Filter container and air purifier

Abstract

To provide a filter container that is resistant to deformation. [Solution] A filter container 22 is provided, comprising an outer cylindrical body 24 having a ventilation region 32 through which air passes, an inner cylindrical body 25 having a ventilation region 32 through which air passes and positioned inside the outer cylindrical body 24, a lid 26 that closes the lower opening of the outer cylindrical body 24, and an upper closing member 27 that closes the space between the outer cylindrical body 24 and the inner cylindrical body 25 at the top, wherein the space between the outer cylindrical body 24 and the inner cylindrical body 25 is an adsorbent storage section 30 filled with an adsorbent material 23 for adsorbing substances to be adsorbed from the air.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a filter container and an air cleaner.

Background Art

[0002] As a device for reducing the concentration of solvents in air, there is known one in which a fan and a filter are provided in an air flow path connecting an intake port and an exhaust port (see Patent Document 1). In such a device, air containing a large amount of solvent is taken in from the intake port, and as the air passes through the filter, the solvent is removed from the air, and the air with the solvent concentration reduced to below the specified value is exhausted from the exhaust port.

[0003] The filter used in the conventional device consists of a rectangular parallelepiped filter container and an adsorbent filled therein. Two surfaces of the filter container that serve as the air inlet and outlet are made of porous plates with a planar shape and a large number of ventilation holes formed therein.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the above device, the air flow generated by the fan is fast, and a large pressure is applied to the porous plate of the filter container, so the porous plate was likely to deform.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a filter container that is difficult to deform and an air cleaner using such a filter container.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The present invention includes the embodiments shown below.

[0008] [1] An outer cylindrical body having a ventilation region through which air passes, an inner cylindrical body having a ventilation region through which air passes and positioned inside the outer cylindrical body, and an opening at the bottom of the outer cylindrical body From below A lower closing member that closes off and an upper closing member that closes off the space between the outer cylindrical body and the inner cylindrical body are provided, and the space between the outer cylindrical body and the inner cylindrical body is an adsorbent storage section filled with an adsorbent material for adsorbing objects from the air. The lower closing member A lid for opening and closing the aforementioned adsorption material storage section. Furthermore, a portion of the upper closing member is a flange that extends radially outward from the outer cylindrical body. Filter container.

[0011] [ 2 The lower end of the outer cylindrical body and the lid are in contact. [1] The filter container described above.

[0012] [ 3 The adsorbent storage section is provided with a ring that contacts the inner diameter surface of the outer cylindrical body and extends around the outer cylindrical body in a circular direction. [1] or [2] The filter container described above.

[0013] [ 4 [1]~ An inner closing member that closes the lower opening of the inner cylindrical body is fitted radially inward of the inner cylindrical body, and the lid is provided below the inner closing member. [3] A filter container as described in any of the following.

[0014] [ 5 The outer cylindrical body and the inner cylindrical body each have a double structure in which a ventilation plate with a plurality of ventilation holes is formed and a mesh made of wires woven in a mesh-like manner with gaps smaller than the ventilation holes are superimposed. [1] [4] A filter container as described in any of the following.

[0015] [ 6 At both the upper and lower ends of the outer cylindrical body and the inner cylindrical body, the ventilation plate is folded and the end of the mesh is sandwiched,5 The filter container described in

[0016] 7 An air intake for sucking air, an air outlet for discharging air, an air flow path extending vertically between the air intake and the air outlet, and a filter holding member disposed horizontally in the flow path are provided. A filter insertion hole formed in the filter holding member is inserted with a filter container from above, [1] to 6 Any of the filter containers described in is inserted, the flange is placed on the upper surface of the filter holding member, and a pressing member for pressing the flange toward the filter holding member from above is provided. The ventilation regions in the outer cylindrical body and the inner cylindrical body are below the filter insertion hole, and air flows from a lower location on the upstream side of the air flow with respect to the filter holding member to an upper location on the downstream side of the air flow through the ventilation regions in the outer cylindrical body and the inner cylindrical body. An air purifier.

[0017] 8 A plurality of the filter insertion holes are formed in the filter holding member, and the filter container is inserted into each of the filter insertion holes. 7 The air purifier described in

Advantages of the Invention

[0020] According to the above embodiment, the air passing through the adsorbent storage portion flows in the radial direction of the cylindrical body through the ventilation regions of the two cylindrical bodies. Since the cylindrical body has high rigidity against the radial force, the filter container is difficult to deform.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021] [Figure 1] View of the air purifier of the first embodiment seen from the front. [Figure 2] View of the inside of the air purifier of the first embodiment seen from the front. [Figure 3] Perspective view of the filter container of the first embodiment seen obliquely from above. [Figure 4] ​​A perspective view of the filter container of the first embodiment, seen from diagonally below. [Figure 5] An exploded perspective view of the filter container of the first embodiment. [Figure 6] A cross-sectional view of the filter according to the first embodiment, with the plane passing through the central axis of the filter as the cross-section. [Figure 7] Enlarged cross-sectional view of region VII in Figure 6 (adsorbent material is not shown). [Figure 8] Enlarged cross-sectional view of region VIII in Figure 6 (adsorbent material is not shown). [Figure 9] A view of the ventilation holes in the cylindrical body of the first embodiment, seen from the ventilation plate side. [Figure 10] A top view of the filter container of the first embodiment. [Figure 11] A perspective view of the filter holding member of the first embodiment, seen from diagonally above. [Figure 12] A perspective view of the filter holding member into which the filter of the first embodiment is inserted, viewed from diagonally above. [Figure 13] A perspective view of the filter holding member into which the filter of the first embodiment is inserted, viewed from diagonally below. [Figure 14] In the first embodiment, a cross-sectional view of a filter inserted into a filter holding member, with the plane passing through the central axis of the filter being the cross-section. [Figure 15] In the first embodiment, a cross-sectional view of a filter holding member into which multiple filters are inserted, with the plane passing through the central axis of the filter being the cross-section. [Figure 16] A front view of the inside of the regeneration processing unit. [Figure 17] A top-down view of the filter in the modified example. [Figure 18] A perspective view of the filter container of the second embodiment, seen from diagonally above. [Figure 19] An exploded perspective view of the filter container of the second embodiment. [Figure 20] A cross-sectional view of the filter according to the second embodiment, with the plane passing through the central axis of the filter as the cross-section. [Figure 21] A top view of the filter container of the second embodiment. [Figure 22]In the second embodiment, a cross-sectional view of the filter inserted into the filter holding member, with the plane passing through the central axis of the filter being the cross-section. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0022] First, the overall configuration of the air purifier 1 of the first embodiment will be described.

[0023] The air purifier 1 is a device that draws in air with a high solvent concentration, removes the solvent from the air, and discharges air with a reduced solvent concentration. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the air purifier 1 comprises a housing 2 provided with an air intake port 11 and an exhaust port 12, a fan 13 that creates airflow in the air passage 10 from the air intake port 11 to the exhaust port 12, and two filter housings 20a and 20b provided in the passage 10 as places to remove solvent from the air.

[0024] In the following description, the direction in which the filter holding member 40, described later, is removed from the filter housings 20a and 20b is referred to as the front, and the direction in which the filter holding member 40 is inserted into the filter housings 20a and 20b is referred to as the rear. Also, left and right refer to the left and right when viewed from the front to the rear.

[0025] An air intake port 11, which draws air into the housing 2, is formed on the bottom surface of the housing 2. An exhaust port 12, which discharges air from the housing 2, is formed on the top surface of the housing 2. The airflow path 10 between the air intake port 11 and the exhaust port 12 extends vertically within the housing 2.

[0026] A fan 13 is provided at the top of the flow path 10. The rotation axis of the fan 13 extends in the vertical direction. As the fan 13 rotates, an upward airflow is created within the flow path 10. As shown by the arrows in Figure 2, air from outside the device is drawn in through the intake port 11 on the bottom surface of the housing 2, the drawn-in air rises within the flow path 10, and is discharged through the exhaust port 12 on the top surface of the housing 2.

[0027] Slightly above the air intake port 11 and below the filter housing sections 20a and 20b, a check damper 11a is provided as a backflow prevention device to prevent backflow of air. The check damper 11a opens due to the air pressure while air is being drawn into the housing 2 from the air intake port 11, but closes when such air pressure disappears. As a result, when the fan 13 stops and air is no longer drawn in from the air intake port 11, the check damper 11a closes, preventing the air with a high solvent concentration inside the housing 2 from backflowing and leaking out of the device through the air intake port 11.

[0028] Each of the four corners on the bottom of the housing 2 is fitted with a caster 4, allowing the air purifier 1 to be easily moved. The air surrounding the air purifier 1 passes between the casters 4 and is drawn into the air intake 11.

[0029] The exhaust port 12 is located in a position that avoids being directly above the fan 13. Specifically, a horizontal wall 14a (see Figure 2) is provided directly above the fan 13. In addition, vertical walls 14b are provided in three directions (all directions except right in Figure 2) of the fan 13. In the remaining direction (right in Figure 2) of the fan 13, a curved wall 14c is provided that extends upward while moving away from the fan 13 and curves downward in a convex direction. The exhaust port 12 is located above the curved wall 14c and next to the horizontal wall 14a. Note that the horizontal wall 14a, vertical wall 14b, and curved wall 14c are part of the inner wall of the air passage 10.

[0030] Fan 13 generates an airflow in the direction of its centrifugal force, and this air flows along the curved wall 14c and is discharged outside the device through the exhaust port 12. This configuration makes it less likely for the fan noise from 13 to leak outside the device and less likely for air to be drawn in near the exhaust port 12 compared to a configuration where the exhaust port 12 is located directly above the fan 13.

[0031] The two filter housings 20a and 20b described above are located within the airflow path 10 and below the fan 13. The two filter housings 20a and 20b consist of a first filter housing 20a located lower (i.e., upstream of the airflow) and a second filter housing 20b located upper (i.e., downstream of the airflow).

[0032] The first filter housing 20a and the second filter housing 20b are the parts where the filter holding member 40 and a plurality of filters 21 are arranged, respectively. The air flowing through the flow path 10 passes through the plurality of filters 21 inserted in the first filter housing 20a, and then passes through the plurality of filters 21 inserted in the second filter housing 20b. The filters 21 in the first filter housing 20a are intended to remove solvent from the air drawn in from the air intake port 11 and to reduce the solvent concentration in the air to below a specified value. On the other hand, the filters 21 in the second filter housing 20b are provided as a backup in case the filters 21 in the first filter housing 20a break through. The structure of the filters 21 will be described later.

[0033] The first filter housing 20a and the second filter housing 20b are located inside the housing 2. In front of the first filter housing 20a and the second filter housing 20b, there are openings 20a-2 and 20b-2, respectively, as shown in Figure 2. As shown in Figure 1, doors 20a-1 and 20b-1 are provided to open and close these openings 20a-2 and 20b-2. An operator can open the doors 20a-1 and 20b-1 to replace the filters 21 inside the filter housings 20a and 20b (inside the air passage 10).

[0034] Air filters 3a and 3b made of nonwoven fabric are provided between the air intake port 11 and the check damper 11a, and between the second filter housing 20b and the fan 13, respectively. These air filters 3a and 3b are installed so as to block the air passage 10, and the air flowing through the passage 10 must pass through the air filters 3a and 3b. The lower air filter 3a removes dust from the air drawn in from the air intake port 11. The upper air filter 3b removes powder and other particles generated in the filter housings 20a and 20b from the air that has passed through the first filter housing 20a and the second filter housing 20b.

[0035] A control panel box 5 is provided inside the enclosure 2. Inside the control panel box 5 are a main sensor and a backup sensor, which are sensors for measuring the concentration of solvent in the air. Although not shown in the diagram, an air intake port for the main sensor is provided between the first filter housing 20a and the second filter housing 20b, and an air intake port for the backup sensor is provided between the upper air filter 3b and the fan 13.

[0036] While air purifier 1 is operating, the main sensor measures the solvent concentration in the air, and an alarm is triggered if the measured value exceeds a specified value. In addition, as a precaution against the main sensor failure, a backup sensor also measures the solvent concentration in the air while air purifier 1 is operating, and an alarm is triggered if the measured value exceeds a specified value.

[0037] The solvents to be removed by the air purifier 1 include various volatile organic solvents such as methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), isopropyl alcohol (IPA), methanol, ethanol, toluene, xylene, and acetone. The adsorbent 23 used in the filter housings 20a and 20b is granular and capable of adsorbing these solvents. Zeolite (porous crystalline aluminosilicate) is a particularly preferred adsorbent 23 due to its excellent solvent adsorption capabilities, quick regeneration, and low loss during regeneration. The average particle size of the adsorbent 23 is not limited, but is, for example, 1.2 to 1.6 mm.

[0038] Next, the filters 21 used in the first filter housing 20a and the second filter housing 20b will be described. The filter 21 consists of numerous adsorbents 23 for adsorbing solvents in the air, housed in a filter container 22.

[0039] As shown in Figures 3 to 8, the filter container 22 comprises an outer cylindrical body 24, an inner cylindrical body 25 positioned radially inward of the outer cylindrical body 24, a single plate-shaped upper closing member 27 that closes the space between the outer cylindrical body 24 and the inner cylindrical body 25 at the top, and a lower closing member that closes the lower openings of the outer cylindrical body 24 and the inner cylindrical body 25. In this embodiment, the lower closing member is a lid 26 that can be attached to and removed from the outer cylindrical body 24 and the inner cylindrical body 25. In the description of the filter container 22, "upper and lower" refers to the upper closing member 27 being at the top and the lid 26 being at the bottom.

[0040] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the outer cylindrical body 24 and the inner cylindrical body 25 have a double structure in which ventilation plates 24a and 25a and mesh 24b and 25b overlap, respectively. In the outer cylindrical body 24, the ventilation plate 24a is on the radially outer side and the mesh 24b is on the radially inner side. In the inner cylindrical body 25, the ventilation plate 25a is on the radially inner side and the mesh 25b is on the radially outer side.

[0041] Numerous ventilation holes 24c and 25c are formed in the ventilation plates 24a and 25a, respectively. Each ventilation hole 24c and 25c is circular, as shown in Figure 9, and penetrates the ventilation plates 24a and 25a radially. The size of the ventilation holes 24c and 25c is large enough for granular adsorbent material 23 to pass through. The ventilation holes 24c and 25c are formed in the lower regions of the outer cylindrical body 24 and the inner cylindrical body 25, but not in the upper regions of the outer cylindrical body 24 and the inner cylindrical body 25. The vertical position of the boundary between the regions where ventilation holes 24c and 25c are formed and the regions where they are not formed is the same in the outer cylindrical body 24 and the inner cylindrical body 25.

[0042] Note that Figures 3 to 5 show only a portion of the ventilation holes 24c and 25c as representative examples. However, in reality, the ventilation holes 24c and 25c are periodically arranged in the entire lower region (the ventilation region 32 described later) of the outer cylindrical body 24 and the inner cylindrical body 25.

[0043] As shown in Figure 9, the meshes 24b and 25b are made by weaving together numerous wires extending in the vertical (up and down) direction and numerous wires extending in the horizontal direction in a mesh-like manner. The meshes 24b and 25b are breathable as a whole. The gaps in the meshes 24b and 25b (gaps surrounded by vertical and horizontal wires) are smaller in area than the ventilation holes 24c and 25c of the ventilation boards 24a and 25a, and are too small for granular adsorbent material 23 to pass through. The meshes 24b and 25b have a uniform weave from top to bottom.

[0044] As shown in Figure 9, when the outer cylindrical body 24 and the inner cylindrical body 25 are viewed from the ventilation plate 24a, 25a side, the mesh 24b, 25b can be seen inside the ventilation holes 24c, 25c of the ventilation plates 24a, 25a.

[0045] In the outer cylindrical body 24, the inner cylindrical body 25, and the filter container 22, the lower region is a ventilated region 32 (see Figures 6 and 7), and the upper region is a non-ventilated region 33. The ventilated region 32 is a region in which air can pass radially through the cylindrical bodies 24 and 25 because ventilation holes 24c and 25c are formed in the ventilation plates 24a and 25a that make up the cylindrical bodies 24 and 25. The non-ventilated region 33 is a region in which air cannot pass radially through the cylindrical bodies 24 and 25 because ventilation holes 24c and 25c are not formed in the ventilation plates 24a and 25a. The ratio of the vertical length of the non-ventilated region 33 to the vertical length of the filter container 22 is, for example, 5% to 30%.

[0046] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, at the upper and lower ends of the outer cylindrical body 24 and the inner cylindrical body 25, the ventilation plates 24a and 25a are folded towards the mesh 24b and 25b, sandwiching the upper and lower ends of the mesh 24b and 25b. As a result, the mesh 24b and 25b are fixed in contact with the ventilation plates 24a and 25a. The folded portions of the ventilation plates 24a and 25a are called the folded sections 24e and 25e. The sandwiching structure using the folded sections 24e and 25e extends around the circumference of the cylindrical bodies 24 and 25.

[0047] The diameter of the outer cylindrical body 24 is, for example, 15 to 30 mm. The vertical length of the outer cylindrical body 24 is also, for example, 15 to 30 mm.

[0048] As shown in Figure 10, when viewed from above, the outer cylinder 24 and the inner cylinder 25 are concentric circles. Therefore, the distance between the outer cylinder 24 and the inner cylinder 25 is constant at all points.

[0049] As shown in Figures 5, 6, and 8, a ring 24d is provided on the inner diameter side of the outer cylindrical body 24, contacting the inner diameter surface of the outer cylindrical body 24 and encircling the outer cylindrical body 24. The ring 24d extends radially inward from the outer cylindrical body 24 but does not contact the inner cylindrical body 25. The vertical position of the ring 24d is at the upper end of the folded portion 24e of the ventilation plate 24a, as shown in Figure 8. The ring 24d is joined to this position by welding.

[0050] As shown in Figures 5, 6, and 8, the lower opening of the inner cylindrical body 25 is closed by an inner closing member 25d, which is a circular plate. More precisely, the inner closing member 25d fits into the inner diameter side of the lower end of the inner cylindrical body 25, and the two are welded together around the circumference of the inner closing member 25d and the inner cylindrical body 25. As shown in Figure 5, threaded holes 25f are drilled in multiple locations on the inner closing member 25d, penetrating it vertically.

[0051] As shown in Figure 3, the upper closing member 27 is a roughly circular plate with a hole 27a in the center. The entire upper end of the outer cylindrical body 24 is welded to the upper closing member 27. The outer diameter of the upper closing member 27 is larger than the diameter of the outer cylindrical body 24. The portion of the upper closing member 27 that extends radially outward from the outer cylindrical body 24 forms a flange 27b (see Figures 4 to 7) that wraps around the outer cylindrical body 24 in the circumferential direction. The inner diameter of the upper closing member 27 (the diameter of the hole 27a) is the same as the inner diameter of the inner cylindrical body 25. The entire upper end of the inner cylindrical body 25 is welded to the entire inner diameter portion of the hole 27a in the upper closing member 27.

[0052] The upper closure member 27 is thicker than the other parts that make up the filter container 22, making it particularly resistant to deformation. The thickness of the upper closure member 27 is, for example, 3 mm or more and 4 mm or less.

[0053] As shown in Figure 3, a rod-shaped handle 28 is provided, spanning across two opposing holes 27a in the upper closing member 27. The handle 28 is welded to the upper surface of the upper closing member 27. The worker can lift the entire filter 21 by holding the handle 28.

[0054] As shown in Figures 4 to 6, the lid 26 consists of a circular plate 26a and a frame 26b that encircles the plate 26a along its edge. The lid 26 is fitted onto the outer cylindrical body 24 from below, closing the lower opening of the outer cylindrical body 24 from below. When the lid 26 is fitted onto the outer cylindrical body 24, as shown in Figures 6 and 8, the plate 26a of the lid 26 contacts the inner closing member 25d from below, and the frame 26b of the lid 26 contacts or is close to the outer circumferential surface of the outer cylindrical body 24.

[0055] As shown in Figure 5, the lid 26 has multiple screw holes 26c that penetrate it vertically. The lid 26 is fitted onto the outer cylindrical body 24 from below, and a screw 31a is passed through the screw holes 26c of the lid 26 and the screw holes 25f of the inner closing member 25d from below. A nut 31b (see Figure 6) is then tightened over the inner closing member 25d from above, fixing the lid 26 in contact with the inner closing member 25d. The head of the screw 31a has a flange, and a silicone washer 26e is placed between the flange and the lid 26. This washer 26e is a seal to maintain airtightness between the head of the screw 31a and the bottom surface of the lid 26.

[0056] In this specification, a seal refers to something that is placed between two things to enhance airtightness, such as a gasket or packing.

[0057] The area enclosed by the outer cylindrical body 24, the inner cylindrical body 25, the upper closing member 27, and the lid 26 is the adsorbent storage section 30, where the adsorbent 23 is filled. The adsorbent storage section 30 can be described as a cylindrical shape with thickness in the radial direction. The lower end of the adsorbent storage section 30 is the filling port for filling the adsorbent 23 into the adsorbent storage section 30. The operator can turn the filter container 22 upside down, remove the lid 26, and fill the adsorbent 23 into the adsorbent storage section 30 through the filling port.

[0058] The outer cylindrical body 24 and the inner cylindrical body 25 have a double structure consisting of ventilation plates 24a and 25a and mesh 24b and 25b as described above, but the mesh 24b and 25b are on the inner surface side of the adsorbent storage section 30. The ventilation holes 24c and 25c of the ventilation plates 24a and 25a are large, but the presence of the mesh 24b and 25b prevents the adsorbent material 23 from coming out of the adsorbent storage section 30.

[0059] As described above, ventilation regions 32 are formed in the outer cylindrical body 24 and the inner cylindrical body 25. The lid 26 closes the entire radially inner surface of the outer cylindrical body 24 from below, and the upper closing member 27 closes the space between the outer cylindrical body 24 and the inner cylindrical body 25 from above. Therefore, air can pass through the adsorbent storage section 30 between the radially outer surface of the outer cylindrical body 24 and the radially inner surface of the inner cylindrical body 25. However, air cannot pass through the lid 26 and the upper closing member 27.

[0060] It is preferable that the adsorbent material 23 is filled up to the upper end of the adsorbent material storage section 30. As a result, even if the filter 21 is used for a long time and the adsorbent material 23 is worn down during that time, causing a decrease in the volume of the adsorbent material 23 and creating a space at the top of the adsorbent material storage section 30, such a space will only be formed in the non-ventilated area 33 without the ventilation holes 24c and 25c, and the ventilated area 32 with the ventilation holes 24c and 25c will remain filled with the adsorbent material 23. Therefore, the air passing through the filter 21 can always pass through the adsorbent material storage section 30 in the ventilated area 32 that is filled with the adsorbent material 23.

[0061] The outer cylindrical body 24, the inner cylindrical body 25, the upper closing member 27, the inner closing member 25d, the lid 26, and the handle 28 are made of heat-resistant metal. Here, the heat resistance of the metal means that it is not easily deformed even when exposed to heated air when the adsorbent material 23 is regenerated, as will be described later. The washer 26e is also heat-resistant, and as will be described later, it is not easily deformed or deteriorated even when exposed to heated air when the adsorbent material 23 is regenerated.

[0062] Next, the first filter housing 20a and the filter holding member 40 housed therein will be described. The first filter housing 20a is provided with one filter holding member 40. The filter holding member 40 is a horizontal plate-shaped member perpendicular to the direction of airflow. The filter holding member 40 is provided to block the airflow path 10 inside the housing 2 and to prevent any gap from forming between it and the inner wall of the airflow path 10.

[0063] As shown in Figure 11, the filter holding member 40 has a total of six filter insertion holes 41: three on the left and right sides and two on the front and back sides. The filter insertion holes 41 are holes that penetrate the filter holding member 40 vertically. The inner diameter of the filter insertion holes 41 is slightly larger than the diameter of the outer cylindrical body 24 of the filter 21 and smaller than the diameter of the flange 27b of the filter 21. In addition, on the upper surface of the filter holding member 40, a ring-shaped seal 42 is provided around each filter insertion hole 41, surrounding the filter insertion hole 41. The outer diameter of the seal 42 is less than or equal to the diameter of the flange 27b of the filter 21.

[0064] As shown in Figures 12 and 13, one filter 21 is inserted into each of the filter insertion holes 41. This creates two rows of filters, each consisting of three filters 21 arranged horizontally, arranged in a front-to-back configuration.

[0065] The filter 21 is inserted into the filter insertion hole 41 from above. As a result, the adsorbent storage portion 30 of the filter 21 passes through the filter insertion hole 41 and is below the upper surface of the filter holding member 40, and the flange 27b of the filter 21 cannot pass through the filter insertion hole 41 and rests on top of the filter holding member 40 as shown in Figure 14. As shown in Figure 14, the seal 42 is sandwiched between the flange 27b and the filter holding member 40. As a result, the space between the lower surface of the flange 27b and the upper surface of the filter holding member 40 is closed. In addition, the entire ventilation area 32 of the filter 21 is below the portion closed by the seal 42.

[0066] As shown in Figure 12, the upper closing members 27 are in contact with or close to each other between two adjacent filters 21. As a result, the six filters 21 are arranged relatively close together in the filter holding member 40, which has a limited area.

[0067] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 12, a retaining member 43 is provided on top of the filter holding member 40 to press the upper closing member 27 of the filter 21 inserted into the filter insertion hole 41 toward the filter holding member 40. The retaining member 43 is a plate that is long in the left-right direction and has a constant width in the front-back direction. Three retaining members 43 are provided for one filter holding member 40.

[0068] Near the front end of the filter holding member 40, one retaining member 43 presses down on the front portion of the upper closing members 27 of the three filters 21 arranged in a row. Near the rear end of the filter holding member 40, one retaining member 43 presses down on the rear portion of the upper closing members 27 of the three filters 21 arranged in a row. In addition, at the center of the filter holding member 40 in the front-to-back direction, one retaining member 43 presses down on the upper closing members 27 of all the filters 21 arranged in two rows. Each retaining member 43 is fixed to the filter holding member 40 by a screw 44 which acts as a fastener. By pressing down on the filters 21 with the retaining members 43 in this way, the filters 21 are less likely to lift away from the filter holding member 40.

[0069] Thus, the space between the flange 27b of the filter 21 and the upper surface of the filter holding member 40 is closed by the seal 42, the space between the upper end of the outer cylindrical body 24 and the upper end of the inner cylindrical body 25 is closed by the upper closing member 27, and the entire radially inner surface of the outer cylindrical body 24 is closed from below by the lid 26. In addition, air can move back and forth between the radially outer location of the outer cylindrical body 24 and the radially inner location of the inner cylindrical body 25 by passing through the adsorbent storage section 30. Therefore, in order for air below the filter holding member 40 to flow above the filter holding member 40, it is necessary for the air to flow from the radially outer location of the outer cylindrical body 24, through the adsorbent storage section 30, to the radially inner location of the inner cylindrical body 25, and then upward along the radially inner location of the inner cylindrical body 25, as shown by the arrows in Figures 14 and 15, to flow above the filter holding member 40.

[0070] Furthermore, the multiple filters 21 in the first filter housing 20a are in a parallel relationship with respect to airflow. That is, below the multiple filters 21, all the air flows together as one through a single channel 10, but this airflow branches at the location of the multiple filters 21, so that air flows through each of the multiple filters 21 simultaneously and in parallel. After passing through the multiple filters 21, the air once again flows together as one through a single channel 10.

[0071] The filter holding member 40 can be moved in and out of the first filter housing 20a through the opening 20a-2 on the front of the housing 2 by sliding it in the front-rear direction. Although not shown, the first filter housing 20a is provided with a movable structure that allows the filter holding member 40 to slide in the front-rear direction.

[0072] The filter holding member 40 inserted into the first filter housing 20a can be raised slightly within the first filter housing 20a (within the flow path 10) to make it tightly adhere to the protruding wall 65 (see Figure 2) that protrudes from the inner wall of the flow path 10. As a result, the entire circumference of the edge of the filter holding member 40 is in close contact with the protruding wall 65, and the only passage for air from the space below the filter holding member 40 to the space above the filter holding member 40 is the filter 21. Although not shown, the first filter housing 20a is provided with a lifting device that moves the filter holding member 40 inserted into the first filter housing 20a (flow path 10) up and down.

[0073] The second filter housing section 20b has the same structure as the first filter housing section 20a. The second filter housing section 20b also houses the same filter holding member 40 as the first filter housing section 20a. Multiple filters 21 are also inserted into the filter holding member 40 of the second filter housing section 20b.

[0074] The filter container 22 used in the second filter housing 20b differs from the filter container 22 used in the first filter housing 20a in that its vertical length is different. Specifically, the filter container 22 used in the second filter housing 20b is shorter in the vertical direction than the filter container 22 used in the first filter housing 20a. Therefore, the filter 21 used in the second filter housing 20b can hold less adsorbent material 23 than the filter 21 used in the first filter housing 20a. The filter 21 in the second filter housing 20b only needs to function temporarily when the filter 21 in the first filter housing 20a breaks through, so the filter 21 in the second filter housing 20b can hold less adsorbent material 23. Aside from the vertical length, the filter 21 in the first filter housing 20a and the filter 21 in the second filter housing 20b are the same. Therefore, the diameter of the adsorbent storage section 30 is the same for the filter 21 in the first filter storage section 20a and the filter 21 in the second filter storage section 20b.

[0075] Next, the manufacturing method for the filter container 22 will be described.

[0076] First, the worker combines the ventilation plates 24a, 25a and the mesh 24b, 25b to manufacture the outer cylindrical body 24 and the inner cylindrical body 25. In detail, each ventilation plate 24a, 25a is originally a perforated plate formed by punching numerous ventilation holes 24c, 25c into a single rectangular metal plate. Each mesh 24b, 25b is originally a single rectangular mesh. The worker stacks these rectangular ventilation plates 24a, 25a and rectangular mesh 24b, 25b, and folds the parts that will become the top and bottom when they become the filter container 22, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, and inserts the ends of the mesh 24b, 25b into the folded parts 24e, 25e. Next, the worker rolls the ventilation plates 24a, 25a and the mesh 24b, 25b together into a cylindrical shape, and welds the butt joints (the parts where the ventilation plates 24a, 25a are not folded) to form the outer cylindrical body 24 and the inner cylindrical body 25. At the welded joints, the ventilation plates 24a, 25a are welded to each other, the mesh 24b, 25b are welded to each other, and the ventilation plates 24a, 25a and the mesh 24b, 25b are welded to each other.

[0077] Next, the worker fits the ring 24d shown in Figure 5, etc., radially inside the outer cylindrical body 24 and welds the outer circumference of the ring 24d to the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylindrical body 24. The worker also fits the inner closing member 25d radially inside the lower end of the inner cylindrical body 25 and welds the inner closing member 25d to the inner circumferential surface of the lower end of the inner cylindrical body 25.

[0078] Next, the worker positions the upper closing member 27, the outer cylindrical body 24, and the inner closing member 25d concentrically, and welds the outer cylindrical body 24 to the upper closing member 27, as well as the inner closing member 25d to the upper closing member 27.

[0079] Finally, the worker attaches the lid 26 to the inner sealing member 25d using the screw 31a. This completes the filter container 22.

[0080] Next, we will explain how to use air purifier 1.

[0081] The air purifier 1 is placed in a workplace where solvents are used, such as a workplace where painting or degreasing is performed. In a workplace where solvents are used, the solvents evaporate. Because the evaporated solvents have a high specific gravity, they accumulate near the floor of the workplace. As a result, the air near the floor has a high concentration of solvents. This air is drawn into the air intake port 11 on the bottom of the housing 2 and is purified by passing through the first filter housing 20a and the second filter housing 20b.

[0082] Although not shown in the diagram, a hose can be attached to the air intake port 11, and the suction port of the hose can be placed in a location where air with a high solvent concentration accumulates, thereby drawing in the air from that location. In addition to a hose, various other items can be attached to the air intake port 11 depending on the intended use.

[0083] When an operator is about to use the air purifier 1, they first prepare multiple filters 21. Specifically, the operator turns the filter container 22 upside down, removes the screw 31a, and removes the lid 26 from the filter container 22. Next, the operator fills the adsorbent storage section 30, which has been opened by removing the lid 26, with adsorbent material 23 from above. During filling, the adsorbent material 23 may come off the adsorbent storage section 30 and rest on the inner sealing member 25d, but the operator can move the adsorbent material 23 resting on the inner sealing member 25d to the side and put it back into the adsorbent storage section 30. The operator fills the adsorbent material 23 up to the upper end of the adsorbent storage section 30. Next, the operator fits the lid 26 onto the outer cylindrical body 24, and attaches the lid 26 to the filter container 22 by passing the screw 31a through the screw hole 26c of the lid 26 and the screw hole 25f of the inner sealing member 25d and tightening it with a nut 31b. In this manner, the worker fills all the filters 21 to be used with the adsorbent material 23.

[0084] Next, the worker pulls out the filter holding member 40 from the first filter housing 20a and inserts the filters 21 into all the filter insertion holes 41 of the filter holding member 40. Next, the worker places the retaining member 43 on top of the filters 21 and secures the retaining member 43 to the filter holding member 40 with screws 44. Next, the worker places the filter holding member 40 with the filters 21 inserted into it back into the first filter housing 20a. Similarly, the worker inserts the filters 21 into the filter holding member 40 of the second filter housing 20b. After that, the worker operates the air purifier 1.

[0085] When the air purifier 1 is in operation, the fan 13 rotates, drawing in air with a high solvent concentration from the intake port 11, and rising together through the airflow path 10. The air that reaches the first filter housing 20a branches off and passes through multiple filters 21, and then rises together again.

[0086] The airflow around the filter 21 in the first filter housing 20a is shown by arrows in Figures 14 and 15. As shown in these figures, air that reaches the lower surface of the filter holding member 40 and the radially outer side of the filter 21 is introduced into the adsorbent housing 30 from the ventilation region 32 of the outer cylindrical body 24, passes through the adsorbent housing 30, and exits the adsorbent housing 30 from the ventilation region 32 of the inner cylindrical body 25. As the air passes through the adsorbent housing 30, solvent in the air is adsorbed by the adsorbent 23 and removed from the air. As a result, the solvent concentration in the air decreases. The air that has exited the adsorbent housing 30 with a reduced solvent concentration rises to the radially inner side of the inner cylindrical body 25.

[0087] This airflow around the filter 21 and the action of the adsorbent 23 occur in all filters 21 inserted into the filter holding member 40. As a result, the solvent concentration in the air that has passed through the first filter housing 20a falls below a specified value. The air that has passed through the multiple filters 21 rises together toward the second filter housing 20b.

[0088] Here, when air is introduced into the adsorbent storage section 30, a large pressure is applied to the outer surface of the outer cylindrical body 24. However, because the outer cylindrical body 24 is cylindrical and highly rigid, it is resistant to deformation. Similarly, a large pressure is also applied to the inner cylindrical body 25, but because the inner cylindrical body 25 is also cylindrical and highly rigid, it is resistant to deformation.

[0089] The air that has passed through the first filter housing 20a then passes through the filter 21 of the second filter housing 20b. The same airflow as in the first filter housing 20a occurs in the second filter housing 20b. Therefore, even if the filter 21 of the first filter housing 20a breaks through, the air with a high solvent concentration will pass through the filter 21 of the second filter housing 20b, resulting in air with a solvent concentration below the specified value. This air with a solvent concentration below the specified value is then discharged from the exhaust port 12.

[0090] By the way, as the operating time of the air purifier 1 increases, solvent accumulates in the adsorbent material 23 of the filter 21, reducing its adsorption capacity. Therefore, in order to prevent the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent material 23 from decreasing too much, it is preferable to periodically perform a regeneration process to remove the solvent from the adsorbent material 23 and restore its adsorption capacity. In this embodiment, such a regeneration process can be performed on each filter 21. This will be explained.

[0091] As shown in Figure 16, the regeneration processing apparatus 50 includes an air intake port 51 for drawing in air from outside the apparatus, an exhaust port 52 for discharging air from the apparatus, and an air passage 53 from the air intake port 51 to the exhaust port 52. In the air passage 53, a heater 54, an intake fan 55, a filter housing 56, and an exhaust fan 57 are provided in the order of the direction of airflow.

[0092] The intake fan 55 and exhaust fan 57 generate an airflow from the intake port 51 to the exhaust port 52. The heater 54 heats the air to generate air at a suitable temperature for releasing the solvent from the adsorbent 23.

[0093] The filter housing section 56 is located within the heated air passage 53. The filter housing section 56 is the part that houses and holds the plate-shaped filter holding member 58. In the filter housing section 56, air flows from bottom to top, and the filter holding member 58 is held horizontally, perpendicular to this flow. Although not shown in the illustration, the filter holding member 58 has multiple filter insertion holes. These filter insertion holes are vertically penetrating holes with the same diameter as the filter insertion holes 41 formed in the filter holding member 40 of the air purifier 1. A filter 21 can be inserted into each filter insertion hole from above. Similar to the air purifier 1, when filters 21 are inserted into all the filter insertion holes of the filter holding member 58, the air flowing from bottom to top in the filter holding member 58 will always pass through the adsorbent housing section 30 of the filter 21.

[0094] When it is time to replace the filter 21, the worker stops the air purifier 1, pulls out the filter holding member 40 from the filter housings 20a and 20b, removes the screws 44 and retaining member 43 from the filter holding member 40, and removes all the filters 21 from the filter holding member 40. Next, the worker inserts the prepared new filters 21 into all the filter insertion holes 41 of the filter holding member 40, secures the filters 21 to the filter holding member 40 with the retaining member 43 and screws 44, and places the filter holding member 40 back into the filter housings 20a and 20b. This completes the replacement of the filter 21 in the air purifier 1.

[0095] Next, the operator pulls out the filter holding member 58 from the regeneration processing device 50. Then, the operator inserts the multiple filters 21 used in the air purifier 1 into the multiple filter insertion holes of the filter holding member 58 that was pulled out from the regeneration processing device 50. Next, the operator places the filter holding member 58 with the filters 21 inserted into the filter housing section 56 of the regeneration processing device 50. When the operator operates the regeneration processing device 50, the air heated by the heater 54 passes through each of the filters 21 inserted into the filter holding member 58. As a result, the adsorbent 23 inside the filter 21 is heated, the solvent is released from the adsorbent 23, and the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent 23 is restored. The solvent released from the adsorbent 23 is discharged from the exhaust port 52 along with the air.

[0096] In the regeneration processing device 50, the temperature of the air passing through the filter 21 and the processing time in the regeneration processing device 50 (the time the filter 21 is exposed to heated air) are appropriately set to a temperature and time that can restore the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent 23. For example, the temperature of the air passing through the filter 21 is 200 to 250°C, and the time the air passes through the filter 21 is 60 to 120 minutes.

[0097] In this way, the filter 21, from which the adsorbent 23 has been regenerated by the regeneration device 50, can be used again in the air purifier 1 without opening the lid 26.

[0098] Furthermore, if the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent 23 becomes difficult to recover as a result of repeated regeneration of the adsorbent 23, an operator can remove the lid 26 of the filter container 22 and replace the adsorbent 23 in the adsorbent storage section 30 with a new one.

[0099] Next, the effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0100] As described above, in this embodiment, the filter container 22 has an inner cylindrical body 25 with a ventilation region 32 positioned radially inside an outer cylindrical body 24 with a ventilation region 32, and the space between the outer cylindrical body 24 and the inner cylindrical body 25 is an adsorbent storage section 30 filled with adsorbent material 23. Due to this structure, air passing through the adsorbent storage section 30 passes through the ventilation regions 32 of the two cylindrical bodies 24 and 25 and flows radially through the cylindrical bodies 24 and 25. As a result, a large radial pressure is applied to the cylindrical bodies 24 and 25, but because the cylindrical bodies 24 and 25 have high rigidity against radial forces, the filter container 22 is not easily deformed even when the above pressure is applied.

[0101] Furthermore, the lid 26 closes the lower opening of the outer cylindrical body 24, and the upper closing member 27 closes the adsorbent storage section 30 between the side cylindrical body 24 and the inner cylindrical body 25 from above. The lid 26 and the upper closing member 27 are structured to ensure that the air passing through the adsorbent storage section 30 passes only through the ventilation areas 32 of the two cylindrical bodies 24 and 25, but they also have the function of making the filter container 22 less prone to deformation.

[0102] Furthermore, since the outer cylindrical body 24 and the inner cylindrical body 25 are arranged so as to be concentric when viewed from above, the distance between the outer cylindrical body 24 and the inner cylindrical body 25 is constant at all locations. This ensures that the contact time between the air and the adsorbent 23 is constant regardless of where the air passes through the adsorbent storage section 30, and the solvent is sufficiently removed from the air that has passed through the filter 21.

[0103] Furthermore, as described above, the filter container 22 is resistant to deformation, so even when the filter container 22 is used for a long time, the distance between the outer cylindrical body 24 and the inner cylindrical body 25 is easily maintained at a constant level.

[0104] Furthermore, since the distance between the outer cylindrical body 24 and the inner cylindrical body 25 is constant at all locations, air passes evenly throughout the entire adsorbent storage section 30. Therefore, it is unlikely that a particular area of ​​the adsorbent storage section 30 will form where air flows particularly easily, causing only the adsorbent material 23 in that area to break through.

[0105] Furthermore, the upper regions of the outer cylindrical body 24 and the inner cylindrical body 25 are non-ventilated regions 33. Therefore, even if the filter 21 is used for a long time and the adsorbent material 23 is worn down during that time, reducing the volume of the adsorbent material 23 and creating a space without adsorbent material 23 at the top of the adsorbent material storage section 30, it is possible to prevent air from passing through that space.

[0106] Furthermore, since the lid 26 that opens and closes the adsorbent storage section 30 closes the lower opening of the outer cylindrical body 24 from below, the air pressure from the air flowing from bottom to top toward the filter 21 presses the lid 26 against the outer cylindrical body 24, making it less likely for the lid 26 to detach from the outer cylindrical body 24.

[0107] Furthermore, since the lid 26 is located below the adsorbent storage section 30, even if air were to enter the adsorbent storage section 30 from outside by passing through the gap between the lid 26 and the lower end of the outer cylindrical body 24, that air would pass through the inside of the adsorbent storage section 30. Therefore, it is not necessary to strictly close the gap between the lid 26 and the lower end of the outer cylindrical body 24, and the lid 26 and the lower end of the outer cylindrical body 24 can be in contact without the need for a gasket or the like.

[0108] Furthermore, since the adsorption material storage section 30 is provided with a ring 24d that contacts the inner diameter surface of the outer cylindrical body 24 and wraps around the outer cylindrical body 24 in the circumferential direction, the outer cylindrical body 24 is reinforced by the ring 24d. Also, the fitting of the ring 24d makes it easier for the horizontal cross-sectional shape of the outer cylindrical body 24 to become a perfect circle. In addition, since the circular inner closing member 25d is fitted to the inner diameter side of the lower end of the inner cylindrical body 25, the horizontal cross-sectional shape of the inner cylindrical body 25 also makes it easier for it to become a perfect circle.

[0109] Furthermore, the outer cylindrical body 24 and the inner cylindrical body 25 have a double structure in which ventilation plates 24a and 25a and mesh 24b and 25b overlap, respectively, resulting in high rigidity. Here, since the mesh 24b and 25b are made of wire woven into a mesh, they have good breathability and do not easily obstruct the breathability of the cylindrical bodies 24 and 25. Also, the gaps in the mesh 24b and 25b are too small for granular adsorbent material 23 to pass through, so the adsorbent material 23 is less likely to come out of the adsorbent material storage section 30. In addition, the ventilation plates 24a and 25a have large ventilation holes 24c and 25c, resulting in good breathability and not easily obstructing the breathability of the cylindrical bodies 24 and 25.

[0110] Furthermore, if welding is performed to integrate the ventilation plates 24a, 25a and the mesh 24b, 25b, there is a risk that the mesh 24b, 25b, in particular, may become distorted. However, in this embodiment, the ventilation plates 24a, 25a are folded at both the upper and lower ends of the outer cylindrical body 24 and the inner cylindrical body 25, sandwiching the ends of the mesh 24b, 25b, so that the ventilation plates 24a, 25a and the mesh 24b, 25b are integrated without welding. Therefore, distortion is less likely to occur in both the ventilation plates 24a, 25a and the mesh 24b, 25b.

[0111] Furthermore, the lid 26 is fixed to the inner closing member 25d by a screw 31a, and screw holes 26c and 25f are formed in the lid 26 and the inner closing member 25d, respectively. If left as is, there is a risk that air flowing from below the lid 26 will pass through the screw holes 26c and 25f and escape to a location radially inward of the inner cylindrical body 25. However, in this embodiment, a washer 26e is sandwiched between the head of the screw 31a and the lower surface of the lid 26 as a seal to maintain airtightness, thus preventing air from passing through the screw holes 26c and 25f.

[0112] Furthermore, in this embodiment of the air purifier 1, a filter holding member 40 is horizontally positioned within an airflow path 10 that extends vertically. A filter 21 is inserted from above into a filter insertion hole 41 formed in the filter holding member 40, and the ventilation regions 32 of the cylindrical bodies 24 and 25 are below the filter insertion hole 41. Air flows from an upstream location to a downstream location in the airflow relative to the filter holding member 40, passing through the ventilation regions 32 of the cylindrical bodies 24 and 25. This structure allows air to pass through the adsorbent storage section 30 between the two cylindrical bodies 24 and 25, thereby reducing the solvent concentration in the air. In addition, the filter 21 can be easily attached to and detached from the filter insertion hole 41 by the operator by simply raising and lowering the filter 21. Moreover, when regenerating the adsorbent 23, the operator does not need to remove the entire filter holding member 40 from the airflow path 10; only the filter 21 needs to be removed, making the work easier.

[0113] Furthermore, as described above, the filter container 22 is less prone to deformation, making it easier to maintain close contact between the filter holding member 40 and the filter 21.

[0114] Furthermore, when the filter 21 is inserted from above into the filter insertion hole 41 of the filter holding member 40, the flange 27b of the filter 21 rests on top of the filter holding member 40. In this way, the filter 21 can be installed on the filter holding member 40 with the simple operation of inserting the filter 21 into the filter insertion hole 41 from above, and with this simple operation, the lower surface of the flange 27b can be brought into close contact with the seal 42 of the filter holding member 40.

[0115] Furthermore, the cylindrical bodies 24 and 25 of the filter 21 extend vertically, and air permeates through these cylindrical bodies 24 and 25 horizontally (radially across the cylindrical bodies 24 and 25). Due to this structure, even if the area of ​​the filter 21 is small when viewed from above, the area through which air actually passes is large, as it is the vertically extending cylindrical bodies 24 and 25. Therefore, the airflow rate in the filter 21 can be increased without increasing the area of ​​the airflow path 10 and the filter holding member 40 when viewed from above.

[0116] Furthermore, if a single filter is sized to fit the entire airflow channel 10, the portion that needs to be tightly sealed between the filter and its surroundings (for example, the inner wall of the airflow channel 10) to prevent air from passing past the filter becomes long, making it difficult to maintain a tight seal. In contrast, in this embodiment, the filter 21 is inserted into a filter holding member 40 placed inside the airflow channel 10, so the portion that needs to be tightly sealed between the filter 21 and its surroundings (the portion around the filter insertion hole 41) is short, making it easier to maintain a tight seal.

[0117] Furthermore, if a single filter is sized to fit the entire airflow path 10, increasing the airflow rate through the filter would necessitate making the filter larger. This would result in various problems, such as the need to enlarge the entire air purifier 1, poor workability for tasks like filter replacement, and variations in airflow velocity depending on the filter's location. However, this embodiment makes it possible to increase the airflow rate through the filter 21 while suppressing these problems.

[0118] In this embodiment, multiple filter insertion holes 41 are formed in the filter holding member 40, and a filter 21 is inserted into each of the filter insertion holes 41. Therefore, even if each individual filter 21 is small, when considering the multiple filters 21 as a whole, a sufficient airflow rate is ensured for the air passing through the filters 21.

[0119] When each filter 21 is small, the process of regenerating the filter 21 and replacing the adsorbent material 23 inside the filter 21 becomes easier. Also, when each filter 21 is small, the area that needs to be in close contact with the filter 21 and the filter holding member 40 becomes shorter, making it easier to maintain a tight seal. Furthermore, when the area that needs to be in close contact is short, even if air leaks from between the filter 21 and the filter holding member 40, it is easier to identify the location of the leak.

[0120] Furthermore, because the filter holding member 40 has a simple, plate-like structure, it is lightweight and easy for the operator to move.

[0121] Furthermore, since the retaining member 43 presses the upper closing member 27 of the filter 21 inserted into the filter insertion hole 41 toward the filter holding member 40, it is possible to prevent air from passing between the filter 21 and the filter holding member 40. In addition, since one retaining member 43 presses the upper closing members 27 of multiple filters 21, the work of installing the retaining member 43 is efficient.

[0122] Furthermore, since the filter 21 used in the first filter housing 20a and the filter 21 used in the second filter housing 20b have the same diameter, both can be inserted into the same filter insertion hole of the regeneration processing device 50.

[0123] The embodiments described above are merely examples, and any modifications made as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention are included within the scope of the present invention. For example, the following modifications can be made to the embodiments described above. The following examples of modifications can be combined in any way.

[0124] The filter 21 of this embodiment can adsorb various substances, such as odor-causing substances in addition to solvents, onto the adsorbent material 23 and remove them from the air. The type of adsorbent material 23 stored in the adsorbent material storage section 30 and the type of sensor used for concentration measurement are appropriately selected according to the substance to be adsorbed and removed from the air.

[0125] Furthermore, in the air purifier 1, the filter 21 can also be used in the opposite direction to that of the above embodiment, that is, by flowing air from the radially inner side of the inner cylindrical body 25 to the radially outer side of the outer cylindrical body 24, thereby passing air through to the adsorbent storage section 30.

[0126] Furthermore, the handle of the filter 21 does not have to be a single rod-shaped handle like the handle 28 described above. For example, as shown in Figure 17, it may be a handle with an additional rod 28a added to the handle 28, resulting in a "+" shape when viewed from above. However, it is preferable that the handle does not obstruct the upward airflow from the radially inner part of the inner cylindrical body 25.

[0127] Furthermore, the number and arrangement of filters 21 provided on the filter holding member 40 are not limited to the number in the above embodiment. However, in order to hold down multiple filters 21 with one pressing member 43, it is preferable that the multiple filters 21 are arranged in a row in one direction.

[0128] Furthermore, the shape of the filter holding member is not limited to that of the above embodiment. However, the filter holding member is preferably a simple one in which a filter insertion hole is formed in a plate-like member, and the plate-like member may also have some irregularities.

[0129] Furthermore, in Figure 2, the air passage 10 extends precisely in the vertical direction when gravity is considered downwards, and the filter holding member 40 is positioned precisely horizontally, perpendicular to the direction of gravity. However, such precision is not required. The air passage 10 only needs to extend in a direction that allows air to move upward or downward at least where the filter 21 is located. Also, the filter holding member 40 only needs to be positioned horizontally enough so that the filter 21 can be inserted into the filter insertion hole 41 from above.

[0130] Furthermore, the configuration of the regeneration apparatus is not limited to those described above. For example, the direction in which air flows through the filter housing may be from top to bottom, and in the filter 21, air may flow from the radially inner side of the inner cylindrical body 25 to the radially outer side of the outer cylindrical body 24. Also, the direction in which air flows through the adsorbent housing 30 in the regeneration apparatus may be opposite to the direction in which air flows through the adsorbent housing 30 in the air purifier 1.

[0131] Next, a second embodiment will be described. Since the first and second embodiments differ only in the structure of the filter, the structure of filter 121 will be described below.

[0132] As shown in Figures 18 to 21, the filter container 122 of the second embodiment comprises an outer cylindrical body 124, an inner cylindrical body 125 positioned radially inward of the outer cylindrical body 124, a lower closing member 126 that closes the lower openings of the outer cylindrical body 124 and the inner cylindrical body 125, and an upper closing member that closes the space between the outer cylindrical body 124 and the inner cylindrical body 125 at the top. In this embodiment, the upper closing member is a lid 127 that can be removed from the outer cylindrical body 124 and the inner cylindrical body 125. Note that in the second embodiment, "upper" and "lower" refer to the case where the lid 127 is at the top and the lower closing member 126 is at the bottom.

[0133] Numerous ventilation holes 124a and 125a are formed in the outer cylindrical body 124 and the inner cylindrical body 125, respectively. Each ventilation hole 124a and 125a is circular and penetrates the cylindrical bodies 124 and 125 radially. The size of the ventilation holes 124a and 125a is such that granular adsorbent material 123 cannot pass through. The ventilation holes 124a and 125a are formed in the lower regions of the outer cylindrical body 124 and the inner cylindrical body 125, but not in the upper regions of the outer cylindrical body 124 and the inner cylindrical body 125. The vertical position of the boundary between the regions where ventilation holes 124a and 125a are formed and the regions where they are not formed is the same in the outer cylindrical body 124 and the inner cylindrical body 125.

[0134] The lower region of the filter container 122 is a ventilated region 132 (see Figure 20) in which ventilation holes 124a and 125a are formed in the outer cylindrical body 124 and the inner cylindrical body 125. On the other hand, the upper region of the filter container 122 is a non-ventilated region 133 (see Figure 20) in which there are no ventilation holes 124a and 125a in the outer cylindrical body 124 and the inner cylindrical body 125. The ratio of the vertical length of the non-ventilated region 133 to the vertical length of the filter container 122 is, for example, 5% to 30%.

[0135] The outer cylindrical body 124 and the inner cylindrical body 125 are each formed by punching a single rectangular metal plate into numerous ventilation holes 124a and 125a, respectively. The metal plate is then rolled into a cylindrical shape, and the butt joints (two parallel sides of the original rectangular metal plate) are welded together. The outer cylindrical body 124 and the inner cylindrical body 125 are each single-layer structures made from the aforementioned metal plate.

[0136] Note that only a portion of the ventilation holes 124a and 125a are shown in Figure 18, etc., as representative examples. However, in reality, the ventilation holes 124a and 125a are periodically arranged in the outer cylindrical body 124 and the inner cylindrical body 125 throughout the entire ventilation region 132.

[0137] As shown in Figure 21, when viewed from above, the outer cylinder 124 and the inner cylinder 125 are concentric circles. Therefore, the distance between the outer cylinder 124 and the inner cylinder 125 is constant at all points. Also, as shown in Figure 20, the lower end of the outer cylinder 124 and the lower end of the inner cylinder 125 lie on the same plane, and the upper end of the outer cylinder 124 and the upper end of the inner cylinder 125 lie on the same plane.

[0138] A rod-shaped handle 128, the same length as the inner diameter of the inner cylinder 125, is provided, spanning across two opposing points on the inner diameter surface of the inner cylinder 125. The handle 128 is welded to the upper end of the inner cylinder 125. As shown in Figure 19, screw holes 128a are formed near both ends of the handle 128 in the longitudinal direction.

[0139] The lower closing member 126 is a circular, non-perforated plate with the same diameter as the outer cylindrical body 124. This lower closing member 126 is welded to the entire lower end of the outer cylindrical body 124 and the entire lower end of the inner cylindrical body 125. This prevents air from entering the entire inside of the outer cylindrical body 124 from below, including the radially inner side of the inner cylindrical body 125.

[0140] As shown in Figures 19 and 20, flanges 124b and 125b are provided at the upper ends of the outer cylindrical body 124 and the inner cylindrical body 125, respectively, extending radially outward from the cylindrical bodies 124 and 125 and encircling the cylindrical bodies 124 and 125.

[0141] The lid 127 is a circular plate with a hole 127a in the center. The outer diameter of the lid 127 is the same as the diameter of the flange 124b of the outer cylindrical body 124. The inner diameter of the lid 127 (the diameter of the hole 127a) is the same as the inner diameter of the inner cylindrical body 125. As shown in Figure 19, etc., small protrusions 127b are formed on two opposing locations on the hole 127a side of the lid 127, projecting toward the inner diameter side of the lid 127. A screw hole 127c is formed in each of the protrusions 127b.

[0142] As shown in Figures 19 and 20, a seal 129, which is approximately the same shape and size as the lid 127, is provided beneath the lid 127. A hole 129a, the same diameter as the hole 127a in the lid 127, is opened in the center of the seal 129. The seal 129 rests on the flanges 124b and 125b of the outer cylindrical body 124 and the inner cylindrical body 125, and the lid 127 rests on the seal 129 (therefore, the seal 129 is sandwiched between the flanges 124b and 125b of the cylindrical bodies 124 and 125 and the lid 127). This prevents air from leaking between the flanges 124b and 125b and the lid 127. In addition, the lid 127 and the seal 129 close off the space between the outer cylindrical body 124 and the inner cylindrical body 125 from above.

[0143] As shown in Figure 19, a screw 131, acting as a fastener, is passed through the screw hole 127c of the protrusion 127b of the lid 127 and the screw hole 128a of the handle 128 of the inner cylindrical body 125, thereby fixing the lid 127 to the inner cylindrical body 125. This fixing prevents the lid 127 from coming off the cylindrical bodies 124 and 125. Furthermore, an operator can lift the entire filter 121, including the lid 127, by holding the handle 128. Additionally, the lid 127 and seal 129 are detachable by attaching and detaching the screw 131.

[0144] The area enclosed by the outer cylindrical body 124, the inner cylindrical body 125, the lower closing member 126, and the lid 127 is the adsorbent storage section 130 where the adsorbent material 123 is filled. The adsorbent storage section 130 can be described as a cylindrical shape with thickness in the radial direction. The upper end of the adsorbent storage section 130 is a filling port for filling the adsorbent material 123 into the adsorbent storage section 130. The operator can remove the lid 127 and fill the adsorbent material 123 into the adsorbent storage section 130 through the filling port.

[0145] As described above, ventilation holes 124a and 125a are formed in the outer cylindrical body 124 and the inner cylindrical body 125, the lower closing member 126 closes the entire radially inner surface of the outer cylindrical body 124 from below, and the lid 127 closes the space between the outer cylindrical body 124 and the inner cylindrical body 125 from above. Therefore, air can pass through the adsorbent storage section 130 between the radially outer surface of the outer cylindrical body 124 and the radially inner surface of the inner cylindrical body 125. Air cannot pass through the lid 127 and the lower closing member 126.

[0146] It is preferable that the adsorbent 123 is filled up to the upper end of the adsorbent storage section 130. This ensures that even if the filter 121 is used for a long time and the adsorbent 23 wears down during that time, reducing the volume of the adsorbent 123 and creating a space at the top of the adsorbent storage section 130, such a space will only be formed in the non-ventilated area 133 without the ventilation holes 124a and 125a, while the ventilated area 132 with the ventilation holes 124a and 125a remains filled with the adsorbent 123. Therefore, the air passing through the filter 121 can always pass through the adsorbent storage section 130 in the ventilated area 132 where the adsorbent 123 is filled.

[0147] The outer cylindrical body 124, the inner cylindrical body 125, the lower closing member 126, the lid 127, and the handle 128 are made of heat-resistant metal. The seal 129 is also heat-resistant, so it is less likely to deform or deteriorate even when exposed to heated air when regenerating the adsorbent 123.

[0148] Such filters 121 are inserted from above into each filter insertion hole 41 of the filter holding member 40, as in the first embodiment. As a result, the flange 124b of the filter 121 rests on the filter holding member 40, as shown in Figure 22. A seal 42 is sandwiched between the flange 124b of the filter 121 and the filter holding member 40, closing the space between the lower surface of the flange 124b and the upper surface of the filter holding member 40. In addition, the entire ventilation area 132 of the filter 21 is below the portion closed by the seal 42.

[0149] The airflow around the filter 121 is shown by arrows in Figure 22. As shown in this figure, air that reaches the lower surface of the filter holding member 40 and the radially outer side of the filter 121 is introduced into the adsorbent storage section 130 through the vent hole 124a of the outer cylindrical body 124, passes through the adsorbent storage section 130, and exits the adsorbent storage section 130 through the vent hole 125a of the inner cylindrical body 125. As the air passes through the adsorbent storage section 130, solvent in the air is adsorbed by the adsorbent 123 and removed from the air. As a result, the solvent concentration in the air decreases. The air that has exited the adsorbent storage section 130 with a reduced solvent concentration rises along the radially inner side of the inner cylindrical body 125.

[0150] The filter 121 of the second embodiment is relatively easy to manufacture because the outer cylindrical body 124 and the inner cylindrical body 125 are each made from only one metal plate. When air passes through the filter 121, a large radial pressure is applied to the outer cylindrical body 124 and the inner cylindrical body 125. However, because the cylindrical body has high rigidity against radial forces, it is difficult for the outer cylindrical body 124 and the inner cylindrical body 125 to deform even though they are each made from only one metal plate.

[0151] Various modifications are also possible for the second embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0152] 1...Air purifier, 2...Housing, 3a...Air filter, 3b...Air filter, 4...Caster, 5...Control panel box, 10...Flow path, 11...Intake port, 11a...Check damper, 12...Exhaust port, 13...Fan, 14a...Horizontal wall, 14b...Vertical wall, 14c...Curved wall, 20a...First filter housing, 20a-1...Door, 20a-2...Opening, 20b...Second filter housing, 20b-1...Door, 20b-2...Opening, 21...Fi 22…Filter container, 23…Adsorbent, 24…Outer cylinder, 24a…Ventilation plate, 24b…Mesh, 24c…Ventilation hole, 24d…Ring, 24e…Folding part, 25…Inner cylinder, 25a…Ventilation plate, 25b…Mesh, 25c…Ventilation hole, 25d…Inner closing member, 25e…Folding part, 25f…Screw hole, 26…Lid, 26a…Plate, 26b…Frame, 26c…Screw hole, 27…Upper closing member, 27a…Hole, 27b…Flange, 28…Holder Hand, 28a…rod, 30…adsorbent storage section, 31a…screw, 31b…nut, 32…ventilation area, 33…non-ventilation area, 40…filter holding member, 41…filter insertion hole, 42…seal, 43…pressing member, 44…screw, 50…regeneration processing device, 51…intake port, 52…exhaust port, 53…flow path, 54…heater, 55…intake fan, 56…filter housing section, 57…exhaust fan, 58…filter holding member, 65…protruding wall, 121…f 122…Filter container, 123…Adsorbent, 124…Outer cylinder, 124a…Ventilation hole, 124b…Flange, 125…Inner cylinder, 125a…Ventilation hole, 125b…Flange, 126…Lower closing member, 127…Lid, 127a…Hole, 127b…Protrusion, 127c…Screw hole, 128…Handle, 128a…Screw hole, 129…Seal, 130…Adsorbent storage section, 131…Screw, 132…Ventilated area, 133…Non-ventilated area

Claims

1. An outer cylindrical body having a ventilated region through which air passes, An inner cylindrical body having a ventilation region through which air passes, and positioned inside the outer cylindrical body, A lower closing member that closes the lower opening of the outer cylindrical body from below, An upper closing member that closes the space between the outer cylindrical body and the inner cylindrical body, A system was established, The space between the outer cylindrical body and the inner cylindrical body is an adsorbent storage section filled with an adsorbent material for adsorbing objects from the air. The lower closing member is a lid that opens and closes the adsorbent storage section. A portion of the upper closing member is a flange that extends radially outward from the outer cylindrical body. Filter container.

2. The filter container according to claim 1, wherein the lower end of the outer cylindrical body and the lid are in contact.

3. The filter container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the adsorbent storage section is provided with a ring that contacts the inner diameter surface of the outer cylindrical body and extends around the outer cylindrical body in a circumferential direction.

4. The filter container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an inner closing member that closes the lower opening of the inner cylindrical body is fitted radially inward of the inner cylindrical body, and the lid is provided below the inner closing member.

5. The filter container according to claim 1, wherein the outer cylindrical body and the inner cylindrical body each have a double structure in which a ventilation plate having a plurality of ventilation holes is superimposed on a mesh made of wires woven in a mesh-like manner with gaps smaller than the ventilation holes.

6. The filter container according to claim 5, wherein the ventilation plates are folded at both the upper and lower ends of the outer cylindrical body and the inner cylindrical body, and the ends of the mesh are sandwiched between them.

7. The device is provided with an air intake port for drawing in air, an air exhaust port for discharging air, an air passage extending vertically between the air intake port and the air exhaust port, and a filter holding member positioned horizontally within the air passage. A filter container according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is inserted from above into the filter insertion hole formed in the filter holding member. The flange rests on the upper surface of the filter holding member, A pressing member is provided to press down on the flange toward the filter holding member from above. The ventilation region in the outer cylindrical body and the inner cylindrical body is below the filter insertion hole. An air purifier in which air flows from a lower location upstream of the airflow relative to the filter holding member to an upper location downstream of the airflow, passing through the ventilation regions in the outer cylindrical body and the inner cylindrical body.

8. The air purifier according to claim 7, wherein a plurality of filter insertion holes are formed in the filter holding member, and the filter container is inserted into each of the filter insertion holes.

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