Air purifier

Abstract

Provided is an air purifier that can suck up and purify smoke when a cigarette is smoked and can also make efficient use of a filter.　This air purifier 10 comprises a case 11 that has an air suction port 22 and an air discharge port and contains an air passage 18 that extends from the suction port 22 to the discharge port, a filter 12 that is provided to the air passage 18, a fan 13 that is provided to the air passage 18 and generates a flow of air from the suction port 22 toward the discharge port, and an air mixing part 30 that is provided to the air passage 18 between the suction port 22 and the filter 12. The air mixing part 30 forms a mixing channel 29 that has an inflow part 37 into which air that has been sucked through the suction port 22 flows and an outflow part 36 that is formed to be smaller than the inflow part 37 and allows air that has flowed in through the inflow part 37 to flow out. Air that has flowed in through the inflow part 37 of the air mixing part 30 is mixed by advancing toward the outflow part 36 that is smaller than the inflow part 37 and flows out through the outflow part 36.

Description

air purifier

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an air purifier.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an air purifier. A fan unit is attached to the rear case of the air purifier main body, and an operation panel is attached to the front case. A dust collection filter is fixed to the front case, and a front panel with an intake port is attached to the front case. An air outlet is provided at the top of the rear case, and a movable louver is attached to the air outlet to change the direction of the airflow from left to right.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-057919

[0004] Incidentally, the smoke emitted when smoking a cigarette includes smoke exhaled from the smoker's mouth and smoke coming from the cigarette held in the hand. For this reason, it is difficult for an air purifier to completely inhale and purify the smoke emitted when smoking a cigarette. To prevent the smoke from spreading throughout the room, smokers may smoke under the hood where the kitchen exhaust fan is installed, or leave the room and smoke on the balcony, etc. In particular, while it is possible for the smoke exhaled from the smoker's mouth to be inhaled and purified by the air purifier by the smoker exhaling the smoke into the air purifier's intake port, it is difficult for an air purifier to inhale and purify the smoke coming from a cigarette held in the hand.

[0005] In addition, smoke is drawn into a certain area of ​​the air purifier's intake port, which means that the intake surface of the filter inside the air purifier has areas that draw in air with a high smoke content and areas that draw in air with a low smoke content, making it difficult to use the filter efficiently.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an air purifier that can suck in and purify the smoke emitted when smoking a cigarette and that can use filters efficiently.

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the air purifier of a first aspect of the present invention comprises a case having an air inlet and an air outlet, and defining an air passage extending from the air inlet to the outlet, a filter arranged in the air passage, a fan arranged in the air passage and generating an air flow from the air inlet to the outlet, and an air mixing section arranged in the air passage between the air inlet and the filter, wherein the air mixing section forms a flow path having an inlet section into which air sucked in from the air inlet flows, and an outlet section that is smaller than the inlet section and through which the air that has flowed in from the inlet section flows out, and the air that has flowed in from the inlet section of the air mixing section flows toward the outlet section which is smaller than the inlet section, whereby the air is mixed and flows out from the outlet section.

[0008] A second aspect of the present invention is the air purifier of the first aspect, further comprising an air diffusion section disposed between the air mixing section and the filter, which diffuses the air flowing out from the outlet section of the air mixing section.

[0009] A third aspect of the present invention is the air purifier of the second aspect, wherein the air mixing section and the air diffusing section are integrally molded.

[0010] A fourth aspect of the present invention is an air purifier according to any one of the first to third aspects, further comprising an inflow volume setting section disposed between the inflow section of the air mixing section and the intake port of the case, and set so that the volume of air flowing into the inflow section is greater at the top than at the bottom.

[0011] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an air purifier that can inhale and purify smoke emitted when smoking a cigarette and that can use filters efficiently.

[0012] Fig. 1 is an external perspective view from the front of an air purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is an external perspective view from the rear of the air purifier. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the main parts of the air purifier in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a first airflow control member and a second airflow control member. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the first airflow control member.

[0013] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, FR indicates the side where the air purifier inlet is provided (front side), UP indicates the upper side, and IN indicates the inside in the width direction. In the following description, the front-to-rear direction is a direction intersecting with the up-down direction, and the side where the air purifier inlet is provided is the front side, and the opposite side is the rear side. The width direction is a direction intersecting with both the up-down direction and the front-to-rear direction. The inside in the width direction means the direction toward the center in the width direction, and the outside in the width direction means the direction away from the center in the width direction. Furthermore, "upstream side" means the upstream side in the air flow direction, and "downstream side" means the downstream side in the air flow direction.

[0014] Fig. 1 is an external perspective view from the front of an air purifier according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is an external perspective view from the rear of the air purifier. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the main parts of the air purifier in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a first airflow control member and a second airflow control member. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the first airflow control member.

[0015] The air purifier according to this embodiment is applied to, for example, a portable air purifier for use in the home. In particular, the air purifier of the present disclosure is ideal as a "cigarette smoke purifier (air purifier dedicated to cigarettes)" specialized for purifying cigarette smoke, capable of completely removing harmful substances from cigarette smoke with a single inhalation (passage through a filter). The air purifier purifies the surrounding air by purifying air drawn in from the outside with an internal filter and then discharging it from an outlet.

[0016] 1 to 6, air purifier 10 according to this embodiment includes case 11, filter 12 disposed within case 11, fan 13 disposed within case 11, and first airflow control member 14 and second airflow control member 15 disposed within case 11. In addition to these, air purifier 10 also includes a control unit (not shown) that controls fan 13, a sensor (not shown), and the like.

[0017] (Case) Case 11 has a case main body 16 that houses various parts including filter 12, fan 13, first airflow control member 14, and second airflow control member 15, and a front case 17 that is detachably attached to case main body 16, and defines an air passage 18 therein through which air flows. Details of front case 17 will be described later.

[0018] (Case Body) The case body 16 is formed in a box shape with a case opening 19 (see FIG. 4) on the front side. The case body 16 also has an outlet 20 (see FIG. 2) formed therein, through which purified air can be discharged. The case opening 19 is covered by the front case 17, which will be described later. The outlet 20 serves as an air outlet for discharging air purified by the air purifier 10 to the outside of the case 11. In this embodiment, the outlet 20 is formed on the rear surface of the case body 16, at a lower portion on one side in the width direction. The shape of the outlet 20 is not particularly limited. The position at which the outlet 20 is formed is not limited to the above, and the outlet 20 may be formed on the top surface or side surface of the case body 16, for example.

[0019] Within the case body 16, an area of ​​the air passage 18 through which air flows, which continues from the case opening 19 to the discharge port 20 (an area downstream of the case opening 19), is defined. A filter 12 is disposed in the air passage 18 of the case body 16 near the rear of the case opening 19. The area of ​​the air passage 18 upstream of the case opening 19 is defined by the front case 17.

[0020] (Filter) The filter 12 is a filter for purifying air drawn in from the outside. In this embodiment, three rectangular plate-shaped filters 12a to 12c are arranged (see FIG. 3). The three filters 12a to 12c are, in order from the case opening 19 side (front side), the first filter 12a, the second filter 12b, and the third filter 12c. The three filters 12a to 12c are arranged in layers crossing the front-to-rear direction so that air passes from the front to the rear. The suction surface 21 (front surface) of the first filter 12a stands upright in the vicinity of the case opening 19 of the case main body 16 crossing the front-to-rear direction. In this embodiment, the suction surface 21 of the first filter 12a is provided over substantially the entire area inside the case opening 19. The number, arrangement position, and shape of the filters 12 are not limited to those described above, and may be any filter that can purify air drawn in from the outside.

[0021] The first filter 12a and the second filter 12b may be, for example, a HEPA filter that removes cigarette smoke components. The HEPA filter can remove the fine particles that make up cigarette smoke by blocking them with glass fibers, contact with glass fibers due to inertia, settling due to gravity, Brownian motion, and electrostatic force.

[0022] The third filter 12c may be, for example, a gas filter that removes tobacco odor components. The third filter 12c is preferably an activated carbon filter that carries activated carbon that adsorbs tobacco odor components.

[0023] (Fan) As shown in FIG. 3 , the fan 13 is disposed in the air passage 18 of the case body 16 downstream of the third filter 12c (rearward in this embodiment). That is, the fan 13 in this embodiment is disposed downstream of the filter 12 in the air passage 18. The space in the air passage 18 where the fan 13 is disposed communicates with the outside via the outlet 20 (see FIG. 2 ). The fan 13 generates an air flow from an intake port 22 (described later) of the front case 17 to the outlet 20. The type of fan 13 is not particularly limited, but examples include a sirocco fan and a propeller fan. The fan 13 in this embodiment is a sirocco fan.

[0024] (Front Case) As shown in Figures 1, 3, and 4, the front case 17 is disposed so as to cover the entire case opening 19 on the front of the case body 16, and is detachably attached to the case body 16. The front case 17 has an intake port 22 that can draw in outside air. That is, the case 11 has an intake port 22 that can draw in outside air. The intake port 22 is formed large enough to allow at least a cigarette to be inserted therein. Note that, although an example of the front case 17 will be described below, the shape of the front case 17 is not limited to this.

[0025] In this embodiment, the front case 17 is formed to bulge forward as a whole, and defines within it a region of the air passage 18 upstream of the case opening 19 of the case main body 16. A first airflow control member 14 and a second airflow control member 15, described below, are disposed within the front case 17. The front surface of the front case 17 has a curved surface that is recessed rearward at the center in the width direction when viewed from above, and an air inlet 22 is formed at the bottom (the center in the width direction) of the curved surface. This forms a space 23 that is recessed rearward in front of the air inlet 22 of the front case 17 (see FIG. 3 ). The air inlet 22 is formed to be longer in the up-down direction than in the width direction and opens forward (penetrating in the front-to-rear direction). Note that in this embodiment, both sides of the air inlet 22 on the front surface of the front case 17 in the width direction are curved surfaces. However, this is not limited thereto. For example, the front surface may be an inclined surface extending linearly from the outer side in the width direction toward the inner side of the air inlet 22. That is, the front surface of the front case 17 may be formed in a valley shape that is recessed rearward at the center side in the width direction when viewed from above.

[0026] (First Airflow Control Member) As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 , the first airflow control member 14 controls the flow of air drawn in through the suction port 22 and is disposed within the front case 17 near the rear of the suction port 22. The first airflow control member 14 has an upper plate 14a, a lower plate 14b, side plates (inflow rate setting sections) 14c and 14d on both sides in the width direction, and a rear plate 14e, and is formed in a box shape that opens forward. The front opening 14f of the first airflow control member 14 is formed to be approximately the same size as the suction port 22 and is disposed behind and along the suction port 22 (see FIG. 1 ). A cigarette insertion space 24 is provided inside the first airflow control member 14, extending rearward from the suction port 22. Note that although the cigarette insertion space 24 is a space into which a cigarette can be inserted through the suction port 22, the device may be used without inserting a cigarette into the cigarette insertion space 24.

[0027] As shown in Figure 6, the rear plate 14e of the first airflow control member 14 is formed in a convex shape with its widthwise central portion protruding forward in a top view and extending in the vertical direction. The rear plate 14e has a pair of inclined surfaces 14h extending rearward on both widthwise sides from a peak 14g in the widthwise central portion. The pair of inclined surfaces 14h of the rear plate 14e guide the air drawn through the suction port 22 to both widthwise sides. In other words, the first airflow control member 14 of this embodiment controls the air drawn through the suction port 22 so that it flows to both widthwise sides. Furthermore, by being positioned behind the suction port 22, the rear plate 14e also functions as a filter guard that protects the suction surface 21 of the filter 12 (first filter 12a in this embodiment) from cigarettes inserted into the cigarette insertion space 24 through the suction port 22.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 3, the side plates 14c, 14d on both widthwise sides of the first airflow control member 14 are positioned and stand between the suction port 22 of the case 11 and an inlet section 37 of an air mixing section 30 of the second airflow control member 15 (described later). As shown in Fig. 6, the side plates 14c, 14d on both widthwise sides of the first airflow control member 14 have multiple side plate openings 25. The multiple side plate openings 25 allow air to flow from the cigarette insertion space 24 to the widthwise outer side of the side plates 14c, 14d. The multiple side plate openings 25 are preferably configured so that the flow rate (inflow volume) of air flowing into the downstream inlet section 37 of the air mixing section 30 (described later) is greater in an upper region 27 (above the vertical center) of the side plates 14c, 14d than in a lower region 26 (above the vertical center) of the side plates 14c, 14d. For example, in this embodiment, the total area of ​​the side plate openings 25 provided in the upper region 27 of the side plate portions 14c, 14d is larger than the total area of ​​the side plate openings 25 provided in the lower region 26. In other words, the side plate portions (inflow volume setting portions) 14c, 14d are disposed between the inflow portion 37 of the air mixing portion 30 and the suction port 22 of the case 11, and are set so that the amount of air flowing into the inflow portion 37 is greater on the upper side than on the lower side. This allows the wind speed of air drawn in from the upper region 27 of the side plate portions 14c, 14d to be faster than that in the lower region 26, so that smoke flowing upward in the cigarette insertion space 24 can be drawn in efficiently.

[0029] In this embodiment, the rear plate portion 14e, which guides the air sucked in from the suction port 22 to both sides in the width direction, and the side plate portions (inflow amount setting portions) 14c, 14d, which set the air flow rate to the filter 12 side, are provided integrally as part of the first airflow control member 14, but this is not limited to this, and components having these functions may be provided separately as different components.

[0030] 3 to 5, second airflow control member 15 is a member that controls the flow of air drawn in through air inlet 22, and is disposed within front case 17. Second airflow control member 15 integrally includes a housing section 28 that houses first airflow control member 14, air mixing sections 30 on both sides of housing section 28 in the width direction, and an air diffusion section 31 disposed downstream of air mixing section 30. Second airflow control member 15 of the present embodiment also integrally includes an air dispersion section 32 between air mixing section 30 and air diffusion section 31.

[0031] (Accommodation Section) The accommodation section 28 forms a portion that accommodates the first airflow control member 14. In this embodiment, the second airflow control member 15 is disposed in approximately the same front-to-rear position as the first airflow control member 14, and therefore the accommodation section 28 is provided to accommodate the first airflow control member 14. The accommodation section 28 in this embodiment defines an accommodation space large enough to accommodate the first airflow control member 14 in the upper, lower, and rear sections. The front and outer width directions of this accommodation space are open, and the first airflow control member 14 is accommodated in the accommodation space of the accommodation section 28 from the front. Note that the shape of the accommodation section 28 is not limited to this, and other shapes and structures may be used as long as interference with the first airflow control member 14 can be avoided.

[0032] 3 and 5, the air mixing section 30 is a section that can mix the air drawn in through the suction port 22. The air mixing section 30 is disposed in the air passage 18 between the suction port 22 and the filter 12. The air mixing section 30 is disposed on the outer side in the width direction of the side plate portions 14c, 14d of the first airflow control member 14 housed in the housing portion 28. The air mixing section 30 defines a mixing flow path (flow path) 29 through which air flows that has passed through the multiple side plate openings 25 of the side plate portions 14c, 14d of the first airflow control member 14. The mixing flow path 29 extends from the side plate portions 14c, 14d of the first airflow control member 14 toward the outer side in the width direction. The air mixing section 30 of this embodiment has a rear plate section 33 that faces the rear surface of the front case 17 and defines the rear of the mixing flow path 29, and a partition plate section 34 that defines the upper, lower, and outer width of the mixing flow path 29, and defines the mixing flow path 29 between the rear surface of the front case 17 and the rear plate section 33.

[0033] As shown in Figure 3, the rear plate 33 of the air mixing section 30 faces the rear surface of the front case 17 at a position spaced rearward from the rear surface of the front case 17, and defines the rear of the mixing flow path 29. In a top view, the rear plate 33 extends continuously from both widthwise ends of the storage section 28 outward in the widthwise direction and forward at an angle relative to the widthwise direction. The outer widthwise edge 33a of the rear plate 33 is curved so that its vertical central portion bulges outward in the widthwise direction. The inner widthwise edge 33b of the rear plate 33 extends linearly in the vertical direction along the outer widthwise edge of the storage section 28.

[0034] The partition plate 34 of the air mixing section 30 defines the outside of the mixing flow path 29 in the width direction, and separates the space outside the partition plate 34 in the width direction from the mixing flow path 29. The partition plate 34 extends in a curved shape along the outer width edge 33a of the rear plate 33, with the central portion in the up-down direction bulging outward in the width direction, and stands upright (extends forward) from the outer width edge 33a of the rear plate 33.

[0035] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 , the front edge of the partition plate 34 is located near the rear surface of the front case 17. A notch 35 is formed in the vertical center of the partition plate 34, cutting from front to rear. The front edge of the notch 35 is spaced from the rear surface of the front case 17, and the space between the notch 35 and the rear surface of the front case 17 functions as an outlet 36 for air from the mixing flow path 29. The outlet 36 is smaller than an inlet 37 (described later) of the mixing flow path 29. In this embodiment, the notch 35 is located in the vertical center of the partition plate 34, so that the partition plate 34 above and the partition plate 34 below the notch 35 become closer to each other as they move outward in the width direction. Note that, although the outlet 36 is located in the vertical center of the partition plate 34 in this embodiment, this is not limiting.

[0036] The widthwise inner end of the partition plate 34 extends to the vicinity of the upper and lower ends of the side plates 14c, 14d of the first airflow control member 14. The space defined between the widthwise inner end of the partition plate 34 and the widthwise inner edge 33b of the rear plate 33 and the rear surface of the front case 17 functions as an inlet section 37 through which air drawn in through the suction port 22 flows into the mixing flow path 29. In this embodiment, the inlet section 37 faces substantially the entire widthwise outer surface of the side plates 14c, 14d of the first airflow control member 14. In other words, the air mixing section 30 forms a flow path (mixing flow path 29) having the inlet section 37 through which the air drawn in through the suction port 22 flows and the outlet section 36, which is smaller than the inlet section 37 and through which the air drawn in through the inlet section 37 flows out. In this embodiment, the inlet section 37 is located at the widthwise inner end of the mixing flow path 29.

[0037] The mixing flow path 29 formed by the air mixing section 30 is a flow path through which air drawn in through the suction port 22 is mixed, and extends from the inlet section 37 to the outlet section 36 on the outer side in the width direction. The air flowing in from the inlet section 37 flows toward the outlet section 36, which is smaller than the inlet section 37, and is mixed before flowing out from the outlet section 36. In other words, the air mixing section 30 mixes the air flowing in from the inlet section 37 using a simple structure in which the outlet section 36 is smaller than the inlet section 37, without providing a device for stirring the air. Note that mixing air means mixing relatively clean air (e.g., air flowing in through the side plate openings 25 in the lower regions 26 of the side plate sections 14c, 14d of the first airflow control member 14 (see FIG. 6 )) with air containing a large amount of cigarette smoke components and the like (e.g., air flowing in through the side plate openings 25 in the upper regions 27 of the side plate sections 14c, 14d), thereby making the air contaminants, such as smoke components, more uniform. The mixing flow channel 29 of this embodiment is formed so that the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the width direction (flow direction) becomes smaller from the upstream side (inlet section 37) to the downstream side (outlet section 36). Note that, hereinafter, air containing a large amount of cigarette smoke components and the like may be referred to as "relatively dirty air" as opposed to "relatively clean air."

[0038] (Air Dispersion Section) The air dispersion section 32 is a section that vertically disperses air flowing out from the outlet section 36 of the air mixing section 30, and is disposed in a position facing the outlet section 36 of the partition plate section 34 in the air passage 18 downstream of the air mixing section 30 on both sides in the width direction. The air dispersion section 32 of this embodiment has a mountain-shaped guide surface 32a whose vertical center protrudes inward in the width direction when viewed from the front, and is supported by the air diffusion section 31 described below. The apex of the mountain-shaped guide surface 32a is disposed at approximately the same height as the outlet section 36. The mountain-shaped guide surface 32a of the air dispersion section 32 faces the outlet section 36 and disperses air flowing out from the outlet section 36 vertically. Note that in this embodiment, the air dispersion section 32 that vertically disperses air is provided downstream of the outlet section 36 of the air mixing section 30, but the air dispersion section 32 is not necessarily provided.

[0039] (Air Diffusion Section) The air diffusion section 31 is disposed between the air mixing section 30 and the filter 12 , and diffuses the air flowing out from the outlet section 36 of the air mixing section 30 so that the air spreads over the suction surface 21 of the filter 12 .

[0040] In this embodiment, the air diffusion section 31 is formed in a plate shape that intersects the front-to-rear direction and extends outward in the width direction from outer widthwise edges 33a (lower edges of the partition plate sections 34) of the rear plate sections 33 of the air mixing section 30 on both widthwise sides. The air diffusion section 31 is formed in a flat plate shape and stands upright on both widthwise outer sides of the storage section 28 and the air mixing section 30, dividing the air passage 18 into a flow path upstream of the second airflow control member 15 and a flow path downstream of the second airflow control member 15. Because the second airflow control member 15 is disposed in front of the filter 12, the air diffusion section 31 stands upright on the upstream side of the suction surface 21 of the filter 12. The air diffusion section 31 is provided around the storage section 28 and the air mixing section 30 when viewed from the front, so that the second airflow control member 15 is disposed within substantially the entire area inside the case opening 19 of the case main body 16. As a result, the air flowing out of the air mixing section 30 is diffused by spreading out over the entire air passage 18 along the front surface of the plate-shaped air diffusion section 31. In this embodiment, the air dispersion section 32 is integrally provided on the front side of the air diffusion section 31. That is, in this embodiment, the air mixing section 30, air diffusion section 31, and air dispersion section 32 are integrally molded to constitute the second airflow control member 15.

[0041] The air diffusion section 31 has multiple openings 38. The sizes (areas) of the multiple openings 38 are set so that the air flow rates on the suction surface 21 of the filter 12 are uniform. For example, the size of the openings 38 in regions on the front side of the air diffusion section 31 where the air flow velocity is high is set relatively small, and the size of the openings 38 in regions on the front side of the air diffusion section 31 where the air flow velocity is low is set relatively large. This reduces the difference in the flow rate of air passing through the openings 38 and impinging on the suction surface 21 of the filter 12 between the regions on the front side of the air diffusion section 31 where the air flow velocity is high and the regions on the front side of the air diffusion section 31 where the air flow velocity is low. In other words, "so that the air flow rates on the suction surface 21 of the filter 12 are uniform" does not mean that the air flows are exactly uniform, but rather means that the air flow rates are made closer to uniform in order to reduce the difference in the air flow rate at each location on the suction surface 21 of the filter 12.

[0042] In the present embodiment, the air mixing section 30, the air diffusion section 31, and the air dispersion section 32 are provided integrally as the second airflow control member 15, but this is not limited thereto, and the air mixing section 30, the air diffusion section 31, and the air dispersion section 32 may be provided separately as different members. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the first airflow control member 14 and the second airflow control member 15 are provided separately, but this is not limited thereto, and they may be molded integrally.

[0043] Next, the air flow will be described.

[0044] Air drawn in through the suction port 22 of the case 11 first flows from the cigarette insertion space 24 behind the suction port 22 through the multiple side plate openings 25 in the side plate sections 14c, 14d of the first airflow control member 14 on both sides in the width direction and through the inlet section 37 into the mixing flow path 29 of the air mixing section 30. The air that has flowed into the mixing flow path 29 flows toward the outlet section 36, which is smaller than the inlet section 37, where it is mixed and flows out from the outlet section 36. The air that has flowed out from the outlet section 36 is guided by the mountain-shaped guide surface 32a of the opposing air dispersion section 32 and dispersed vertically. The air dispersed vertically by the air dispersion section 32 flows along the front surface of the air diffusion section 31, spreading out to fill the air passage 18 and being dispersed, passes through the multiple openings 38 of the air diffusion section 31, and is drawn into the filter 12. The air sucked into the filter 12 is purified by the filter 12, passes around the fan 13, and is discharged from the outlet 20 of the case 11.

[0045] In the air purifier 10 configured as described above, the air mixer 30 for mixing the air drawn in through the suction port 22 is provided on the upstream side (front side) of the filter 12, so that the relatively clean air and the relatively dirty air drawn in through the suction port 22 can be pre-mixed on the upstream side of the filter 12, making the smoke components more uniform. This prevents uneven use of the filter 12, allowing the filter 12 to be used efficiently.

[0046] Furthermore, the flow path (mixing flow path 29) formed by the air mixing section 30 has an air inlet section 37 and an air outlet section 36 that is smaller than the inlet section 37, and the air that flows in from the inlet section 37 flows toward the outlet section 36 that is smaller than the inlet section 37, where it is mixed and flows out from the outlet section 36. In this way, air can be mixed with a simple structure in which the outlet section 36 of the mixing flow path 29 is made smaller than the inlet section 37.

[0047] Furthermore, by exhaling smoke toward the inlet 22 of the air purifier 10, the smoke exhaled from the mouth can be inhaled and purified by the air purifier 10. Furthermore, when a smoker is simply holding a cigarette in their hand without inhaling it (hereinafter referred to as "when not inhaling"), they can insert the cigarette they are holding into the cigarette insertion space 24 through the inlet 22, thereby ensuring that the smoke coming out of the cigarette they are holding is inhaled and purified by the air purifier 10. Furthermore, by smoking a cigarette while it is inserted into the cigarette insertion space 24 through the inlet 22, the smoke coming out of the cigarette can be reliably inhaled and purified by the air purifier 10, not only when the smoker is not inhaling it, but also when the smoker is inhaling it.

[0048] Thus, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide an air purifier 10 that can inhale and purify the smoke produced when smoking a cigarette and that can use the filter 12 efficiently.

[0049] In addition, an air diffusion section 31 that diffuses the air flowing out from the outlet section 36 of the air mixing section 30 is provided between the air mixing section 30 and the filter 12. Therefore, the air in which the smoke components have been homogenized by the air mixing section 30 can be diffused by the air diffusion section 31 over the entire suction surface 21 of the filter 12, allowing for even more efficient use of the filter 12.

[0050] Furthermore, the sizes of the multiple openings 38 provided in the air diffusion section 31 are set so that the air flow rate on the suction surface 21 of the filter 12 is uniform. This makes it possible to suppress bias in the flow rate (wind speed) of the air impinging on the suction surface 21 of the filter 12, allowing the filter 12 to be used more efficiently.

[0051] The filter 12 further includes an air dispersion section 32 that vertically disperses the air flowing out from the outlet section 36 of the air mixing section 30. Therefore, even when the outlet section 36 of the air mixing section 30 is provided in the vertical center as in this embodiment, the air flowing out from the outlet section 36 can be vertically dispersed. This prevents dirty air from being concentrated in a specific area of ​​the suction surface 21 of the filter 12, allowing the suction surface 21 of the filter 12 to be used over a wide area, thereby enabling more efficient use of the filter 12.

[0052] Furthermore, because air mixing section 30 and air diffusion section 31 are integrally molded as second airflow control member 15, the number of parts can be reduced. Therefore, when removing front case 17 to access filter 12, filter 12 can be easily accessed by removing first airflow control member 14 and second airflow control member 15. Furthermore, by integrally molding first airflow control member 14 and second airflow control member 15, the number of parts can be further reduced and filter 12 can be more easily accessed.

[0053] Furthermore, the side plate portions (inflow rate setting portions) 14c, 14d of the first airflow control member 14 are arranged between the inflow portion 37 of the air mixing portion 30 and the suction port 22 of the case 11, and are set so that the amount of air flowing into the inflow portion 37 is greater at the top than at the bottom. This allows the wind speed of air drawn in from the upper region 27 of the side plate portions 14c, 14d to be faster than that of the lower region 26, so that smoke flowing upward in the cigarette insertion space 24 can be drawn in efficiently.

[0054] In this embodiment, side plate portions (inflow amount setting portions) 14c, 14d are provided on the first airflow control member 14, but the inflow portion 37 of the mixing flow path 29 may be opened widely inward in the width direction without providing the side plate portions 14c, 14d.

[0055] In addition, in this embodiment, in order to equalize the air flow rate on the suction surface 21 of the filter 12, multiple openings 38 of different sizes are provided in the air diffusion section 31, but this is not limited to this, and for example, the multiple openings 38 may be made to be of equal size.

[0056] In the present embodiment, the air diffusion section 31 is formed in a plate shape having a plurality of openings 38, but the shape of the air diffusion section 31 is not limited to this. For example, the air diffusion section may be an air diffusion section that defines a flow path that gradually widens from the outlet section 36 of the air mixing section 30 toward the downstream side, and that circulates air through the flow path to diffuse it toward the suction surface 21 of the filter 12.

[0057] In addition, in this embodiment, the front case 17 is provided with one suction port 22 through which a cigarette can be inserted, but the number of suction ports 22 is not limited to this, and for example, multiple suction ports 22 may be provided.

[0058] In addition, in this embodiment, the case 11 is configured by the case main body 16 and the front case 17 fixed to the case main body 16, but is not limited to this. For example, the case 11 may be configured by integrally molding the case main body 16 and the front case 17, or the case 11 may be configured by further divided members than in this embodiment.

[0059] Furthermore, the positions of the filter 12 and the fan 13 are not limited to those described above.

[0060] Although the present invention has been described above based on the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the content of the above embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the scope of the present invention. In other words, all other embodiments, examples, operational techniques, etc. made by those skilled in the art based on this embodiment are naturally included in the scope of the present invention.

[0061] 10: Air purifier 11: Case 12: Filter 13: Fan 14: First airflow control member 14c, 14d: Side plate portion (inflow amount setting portion) 15: Second airflow control member 18: Air passage 20: Outlet 21: Intake surface 22: Inlet 29: Mixing flow path (flow path) 30: Air mixing portion 31: Air diffusion portion 36: Outlet portion 37: Inlet portion

Claims

1. An air purifier comprising: a case having an air inlet and an air outlet, and defining an air passage extending from the air inlet to the outlet; a filter disposed in the air passage; a fan disposed in the air passage and generating an air flow from the air inlet to the outlet; and an air mixing section disposed in the air passage between the air inlet and the filter, wherein the air mixing section forms a flow path having an inlet section into which air sucked in from the air inlet flows, and an outlet section that is smaller than the inlet section and through which the air that has flowed in from the inlet section flows out, and the air that has flowed in from the inlet section of the air mixing section flows towards the outlet section which is smaller than the inlet section, where it is mixed and then flows out from the outlet section.

2. The air purifier according to claim 1, further comprising an air diffusion section disposed between the air mixing section and the filter, which diffuses the air flowing out from the outlet section of the air mixing section.

3. The air purifier according to claim 2, wherein the air mixing section and the air diffusion section are integrally molded.

4. An air purifier as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises an inflow amount setting section that is arranged between the inflow section of the air mixing section and the intake port of the case, and that is set so that the amount of air flowing into the inflow section is greater at the top than at the bottom.

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