Dehumidifier, dedicated container for dehumidifier, and dehumidification tablet

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a dehumidifier, a container for a dehumidifier, and a dehumidification tablet that are environmentally friendly, significantly reduce the amount of plastic used, and make it possible to reduce transportation and storage costs.　The problem addressed by the present invention is solved by a dehumidifier using a combination of a dedicated container and a tablet serving as a deliquescent moisture absorbent in which a deliquescent substance is pressurized and compressed, wherein the dehumidifier is characterized in that the dedicated container comprises a deliquescent liquid storage container and a lid, the deliquescent liquid storage container can store the deliquescent liquid of the tablet, the lid ensures a strong connection with the deliquescent liquid storage container and has an opening in an upper surface, the opening is sealed with a moisture-permeable film, and the inradius of the inner circumference near an upper inlet in the deliquescent liquid storage container is larger than the circumradius of the outer circumference of the tablet, whereas the inradius of the inner circumference at a position lower than the upper inlet by a predetermined height is smaller than the circumradius of the outer circumference of the tablet.

Description

Dehumidifiers, dedicated containers for dehumidifiers, and dehumidifying tablets

[0001] The present invention relates to a dehumidifier, a dedicated container for the dehumidifier, and dehumidifying tablets that absorb moisture in the air with a deliquescent moisture absorbent to reduce and maintain humidity in the space, and are used in closets, chests of drawers, shoe cabinets, and other storage spaces.

[0002] Conventionally, the mainstream of dehumidifiers is the so-called tank type, which is a container with an opening on the top surface, with a tray placed at a mid-height portion inside the container to divide it into an upper space and a lower space, with a granular deliquescent moisture absorbent contained in the upper space and the deliquescent liquid of the deliquescent moisture absorbent dripping through a drip hole in the tray and being stored in the lower space. Tank-type dehumidifiers are configured to seal the opening by adhering or welding a moisture-permeable film that is impermeable to liquids but permeable to gases to prevent the deliquescent liquid from spilling in the event of an accidental tipping. Furthermore, since it is important to ensure a large contact area between the deliquescent moisture absorbent and the air in order to improve the moisture absorption performance of the dehumidifier, a common configuration is one in which the tray is shaped with multiple protrusions, and the granular deliquescent moisture absorbent is stored in the upper space thus formed (Patent Document 1).

[0003] JP 2011-78865 A

[0004] As shown in Fig. 4, the tank-type dehumidifier disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured to include a container body 4 having an upper opening, a tray-like receptacle 5 disposed in a raised portion of the container body 4 to divide the container body 4 into an upper space N and a lower space M, a moisture-permeable but water-impermeable moisture-permeable film 6 that closes the upper opening, and a sealing sheet 7. This tank-type dehumidifier is provided with a detachable lid 8 that protects the moisture-permeable film 6 and the sealing sheet 7 on the upper opening of the container body 4. In the tank-type dehumidifier configured in this manner, a granular deliquescent moisture absorbent C is stored in the upper space N within the container body 4, and when a consumer (user) uses the dehumidifier, the consumer peels the sealing sheet 7 off of the moisture-permeable film 6, allowing moisture in the air to pass through the moisture-permeable film 6 and flow into the container body 4, where it is absorbed by the deliquescent moisture absorbent. When the deliquescent moisture absorbent deliquesces and is completely depleted, the accumulated deliquescent liquid is drained by peeling off the moisture-permeable film 6 attached to the top opening, and the container is discarded. This requires replacing the entire container of a used tank-type dehumidifier with a new one, which is costly and wastes resources. This issue not only involves cost and resource waste, but also leads to problems for consumers, such as the laborious purchase and transportation of a large, bulky product and the space required for storing stocked items. As mentioned above, the container is naturally large due to the required specifications, which require a sufficient contact area between the deliquescent moisture absorbent and the air. In addition to the volume of the upper and lower spaces, the container also transports and stores the air equivalent to the volume of the space provided by the multi-stage protrusions. Furthermore, this poses a serious problem not only to consumers but also to manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. It necessitates the provision of large transportation capacity and space for product transportation and warehousing, imposing significant transportation and storage costs on companies. On the other hand, calls for companies to take on sustainability initiatives have been heard for some time now, and companies are constantly being watched closely for their development of sustainable materials and how they can build systems to prevent the waste of resources.

[0005] The present invention addresses these problems and aims to provide a dehumidifier, a container for a dehumidifier, and dehumidifying tablets that are environmentally friendly, significantly reduce the amount of plastic used, and reduce transportation and storage costs.

[0006] The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems by providing a dehumidifier that uses a combination of a tablet as a deliquescent moisture absorbent in which a deliquescent substance is pressurized and compressed, and a dedicated container, wherein the dedicated container comprises a deliquescent liquid storage container and a lid, the deliquescent liquid storage container is capable of storing the deliquescent liquid of the tablet, the lid ensures a robust connection with the deliquescent liquid storage container, has an opening on the top surface, and the opening is sealed with a moisture-permeable film, and the deliquescent liquid storage container has an inscribed circle radius of the inner circumference near the upper inlet that is larger than the circumscribed circle radius of the outer circumference of the tablet, while the inscribed circle radius of the inner circumference at a position a predetermined height lower than the upper inlet is smaller than the circumscribed circle radius of the outer circumference of the tablet.

[0007] The present invention also solves the above-mentioned problems by providing a dedicated container for a dehumidifier that can be used as a dehumidifier by storing tablets as a deliquescent moisture absorbent in which a deliquescent substance is pressurized and compressed, the dedicated container comprising a deliquescent liquid storage container and a lid, the deliquescent liquid storage container being capable of storing the deliquescent liquid of the tablet, the lid ensuring a robust connection with the deliquescent liquid storage container, having an opening on the top surface, and the opening being sealed with a moisture-permeable film, the deliquescent liquid storage container being characterized in that the radius of the inscribed circle of the inner circumference near the upper inlet is larger than the radius of the circumscribed circle of the outer circumference of the tablet, while the radius of the inscribed circle of the inner circumference at a position a predetermined height lower than the upper inlet is smaller than the radius of the circumscribed circle of the outer circumference of the tablet.

[0008] Furthermore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems by providing a cylindrical dehumidifying tablet that can be used as a dehumidifier in combination with a dedicated container in which the inscribed circle radius of the inner circumference at a position a predetermined height lower than the upper inlet is smaller than the inscribed circle radius of the inner circumference near the upper inlet, wherein the dehumidifying tablet is a deliquescent moisture absorbent in which a deliquescent substance is pressurized and compressed, and its height is smaller than the predetermined height set for the dedicated container and twice that height is set larger than the predetermined height of the dedicated container, and the circumscribed circle radius of the outer periphery is smaller than the inscribed circle radius of the inner circumference near the upper inlet of the dedicated container and larger than the inscribed circle radius of the inner circumference at a position a predetermined height lower than the upper inlet.

[0009] According to the present invention having the above-mentioned characteristics, it is possible to reuse the container and further to reduce the amount of plastic used in the container itself, thereby providing a dehumidifier, a dedicated container for the dehumidifier, and dehumidifying tablets that can significantly reduce the amount of plastic used and reduce transportation and storage costs.

[0010]

[0023] Figure 1(a) is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of a dehumidifier according to a first embodiment of the present invention, where Fig. 1(a) is a cross-sectional view of a deliquescent liquid storage container with the lid removed and dehumidifying tablets placed in the container, Fig. 1(b) is a top view of the container with the lid removed, Fig. 1(c) is a cross-sectional view of the lid, and Fig. 1(d) is a photograph of the dehumidifying tablets contained in an airtight bag.

[0024] Figure 2(a) is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of a dehumidifier according to a second embodiment of the present invention, where Fig. 2(a) is a cross-sectional view of a deliquescent liquid storage container with the lid removed and dehumidifying tablets placed in the container, Fig. 2(b) is a top view of the container with the lid removed, Fig. 2(c) is a cross-sectional view of the lid, and Fig. 2(d) is a photograph of the dehumidifying tablets contained in an airtight bag.

[0025] Figure 2(b) is an explanatory diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention, where Fig. 2(c) is a cross-sectional view of a conventional tank-type dehumidifier.

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the drawings are created for the purpose of explanation, and for the sake of clarity, some components not necessary for the explanation may be intentionally omitted. Furthermore, some components may be intentionally enlarged or small for the purpose of explanation, and the drawings are not drawn to an exact scale.

[0012] <First embodiment> (Overall configuration of dehumidifier) ​​Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of a dehumidifier according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which Figure 1(a) is a cross-sectional view of a deliquescent liquid storage container with the lid removed and dehumidifying tablets placed on it, Figure 1(b) is a top view of the deliquescent liquid storage container with the lid removed, Figure 1(c) is a cross-sectional view of the lid, and Figure 1(d) is a photograph of dehumidifying tablets contained in an airtight bag.

[0013] The dehumidifier according to the first embodiment of the present invention is a dehumidifier that uses a combination of a dedicated container and dehumidifying tablets T. As shown in Fig. 1(a) to Fig. 1(c), the dedicated container includes a deliquescent liquid storage container 1 and a lid 2. The deliquescent liquid storage container 1 is configured so that the deliquescent liquid of the dehumidifying tablets T can be stored in its lower portion. The lid 2 ensures a robust connection with the deliquescent liquid storage container 1 with the dehumidifying tablets T interposed therebetween. Specifically, the lid 2 is configured as a screw cap or a twist cap.

[0014] From the cross-sectional view of FIG. 1( a ), it can be seen that the dehumidifying tablets T are supported by ribs R formed on the inner surface of the deliquescent liquid storage container 1, causing them to be arranged floating above the bottom surface. That is, by the ribs R supporting the dehumidifying tablets T, the dehumidifying tablets T are arranged at a predetermined height from the inner bottom surface of the deliquescent liquid storage container 1. Naturally, the upper surfaces of the dehumidifying tablets T are also located at a specific height from the inner bottom surface of the deliquescent liquid storage container 1, and as a result, it is possible to set the distance between the upper surfaces of the dehumidifying tablets T and the moisture-permeable film F provided on the lid 2, which will be described later, to a constant, approximate distance. From the top view of FIG. 1( b ), it can be seen that the ribs R are composed of three parts. From FIG. 1( c ), it can be seen that an opening 212 (not shown) provided on the upper surface of the lid 2 is sealed by welding the moisture-permeable film F to form the lid upper surface 21.

[0015] (Configuration of deliquescent liquid storage container) A male thread portion 14 is formed on the outer periphery of the upper part of the main body of the deliquescent liquid storage container 1, and is threaded into the female thread portion 221 of the lid 2. The screw is preferably a multiple-start screw so that it can be opened and closed with a small number of turns, and is configured as a two-start screw or a four-start screw.

[0016] Ribs R are formed on the inner surface of the deliquescent liquid storage container 1. The ribs R are composed of three parts: a tablet support portion 11, a tablet guide portion 12, and a tablet drop prevention portion 13. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1(b), four ribs R are arranged circumferentially at 90-degree intervals. The radius of the inscribed circle defined by the tips of the tablet support portions 11 extending from the inner periphery toward the center of the deliquescent liquid storage container 1 is set to be smaller than the outer periphery (circumscribed circle) of the dehumidifying tablet T. As a result, the tablet support portions 11 function to support the dehumidifying tablet T, and the dehumidifying tablet T is placed at a predetermined height from the inner bottom surface of the deliquescent liquid storage container 1.

[0017] The tablet guide portion 12 is formed in a sloping shape that gradually slopes from the inner circumferential surface of the deliquescent liquid storage container 1 toward the center so that the dehumidifying tablets T are positioned at the center of the deliquescent liquid storage container 1 even when the dehumidifying tablets T are carelessly thrown into the inlet of the deliquescent liquid storage container 1. Naturally, there is no risk of the placed dehumidifying tablets T coming into contact with the inner wall surface of the container, allowing the deliquescent liquid to flow down smoothly. The tablet drop prevention portion 13 is formed in a sloping shape that gradually slopes from the tip of the tablet support portion 11 toward the center so that the dehumidifying tablets T do not immediately drop downward even when the deliquescent of the dehumidifying tablets T progresses and their outer circumference becomes smaller. However, a linear shape rather than a slope does not depart from the technical concept of the present invention. A dehumidifier is required to perform at its maximum capacity immediately after being placed in a humid, closed space, and it is conceivable that a slight decrease in capacity may be acceptable in the latter stages of use of the dehumidifier, and if this is the required specification, there is not much need for an inclination as the tablet drop suppression part 13. Incidentally, the rib R is attached to the deliquescent liquid storage container 1 by fusion bonding or the like, but it may also be molded integrally with the deliquescent liquid storage container 1.

[0018] (Configuration of the Lid) The lid 2 is generally composed of a lid top surface 21 and lid side surfaces 22, and a circular opening 212 (not shown) is provided in the center of the lid top surface 21. Meanwhile, the peripheral edge 211 of the lid top surface 21 is set to be one step higher than the lid top surface 21, and the moisture-permeable film F is heat-sealed to this peripheral edge 211. Furthermore, a hanging edge 222 hangs downward from the outer periphery of the opening 212 (not shown), and if it is set to a size that makes contact with the top surfaces of the dehumidifying tablets T when the lid 2 is attached to the deliquescent liquid storage container 1, it can be used as a guide for maintaining a constant and very close distance between the lid top surface 21 and the dehumidifying tablets T. However, the illustrated example does not have such a setting.

[0019] The dedicated container in the dehumidifier according to the first embodiment is configured so that when the lid 2 is closed, liquids cannot pass through but gases can pass through the moisture-permeable film F. The moisture-permeable film must be strong enough to withstand repeated use, and a moisture-permeable film with a two-layer structure in which a nonwoven fabric is laminated onto a porous film made of stretched polyethylene or polypropylene containing an inorganic filler is preferably used. Alternatively, to achieve even greater strength, a moisture-permeable film with a three-layer structure in which a nonwoven fabric, a porous film, and another nonwoven fabric are laminated may also be used.

[0020] Typical desiccant desiccant films are made by laminating a moisture-proof film on top of a moisture-permeable film, which requires bonding the moisture-proof film to the container. Furthermore, the moisture-proof film must be peeled off when the desiccant is used, so it must be easily peelable without damaging the porous film layer. If a moisture-proof film is directly laminated onto a porous film made of stretched polyethylene or polypropylene containing inorganic fillers, it is difficult to peel off easily without damaging the porous film layer. To solve these problems, porous films are often laminated with nonwoven fabric. In this case, the nonwoven fabric must be able to complement the strength of the porous film without impairing its moisture permeability as much as possible. Furthermore, the nonwoven fabric must be heat-sealable to facilitate bonding to the container and the process of bonding to the moisture-proof film. For this reason, nonwoven fabric fibers with a sheath-core structure of PE and PET are used. In the first embodiment, since a moisture-proof film is not required, the nonwoven fabric (at least one side of the nonwoven fabric in the case of a three-layer structure) does not require heat welding, and therefore, less expensive sheath-core nonwoven fabrics can be used, such as PP or PET nonwoven fabrics. The inner periphery of the lid side surface 22 is formed with a female thread portion 221 that threads onto the male thread portion 14 formed on the outer periphery of the upper body of the deliquescent liquid storage container 1. The thread is preferably a multiple-start thread, such as a two-start or four-start thread, to enable opening and closing with fewer turns. Alternatively, instead of the female thread portion 221, a lug (claw) may be provided on the inner periphery of the lid side surface 22, forming a cap that is tightened onto the male thread portion 14, a so-called twist cap. The operator feels the torque resistance increasing and then finally feels a click, allowing them to confirm that the lid is securely closed.

[0021] (Configuration of Dehumidifying Tablet) The dehumidifying tablet T is a deliquescent moisture absorbent in a compressed state of a deliquescent substance, specifically, calcium chloride in tablet form. It is produced by filling powdered calcium chloride into the inside of a 50-ton press (tablet press) and extruding the molded product by pressing. The tableted calcium chloride can achieve a density of 1.63 g / ml simply by adjusting the pressure, ensuring sufficient strength for practical use. It is also possible to use magnesium chloride tablets as an alternative to calcium chloride. During storage, the dehumidifying tablet T is housed in an airtight transparent bag, as shown in FIG. 1(d). This bag is a transparent bag with water vapor barrier properties, such as made of oriented polypropylene or polyvinylidene chloride, to prevent deliquescence of the moisture absorbent, but it does not have to be transparent. It may also be laminated, for example, by bonding it to polyethylene or the like using nylon film, aluminum foil, or aluminum vapor deposition. Regarding the lamination method, a four-sided seal, a three-sided seal (palm seal), a standing pouch, a blister package, etc. can be appropriately adopted. Furthermore, instead of a bag, a box or a can can also be adopted as a storage container as long as it has water vapor barrier properties.

[0022] On the premise that the radius of the inscribed circle of the inner periphery near the upper inlet of the deliquescent liquid storage container 1 is larger than the radius of the inscribed circle of the inner periphery at a position a predetermined height lower than the upper inlet, the dimensions of the dehumidifying tablet T are set as follows: That is, the height of the dehumidifying tablet T is set smaller than a predetermined height, which is the distance from the upper inlet set for the deliquescent liquid storage container 1, and twice that height is set larger than the predetermined height. Furthermore, the radius of the circumscribed circle of the outer periphery of the dehumidifying tablet T is set smaller than the radius of the inscribed circle of the inner periphery near the upper inlet of the deliquescent liquid storage container 1, and larger than the radius of the inscribed circle of the inner periphery at a position a predetermined height lower than the upper inlet. The dehumidifying tablet T with such dimensions set exhibits optimized dehumidifying ability. By setting the height dimension, the distance between the moisture-permeable film F and the upper surface of the dehumidifying tablet T can be kept constant, thereby increasing the moisture absorption (moisture absorption rate). Regarding this, experiments conducted by the inventors in connection with a prior application have shown that, if the distance between the moisture-permeable film F and the top surface of the dehumidifying tablet T is sufficiently short, a dehumidifying effect comparable to that of a conventional tank-type dehumidifier in which multiple protrusions are arranged on the tray to ensure a large contact area between the deliquescent moisture absorbent and the air can be obtained. The reason for this is thought to be as follows: When comparing the deliquescence rate of a "multiple granules" and a "single tablet" for the same weight and concentration of a deliquescent substance without using a moisture-permeable film, the granular form, with its larger surface area, is superior. However, in a dehumidifier equipped with a moisture-permeable film, the "flow rate of water vapor drawn into the container through the moisture-permeable film" is determined by the "performance of the moisture-permeable film," the "area of ​​the lid and container opening," the "surface area of ​​the deliquescent substance," and the "distance between the deliquescent substance and the moisture-permeable film." In addition, by setting the diameter of the dehumidifying tablet T, a certain gap is provided between the inner surface of the deliquescent liquid storage container 1 and the side surface of the dehumidifying tablet T, allowing the deliquescent liquid to smoothly flow downward, thereby preventing a decrease in hygroscopicity. Furthermore, by setting the height, if two dehumidifying tablets T are accidentally stacked on top of each other, the lid 2 will not close, making it possible to notice the mistake.

[0023] (Method of Using the Dehumidifier) ​​The method of using the dehumidifier according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. (1) Prepare a dedicated container before use and dehumidifying tablets T stored in a transparent bag. (2) Rotate the lid 2 attached to the deliquescent liquid storage container 1 in the opening direction and remove the lid 2. (3) Open the dehumidifying tablets T. (4) Place the removed dehumidifying tablets T on the tablet support portion 11 of the rib R on the inner surface of the deliquescent liquid storage container 1. Because the rib R has an inclined tablet guide portion 12, the dehumidifying tablets T will naturally be positioned in the center even if they are inserted carelessly. Naturally, there is no risk of the placed dehumidifying tablets T coming into contact with the inner wall surface of the container. (5) Rotate the lid 2 in the closing direction relative to the deliquescent liquid storage container 1. Finally, confirm that the torque resistance increases and a clicking sensation is felt, and then cap tightening is complete. (6) Set the dehumidifier in the space you want to dehumidify, such as a closet, dresser, or shoe cabinet, and dehumidify the space. (7) When all the tablets T have deliquesced and the dehumidifying performance has decreased, remove the lid 2 and discard the deliquescent liquid accumulated in the deliquescent liquid storage container 1 by pouring it out. If necessary, clean the inside of the deliquescent liquid storage container 1. (8) After this, return to (2) above and use new dehumidifying tablets T, making it possible to reuse them.

[0024] <Second embodiment> (Overall configuration of dehumidifier) ​​Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of a dehumidifier according to a second embodiment of the present invention, where Figure 2(a) is a cross-sectional view of a deliquescent liquid storage container with the lid removed and dehumidifying tablets placed on it, Figure 2(b) is a top view of the deliquescent liquid storage container with the lid removed, Figure 2(c) is a cross-sectional view of the lid, and Figure 2(d) is a photograph of dehumidifying tablets contained in an airtight bag.

[0025] The dehumidifier according to the second embodiment of the present invention is a dehumidifier that uses a combination of a dehumidifying tablet and a dedicated container. The dehumidifying tablet T is the same as that used in the first embodiment, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0026] As shown in Figures 2(a) to 2(c), the dedicated container includes a deliquescent liquid storage container 1A and a lid 2A. However, the lid 2A is exactly the same as the lid 2 of the first embodiment. The deliquescent liquid storage container 1A is configured so that the deliquescent liquid of the dehumidifying tablets T can be stored in its lower portion. The lid 2A (2) ensures a robust connection with the deliquescent liquid storage container 1A with the dehumidifying tablets T interposed therebetween. Specifically, it is configured as a screw cap or a twist cap.

[0027] From the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2(a), it can be seen that the dehumidifying tablets T are supported by the protrusions P formed on the inner surface of the deliquescent liquid storage container 1 and are arranged in a floating state above the bottom surface. That is, by supporting the dehumidifying tablets T with the protrusions P, the dehumidifying tablets T are arranged at a predetermined height from the inner bottom surface of the deliquescent liquid storage container 1A. Naturally, the upper surfaces of the dehumidifying tablets T are also located at a specific height from the inner bottom surface of the deliquescent liquid storage container 1A, which in turn makes it possible to set a constant and approximate distance between the upper surfaces of the dehumidifying tablets T and the moisture-permeable film F provided on the lid 2A(2). From the top view of FIG. 2(b), it can be seen that the protrusions P are composed of two parts. From FIG. 2(c), it can be seen that an opening 212 (not shown) provided on the upper surface of the lid 2A(2) is sealed by welding the moisture-permeable film F to form the lid upper surface 21.

[0028] (Configuration of deliquescent liquid storage container) A male thread portion 14A is formed on the outer periphery of the upper body of the deliquescent liquid storage container 1A, and is threaded into the female thread portion 221 of the lid 2A(2). The thread is preferably a multiple-start thread so that it can be opened and closed with a small number of turns, and is configured as a two-start thread or a four-start thread.

[0029] Protrusions P are formed on the inner surface of the deliquescent liquid storage container 1A. The protrusions P are composed of two parts, a tablet support part 11A and a tablet guide part 12A, and in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2(b), four protrusions P are arranged circumferentially at 90-degree intervals. The radius of the inscribed circle defined by the tips of the tablet support parts 11A extending from the inner periphery toward the center of the deliquescent liquid storage container 1A is set to be smaller than the outer periphery (circumscribed circle) of the dehumidifying tablet T. As a result, the tablet support parts 11A fulfill the function of supporting the dehumidifying tablet T, and the dehumidifying tablet T is placed at a predetermined height from the inner bottom surface of the deliquescent liquid storage container 1.

[0030] The tablet guide portion 12A has an inclined shape that gradually slopes from the inner peripheral surface of the deliquescent liquid storage container 1 toward the center so that the dehumidifying tablet T is positioned at the center of the deliquescent liquid storage container 1A even when the dehumidifying tablet T is casually thrown into the inlet of the deliquescent liquid storage container 1A. Note that the protrusion P is attached to the deliquescent liquid storage container 1 by fusion bonding or the like, but it may also be molded integrally with the deliquescent liquid storage container 1.

[0031] As shown in Figure 2(a), the deliquescent liquid storage container 1A, which has protrusions P rather than ribs R, does not have a tablet fall prevention section to prevent the dehumidifying tablets T from falling downward. However, since a dehumidifier is required to perform at its maximum capacity immediately after being placed in a humid, closed space, a slight decrease in capacity may be acceptable in the latter stages of use. Even in this embodiment, the intended objective of providing a dehumidifier that is environmentally friendly and reduces transportation and storage costs is achieved. Note that, although the expressions "rib R" and "protrusion P" are used to describe the embodiment, both of these fall under the category of "rib" in the broad sense. In other words, the term "rib" used in the claims also includes "protrusion P."

[0032] Third Embodiment Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention. The dehumidifier of the third embodiment is composed of a dedicated container consisting of a deliquescent liquid storage container 1B and a lid 2B, and dehumidifying tablets TB1 or TB2. The dehumidifier of the third embodiment of the present invention is the same as the first and second embodiments in that a dedicated container and dehumidifying tablets are used in combination. However, it differs from the first and second embodiments in that it does not have ribs or the like that function to support the dehumidifying tablets T. Instead, the deliquescent liquid storage container 1B in the third embodiment has a truncated cone-like shape at the upper inner portion of the container opening. As a result, the inscribed circle radius of the inner periphery of the deliquescent liquid storage container 1B at a position a predetermined height below the upper inlet is smaller than the inscribed circle radius of the inner periphery near the upper inlet, and is configured to support the tablets at a height position where the inscribed circle radius is equal to the circumscribed circle radius of the dehumidifying tablets TB1 or TB2.

[0033] On the other hand, the shape of the tablets has been devised because a simple cylindrical shape would prevent the deliquescent liquid from flowing downward. That is, the dehumidifying tablet TB1 has a donut shape with a perforation in the center, and the dehumidifying tablet TB2 has curved sides. This provides a gap between the tablet and the deliquescent liquid storage container 1B, allowing the deliquescent liquid to flow downward smoothly. In addition, a polygonal shape can also provide a gap between the tablet and the inner surface of the deliquescent liquid storage container 1B, allowing the deliquescent liquid to flow downward smoothly.

[0034] The dehumidifier according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above in detail with reference to the drawings, and its structure has been explained. However, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and design changes within the scope of the present invention are also included. For example, the circular shape common to the deliquescent liquid storage container and the lid may be rectangular or other shapes as long as the relationship between the inscribed circle radius of the container's inner periphery and the circumscribed circle radius of the tablet's outer periphery is maintained, in other words, as long as the dehumidifying tablets can be supported at a predetermined height. Furthermore, the four ribs R and protrusions P arranged every 90 degrees in the circumferential direction may be arranged so that three are arranged every 120 degrees. Furthermore, with regard to the relationship between the height of the dedicated container and the dehumidifying tablets, the lid is set so that the height of the placed dehumidifying tablets does not protrude from the dedicated container, and if two dehumidifying tablets are accidentally stacked on top of each other, the lid may be configured to not close. However, the height of the placed dehumidifying tablets may protrude from the dedicated container, but the lid may be thickened to allow the tablets to be properly placed in the dedicated container. However, it goes without saying that it is important to set the dimensions so that the lid will not close if two dehumidifying tablets are accidentally stacked on top of each other.

[0035] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Deliquescent liquid storage container 11 Tablet support portion 12 Tablet guide portion 13 Tablet fall prevention portion 14 Male thread portion 2 Lid 21 Lid top surface 211 Periphery 22 Lid side surface 221 Female thread portion 222 Hanging edge 1A Deliquescent liquid storage container 11A Tablet support portion 12A Tablet guide portion 14A Male thread portion 2A Lid 1B Deliquescent liquid storage container 2B Lid T Dehumidifying tablet TB1 Dehumidifying tablet TB2 Dehumidifying tablet

Claims

1. A dehumidifier using a combination of a tablet as a deliquescent moisture absorbent in which a deliquescent substance is pressurized and compressed, and a dedicated container, wherein the dedicated container comprises a deliquescent liquid storage container and a lid, the deliquescent liquid storage container is capable of storing the deliquescent liquid of the tablet, the lid ensures a robust connection with the deliquescent liquid storage container, has an opening on the upper surface, and the opening is sealed with a moisture-permeable film, and the deliquescent liquid storage container has an inscribed circle radius of the inner circumference near an upper inlet that is larger than the circumscribed circle radius of the outer circumference of the tablet, while the inscribed circle radius of the inner circumference at a position a predetermined height lower than the upper inlet is smaller than the circumscribed circle radius of the outer circumference of the tablet.

2. The dehumidifier according to claim 1, characterized in that ribs are provided at multiple positions spaced apart in the circumferential direction at a position a specified height lower than the upper inlet, and as a result, the inscribed circle radius at said positions is smaller than the circumscribed circle radius around the outer periphery of the tablet.

3. The dehumidifier according to claim 2, characterized in that the rib is configured so that the inscribed circle radius gradually decreases from a specific position above a position that is a specified height lower than the upper inlet to said lower position.

4. A dehumidifier as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the ribs are formed continuously from a position a predetermined height lower than the upper inlet to the bottom surface of the deliquesced liquid storage vessel.

5. A dehumidifier as described in claim 1, characterized in that the deliquescent liquid storage container has an opening with an upper inner portion tapered like a truncated cone, so that the inscribed circle radius of the inner circumference at a position a specified height lower than the upper inlet is smaller than the inscribed circle radius of the inner circumference in the vicinity of the upper inlet.

6. A dedicated container for a dehumidifier capable of storing tablets as a deliquescent moisture absorbent in a state in which a deliquescent substance is pressurized and compressed and used as a dehumidifier, the dedicated container comprising a deliquescent liquid storage container and a lid, the deliquescent liquid storage container being capable of storing the deliquescent liquid of the tablets, the lid ensuring a robust connection with the deliquescent liquid storage container and having an opening on the upper surface, the opening being sealed with a moisture permeable film, the deliquescent liquid storage container having an inscribed circle radius of the inner circumference near an upper inlet that is larger than the circumscribed circle radius of the outer circumference of the tablets, while the inscribed circle radius of the inner circumference at a position a predetermined height lower than the upper inlet that is smaller than the circumscribed circle radius of the outer circumference of the tablets.

7. A cylindrical dehumidifying tablet that can be used as a dehumidifier in combination with a dedicated container in which the inscribed circle radius of the inner circumference at a position a specified height lower than the upper inlet is smaller than the inscribed circle radius of the inner circumference near the upper inlet, wherein the dehumidifying tablet is a deliquescent moisture absorbent in a compressed state in which a deliquescent substance is pressurized, the height of the deliquescent tablet is smaller than the specified height set for the dedicated container and twice the height is set larger than the specified height of the dedicated container, and the circumscribed circle radius of the outer circumference is smaller than the inscribed circle radius of the inner circumference near the upper inlet of the dedicated container and larger than the inscribed circle radius of the inner circumference at a position a specified height lower than the upper inlet.

8. A cylindrical dehumidifying tablet that can be used as a dehumidifier in combination with a dedicated container in which the inscribed circle radius of the inner circumference at a position a specified height lower than the upper inlet is smaller than the inscribed circle radius of the inner circumference near the upper inlet, wherein the dehumidifying tablet is a deliquescent moisture absorbent in a compressed state in which a deliquescent substance is pressurized, and although its height is greater than the specified height set for the dedicated container, it is of a size that allows it to be closed due to the thickness of the lid, and is set to a size that does not allow it to be closed by twice that height, and the circumscribed circle radius of the outer circumference is smaller than the inscribed circle radius of the inner circumference near the upper inlet of the dedicated container and is greater than the inscribed circle radius of the inner circumference at a position a specified height lower than the upper inlet.

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