JP2001221477A - Air cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air cleaner in which the motor can be protected against overload by interrupting operation upon detecting the fact that a dust collection filter is not set or a broken dust collection filter is set. SOLUTION: The air cleaner comprises means 7 for detecting the r.p.m. of a motor, means 8 for deciding whether a dust collection filter 5 is set or not by comparing an r.p.m. detected by the r.p.m. detecting means with a predetermined threshold value, and means 16 for driving the motor based on the decision results. If the r.p.m. of the motor detected by the r.p.m. detecting means is lower than the predetermined threshold value, the decision means makes a decision that the dust collection filter is not set and interrupts operation. Consequently, the motor can be protected against overload by interrupting operation upon detecting the fact that the dust collection filter is not set or a broken dust collection filter is set and overall size of the air cleaner can be reduced by reducing the size of the motor.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air purifier, and more particularly to an air purifier for detecting the presence or absence of a dust filter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 5, an air purifier includes a dust filter 5, a fan 6a, and a motor 6b formed in an air passage 4 formed in a main body 1 and connecting an intake port 2 and a discharge port 3. And an air blower 6 comprising the same. Then, by applying a predetermined voltage to the motor 6b of the blower 6 and rotating the fan 6a, dust in the room air sucked from the suction port 2 is removed by the dust collection filter 5, and air without dust is discharged to the discharge port 3. I try to return it more indoors. When collecting a predetermined amount of dust, the dust collecting filter 5 is clogged and cannot perform a predetermined performance. Therefore, the dust collecting filter 5 is periodically cleaned or replaced. However, if the motor is operated with the dust collection filter forgotten, or the air cleaner is operated with the broken dust filter installed, not only the specified performance of the air purifier cannot be exhibited, but also the motor will be overloaded and the motor will be overloaded. Therefore, there is a problem that a large motor that can withstand the current must be used. Therefore, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 6, a detachable state of the dust collecting filter 5 is detected by the switch 17, and when the dust collecting filter 5 is not attached, the operation is stopped to prevent the motor from being overloaded. Have been. However, in this method, for example,
When the dust collecting filter is torn during cleaning, even if the broken dust collecting filter is mounted, the switch is regarded as having the dust collecting filter mounted, so that the operation can be resumed, and the operation can be continued as it is. In such a case, not only the predetermined performance cannot be exhibited, but also the problem that an excessive current flows to the motor and power loss increases cannot be solved.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and stops the operation when it detects that the dust collection filter is not installed or the broken dust collection filter is installed.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an air purifier capable of preventing an overload of a motor.

[0004]

According to the present invention, to solve the above-mentioned problems, a dust filter, a fan and a blower comprising a motor are provided in an air passage formed in a main body housing and connecting the suction port and the discharge port. In the air cleaner provided, a rotation speed detecting means for detecting the rotation speed of the motor, and a rotation speed detected by the rotation speed detection means is compared with a predetermined threshold to determine the number of rotations of the dust collection filter. Determining means for determining the presence or absence, and motor driving means for driving the motor based on the determination result of the determining means, wherein the number of rotations of the motor detected by the number of rotations detecting means is less than a predetermined threshold. In the case where the air purifier is not used, the judgment means judges that there is no dust filter and stops the operation.

[0005] An air purifier is provided in which the rotation speed detecting means counts an output signal from a Hall element for detecting a magnet provided in a rotating portion of the motor for a unit time.

[0006] The air purifier is characterized in that the rotation speed detecting means counts an output signal from a photo interrupter for detecting a projection provided on a rotating portion of the motor for a unit time.

[0007] The air purifier is provided with an informing means for informing that there is no dust collecting filter when the judging means judges that there is no dust collecting filter.

[0008] The notifying means is an air purifier comprising light emitting means such as an LED and a lamp.

The notifying means is an air purifier comprising sounding means such as a buzzer, a chime and a speaker.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an air purifier according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing an embodiment of an air cleaner according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the same. As shown in the figure, the air purifier according to the present invention includes a blower 6 including a dust collection filter 5, a fan 6a, and a motor 6b in an air passage 4 connecting an intake port 2 and a discharge port 3 formed in a main body housing 1. A rotational speed detecting means 7 for detecting the rotational speed n of the motor 6b on a control board 20 provided in the housing 1, and a rotational speed n detected by the rotational speed detecting means 7 being a predetermined threshold value. In the following case, a judging means 8 for judging that the dust collection filter 5 is not provided, a control means 9 and a motor driving means 16 are provided. When the judging means 8 judges that there is no dust collection filter 5, the control means 9 stops the operation of the motor 6b via the motor driving means 16, and at the same time, LE
D is displayed on a light emitting means 10 such as a lamp, a liquid crystal or the like, and a sounding means 11 such as a buzzer, a chime or a speaker is sounded to notify the user. Reference numeral 21 denotes an operation unit including a switch for inputting ON / OFF of a power supply, setting of an operation mode, and the like.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part showing another embodiment of the air purifier according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3A, the rotation speed detecting means 7 is configured so that a counter 7c counts an output signal from a Hall element 7b for detecting a magnet 7a provided in the fan 6a for a unit time. I have. As shown in FIG. 3B, the rotation speed detecting means 7 is configured such that the counter 7c counts an output signal from a photo interrupter 7e for detecting a projection 7d provided on the fan 6a for a unit time. May be. In this embodiment, the magnet 7a or the protrusion 7d is used.
Are provided in the fan 6a, but these and the Hall element 7b or the photo interrupter 7e may be provided in the motor 6b.

The operation of the above configuration will now be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the air purifier according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, when the power of the air purifier is turned on and an operation mode (for example, strong or weak) is set (st1), the control means 9 changes the voltage (V = V1 or V2) corresponding to the operation mode. The motor 6b is supplied to the motor 6b via the motor driving means 16 to start the operation (s
t2). Next, the rotation detection means 7 detects the rotation speed (n) of the motor 6b (st3), and the determination means 8 separately stores a threshold value (N1 or N2) of the rotation speed (n1 or n2) corresponding to the operation mode. In comparison, the detected rotational speed (n)
Is larger than the threshold value (N1 or N2),
Is judged to be mounted, and if it is smaller, it is judged that the dust collection filter 5 is not installed (st4), and based on the result of this judgment, the control means 9 controls the motor driving means 16 to continue the operation or It is controlled to stop (st5). When the operation is stopped, the fact that the dust filter 5 is not mounted on the light emitting means 10 is displayed, and the sound generating means 11 sounds an alarm sound to notify the user (st6).

[0013]

As described above, according to the air purifier of the present invention, the number of revolutions detecting means for detecting the number of revolutions of the motor and the number of revolutions detected by the number of revolutions detecting means are equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value. In the case of, a judgment means for judging that there is no dust collection filter is provided, and the operation is stopped when the judgment means judges that there is no dust collection filter. Since the overload of the motor can be prevented by detecting the installation of the dust collection filter and stopping the operation, the size of the entire air purifier can be reduced by reducing the size of the motor.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a main part of an embodiment of an air purifier according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing one embodiment of an air purifier according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part showing another embodiment of the air purifier according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the air purifier according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing a main part of a conventional air purifier.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram showing a conventional air purifier.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 housing 2 intake port 3 discharge port 4 air passage 5 dust collecting filter 6 blower 6a fan 6b motor 7 rotation speed detecting means 7a magnet 7b hall element 7c counter 7d protrusion 7e photo interrupter 8 judgment means 9 control means 10 light emitting means 11 Sounding means 16 Motor driving means 21 Operating means

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An air purifier having a dust collecting filter, a fan and a blower comprising a motor in an air passage connecting a suction port and a discharge port formed in a main body housing, and detecting a rotation speed of the motor. Rotation speed detection means, a rotation speed detected by the rotation speed detection means, and a determination means for determining the presence or absence of the dust collection filter by comparing the rotation number detected with a predetermined threshold value, the determination result of the determination means A motor driving means for driving the motor based on the number of rotations of the motor.If the number of rotations of the motor detected by the number of rotations detection means falls below a predetermined threshold, the determination means determines that there is no dust collection filter. An air purifier characterized in that the operation is stopped by pressing. 2. The air according to claim 1, wherein said rotation speed detecting means counts an output signal from a Hall element for detecting a magnet provided on a rotating portion of said motor for a unit time. Cleaner. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rotation speed detecting means counts an output signal from a photo interrupter for detecting a projection provided on a rotating portion of said motor for a unit time. Air cleaner. 4. The air purifier according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying unit for notifying that there is no dust collection filter when the judgment unit judges that there is no dust collection filter. 5. The air purifier according to claim 4, wherein said notification means comprises a light emitting means such as an LED or a lamp. 6. The air purifier according to claim 4, wherein said notifying means comprises sounding means such as a buzzer, a chime, and a speaker.