JP2001087163A - Hand dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce time for drying wet hands by increasing the wind speed and the air capacity of a hand dryer. SOLUTION: The impeller 36 of the centrifugal blower 30 of a hand dryer 1 is formed to be a double suction type and the blower 30 is disposed in the chamber of an air intake duct.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hand drying device for drying wet hands after washing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional hand drying device having a hand insertion portion for drying wet hands after washing is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 7-13607.
The technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 6 is known.

FIG. 7 shows a conventional hand drying device having a hand insertion portion described in the above publication. In the figure, 1 is a box body which is a main body of a hand drying device, 2 is a U-shaped hand insertion portion provided on the box body 1 with open front and side surfaces, 3 is a blower as a high-pressure air flow generator, Reference numeral 4 denotes a drain port provided at the bottom of the hand insertion portion, and 5 denotes a drain pipe for guiding drain water from the drain port to the drain tank 11 below.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a suction port of the high-pressure air flow generator, 7 denotes a suction port provided below the box 2, 9 denotes an intake duct communicating the suction ports 6 and 7, and 10 denotes a chamber corresponding to the upstream of the suction port 6. , 11 is a drain tank for collecting drain water from the drain pipe 5, 14 is a filter provided at the suction port 7, 16 is an exhaust duct for guiding air from a high-pressure air flow generator to a nozzle, 18 a and 18 b are high-pressure It is a nozzle that blows out an air flow.

[0005] The blower 3 comprises an electric motor section and an impeller section. The impeller for generating high-pressure air is a front view in FIG.
Is shown in the sectional view. In the figure, the impeller includes a main plate 19 fixed to a rotating shaft of an electric motor, a side plate 20 having an intake opening 20a in the center, and a plurality of blades 21 arranged in a plane radial pattern between the main plate 19 and the side plate 20. And the main plate 19,
The side plate 20 and the blade 21 are caulked at the caulking portion 21a and are joined.

In the hand drying apparatus constructed as described above, when the hand is inserted into the hand insertion section 1, a sensor (not shown) provided at the back of the hand insertion section detects the hand and the blower 3 is operated. I do. When the blower 3 operates, the air enters the blower 3 from the suction port 7 through the suction duct 9 and the suction port 6, and is blown out at a high pressure.

[0007] The high-pressure air blown from the blower 3 passes through the exhaust duct 16 and is blown from the upper and lower nozzles 18a and 18b as high-speed airflow to the hand insertion portion 1, hitting a wet hand and blowing off water droplets attached to the hand. dry. The water drops blown off adhere to the inner wall of the hand insertion chamber 2 and flow downward, and flow into the drain tank 11 from the drain port 4 through the drain pipe 5.

[0008]

The hand-drying device constructed as described above applies high-speed air to a wet hand and blows off water droplets attached to the hand to dry the hand for a short time. However, there is a demand in the market for further short-time drying, and in order to achieve this, it is necessary to increase the wind speed and air volume of the air applied to the hand. It is necessary to reduce the distance between the nozzles 18a and 18b facing each other to forcibly reduce the distance between the hand and the nozzle, or to shorten the blowing width of the nozzle to increase the wind speed.

However, if two fans are mounted, the size and weight of the entire product increase, and if two motors are used, noise and vibration during operation increase. Further, when the distance between the nozzles facing the hand insertion portion is reduced, the space for the hand insertion portion is narrowed, so that the hand easily hits the surface of the hand insertion portion, and there is a problem that the usability is deteriorated. In addition, when the length of the blowout width of the nozzle is reduced, the ends of both hands tend to deviate from the blowout width of the nozzle, and there is a problem that water droplets partially remain.

Further, in order to increase the wind speed and the air volume of the air flow with one blower, it is necessary to increase the diameter of the impeller of the blower, increase the thickness of the impeller, or increase the rotation speed of the impeller. Although there is a method, when the diameter of the impeller is increased, the size of the product increases, and the stress due to centrifugal force or the like increases as the diameter increases, so that the blade is easily damaged.

Further, when the thickness of the component is increased to increase the strength, there is a problem that the weight increases and the stress increases. In addition, the method of increasing the number of revolutions increases the centrifugal force by the square of the number of revolutions, so that blades are likely to be similarly damaged.
And other issues.

The present invention solves the above problems, realizes high static pressure and large air volume output with a single blower, and does not impair the usability as a hand dryer and increases the air velocity and air volume from the nozzle. The present invention relates to a hand drying device that achieves further drying in a shorter time.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a blower for generating a high-speed air flow provided in a box at a hand insertion portion which is open on the front and side surfaces of the box and has a space for accommodating hands. In a hand drying device for ejecting high-speed airflow from nozzles respectively arranged on mutually facing surfaces of the hand insertion portion, the impeller of the blower has a main plate fixed to a rotating shaft and an intake opening at the center. Side plates and blades that partition a space between the main plate and the side plates are arranged in a plane radial pattern, and the side plates and the blades are formed on both sides of the main plate to form a double suction type.

Further, when the impeller is viewed from the direction of the rotating shaft, the positional relationship between the one blade and the other blade is located at a substantially intermediate position between the blades.

Further, the impeller is formed by arranging the impeller in a plane radial pattern with a main plate, a side plate, and blades for partitioning a space between the main plate and the side plate. It is configured in combination.

Further, a reinforcing member is provided between and on both sides of the main plate of the impeller, and a means for preventing the main plate from rotating is provided on the reinforcing member, and the main plate is held between the reinforcing members.

Further, the impeller is constituted by one main plate,
The blades and side plates are provided on both sides.

[0018] Further, the hand insertion portion, which is open on the front and side surfaces of the box and has a size capable of accommodating the hands, is opposed to each other by a blower for generating a high-speed air flow provided in the box. In a hand dryer having a configuration in which a high-speed air flow is ejected from nozzles disposed on respective surfaces, a chamber constituting an air path is provided in the box body, and the blower is provided in the chamber.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. The detailed description of the same parts as in the conventional example is omitted. FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a hand drying device of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a box which forms the outer shell of the hand dryer, 2
Reference numeral denotes a hand insertion portion which is provided on the front and side surfaces of the box body 1 so as to be freely inserted and withdrawn, and has a substantially U-shape with a downward inclination. Reference numeral 4 denotes a drain port provided at the bottom of the hand insertion section 2, 5 a drain pipe connected to the drain port 4, and 11 a drain tank for storing drain water.

Reference numerals 18a and 18b denote nozzles for blowing out a high-speed airflow provided on the surface opposite to the entrance of the hand insertion portion 2,
A wind is simultaneously applied to both the back and palm sides of the hand so that water droplets attached to the hand can be removed from the front and back of the hand without rubbing the hand (not shown) inserted into the hand insertion portion 2 and the entrance. It is provided with a slope that forms a pressure gradient from the back to the back.

The inner wall surface 2a of the hand insertion portion 2 is impregnated with a water-repellent coating such as a silicon-based or fluorine-based coating, a hydrophilic coating such as a titanium oxide coating, or an antibacterial agent. The aim is to reduce the adhesion of dirt and the propagation of bacteria.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a centrifugal blower for generating high-pressure air, which is provided in a chamber 40 below the hand insertion portion. The chamber 40 has a discharge port 40a on the upper surface thereof to which the discharge port 31 of the blower 30 is connected to discharge high-speed air, and has a suction port 41 on a lower surface to form an intake air passage. The blower 30 in the chamber 40 is fixed so that the outlet 31 matches the outlet 40a of the chamber.

A part for fixing the blower 30 in the chamber and a part for fixing the discharge port 31 are fixed via a vibration isolating member (for example, a component such as a spring material or a rubber material) for vibration isolation, and have a floating function. Therefore, the vibration of the blower 30 is hardly transmitted to the surroundings so that the noise does not increase.
A removable filter 42 for removing dust and the like in the air is provided at an intake port 41 of the chamber 40.

Reference numeral 32 denotes an exhaust duct connected to the outlet 31 of the blower 30, and a nozzle 18 provided in the hand insertion portion 2.
a, 18b. The connection between the discharge port 31 and the exhaust duct 32 is connected to the outside of the chamber 40 via a vibration isolating member to reduce vibration of the blower 30 transmitted to the exhaust duct 32. Reference numerals 12a and 12b denote light emitting elements and light receiving elements which are sensors for detecting a hand, and reference numeral 13 denotes a light emitting element for illumination which illuminates the hand insertion section 2 and the inserted hand.

When the hand is inserted into the hand insertion portion 2 up to the vicinity of the wrist, and the sensors 12a and 12b detect the hand and the blower 30 is activated, air passes through the chamber 40 from the intake port 41 and is sucked into the blower 30 to generate high pressure. An intake air path that becomes air,
After being discharged from the blower 30 and passing through the exhaust duct 32,
An air passage is formed that includes an exhaust air passage through which high-speed air is ejected from the nozzles 18a and 18b.

Next, the blower will be described. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the blower 30 of the present invention. In the figure, the blower 3
Reference numeral 0 denotes an electric motor unit 33a and an impeller unit 34a. The electric motor 33 of the electric motor unit 33a rotates an impeller for generating high-pressure air. The impeller part 34a includes an outer scroll casing 34 and a cover 35, and a centrifugal impeller 36 that rotates inside them. A bell mouth-shaped suction port 3 is provided in each of the scroll casing 34 and the cover 35.
4c and 35c are provided. The impeller 36 is the electric motor 3
3 is fixed to the rotating shaft 33c with a nut 33b.

When the electric motor 33 rotates, the impeller 36 rotates, and the chamber 40 from both sides of the suction ports 34c and 35c.
The inside air is sucked in and discharged from the outlet 31 as high static pressure air. The impeller 36 is rotated at 15,000 to 30,000 revolutions per minute in order to output high static pressure and large air volume air. When aiming at a higher static pressure, the rotation speed may be set to 30,000 rpm or more.

Next, the impeller 36 will be described. FIG.
Is a sectional view of the impeller 36 of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a front view thereof. In the figure, the impeller 36 has two impellers 36a, 3a
6b. Two impellers 36a, 36b
Is composed of disk-shaped main plates 19a and 19b, disk-shaped side plates 20 having a central intake opening 20a, and blades 21. A plurality of blades 21 are arranged in a plane radial manner between the main plates 19a, 19b and the side plate 20, and the main plates 19a, 19b are arranged.
The space between b and the side plate 20 is partitioned, and high-pressure air is generated by rotation. The main plates 19a and 19b, the side plates 20 and the blades 21 are fixed by caulking.

Reference numeral 21a denotes a swaged portion of the blade 21;
Of the main plate 19a19b and the side plate 20 are fitted into the holes of the main plate 19a19b and the side plate 20, and the tip is caulked so as to protrude from the surface of the main plate or the side plate. The impellers 36a and 36b sandwich the washer 22 as a reinforcing member between the main plates 19a and 19b on the side opposite to the side plate, and are aligned so that the side plates 20 are located outside each other. The impeller 36 is formed by caulking and fixing the end face.

In FIG. 4, two impellers 36a, 36
The positional relationship of the blades 21 in b, when viewed from the rotation axis direction,
The blades of one adjacent impeller (e.g., 36a) and the other impeller (e.g., 36b) are fixed in a positional relationship such that they are located at intermediate positions between the blades. That is, the blade position angles θ1 and θ2 in the drawing are substantially the same.

Next, a reinforcing member for holding the impeller will be described. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion A in FIG. The washer 22 as a reinforcing member is provided with a small-diameter convex portion 22a and a concave portion 22b as detent means. The protrusion 22a is formed to protrude longer than the thickness of the main plate. Recess 22b
Is the opening area required for the protrusion 22a to be fitted and the protrusion 2
It has a depth substantially equal to the protrusion length of 2a. Main plate 19
a and 19b have small holes 1 at positions corresponding to the convex portions 22a.
9c is provided, and when the washer 22 and the main plates 19a and 19b are combined, the protrusion 22a and the hole 19c are fitted together to form the washer 22.
And the surfaces of the main plates 19a and 19b are brought into close contact with each other. When the impeller 36 rotates or stops due to the fitting of the projections 22a into the holes 19c, the main plates 19a and 19b are fixed so as not to shift in the rotation direction.

The washer 22 is made of a steel plate having a thickness of 1.6 mm and has high strength and can be held firmly when the main plates 19a and 19b are clamped and fixed, thereby reducing distortion of the surfaces of the main plates 19a and 19b. In addition, vibration can be prevented by suppressing surface runout. Further, by sandwiching between the main plates 19a and 19b, the main plates 19a and 19b can also function as a spacer, and a space of 1.6 mm can be secured. Can be fixed in parallel without hindrance.

In the hand drying device thus constructed, when the hand is inserted into the hand insertion section 2 to the vicinity of the wrist, the sensor 12
When the hands a and 12b detect the hand, the blower 30 is activated, whereby air is sucked through the filter 42 from the air inlet 41 of the chamber 40, passes through the chamber 40, and is sucked into the blower 30. The air becomes high-pressure air in the blower 30 and passes through the exhaust duct 32 through the nozzles 18a, 18
High speed air is blown out from b.

The high-speed air ejected from the nozzles 18a and 18b hits the hand inserted into the hand insertion portion 2, and blows off water adhering to the surface of the hand as water droplets. Further, by inserting and removing the hand in the hand insertion portion 2, all the water droplets attached to the entire hand are removed, and the hand is dried. When the hands are completely removed from the hand insertion section 2 after the hands are dried, the fans 12 stop because the sensors 12a and 12b no longer detect the hands.

In addition, the impeller is a double-suction type blower so that both sides serve as suction ports, so that the size of the blades and the number of revolutions which cause damage to the blades can be increased without increasing the speed. An output of a static pressure and a large air volume is obtained, and a further short-time drying hand drying device can be realized. Also, by using a two-suction type impeller, parts other than the impeller such as the electric motor and the scroll casing that constitute the blower need only be one unit, so compared to mounting two blowers,
The intake air path becomes smaller, the number of connection points becomes one, the storage space becomes smaller, and the hand dryer can be made more compact and lighter in weight.

Also, since one motor can be used, high static pressure
Even if the air volume is increased, the noise and vibration of the blower are small, and the noise and vibration of the hand dryer can be reduced. In addition, since the phase of the noise generated from each of the impellers is inverted by arranging the blades of the other impeller at a substantially intermediate position of one of the adjacent blades of the impeller, the noises of the blowers cancel each other. And the noise of the hand dryer can be reduced. In addition, by combining a plurality of impellers with the main plates facing each other, a double suction type impeller can be easily manufactured.

Further, by installing the blower in the chamber as one intake air path, the intake air path can be constituted by one despite the fact that the number of suction ports is increased to two in the double suction type blower. Therefore, the pressure loss in the air path is small and the blowing performance is improved. Further, there is no need to directly connect the intake air path and the blower, and the configuration of the intake air path can be simplified. Further, there is no need to partition the chamber for each electric motor or scroll casing, and the structure of the chamber is simplified, so that the configuration of the hand dryer can be simplified and the size can be reduced.

Further, by installing the blower in the chamber, the air sucked from the suction port 34a flows around the motor, so that the heat of the motor can be taken away, the cooling can be performed, and the temperature rise of the motor can be suppressed. In addition, by installing the blower in the chamber, the electric motor and the impeller can be combined and handled as a blower by combining the electric motor and the impeller, so that the hand dryer can be easily assembled.

Next, another embodiment of the impeller will be described. FIG.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an impeller showing another embodiment of the impeller, in which the main plate 19 is shared by an impeller having a single main plate 19, side plates 20 and blades provided on both sides to form a double suction type. Thus, the main plate and the reinforcing members, which are the components of the impeller, are reduced, and the size and weight of the blower can be reduced.

[0040]

According to the present invention, since the impeller of the blower is configured with both suctions, it is possible to increase the wind speed and air volume without increasing the size of the hand drying device, and obtain a hand drying device capable of drying in a shorter time. Has the effect.

Further, since the impeller of the blower is configured such that the positional relationship between the one-sided blade and the other-sided blade is at an intermediate position between the blades, the noise generated from the impeller is reduced, and the hand dryer is provided. This has the effect of reducing noise.

In addition, by combining a plurality of impellers with the main plates facing each other, it is possible to easily produce a double suction type impeller.

Further, the impeller is provided with a reinforcing member, and the reinforcing member is provided with means for preventing rotation of the main plate, and the main plate is sandwiched by the reinforcing member, whereby the main plate can be firmly held and the main plate is prevented from being displaced. There is an effect that a hand drying device with less vibration and noise can be obtained.

Also, by providing the impeller with the blades provided on both sides of one main plate, the number of components is reduced, the blower is made more compact, and a more compact hand dryer is obtained.

Further, by providing the blower in the chamber constituting the air path, the structure of the chamber and the air path can be simplified, and a compact and high-performance hand dryer can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a hand dryer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a blower portion of the hand drying device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an impeller of the blower of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the impeller of the blower of the present invention.

5 is an enlarged view of a portion A of FIG. 3 of the impeller of the blower of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing another shape of the impeller of the blower of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a conventional hand drying device.

FIG. 8 is a front view of an impeller of a conventional blower portion.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional impeller of a blower portion.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 Hand insertion part, 19, 19a, 19b Main plate, 20
Side plate, 21 blades, 22 washers, 22a convex part,
22b recess, 30 blower, 31 exhaust port,
32 exhaust duct, 34c suction port, 35c suction port, 36, 36a, 36b impeller, 40 chamber, 40a exhaust port, 41 intake port.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A hand insertion unit having an opening on the front and side surfaces of a box body and having a size capable of accommodating a hand is opposed to each other by a blower for generating a high-speed air flow provided in the box body. In a hand dryer for ejecting a high-speed air flow from nozzles disposed on respective surfaces, the impeller of the blower includes a main plate fixed to a rotating shaft, a side plate having an intake opening in the center, the main plate and the side plate. A hand drying device, wherein the side plates and the blades are arranged on both sides of the main plate to form a double suction type by arranging blades for partitioning a space between the main plate and the blades. 2. When the impeller is viewed from a rotation axis direction,
The hand dryer according to claim 1, wherein a positional relationship between the one-sided blade and the other-sided blade is located at a substantially intermediate position between the blades. 3. An impeller comprising a main plate, side plates, and blades partitioning a space between the main plate and the side plates arranged in a plane radial pattern, wherein a plurality of main plates are opposed to each other on opposite sides of the blades. The hand drying device according to claim 1, wherein the hand drying device is configured in combination. 4. A reinforcing member is provided between and on both sides of a main plate of the impeller, and means for preventing rotation of the main plate is provided on the reinforcing member, and the main plate is sandwiched between the reinforcing members. 4. The hand dryer according to 3. 5. The impeller is composed of a single main plate, and the blades and side plates are provided on both sides thereof.
A hand drying device according to claim 1. 6. A hand insertion portion, which is open on the front and side surfaces of the box and has a size capable of accommodating hands, is opposed to each other by a blower provided in the box for generating a high-speed air flow. A hand drying device configured to eject a high-speed air flow from nozzles disposed on respective surfaces, wherein a chamber constituting an air path is provided in the box body, and the blower is provided in the chamber. Drying equipment.