall 36 positioned higher than the upper surface of retaining portion 32 provided on side 3c. Walls 36 prevent the mounting position of air filter 4 from shifting left or right, so air filter 4 can be easily attached in the correct position simply by hanging frame 42 of air filter 4 under retaining portion 32 and dropping it in.

[0038] 6 is a diagram showing an example of how the filter case of this embodiment is attached. The filter case 3 is slid from the front panel 12 side and detached, and the main body 2 is provided with guide rails 27 along which the outer frame of the filter case 3 slides. The guide rails 27 are provided with gently rising convex portions (first convex portions 28) on the surface along which the filter case 3 slides. These first convex portions 28 are provided in two locations, near the rear and front of the main body 2, but only the first convex portion 28 near the front is shown in the figure. Meanwhile, the filter case 3 also has a convex portion (second convex portion 37) on the surface facing the guide rail 27.

[0039] A clearance is provided between the filter case 3 and the main body 2 to prevent friction during sliding. FIG. 6(a) shows the filter case 3 being slid for installation, with the outline arrow indicating the sliding direction of the filter case 3. The second protrusions 37 are not in contact with the first protrusions 28, and a clearance X exists between the filter case 3 and the main body 2. In contrast, FIG. 6(b) shows the filter case 3 in a fully installed state, with the second protrusions 37 in contact with the apexes of the first protrusions 28. The filter case 3 is raised by the height of the second protrusions 37, thereby absorbing the clearance. This prevents air from entering between the filter case 3 and the main body 2 without passing through the air filter 4. Furthermore, because the first protrusions 28 are gently raised, there is almost no resistance when the second protrusions 37 come into contact with the first protrusions 28, and the ease of installation and removal is not impaired. Furthermore, in terms of appearance, the boundary between the filter case 3 and the front panel 12 becomes less noticeable, improving the design.

[0040] 7 is a diagram showing another example of how the filter case 3 is attached in this embodiment. In this embodiment, the main body 2 and the filter case 3 are connected by a hinge mechanism so that the filter case 3 can be rotated. The filter case 3 is attached and detached from the front panel 12 side.

[0041] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the essential parts of FIG. 7. A support portion 29, which is an axis supporting the filter case 3, is provided on the rear side of the main body 2. The filter case 3 has a locking portion 38 that can be fitted into and detached from the support portion 29, and is rotatable about the support portion 29. Therefore, when attaching the filter case 3, the locking portion 38 is fitted into the support portion 29 and rotated upward. When removing the filter case 3, the filter case 3 is rotated downward, and the locking portion 38 is disengaged from the support portion 29. This structure can reduce the gap between the filter case 3 and the main body 2, thereby preventing air from entering without passing through the air filter 4. Furthermore, in terms of appearance, the boundary between the filter case 3 and the front panel 12 is inconspicuous, improving the design. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 2 Main body 3 Filter case 4. Air filter 12 Front Panel 17 Air outlet 18 Air intake 21 Pre-filter 22 Air Purification Unit 26 Fans 27 Guide rail 28 First convex part 29 Support part 31 Placement section 32 Presser foot 33 Exterior part 34 Extension section 36 Wall 37 Second convex part 38 Locking part 41 Filter media 42 Frame

Claims

1. a fan that blows air into a ventilation path from the intake port to the outlet port; an air purification unit that captures and purifies substances contained in the air taken in through the air intake; a mesh-shaped pre-filter that is provided upstream of the air purification unit and that captures relatively large dust particles; a main body including the fan, the air purification unit, and the pre-filter; a front panel that covers at least the front surface of the main body; a filter case that houses an air filter and is detachably provided upstream of the air intake port and forms a surface continuous with the front panel; The air filter and the filter case are rectangular or square in plan view, The air filter has a filter material and a frame portion made of a fiber material provided on the outer periphery of the filter material, The filter case has a mounting portion on which the air filter is mounted and a pressing portion provided on only one of the four sides, The air conditioner, wherein the frame portion is sandwiched between the placing portion and the pressing portion at the one side.

2. The filter case is attached to and detached from the main body from the front panel side, The air conditioner according to claim 1 , wherein the pressing portion is provided on a side of the main body that is located on a rear side thereof.

3. The air conditioner according to claim 2 , wherein the pressing portions are provided at least at both ends of the sides.

4. The air conditioner according to claim 3 , wherein the pressing portion and the placing portion are provided at positions that do not face each other.

5. the filter case has a wall portion extending upward from the mounting portion on a side of the main body portion, The air conditioner according to claim 2 , wherein an upper end of the wall portion is higher than the pressing portion.

6. 6. The air conditioning device according to claim 1, wherein the filter case has an exterior portion that forms a continuous surface with the front panel when attached to the main body, and an extension portion that connects the exterior portion and the mounting portion.

7. the main body portion includes a guide rail along which the filter case slides, the guide rail has first convex portions that gently rise at at least two locations, one near the rear surface and the other near the front surface of the main body, The air conditioner according to claim 1 , wherein the filter case has a second protrusion that abuts against an apex of the first protrusion when the filter case is completely attached to the main body.

8. A support portion for supporting the filter case is provided on the rear side of the main body portion, the filter case has a locking portion that can be fitted into and detached from the support portion, The air conditioner according to claim 1 , wherein the filter case is rotatably mounted on the support portion, which is a shaft.

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