JP2005172362A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically clean the dust attached to a suction port of an indoor machine. <P>SOLUTION: As a front panel 2 is opened at a part corresponding to the suction port 3, the dust is attached to a filter. The filter is constituted by connecting a net-like filter part and a decorative member of a length approximately over two times that of the net-line filter part, its filter part side is taken up by a winding shaft 13, its decorative member side is taken up by a winding shaft 11, and a lower end side of the filter part side is passed through a dust box 15. The filter is taken up by the winding shaft 11 by the rotation of a motor 12 in starting the operation of the indoor machine, and the filter part is stopped at a position covering the suction port 3. The filter is taken up by the winding shaft 13 by the rotation of a motor 14 in stopping the operation, and the decorative member is stopped at a position covering the suction portion. Here, the attached dust of the filter part is brushed off by a brush 16 in the dust box. As the filter 7 is further taken up by the winding shaft 13 by the operation of a remote controller during the stop of the operation, the decorative member covering the suction port is passed through the dust box and the dust is removed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner and relates to an air conditioner having a function of automatically cleaning dust adhering to a suction port portion of an indoor unit.

  Conventionally, an indoor unit 81 of an air conditioner includes a front case part 81A and a rear case part 81B that are divided into two parts in the front and rear direction. An air inlet 82A for indoor air is formed from the front surface to the upper surface of the front case portion 81A, and an air outlet 82B is formed at the lower front surface of the front case portion 81A.

  An air passage 82C is formed inside the indoor unit 81 so as to connect the air inlet 82A and the air outlet 82B. A blower fan 85 is provided in the air passage 82C to generate an air flow that sucks indoor air from the air inlet 82A and discharges it from the air outlet 82B. The first heat exchanger 84A provided in front of the blower fan 85 is formed in a dogleg shape so as to face the air suction port 82A and to cover the blower fan 85.

  The second heat exchanger 84B provided at the rear of the blower fan 85 is disposed so as to face the first heat exchanger 84A in an inverted V shape so that the upper end portion is in contact with the blower fan 85. The first heat exchanger 84A and the second heat exchanger 84B form a heat exchanger portion 84.

  The front case portion 81A has a structure in which the upper portion is hooked on the rear case portion 81B and the lower portion is fixed to the rear case portion 81B with screws. The front case portion 81A includes a suction panel 83 that is supported on the front surface of the front case portion 81A so as to be freely opened and closed.

  The filter device 86 attached to the front case portion 81A on the back surface of the air inlet 82A of the suction panel 83 includes a feeding / winding shaft 86B for the filter 86A disposed in the upper portion and a feeding portion for the filter 86A disposed in the lower portion. / A winding shaft 86C, a band-shaped filter 86A wound and fixed on the above-described upper shaft 86B and lower shaft 86C, and the filter 86A is guided from the shaft 86B to the shaft 86C and formed in a substantially L-shape. A driving / winding driving motor (not shown) connected to the guide portion 86D and the upper shaft 86B, a feeding / winding driving motor connected to the lower shaft 86C, and the vicinity of the lower shaft 86C The filter is provided with a dust removing member 88 of a filter and a detachable collection box 89 for collecting the dust dropped by the dust removing member 88.

  The operation of the filter device 86 configured as described above will be described. The air sucked from the intake port 82A is removed of dust and the like by the filter 86A, and blown out from the outlet 82B through the heat exchanger section 84 by the blower fan 85. The filter 86A is wound and fixed in a roll shape around the shaft 86B and the shaft 86C, and has a width that covers the opening of the intake port 82A. The filter 86A fed out from the shaft 86B is bent into a substantially L shape by the guide portion 86D and guided to the shaft 86C, and an end portion thereof is wound around the shaft 86C. The guide portion 86D is provided so that the filter 86A is slack and does not interfere with other members.

  When the filter 86A becomes dirty, the user operates the remote controller or the like to operate the upper and lower feeding / winding drive motors so that the dirty portion of the filter 86A is wound on the shaft 86C. Unused parts are fed from the shaft 86B. At this time, the dust removing member 88 of the filter provided around the lower shaft 86C and wound around a cylindrical brush is linked and rotated with the shaft 86C to clean the dirty portion of the filter 86A, and the dust is placed in the lower portion. The dust accumulates in the recovery box 89 by dropping it into the removable recovery box 89 provided. When the dirty portion of the filter 86A is completely wound on the shaft 86C while dust is dropped on the collection box 89, the upper and lower feeding / winding drive motors are operated in reverse to rotate the unused portion of the filter 86A to the shaft. Winding around 86B again, the part of the filter 86A where the dirt is removed returns from the shaft 86B to the position of the feeding origin and stops. In this way, the filter 86A can be used many times until the collection box 89 is filled with dust (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  However, the purpose of this structure is to automate the cleaning of the filter, and the dust attached to the suction panel placed outside the filter must be cleaned by human hands. Because it is installed, cleaning the suction panel is particularly troublesome for elderly people and women, whether it is removed and cleaned without removing the suction panel. In addition, the suction panel has air resistance, and a structure that eliminates the suction panel while maintaining the appearance has been desired.

JP 2001-99479 A (page 2-3, FIG. 1)

  The present invention solves the above-described problems and uses an automatic cleaning function of a filter provided in the indoor unit so that dust adhering to the front and upper surfaces of the indoor unit is automatically cleaned, and at the same time, the front panel The purpose of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner that can reduce the cost by reducing the amount of material used by reducing the air resistance of the intake air to improve the blowing efficiency by removing (notching) the grill portion.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an air conditioner comprising a filter that slidably moves in an air passage that connects a suction port and an outlet provided in a main body, and a cleaning means that cleans the filter. In the machine
The filter is provided corresponding to the suction port, and constitutes a part of the outer shell of the main body.

  Then, a decorative member having a size corresponding to the suction port is continuously formed on the filter, the filter is moved to a position corresponding to the suction port during operation of the main body, and the decorative member is moved when the main body is stopped. It moves to the position corresponding to the said suction inlet, and it is set as the structure where the said filter or the said decorative member comprises a part of outer shell of the said main body.

  Furthermore, it is set as the structure formed by cleaning the said decorative member which moves in conjunction with the said filter using the said cleaning means.

By using the above means, according to the air conditioner of the present invention, the invention according to claim 1 has a structure in which the filter is provided corresponding to the suction port and constitutes a part of the outer shell of the main body. By
There is no need to remove the front panel of an indoor unit usually installed at a high place, or to go up to a high place and clean the front and top surfaces. Furthermore, since there is no suction grille, it is possible to reduce the cost, reduce the ventilation resistance, and improve the efficiency of the motor that drives the fan.

  In the invention according to claim 2, a decorative member having a size corresponding to the suction port is continuously formed in the filter, the filter is moved to a position corresponding to the suction port when the main body is operated, and the decorative member is sucked when the main body is stopped. It is moved to a position corresponding to the mouth, and the filter or the decorative member has a structure constituting a part of the outer shell of the main body, so that the appearance is not impaired even if there is no suction grille.

  The invention according to claim 3 is configured such that the decorative member that moves in conjunction with the filter is cleaned by using a cleaning means, so that the front panel of the indoor unit is removed while maintaining the appearance. A structure can be made that eliminates the need to go up to a high place and clean the front and top surfaces.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail as examples based on the attached drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an essential part showing an embodiment of an air conditioner according to the present invention, and FIG. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the indoor unit (main body) is provided with a base 1 and a front panel 2, and the front panel 2 corresponds to the front and top suction ports 3 (the suction described in the prior art). Panel) is opened, and this portion is covered with a filter 7 including a filter portion 7a and a sheet-like decorative member portion 7b shown in FIG. That is, the filter part 7a or the decorative member part 7b constitutes a part of the outer shell of the indoor unit.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an air outlet 4 for blowing heat exchanged air into the room is formed in the lower part, and a wind filter 7 and an air passage connecting the air inlet 3 and the air outlet 4 are provided. The heat exchangers 8a and 8b and the fan 10 are arranged, and the cooled or warmed air that has been sucked in from the suction port 3 and heat-exchanged in the heat exchangers 8a and 8b is discharged from the blowout port 4 by the fan 10. It is blown into the room. The air direction of the blown air is changed by the left and right wind direction plates 5 (which can be turned left and right) and the upper and lower wind direction plates 6 (which are turned forward or downward during operation).

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the filter 7 is formed by connecting a filter part 7a (mesh part) for collecting dust in the sucked air and a sheet-like decorative member part 7b, and has an upper end ( The decorative member portion 7b side) is wound around the winding shaft 11, and the lower end (filter portion 7a side) is wound around the winding shaft 13, and the winding shafts 11 and 13 are driven to wind by motors 12 and 14, respectively.

  A dust box 15 is provided near the take-up shaft 13 of the filter 7 (the filter take-up mechanism and the dust box constitute a cleaning means). When the filter 7 slides through the dust box 15, the filter 16 is filtered with the brush 16. 7 is brushed so that the dust on both sides is scraped off and collected in the dust container 17. Reference numeral 19 denotes a filter guide for guiding the movement of the filter 7.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described.
In the case of FIG. 1, in response to the operation of starting the air conditioner, the upper motor 12 rotates to drive the take-up shaft 11, and the filter 7 is taken up by the take-up shaft 11, and the front of the indoor unit and It stops at a position where the suction port 3 on the upper surface is covered with the filter portion 7a. At this time, the lower motor 14 is not energized, and the filter 7 wound around the winding shaft 13 is drawn out by the amount taken up.

  As a result, the air sucked from the suction port 3 is debris removed by the filter section 7a, heat exchanged by the heat exchangers 8a and 8b, and blown to the outlet 4 by the fan 10, and the left and right wind direction plates 5 and the upper and lower wind direction plates The air is blown into the room in a direction determined by 6 (opening forward or downward). 9a and 9b are dew receiving portions that receive condensed water falling from the heat exchangers 8a and 8b during cooling operation and dehumidifying operation.

  When the operation for stopping the operation is performed, the lower motor 14 rotates in response to this operation, drives the take-up shaft 13, and the filter 7 is taken up by the take-up shaft 13. The filter 7 is placed on the front surface of the indoor unit. And it stops at the position where the suction port 3 on the upper surface is covered with the decorative member portion 7b. At this time, the upper motor 12 is not energized, and the filter 7 wound around the winding shaft 11 is drawn out by the amount corresponding to the winding. At this time, since the filter unit 7a passes through the dust box 15, both surfaces of the filter unit 7a are rubbed with the brush 16, the attached dust is scraped off, and the dust is collected in the dust storage unit 17.

  While the operation is stopped, the suction port 3 is covered with the decorative member portion 7b, and dust floating in the room adheres to the decorative member portion 7b. For example, operation of a button provided for removing dust from the remote control (operation stop) The motor 14 is energized, and the decorative member portion 7b is wound around the winding shaft 13. As a result, both surfaces of the decorative member portion 7 b covering the suction port 3 are rubbed with the brush 16, and the attached dust is scraped off and collected in the dust storage portion 17.

  Since the indoor unit does not have a portion (suction panel) corresponding to the suction port 3, only the filter 7 (filter part 7a or decorative member part 7b) exists in the passage of air to be sucked into the indoor unit during operation. By cleaning the dust adhering to the member portion 7b, it becomes unnecessary to remove the suction panel and clean it as before.

  The decorative member portion 7b has a length that is necessary to cover the suction port 3 so that all the portions that have covered the suction port 3 when the operation is stopped slide through the dust box 15 by the above button operation. Keep it about twice as long.

  FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of the main part of another embodiment of the air conditioner according to the present invention. In the figure, 21 is a base, 22 is a front panel, and 23 is a suction port. The filter 24 is configured by connecting a mesh-shaped filter portion and a sheet-like decorative member portion, and a rack is disposed at the center of the back surface, and is moved back and forth by a gear 25 driven by a motor (not shown). It is in the form to let you. A filter guide 26 guides the movement of the filter 23. Others are the same as in the case of the first embodiment and will not be described.

  The operation in the case of FIG. 4 will be described. Responsive to the operation of starting the air conditioner, the gear 25 rotates rearward, the filter 24 moves rearward, and stops at a position where the suction port 23 is covered with a mesh-like filter portion. The upper end (the decorative member portion side) of the filter 24 is fed between the rear side of the dew receiving portion 9b and the base 21 as indicated by a dotted line.

  When the operation for stopping the operation is performed, the gear 25 rotates in the direction opposite to that at the start of the operation, the filter 24 moves forward, and stops at a position where the suction port 23 is covered with the decorative member portion. The front end (filter part side) of the filter 24 is sent to the dew receiving part 9a as indicated by a dotted line, and at this time, dust adhering to the filter part is scraped off by the brush 16 in the filter box 15.

  While the operation is stopped, the floating dust in the room adheres to the decorative member. For example, the gear 25 rotates forward by operating the dust removal button provided on the remote control (valid only when the operation is stopped), and the filter 24 moves further forward. The dust on the decorative member portion is scraped off by the brush 16. In addition, the point which makes the length of a makeup | decoration member part about 2 times the vertical length required for covering the suction inlet 23 is the same as that of the case of Example 1, and other operation | movement is the same as the case of Example 1. Because there is, explanation is omitted.

The filter 24 is made of a resin material such as vinyl chloride, and has both flexibility and strength. However, if the gear 25 that drives the filter 24 is provided at multiple locations as needed, reliable filter driving can be performed. The
Further, although not described in the embodiment, the same effect can be obtained not only in the structure in which the filter and the decorative member are slid in the front-rear direction for cleaning but in the structure in which the filter is slid in the left and right for cleaning.

It is a principal part sectional side view which shows one Example of the air conditioner by this invention. It is a principal part perspective view which shows one Example of the air conditioner by this invention. It is a principal part perspective view which shows an example of a filter (a filter part and a decorative member part). It is principal part side sectional drawing which shows the other Example of the air conditioner by this invention. It is a principal part sectional side view of an example of the conventional air conditioner.

Explanation of symbols

1, 21 Base 2, 22 Front panel 3, 23, 32 Suction port 4 Air outlet 5 Left and right wind direction plate 6 Vertical wind direction plate 7, 24, 33 Filter
7a Filter section
7b Cosmetic parts
8a, 8b heat exchanger
9a, 9b Dew receiving section
10 fans
11, 13 Winding shaft
12, 14 motor
15 Dust box
16 brushes
17 Garbage storage
18 Spindle
19, 26, 34 Filter guide
25 gear
31 Front grille

Claims (3)

In an air conditioner comprising a filter that slidably moves in an air passage that connects a suction port and a blowout port provided in the main body, and a cleaning means that cleans the filter,
The air conditioner characterized in that the filter is provided corresponding to the suction port and constitutes a part of the outer shell of the main body.   A decorative member having a size corresponding to the suction port is continuously formed on the filter, the filter is moved to a position corresponding to the suction port when the main body is operated, and the decorative member is moved to the suction position when the main body is stopped. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the air conditioner is moved to a position corresponding to a mouth, and the filter or the decorative member constitutes a part of an outer shell of the main body.   The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the decorative member that moves in conjunction with the filter is cleaned using the cleaning means.

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