humidifier

Abstract

To provide a humidifier which can shorten a drying time of a vaporization filter.SOLUTION: A vaporization filter 9 is rotationally driven so that a lower end of the vaporization filter 9 is located higher than a water level of a water tank, and one side having a first guide plate 22 becomes an upper face, the first guide plate 22 thereby blocks a clearance between the vaporization filter 9 and a filter casing 14, and a drying operation of the vaporization filter 9 is performed in a state that the clearance between the vaporization filter 9 and the water level is blocked by the submergence of a tip of a second guide plate 23. By this constitution, in a drying operation which is performed by horizontally laying the vaporization filter 9, since a flow passage other than the vaporization filter 9 does not exist, most of an air flow passes the vaporization filter 9, and a drying time of the vaporization filter 9 can be shortened.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an evaporative humidifier. [Background technology]

[0002] In the past, there was a humidifier of this type that, when stopping the humidifying operation and performing a drying operation on the evaporative filter, allowed the evaporative filter to rotate freely, and stopped rotating when the filter was turned sideways so as to be approximately parallel to the water surface in the water tank portion and performed the drying operation (for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-037080 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, when the vaporizing filter is placed sideways, gaps are created between the vaporizing filter and the upper filter casing, and between the vaporizing filter and the water surface in the tank. Because these gaps have a smaller pressure loss than the flow path through the vaporizing filter, the amount of air flowing through the gaps is greater than through the vaporizing filter, which creates the problem of increasing the time it takes for the vaporizing filter to dry. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, the humidifier of claim 1 of the present invention comprises an appliance body, a water tank for storing water, a blower fan installed within the appliance body for blowing air, an intake port for taking in air from outside the appliance body, an air flow path through which the air that has passed through the intake port flows, an evaporation filter that is provided within the air flow path and has a lower part immersed in the water of the water tank and is rotatable, a frame that maintains the shape of the evaporation filter, an outlet port that blows humidified air generated by the evaporation filter out of the appliance body, a filter casing that surrounds the upper part of the evaporation filter, and a filter casing in the air flow path. The vaporization filter is provided with a first guide plate fixed to the frame body on one side thereof and a second guide plate fixed to the frame body on the other side thereof, and the vaporization filter is rotated so that the lower end of the vaporization filter is higher than the water surface of the water tank and the side with the first guide plate is the upper surface, and the first guide plate closes the gap between the vaporization filter and the filter casing, and the tip of the second guide plate is submerged in the water tank, closing the gap between the vaporization filter and the water surface, and the drying operation of the vaporization filter is performed in this state.

[0006] In addition, the humidifier of claim 2 is characterized in that when the lower part of the evaporation filter is immersed in the water in the tank, the first guide plate and the second guide plate are arranged approximately parallel to the direction in which air flows through the air supply path.

[0007] In addition, the humidifier according to claim 3 is characterized in that a heater for heating air is provided upstream of the vaporization filter.

[0008] In addition, the humidifier of claim 4 is characterized in that when the water tank is in a dry state, the drying operation is performed in the same position as when the lower part of the evaporation filter is immersed in the water of the water tank.

[0009] In addition, in the humidifier of claim 5, the first guide plate and the second guide plate are made of a flexible material. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to this invention, the evaporative filter is rotated so that the lower end of the evaporative filter is higher than the water surface in the tank and the side with the first guide plate is facing up, and the drying operation of the evaporative filter is performed in this state where the first guide plate closes the gap between the evaporative filter and the filter casing and the tip of the second guide plate is submerged in the tank, closing the gap between the evaporative filter and the water surface.Therefore, when the drying operation is performed with the evaporative filter facing sideways, there is no flow path other than the evaporative filter, and most of the air passes through the evaporative filter, thereby shortening the drying time of the evaporative filter.

[0011] Furthermore, when the lower part of the evaporation filter is immersed in the water of the tank, the first guide plate and the second guide plate are arranged approximately parallel to the direction in which the air flows in the ventilation path, so that the first guide plate and the second guide plate are structured not to obstruct the wind in the ventilation path, thereby preventing a decrease in air volume.

[0012] Furthermore, by providing a heater for heating the air upstream of the vaporization filter, the drying operation time can be further reduced.

[0013] In addition, when the water tank is dry, the drying operation is performed in the same position as when the lower part of the evaporation filter is immersed in the water in the water tank.This eliminates the need to rotate the filter horizontally when there is no water, and allows the drying operation to be performed in the vertical position, thereby improving the efficiency of the drying operation.

[0014] Furthermore, by making the first guide plate and the second guide plate from a flexible material, they will not be damaged even if they come into contact with the filter casing or the water tank, and will not interfere with the rotation of the evaporation filter. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the appearance of an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a rear cross-sectional view of the embodiment during humidification operation. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a rear cross-sectional view of the embodiment during drying operation. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a rear cross-sectional view of the embodiment during drying operation. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a water tank in the same embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a rotation transmission portion of the vaporization filter in the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a front view of a rotation transmission portion of the vaporization filter in the embodiment; [Figure 8] Control block diagram of the embodiment DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Next, a humidifier according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0017] In the following description, the terms "front (front face)," "rear (rear face)," "upper," "lower," "right," and "left" follow the definitions in Figs. 1 to 7. The up-down direction corresponds to the vertical direction when the device main body 1 is installed. The front-rear direction and the left-right direction correspond to the horizontal direction when the device main body 1 is installed.

[0018] Reference numeral 1 denotes the main body of the humidifier, and reference numeral 2 denotes a water tank located at the bottom of main body 1, to which water is supplied by a cartridge-type water tank 3. Water tank 3 is inserted into main body 1 from the top and placed on water tank 2 to supply a fixed amount of water to water tank 2. Reference numeral 4 denotes an intake port that takes dry air (dry air) from the room into main body 1 and opens on the side of main body 1. Reference numeral 5 denotes an outlet port that sends moist air (humidified air) into the room and opens on the top of main body 1. Reference numeral 6 denotes a blower fan such as a sirocco fan that is installed in air flow path 12 from intake port 4 to outlet port 5, and reference numeral 7 denotes a motor that drives blower fan 6. Downstream of blower fan 6 are installed a heater 8 that heats the air and a vertically rectangular evaporative filter 9 made of pleated, highly absorbent sheet material. The vaporization filter 9 is attached so as to be freely rotatable, and both ends thereof are alternately immersed in the water in the water tank 2, and the water is sucked up by capillary action so as to be distributed over the entire surface.

[0019] Dry air taken in from the room by the blower fan 6 through the intake port 4 passes through the heater 8 and then passes through the evaporative filter 9 moistened by the water in the water tank 2 to become humidified air, which is then sent out into the room through the outlet 5. Reference numeral 12 denotes an air flow path along which the air blown by the blower fan 6 flows inside the appliance body 1.

[0020] Reference numeral 13 denotes a fan casing that is installed to surround the outer periphery of the blower fan 6. Air drawn into the center of the blower fan 6 from the intake port 4 is blown out centrifugally from the outer periphery of the blower fan 6, flows through a spiral air path (not shown) inside the fan casing 13 in the direction of rotation of the blower fan 6, and is sent out to the air path 12 on the downstream side.

[0021] Reference numeral 14 denotes a filter casing that is installed to surround the upper part of the evaporation filter 9. The filter casing 14 is molded integrally with the fan casing 13.

[0022] Reference numeral 15 denotes an air filter such as a HEPA filter made of sheet-like filtering material such as nonwoven fabric, which purifies the air taken in through the intake port 4 by capturing fine dust particles and minute particles such as PM2.5, and can be freely attached and detached to an attachment part (not shown) formed on the intake port 4.

[0023] Water tub 2 has a water supply section 10, which is supplied with water from water supply tank 3, and a vaporization filter installation section 11, which is installed with a vaporization filter 9, arranged side by side, and both are molded integrally from resin, and communicate with each other through communication port 32 at the bottom, storing the same level of water. Water tub 2 can be removed by pulling pull handle 16 from the back of device body 1.

[0024] Reference numeral 17 denotes a frame that covers the periphery of the vaporization filter 9 and houses the vaporization filter 9. A rotation fulcrum 18 and a female joint 20 are provided on the frame 17 at approximately the center of the top and bottom and the left and right, and by installing the fulcrum 18 and the female joint 20 in a fulcrum receiving portion 19 and a female joint receiving portion 21, respectively, provided on the water tank 2, the vaporization filter 9 can rotate around the fulcrum 18 and the female joint 20 as the rotation center.

[0025] The frame 17 is provided with a first guide plate 22 and a second guide plate 23 . 2, the structure of first guide plate 22 and second guide plate 23 in the front-to-rear direction (depth direction) is configured to have the same length (width) as frame body 17. Furthermore, they are located near the bottom of frame body 17 in the up-down direction, and in the left-to-right direction, first guide plate 22 protrudes leftward and second guide plate 23 protrudes rightward from the outside of frame body 17. The shape of first guide plate 22 is curved along the flow path of humidified air that has passed through vaporization filter 9. The first guide plate 22 and the second guide plate 23 will be described in detail later.

[0026] A gear motor 24 is provided inside the front surface of the appliance body 1 opposite the female joint 20, and the shaft of the gear motor 24 is fitted into the female joint 20 via a male joint 25. As a result, by driving the gear motor 24, the female joint 20 can be rotated, and the evaporation filter 9 can be rotated.

[0027] Reference numeral 26 denotes a lever pivotally supported at one end, with the lower surface of the tip facing a cam 27 provided on the female joint 20 and the approximate center of the upper surface facing a position detection switch 28. When the gear motor 24 is driven to rotate the vaporization filter 9, the cam 27 pushes up the lever 26, turning on the position detection switch 28, which controls the gear motor 24 so that the vaporization filter 9 stops at a specified position.

[0028] Reference numeral 29 denotes a water supply cap that serves as a lid for the water supply tank 3. The water supply cap 29 is provided with a valve mechanism (not shown) that is regulated by a compression spring (not shown) to keep the valve normally closed. When the water supply tank 3 is set (stored) in the water supply unit 10, the upper end of a protrusion 30 fixed to the water supply unit 10 abuts against the bottom surface of the valve mechanism, pushing up the valve to an open state, and water is supplied from the water supply tank 3 to the water supply unit 10.

[0029] Reference numeral 31 denotes a float sensor provided in the water supply section 10, which detects the presence of water level and outputs a water level detection signal when water is stored above a certain level in the water supply section 10 and the evaporation filter installation section 11. Reference numeral 33 denotes a humidity sensor which detects the humidity in the room where the appliance main body 1 is installed.

[0030] An operation unit 34 is provided with a plurality of switches and is used to issue various operation commands. The operation unit 34 is provided with an operation switch for starting and stopping the humidifying operation, a switch for setting the humidity, an operation changeover switch for setting the strength of the humidifying operation, a drying switch for starting a drying operation for drying the evaporative filter 9, and the like.

[0031] The operation unit 34 is also provided with lamps corresponding to each switch, including an operation lamp that lights up when the operation switch is operated, a lamp that displays the set humidity, and a lamp that displays the operation state switched by the operation changeover switch.

[0032] Reference numeral 35 denotes a control unit made up of a microcomputer that controls the operation based on the detection values ​​detected by the float sensor 31 and humidity sensor 33 and the settings of the switches provided on the operation unit 34. The control unit 35 is equipped with a blower fan control means 40 that drives the blower fan 6 at a predetermined rotation speed, a heater control means 41 that changes the ON / OFF state of the heater 8, a gear motor control means 42 that controls the operation of the gear motor 24 that rotates the evaporation filter 9, and a timer 43 as a timing means that counts the time that has elapsed since the start of a specific operation.

[0033] Next, the operation from the start to the end of operation in one embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0034] When the humidifier is operated, water is filled in the water supply tank 3 and placed in the water tub 2, causing a certain amount of water to flow from the water supply tank 3 into the water tub 2, immersing the lower end of the vertically-installed vaporization filter 9. This causes the vaporization filter 9 to absorb the water and become moist.

[0035] At this time, when the operation switch of the operation unit 34 is operated, the control unit 35 drives the blower fan 6 to draw in dry air from the room through the intake port 4. The dry air blown out by the blower fan 6 is heated by the heater 8 provided in the air flow path 12. Then, as shown in FIG. 2 , the heated dry air passes through the evaporative filter 9, which is moistened by submerging one end of the filter in the water tank 2, and the water in the evaporative filter 9 vaporizes to become humidified air, which is then released into the room through the air outlet 5.

[0036] Furthermore, when operation begins with the lower end of vaporization filter 9 submerged, timer 43 in control unit 35 counts a predetermined time. After the predetermined time has elapsed, vaporization filter 9 is rotated approximately 180 degrees and stopped with the other end that was not submerged submerged. Vaporization filter 9 then absorbs water again and becomes moist, and the air that passes through vaporization filter 9 vaporizes the water and is then discharged as humidified air.

[0037] Thereafter, this operation is repeated to continue the humidifying operation. At this time, the rotation direction of the vaporization filter 9 may be either forward or reverse.

[0038] After humidification is complete, the evaporative filter 9 is rotated approximately 90 degrees from the state shown in Figure 2 and is held above the water surface in a generally horizontal position relative to the water surface of the water tank 2, as shown in Figure 3. Then, a predetermined time is counted by the timer 43 in the control unit 35, during which time a drying operation is performed to dry the evaporative filter 9 using air heated by the heater 8 provided in the air flow path 12.

[0039] After the drying operation is completed, if the vaporization filter 9 and water tub 2 are to be removed from the device body 1 for cleaning or the like, they can be removed by pulling out the pull-out handle 16 of the device body 1 in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 5, the vaporization filter 9 and water tub 2 are detachable, so that the water tub 2 can be cleaned after removing the vaporization filter 9.

[0040] Next, the detailed structure of the first guide plate 22 and the second guide plate 23 in one embodiment of the present invention and the resulting effects will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0041] As shown in Figure 3, when performing a drying operation to dry the evaporative filter 9, the evaporative filter 9 is held approximately horizontally relative to the water surface and is not submerged in the water in the water tank 2. At this time, gap A is formed between the evaporative filter 9 and the filter casing 14, and gap B is formed between the evaporative filter 9 and the water surface. Gaps A and B hardly occur when the evaporative filter 9 is installed vertically with its lower end submerged, i.e., during humidification operation as shown in Figure 2. In conventional humidifiers, the flow paths passing through gaps A and B have smaller pressure losses than the flow paths passing through the evaporative filter 9, so the amount of air flowing through gaps A and B is greater than that through the evaporative filter 9, which increases the time it takes to dry the evaporative filter 9.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 3, a first guide plate 22 is provided on the frame 17 to close gap A between the vaporization filter 9 and the filter casing 14, and a second guide plate 23 is provided on the frame 17 to close gap B between the vaporization filter 9 and the water surface by being submerged in the water surface of the water tank 2. The length of the first guide plate 22 is extended so that it does not come into contact with the filter casing 14, and the length of the second guide plate 23 is long enough that its tip is submerged in the water surface. The first guide plate 22 and the second guide plate 23 prevent air from flowing through gap A and gap B, thereby increasing the amount of air flowing through and drying the vaporization filter 9. This means that the drying time of the vaporization filter 9 can be shortened.

[0043] 2, when humidification operation is performed with evaporative filter 9 installed vertically and its lower end immersed, first guide plate 22 and second guide plate 23 are shaped so as not to interfere with airflow path 12. That is, first guide plate 22 and second guide plate 23 are arranged so as to be approximately parallel to the air flowing through airflow path 12, so that first guide plate 22 smoothly guides the humidified air that has passed through evaporative filter 9 downstream, and second guide plate 23 guides dry air so that it smoothly flows into evaporative filter 9. In particular, because first guide plate 22 protrudes a long distance from frame 17, it is bent along the flow path so as to be approximately parallel to the humidified air flowing through. As a result, even when first guide plate 22 and second guide plate 23 are installed, the air volume and humidification amount during humidification operation are not reduced.

[0044] 2, the first guide plate 22 and the second guide plate 23 are positioned near the bottom of the frame 17, but are positioned close to the water tank 2 and the water surface so as not to obstruct air circulation as much as possible. Also, the lengths of the first guide plate 22 and the second guide plate 23 are set so that the tips of the first guide plate 22 and the second guide plate 23 do not come into contact with the filter casing 14 and the water tank 2 when the evaporation filter 9 rotates.

[0045] The first guide plate 22 and the second guide plate 23 are made of the same plastic material as the frame 17, such as polypropylene (PP) or polystyrene (PS).

[0046] Furthermore, when there is no water in the water tank 2, i.e., when there is a drought, the drying time can be further reduced by performing the drying operation with the evaporative filter 9 installed in a vertical position as shown in Figure 2. In other words, when the evaporative filter 9 is in a vertical position but is not wetted by the water in the water tank 2, the pressure loss through the evaporative filter 9 during the drying operation is smaller in the vertical position than in a position approximately horizontal to the water surface, so the amount of air flowing through the evaporative filter 9 for drying can be increased, and the drying efficiency can be further improved.

[0047] The first guide plate 22 and the second guide plate 23 installed on the frame 17 may be positioned and shaped as shown in Fig. 4. In other words, regardless of the shape of the frame 17, the first guide plate 22 and the second guide plate 23 may be installed anywhere as long as their tips do not come into contact with each other when the vaporization filter 9 rotates, they have a shape that minimizes obstruction to air flow in the position shown in Fig. 2, and they can close gaps A and B.

[0048] However, depending on the positions of the first guide plate 22 and the second guide plate 23, when the vaporization filter 9 rotates, the first guide plate 22 and the second guide plate 23 may come into contact with the filter casing 14 or the water tank 2. As a result, the rotation of the vaporization filter 9 may be hindered, or the filter casing 14 or the water tank 2 may be damaged.

[0049] Therefore, the first guide plate 22 and the second guide plate 23 are made of a reversible material, such as flexible plastic or silicone rubber, that flexes and deforms when force is applied and then returns to its original shape. As a result, even if the first guide plate 22 and the second guide plate 23 come into contact with the filter casing 14 or the water tank 2 while the vaporization filter 9 is rotating, they flex and deform, allowing them to continue rotating while in contact. Furthermore, the force applied to the filter casing 14 or the water tank 2 can be minimized by the flexing of the first guide plate 22 and the second guide plate 23, preventing damage to the filter casing 14 or the water tank 2.

[0050] Furthermore, the other configurations used in the present embodiment are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, and the invention can be embodied 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 also included in the inventions described in the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1. Device body 2. Aquarium 4 Intake port 5 Air outlet 6. Blower fan 8 Heater 9 Evaporative Filter 12 Air flow path 14 Filter casing 17 Frame 22 First guide plate 23 Second guide plate

Claims

1. The instrument body, A tank for storing water, a blower fan installed in the appliance body for blowing air; an intake port for taking in air outside the appliance body; an air flow path through which air that has passed through the suction port flows; an evaporation filter that is provided in the air flow path, the lower part of which is immersed in the water of the water tank and can be rotated; a frame that maintains the shape of the vaporization filter; an air outlet for blowing the humidified air generated by the vaporization filter to the outside of the appliance body; a filter casing that surrounds an upper portion of the vaporization filter; a first guide plate fixed to the frame body on one side of the vaporization filter in the air flow path, and a second guide plate fixed to the frame body on the other side, The vaporization filter is rotated so that the lower end of the vaporization filter is higher than the water surface of the water tank and the side provided with the first guide plate is the upper surface, A humidifier characterized in that the first guide plate blocks the gap between the evaporative filter and the filter casing, and the tip of the second guide plate is submerged in the water tank to block the gap between the evaporative filter and the water surface, thereby performing a drying operation of the evaporative filter.

2. With the lower part of the vaporization filter immersed in the water of the water tank, 2. The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the first guide plate and the second guide plate are arranged substantially parallel to the direction in which air flows through the air flow path.

3. 3. The humidifier according to claim 1, further comprising a heater for heating air, the heater being disposed upstream of the vaporization filter.

4. 3. The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein when the water tank is in a dry state, the drying operation is performed with the lower part of the vaporization filter in the same position as when it is immersed in the water of the water tank.

5. 3. The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the first guide plate and the second guide plate are made of a flexible material.

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