JP2003314866A - Humidifier - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a humidifier which inactivates influenza viruses, while energy of electric power is saved on without excessively humidifying air. <P>SOLUTION: This humidifier is provided with: a humidity sensor 7 for detecting interior humidity; a temperature sensor 8 for detecting interior temperature; a steam generator 9 for generating steam to humidify air; and an operation mode selection means 10 for selecting an operation mode. The humidifier is also provided with; a humidifying amount control means 11 for controlling a humidifying amount based on the interior humidity, the interior temperature and the set operation mode; a timer 12 for counting the operation period of the generator 9; and a memory part 13 for storing an operation time at predetermined forcibly set humidity according to the interior temperature detected by the sensor 8. The humidifier is provided with an operation mode for carrying out operation by lowering humidity to normal set humidity after the generator 9 is operated for a certain period at forcibly set relatively high humidity according to the interior temperature regardless of the detected humidity and the set humidity in starting the operation at low humidity. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention suppresses the activity of influenza virus, and performs appropriate humidification control automatically without over-humidification in accordance with the indoor temperature. About the vessel. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of humidifier is disclosed in
6 and 7 described in JP-A-00-46383. As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 6, the humidifier includes a room temperature sensor 22, a humidity sensor 21, an operation selection mode button 24 (humidification degree selection means), a humidification / humidity determination means 25, a water vapor generation amount control means 26, and a water vapor generation device. 23, and a control unit (microcomputer) 27. In the above configuration, when an operation switch (not shown) is turned on and a mode is selected by an operation selection mode button 24, the room temperature is detected by the room temperature sensor 22 and the room temperature is detected.
It is input to the humidification / humidity determination means 25. In addition, the current humidity in the room is detected by the humidity sensor 21 and input to the water vapor generation amount control means 26, and the current humidity and the humidified humidity determination means 25 are detected.
Is controlled so as to match the set humidity while adjusting the humidification amount, and water vapor is released from the steam generator 23 to perform the humidification operation. FIG. 7 shows humidity set values according to the room temperature and the operation selection mode. For example, when the “throat moisturizing” mode is selected with the operation selection mode button 24 and the room temperature is detected as 18 ° C., the set humidity becomes 60%. In this case, the set humidity is not automatically changed unless the room temperature changes, and the set humidity is continuously operated at a higher humidity, and is not automatically changed to the appropriate set humidity. [0005] However, influenza virus, which is regarded as a causative virus of a cold, is inactivated with time in a high-humidity atmosphere. Therefore, after the influenza virus is inactivated, it is necessary to operate at a high set humidity for a long time. Had the problem of wasting electricity bills. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in order to suppress the activity of the influenza virus at the beginning, the steam generator is forcibly operated at a high humidity for a certain period of time. It is an object of the present invention to provide a humidifier that automatically operates at a set humidity, inactivates influenza virus, and saves power without over-humidification. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a humidity sensor for detecting indoor humidity, a temperature sensor for detecting indoor temperature, and a steam generator for generating and humidifying steam. In a humidifier provided with an apparatus and an operation mode selecting means for selecting an operation mode such as a set humidity and an operation mode such as continuous operation and intermittent operation, a humidifier is controlled based on the room humidity, the room temperature, and the set operation mode. Humidification amount control means, a timer that counts the operation time of the steam generator, and a storage unit that stores the operation time at a predetermined higher forcibly set humidity according to the room temperature detected by the temperature sensor. Provided, regardless of the detected humidity or the set humidity at the start of low-humidity operation, according to the room temperature,
An operation mode is provided in which the steam generating device is forcibly operated at the forcibly set humidity for a certain period of time, and then is operated at a reduced set humidity. Hereinafter, a humidifier according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part showing an entire configuration of a humidifier according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a main part according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a humidifier 50 according to the present invention uses water supplied from a water supply tank 1 to a heating tank 2.
A steam generator for heating and evaporating by the heater 2a is provided, and the generated steam 4 is mixed with the air 5 blown by the electric fan 3 and blown into the room from the outlet 51 as conditioned air with adjusted humidity. ing. Reference numeral 6 denotes a control board in which a microcomputer (control unit) for controlling the humidifier 50 is incorporated. The control board 6 is configured as shown in the block diagram of FIG.
The function of each block will be described below. 7 is a humidity sensor for detecting indoor humidity, 8 is a temperature sensor for detecting indoor temperature, 9 is a steam generator for generating and humidifying steam, and 10 is a set humidity and operation modes such as continuous operation and intermittent operation. This is an operation mode selection means to be selected. The indoor humidity detected by the humidity sensor 7 and
Humidification amount control means 11 for controlling the humidification amount based on the room temperature detected by the temperature sensor 8 and the set operation mode selected by the operation mode selection means 10, and a timer 12 for counting the operation time of the steam generator 9. A storage unit 13 for storing an operation time at a predetermined higher forcibly set humidity (for example, 65 to 80%) in accordance with the room temperature detected by the temperature sensor 8, and a set operation mode set humidity and the like. The control board 6 comprises a display control means 14 and a display 15 for displaying, and a control unit 16 comprising a microcomputer for controlling the whole. FIG. 4 is a table for determining the operation time at the forced set humidity. When the room temperature is low, the operation time at the forced set humidity is set long, and when the room temperature is high, the time is set short.
That is, the operation time is set to 2 hours when the room temperature is 15 ° C. or lower, 1.5 hours for 16 ° C. to 19 ° C., 1 hour for 20 ° C. to 24 ° C., and 0.5 hour for 25 ° C. or higher. [0012] This is because the influenza virus survives at lower room temperature and lower humidity, such as in winter, and its survival rate increases, and when exposed to a humid atmosphere, its number rapidly decreases with time. Is based on
(FIG. 5) In the above configuration, at the start of low-humidity operation, regardless of the detected humidity or the set humidity, the steam generator 9 is forcibly operated at the forcibly set humidity for a predetermined time according to the room temperature. After the operation, the operation mode in which the humidity is lowered to the normal set humidity and the operation is performed, for example, "Nodoroi"
In order to suppress the activity of the influenza virus at first, the system is forcibly set to operate automatically at high humidity to reduce the activity of the influenza virus. Electricity can be saved without over-humidification. Next, the control operation will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, when the operation is started, the operation of reading the indoor humidity and temperature detected by the humidity sensor 7 and the temperature sensor 8 into the control unit 16 in step ST1 is performed. Next, in step ST2, a determination is made by the operation mode selection means 10 as to whether or not the operation mode has been selected as the "no odor" mode. If “Noorui” is not selected, the operation is performed in the normal operation mode by selecting the set humidity and the continuous or intermittent operation mode (step ST3), and then the process ends in step ST4. If "NO" is selected in step ST2, the process proceeds to step ST5 and proceeds to step S5.
The operation time at the room temperature detected at T1 and the forced setting humidity shown in FIG. Next, in step ST6, the humidifying operation is forcibly started at the set humidity determined in step ST5. Thereafter, in step ST7, it is determined whether or not the operation time at the forced set humidity has been reached (terminated). If not, the process returns to step ST6 to continue the operation, and if it has reached, the operation at the forced set humidity is terminated. Then, the operation is performed in the normal operation mode in step ST3, and then the operation ends in step ST4. As described above, the operation mode in which the steam generator 9 is forcibly operated at the forcibly set humidity for a certain period of time and then reduced to a normal set humidity, for example, "throat" With the configuration equipped with the "moist" mode, in order to suppress the activity of influenza virus at the beginning, the automatic setting operation is forcibly performed at a high humidity, and then the operation is automatically lowered at the set humidity to inactivate the influenza virus. In addition, it becomes a humidifier that can save electric power without over-humidification. As described above, according to the present invention,
In order to suppress the activity of the influenza virus at the beginning of the steam generator, it is automatically set and operated at high humidity, and then automatically operated with the set humidity lowered, so that the influenza virus is inactivated and without over-humidification It becomes a humidifier that can save electricity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of a humidifier according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a humidifier according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the humidifier according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a table for determining an operation time of a humidifier according to the present invention at a forcibly set humidity with respect to a room temperature. FIG. 5 is a conceptual graph showing humidity versus influenza virus survival. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a conventional humidifier. FIG. 7 is a table showing a set humidity for each operation mode with respect to a room temperature by a conventional humidifier. [Description of Signs] 1 Water supply tank 2 Heating tank 3 Electric fan 4 Steam 5 Air 6 Control board 7 Humidity sensor 8 Temperature sensor 9 Steam generator 10 Operating mode selection means 11 Humidification amount control means 12 Timer 13 Storage unit 14 Display control means 15 Display 16 Control unit (microcomputer)

Claims (1)

Claims 1. A humidity sensor for detecting indoor humidity, a temperature sensor for detecting indoor temperature, a steam generator for generating and humidifying steam, a set humidity and continuous operation, intermittent operation, and the like. A humidifier provided with operation mode selection means for selecting the operation mode of the above, wherein the humidification amount control means for controlling the humidification amount based on the room humidity, the room temperature and the set operation mode, and the operation of the steam generator A timer for counting time, and a storage unit for storing an operation time at a predetermined higher forcibly set humidity in accordance with the room temperature detected by the temperature sensor are provided. Regardless of or the set humidity, according to the room temperature, after forcibly operating the steam generator at the forced set humidity for a certain time,
A humidifier comprising an operation mode in which operation is performed at a normal set humidity.