CN101278158B - Filter cleaning device and air conditioning device equipped with it - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided are a filter cleaning device and an air conditioner equipped with the same, wherein dust can be removed in a wide range at a time without using a suction/exhaust device having a large air volume while using a method of removing dust by air. In a cleaning device for a filter (4) for removing dust (C) in air, semi-divided dust removing boxes (10) and (11) having an air flow path (17) formed therein are arranged such that open surfaces (10b) and (11b) thereof face each other, the filter (4) is arranged in a gap between the two boxes (10) and (11), and air is caused to flow into the boxes (10) and (11) to remove the dust (C) adhering to the filter (4).

Description

Filter cleaning device and air conditioning device equipped with it

technical field

The present invention relates to a cleaning device for cleaning a filter for removing dust in the air, and air conditioners such as air conditioners, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, air cleaners, and heaters equipped with the cleaning device.

Background technique

Conventionally, as such an air conditioner, as shown in Patent Document 1, there is known an apparatus in which a dust box provided with a dust-removing brush is placed in contact with a filter, and the filter is moved to remove dust from the entire filter. In addition, as shown in Patent Document 2, it is also known to have a movable suction nozzle capable of sucking dust adhering to the filter, to provide a suction duct on the suction nozzle, and to have a suction exhaust pipe connected to the suction duct. The filter device of the exhaust device and the exhaust pipe that exhausts the inhaled dust to the outside.

Patent Document 1: JP-A-2005-188808

Patent Document 2: JP-A-2004-283703

Contents of the invention

However, in the air conditioner described in Patent Document 1, since the dust adhering to the filter is only scraped off by the brush, the dust adhering to the brush may reattach to the filter. There is a problem that the dust must be discarded whenever it accumulates in the dust box.

On the other hand, in the filter device described in Patent Document 2, since the dust adhering to the filter is not removed by the brush, but is removed by the suction force of the air, there is no possibility of damage to the filter or damage to the filter. The possibility of dust accumulation in the cleaning device. However, in this filter device, since the suction port formed on the suction nozzle is brought into contact with the filter surface to inhale dust, if the area of the suction port is increased to expand the range of suction dust, the suction force will be weakened, In order to prevent the reduction of dust removal efficiency, a suction and exhaust device with a large air volume is required. Conversely, if the area of the suction port is reduced to increase the suction force, it will take time to clean the entire filter.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a filter that can remove dust from a wide range of filters at one time without using a suction and exhaust device with a large air volume while using a fluid such as air to remove dust. A cleaning device and an air conditioning device equipped with the cleaning device.

The filter cleaning device of the present invention is a filter cleaning device that cleans a filter that removes dust in the air. The airflow generating mechanism that generates airflow in the box, the above-mentioned dust removal mechanism is formed in a long way across the filter, and the above-mentioned airflow generation mechanism is formed on the suction port formed on the longitudinal direction side of the above-mentioned dust removal box and connected to the The suction mechanism that sucks air from the other end side is configured, and the air flow generating mechanism generates air flow from one end side of the dust removal box to the other end side in the longitudinal direction, and guides the adhered particles from the gap into the dust removal box through the air flow. Remove dust from the filter.

In addition, it is characterized in that the above-mentioned dust-removing box is formed in a half-split shape, and the half-split-shaped dust-removing box is arranged on both sides of the front and back sides of the filter, and the gap formed between the above-mentioned half-split-shaped dust-removing boxes is used as a guide. filter gap.

According to the above structure, since the filter is housed in the space surrounded by the two boxes, and the dust adhering to the filter is removed by allowing the air to circulate in the limited space, it is not necessary to remove the dust attached to the filter as in the conventional suction nozzle method. The larger suction port sucks in air. Therefore, as a mechanism for circulating air, a structure with a large air volume is not required, and the size of the device is not increased.

Furthermore, the flow velocity of the air can be easily increased, and the dust adhering to the filter can be efficiently blown off and removed by the air flow. Here, the half-divided dust removal boxes need only be formed so that the opening faces the boxes so that they can fit together, and they do not need to be formed in the same shape.

As an air flow generating mechanism that generates air in the above-mentioned box and circulates the air, for example, a structure including a fan, an intake port for taking air into the fan, and a discharge port for releasing air from the fan can be used. Inlet and discharge ports are connected to the box to allow air to circulate into the box.

In addition, as another air flow generating mechanism, an air sending mechanism that sends air out or an air suction mechanism that sucks air may be used. In this case, by forming the vent hole in the case, air can be circulated between the vent hole and the air delivery mechanism or the air suction mechanism. However, it is preferable to use an air suction mechanism from the viewpoint that dust does not scatter around from the gap between the boxes.

The smaller the cross-sectional area of the air flow path, the higher the flow velocity of the air flowing in the air flow path. That is, even if the half-divided openings have the same area as the dust removal box, the more elongated the structure, the greater the flow velocity of the air flowing through the air flow path. In other words, if the cross-sectional area of the air flow path is small, even if the length of the air flow path is increased, the influence on the flow velocity of the air flowing in the air flow path is small.

Therefore, if the dust removal box has a small air flow path cross-sectional area, even if it is formed long across the filter, an air flow with a high flow velocity can be easily generated. Specifically, if an air intake port is formed on one end side of the box in the cross-sectional direction of the filter, and a suction mechanism for sucking air is connected to the other end side, a relatively fast air flow can be generated in the entire air flow path, thereby enabling Efficiently removes dust adhering to the filter in the air flow path.

The said filter cleaning apparatus may be provided with the movement mechanism which relatively moves a filter in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of a dust removal box. Thereby, the whole filter can be cleaned automatically. The moving mechanism can not only move the filter relative to the fixed dust removal box, but also make the dust removal box move relative to the fixed filter.

The more the slits or gaps of the dust removal box are larger than the thickness of the filter, the smoother the movement mechanism can be operated. Conversely, the air flows into the box from the gaps, and the flow rate of the air circulating in the air flow path decreases. Conversely, if the gap or gap of the dust removal box is reduced, when the moving mechanism is operated, the opening end surface of the box contacts the dust on the filter surface, causing the dust attached to the filter to scatter around.

Therefore, in the present invention, the filter is provided with a plurality of protruding transverse ribs, and the transverse ribs are arranged at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction of the filter so that the interval between the transverse ribs is approximately the same as the width of the dust box. The space through which the transverse ribs of the filter can pass is operated by the moving mechanism so that the transverse ribs are located at a position to block the gaps of the dust removal box.

According to the above configuration, the two cases are arranged facing each other with a gap through which the horizontal rib can pass. That is, since the cartridge is arranged in a state separated from the filter surface, even if the movement mechanism is operated, the cartridge does not come into contact with the filter surface to scatter dust.

In addition, by positioning the transverse rib between the opening end surfaces of the two boxes, the gap or clearance of the dust removal box can be blocked by the transverse rib. In this way, a cylindrical box body can be formed by the two boxes and the transverse rib sandwiched therebetween, and by operating the suction mechanism in this state, the flow rate of the air flowing through the air flow path can be efficiently reduced. Sweep the zone surrounded by transverse ribs.

When the cleaning of one division is completed, the suction mechanism is stopped, and the adjacent division can be accommodated in the box as long as the filter is moved to the interval between the transverse ribs. Filter cleaning. That is, only by intermittently operating the moving mechanism, the filter can be cleaned without scattering dust.

In addition, as another structure to prevent the dust from flying on the surface of the filter, when cleaning the filter part entering the air flow path, the moving mechanism can be stopped, and the dust removal box can be contacted on the filter to form an air flow path. After the cleaning of the filter part is completed, at least the dust removal box disposed on the filter surface side with dust attached is separated from the filter to operate the moving mechanism, so that the uncleaned filter part enters the air flow path Inside.

Specifically, for example, as long as the half-divided dust box arranged on the filter surface side is set so that the distance from the filter can be changed, it is supported by the biasing force of the spring so that it is always separated from the filter. When the filter is cleaned, the box can be abutted against the filter by overcoming the active force of the spring through a solenoid or the like.

In addition, it is also possible to form a plurality of rows of protruding transverse ribs in the longitudinal direction on the surface of the filter, and the dust removal box includes a box body with an air flow path formed therein, and a box body formed on both ends of the box body in the longitudinal direction. The guide wall is formed such that the longitudinal length of the guide wall is longer than the inner dimension of the adjacent transverse rib.

In the above structure, guide walls are formed on both longitudinal ends of the box main body of the dust removal box, and are formed so that the longitudinal length of the guide wall is longer than the inner dimension of the adjacent transverse ribs, so that the guide wall is clamped There are always transverse ribs in the living space. That is, while using the slit or gap of the dust box as a filter guide path through which the filter passes, the slit or gap can be blocked by cross-sectionally protruding transverse ribs to restrict the entry and exit of air therefrom. More specifically, the dust removal box is preferably configured such that the lengths of both longitudinal end portions of the box main body are parallel to the lengthwise direction of the transverse rib.

Thereby, the reduction of the flow velocity of the air circulating in the space surrounded by the box main body of the dust box can be suppressed, and the dust adhering to the filter accommodated in the dust box can be efficiently blown off and removed by the air flow. .

As the filter cleaning device related to the present invention, it is also possible to configure that, in addition to the above-mentioned structure, a cleaning brush arranged along the longitudinal direction of the dust removal box is also provided in the dust removal box. The direction of relative movement, while rotating the cleaning brush to forcibly separate the dust adhering to the surface of the filter, and the floating dust is removed from the dust box by the air flow generating mechanism.

According to the above structure, since the filter is relatively moved in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the dust removal box, while the cleaning brush is driven to rotate, the dust adhering to the surface of the filter is forcibly detached, and the air flow The generation mechanism discharges the detached and floating dust from the dust box to the outside with the airflow generated by the airflow generation mechanism, so even the stubborn dirt that adheres to the surface of the filter can be forced to float away remove.

In addition, the filter cleaning device may include a motor for rotationally driving the cleaning brush, and the motor may drive the cleaning brush to forcibly remove dust adhering to the surface of the filter.

At this time, the rotation direction of the cleaning brush can be set as follows. That is, the motor is controlled so that the rotation direction of the cleaning brush becomes a constant direction. Such control is simple control because the rotation direction of the motor is fixed. In addition, the rotation direction of the cleaning brush at this time is preferably rotated in a direction facing the forward or backward moving filter. In addition, it is easier to remove the dust adhering to the surface of the filter when the cleaning brush is rotationally driven in the forward movement during the reciprocating movement of the filter than in the case of rotationally driven in the backward movement.

In addition, the motor may be set so that the rotation direction of the motor is determined according to the rotor position when the voltage is activated, and the rotation direction of the cleaning brush may be an arbitrary direction.

According to the above configuration, since the rotation direction of the motor is forward-rotated or reversed according to the rotor position at the time of voltage activation, the rotation direction changes with a probability of 1/2. Therefore, compared with the case where the motor rotates in one direction and the cleaning brush rotates only in one direction, the dust reciprocates back and forth on the filter, and dust can be prevented from accumulating on one end of the filter in the long run.

Furthermore, it is also possible to sequentially control the motor so that its rotation direction is composed of a combination of forward rotation and reverse rotation. With the above structure, although the control becomes slightly complicated, it is possible to reliably prevent dust from accumulating on one end portion of the filter.

The shape of the cleaning brush is not particularly limited, but a structure including a plurality of elastic blades arranged helically around the rotating shaft can be exemplified. According to this configuration, the dust on the surface of the filter can be reliably removed without the filter being damaged by the plurality of elastic scrapers.

In addition, the elastic scraper formed on the other end side of the rotary shaft extends in the axial direction of the rotary shaft, and the extended portion is arranged around the bearing portion of the rotary shaft. According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent air containing attracted dust from intruding into the bearing portion from the end portion of the scraper.

The above-described filter cleaning device can be mounted on an air-conditioning device provided with a filter that removes dust in the air between the suction port and the blowing port, so that the air-conditioning device can be additionally filtered without enlarging the air-conditioning device. device cleaning function. The air conditioner is not particularly limited as long as it has a filter for removing dust in the air, and examples thereof include air conditioners, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, air cleaners, heaters, and the like.

In addition, when a filter cleaning device equipped with a moving mechanism that reciprocates the filter in the longitudinal direction is mounted on the air conditioner, if it is a conventional filter, it is necessary to prevent warping or fluctuation and maintain shape retention. Since a certain degree of rigidity is required, the filter has to be exposed to the outside of the air-conditioning apparatus when the filter is moved, causing a problem of spoiling the appearance.

Therefore, in the present invention, a plurality of protruding transverse ribs that divide the filter surface into a plurality of divisions are provided, and the transverse ribs are arranged at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction of the filter so that the interval between the transverse ribs is the same as that of the box. The width of the two boxes is roughly the same, and the two boxes are separated by the gap through which the transverse rib can pass. A box body, a cleaning device with a structure to remove dust adhering to the filter according to the divisions accommodated in the box body is mounted on the air conditioner, the filter is formed so that it can be bent in the longitudinal direction, and it is provided to move A filter holding mechanism that bends and holds a filter that moves longitudinally in a roughly U-shape when the mechanism operates.

According to the above-mentioned structure, even if the filter is formed to be bendable in the longitudinal direction by reducing the strength of the filter in the longitudinal direction, sufficient shape retention can be maintained by the plurality of transverse ribs formed on the filter, so it is possible to make the filter moving in the longitudinal direction The device is bent and housed in the air conditioner, so that it does not spoil the appearance.

As above, according to the present invention, since it is made into a structure having a dust removal box having a slit capable of guiding the filter to the inside, and an air flow generating mechanism for generating an air flow in the dust removal box, or the inside is formed with an air The half-divided dust boxes of the flow path are arranged so that their opening faces face each other, and the air filter is placed in the gap (slit) between the dust boxes, so that the air flows into the dust box and adheres to the above filter. Therefore, it is possible to increase the speed of the air flowing into the flow path without using a mechanism with a large air volume as a mechanism to circulate the air, thereby efficiently blowing away the dust adhering to the filter. remove.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the indoor unit in Fig. 1 .

Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view showing a state in which the front panel of Fig. 1 is opened.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a state where the panel of the indoor unit in Fig. 1 is removed.

Fig. 5 is an end view of a front case and a rear case used in the indoor unit of Fig. 1 .

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a filter used in the indoor unit of Fig. 1 .

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the filter of FIG. 6 .

FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged perspective view of FIG. 6 .

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a part of the indoor unit of Fig. 1 .

Fig. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the state of the dust box and the filter in Fig. 1 .

Fig. 11 is a diagram showing another form of the filter of Fig. 10 .

Fig. 12 is a side sectional view showing a dust removal box according to a second embodiment.

Fig. 13 is a schematic sectional view showing a state in which a filter is installed in the dust removal box of Fig. 12 .

Fig. 14 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the filter of Fig. 13 is slightly moved.

Fig. 15 is a side sectional view showing a dust removal box according to a third embodiment.

Fig. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the dust removal box in Fig. 15 .

Fig. 17 is a sectional view of the dust removal box of Fig. 15 .

Fig. 18 is a perspective view showing a cleaning brush of the dust removal box of Fig. 15 .

Fig. 19 shows a fourth embodiment, and Fig. 19(a), Fig. 19(b), and Fig. 19(c) are schematic diagrams of filter cleaning devices showing different motor control methods, respectively.

Explanation of reference signs

1 main body of the indoor unit

2 suction port

3 outlets

4 filters

5 indoor heat exchanger

6 blower fan

7 front panel

8 filter guides

9 blinds

10 table side box

11 back side box

12 suction fans

13 top panel

14 Piping

15 vents

16 boxes

17 air flow path

18 gaps

19 mesh filter

20 longitudinal ribs

21 transverse rib

22 Rack part

23 resin film

24 filter holding mechanism

25 motor

26 drive mechanism

27 drive gear

28 pinion

29 rubber roller

30 axis of rotation

31 frame

32 vertical frame

33 horizontal frame

34 guide wall

35, 36 box body

41 cleaning brush

41a axis of rotation

41b elastic scraper (ブレド)

41c extension setting part

44, 45 bearings

47 electric motor

50 control department

Detailed ways

[the first embodiment]

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. In this embodiment, an indoor unit of a separate type air conditioner whose main function is cooling and heating is used as an air conditioner, and a case where the filter cleaning device according to the present invention is mounted on the indoor unit will be described. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an indoor unit of an air conditioner, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view thereof.

In Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, a suction port 2 and an air outlet 3 are respectively formed on the upper part and the lower part of the indoor unit main body 1 of the air conditioner. In this ventilation path, a filter 4 , an indoor heat exchanger 5 , and a blower fan 6 are sequentially arranged on the upstream side of the suction port 2 .

As shown in FIG. 4 , near the downstream side of the suction port 2 where the air is sucked in, at positions corresponding to the respective suction ports 2 , two filters 4 formed in a vertically long rectangular shape are arranged horizontally and horizontally. In addition, this indoor unit is provided with a filter cleaning device for cleaning the filter 4 .

A louver 9 is swingably attached to the air outlet 3 to vertically change the direction of the flow of air. In addition, the louver 9 operates quickly when closing the air blowing of the cold and warm air, and is in a state of closing the air outlet 3 as shown in the figure. That is, the louver 9 also functions as an opening and closing panel of the air outlet 3 .

When air-conditioning operation is performed in the indoor unit configured as described above, first, the blower fan 6 operates to suck in room air from the suction port 2 , and the room air passes through the filter 4 and contacts the indoor heat exchanger 5 . Indoor air conditioned by being heated or cooled by the indoor heat exchanger 5 is discharged into the room from the outlet 3 .

The front part of the indoor unit main body 1 is formed openably and closably by a front panel 7 . A filter guide 8 is formed inside the front panel 7. As shown in FIG. Insert filter 4. When the front panel 7 is closed, the front end of the filter guide 8 also rotates downward in conjunction with each other. As shown in FIG. 2 , the filter 4 is installed in the indoor unit main body 1 .

The suction port 2 is formed on two left and right parts of the upper surface of the main body 1, and below it (near the downstream side), as shown in FIG. Longitudinal rectangular filter 4. The horizontal length of the filter 4 is formed substantially the same as that of each suction port 2 . The longitudinal length of the filter 4 is formed longer than the longitudinal length of the suction port 2, and the lower part of the filter 4 is bent and held along the filter guide 8 with the front panel 7 closed.

Next, the filter cleaning device will be described. The filter cleaning device includes a half-divided dust removal box (referred to as a front side case) 10 covering the surface of the filter 4 and a half-divided dust removal case (referred to as a back side case) 11 covering the back side of the filter 4. The suction fan 12 of the suction mechanism and the moving mechanism 43 reciprocate the filter 4 in the longitudinal direction. The front side case 10 and the back side case 11 are formed in a half-divided shape, and as shown in FIG. 5 , both can be joined to each other through the opening surfaces 10b and 11b.

The surface side case 10 and the back side case 11, as shown in FIG. It is arranged so that the air sucked in from the suction port 2 passes through the filter 4 without being hindered.

The front side case 10 and the back side case 11 are formed in an elongated shape, and the longitudinal direction is oriented in the filter direction, and they are installed so that they cross the two filters 4 arranged in a row on the left and right, and are separated by sandwiching the filters 4. They are arranged at intervals of x so that both opening end faces 10a and 11a face each other.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5 , a vent 15 is formed on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the front side case 10 and the back side case 11 , and the other end side is fitted and held with a gap x between them. on piping 14. The other end side of the pipe 14 is connected to the suction fan 12 .

That is, the two boxes 10 and 11 are arranged to face each other to form a box body 16 in which the air vent 15 is formed on one end side and the suction fan 12 is connected to the other end side. And, the space surrounded by it becomes the flow path 17 . The air flow path 17 has a structure in which the air vent 15 of the case 16 is used as an inlet, and air is sucked from the inlet to the suction fan 12 to generate an air flow.

In the present invention, by generating an air flow in the air flow path 17 and passing the air from the side of the filter 4 accommodated in the case 16 in a direction substantially parallel to the filter 4, the air attached to the filter 4 is attached to the filter 4. dust removed. Two slit-shaped gaps 18 (interval x) are formed in the case body 16 in the longitudinal direction, and the filter 4 can move in the longitudinal direction in the gaps 18 .

In the present embodiment, the box body 16 is formed with the front side box 10 and the back side box 11 as separate bodies, and they are arranged to face each other. Formed integrally with the back case.

If the concrete structure of filter 4 is described, then as shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, filter 4 is provided with net filter 19, and in order to reinforce net filter 19, be provided with the frame made of synthetic resin around it. Body 31, frame body 31 is made up of vertical frame 32 and horizontal frame 33. Furthermore, the filter 4 is reinforced by the longitudinal rib 20 and the transverse rib 21 .

The vertical ribs 20 and the lateral ribs 21 are made of synthetic resin, and a plurality of them are formed at equal intervals on the surface of the mesh filter 19 . The horizontal frame 33 and the horizontal rib 21 are formed in a protruding shape, that is, thick in order to prevent the filter 4 from warping or waving, while the vertical frame 32 and the vertical rib 20 are formed thinner than the horizontal frame 33 and the horizontal rib 21. . Thereby, the filter 4 can be easily bent in the vertical direction while maintaining the rigidity in the horizontal direction.

The rack part 22 is provided in the longitudinal direction at the outer edge part of the vertical frame 2. As shown in FIG. The rack portion 22 is a mechanism for reciprocating the filter 4 in the longitudinal direction by meshing with a pinion 28 as a moving mechanism described later. In addition, as shown in FIG. 8 , the rack portion 22 is formed separately from the adjacent lateral rib 21 . By forming the rack portion 22 in a corrugated shape and being separated from the adjacent lateral ribs 21 in this way, the longitudinal bendability of the filter 4 is maintained.

On the top of the filter 4, as mentioned above, there is a net filter 19 that allows the air sucked in from the suction port 2 to pass through, and the lower part of the filter uses a thinner resin sheet 23 instead of the net filter 19. Make it into a structure that air does not pass through. In addition, the resin sheet 23 is thin-walled similarly to the vertical rib 20 , thereby securing longitudinal flexibility over the entire filter 4 .

The moving mechanism 43 that reciprocates the filter 4 in the longitudinal direction includes a filter holding mechanism 24 that holds the filter 4 and a drive mechanism 26 that moves the filter 4 by a motor 25 , as shown in FIGS. 2 and 9 . The filter holding mechanism 24 is composed of a pair of guide paths. The guide path is formed in a substantially U-shaped cross section, and can be inserted into both left and right ends of the filter 4 . The filter 4 is held in the guide path without being deformed by erecting the relatively rigid horizontal frame 33 and the transverse rib 21 over the pair of left and right guide paths.

The cross-sectional shape of the filter holding mechanism 24 is shown as a blacked out part and a shaded part in FIG. 2 . As shown in FIG. 2 , the filter holding mechanism 24 is provided along the suction port 2 , and passes between the front side case 10 and the back side case 11 while gradually inclining downward from the front side of the suction port 2 . There, after descending substantially vertically along the front panel 7, it turns in a U-shape inwardly to form a U-shaped path 24a that rises toward the suction port. In addition, the filter guide 8 constitutes a part of the filter holding mechanism in a state where the front panel 7 is closed.

The drive mechanism 26 is composed of a motor 25 , a drive gear 27 connected to the motor 25 , a pinion 28 and a rubber roller 29 meshing with the drive gear 27 . A not-shown gear having the same shape as the pinion is attached to the rotation shaft of the rubber roller 29 , whereby the pinion 28 and the rubber roller 29 rotate in the same direction.

The pinion 28 is partially exposed from the filter holding mechanism 24 in the vicinity of the case 16 , and is arranged to mesh with the back side of the rack portion 22 provided on the filter 4 . The rubber roller 29 is configured to be partially exposed in the U-shaped path 24a, and when it is rotated in contact with the back side of the filter 4 in the U-shaped path 24a, the filter can be smoothly bent by its frictional force. 4 moves.

The drive mechanism 26 is installed in each of the left and right guide paths of the filter holding mechanism. As shown in FIG. On the same rotating shaft 30 connected to the motor 25, the right and left are rotationally driven in the same manner.

When the filter 4 is installed in the indoor unit main body 1, the upper part of the filter is opened, and the filter guide 8 is inserted into the filter holding mechanism 24, and the filter 4 is arranged below the suction port 2. . At this time, the interval x between the two boxes 10 and 11 is set to be larger than the thickness of the sum of the thickness of the transverse rib 21 and the thickness of the filter, so that there is no gap between the filter 4 and the two boxes 10 and 11. Larger friction, but can set the filter 4 smoothly. In addition, the filter 4 is installed with the surface on which the horizontal rib 21 is formed facing upward.

Fig. 10 is a schematic sectional view of the state of the two cartridges and the filter when the filter 4 is installed in the indoor unit main body 1. On the filter 4, the transverse ribs 21 are formed at substantially the same interval z as the width of the boxes 10 and 11 (the distance between the opening end surfaces 10a and 11a of the dust removal box). As a result, the lateral ribs 21 are located in the two gaps 18 formed on the case body 16 to block the gaps 18 . In this way, the cylindrical case body 16 having no gap can be formed by the front side case 10 , the back side case 11 , and the lateral ribs 21 interposed therebetween.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the interval x is set to be slightly larger than the sum of the thickness of the transverse rib 21 and the thickness of the filter. Smoothly, when the suction fan 12 is operated, the inside of the air flow path 17 becomes a negative pressure, and the dust boxes are in close contact with each other, so substantially the same suction force as when x and y are set to be approximately the same can be obtained.

Next, a case where the filter 4 is cleaned by the filter cleaning device configured as described above will be described. First, when the filter 4 is installed in the indoor unit main body 1 and the air conditioner is operated, the air is sucked in from the suction port 2, and the dust C in the air adheres to each section of the mesh filter 19 divided by the transverse rib 2. on the surface of zone 4a.

In the indoor unit main body 1, there is provided a control mechanism including an input circuit, a CPU, a memory, and an output circuit. When it is judged that the surface of the filter 4 is dirty, the operations of the suction fan 12, the moving mechanism, etc. are controlled to clean the filter.

Specifically, first, the moving mechanism operates, and as shown in FIG. 10 , the filter 4 is moved vertically by the interval z between the transverse ribs 21 and stopped. At this time, since the gap x is provided between the front case 10 and the back case 11, the front case 10 can move the filter 4 without coming into contact with the dust C adhering to the surface of the filter 4. . In this way, the partition 4 a originally adjacent to the air flow path 17 enters into the air flow path 17 , and furthermore, the transverse rib 21 can be located in the gap 18 of the case body 16 .

Next, the suction fan 12 operates, and air is sucked from the ventilation port 15 serving as the inlet of the air flow path 17 to the suction fan 12 . Thereby, an air flow with a relatively high velocity is generated in the air flow path 17, and the dust C adhering to the surface of the partition 4a is blown away to remove the dust. The dust C removed from the partition 4a may be collected by providing a dust collecting bag (dust collection park) between the air flow path 17 and the suction fan 12, or exhausted from the suction fan 12 to the outside. Thereafter, by repeating the above operations, the filter 4 can be cleaned for each section 4a.

When cleaning the last section 4a, the filter 4 moves the most, and since the filter 4 is bent and held in the filter holding mechanism 24, the filter 4 will not be exposed to the outside of the indoor unit. will detract from the aesthetics. When the cleaning of the last section 4a is completed, the filter 4 is moved to the original position by the moving mechanism.

In this embodiment, one end side of the box body 16 in the longitudinal direction formed by the front side box 10 and the back side box 11 is made as the vent 15 which is fully open, but the opening area of the vent 15 can also be reduced. In this case, the flow velocity of the air flowing through the air passage 17 can be increased, and the dust adhering to the surface of the filter can be efficiently removed.

Furthermore, the transverse ribs 21 formed on the surface of the filter 4 are formed at intervals z substantially equal to the widths of the two cartridges 10 and 11, but may be formed at intervals equally dividing the interval z. For example, as shown in FIG. 11 , the lateral ribs 21 may be formed at intervals of z/2. In this case, the filter can also be shifted by an interval of z, or by an interval of z/2.

In addition, in this embodiment, although the horizontally long indoor unit was demonstrated, it can also apply to a vertically long type. In addition, in the present embodiment, the air conditioner on the separation side has been described, but of course it may be an integrated air conditioner.

[the second embodiment]

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 12 to 14 . This embodiment is characterized in that the forms of the dust box and the filter of the filter cleaning device are partially changed, and other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 12 , the front side box 10 and the back side box 11 of the dust removal box according to the present embodiment are each formed into a horizontally long rectangle with a substantially U-shaped cross section in a plan view, and are arranged so as to traverse two pieces arranged in a row left and right. filter4. In addition, the front side case 10 and the back side case 11 are arranged such that their vertical and horizontal directions are aligned with the filter 4 . The front side case 10 and the back side case 11 are formed in a half-divided shape, and are arranged to face each other with a space X therebetween with the filter 4 in between.

That is, the gap 18 (interval X) between the front case 10 and the back case 11 is connected to the filter holding mechanism 24 as a filter guide path for guiding the filter. The filter 4 is movable in the longitudinal direction within the filter guide path and the filter holding mechanism 24 .

The front side case 10 and the back side case 11 are provided with case main bodies 35 and 36 in which air flow paths are formed, and on the longitudinal end portions 35a and 36a of the case main bodies 35 and 36, along the longitudinal direction A along the filter. The flange-shaped guide wall 34 formed by the device 4.

The front side case 10 and the back side case 11 are arranged such that the longitudinal ends 35a and 36a of the case main bodies 35 and 36 are arranged in parallel to the longitudinal direction of the transverse rib 21, and the length of the longitudinal direction A of the guide wall 34 is as shown in FIG. 13 . As shown, it is formed to be longer than the inner dimensions of the adjacent transverse ribs 21 , 21 .

Thus, the transverse rib 21 is always present in the space sandwiched by the guide walls 34 . That is, by closing the gap 18 (gap X) between the opposing guide walls 34 and 34 with the transverse rib, it is possible to restrict the entry and exit of air therefrom.

As shown in FIG. 4 , a vent hole 15 is formed on one lateral end side of the front side case 10 and the back side case 11 , and the other end side is fitted and held by a pipe 14 . The other end side of the pipe 14 is connected to the suction fan 12 . That is, the case body 16 having the air flow path 17 inside is formed by the two cases 10 and 11 .

In this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, by generating an air flow in the air flow path 17, the air is caused to flow from the side of the filter 4 housed in the case 16 in a direction substantially parallel to the filter 4. , remove the dust adhering to the filter 4.

The interval X between the two boxes 10 and 11 is set to be larger than the thickness Y of the sum of the thickness of the transverse rib 21 and the thickness of the mesh filter 19, so that there is no gap between the filter 4 and the two boxes 10 and 11. Large friction occurs, enabling smooth movement of the filter 4 . In addition, the filter 4 is installed in the filter holding mechanism 24 so that the surface on which the transverse rib 21 is formed is on the windward side with respect to the airflow direction of the ventilation path. In addition, the surface on which the transverse rib 21 is formed may be the leeward side.

Fig. 13 is a schematic sectional view showing the state of the two boxes and the filter when the filter 4 is installed in the indoor unit main body 1, and Fig. 14 is a diagram showing the state when the filter 4 in Fig. 13 is slightly moved in the longitudinal direction A .

In the filter 4, a plurality of rows of transverse ribs 21 are formed in the longitudinal direction, and the inner dimension of the adjacent transverse ribs 21 is set so as to be Z. In addition, on the longitudinal ends 35a and 36a of the box main bodies 35 and 36, as described above, the guide walls 34 are respectively connected and provided, and the distance between the opposing guide walls 34 and 34 is set to be equal to that of the box main bodies 35 and 36. The gap between 18 is the same as X. The opposing guide walls 34 and 34 formed in this way function as an entrance of the filter guide path formed by the gap 18 between the dust removal boxes 10 and 11 .

The longitudinal length L of the guide wall 34 is set such that it is larger than the inner dimension Z of the adjacent transverse rib 21 . Therefore, even when the filter 4 is moved from the state of FIG. 13, as shown in FIG. is blocked.

In this way, the cylindrical case body 16 without gaps can be formed by the front side case 10, the back side case 11, and the transverse ribs 21 sandwiched therebetween, so that the flow velocity of the air circulating in the air flow path 17 can be reduced. The dust C adhering to the filter 4 is efficiently removed.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the interval X is set to be slightly larger than the thickness Y obtained by adding the thickness of the transverse rib 21 and the thickness of the filter. The insertion of the device 4 becomes smooth, and when the suction fan 12 is operated, the inside of the air flow path 17 becomes a negative pressure, and the dust removal boxes are in close contact with each other, so the same situation as the case where X and Y are substantially the same can be obtained. Appeal. In addition, an elastic body or the like may be provided inside the guide walls 34, 34 so as to be in close contact with the transverse rib 21 without reducing the attractive force.

In the filter cleaning device configured as described above, what is necessary is to drive the suction fan 12 together with the moving mechanism when cleaning the filter 4 . At this time, since the gap X is provided between the front case 10 and the back case 11, the front case 10 can move the filter 4 without coming into contact with the dust C adhering to the surface of the filter 4. . During the movement of the filter 4, the gap 18 of the case body 16 is always in a blocked state, so by actuating the suction fan 12 while moving the filter 4 at a constant speed, it is possible to automatically remove what is attached to the case body 6. The dust C on the surface of the inner filter 4 is efficiently removed.

[the third embodiment]

A third embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 15 to 18 . This embodiment is characterized in that cleaning brushes are arranged in the dust removal box of the filter cleaning device along the longitudinal direction thereof, and other structures are the same as those of the first embodiment.

In this embodiment, the filter cleaning device 40 for cleaning the filter 4 includes, as shown in FIG. 11, an airflow generating mechanism 42 for generating airflow, and a moving mechanism 43 for relatively moving the filter 4 relative to the front and back boxes 10 and 11 in a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction thereof.

As shown in FIG. 15, the front side case 10 and the back side case 11 are composed of an elongated half-divided cylindrical body, and the longitudinal direction thereof is oriented in the transverse direction of the filter, so that it crosses two pieces arranged side by side. filter4. In addition, the filters 4 are placed oppositely with a gap X therebetween such that the opening end surfaces 10 a and 11 a of both face each other, and the gap 18 serves as a guide path for the filter 4 .

In addition, an air suction port 15 is formed on one end side of the front side case 10 and the back side case 11 in the longitudinal direction, and the other end side is fitted and held on the suction pipe 14 with a gap X between them. The other end side of the piping 14 is connected to the suction fan 12 as a suction mechanism, and these constitute the air flow generating mechanism 42 .

In addition, on the opening end edge of the dust box 10, as shown in FIG. 16, an elastic sheet member 46 having a semi-cylindrical cross-section is attached to elastically contact the filter 4 and guide the filter 4 smoothly in the longitudinal direction.

In addition, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15 , the example in which cleaning brushes 41 are arranged on both the front side case 10 and the back side case 11 facing up and down has been described. Among the back cases 10 and 11 , the front side case 10 which is in contact with the filter surface side where the filter is easily dirty is arranged in a structure in which the cleaning brush 41 is arranged.

The cleaning brush 41 is composed of a rotating shaft 41a and a plurality of (two in this embodiment) elastic scrapers 41b arranged helically around it, and is rotationally driven by an electric motor 47 provided on the suction pipe 14 side.

The rotating shaft 41a is rotatably supported on the bearings 44, 45 on the suction port 15 side at one end and the suction pipe 14 side at the other end, and the bearing 45 part on the suction side communicates with the suction pipe 14 and is set so that it is The dust sucked together with the air from the dust removal boxes 10 and 11 flows out into the suction pipe 14 through the periphery of the bearing 45 at the other end.

On the other hand, the elastic scraper 41b is disposed so as to elastically contact the surface of the filter 4 and function to scrape and float the dust adhering to the surface of the filter 4 . As shown in FIG. 16, the elastic scraper 41b is formed as a spiral wound around two turns in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 41a from one end of the rotating shaft 41a from the side of the suction port 15 to the other end. At one end of the suction pipe 14 side, the elastic scraper 41b is extended to the outer end side in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 41a, and the extended portion 41c is set so that it is located around the bearing portion 45 of the rotating shaft 41a. It is set so that the dust which tends to accumulate on the bearing part 45 flows out to the side of the suction pipe 14 .

In addition, the suction ports 2 of the dust removal boxes 10 and 11 are formed to be long in the left and right directions, but as shown in FIG. . In this case, in order to prevent the elastic scraper 41b of the cleaning brush 41 from rubbing against the reinforcing member 48 and causing abnormal noise, the central part may be cut off in the axial direction of the elastic scraper 41b to form a concave portion 49, which can be rotated The reinforcement member 48 can be avoided during this time.

In the above configuration, when the air conditioner is operated, air is sucked in from the suction port 2 of the indoor unit main body 1, and dust C in the air adheres to the surface of the net filter 19. The control mechanism provided in the indoor unit 1 controls the suction fan when it judges that the operating time of the air conditioner has reached a predetermined time, or when it judges that the surface of the filter 4 is dirty based on the detection result of a dirt detection mechanism such as an optical sensor. 12 and the action of moving mechanism etc., carry out the cleaning of filter 4.

First, the moving mechanism 43 operates to move the filter 4 in the vertical direction by the interval z between the transverse ribs 21 and stop it. In this state, the suction fan 12 is operated, and air is sucked from the ventilation port 15 serving as the inlet of the flow path 17 to the suction fan 12 . Simultaneously, the cleaning brush 41 is rotated, and the dust adhering to the surface of the filter 4 is scraped up by the elastic scraper 41 b to make it float, and the dust is blown away by the airflow of the suction fan 12 to remove dust.

Thus, in the present embodiment, while moving the filter 4 along the guide path 18 of the dust removal boxes 10, 11, the cleaning brush 41 is rotationally driven to forcibly detach the dust adhering to the surface of the filter 4, And by the air flow generated by the air flow generating mechanism, the dust that is separated and floated is discharged from the dust removal box 10, 11 to the suction fan 12 side, so the stubborn dirt adhering to the surface of the filter 4 can also be forcibly removed. Float and remove. In addition, since the extended portion 41c of the elastic scraper 41b formed on the suction fan side of the rotary shaft is arranged around the bearing portion 45 of the rotary shaft 41a, it is possible to prevent the air containing the sucked dust from flowing from the elastic scraper 41b. The end penetrates into the bearing portion 45 .

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the filter is moved in the vertical direction, but instead of this, an aspect in which the dust removal box and the cleaning brush are moved relative to the filter may be used.

[the fourth embodiment]

A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIG. 19 . This embodiment is characterized in that the rotation of the electric motor that rotates and drives the cleaning brush in the third embodiment is controlled, and other configurations are the same as those of the third embodiment.

FIG. 19( a ), FIG. 19( b ), and FIG. 19( c ) are schematic diagrams of filter cleaning devices showing different electric motor control methods in this embodiment. In FIG. 19( a ), the electric motor 47 is controlled by a control unit 50 composed of a microcomputer so that the rotation direction of the cleaning brush 41 becomes a constant direction.

Such control is simple control because the rotation direction of the electric motor 47 is fixed. At this time, the rotation direction of the cleaning brush 41 is rotationally driven in a direction opposing the moving direction of the filter 4 when the filter 4 moves forward. For example, as shown in Figure 5 (a), when the filter 4 moves to the A direction, the rotation direction of the cleaning brush 41 is driven to rotate in the B direction opposite to the A direction, and it is easy to adhere to the surface of the filter 4. dust removed.

In FIG. 19( b ), the electric motor is set such that the direction of rotation of the motor is determined based on the rotor position when its voltage is activated. In which direction the cleaning brush 41 rotates is uncertain. Generally, the electric motor 47 is provided with a lock mechanism (not shown) for controlling the rotor position at a stop in order to make the rotation direction at the start constant. As is well known, this locking mechanism is constituted by an electromagnet core or the like detachably provided on a rotor (not shown), but this locking mechanism is discarded. Then, the stop position of the rotor becomes uncertain, and at the time of restarting, the rotation direction of the electric motor 47 is forward or reverse depending on the position of the stopped rotor.

Therefore, the cleaning brush 41 connected to the electric motor 47 changes the rotation direction with a probability of 1/2. If the control of such electric motor 47 is carried out, when the rotation direction of the motor is one direction and the cleaning brush 41 also rotates in one direction, dust may accumulate on one end of the filter 4, but due to the rotation direction Changes at a probability of 1/2, so the dust reciprocates back and forth on the filter, and it is possible to prevent the dust from accumulating on one end of the filter 4 in the long run.

In FIG. 19( c ), the electric motor 47 is time-sequentially controlled by the control unit 50 so that its rotation direction is a combination of forward rotation and reverse rotation. In the control unit 50 , for example, control is performed such that the rotation direction is reversed every other cleaning operation, or that the rotation direction is reversed once in 10 cleaning operations.

In the above-mentioned structure, the control is slightly complicated by the sequential control of the electric motor 47, but the dust will not accumulate on one end of the filter 4 as in the case where the rotation direction is always constant, and the filter can be reliably moved. 4 remove the dust on it.

In addition, the suction ports 2 of the dust removal boxes 10 and 11 are formed to be long in the left and right directions. However, as shown in FIG. In this case, in order to prevent the elastic scraper 41b of the cleaning brush 41 from rubbing against the reinforcing member 48 and causing abnormal noise, the central part may be cut off in the axial direction of the elastic scraper 41b to form a concave portion 49, which can be rotated The reinforcement member 48 can be avoided during this time.

Industrial Applicability

The present invention can be usefully used for a filter cleaning device that cleans a filter that removes dust in the air, and air conditioning devices such as air conditioners, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, air cleaners, and heaters equipped with the filter cleaning device. middle.

Claims (14)

1. A filter cleaning device, which is a filter cleaning device that cleans a filter that removes dust in the air, is characterized in that it has a dust removal box with a slit that can guide the filter to the inside, and a dust removal box in the dust removal box. The air flow generating mechanism that generates air flow inside, the above-mentioned dust removal box is formed in a long way across the filter, and the above-mentioned air flow generation mechanism is formed on the suction port formed at one end side of the length direction of the above-mentioned dust removal box and connected to the other side. The suction mechanism that sucks air from one end side is configured, and the airflow generating mechanism generates airflow from one end side in the longitudinal direction of the above-mentioned dust box to the other end side, and the adhered particles that are guided into the dust box from the above-mentioned gap are guided by the airflow. The dust on the filter is removed. 2. The filter cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the above-mentioned dust removal box is formed into a half-segmented shape, and the half-segmented dust removal box is respectively arranged on both sides of the front and back of the filter, and will be formed on The gap between the above-mentioned half-divided dust-removing boxes is used as a gap for guiding the filter. 3. The filter cleaning device according to claim 1, further comprising a movement mechanism for relatively moving the filter in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the dust removal box. 4. The filter cleaning device according to claim 3, wherein the filter is provided with a plurality of protruding transverse ribs, and the transverse ribs are arranged at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction of the filter, and formed such that the space between the transverse ribs The interval is approximately the same as the width of the dust box, the slit is formed as a space through which the cross rib of the filter can pass, and the moving mechanism is operated to make the cross rib block the slit of the dust box. 5. The filter cleaning device according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of protruding horizontal ribs are formed on the surface of the filter in the longitudinal direction, and the dust removal box has a box with an air flow path formed therein. The main body and the guide walls formed in the longitudinal direction at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the case main body are formed such that the longitudinal length of the guide walls is longer than the inner dimension of the adjacent transverse ribs. 6. The filter cleaning device according to claim 4, wherein the dust removal box is arranged such that the longitudinal direction of both ends of the box main body is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the transverse rib. 7. The filter cleaning device according to claim 3, wherein a cleaning brush disposed along the longitudinal direction of the dust removal box is provided in the dust removal box, and the filter is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the dust removal box. The dust adhering to the surface of the filter is forcibly detached while the cleaning brush is rotated while relatively moving, and the floating dust is removed from the dust box by the air flow generating mechanism. 8. The filter cleaning device according to claim 7, further comprising a motor for rotationally driving the cleaning brush, and the motor drives the cleaning brush to forcibly remove dust adhering to the surface of the filter. 9. The filter cleaning device according to claim 8, wherein the motor is controlled so that the rotation direction of the cleaning brush becomes a certain direction. 10. The filter cleaning device according to claim 8, wherein the motor is set such that the rotation direction of the motor is determined corresponding to the rotor position when its voltage is activated, and the rotation direction of the cleaning brush is for any direction. 11. The filter cleaning device according to claim 8, wherein the motor is time-sequentially controlled so that its rotation direction is a combination of forward rotation and reverse rotation. 12. The filter cleaning device according to claim 7, wherein the cleaning brush is composed of a plurality of elastic scrapers arranged helically around the rotating shaft. 13. The filter cleaning device according to claim 12, wherein the elastic scraper formed on the other end side of the rotating shaft extends along the axial direction of the rotating shaft, and the extending portion is arranged on a bearing of the rotating shaft around the department. 14. An air conditioning device, which is equipped with a filter for removing dust in the air in the air passage from the suction port of the device main body to the blowing port, and is characterized in that it is equipped with the right to clean the filter. The cleaning device described in any one of 1 to 13 is required.

Images