JP2000055419A - Water supply mechanism and humidifier using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To supply water without carrying a feed water tank to the tap of a water conduit. SOLUTION: A feed water tank 32 is detachably supported in a body 12. A boss 18 is fixed to the feed water tank 32, and an opening 32A is formed at the upper portion of the feed water tank 32 with an upper cap 48 being screwed thereinto to shut up the opening 32A. A valve 36 is attached to a lower portion of the feed water tank 32. A cover member 26 is supported at the upper portion of the body 12 through a hinge 28 so that the cover can be opened and shut. A pinion 38 is fixed to the hinge 28, and a rack 42 for engaging with the pinion 38 is formed on a slide bar 40 which slidably extends into the body 12. A cam 44 is formed on the upper surface of the slide bar 40, so that the valve 36 of the feed water tank 32 is opened and closed by the boss 18 which moves as it engages with the cam 44.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water supply mechanism and a humidifier capable of humidifying indoor air by using the same, and is suitable for, for example, a humidifier in which water is heated and evaporated by a heater.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a humidifier for humidifying indoor air, for example, a humidifier 110 shown in FIG. 5 is generally known. In the humidifier 110, the water sent from the water supply tank 112 is heated by a heater (not shown) to evaporate, and the humidifier 11
By being sent out from the upper part in the inside of 0, it has a structure which humidifies the indoor air.

[0003]

The humidifier 110
When water is supplied to the humidifier 110, the water supply tank 112 is removed from the apparatus main body of the humidifier 110, and the water supply faucet 1 such as a sink or a lavatory is used although the frequency of water supply is as high as once a day.
Carry the handle 114 of the water tank 112 up to 18
As shown in FIG. 6, the water supply tank 112 had to be turned upside down and the cap 116 had to be removed to supply water.

Further, after the water supply to the water supply tank 112 is completed, the heavy water supply tank 112 weighing several kilograms has to be carried to the apparatus main body of the humidifier 110 and set on the humidifier 110.

[0005] For this reason, the water supply operation is inconvenient due to poor workability, and at the same time, is a difficult operation for elderly people, children, persons with disabilities and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a water supply mechanism and a humidifier capable of supplying water without carrying the water supply tank to a water tap when supplying water to the water supply tank. Aim.

[0007]

The operation of the humidifier according to claim 1 for solving the problem will be described below.

[0008] Water is supplied from, for example, a water supply tank via a valve to a device main body containing a water supply tank storing water, and the supplied water is evaporated to humidify the room.

On the other hand, when water is supplied to the water supply tank, a valve opening / closing mechanism opens and closes a valve of the water supply tank in accordance with opening and closing movement of a lid member supported by the apparatus main body so as to be openable and closable. Further, in a state in which the valve is closed, by removing an upper cap closing an upper opening of the water supply tank, water can be supplied to the water supply tank.

Therefore, when water is supplied to the water supply tank, the water supply tank can be supplied to the water supply tank in a separate container such as a kettle without carrying the water supply tank to the water tap, so that the water supply to the water supply tank can be easily performed. Became.

That is, in addition to the conventional water supply method, a function of directly supplying water to the water supply tank located in the apparatus main body without removing the water supply tank is added, so that the water supply form is diversified and the user's water supply form is diversified. It became possible to select the water supply method according to your preference. As a result, it has become possible to easily supply water even to elderly people, children, persons with disabilities and the like who have difficulty holding heavy objects.

The operation of the humidifier according to claim 2 for solving the problem will be described below.

The present invention has the same structure as that of the first aspect and operates in the same manner. However, in the present invention, the lid member is supported by the apparatus body via a hinge so as to be openable and closable, and the valve opening and closing mechanism is A pinion attached to a hinge, a boss fixed to the outside of the water supply tank, a rack engaging with the pinion and a cam engaging with the boss, and as the cam moves the boss to raise and lower the water tank. And a slide member for opening and closing the valve of the water supply tank.

Accordingly, as the lid member is opened, the pinion attached to the hinge rotates, power is transmitted to the rack meshed with the pinion, and the slide member slides.

When the slide member slides, the water supply tank rises with respect to the apparatus body as the boss attached to the outside of the water supply tank moves along the cam of the slide member. When the water supply tank rises, the valve at the lower part of the water supply tank closes, so that water does not flow into the apparatus main body. Then, the upper cap is opened by hand to open the opening of the water supply tank, and water is supplied to the water supply tank with a kettle or the like.

On the other hand, after the water supply is completed, the upper cap is closed by hand, the opening of the water supply tank is closed, and the lid member is further closed, whereby the pinion rotates in the reverse direction to mesh with the pinion. The slide member slides with the rack. Further, the water supply tank is lowered with respect to the apparatus main body as the boss moves down along the cam of the slide member, so that the humidifier is operated.

The operation of the humidifier according to claim 3 for solving the problem will be described below.

The present invention has the same structure as that of the second aspect and operates in the same manner. However, in the present invention, the cam of the slide member has a horizontal portion extending horizontally and a slope connected to the horizontal portion. The configuration includes a slope portion and a holding portion formed slightly lower than the upper end portion of the slope portion.

Therefore, when the slide member slides, the boss attached to the outside of the water supply tank moves along the cam of the slide member, and the boss is moved from the horizontally extending horizontal portion to the inclined surface portion. The water supply tank rises with respect to the apparatus main body by moving the boss so as to climb the holding portion.

At this time, the boss is placed on the holding portion formed slightly lower than the upper end portion of the cam slope, so that the movement of the boss is hindered, and the lid member is improper due to the weight of the supplied water tank. It does not close easily.

On the other hand, when the sliding member slides in the opposite direction to the above, the humidifier is lowered by lowering the water supply tank with respect to the apparatus main body as the boss moves down along the slope of the cam. It will be in the state when driving.

The operation of the water supply mechanism according to claim 4 for solving the problem will be described below.

A liquid storage tank lifting mechanism raises and lowers a liquid storage tank housed in the apparatus main body in conjunction with opening and closing of a lid member provided to be openable and closable with respect to the apparatus main body. The valve opening and closing mechanism opens and closes the valve of the liquid storage tank.

That is, as the lid member is opened, the liquid storage tank rises with respect to the apparatus main body as in the second aspect. When the liquid storage tank rises, the valve at the lower part of the liquid storage tank closes, and water does not flow into the apparatus main body.

On the other hand, when the liquid storage tank is lowered with respect to the apparatus main body by closing the lid member, the valve of the liquid storage tank is opened to operate the humidifier. Becomes

[0026]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a water supply mechanism of the present invention and a humidifier using the same is shown in FIGS.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to these drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a humidifier 10 according to this embodiment has a resin-made box-shaped apparatus main body constituting an outer frame portion of a humidifier 10. A water receiving tray 14 is formed for detachably supporting a water supply tank 32 that stores water and serves as a water supply source and also serves as a liquid storage tank of a water supply mechanism. A projecting portion 16 which is a valve opening / closing mechanism of the water supply mechanism is provided.

A pair of bosses 18 are fixed to the outside of a water supply tank 32 which is detachably attached to the water receiving tray 14, and an opening 32A is provided at an upper part of the water supply tank 32.
Is formed, and the upper cap 48 is screwed in to close the opening 32A.

Further, a lower cap 34 is screwed and fixed to the water supply tank 32 at a lower portion of the water supply tank 32, and a hole 34A formed in the lower cap 34 is formed.
Is mounted on the lower cap 34.

Then, the valve 36 is opened and closed by being pushed by the convex portion 16, and in FIG. 1, the valve 36 opens the hole 34 A of the lower cap 34. For this reason, water leaking from the water supply tank 32 through the hole 34A of the lower cap 34 is accumulated in the water receiving tray 14, and a float sensor (not shown) arranged in the water receiving tray 14 detects this water amount. Will do.

Further, a lid member 26 is supported on the upper part of the body 12 via a hinge 28 so as to be openable and closable so that at least the upper part of the body 12 is opened corresponding to the water supply tank 32. At the top of 26 is the handle 26
A is attached.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
8, a pinion 38 as a pair of sector gears is attached, and a slide bar 40 as a pair of slide members slidably extending in the body 12 in parallel with each other.
A rack 42 that meshes with the pinion 38 is formed.

The upper surface of the slide bar 40 has a horizontal portion 44A extending horizontally, a slope portion 44B which is a slope connected to the horizontal portion 44A, and a holding portion 44C slightly lower than the upper end portion of the slope portion 44B. A cam 44 is formed, and a pair of bosses 18 fixed to the outside of the water supply tank 32 are engaged with the cams 44 respectively.
4 can be moved.

That is, the boss 18, the pinion 38, the slide bar 40 and the like constitute a valve opening / closing mechanism 46 also serving as a liquid storage tank elevating mechanism of the water supply mechanism.
The valve opening / closing mechanism 46 raises / lowers the water supply tank 32 with respect to the body 12 in accordance with the opening / closing operation of the body 12, thereby opening and closing the valve 36 of the water supply tank 32.

Further, at a position adjacent to the water supply tank 32 via the wall portion, a steam duct 24 extending in a vertically tubular shape is disposed.
An air supply port 24A is formed in the center of the upper end of
A cup-shaped evaporating dish 22 is provided below the steam duct 24.
Has been fixed.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, between the water receiving tray 14 and the lower part of the evaporating tray 22, a pipe 30 which is a tube made of silicone rubber connecting the water receiving tray 14 and the evaporating tray 22 is provided.
Is disposed, and the water tray 14 is
The water is fed into the evaporating dish 22 from above. A heater (not shown) for heating the evaporating dish 22 is provided below the evaporating dish 22.

Therefore, the water supplied from the water receiving tray 14 through the pipe 30 accumulates in the evaporating tray 22, and the evaporating tray 22
The water inside is heated by the heater and evaporates inside the evaporating dish 22.

Next, the operation of the water supply mechanism and the humidifier 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.

When water is supplied to the water receiving tray 14 of the body 12 through the valve 36 from a water supply tank 32 which is built in the body 12 forming the outer frame of the humidifier 10 and stores water.
This water is temporarily stored in the water receiving tray 14 and is supplied to the evaporating tray 22 via the pipe 30.

As shown in FIG. 1, water in the evaporating dish 22 heated by the heater evaporates with the heating of the evaporating dish 22, and steam generated from the evaporating dish 22 is supplied to the steam duct 24 by an air supply port. Guide to 24A.

In guiding the steam, the fan (not shown) blows the air outside the humidifier 10 into the steam duct 24, and the steam and the air are mixed while being stirred, so that the humidified air is cooled. The air is sent out of the humidifier 10 through the air supply port 24A, and the room is humidified.

Further, when the amount of water in the water receiving tray 14 decreases as the amount of water in the water supply tank 32 decreases, the float sensor detects this and the user can grasp the time of water supply.

On the other hand, when water is supplied to the water supply tank 32, the user using the humidifier 10 holds the handle 26A and opens and closes the lid member 26 supported by the body 12 via the hinge 28. However, with this opening and closing movement, the valve opening and closing mechanism 46 moves up the water supply tank 32 to open and close the valve 36.

That is, the slide bar 40 of the valve opening / closing mechanism 46 is a cam that engages with the rack 42 in which the pinion 38 attached to the hinge 28 of the lid member 26 meshes and the boss 18 fixed outside the water supply tank 32. The cam 44 has a horizontal portion 44A extending horizontally, and a slope portion 44 which is a slope connected to the horizontal portion 44A.
B and the holding portion 4 slightly lower than the upper end portion of the slope portion 44B.
4C.

Accordingly, as the lid member 26 is opened, the pinion 38 attached to the hinge 28 rotates, power is transmitted to the rack 42 meshed with the pinion 38, and the slide bar 40 slides.

At this time, as the boss 18 attached to the outside of the water supply tank 32 climbs from the horizontal portion 44A of the cam 44 of the slide bar 40 along the slope portion 44B, the water supply tank 32 rises with respect to the body 12. I do. And
When the water supply tank 32 rises, as shown in FIG.
6 comes out of the hole 34A of the lower cap 34, the valve 36 at the lower part of the water supply tank 32 is closed, and water does not flow into the body 12.

Further, in a state where the boss 18 is located on the holding portion 44C and the valve 36 is closed, the upper cap 48 closing the upper opening 32A of the water supply tank 32 is manually removed, and FIG. By opening the opening 32A of the water supply tank 32 as shown in FIG. 7, water can be supplied into the water supply tank 32 with a kettle or the like.

At this time, since the boss 18 is placed on the holding portion 44C formed in a flat shape slightly lower than the upper end portion of the slope portion 44B of the cam 44, the lid member 26 is moved by the weight of the supplied water tank 32. Never closes.

On the other hand, after the water supply is completed, the upper cap 48 is closed by hand, the opening 32A of the water supply tank 32 is closed, and the lid member 26 is further closed. The slide bar 40 slides together with the rack 42 meshed with 38. Then, as the boss 18 descends along the slope portion 44B of the cam 44, the water supply tank 3
When the humidifier 10 is operated as shown in FIG.

Therefore, when water is supplied to the water supply tank 32, the water supply tank 32 can be supplied to the water supply tank 32 in a separate container such as a kettle without carrying the water supply tank 32 to the tap, so that the water supply tank 32 can be easily supplied with water. Now you can do it.

That is, in addition to the conventional water supply method, a function of directly supplying water to the water supply tank 32 located on the body 12 without removing the water supply tank 32 is added, so that the water supply form is diversified, and It is now possible to select a water supply method according to the taste of the user. As a result of this,
It has become possible to easily supply water to elderly people, children, persons with disabilities and the like who have difficulty holding heavy objects.

In the above embodiment, the valve 3
6 is configured to be attached to the water supply tank 32 via the lower cap 34, but may be configured to directly attach the valve 36 to the water supply tank 32, and the present invention is not limited to the humidifier and is, for example, an oil supply mechanism for an oil stove. Can also be applied.

[0053]

As described above, according to the water supply mechanism of the present invention and the humidifier using the same, when supplying water to the water supply tank, it is possible to supply water without transporting the water supply tank to the tap. Is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a humidifier according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken in the direction of arrow 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the humidifier according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where a lid member is opened.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the humidifier according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where an opening of a water supply tank is opened.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a humidifier according to the related art.

FIG. 6 is a diagram in which water is supplied to a water supply tank of a humidifier according to the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Humidifier 12 Body 16 Convex part 18 Boss 26 Cover member 28 Hinge 32 Water supply tank 32A Opening 36 Valve 38 Pinion 40 Slide bar 42 Rack 44 Cam 48 Top cap 46 Valve opening / closing mechanism

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A water supply tank for storing water and having an opening at an upper portion and a valve at a lower portion, an upper cap for closing an opening of the water supply tank, a device main body containing the water supply tank, and a device. A humidifier comprising: a lid member supported by the main body so as to be openable and closable; and a valve opening and closing mechanism for opening and closing a valve of a water supply tank as the lid member is opened and closed. 2. A lid member is supported by the apparatus main body via a hinge so as to be openable and closable, and a valve opening / closing mechanism includes: a pinion attached to the hinge; a boss fixed outside the water supply tank; a rack meshing with the pinion; 2. A slide member having a cam which engages with the boss, and a slide member which opens and closes a valve of the water supply tank as the cam moves up and down the water supply tank by moving the boss. Humidifier. 3. The cam of the slide member has a horizontal portion extending horizontally, a slope portion connected to the horizontal portion, the slope portion being a slope, and a holding portion formed slightly lower than an upper end portion of the slope portion. The humidifier according to claim 2, characterized in that: 4. A lid member openably and closably provided with respect to the apparatus main body, a liquid storage tank accommodated in the apparatus main body, and a liquid storage tank elevating mechanism for raising and lowering the liquid storage tank in conjunction with opening and closing of the lid member. And a valve opening / closing mechanism for opening / closing a valve of the liquid storage tank as the liquid storage tank moves up and down.