air conditioner

Abstract

To provide an air conditioner excellent in usability.SOLUTION: The air conditioner includes an air conditioning unit, and a blower unit which can be integrated with or separated from the air conditioning unit. The air conditioning unit includes a casing, an air inlet arranged in the casing, an air conditioning part stored in the casing for conditioning air sucked from the air inlet, an air outlet arranged in the casing for blowing air conditioned by the air conditioning part, and a power supply output terminal 87 arranged in the casing, a shutter 230 for shutting thee power supply output terminal 87, and an opening / closing part for opening the shutter 230 in integration when the air conditioning unit and the blower unit are integrated with each other and for closing the shutter 230 in separation when the air conditioning unit and the blower unit are separated from each other. The blower unit includes a blowing part for sucking and blowing air blown out of the air outlet, and a power supply input terminal 187 connected to the power supply output terminal 87 in integration for power to be supplied thereto.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 20

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioner having a detachable blower unit.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an air conditioner provided with a blower unit that can be attached to and detached from a cooling unit. When the blower unit is removed from the cooling unit and used as a circulator or the like, power is supplied to the blower unit by plugging the power cord provided in the blower unit into an external power source. Further, when the blower unit is fitted into the cooling unit and used integrally, power is supplied by plugging the power cord into the plug insertion port of the cooling unit, and an unnecessary long power cord is stored in the cord storage portion provided in the cooling unit.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Although the above-described air conditioner can be used integrally or separately, it requires handling of the power cord in each case, which impairs usability.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an air conditioner with excellent usability.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The air conditioner according to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, comprises an air conditioning unit and a blower unit which is integrated with or detachable from the air conditioning unit, wherein the air conditioning unit comprises a housing, an intake port disposed in the housing, an air conditioning unit housed in the housing that harmonizes the air drawn in from the intake port, an outlet disposed in the housing that blows out the air harmonized by the air conditioning unit, a power output terminal disposed in the housing, a shutter that shields the power output terminal, and an opening / closing unit which opens the shutter when the air conditioning unit and the blower unit are integrated and closes the shutter when the air conditioning unit and the blower unit are separated, wherein the blower unit comprises a blower unit which draws in the air blown out from the outlet and blows it out, and a power input terminal which is connected to the power output terminal and to which power is supplied when the units are integrated. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The air conditioner according to the present invention offers excellent usability. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] A front view perspective of the dehumidifier in its integrated state according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] A perspective view of the dehumidifier as an integrated unit in this embodiment, as seen from the rear. [Figure 3] A vertical cross-sectional view of a dehumidifier with a built-in circulator. [Figure 4] Decompressed perspective view of a dehumidifier with a built-in circulator. [Figure 5] A schematic functional block diagram showing the functional configuration of a dehumidifier with a circulating fan. [Figure 6] A schematic functional block diagram specifically illustrating each power supply unit among the functional blocks in Figure 5. [Figure 7] A perspective view of the circulator from the front when it is separated. [Figure 8] External perspective view of the circulator as seen from the rear when separated. [Figure 9]An external perspective view showing an example of the usage state of the dehumidifier at the time of separation. [Figure 10] A diagram particularly showing the power output terminal and the support case. [Figure 11] A diagram particularly showing the power input terminal. [Figure 12] An explanatory diagram showing the state immediately before the power output terminal is connected to the power input terminal. [Figure 13] An explanatory diagram showing the state where the power output terminal is connected to the power input terminal. [Figure 14] A diagram showing the state where the shutter is closed. [Figure 15] A diagram showing the state where the shutter is open. [Figure 16] An explanatory diagram particularly showing the shutter and the opening / closing part in the state where the shutter is closed, viewed from the rear. [Figure 17] An explanatory diagram particularly showing the shutter and the opening / closing part in the state where the shutter is open, viewed from the rear. [Figure 18] An explanatory diagram showing the shutter and the opening / closing part of FIG. 16, viewed from the front. [Figure 19] An explanatory diagram particularly showing the opening / closing part in the state where the shutter is closed, viewed from the rear. [Figure 20] An explanatory diagram particularly showing the opening / closing part in the state where the shutter is open, viewed from the rear.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] 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 condense moisture contained in the air for dehumidification and blows air, and will be described.

[0010] 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 rear 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 of the dehumidifier 1 with a circulator when 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 particularly explaining each power supply unit 83, 183 among the functional blocks of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is an external perspective view of the circulator 3 seen from the front when separated. FIG. 8 is an external perspective view of the circulator 3 seen from the back when separated. FIG. 9 is an external perspective view showing an example of the usage state of the dehumidifier 1 when separated.

[0011] In the following description, the explanation will be made according to the definitions of front, rear, up, down, left, and right shown in each drawing. In some cases, the surface facing the front where the operation unit 74 on the dehumidification unit side is provided is referred to as the front, and the surface opposite to the front facing the rear is referred to as the back. Also, the directions along the front-rear, left-right directions are regarded as the horizontal directions. The definitions of the front, rear, up, down, left, and right of the circulator 3 may be different when the circulator 3 is attached to the dehumidification unit 2 and the dehumidification unit 2 and the circulator 3 are integrated (hereinafter simply referred to as "when integrated"), and when the circulator 3 is separated from the dehumidification unit 2 and the dehumidification unit 2 and the circulator 3 are separated (hereinafter simply referred to as "when separated"). When integrated, it may follow the definitions of FIGS. 1 to 4, 10 to 20, and when separated, it may follow FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0012] The dehumidifier 1 with a circulator (hereinafter simply referred to as "dehumidifier 1") includes a dehumidification unit 2 (air conditioning unit) and a circulator 3 (air blowing unit) disposed above the dehumidification unit 2 and integratable or separable from the dehumidification unit 2. As shown in FIG. 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.

[0013] The dehumidification unit 2 has a housing 10 that forms the appearance of the dehumidification unit 2. The housing 10 includes a front frame 11, a rear frame 12, an upper panel 14, and a base 15.

[0014] The front frame 11 and the rear frame 12 are joined together via a connecting line 13 (Figure 1) that extends 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 form the left and right side surfaces 23, also have handle cutouts 25 for the placement of handles 43. The handle cutouts 25 are formed at the upper end of the side surface 23 and approximately the center in the front-to-back direction. The front-facing surface of the front frame 11 is the front surface 23a (Figure 3) of the side surface 23.

[0015] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the rear frame 12 (side 23 on the rear side) 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 on 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.

[0016] 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 (Figures 3, 4) relative to the top frame portion 24.

[0017] 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.

[0018] 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.

[0019] 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 guides the air blown out from the outlet 41 towards the upward-facing circulator 3. The air guide wall 42 is connected to the inside of the housing 10 and forms a space that serves as a passage for the air blown out from the outlet 41 on the inside.

[0020] The handles 43 are formed above the side surface 23 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 panel 14. The handles 43 have handle recesses 51 and finger rests 52 that are recessed inward in the left-right direction from the side surface 23 and are used by the user when transporting the dehumidifier 1.

[0021] 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.

[0022] 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 with a gap between legs or other parts if the dehumidifier has legs.

[0023] 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.

[0024] 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.

[0025] The sirocco fan 62 rotates due to the rotation of the blower motor 63, drawing in air from the intake port 31 and forming 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.

[0026] The compressor 65 is fixed on the base 15 and connected to the heat exchanger 66 via piping 65a and a pressure reducing device.

[0027] The heat exchanger 66 (air conditioning unit) 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 66, 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.

[0028] 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.

[0029] The heating element 67 (air conditioning unit) heats the low-humidity air that has passed through the condenser 66b before the outlet 41.

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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.

[0034] The dehumidification unit-side control unit 70 is a control board positioned in front of the fan case 61, supported by a required case. The dehumidification 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 heater 67, and display unit 75 based on instructions from the dehumidification unit-side operation unit 74 and pre-stored programs. The dehumidification unit-side control unit 70 also controls various parts of the circulator 3, such as the oscillating motor 138, by transmitting infrared signals, both when the unit is integrated and when it is separated.

[0035] The dehumidification unit side control unit 70 has a storage unit 77 and a timer 78. The storage unit 77 stores the operation programs for each part, etc. The timer 78 measures time for timer operation of the dehumidifier 1, etc.

[0036] The temperature sensor 71 and humidity sensor 72 are installed at predetermined locations on the dehumidifier 1 main unit 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.

[0037] 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 (Figure 3) 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).

[0038] 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.

[0039] The circulator detection sensor 81 is a reed switch that detects the magnetic field of a magnet placed at a predetermined position on the circulator 3, for example. The circulator detection sensor 81 detects the attachment / detachment state (integrated or separated) of the circulator 3 to the dehumidification unit 2 based on the presence or absence of magnetic field detection. The dehumidification unit side communication unit 82 is an infrared antenna that transmits and receives required infrared signals (wireless signals) to and from 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 and receives infrared signals from a dehumidification unit side transparent window 86 that transmits infrared rays and is provided in the panel 76 on which the dehumidification unit side operation unit 74 is formed.

[0040] 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 direct current and supplies it to each part of the dehumidification unit 2.

[0041] The power switching unit 84 switches whether or not to supply AC current from the commercial power supply to the power output terminal 87. The power output terminal 87 is positioned to be exposed upward from a power opening 21a (see Figure 15, etc.) provided on the top surface 21 (base 14a of the top plate 14) where the circulator 3 is mounted. The power output terminal 87 is positioned so as not to protrude above the base 14a. 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. The power output terminal 87 and its related configuration will be described later.

[0042] 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.

[0043] The circulator 3 has a base 110 and an air blower 130. The air blower 130 is supported so as to be able to oscillate around an axis that runs along the left-right direction relative to the base 110, and it draws in air blown out from the outlet 41 and blows it out.

[0044] As shown in Figures 1, 7, and 8, the base portion 110 is a cylindrical casing that forms a space (a through-hole penetrating vertically) 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.

[0045] The base bottom surface 111 is a frame-shaped surface having substantially the same shape as the upper surface 21 formed by the upper frame portion 24. When assembled as a single unit, the base bottom surface 111 is placed on the upper frame portion 24 (upper surface 21) and becomes a surface that contacts the upper frame portion 24.

[0046] 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. Furthermore, the recess 190 on the circulator side also functions as part of the base bottom surface 111, and when integrated, it is installed in contact with the base 14a of the top plate 14 which forms the top surface 21.

[0047] 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.

[0048] The left and right intake ports 121 are positioned approximately in the center in the front-to-back direction on the left and right sides 112 of the base portion, and are formed by cutting out a predetermined amount upward from the boundary between the side 112 of the base portion and the bottom surface 111 of the base portion. 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 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 bottom surface 111 of the base portion. As described above, the top plate 14 has left and right intake port recesses 45, 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 perimeter of the dehumidifier 1 with the inside of the base portion 110 via the left and right intake ports 121.

[0049] As shown in Figure 3, 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.

[0050] 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.

[0051] 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. 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.

[0052] The blower unit 130 includes a cover 131, a fan motor 135, and a fan 136.

[0053] 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.

[0054] 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.

[0055] 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.

[0056] 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.

[0057] 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.

[0058] 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. Similar to the dehumidifier-side control unit 74, the circulator-side control unit 174 is positioned on a control board (not shown) which is positioned approximately parallel to the front surface 112a of the base unit. This control board is for the circulator-side control unit 174 and the circulator-side communication unit 182. The circulator-side control unit 174 has a number of input buttons that implement, for example, an operation switch and an oscillation switch.

[0059] The circulator-side communication unit 182 is an infrared antenna that transmits and receives required infrared signals (wireless signals) to and from the dehumidification unit-side communication unit 82 based on the control of the circulator-side control unit 170. The circulator-side communication unit 182 transmits and receives infrared signals from, for example, the circulator-side transparent window 186 that transmits infrared rays and is 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.

[0060] 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.

[0061] 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 by the user by, for example, using magnetic attraction. The power input terminal 187 and its related configuration will be described later.

[0062] 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.

[0063] Furthermore, when separated, the circulator 3 is positioned at a predetermined distance from the dehumidification unit 2. 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.

[0064] Furthermore, when separated, the circulator 3 can operate independently of the dehumidification unit 2, based on the control of the circulator-side control unit 170.

[0065] In both integrated and separated configurations, the dehumidification unit-side control unit 70 can transmit an infrared signal consisting of required control information to the circulator-side control unit 170 by controlling the dehumidification unit-side communication unit 82. Upon receiving the infrared signal via the circulator-side communication unit 182, the circulator-side control unit 170 can control the operation of the circulator 3 based on the received control information.

[0066] Such a dehumidifier 1 is suitably used in the following applications, for example. When the dehumidifier 1 is used to dry laundry hung indoors, the laundry can be dried efficiently by using 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 position the dehumidifier 1 directly beneath the laundry, and the dehumidifier 1 must be positioned away from the laundry so as not to overlap it. In contrast, in this embodiment, the circulator 3 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.

[0067] Next, we will describe the detailed configuration related to the power output terminal 87 and the power input terminal 187.

[0068] Figure 10 is a diagram that specifically shows the power output terminal 87 and the support case 201. Figure 11 is a diagram that specifically shows the power input terminal 187. Figure 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the state immediately before the power output terminal 87 is connected to the power input terminal 187. Figure 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the power output terminal 87 is connected to the power input terminal 187. Figure 14 shows the shutter 230 in the closed position. Figure 15 shows the shutter 230 in the open position.

[0069] Figure 16 is an explanatory diagram that specifically shows the shutter 230 and the opening / closing part 240 from the rear when the shutter 230 is closed. Figure 17 is an explanatory diagram that specifically shows the shutter 230 and the opening / closing part 240 from the rear when the shutter 230 is in the open position. Figure 18 is an explanatory diagram showing the shutter 230 and opening / closing section 240 of Figure 16 from the front. Figure 19 is an explanatory diagram showing the opening / closing section 240 from the rear, particularly when the shutter 230 is closed. Figure 20 is an explanatory diagram showing the opening / closing section 240 from the rear, particularly when the shutter 230 is open. In Figures 10 to 20, for the sake of clarity, diagrams of components not necessary for the explanation have been omitted.

[0070] As described above, the power output terminal 87 is positioned exposed from the top surface 21 and has a convex shape that protrudes upward. The power output terminal 87 has a pair of terminal receiving parts 87a that receive the connection terminals 187a (Figure 11) of the power input terminal 187, and a magnet 89 (Figure 15). The power output terminal 87 is connected to the dehumidification unit side control unit 70 by a power cord 88. The power cord 88 has a protective part 88a. The protective part 88a has a plurality of grooves 88b formed in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0071] As described above, the power input terminal 187 is located on the bottom surface 111 of the base and has a concave shape that is concave upwards, corresponding to the convex shape. The power input terminal 187 has a pair of connection terminals 187a that are inserted into the terminal receiving portion 87a. The pair of connection terminals 187a are properly inserted into the pair of terminal receiving portions 87a when the convex-shaped power output terminal 87 is properly inserted into the concave-shaped power input terminal 187, and power is supplied.

[0072] The power input terminal 187 has a thin plate 189 that is attracted to the magnet 89 of the power output terminal 87.

[0073] The power output terminal 87 is supported within the housing 10 by a support case 201. The support case 201 has a fixed case 210 and a movable case 220. The fixed case 210 and the movable case 220 are combined in the left-right direction to form a space in which the power output terminal 87 can be housed.

[0074] The fixed case 210 is fixed to a predetermined position on the housing 10, for example, by screw fastening. The fixed case 210 has a roughly U-shaped horizontal cross-section and includes fixed-side front and rear sides 211, fixed-side left side 212, and fixed-side bottom surface 213. The fixed-side front and rear sides 211 have a pair of hook openings 215, a pair of shutter support shafts 216, and a case-side spring stopper 218. The hook openings 215 are symmetrically provided on the fixed-side front and rear sides 211 and are slit-shaped openings extending in the vertical direction. The shutter support shafts 216 are symmetrically provided on the fixed-side front and rear sides 211 and rotatably support the shutter 230, which will be described later. The case-side spring stopper 218 (Figure 18) holds one end of the spring 270 of the opening / closing section 240, which will be described later.

[0075] The fixed bottom surface 213 has a notch 219 for passing a cord through, allowing the protective part 88a to pass through almost without contact.

[0076] The movable case 220 has a roughly U-shaped horizontal cross-section and includes movable front and rear sides 221, a movable right side 222, and a movable bottom surface 223. The movable front and rear sides 221 have a pair of hooks 225 that are provided symmetrically front and rear. The hooks 225 have a vertical length that is shorter than the vertical length of the hook opening 215, and have clearance in the vertical direction. The hooks 225 also have clearance in the left and right directions to the extent that they do not hinder vertical movement relative to the hook opening 215 and do not cause looseness in the left and right direction. The movable bottom surface 223 fits into the groove 88b of the protective part 88a and fixes the power output terminal 87 to the movable case 220. As a result, the movable case 220 is fixed to the power output terminal 87 and combined with the fixed case 210 so as to be movable in the vertical direction.

[0077] The power output terminal 87, which is exposed from the top surface 21, is shielded by a shutter 230 when disconnected, in order to protect it from dust and moisture adhering to it and from dust and moisture entering the inside of the housing 10 from around the power output terminal 87, and also for safety reasons.

[0078] The shutter 230 is provided on the dehumidification unit 2 and opens when integrated to expose the power output terminal 87 from the top surface 21, and closes when separated to shield the power output terminal 87. The shutter 230 has a shielding portion 231 and a support portion 234. The shielding portion 231 is formed in a dome shape having an arc shape when viewed in the front-to-back direction, capable of covering the power output terminal 87 (power opening 21a). The support portion 234 is a pair of substantially fan-shaped planar members extending substantially perpendicularly from the front and rear edges of the shielding portion 231. The front support portion 234 has a shutter-side spring stopper portion 238 (Figure 18) that holds the other end of the spring 270 of the opening / closing portion 240.

[0079] The shutter 230 is supported so as to be rotatable around a rotation axis along the front-rear direction (a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction) by a pair of shutter support shafts 216 (support parts) of the support case 201 described above, with a predetermined position on the support part 234 as the center of rotation.

[0080] The shutter 230 is opened and closed by the opening / closing part 240. The opening / closing part 240 operates by receiving a load from the push-in projection 195 (opening part) of the circulator 3 when they are together, and closing the shutter 230 when they are separated and there is no load.

[0081] The opening / closing section 240 includes a transmission section 250, an operating section 260, and a spring 270.

[0082] The transmission section 250 has a load-receiving surface 251, a transmission surface 252, and an inclined surface 253.

[0083] The load-receiving surface 251 is a surface parallel to the horizontal direction and can be exposed through the transmission opening 21b formed on the upper surface 21 (base 14a of the upper plate 14) when separated. The load-receiving surface 251 receives the load from the indentation projection 195.

[0084] Here, as shown in Figure 11, the push-in projection 195 is positioned behind the power input terminal 187 on the bottom surface 111 of the base portion when the unit is assembled, and is a protruding piece that protrudes downward from the bottom surface 111 of the base portion. When the unit is assembled, the push-in projection 195 is positioned to press in the load-receiving surface 251 and apply a load, and has a vertical length that allows for the required amount of press-in.

[0085] The transmission surface 252 is a surface parallel to the load-receiving surface 251 and is positioned to overlap with the load-receiving surface 251 when viewed in the vertical direction. The inclined surface 253 is a surface that is continuously inclined downward by a predetermined amount from the left end of the transmission surface 252. The inclined surface 253 contacts the operating part 260 when there is no load and acts to apply a larger torque to the operating part 260 than the transmission surface 252 applies when a load is applied. That is, as will be described later, the operating part 260 moves counterclockwise on a circular orbit with the shutter support shaft 216 as the center of rotation, but the inclined surface 253 is inclined at an inclination closer to the inclination of the tangent to the circular orbit than the vertical direction, which is the direction of the force that the transmission surface 252 applies to the operating part 260, and is inclined to apply a force in the direction that moves the operating part 260 counterclockwise.

[0086] The actuation part 260 is a rod-shaped member with a projection that protrudes a predetermined amount to the rear, and is integrally positioned on the support part 234 at the rear of the shutter 230. The actuation part 260 is in almost line contact with the transmission surface 252, and when the transmission part 250 is subjected to a load, it receives the load of the downward force transmitted from the transmission surface 252 at the contact point. Since the actuation part 260 is integrally formed with the shutter 230, which is rotatably constrained around the shutter support shaft 216, the force transmitted from the transmission part 250 to the actuation part 260 is converted into movement with the shutter support shaft 216 as the center of rotation. The actuation part 260 moves on the transmission surface 252 while moving counterclockwise along a circular orbit with the shutter support shaft 216 as the center of rotation. In addition, as the actuation part 260 moves, the contact point with the transmission surface 252 changes in the circumferential direction. As a result, the actuation part 260 rotates the shutter 230 around the axis of rotation (clockwise).

[0087] The operating part 260 has a shape in which a portion is cut out in the axial direction, and the cross section perpendicular to the axial direction is approximately D-shaped (semi-circular). Due to this shape, the operating part 260 has a curved portion 261 and a flat portion 262 in the circumferential direction. The curved portion 261 moves on the transmission surface 252 until the shutter 230 rotates to a predetermined position. When the shutter 230 reaches the predetermined position, that is, when the shutter 230 rotates to its maximum amount in the opening direction, the flat portion 262 makes surface contact with the transmission surface 252 and stops the rotation on the transmission surface 252. The operating part 260 also supports the transmission part 250, which is housed in the transmission part opening 21b, at its lower end.

[0088] As shown in Figure 18, the spring 270 is a torsion coil spring, with its coiled portion supported by the shutter support shaft 216 on the front fixed front and rear side surfaces 211, one end supported by the case-side spring stopper 218, and the other end supported by the shutter-side spring stopper 238. The spring 270 is at its natural length when the shutter 230 is closed, and when the transmission unit 250 is subjected to a load, the other end rotates due to the rotation of the shutter 230, and when the transmission unit 250 is released from the load, it releases elastic energy in the direction that closes the shutter 230.

[0089] In such an opening / closing section 240, when there is no load, i.e., when it is disconnected, the shutter 230 is closed by the action of the spring 270. By positioning the power output terminal 87 and the shutter 230 so that they do not protrude upward from the top surface 21, when the power output terminal 87 is not in use, it is shielded by the shutter 230 and does not stand out, thus maintaining the aesthetic appearance.

[0090] On the other hand, when the opening / closing unit 240 is subjected to a load, i.e., when it is integrated, the push-in projection 195 of the circulator 3 acts on the load-receiving surface 251 of the transmission unit 250, pushing the transmission unit 250 downward. As a result, the operating unit 260 moves on the transmission surface 252 of the transmission unit 250, causing the shutter 230, which is integrated with the operating unit 260, to rotate against the restoring force of the spring 270. In other words, the opening / closing unit 240 converts the load received from the push-in projection 195 into rotation around the axis of rotation, thereby opening the shutter 230. When the operating unit 260 starts, the operating unit 260 is in contact with the inclined surface 253. Therefore, a larger torque contributing to rotation can be obtained from the inclined surface 253 than when it receives mainly vertical force from the transmission surface 252. This makes the initial rotation of the shutter 230 smoother.

[0091] The shutter 230 continues to rotate, exposing the power output terminal 87. Since the shutter 230 rotates around the shutter support shaft 216 on the support case 201, if it continues to rotate, it will interfere with the power cord 88 extending from the bottom of the support case 201. To prevent this, when the shutter 230 rotates to its maximum designed open position, that is, just before it interferes with the power cord 88, the opening / closing part 240 stops rotating by the flat part 262 of the operating part 260 making surface contact with the transmission surface 252.

[0092] Furthermore, when transitioning from separate to integrated mode, the power output terminal 87 and power input terminal 187 are connected as follows due to the action of the support case 201.

[0093] As shown in Figure 12, when separated, the movable case 220 is supported by gravity from the power output terminal 87 and the movable case 220 within the support case 201, so that the lower end of the hook 225 contacts the lower edge of the hook opening 215 (Figure 12). When integrated, the magnet 89 of the power output terminal 87 and the thin plate 189 of the power input terminal 187 attract each other, allowing the power output terminal 87 and the movable case 220 to move upward relative to the fixed case 210 (housing 10) (Figure 13). As a result, even with a dehumidifier 1, which is difficult to perform, the power output terminal 87 can be properly inserted into the power input terminal 187 simply by placing the circulator 3 on the top surface 21 of the dehumidification unit 2, without having to perform the usual operation of supporting the concave terminal while pushing the convex terminal into the concave terminal. Furthermore, the connection terminal 187a is properly inserted into the terminal receiving portion 87a.

[0094] In this embodiment, the dehumidifier 1 has a power output terminal 87 on the dehumidification unit 2, a power input terminal 187 corresponding to the power output terminal 87 on the circulator 3, and a shutter 230 that opens and closes depending on whether the unit is integrated or separated. Therefore, by simply integrating the circulator 3 with the dehumidification unit 2, the power output terminal 87 is inserted into the power input terminal 187, supplying power to the power input terminal 187, while simultaneously protecting the power output terminal 87 with the shutter 230 when separated. As a result, the dehumidifier 1 can provide the user with excellent usability.

[0095] Furthermore, when the dehumidifier 1 is isolated and the power output terminal 87 is not in use, the power output terminal 87 is shielded by the shutter 230. This protects the power output terminal 87 from dust and moisture adhering to it or entering the inside of the housing 10, and also prevents the power output terminal 87 from being unintentionally touched by the user from a safety standpoint.

[0096] Furthermore, the dehumidifier 1 applies a load to the opening / closing section 240 by acting on the push-in projection 195, which is part of the structure of the circulator 3, when used together. This allows the user to open the shutter 230 without being aware of the operation of opening or closing the shutter 230, resulting in superior usability.

[0097] Furthermore, the dehumidifier 1 is equipped with a transmission unit 250 and an operating unit 260, which suitably apply the load from the push-in projection 195, thereby allowing the shutter 230 to be opened and closed appropriately. Specifically, when starting the shutter 230, by providing an inclined surface 253 with an appropriate incline, a torque greater than that obtained from the transmission surface 252 can be obtained, allowing the shutter 230 to open smoothly. In addition, because a large torque can be obtained, the distance between the rotation axis of the shutter 230 and the operating unit 260 can be reduced. As a result, interference between the rotating shutter 230 and surrounding structures can be suppressed, and the degree of design freedom can be improved.

[0098] Furthermore, since the operating part 260 is provided with a flat section 262 to stop the rotation of the operating part 260, there is no need to provide other structures such as a stopper to limit the rotation of the shutter 230, thus reducing the number of parts. In addition, since the shutter 230 does not interfere with other components such as the power cord 88, malfunctions such as damage can be reduced.

[0099] 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.

[0100] For example, although the air conditioner according to the present invention was described using an example in which the air conditioning unit is a heat exchanger 66, 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.

[0101] In the dehumidifier 1, the power output terminal 87 is designed to move upward due to the attractive force of the magnet 89. However, instead, an elastic body or the like may be placed below the power output terminal 87 to keep it constantly protruding upward, thereby providing a pushing force in the direction that receives the power input terminal 187, and supporting the connection between the power output terminal 87 and the power input terminal 187.

[0102] The opening and closing mechanism 240 operates by the push-in projection 195 of the circulator 3 pressing against the transmission mechanism 250 to open and close the shutter 230. However, if the shutter opens while the two are integrated, other means can be used instead. For example, the shutter may be opened electrically by a sensor that detects the integration, or it may be opened and closed manually by the user. [Explanation of symbols]

[0103] 1. Dehumidifier with circulator (dehumidifier) 2 Dehumidification Unit 3. Circulator 21 Top side 22 Bottom 23 Side view 31 Inlet 41 Air outlet 61 Fan Case 62 Sirocco fan 63 Blower motor 65 Compressor 66 Heat exchanger 67 Heating heater 70 Dehumidification unit side control unit 87 Power output terminal 87a Terminal receiving section 88 Power cord 88a Protective part 88b Groove 89 Magnets 110 Base 111 Base bottom 112 Side view of the base 130 Air blower 170 Circulator-side control unit 187 Power input terminal 187a Connection terminal 189 Thin plate 190 Circulator side recess 195 Push-in protrusion 201 Support Case 210 Fixed Case 215 Hook opening 216 Shutter support shaft 220 movable cases 230 shutters 240 Opening / Closing Section 250 Transmission section 251 Load-bearing surface 252 Transmission surface 253 Slope 260 Operating part 261 Curved surface part 262 Flat area

Claims

1. An air conditioner comprising an air conditioning unit and a blower unit that is integrated with or detachable from the air conditioning unit, The aforementioned air conditioning unit is A housing having a bottom surface that is placed on the mounting surface and a top surface that faces upward, The suction port located in the housing, The aforementioned housing comprises an air conditioning unit that harmonizes the air drawn in from the intake port, An air outlet is provided on the upper surface, which blows the air conditioned by the air conditioning unit upwards. A power output terminal is provided on the upper surface and has a convex shape that protrudes upward, A shutter that shields the aforementioned power output terminal, The air conditioning unit and the blower unit have an opening / closing mechanism that opens the shutter when they are integrated and closes the shutter when they are separated. The aforementioned blower unit is A blowing unit that sucks in the air blown out from the aforementioned outlet and blows it out, In the aforementioned integrated state, the opening part acts on the opening / closing part to open the shutter, A base portion that supports the air blower and has a base portion bottom surface that is installed on the upper surface when the unit is integrated, A power input terminal is provided, which is located on the bottom surface of the base portion and has a concave shape corresponding to the convex shape, and is connected to the power output terminal to supply power when the unit is assembled, It has, The opening / closing mechanism closes the shutter when there is no load, and opens the shutter when it receives a load from above to below. The aforementioned opening is a push-in projection that protrudes downward from the bottom surface of the base and applies the load to the opening and closing part, in an air conditioner.

2. The air conditioning unit further includes a support portion that supports the shutter so that it can rotate around a rotation axis in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, The opening and closing section converts the load received from the push-in projection into rotation around the rotating shaft to open the shutter, according to claim 1.

3. The opening and closing part is, A transmission section having a load-receiving surface that receives the load from the indentation projection, and a transmission surface parallel to the load-receiving surface, The air conditioner according to claim 2, further comprising: an operating unit disposed integrally with the shutter, in contact with the transmission unit, and which, when the transmission unit receives the load, rotates the shutter around the rotation axis by the load transmitted from the transmission unit.

4. The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the transmission unit further has an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the transmission surface and contacts the operating unit when there is no load, and when a load is applied, it applies a torque to the operating unit that is greater than the torque that the transmission surface applies to the operating unit.

5. The aforementioned operating part is A curved surface portion that moves on the transmission surface until the shutter rotates to a predetermined position, The air conditioner according to claim 3, further comprising a flat portion that contacts the transmission surface when the shutter reaches the predetermined position and prevents its movement on the transmission surface.

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