JP2005083721A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioner for reducing labor required for cleaning work by automatically cleaning an air filter, especially a ceiling-embedded air conditioner. <P>SOLUTION: The air conditioner comprises a body 3; an air filter 8 provided in front of a suction opening; a blowoff hole 5 communicating with the suction opening of the body; a panel 6 that communicates with the suction opening 7, has a recess for accommodating the air filter 8 and a suction hole communicating with the recess, and is fixed to the body; a dust/dirt eliminating means 9 for eliminating dust/dirt captured by the air filter 8 from the air filter 8; a dust/dirt storage means 14 for storing dust/dirt eliminated by the dust/dirt eliminating means; and a position controlling means for controlling the relative positions of the dust/dirt eliminating means 9 and the air filter 8. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and relates to an air conditioner provided with a mechanism for automatically cleaning an air filter. In particular, the present invention is suitable for a ceiling embedded type air conditioner.

  Conventionally, a ceiling-embedded air conditioner (see, for example, Patent Document 1) configured to reduce the number of times the air filter is cleaned by providing a wound air filter, and an external suction device such as a vacuum cleaner are mounted. There is known an air conditioner (see, for example, Patent Document 2) configured to clean a rectangular air filter. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing one form of a conventional ceiling-embedded air conditioner, and FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing one form of a conventional air conditioner.

  The air conditioner shown in FIG. 11 includes an air conditioner main body 39 that is embedded and installed in the ceiling, a decorative panel 43 that is exposed on the ceiling surface 41 and has a suction port 42 formed substantially at the center, and a decorative panel. And a filter device 44 installed in the suction port 42 of the belt 43. The filter device 44 is wound around a pair of shafts 45a and 45b disposed at both ends and one shaft 45a of the pair of shafts. Embedded filter type air conditioner (hereinafter referred to as a conventional air conditioner) comprising a filter 46, a winding drive ratchet 47 mounted on the other shaft 45b of the pair of shafts, and a string 48 for operating the ratchet 47. Machine A). In this conventional air conditioner A, after the used filter 46 in which the dust in the room air has accumulated is wound up to the end, the decorative panel 43 on which the filter device 44 is formed is removed, and the filter 46 and the decorative panel 43 are removed. Perform the cleaning work.

The air conditioner shown in FIG. 12 includes a casing 49 of the air conditioner, a filter 51 mounted on the leeward side of the air suction port 50 of the casing 49, and a rotary roller 52 that locks the filter 51. And an air conditioner (hereinafter also referred to as a conventional air conditioner B) provided with a suction cylinder 53 having a slit-like suction port in contact with the filter 51 along its length direction. In this conventional air conditioner B, after the suction pipe 54 of an external vacuum cleaner is connected to the suction cylinder 53, the filter 51 is moved between a predetermined mounting position and a cleaning position by the rotation of the rotary roller 52. The filter 51 is easily and efficiently cleaned by operating an external vacuum cleaner. The conventional air conditioner B rotates the rotating roller 52 to cause the air filter 51 to protrude from the main body of the air conditioner toward the outside of the main body, and the filter from the suction cylinder 53 by the action of an external vacuum cleaner. Dust accumulated on the surface is sucked out. This conventional air conditioner B has the effect that it can be cleaned without touching the filter directly.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-19365 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-50320

  In the conventional air conditioner A, the filter can be used over a long period of time compared to the case of using a normal flat filter. That is, the frequency | count of cleaning can be reduced. However, once dust is accumulated on the entire surface of the band-shaped filter by being wound up to the end, it must be cleaned and used again, or replaced with a new band-shaped filter. When the filter is used again after cleaning, the filter is strip-like, so that the cleaning is cumbersome and time-consuming, and even if the number of times of cleaning is reduced, the time and effort required for cleaning are almost unchanged. In addition, when replacing with a new belt-shaped filter, the time and effort of cleaning is certainly reduced, but there is room for further improvement from the viewpoint of cost, such as adding filter charges, and from the environmental viewpoint, such as increasing waste. It was.

  Further, the conventional air conditioner B has to be connected to the suction pipe of the vacuum cleaner from the outside every time it is cleaned. In particular, in a ceiling-embedded air conditioner installed on a high ceiling surface, even the connection of the suction pipe is troublesome work, and there is room for further improvement from a practical viewpoint.

  In order to solve the above problems, an air conditioner of the present invention has a suction port and a blow port, a body that reforms air sucked from the suction port and blows out from the blow port, and a front of the suction port. Captured by the air filter, the panel fixed to the main body with the air filter provided, the blowout hole communicating with the blowout port of the main body, the concave portion communicating with the suction port and housing the air filter, and the suction hole communicating with the concave portion Dust removing means for removing the dust to be removed from the air filter, dust storing means for storing the dust removed by the dust removing means, and position control means for controlling the relative position of the dust removing means and the air filter. It is characterized by including.

  In the air conditioner of the present invention, the filter can be automatically cleaned by providing the dust removing means, and the dust accumulated on the dust removing means after the filter has been cleaned once or a plurality of times. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the labor required for the cleaning work.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail, and preferable embodiments will be described.

  As described above, the air conditioner of the present invention automatically removes dust accumulated on the air filter by the dust removing means (cleaning of the air filter) and temporarily stores the removed dust in the dust storing means. It is a configuration. Therefore, artificially, it is only necessary to remove the dust stored in the dust storage means (cleaning of the dust removal means). The dust removing means may be cleaned every time the air filter is cleaned, or after the air filter is cleaned a plurality of times. That is, dust stored by cleaning the air filter once may be removed, or dust stored by cleaning the air filter multiple times may be removed collectively.

  The main body of the air conditioner may have any known configuration. Examples of the function of reforming air in the main body include a function of increasing the temperature of air, a function of decreasing the temperature of air, a function of increasing the humidity of air, and a function of decreasing the humidity of air. .

  Examples of the air filter include a rectangular or square plate-like filter, a band-like filter, and an annular filter. Here, the flat air filter implies a flat air filter or a curved flat air filter.

  The air conditioner of the present invention can be configured such that the dust removing means and the dust storing means are fixed to the panel body side, and the panel is detachable from the body. If it is this structure, since a panel, a dust removal means, and a dust storage means can be removed from a main body integrally, it can repair easily at the time of a failure. The dust storage means is preferably detachably fixed to the panel. In this case, only the dust storage means can be easily cleaned. Furthermore, the air filter can also be detachably fixed to the panel and can be configured to be removed integrally with the panel. With this configuration, when dust or the like that cannot be removed by the dust removing means accumulates, the air filter can be easily cleaned by means other than the dust removing means.

  An air conditioner according to the present invention includes a tube body having a dust suction port through which dust removing means sucks dust captured by an air filter, and a pressure reducing device that communicates with the dust suction port and reduces the pressure inside the tube body. And the position control means controls the relative position between the dust suction port and the air filter, and the dust storage means is provided in a pipe line connecting the pipe body and the pressure reducing device. With this configuration, the air filter can be cleaned by sucking dust from the dust suction port formed in the tube using the air pressure difference generated by the decompression device. Further, the dust removing means may be configured to include a peeling assisting member such as a brush for assisting the separation of dust from the air filter in the vicinity of the dust suction port.

  It is preferable that the dust suction port of the dust removing means be configured to face the surface of the air filter on the dust capturing side. With this configuration, it is possible to easily remove dust accumulated on the air filter as compared with the case where the dust suction port is disposed facing a surface different from the surface on the dust capturing side. This is because dust in the air usually accumulates mainly on one surface of the air filter. Here, the “surface on the dust trapping side” means the surface on which the dust mainly accumulates, that is, the surface on the windward side of the air filter during operation of the air conditioner, facing the suction hole formed in the panel. .

  In the air conditioner according to the present invention, the dust storage means includes an inlet connected to the tube, an outlet connected to the pressure reducing device, and a dust collection unit provided in a flow path between the inlet and the outlet. It can be set as the structure which is a dust box which has a filter and the dust accumulation part which accumulates the dust collect | recovered with the dust collection | recovery filter. With this configuration, the dust removed from the air filter can be easily and reliably stored in the dust box without reaching the decompression device. The air conditioner of the present invention preferably has a configuration in which the dust accumulation portion is detachable from the dust box, and the panel further includes an attachment / detachment hole or an attachment / detachment window for attaching / detaching the dust accumulation portion. This is because the dust accumulation part of the dust box can be removed through the attachment / detachment hole or the attachment / detachment window of the panel, so that the dust stored in the dust box can be removed without removing the panel. In the air conditioner of the present invention, the dust accumulation portion and the dust collection filter are detachable from the dust box, and the panel further includes an attachment / detachment hole or an attachment / detachment window for attaching / detaching the dust accumulation portion and the dust collection filter. It is more preferable that it has a configuration. This is because the dust accumulated in the dust collecting filter and the dust accumulated in the dust collecting filter can be removed without removing the panel. As a result, it is possible to easily suppress the occurrence of pressure loss due to clogging of the dust collection filter and the like, and it is possible to easily suppress an increase in load of the decompression device and an increase in power consumption of the decompression device. is there. Furthermore, the entire dust box may be detachable via an attachment / detachment hole or attachment / detachment window.

  The position control means only needs to be able to scan so that the dust suction port faces the entire area of the surface of the air filter in the control of the relative position between the air filter and the dust suction port of the dust removal unit. A configuration in which only the filter is moved, a configuration in which both the air filter and the dust suction port of the dust removal unit are moved, or a configuration in which only the dust suction port of the dust removal unit is moved can be employed. From the viewpoint of simplifying the structure of the air conditioner, a configuration in which only the air filter is moved is preferable. When moving both the air filter and the dust suction port of the dust removing unit, it is preferable that the moving direction of the dust suction port of the dust removing unit is controlled to be orthogonal to the moving direction of the air filter. . This is because the movement of the dust suction port can be suppressed to the minimum distance compared to the case where the movement direction of the dust suction port is not orthogonal to the movement direction of the air filter. Moreover, it is possible to reduce the area that must be secured in order to move the pipe body in which the dust suction port is formed, and it is possible to suppress an increase in the size of the apparatus.

  In the air conditioner of the present invention, the air filter is a rectangular or square flat plate-like filter, and the pipe body is provided in a recessed portion of the panel on the windward side (windward side during operation of the main body) from the air filter, and position control means Has a first shaft body that is bi-directionally rotatable in contact with the air filter and a first shaft body drive unit that rotates the first shaft body in both directions, and the panel rotates the first shaft body. The air filter can be configured to further have an air filter passage hole through which the air filter passes as the air filter moves according to the above. With this configuration, even when a flat air filter is used and only the air filter is moved, the entire surface of the flat air filter can be cleaned without enlarging the recess formed in the panel. Furthermore, it is preferable that the flat air filter is sandwiched between the tube body of the dust removing means and the first shaft body. This is because with this configuration, the air filter can be held by the tube body and the first shaft body. The air filter is held by an air filter holding means such as a protrusion formed on the panel that protrudes into the recess of the panel and contacts the lower surface of the air filter, or a guide rail according to the shape of the air filter formed on the panel. Also good.

  In the air conditioner of the present invention, the air filter is a band-shaped filter, and the pipe body is provided in a recessed portion of the panel on the windward side (windward side when the main body is operated) from the air filter, and the position control means is an air filter. Bidirectionally rotatable first shaft body joined to one end of the filter, Bidirectionally rotatable second shaft body joined to the other end of the air filter, and first shaft body A first shaft body driving unit that rotates the shaft in at least one direction, and a second shaft body driving unit that rotates the second shaft body in at least one direction. The first shaft body and the second shaft The body holds the air filter, and the first shaft according to the rotation of the first shaft body by the first shaft body driving unit and the rotation of the second shaft body by the second shaft body driving unit, respectively. The body and the second shaft body can be configured to wind up the air filter. If it is this structure, the substantially whole surface of an air filter can be cleaned and the frequency | count of cleaning an air filter can be reduced rather than the case where a flat air filter is used. Also, the air filter can be cleaned simultaneously with the normal operation of the main body. Furthermore, with this configuration, since the air filter can be used by reciprocating, the air filter itself must be removed and cleaned each time the air filter wound around the second shaft body is wound around the first shaft body. There is no need to replace the air filter.

  In the air conditioner of the present invention, the air filter is an annular filter, the tube body is provided in a recessed portion of the panel outside the air filter, and the position control means rotates in at least one direction in contact with the inner surface of the air filter. A free first shaft body, a second shaft body in contact with the inner surface of the air filter, and a shaft body drive unit that rotates the first shaft body in at least one direction, the first shaft body and The second shaft body can hold the air filter, and the shaft body driving unit can rotate the first shaft body to rotate the air filter. If it is this structure, the substantially whole surface of an air filter can be cleaned and the frequency | count of cleaning an air filter can be reduced rather than the case where a flat air filter is used. Also, the air filter can be cleaned simultaneously with the normal operation of the main body.

(Embodiment 1)
Embodiment 1 demonstrates one form of the air conditioner of this invention, referring FIGS. 1-7. The air conditioner of the present embodiment has a configuration using a flat filter as an air filter. The air conditioner according to the present embodiment is a ceiling-embedded air conditioner.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the structure of an air conditioner according to this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the air conditioner according to this embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing a state in which a panel is removed from the main body of the air conditioner according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 4 is an explanation for explaining the dust removing means of the air conditioner according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view for explaining an air filter and position control means of the air conditioner according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 6 is an air diagram of the air conditioner according to the present embodiment. It is typical sectional drawing for demonstrating the filter cleaning method. 7A to 7D are explanatory views for explaining a method of controlling the relative position between the dust suction port of the dust removing means and the air filter.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner in the present embodiment includes a unit main body (main body) 3 including a heat exchanger 1 and a blower 2, an air filter 8, a concave portion in which the air filter 8 is disposed, A panel 6 having a suction grill 4 having a suction hole, a blowout hole 5 and an air filter passage hole 38, a first tube 9 having a dust suction port 18, a dust box 14, and a second tube ( (First shaft body) 10, a first pipe line (represented by a dotted line in FIG. 1) for connecting the first tube body 9 and the dust box 14, a dust box 14 and a second pipe The second pipe line (represented by a dotted line in FIG. 1) connecting the body 10 is included. The air filter 8 is a curved plate-like filter, and is held between the suction port 7 of the main body 3 and the suction grill 4 by the first tube body 9 and the second tube body 10. The first tubular body 9 is in contact with the windward side (dust accumulation side surface) of the air filter 8, and the dust suction port 18 of the first tubular body 9 faces the air filter 8 (see FIG. 4).

  Next, the external appearance of the air conditioner in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows the air conditioner viewed from the ceiling side (back side). The panel 6 is a flat panel whose outer shape is square or rectangular, and the main body unit 3 has a substantially octagonal outer shape. By combining the unit body 3 and the panel 6, a margin space 11 is created in each of the four corner portions of the panel 6. Two of these extra spaces 11 are used as a connection space for the refrigerant pipe 12 and a connection space for the drain hose 13. A dust box 14 connected to the first tubular body 9 and the second tubular body 10 and a decompression device connected to the second tubular body 10 are installed in the remaining two spare spaces 11 to effectively use the spare space 11. We are trying to use it. As the decompression device, a device in which the suction fan 15 and the motor 30 that drives the suction fan 15 are integrally formed is used.

  FIG. 3 shows a state in which the panel 6 is removed from the main unit 3. The panel 6 is detachable with respect to the main body, and the air conditioner of the present embodiment has an air filter 8, a first tubular body 9, and a second tubular body 10 together with the panel as shown in FIG. 3. The dust box 14, the suction fan 15 and the like can be integrally removed from the main unit 3.

  Next, a method for removing dust accumulated on the filter 8 will be described with reference to FIG. The tube body 9 has a closed end portion 16 closed at one end and an open end portion 17 opened at the other end. The first tube body 9 is formed with a long and narrow dust suction port 18 extending over the entire length. The second tubular body 10 has open ends 19 and 20 at both ends, and is supported by a bearing (not shown) so as to be bi-directionally rotatable with the central axis of the second tubular body 10 as a rotational axis. It is supported. In addition, gear-shaped protrusions 21 and 22 are formed on the outer surface in the vicinity of both ends of the second tubular body 10. The first tubular body 9 and the second tubular body 10 are such that their outer surfaces maintain a certain gap (A in FIG. 4), and the central axis of the first tubular body 9 and the second tubular body 10 The central axis is supported in parallel. The air filter 8 is held between the first tube body 9 and the second tube body 10.

  The dust box 14 is provided with an air inlet 25, an air outlet 26, and a dust collection filter 29 supported in the dust box 14 and provided in a flow path between the inlet 25 and the outlet 26. Have. The inflow port 25 is connected to the opening end 17 of the first tubular body 9 by a connection duct (first conduit) 27, and the outflow port 26 is connected to the opening 20 of the second tubular body 10 and the connection duct ( The second pipe) 28 is connected. The bottom part of the dust box 14 is a dust accumulation part 61.

  The opening 21 of the second tubular body 10 different from the side connected to the connection duct 28 is connected to the suction port 31 of the decompression device via the connection duct 32.

  The decompression device comprising the suction fan 15 and the motor 30, the first tube body 9, the second tube body 10, the dust box 14 and the connection ducts 32, 28, 27 constitute the dust removing means in the present invention, and the decompression device A flow path that communicates from the suction port 31 to the dust suction port 18 of the first tubular body 9 is formed.

  The flow of air when the decompression device is operated will be described. Air containing dust removed from the air filter 8 flows from the elongated dust suction port 18 formed in the first tube body 9 and flows from the inlet 25 to the dust box 14 via the connection duct 27. Inside the dust box 14, dust and air are separated by passing through the dust collection filter 29. The air from which the dust has been removed flows out from the outlet 26 of the dust box 14, passes through the connection duct 28, the second tubular body 10, and the connection duct 32 in order, and is sucked into the suction fan 15. Therefore, the dust captured by the air filter 8 is sucked out by suction by the suction fan 15 and the air filter 8 is cleaned. The sucked dust flows into the dust box 14 from the first tubular body 9, but does not come out of the dust box 14 due to the dust collection filter 29, and accumulates in the dust box 14.

  Next, the structure of the air filter 8 and the method of moving the air filter 8 will be described with reference to FIGS. The air filter 8 is a flat plate filter that has a frame 33 and a filter portion fixed to the frame 33 and is curved in a substantially arc shape. The two parallel outer peripheral frames 34 and 35 constituting a part of the frame 33 are provided with holes 36 and 37 that are opened at regular intervals, respectively. 10 is configured to mesh with protrusions 21 and protrusions 22 formed in the vicinity of both ends. The thickness of the air filter 8 is substantially equal to the gap A (see FIG. 4) between the outer surface of the first tubular body 9 and the outer surface of the second tubular body 10.

  The second tubular body 10 is rotated through a projection 21 that meshes with the gear 24 by a drive motor (first shaft body drive unit) 23 that can rotate the gear 24 in both directions. As the second tubular body 10 rotates, the air filter 8 moves. In the air conditioner in the present embodiment, the second tubular body 10 having the drive motor 23, the gear 24, and the protrusion 21 forms a position control means for moving the air filter 8. Here, it should be noted that the second tubular body 10 constitutes a part of the position control means and a part of the dust removing means.

  In the air conditioner according to the present embodiment, when the accumulated operation time exceeds a predetermined value by an accumulation timer or the like (not shown), the drive motor 23 is automatically driven to rotate the gear 24 in the normal direction. The suction fan 15 is also operated while rotating to the side (in the direction of the solid line arrow in FIGS. 5 and 6). At this time, the holes 36 and 37 of the air filter 8 and the protrusions 21 and 22 of the second tubular body 10 are engaged with each other, whereby the gap between the first tubular body 9 and the second tubular body 10 (A in FIG. 4). The air filter 8 begins to move so as to pass through (in the direction of the solid arrow in FIGS. 5 and 6).

  Since the air filter 8 is formed in a substantially arc shape, the air filter 8 moves around the virtual center of the arc as shown in FIG. It protrudes in the direction (indicated by a broken line in FIG. 6). It is detected by means (not shown) such as a micro switch that the air filter 8 has reached one end, and the drive motor 23 rotates the gear 24 in the reverse direction (in the direction of the broken arrow in FIGS. 5 and 6). And the suction fan 15 is stopped. As a result, the air filter 8 moves in the direction of the dashed arrow and is stored in the recess of the panel 6. When it is detected by means (not shown) such as a micro switch that the air filter 8 is stored at a predetermined position, the rotation of the drive motor 23 is automatically stopped. Thereby, the fully automatic cleaning of the air filter 8 is completed.

  With the air conditioner of the present embodiment, the air filter 8 can be cleaned completely automatically. Further, in cleaning the air filter 8, the air filter 8 is moved so as to protrude outward of the panel 6 through the air filter passage hole 38, and the dust box 14, the suction fan 15 and the motor 30 are moved to the panel. By providing in the marginal space on the upper surface of the air conditioner, a high performance air conditioner can be provided without significantly increasing the size of the air conditioner.

  In the air conditioner of the present embodiment, the air filter 8 is completely automatically cleaned. However, semi-automatic cleaning that artificially starts the cleaning may be performed. Moreover, although the flat filter curved in the substantially arc shape was used, you may use the flat filter which is not curved. In this case, if the filter is inclined, the same effect as that obtained when the flat air filter 8 curved in a substantially arc shape is obtained.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 7A, the air conditioner of the present embodiment described above has the first tubular body 9 to which the dust suction port 18 longer than the length of one side of the air filter 8 is fixed. The entire surface of the air filter 8 was cleaned by moving only the air filter 8. However, the present invention is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 7B, the entire surface of the air filter 8 may be cleaned by moving both the air filter 8 and the first tubular body 9 provided with the dust suction port 18. In this case, the moving direction of the dust suction port 18 is preferably orthogonal to the moving direction of the air filter 8. Further, as shown in FIGS. 7C and 7D, the entire surface of the air filter 8 may be cleaned by moving only the first tubular body 8 provided with the dust suction port 18. However, in the case of these configurations, since the first tube 9 in which the dust suction port 18 is formed moves, as a connection duct 27 (see FIG. 4) connected to the moving first tube 9 A duct that does not deform due to a difference in air pressure by the decompression device and that expands or contracts according to the movement of the first tubular body 9 is used.

  In addition, the first tubular body 9 in the above-described embodiment has a configuration having the dust suction port 18 on the side surface. However, when the first tubular body 9 provided with the dust suction port 18 is moved, Instead of the first tube body 9, a tube body having one end connected to the connection dust 27 and the other end bent at a substantially right angle which is a dust suction port facing the air filter 8 may be used. . In this case, air filter holding means such as a projecting body or a guide rail for holding the air filter 8 is formed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the air filter 8 is moved by hooking the protrusions 21 and 22 of the second tubular body 10 into the holes 36 and 37 of the air filter 8, but the air filter 8 is moved to the first tube. As long as the air filter 8 is sandwiched between the body 9 and the second tube body 10, the air filter 8 is not provided with the holes 36 and 37 and the second tube body 10 is not provided with the protrusions 21 and 22. And the second tubular body 10 can be moved by frictional resistance. In this case, a high resistance member having a friction coefficient larger than that of the second tubular body 10 is provided on the side surface of the second tubular body 10 so as to contact the air filter 8, and the second tubular body 10 is interposed via the high resistance member. It is preferable to increase the frictional resistance between the air filter 8 and the air filter 8.

(Embodiment 2)
In the second embodiment, an embodiment of the air conditioner of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The air conditioner of the present embodiment has a configuration using a belt-like filter as an air filter.

  The air conditioner shown in FIG. 8 includes a shaft body 60 (second shaft body) that is rotatable in both directions and a shaft body drive unit (second shaft body drive unit) that rotates the shaft body 60 in at least one direction. ), The air filter 8 is a band-shaped filter having both ends joined to the second tubular body 10 (first shaft body) and the shaft body 60, and an air filter passage hole is formed in the panel 6. Except not providing, it is the structure similar to the air conditioner (refer FIG. 1) in said Embodiment 1. FIG. Accordingly, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The shaft body 60 uses a rod body having gears (not shown) at both ends and is held by a bearing (not shown) provided on the panel 6. In addition, the shaft body drive unit (not shown) includes a gear and a drive motor, similarly to the structure for rotating the second tube body 10 (see FIG. 4).

  The air filter 8 shown in FIG. 8 is held in the recess of the panel by the second tubular body 10 and the shaft body 60. The air filter 8 is wound around the second tubular body 10 in accordance with the rotation of the second tubular body 10 by the drive motor 23 (see FIG. 4). The air filter 8 is wound around the shaft body 60 in accordance with the rotation of the shaft body 60 by the shaft body driving unit. The air filter 8 can be cleaned by sucking dust from the dust suction port 18 of the first tubular body 9 in conjunction with the winding of the air filter 8. Therefore, the same effect as the air conditioner in the first embodiment is obtained. Also, with this configuration, dust accumulated on the air filter 8 can be sucked from the dust suction port 18 in a state where the air filter 8 always covers the suction grille 4 (see FIG. 1) of the panel 6. For this reason, the air filter 8 can be cleaned simultaneously with the normal operation of the air conditioner.

  In the second embodiment, the first tubular body 9 is fixed. However, the first tubular body 9 is moved so as to be always in contact with the air filter 8 in accordance with the movement of the air filter 8. It may be. In this case, the connecting duct 27 (see FIG. 4) for connecting the dust box 14 and the first tubular body 9 is a duct that expands or contracts according to the movement of the first tubular body 9, and the first duct 9 is used. The tube body 9 is supported in a movable state using an elastic body such as a spring. If it is this structure, although a structure will become complicated, uniform cleaning over the whole air filter 8 can be performed reliably.

  In the second embodiment, a drive motor different from the drive motor 23 (see FIG. 4) for driving the second tubular body 10 is used as the drive motor for the shaft body drive unit that drives the shaft body 60. The driving motor for the shaft body driving unit and the driving motor 23 for driving the second tubular body 10 can also be used as a single motor. For example, the second tube body 10 and the shaft body 60 are connected to the drive motor 23 via a gear device, and the second tube body 10 and / or the shaft body 60 are rotated by gear change.

  Moreover, it can also be set as the structure which changed only the winding method of the air filter 8. FIG. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a modification of the air conditioner according to Embodiment 2. Even if it is the structure shown by FIG. 9, there exists an effect equivalent to the air conditioner shown by FIG.

(Embodiment 3)
In Embodiment 3, an embodiment of the air conditioner of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The air conditioner of the present embodiment has a configuration using an annular filter as an air filter.

  The air conditioner shown in FIG. 10 has a shaft body 60 (second shaft body) that is rotatable in one direction, and the air filter 8 is connected to the second tube body 10 (first shaft body). The configuration is the same as that of the air conditioner in the first embodiment except that the filter is an annular filter held by the body 60 and the panel 6 is not provided with an air filter passage hole. Accordingly, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. The shaft body 60 is held by a bearing (not shown) provided on the panel.

  The air filter 8 shown in FIG. 10 circulates according to the rotation of the second tubular body 10 by the drive motor 23 (see FIG. 4). The air filter 8 can be cleaned by sucking dust from the dust suction port 18 of the first tubular body 9 in conjunction with the circulation of the air filter 8. Therefore, the same effect as the air conditioner according to the first embodiment is obtained. Also, with this configuration, dust accumulated on the air filter 8 can be sucked from the dust suction port 18 in a state where the air filter 8 always covers the suction grille 4 (see FIG. 1) of the panel 6. For this reason, the air filter 8 can be cleaned simultaneously with the normal operation of the air conditioner. When the air filter 8 is automatically cleaned, the first tube body 9 is arranged so that dust accumulated on the air filter 8 can be removed before it faces the suction port 7 (see FIG. 1) of the main body 3. Select a location.

  In Embodiment 3 described above, the shaft body 60 that is rotatable in one direction is used, but a shaft body that is fixed to the panel and does not rotate may be used. In this case, the air filter 8 moves while sliding on the surface of the shaft body. Further, the shaft body 60 may be provided with a shaft body driving unit that drives the shaft body, and the air filter 8 may be circulated by interlocking the second tube body 10 and the shaft body 60. In this case, a drive motor different from the drive motor 23 (see FIG. 4) for driving the second tubular body 10 may be used, or the drive motor 23 for driving the first tubular body 9 is also used. You can also For example, the second tube body 10 and the shaft body 60 are connected to the drive motor 23 via a gear device, and the second tube body 10 and / or the shaft body 60 are rotated in a desired direction by a gear change.

  In the above, embodiments of the present invention have been described with specific forms. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be applied to other embodiments based on the technical idea of the present invention.

  The present invention can be applied to an air conditioner including an air filter. In particular, it is suitable for use in a ceiling-embedded air conditioner.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of an air conditioner of the present invention (Embodiment 1). FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing an embodiment of the air conditioner of the present invention (Embodiment 1). FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing a state where the main body and the panel of the air conditioner of the present invention are separated (Embodiment 1). FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining dust removing means in the air conditioner of the present invention (Embodiment 1). FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view for explaining an air filter and position control means in the air conditioner of the present invention (Embodiment 1). FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining an air filter cleaning method for an air conditioner according to the present invention (Embodiment 1). FIGS. 7A to 7D are explanatory views for explaining a method of controlling the relative position between the dust suction port of the dust removing means and the air filter in the air conditioner of the present invention (Embodiment 1). ). FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the air conditioner of the present invention (Embodiment 2). FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the air conditioner of the present invention (modified example of Embodiment 2). FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the air conditioner of the present invention (Embodiment 3). FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a conventional ceiling-embedded air conditioner. FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a conventional air conditioner.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Heat exchanger 2 Air blower 3 Main body 4 Suction grill 5 Outlet hole 6 Panel 7 Suction hole 8 Air filter 9 First tube body 10 Second tube body 14 Dust box 15 Suction fan 18 Dust inlet port 21, 22 Protrusion 23 Drive Motor 24 Gear 25 Inlet 26 Outlet 29 Dust collection filter 30 Motor 33 Frame body 36, 37 hole 38 Air filter through hole 60 Shaft body 61 Dust accumulation part

Claims (15)

A main body having a suction port and a blowout port, reforming air sucked from the suction port and blowing out from the blowout port;
An air filter provided in front of the suction port;
A blowout hole communicating with the blowout port of the main body, a recess communicating with the suction port and housing the air filter, and a suction hole communicating with the concave portion, and a panel fixed to the main body,
Dust removing means for removing dust trapped by the air filter from the air filter;
Dust storing means for storing dust removed by the dust removing means;
Position control means for controlling the relative position between the dust removing means and the air filter;
The air conditioner characterized by including. The dust removing means and the dust storing means are fixed to the main body side of the panel,
The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the panel is detachable from the main body. The dust removing means has a tube body having a dust suction port for sucking the dust captured by the air filter, and a decompression device communicating with the dust suction port and reducing the pressure inside the tube body. ,
The position control means controls the relative position of the dust suction port and the air filter; and
The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the dust storing means is provided in a pipe line connecting the pipe body and the pressure reducing device.   The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the dust suction port faces a surface of the air filter on a dust capturing side.   The dust storage means includes an inlet connected to the tubular body, an outlet connected to the decompression device, and a dust collection filter provided in a flow path between the inlet and the outlet; The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the air conditioner is a dust box having a dust accumulation part for accumulating dust collected by the dust collection filter. The dust accumulation part is detachable from the dust box; and
The air conditioner according to claim 5, wherein the panel further includes an attachment / detachment hole or an attachment / detachment window for attaching / detaching the dust accumulation portion. The dust accumulation part and the dust collection filter are detachable from the dust box, and
The air conditioner according to claim 5, wherein the panel further includes an attachment / detachment hole or an attachment / detachment window for attaching / detaching the dust accumulation portion and the dust collection filter.   The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the position control means moves the air filter.   The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the position control means moves both the air filter and the dust suction port of the dust removing means.   The air conditioner according to claim 9, wherein a moving direction of the dust suction port of the dust removing means is orthogonal to a moving direction of the air filter.   The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the position control means moves the dust suction port of the dust removing means. The air filter is a rectangular or square flat filter,
The tube is provided in the recess of the panel on the windward side of the air filter;
The position control means includes a first shaft body that is bidirectionally rotatable in contact with the air filter, and a first shaft body drive unit that rotates the first shaft body in both directions.
The air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein the panel further includes an air filter passage hole through which the air filter passes as the air filter moves according to the rotation of the first shaft body.   The air conditioner according to claim 12, wherein the air filter is sandwiched between the tube body and the first shaft body of the dust removing means. The air filter is a belt-like filter;
The tube is provided in the recess of the panel on the windward side of the air filter;
The position control means includes: a first shaft body that is bi-directionally rotatable joined to one of both ends of the air filter; and a second shaft that is bi-directionally rotatable joined to the other end of the air filter A shaft body; a first shaft body driving unit that rotates the first shaft body in at least one direction; and a second shaft body driving unit that rotates the second shaft body in at least one direction. The first shaft body and the second shaft body hold the air filter, and the first shaft body driving unit rotates the first shaft body and the second shaft body driving unit performs the rotation. The air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein each of the first shaft body and the second shaft body winds up the air filter in accordance with the rotation of the second shaft body. The air filter is an annular filter;
The tubular body is provided in the recess of the panel outside the air filter;
The position control means includes a first shaft body that is rotatable in at least one direction in contact with the inner surface of the air filter, a second shaft body in contact with the inner surface of the air filter, and the first shaft body. A shaft body driving section that rotates in at least one direction, the first shaft body and the second shaft body hold the air filter, and the shaft body driving section rotates the first shaft body. The air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein the air filter is circulated.

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