JP2002089932A - Humidifier - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a humidifier capable of performing appropriate humidifying operation and suppressing excessive humidification. SOLUTION: A controlling means 23 judges whether a normal operation mode or a moist operation mode is selected in Step S3. When it judges that the moist operation mode is selected, it judges whether or not the room temperature is less than a first predetermined value T1 in Step S4. If (the room temperature)<T1 is established, it changes the preset humidity to about 65% to perform operation (Step S4 thru S10). When (the room temperature)>=T1 is established, it judges whether or not the room temperature is less than a second predetermined value T2, and changes the preset humidity to about 60% when (the room temperature)>=T2 is established (Step S5 thru S8), while changes the preset humidity to about 62.5% when T1<=(the room temperature)<T2 is established (Step S5 thru S9).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for heating and evaporating water with an electric heater, atomizing water with an ultrasonic vibrator, and evaporating water by passing air through a filter that sucks water. The present invention relates to a humidifying device for humidifying, and more particularly to a humidifying device having a moist operation mode.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of humidifier generally generates water vapor by heating and boiling water in a heating tank provided in a main body case, and discharges the water vapor to the outside to reduce indoor humidity. The heating of the heating tank is performed by controlling the energization of a heater attached to the heating tank. In general, the output of the heater for heating differs depending on the maximum humidification amount of the humidifying device, but is about a maximum. 500W-600
The one that can output about W is used.

[0003] The humidity control by the humidifying device is performed, for example, in an automatic humidifying operation mode (normal operation mode) as described in JP-A-11-248205. The humidifying operation is performed by continuously operating the heater provided in the (heating tank). When the indoor humidity detected by the humidity sensor reaches the set humidity + several%, the heater is turned off. Was turned on, and the indoor humidity was maintained at the target humidity.

[0004]

However, in the case of the above-mentioned humidity control, when the indoor humidity exceeds 70%, there is a problem that dew condensation occurs and fungi such as molds propagate. When the humidity is lower than 60% when the temperature is low, the activity of a pathogen such as a virus is activated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and provides a humidifying device capable of performing a humidifying operation in which excessive humidification is suppressed while appropriately humidifying and performing a humidifying operation. It is intended to be provided.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 comprises a humidifying means for discharging water vapor or fog into a room to humidify the room, and a humidity detecting means for detecting indoor humidity. Humidity setting means for setting a target humidity in the room,
An operation mode switching unit that switches the operation mode to the normal operation mode and the moist operation mode, and a control unit.The control unit sets the target humidity to the target humidity when the moist operation mode is set by the operation mode switching unit. A change unit for automatically changing the humidity to a value equal to or higher than the maximum target humidity settable by the humidity setting means is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a humidifying unit for humidifying by discharging water vapor or fog into a room, a humidity detecting unit for detecting a room humidity, a humidity setting unit for setting a target indoor humidity, and a room. Temperature control means for detecting a temperature, operation mode switching means for switching the operation mode from the normal operation mode to the moist operation mode, and control means, wherein the control means includes change data relating to a change in the target humidity according to the temperature. When the moist operation mode is set by the operation mode switching means, the target humidity is set according to the temperature detected by the temperature detection means, and based on the change data stored in the storage unit. 7 from maximum target humidity
A changing unit for automatically changing the value within a range of 0%.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the range of changing the target humidity by the changing unit is set to about 60 to 65%.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a humidifier showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the humidifier.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body case made of synthetic resin constituting a main body of the humidifying device, and an operation panel 5 for performing a humidifying operation operation is provided on one side (front) thereof.

Reference numeral 4 denotes an upper cover of the main body case 1 which has a steam outlet 2. Numeral 3 denotes a cartridge type water tank for storing and removing water for humidification, and numeral 6 denotes a water tank 3.
A heating heater (humidifying means) such as a sheath heater for heating and evaporating water in the heating tank K supplied from the heating tank K, 7 is a control device for operating a humidifying device, and 8 is evaporated by the heater 6. A duct that guides water vapor out of the appliance,
The outlet 2 is disposed at the top of the duct 8.

Numeral 9 designates a water receiving portion for receiving the water supplied in the water supply tank 3 and guiding it to the heating tank K. A float switch 21 (shown in FIG. Z) is provided. Reference numeral 10 denotes a water amount confirmation window provided at a corner on the front side of the main body case 1 to confirm the water amount of the water supply tank 3.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a humidity sensor (humidity detecting means) provided in the main body case 1, and the humidity sensor 20 detects the outside air (indoor air) taken into the main body case 1 from an air inlet (not shown). Humidity is being detected.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a temperature sensor (temperature detecting means) provided in the main body case 1 and detects the temperature of the outside air (indoor air) taken into the main body case 1 from the air inlet. ing.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view for explaining the operation panel 5 described above. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 12 denotes a display panel formed of a liquid crystal display for displaying various operation states, and reference numeral 13 denotes an on / off operation. An operation switch, 14 is a turn-off timer switch for setting / cancellation of an operation-off timer and setting of a timer time, 15 is a moist operation display lamp indicating a state in which "moist operation mode" is selected, and 16 is a target humidity in the room. Humidity setting switch (humidity setting means) to be set,
Reference numeral 17 denotes an operation changeover switch for switching the operation mode between "normal operation mode" and "moist operation mode", and 18 is a long-time switch for fixing the heater 6 at a low output for long-time operation. is there.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the control device 7. Next, the control device 7 will be described. Reference numeral 23 denotes a microcomputer (hereinafter, referred to as a microcomputer) as control means. The operation switch 13, the cut-off timer switch 14, the humidity setting switch 16, the operation changeover switch 17,
A long-time operation switch 18, a humidity sensor 20, a float switch 21 for detecting a water level, a temperature sensor 22, and the like are connected. In FIG. 4, the various switches described above are illustrated as a key operation unit 19.

On the other hand, on the output side of the microcomputer 23, the heater 6, the display panel 12, and the moist operation display lamp 15 are provided.
Further, a fan motor 25 for blowing air for sending outside air into the duct 8 and the like are connected.

The microcomputer 23 stores a data relating to a change range of the set humidity (target humidity) corresponding to the room temperature, and a memory 23A when the "moist operation mode" is selected and set by the operation mode switch 17. Based on the detected temperature of the temperature sensor 22 and the change data stored in the storage unit 23A, the set humidity (target humidity) can be set, for example, by operating the humidity setting switch 16 to about 6 degrees.
A change unit 23B for automatically changing the maximum target humidity from 0% within a range of about 65%, a timer unit 23C, and the like are provided.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the relationship between the room temperature and the set humidity (target humidity) when the "moist operation mode" is selected, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the humidifier.

Next, the operation of the humidifier will be described with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG.
To turn on the power, and if the power is not turned on, the process is terminated. If the power is turned on, step S2 is executed.
To determine whether the operation switch 13 is ON. If the operation switch 13 is OFF, the heater 6 or the fan motor 25
Stop processing to stop power supply to the power supply (step S
6) If the operation switch 13 is ON, the process proceeds to step S3, and in this step S3, it is determined whether the "normal operation mode" or the "moist operation mode" is set, and if the "normal operation mode" is selected and set, Energization of the heater 24 is controlled based on the detected humidity detected by the humidity sensor 20 and the set humidity (target humidity) set by the humidity setting switch 16;
A normal humidification operation (step S7) is performed so that the indoor humidity becomes the set humidity (target humidity).

When the "moist operation mode" is selected and set in step S3, the microcomputer 23 determines in step S4 that the room temperature detected by the temperature sensor 22 is less than a first predetermined value T1 of about 22 ° C. Determine whether
If the room temperature <T1, as shown in FIG. 5, the changing unit 23B of the microcomputer 23 further sets the set humidity higher than the maximum set humidity (maximum target humidity) of about 60% which can be set by operating the humidity setting switch 16. It is automatically changed from 5% higher to about 65% (step S10), and the set humidity (target humidity) is set to about 65% irrespective of the set humidity (target humidity) set by operating the humidity setting switch 16. Perform the humidification operation in the "moist operation mode".

On the other hand, if the room temperature determined in step S4 is equal to or greater than the room temperature T1, the microcomputer 23 proceeds to step S5, where the room temperature detected by the temperature sensor 22 is, for example, about 24 ° C. 2 is less than the predetermined value T2, and if the room temperature ≧ T2, the set humidity is automatically changed to about 60% (step S5 → S8), and T1 ≦ room temperature <T2
If so, the set humidity is automatically changed to about 62.5% (step S5 → S9).

In the "moist operation mode", the set humidity (target humidity) to be automatically changed is set to about 60 to 65.
The reason is that when the indoor humidity exceeds about 70%, dew condensation easily occurs, fungi such as mold grow, and when the indoor temperature is low, for example, 10 ° C. or less, the humidity becomes lower. If it is less than 60%, the activity of pathogens such as viruses will be activated.

For this reason, in the "moist operation mode", the change range of the set humidity (target humidity) to be automatically changed is set to about 60 to 65% as shown in FIG. Then, the humidity is controlled in the above-described range according to the detected room temperature detected by the temperature sensor 23.

Since the present embodiment is configured as described above, the customer operates the operation mode changeover switch 17 to
When "Moist operation mode" is set, the microcomputer 23
Is the maximum set humidity (eg, about 60%) set by operating the humidity setting switch 16 irrespective of the set humidity (target humidity) set by operating the humidity setting switch 16. Higher than, for example,
The humidity is automatically changed to the set humidity (target humidity) of about 65%, so that customers can have a moist skin feeling and the activity of pathogens such as influenza virus can be suppressed. If the indoor humidity is less than 60%, the activity of influenza virus and the like becomes active), so that a moderately moist and rich humidification operation can be performed.

Although the present invention has been described based on the above-described embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and the humidifying means may be an ultrasonic vibrator, a humidifying filter or the like in addition to the heater. It may be a humidifying element or a combination thereof.

[0027]

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, when the moist operation mode is selected or set by the operation mode switching means, the target humidity of the apparatus is set to the humidity setting means. It is possible to automatically change the humidifying operation to the maximum target humidity which can be set at or above, and it is possible to perform the humidifying operation while suppressing the excessive humidification while appropriately performing the humidifying operation.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the change range of the target humidity by the change unit is set to about 60 to 65%, it gives the customer a moist skin feeling and prevents influenza virus and the like. Pathogen activity can be suppressed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a humidifier showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the humidifier.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation panel unit.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the control device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a relationship between a room temperature and a set humidity (a target humidity) when the “moist operation mode” is selected.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the humidifier.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body case of humidifier 5 Operation part 6 Heater (humidifying means) 7 Controller 15 Moist display lamp 16 Humidity setting switch (humidity setting means) 17 Operation changeover switch (operation changing means) 19 KEY operation part 20 Humidity sensor (humidity detection) Means) 22 Temperature sensor (Temperature detecting means) 23 Microcomputer (Control means) 23A Storage unit 23B Changing unit

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Katsumi Morito 1 Otsukicho, Ashikaga, Tochigi Sanyo Electric Air Conditioning Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 3L055 DA20 3L060 AA07 CC02 CC07 DD07 EE25

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A humidifier for emitting moisture or fog into a room for humidification, a humidity detector for detecting indoor humidity, a humidity setting device for setting a target indoor humidity, and an operation mode set to a normal operation mode. Operating mode switching means for switching to the operation mode, and control means, this control means,
A humidifying device comprising: a change unit that automatically changes a target humidity to a value equal to or higher than a maximum target humidity settable by the humidity setting unit when the moist operation mode is set by the operation mode switching unit. . 2. Humidifying means for discharging water vapor or fog into a room for humidification, humidity detecting means for detecting indoor humidity, humidity setting means for setting a target indoor humidity, and temperature detecting means for detecting indoor temperature. Operation mode switching means for switching the operation mode to the normal operation mode and the moist operation mode,
Control means, the control means, a storage unit for storing change data relating to the change of the target humidity according to the temperature, when the moist operation mode is set by the operation mode switching means, the temperature detection means According to the detected temperature, and based on the change data stored in the storage unit,
A changing unit for automatically changing the target humidity within a range of 70% or less from the maximum target humidity. 3. The humidifying device according to claim 1, wherein a change range of the target humidity by the change unit is set to about 60 to 65%.