air conditioner

Abstract

To provide an air conditioner capable of appropriately performing a clothing drying operation by interlocking an air conditioning unit with a blowing unit.SOLUTION: An air conditioner performs a clothing drying operation to dry laundry in a target space by making a dehumidifying unit 2 and a circulator 3 operate so as to be interlocked with each other for a prescribed operation time, and changes the operation from a drying acceleration mode to a finishing mode based on humidity detected during the clothing drying operation in the target space and a remaining time of the prescribed operation time. The air conditioner estimates drying condition of the laundry hooked in the target space based on the humidity and the remaining time and changes the drying acceleration mode to the finishing mode. Consequently, drying operation of the laundry hooked in the target space can be adequately finished.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioner including a blower unit that operates in conjunction with an air conditioning unit.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an air conditioner capable of performing a clothes drying operation in which an air conditioning unit and a blower unit are interlocked to dry laundry.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, this conventional device has room for improvement because it cannot respond to changes in the state of the target space for performing the clothes drying operation and the drying condition of the laundry depending on the elapsed time of the clothes drying operation.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, in claim 1 of the present invention, there is provided an air conditioner including an air conditioning unit and a blower unit that operates in conjunction with the air conditioning unit, where the air conditioning unit has an air conditioning side control unit that controls a clothes drying operation for drying laundry in a target space by operating the air conditioning unit and the blower unit in conjunction for a predetermined operation time, and a transmission unit that transmits a control signal for controlling the interlocked operation of the air conditioning unit and the blower unit during the clothes drying operation to the blower unit during the clothes drying operation, and the blower unit, <0 where the air conditioning unit has an air conditioning side control unit that controls a clothes drying operation for drying laundry in a target space by operating the air conditioning unit and the blower unit in conjunction for a predetermined operation time, and a transmission unit that transmits a control signal for controlling the interlocked operation of the air conditioning unit and the blower unit during the clothes drying operation to the blower unit during the clothes drying operation, A receiving unit receives the control signal transmitted from the transmitting unit, It includes a blower-side control unit that controls the blower unit based on the received control signal, The aforementioned clothes drying operation has a drying acceleration mode and a finishing mode. The air conditioning control unit is characterized by changing from the drying acceleration mode to the finishing mode based on the humidity of the target space detected during the clothes drying operation and the remaining time of the predetermined operating time.

[0006] Furthermore, claim 2 is characterized in that the air conditioning control unit changes from the drying acceleration mode to the finishing mode when it determines that the humidity of the target space detected during the clothes drying operation falls below a predetermined low humidity level and the remaining time of the predetermined operation time has reached a predetermined switching time.

[0007] Furthermore, claim 3 is characterized in that when the air conditioning control unit changes to the finishing mode, it reduces the amount of air blown by the air conditioning unit compared to when it is in the drying acceleration mode, and transmits the control signal to the air blowing unit, which includes an instruction to reduce the amount of air blown by the air blowing unit.

[0008] Furthermore, in claim 4, the air conditioning unit has a heating element that heats the air being blown and can switch between operating states. The air conditioning control unit is characterized by keeping the heating element constantly running during the drying acceleration mode and changing the operation of the heating element based on the temperature of the target space during the finishing mode.

[0009] Furthermore, in claim 5, the blower unit has a blower section that is supported so as to be able to oscillate around a swing axis along a predetermined direction, The blower-side control unit, upon receiving the control signal which includes a change to the finishing mode, is characterized by increasing the range and / or speed of the oscillation compared to when it is in the drying acceleration mode.

[0010] Further, in claim 6, after changing to the finishing mode, when the air-conditioning side control unit determines that the humidity detected in the target space has reached a predetermined high humidity or higher, it is characterized in that the unit returns to the drying promotion mode.

Advantages of the Invention

[0011] According to this invention, based on the humidity of the target space detected during the clothing drying operation and the remaining time of a predetermined operation time, the mode is changed from the drying promotion mode to the finishing mode. Therefore, it is possible to respond to the state of the target space where the clothing drying operation is performed by linking the air-conditioning unit and the blower unit and the drying condition of the laundry depending on the elapsed time, and thus the product quality is improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012] [Figure 1] An external perspective view seen from the front when the dehumidifier is integrated in this embodiment. [Figure 2] An external perspective view seen from the back when the dehumidifier is integrated in this embodiment. [Figure 3] A longitudinal sectional view when the dehumidifier with a circulator is integrated. [Figure 4] An exploded perspective view when the dehumidifier with a circulator is integrated. [Figure 5] A schematic functional block diagram showing the functional configuration of the dehumidifier with a circulator. [Figure 6] Among the functional blocks in FIG. 5, a schematic functional block diagram for particularly explaining each power supply unit. [Figure 7] An external perspective view seen from the front of the circulator when separated. [Figure 8] An external perspective view seen from the back of the circulator when separated. [Figure 9] An external perspective view showing an example of the usage state of the dehumidifier when separated. [Figure 10] A flowchart for explaining the operation during the clothing drying operation.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] An embodiment of the air conditioner according to the present invention will be described based on the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, the air conditioner of the present invention is applied to a dehumidifier with a circulator that uses a vapor compression refrigeration cycle to dehumidify by condensing moisture contained in the air and then blows the air, and will be described.

[0014] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view seen from the front when the dehumidifier 1 with a circulator in this embodiment is integrated. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view seen from the back when the dehumidifier 1 with a circulator in this embodiment is integrated. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view when the dehumidifier 1 with a circulator is integrated. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view when the dehumidifier 1 with a circulator is integrated. FIG. 5 is a schematic functional block diagram showing the functional configuration of the dehumidifier 1 with a circulator. FIG. 6 is a schematic functional block diagram for specifically explaining each power supply unit 83, 183 among the functional blocks of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is an external perspective view seen from the front of the circulator 3 when separated. FIG. 8 is an external perspective view seen from the back of the circulator 3 when separated. FIG. 9 is an external perspective view showing an example of the usage state of the dehumidifier 1 when separated.

[0015] In the following description, the description will be made according to the definitions of front, back, top, bottom, left, and right shown in each drawing. The surface facing the front where the dehumidifying unit side operation unit 74 is provided may be referred to as the front, and the surface opposite to the front facing the rear may be referred to as the back. Also, the direction along the front-back, left-right direction is the horizontal direction. The definitions of the front, back, top, bottom, left, and right of the circulator 3 may be different when the circulator 3 is attached to the dehumidifying unit 2 (hereinafter simply referred to as "when integrated") and when it is separated from the dehumidifying unit 2 (hereinafter simply referred to as "when separated"). When integrated, it may follow the definitions in FIGS. 1 to 4, and when separated, it may follow FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0016] The dehumidifier with a circulator 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as "dehumidifier 1") comprises a dehumidification unit 2 (air conditioning unit) that blows out dehumidified (conditioned) air, and a circulator 3 (air blowing unit) positioned above the dehumidification unit 2 that draws in ambient air and blows it out. As shown in Figure 4, the circulator 3 is detachable from the dehumidification unit 2 (housing 10) and can blow air in conjunction with or independently of the dehumidification unit 2. Furthermore, the circulator 3 can be operated integrally with or separately from the dehumidification unit 2.

[0017] The dehumidifying unit 2 has a housing 10 that forms the external appearance of the dehumidifying unit 2. The housing 10 has a front frame 11, a rear frame 12, a top panel 14, and a base 15.

[0018] The front frame 11 and the rear frame 12 are joined together via connecting lines 13 that extend vertically at approximately the center of the housing 10 in the front-to-back direction, forming a roughly rectangular prism-shaped side surface 23 with four faces that connects the top surface 21 and the bottom surface 22 of the housing 10. The front frame 11 and the rear frame 12 each have a top frame portion 24 that is formed by bending horizontally inward from their upper ends. The front frame 11 and the rear frame 12, which are the right side surface 23c and the left side surface 23d, also have handle cutouts 25 for the placement of handles 43. The handle cutouts 25 are formed at the upper ends of the right side surface 23c and the left side surface 23d, and approximately in the center in the front-to-back direction. The front-facing surface of the front frame 11 is the front surface 23a of the side surface 23.

[0019] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the rear frame 12 (rear surface 23b) has an intake port 31, a tank insertion port 32, and a power cord port 34. The intake port 31 has multiple slits 36 and has a filter 37 and a filter case 38 on its outer surface. The filter 37 is made of a resin mesh or nonwoven fabric and removes dust and odor components mixed in with the intake air. The filter case 38 fixes the filter 37 to the intake port 31. The tank insertion port 32 is located below the intake port 31, and the drain tank 69 is inserted and removed from here. The power cord port 34 is located in the lower right of the rear frame 12, and the power cord 4 connected to the dehumidification unit side control unit 70 is routed from the power cord port 34 to the outside of the housing 10.

[0020] The top plate 14 has a base portion 14a facing upward and a peripheral wall portion 14b extending downward from the periphery of the base portion 14a. The top plate 14 is positioned to cover the opening 24a (Figure 3) formed by the inner edge of the top frame portion 24. Together with the top frame portion 24 described above, the base portion 14a forms the top surface 21, which is the surface facing upward of the housing 10. On the top surface 21, the peripheral wall portion 14b forms a step with respect to the top frame portion 24, so that the base portion 14a functions as an upwardly convex upper surface portion 90 (Figure 4) relative to the top frame portion 24.

[0021] The top panel 14 also has an air outlet 41, an air guide wall 42, a handle 43, and left and right intake recesses 45.

[0022] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the air outlet 41 is formed in a rectangular shape at approximately the center of the base 14a. The air outlet 41 is equipped with a louver 48 that can control the direction of the dry air discharge and a louver motor 49 (Figure 5) that drives the louver 48.

[0023] The air guide wall 42 is a wall that rises a predetermined amount upward from the base 14a, surrounding the outlet 41 on the outside when viewed from above. The air guide wall 42 directs the air blown out from the outlet 41 towards the circulator 3 above. The air guide wall 42 forms a space that serves as a passage for the air blown out from the outlet 41, and is connected to the inside of the housing 10.

[0024] The handles 43 are formed above the right side 23c and left side 23d of the top plate 14, at positions corresponding to the handle notches 25 of the front frame 11 and rear frame 12, on the left and right sides of the top plate 14. The handles 43 have handle recesses 51 and finger rests 52 that are recessed inward in the left-right direction from the right side 23c and left side 23d, and are used by the user when transporting the dehumidifier 1.

[0025] The left and right suction port recesses 45 are recesses for forming the left and right suction ports 121, which will be described later. The left and right suction port recesses 45 are formed in a position that overlaps with the handle recess 51 (handle 43) in the left-right direction with respect to the finger rest 52.

[0026] As shown in Figure 3, the base 15 is positioned to cover the opening 22a formed below by the combined front frame 11 and rear frame 12. The base 15 serves as the base of the dehumidifier 1 and is the bottom surface 22 that is installed directly on the floor or other installation surface, or, if the dehumidifier has legs, through a gap.

[0027] The dehumidification unit 2, as shown in Figure 3, has a fan case 61, a sirocco fan 62, a blower motor 63, a compressor 65, a heat exchanger 66, a heating element 67, a drain pan 68, and a drain tank 69 as its main internal components housed in the casing 10.

[0028] The fan case 61 is positioned on the base 15 and primarily supports and positions the sirocco fan 62, the blower motor 63, and the drain tank 69.

[0029] The sirocco fan 62 rotates due to the rotation of the blower motor 63, drawing in air from the intake port 31 and creating an airflow that is blown out from the outlet port 41. The sirocco fan 62 and the blower motor 63 are mounted on the fan case 61 such that their rotation axes are aligned in the front-rear direction.

[0030] The compressor 65 is fixed on the base 15 and connected to the heat exchanger 66 via piping 65a and a pressure reducing device.

[0031] The heat exchanger 66 exchanges heat with the air drawn in from the intake port 31. The heat exchanger 66 has an evaporator 66a positioned close to the intake port 31 and a condenser 66b positioned in front of the evaporator 66a. The evaporator 66a and condenser 66b are fin-tube type heat exchangers in which fins 66d are attached to a U-shaped refrigerant pipe 66c. The refrigerant pipe 66c has multiple straight sections extending horizontally (left and right) and a bent section that curves vertically in a U shape, connecting two straight sections. These straight sections and bent sections appear continuously along the length of the refrigerant pipe 66c.

[0032] The compressor 65, piping 65a, pressure reducing device, and heat exchanger 66 form a refrigeration cycle through which the refrigerant flows. The refrigeration cycle consists of the compressor 65, condenser 66b, pressure reducing device, and evaporator 66a, in the order in which the refrigerant flows. As the refrigerant flows through the evaporator 66a, it absorbs heat from the air passing through the evaporator 66a and evaporates. As the refrigerant flows through the condenser 66b, it reheats the air passing through the condenser 66b and condenses. As a result, the air drawn in from the intake port 31 has dust and odor components removed by the filter 37, is cooled and dehumidified in the evaporator 66a, and then heated in the condenser 66b to become low-humidity air.

[0033] The heating element 67 heats the low-humidity air that has passed through the condenser 66b before the outlet 41.

[0034] The drain pan 68 has a drain port and receives the drain water generated and falling from the evaporator 66a, and discharges it through this drain port. The drain pan 68 supports and fixes the heat exchanger 66 from below.

[0035] The drain tank 69 stores the drain water discharged from the drain port of the drain pan 68. The drain tank 69 is attached to and detached from the housing 10 by sliding it in the front-rear direction from the tank insertion port 32. When the drain tank 69 is inserted into the housing 10, it is placed in a tank chamber formed by the fan case 61.

[0036] The drain tank 69 has a tank lid 69a and a float housing 69b. The tank lid 69a allows drain water from the drain port of the drain pan 68 to fall into the drain tank 69. The float housing 69b houses a float, for example, one with a magnet, for detecting the water level in the drain tank 69. The magnetic field of the magnet, corresponding to the water level, is detected by a water level sensor 69c, such as an AMR sensor (Anisotropic-Magneto-Resistance sensor), which is mounted on the dehumidification unit side control unit 70, and the user is notified that the drain tank 69 is full.

[0037] As shown in Figure 5, the dehumidification unit 2 further includes a dehumidification unit-side control unit 70, a temperature sensor 71, a humidity sensor 72, a notification unit 73, a dehumidification unit-side operation unit 74, and a display unit 75.

[0038] The dehumidification unit side control unit 70 (air conditioning side control unit) is a control board positioned in front of the fan case 61, supported by the required case.

[0039] The dehumidifier unit-side control unit 70 comprehensively controls the operation of the dehumidifier 1 by electrically controlling various parts such as the louver motor 49, blower motor 63, compressor 65, heating element 67, and display unit 75 based on instructions from the dehumidifier unit-side operation unit 74 and pre-stored programs. The dehumidifier unit-side control unit 70 also controls various parts of the circulator 3, such as the oscillation motor 138, by transmitting infrared signals, both when the units are integrated and when they are separated. In this embodiment, the dehumidifier unit-side control unit 70 controls the synchronized operation of the dehumidifier unit 2 and the circulator 3.

[0040] The dehumidification unit side control unit 70 has a storage unit 77 and a timer 78. The storage unit 77 stores the operation programs of each part, etc. The timer 78 measures time for timer operation of the dehumidifier 1, etc.

[0041] The temperature sensor 71 and humidity sensor 72 are installed at predetermined locations on the dehumidifier 1 body and measure the ambient temperature and humidity of the dehumidifier 1. The dehumidification unit side control unit 70 uses the temperature and humidity as needed to control each part. The notification unit 73 outputs an alarm sound or the like to inform the user of the situation based on the instructions of the dehumidification unit side control unit 70.

[0042] The dehumidifier unit-side operation unit 74 and display unit 75 are located at the top of the front 23a (side 23, front frame 11) of the housing 10, approximately in the center in the left-right direction. The dehumidifier unit-side operation unit 74 and display unit 75 are located on a control board 70a, which is arranged approximately parallel to the front 23a, and is for the dehumidifier unit-side operation unit 74, the display unit 75, and the dehumidifier unit-side communication unit 82. The dehumidifier unit-side operation unit 74 has multiple input buttons that implement, for example, an operation switch, a timer switch, an operation mode selection switch, and a switch for setting the operation of the circulator 3. The display unit 75 displays the operating status of the dehumidifier 1, etc., by the lighting status of LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes).

[0043] The dehumidification unit 2 further includes a circulator detection sensor 81, a dehumidification unit side communication unit 82, a dehumidification unit side power supply unit 83, and a power switching unit 84.

[0044] The circulator detection sensor 81 is located on the dehumidification unit 2 (either the dehumidification unit 2 or the circulator 3) and detects the attachment / detachment status, indicating whether the dehumidification unit 2 and the circulator 3 are integrated or separated. The circulator detection sensor 81 is a reed switch (proximity sensor) that detects the presence or absence of proximity to the circulator 3 by detecting, for example, the magnetic field of a magnet placed at a predetermined position on the circulator 3.

[0045] The circulator detection sensor 81 outputs whether or not a magnetic field is detected to the dehumidification unit side control unit 70. Based on the acquired detection result, the dehumidification unit side control unit 70 acquires the attachment / detachment status, assuming that the circulator 3 is integrated if a magnetic field is detected, and separate if no magnetic field is detected.

[0046] The dehumidification unit-side communication unit 82 is an infrared antenna that transmits the required infrared signal (wireless signal) to the circulator-side communication unit 182 of the circulator 3 based on the control of the dehumidification unit-side control unit 70. As shown in Figure 1, the dehumidification unit-side communication unit 82 transmits infrared rays from a dehumidification unit-side transparent window 86 that transmits infrared rays and is provided in the panel 76 in which the dehumidification unit-side operation unit 74 is formed.

[0047] The dehumidification unit-side control unit 70 transmits the necessary information to the circulator 3 via the dehumidification unit-side communication unit 82. Specifically, the dehumidification unit-side control unit 70 transmits to the dehumidification unit-side communication unit 82 information regarding the attachment / detachment status obtained from the detection result of the circulator detection sensor 81, and information regarding operation control necessary to link the operation of the circulator 3 with the operation of the dehumidification unit 2. Therefore, in this embodiment, the dehumidification unit-side communication unit 82 functions as a transmitter that transmits control signals to the circulator 3 to operate the dehumidification unit 2 and the circulator 3 in conjunction.

[0048] As shown in Figure 6, the dehumidification unit's power supply unit 83 converts the alternating current supplied from the power cord 4 connected to the commercial power supply into a direct current power supply and supplies it to each part of the dehumidification unit 2.

[0049] The power switching unit 84 switches whether or not to supply AC current from the commercial power supply to the power output terminal 87. As shown in Figure 4, the power output terminal 87 is exposed above the top surface 21 where the circulator 3 is mounted. When the dehumidification unit side control unit 70 is integrated, it closes the power switching unit 84 and supplies power from the power output terminal 87 to the power input terminal 187 of the circulator 3. On the other hand, when the dehumidification unit side control unit 70 is separated, it opens the power switching unit 84 and does not supply power to the power output terminal 87.

[0050] When the circulator 3 is integrated, it primarily draws in the dehumidified air blown out from the dehumidification unit 2. When it is separated, it draws in the surrounding air and circulates and mixes the surrounding air while blowing it out.

[0051] The circulator 3 has a base portion 110 and an air blower portion 130. The air blower portion 130 is supported on the base portion 110 so as to be able to oscillate around an axis that is aligned with the left-right direction when the unit is integrated.

[0052] As shown in Figures 1, 7, and 8, the base portion 110 is a cylindrical casing that forms a space (a through-hole that penetrates vertically when the components are integrated) inside the base portion 110 capable of housing the blower portion 130. The base portion 110 has a base portion bottom surface 111, a base portion side surface 112, and a base portion top surface 113. The base portion side surface 112 consists of an outer surface and an inner surface, and the internal space 115 formed by closing the base portion bottom surface 111, the base portion side surface 112, and the base portion top surface 113 is partially or entirely hollow, as shown in Figure 3.

[0053] The bottom surface 111 of the base portion is a frame-shaped surface having substantially the same shape as the upper surface 21 formed by the upper frame portion 24. When the base portion is assembled, the bottom surface 111 is placed on the upper frame portion 24 and becomes a surface that contacts the upper frame portion 24.

[0054] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 3 and 8, the base bottom surface 111 has a circulator-side recess 190 located inward from the inner peripheral edge 111a of the base bottom surface 111. The circulator-side recess 190 is a recessed space that is recessed upward, corresponding to the vertical length of the peripheral wall portion 14b of the top plate 14 and the shape of the top surface convex portion 90. Because the circulator-side recess 190 corresponds to the shape of the top surface convex portion 90, it engages with the top surface convex portion 90 when they are in a single unit. As a result, the base 110 is restricted from moving horizontally parallel to the installation surface, i.e., from moving on the top surface 21, by the top surface convex portion 90. Also, since the circulator 3 is supported by the housing 10 by a simple interlocking of recesses and protrusions, it can be easily removed by lifting it upward.

[0055] The side surface 112 of the base portion has an outer surface shape that is almost identical to the outer surface shape of the side surface 23 of the housing 10. That is, when the circulator 3 is assembled, the side surface 112 of the base portion is flush with the side surface 23 of the dehumidifying unit 2 and has an appearance that is integrated with the housing 10. The side surface 112 of the base portion has left and right intake ports 121 and a rear intake port 122.

[0056] The left and right intake ports 121 are positioned approximately in the center in the front-to-back direction on the left and right side surfaces 112c of the base portion, and are formed by cutting out a predetermined amount upward from the boundary between the left and right side surfaces 112c of the base portion and the base portion bottom surface 111. As shown in Figure 2 and other figures, the left and right intake ports 121 have a shape that is approximately vertically symmetrical with respect to the handle 43 on the side surface 23 of the housing 10 with respect to the finger rest 52, or with respect to the boundary line 5 between the top frame portion 24 and the base portion bottom surface 111. As described above, left and right intake port recesses 45 are formed in the top plate 14, and the space formed in these left and right intake port recesses 45 and the left and right intake ports 121 act to connect the periphery of the dehumidifier 1 to the inside of the base portion 110 (base portion side surfaces 112) via the left and right intake ports 121.

[0057] As shown in Figure 1, the side surface 112 of the base portion faces forward in the same direction as the front surface 23a when the parts are integrated, and has a front surface 112a which is the front of the base portion 110. It also has a rear surface 112b which faces backward when the parts are integrated, and is the back of the base portion 110.

[0058] The rear intake port 122 is positioned approximately in the center of the base portion rear surface 112b in the left-right direction, and is formed by cutting out a predetermined amount upward from the boundary between the base portion rear surface 112b and the base portion bottom surface 111. The rear intake port 122 interacts with the shape of the upper surface 21 of the housing 10 to connect the surrounding area with the inside of the base portion 110 via the rear intake port 122.

[0059] The upper surface 113 of the base consists of a surface 113a that is parallel to the horizontal direction from the rear to approximately the center in the front-rear direction, and a surface 113b that curves downward from approximately the center to the front. Due to this configuration, when the base is assembled, the upper surface 113 is located above the bottom surface 111 of the base and faces upward (approximately upward). The upper surface 113 of the base has a curved recess 113c at the rear. The recess 113c is formed to create an airflow path without the base 110 obstructing the airflow from the circulator 3 when the base is assembled.

[0060] The blower unit 130 includes a cover 131, a fan motor 135, and a fan 136.

[0061] The cover 131 is a bone-like member for protecting the user's fingers, etc., from the fan 136. The cover 131 has a suction-side cover 131a, for example, which is hemispherical and covers the suction side (upstream side) of the fan 136 and forms the suction surface, and a flat outlet-side cover 131b, which covers the outlet side (downstream side) of the fan 136 and forms the outlet surface. The suction-side cover 131a and the outlet-side cover 131b are combined to form a single unit. In the position of the air blower 130 where the outlet-side cover 131b is aligned in a substantially horizontal direction and the rotation axis of the fan 136 is aligned in a vertical direction, as shown in Figure 3 (hereinafter simply referred to as the "stopped position"), the suction-side cover 131a has a motor support portion 131c that is concave upward at a central position facing downward.

[0062] In the stopped position, the fan motor 135 and fan 136 are housed inside the cover 131 such that the rotation axis of the fan motor 135 (fan 136) is aligned vertically and passes through the center of the sphere that makes up the cover 131. The fan motor 135 rotates the fan 136 around its rotation axis. The fan 136 blows air from the outlet 41 that is drawn in from the intake cover 131a, and air drawn into the intake cover 131a from the outside of the dehumidifier 1, through the outlet cover 131b.

[0063] The air blower unit 130 is supported on the base unit 110 in a stationary position such that the direction of airflow from the fan 136 almost coincides with the direction of airflow from the outlet 41, which is almost upward. The air blower unit 130 is also supported on the base unit 110 so that it can oscillate within a predetermined range of angles around an oscillation axis that runs in the left-right direction (a predetermined direction) from its stationary position when assembled, by means of an oscillation motor 138. The oscillation motor 138 is located in the internal space 115 of the base unit 110. The oscillation axis of the oscillation motor 138 is positioned almost in the center of the front-to-back direction of the circulator 3. The oscillation axis also passes through the center of the sphere that forms the hemispherical intake side cover 131a. Furthermore, the oscillation axis is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the fan 136.

[0064] The circulator 3 further includes a circulator-side control unit 170, a circulator-side operation unit 174, a circulator-side communication unit 182, and a circulator-side power supply unit 183.

[0065] The circulator-side control unit 170 is a control board (Figure 3) located in the internal space 115 of the base unit 110. The circulator-side control unit 170 electrically controls the fan motor 135 and the oscillation motor 138 based on instructions from the dehumidification unit-side control unit 70 or the circulator-side operation unit 174. In this embodiment, the circulator-side control unit 170 functions as a blower-side control unit that controls the circulator 3 based on control signals received from the dehumidification unit-side control unit 70 (dehumidification unit-side communication unit 82).

[0066] The circulator-side control unit 174 is positioned approximately in the center of the front surface 112a of the base unit in the left-right direction. The circulator-side control unit 174 is positioned on a control board 170a that is positioned approximately parallel to the front surface 112a of the base unit, similar to the dehumidification unit-side control unit 74. The control board 170a is a control board for the circulator-side control unit 174 and the circulator-side communication unit 182. The control board 170a of the circulator-side control unit 174 is positioned to approximately overlap with, or as close as possible to, the control board 70a of the dehumidification unit-side control unit 74 when viewed from above. The circulator-side control unit 174 has a plurality of input buttons that implement, for example, an operation switch and an oscillation switch. In particular, in this embodiment, the circulator-side control unit 174 functions as a blower-side control unit that inputs user instructions to the circulator-side control unit 170 to stop or start the operation of the circulator 3.

[0067] The circulator-side control unit 170 includes a storage unit 177 and a timer 178. The storage unit 177 stores programs and information necessary for controlling each unit. The timer 78 performs timing for timer operation of the circulator 3.

[0068] The circulator-side communication unit 182 is an infrared antenna that receives the required infrared signals (wireless signals) transmitted from the dehumidification unit-side communication unit 82 based on the control of the circulator-side control unit 170. In this embodiment, the circulator-side communication unit 182 functions as a receiver that receives control signals transmitted from the dehumidification unit-side communication unit 82, which acts as a transmitter. The circulator-side communication unit 182 receives infrared rays from, for example, the infrared-transmitting circulator-side transparent window 186 provided on the upper surface 113 of the base portion 110. The circulator-side transparent window 186 and the dehumidification unit-side transparent window 86 are realized, for example, by making the areas on the upper surface 113 of the base portion and the front frame 11 in which the circulator-side transparent window 186 and the dehumidification unit-side transparent window 86 are formed thinner or by forming them with a material that has high infrared transmittance.

[0069] As shown in Figure 6, the circulator-side power supply unit 183 converts the alternating current supplied from the power input terminal 187 into direct current and supplies it to each part of the circulator 3. As shown in Figure 8, the power input terminal 187 is positioned so that it can be directly connected to the power output terminal 87 which is exposed from the upper surface 21 of the dehumidification unit 2 when it is integrated.

[0070] When integrated, the circulator-side power supply unit 183 supplies power to each component from the power input terminal 187, which is directly connected to the power output terminal 87 of the dehumidification unit 2. When separated, it supplies power to each component from the power input terminal 187, which is connected to the power cord 8 (Figure 9) connected to the commercial power supply. The connection of the power output terminal 87 and the terminals of the power cord 8 to the power input terminal 187 can be facilitated for the user by, for example, using magnetic attraction.

[0071] In its integrated operation, the circulator 3 primarily draws in the dehumidified air blown out from the dehumidification unit 2, and circulates and mixes the surrounding air while blowing this air upwards. The circulator 3 also operates by oscillating around an oscillating axis that runs along the left-right direction, alternately directing its air outlet in the front-back direction.

[0072] Furthermore, when separated, the circulator 3 is positioned at a predetermined distance from the dehumidification unit 2 (Figure 9). In this configuration, the circulator 3 is positioned and used upright at a 90-degree angle from its integrated state, with the rear surface 112b of the base facing the floor or other surface, the front surface 112a of the base facing upwards, and the top surface 113 of the base facing the dehumidification unit 2. The circulator 3, positioned in this manner, draws in ambient air from the bottom surface 111 of the base (rear), and circulates and agitates the ambient air by blowing this air towards the top surface 113 of the base (front). The circulator 3 also operates while oscillating up and down around an oscillating axis that runs along the left-right direction.

[0073] By operating the dehumidifier 1 with the circulator 3 integrated, the circulator 3 can draw in most of the air dehumidified by the dehumidification unit 2, and the dehumidified air can be blown out effectively, thereby improving dehumidification efficiency. Furthermore, by operating the dehumidifier 1 with the circulator 3 separated, it can be suitably used in applications such as the following.

[0074] When a dehumidifier 1 is used to dry laundry hung indoors, the laundry can be dried efficiently by placing the dehumidifier 1 directly beneath the laundry. In this case, it is preferable to position the dehumidifier 1 so that it does not overlap with the laundry. However, depending on the height of the clothesline and the type of laundry, it may be difficult to place the dehumidifier 1 directly beneath the laundry, and the dehumidifier 1 must be placed at a distance from the laundry so as not to overlap it. In contrast, in this embodiment, the circulator 3, which is positioned above the dehumidifier 1, can be removed and placed separately on the installation surface. Therefore, if the dehumidifier 1 overlaps with the laundry, the circulator 3 can be separated and the height of the dehumidifier 1 can be lowered, making the dehumidifier 1 more user-friendly depending on the situation.

[0075] In this embodiment, even when the dehumidifier 1 and the dehumidifier unit 2 and the circulator 3 are physically separated, the dehumidifier unit side control unit 70 transmits control signals to the circulator side control unit 170 via the dehumidifier unit side communication unit 82 and the circulator side communication unit 182, thereby enabling operation that is suitable for the surrounding environment.

[0076] Specifically, the dehumidification unit control unit 70 determines the airflow rate (rotation speed of the blower motor 63), temperature, airflow rate of the circulator 3, and operating time of the dehumidifier 1 based on the ambient temperature and humidity obtained from the temperature sensor 71 and humidity sensor 72 acquired by the dehumidification unit 2, and can then perform appropriate control in conjunction with the dehumidification unit 2 and the circulator 3.

[0077] While the acquisition of temperature and humidity and the determination of appropriate control settings according to the surrounding environment could be performed individually by the dehumidification unit-side control unit 70 and the circulator-side control unit 170, this would necessitate the use of high-performance control boards in both the dehumidification unit-side control unit 70 and the circulator-side control unit 170, and could lead to increased complexity in the processing required for mutual coordination. Therefore, in this embodiment, the dehumidifier 1 addresses the above issues by having the dehumidification unit-side control unit 70 control the circulator 3 as well, in order to control the dehumidifier 1 as a whole.

[0078] Next, we will describe the clothes drying operation in which laundry hung in the target space according to the present invention is dried.

[0079] When drying laundry hung in a target space, the dehumidifier unit 2 and the circulator 3 are installed separately in the target space, and the user sets the clothes drying operation by operating the operation mode washing switch on the operation unit 74 on the dehumidifier unit side. When the clothes drying operation is set, a predetermined operating time is determined for the dehumidifier unit 2 and the circulator 3 to operate in conjunction based on the temperature and humidity of the target space, and the timer 78 counts down until the predetermined operating time is up. The clothes drying operation has a drying acceleration mode and a finishing mode, and the respective mode is performed according to the humidity of the target space and the remaining time of the predetermined operating time.

[0080] The aforementioned drying acceleration mode is performed from immediately after the start of the clothes drying operation until the humidity in the target space falls below a predetermined low humidity level and the remaining time of the predetermined operation time is the predetermined switching time. In drying acceleration mode, the dehumidification unit 2 is controlled by the dehumidification unit side control unit 70 to drive the compressor 65, the blower motor 63 drives the sirocco fan 62 to produce a strong airflow, and the heating heater 67 is kept running at all times. Furthermore, in drying acceleration mode, the circulator 3 receives a control signal transmitted from the dehumidification unit side control unit 70, and the circulator side control unit 170 drives the oscillation motor 138 to cause the air blowing section 130 to swing upwards in a narrow area above the circulator 3, with the oscillation speed reduced to a low speed, and the fan motor 135 drives the fan 136 to produce a strong airflow.

[0081] As described above, when the dehumidifying unit 2 and the circulator 3 operate in conjunction in the drying acceleration mode, if the laundry is very wet shortly after being hung in the target space, the dehumidifying unit 2 and the circulator 3 will blow a strong, concentrated airflow over a wide area, thereby accelerating the drying of the laundry.

[0082] The finishing mode is performed when the humidity of the target space falls below a predetermined low humidity level during the execution of the drying acceleration mode, and the remaining time of the predetermined operating time becomes a predetermined switching time. In finishing mode, the dehumidification unit 2 is controlled by the dehumidification unit side control unit 70 to drive the compressor 65, the blower motor 63 drives the sirocco fan 62 to a weak airflow, which is smaller than the airflow during strong airflow, and the heating heater 67 is driven until the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 71 reaches a predetermined value (for example, 30°C) or higher, and then stops once the temperature reaches the predetermined value, thereby changing the drive state. Furthermore, in finishing mode, the circulator 3 receives a control signal transmitted from the dehumidification unit side control unit 70, and the circulator side control unit 170 drives the oscillation motor 138 so that the air blower 130 oscillates in a wide swing, which is wider than the upper swing, and at a faster speed than in the drying acceleration mode, and the fan motor 135 drives the fan 136 to a weak wind, which is a smaller airflow compared to the strong wind mode.

[0083] As described above, by operating the dehumidifier unit 2 and the circulator 3 in conjunction during the finishing mode, a weaker airflow is blown over the entire load of laundry that has been dried by the drying acceleration mode. This suppresses uneven drying of the laundry and allows the clothes drying operation to end with the laundry evenly dried.

[0084] Next, the specific operation of the clothes drying operation in the present invention will be explained based on the flowchart in Figure 10.

[0085] The dehumidifier unit control unit 70, based on the detection result of the circulator detection sensor 81, determines that the dehumidifier unit 2 and the circulator 3 are separated and that the clothes drying operation has been set using the operation mode selection switch on the dehumidifier unit control unit 74. At the same time, it operates the dehumidifier unit 2 and the circulator 3 in conjunction in drying acceleration mode, checks the temperature of the target space detected by the temperature sensor 71 and the humidity H of the target space detected by the humidity sensor 72, determines a predetermined operating time for the clothes drying operation based on the confirmed temperature and humidity, and starts counting the remaining time with the timer 78 (step S101).

[0086] When the dehumidifier unit side control unit 70 determines that the processing in step S101 is complete, it determines whether the humidity H of the target space detected by the humidity sensor 72 is 50%RH or less, which is a predetermined low humidity (step S102). When the dehumidifier unit side control unit 70 determines that the detected humidity is 50%RH or less, it determines, based on the count value of the timer 78, whether the remaining time of the predetermined operating time determined in step S101 is 2 hours or less, which is a predetermined switching time (step S103). When the dehumidifier unit side control unit 70 determines that the remaining time is 2 hours or less, it changes the operation of each drive unit of the dehumidifier unit 2 to operate in finishing mode, and transmits information to the circulator 3 via a control signal to inform it of the change to finishing mode. When the circulator side control unit 170 receives the control signal, it changes the operation of each drive unit of the circulator 3 to operate in finishing mode (step S104).

[0087] If the dehumidification unit control unit 70 determines in step S102 that the humidity H of the target space detected by the humidity sensor 72 is higher than 50%RH, it determines based on the count value of the timer 78 whether the time elapsed since the start of the clothes drying operation has reached a predetermined upper limit time (for example, 12 hours) (step S105). If the dehumidification unit control unit 70 determines that the elapsed time has reached the predetermined upper limit time, it proceeds to step S104; if it determines that the elapsed time has not reached the predetermined upper limit time, it proceeds to step S102.

[0088] If the dehumidification unit side control unit 70 determines in step S103 that the remaining time for the predetermined operating time is longer than the predetermined switching time of 2 hours, it repeats the determination in step S103.

[0089] After completing the process in step S104, the dehumidifier unit control unit 70 determines whether the humidity of the target space detected by the humidity sensor 72 is less than a predetermined high humidity of 60%RH (step S106). If the dehumidifier unit control unit 70 determines that the detected humidity is less than 60%RH, it continues the finishing mode (step S107). If it determines that the detected humidity is 60%RH or higher, it changes the operation of each drive unit of the dehumidifier unit 2 to operate in the drying acceleration mode, and transmits information that the dehumidifier unit 2 has changed to the drying acceleration mode to the circulator 3 via a control signal. Upon receiving the control signal, the circulator unit control unit 170 changes the operation of each drive unit of the circulator 3 to operate in the drying acceleration mode (step S108).

[0090] After completing the process in step S107 or step S108, the dehumidifier unit control unit 70 determines whether the predetermined operating time for the clothes drying operation has elapsed and time has run out (step S109). If time has run out, the dehumidifier unit control unit 70 stops the operation of the drive unit inside the dehumidifier unit 2 and transmits operation stop information from the dehumidifier unit 2 to the circulator 3 using a control signal. The circulator unit control unit 170, upon receiving the control signal, stops the operation of each drive unit, thereby ending the clothes drying operation.

[0091] If the dehumidification unit control unit 70 determines in step S109 that the predetermined operating time has not elapsed and therefore it is not time-out, it repeats the determination in step S106.

[0092] Furthermore, the remaining operating time counted by the timer 78 is periodically transmitted as a control signal from the dehumidifier unit's communication unit 82 to the circulator's communication unit 182. The circulator's control unit 170 performs an elapsed time count using its internal clock based on the transmitted remaining time. Even if, after the start of the clothes drying operation, the control signal transmitted from the dehumidifier unit's communication unit 82 cannot be received by the circulator's communication unit 182 due to the presence of a person or object between the dehumidifier unit 2 and the circulator 3, the circulator 3 can still determine the remaining time for the clothes drying operation, and the dehumidifier unit 2 and the circulator 3 can stop almost simultaneously when the time is up. Therefore, even though the dehumidifier unit 2 and the circulator 3 operate in conjunction during the clothes drying operation, it is possible to prevent one of them from continuing to operate after the time is up, thereby improving product performance.

[0093] Next, the effects of the present invention will be explained.

[0094] The dehumidifier unit 2 and the circulator 3 are operated in conjunction for a predetermined operating time to perform a clothes drying operation to dry laundry in the target space. Based on the humidity of the target space detected during the clothes drying operation and the remaining time of the predetermined operating time, the system switches from drying acceleration mode to finishing mode. The system estimates the state of the target space and the degree of dryness of the laundry hung in the target space based on the humidity and remaining time, and switches to finishing mode to complete the drying of the laundry. This allows for optimal drying of the laundry hung in the target space, improving product performance.

[0095] Furthermore, the dehumidification unit's control unit 70 switches from the drying acceleration mode to the finishing mode when the humidity of the target space detected during the clothes drying operation drops to a predetermined low humidity of 50%RH or less, and the remaining time of the predetermined operation time becomes 2 hours or less, which is a predetermined switching time. During the clothes drying operation, the system switches to the finishing mode when the drying of the laundry hung in the target space is progressing and the finishing stage is about to begin, so the drying finish of the laundry hung in the target space can be made optimal.

[0096] Furthermore, when the dehumidifier unit side control unit 70 changes from the drying acceleration mode to the finishing mode during clothes drying operation, it reduces the amount of air blown by the dehumidifier unit 2 compared to the drying acceleration mode and sends a control signal to the circulator 3 to reduce the amount of air blown by the circulator 3. In the drying acceleration mode, the amount of air blown from the dehumidifier unit 2 and the circulator 3 is increased compared to the finishing mode, which promotes the drying of laundry hung in the target space. When changing from the drying acceleration mode to the finishing mode, the amount of air blown from the dehumidifier unit 2 and the circulator 3 is reduced compared to the drying acceleration mode, which allows for a more optimal drying finish for the laundry.

[0097] Furthermore, the dehumidification unit control unit 70 keeps the heating heater 67 running continuously during the drying acceleration mode, and changes the operation of the heating heater 67 based on the temperature of the target space during the finishing mode. During the drying acceleration mode, the heating heater 67 located inside the dehumidification unit 2 and which heats the airflow is kept running continuously, so high-temperature air is constantly blown out from the outlet 41, promoting the drying of laundry hung in the target space. During the finishing mode, when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 71 exceeds a predetermined value, the operation of the heating heater 67 is stopped, preventing the drying of laundry hung in the target space from deteriorating due to continuous exposure to high-temperature air while it is almost dry, thus ensuring a satisfactory drying finish for the laundry.

[0098] Furthermore, when the circulator-side control unit 170 receives a control signal that indicates a change to finishing mode, it increases the range and / or speed of oscillation compared to the drying acceleration mode. In drying acceleration mode, the air blower unit 130 oscillates at a low speed in a narrow area above the circulator 3 with an upward swing, and in finishing mode, the air blower unit 130 oscillates at a high speed in a wider area than the upward swing with a wide swing. Therefore, in drying acceleration mode, the laundry hung in the target space can be dried intensively, and in finishing mode, the entire laundry can be dried uniformly, so that the laundry can be dried evenly and the drying finish of the laundry can be optimized.

[0099] Furthermore, the dehumidification unit's control unit 70, after switching to finishing mode, returns to the drying acceleration mode if it determines that the humidity detected in the target space has reached a predetermined high humidity level or higher. After switching to finishing mode, if the humidity in the target space increases due to opening the door or other reasons, and there is a possibility that the laundry will not be completely dried within the remaining time of the clothes drying operation, the unit returns to the drying acceleration mode, ensuring that the laundry hung in the target space is completely dried within the remaining time of the clothes drying operation.

[0100] While several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. These novel embodiments can be carried out in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims and their equivalents.

[0101] For example, although the air conditioner according to the present invention was described using an example where the air conditioning unit is a dehumidifier 1, it can also be applied to other air conditioning equipment such as humidifiers, dryers, heating and cooling systems, and air purifiers that can adjust the humidity, temperature, and purity of the air, in addition to the dehumidifier 1.

[0102] The example described uses a dehumidification unit 2 having a circulator detection sensor 81 for detecting the attachment / detachment state. However, the dehumidification unit 2 and the circulator 3 may each detect the attachment / detachment state, or the attachment / detachment state detected by the circulator 3 may be shared with the dehumidification unit 2. For example, the attachment / detachment state may be detected by having an attitude sensor that detects whether the circulator 3 is in an integrated position (with the base bottom surface 111 facing downwards) or in a separated position (with the base rear surface 112b facing downwards (installed on the installation surface)).

[0103] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when changing from the drying acceleration mode to the finishing mode in the clothes drying operation, the oscillation range of the air blower unit 130 of the circulator 3 is changed from a narrow upward swing to a wide swing, and the oscillation speed is changed from a low speed to a high speed. However, this is not the only way to change. When changing from the drying acceleration mode to the finishing mode, only the oscillation range or the oscillation speed of the air blower unit 130 may be changed. Even if only the oscillation range or oscillation speed of the air blower unit 130 is changed, it is expected that the drying quality of the laundry hung in the target space will be improved in the finishing mode, so even if only the oscillation range or oscillation speed is changed, it is still within the scope of the present invention.

[0104] Furthermore, in this embodiment, control signals are transmitted from the dehumidification unit 2 to the circulator 3, but this is not the only configuration. For example, if the circulator 3 is capable of detecting the humidity of the target space, the configuration may also involve transmitting control signals from the circulator 3 to the dehumidification unit 2, and the transmission and reception of control signals are not limited to the content of this embodiment.

[0105] Furthermore, although this embodiment describes the clothes drying operation as being performed in conjunction with the dehumidifying unit 2 and the circulator 3 while they are separate, the invention is not limited to this. For example, when the clothes drying operation is performed with the dehumidifying unit 2 and the circulator 3 in an integrated state, the system may change from a drying acceleration mode to a finishing mode based on the humidity detected during the clothes drying operation and the remaining time of a predetermined operating time. Even in an integrated state, the airflow of the dehumidifying unit 2 and the drive of the heating element 67 can be varied, and the airflow, oscillation range, and oscillation speed of the circulator 3 can also be varied. Therefore, operating the dehumidifying unit 2 and the circulator 3 in conjunction during clothes drying in an integrated state, and changing from a drying acceleration mode to a finishing mode, is also within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0106] 1. Dehumidifier with circulator (dehumidifier) 2 Dehumidification Unit 3. Circulator 67 Heating heater 70 Dehumidification unit side control unit 72 Humidity Sensor 82 Dehumidification unit side communication section 130 Air blower 170 Circulator-side control unit 174 Circulator side control panel 182 Circulator-side communication unit

Claims

1. Air conditioning unit and An air conditioner comprising a blower unit that operates in conjunction with the air conditioning unit, The aforementioned air conditioning unit is An air conditioning control unit controls a clothes drying operation that operates the air conditioning unit and the blower unit in conjunction for a predetermined operating time to dry laundry in the target space, The system includes a transmitting unit that transmits a control signal to the blower unit during the clothes drying operation for controlling the coordinated operation of the air conditioning unit and the blower unit during the clothes drying operation, The aforementioned blower unit is A receiving unit receives the control signal transmitted from the transmitting unit, It includes a blower-side control unit that controls the blower unit based on the received control signal, The aforementioned clothes drying operation has a drying acceleration mode and a finishing mode. The air conditioning unit is characterized by changing from the drying acceleration mode to the finishing mode based on the humidity of the target space detected during the clothes drying operation and the remaining time of the predetermined operating time.

2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that the air conditioning control unit changes from the drying acceleration mode to the finishing mode when it determines that the humidity of the target space detected during the clothes drying operation falls below a predetermined low humidity and the remaining time of the predetermined operating time has reached a predetermined switching time.

3. The air conditioner according to claim 2, characterized in that when the air conditioning control unit changes to the finishing mode, it reduces the amount of air blown by the air conditioning unit compared to when it is in the drying acceleration mode, and transmits the control signal to the air blowing unit, which includes an instruction to reduce the amount of air blown by the air blowing unit.

4. The aforementioned air conditioning unit has a heating element that heats the air being blown and has a switchable operating state. The air conditioner according to claim 2, characterized in that the air conditioning control unit keeps the heating heater running at all times during the drying acceleration mode and changes the operation of the heating heater based on the temperature of the target space during the finishing mode.

5. The aforementioned blower unit has a blower section that is supported so as to be able to oscillate around a swing axis along a predetermined direction, The air conditioner according to claim 2, characterized in that when the air blower side control unit receives the control signal which includes a change to the finishing mode, it increases the range and / or speed of the oscillation compared to when it is in the drying acceleration mode.

6. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that, after changing to the finishing mode, the air conditioning control unit determines that the humidity detected in the target space has reached a predetermined high humidity level or higher, and then returns to the drying acceleration mode.

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