JP2007183074A - Filter cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a filter cleaning device that can efficiently remove dust from filters without using a large air capacity suction/exhaust device while adopting a system for removing dust by air. <P>SOLUTION: The filter cleaning device has a pair of half dust boxes 10 and 11 opposed at a fixed interval with the filters 4 in between, and removes dust B attached to the filters 4 by moving the dust boxes 10 and 11 and the filters 4 relatively in a vertical direction A and circulating air through the dust boxes 10 and 11. A plurality of projected horizontal ribs 21 are formed on the surface of the filters 4 in a vertical line. The dust boxes 10 and 11 comprise box bodies 35 and 36 forming therein an air passage 17, and guide walls 34 formed in the vertical direction A at both vertical ends 35a and 36a of the box bodies 35 and 36. The guide walls 34 have a vertical length L greater than an inside dimension Z between adjacent horizontal ribs 21. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a filter cleaning device that cleans a filter that removes dust in the air, and an air conditioning device equipped with the filter cleaning device.

  Conventionally, air conditioners such as air conditioners, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, air purifiers, and heaters have been equipped with a filter to remove dust in the air. It takes time and effort and is not hygienic.

As a solution to this problem, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses an air conditioner in which a dust box having a brush for removing dust is disposed so as to come into contact with a filter and the filter is moved to remove the entire filter. Is described. Moreover, as shown in Patent Document 2, a movable suction nozzle for sucking dust adhering to the filter is provided, a suction duct is provided in the suction nozzle, and a suction / exhaust device connected to the suction duct and the sucked dust are outdoors. A filter device having an exhaust duct for exhausting air is also known.
JP 2005-188808 A JP 2004-283703 A

  However, in the air conditioner described in Patent Document 1, dust attached to the filter is scraped off with a brush, which may cause damage to the filter and may cause dust attached to the brush to reattach to the filter. There is a problem that dust must be discarded every time dust accumulates in the dust box.

  On the other hand, the filter device described in Patent Document 2 is a method of removing dust attached to the filter with a brush instead of removing it with air suction force, so that the filter is damaged or dust is collected in the cleaning device. There is no fear. However, in this filter device, the suction port formed in the suction nozzle is brought into contact with the filter surface to suck in dust, so if the area of the suction port is increased to widen the dust suction range, the suction force becomes weaker and dust removal In order to prevent a decrease in efficiency, a suction exhaust device with a large air volume is required. Conversely, if the suction area is increased by reducing the area of the suction port, it takes time to clean the entire filter. It was.

  Therefore, in the present invention, a filter cleaning device capable of efficiently removing dust from a filter without using a suction / exhaust device with a large air volume while adopting a method of removing dust by air and the filter cleaning device are mounted. An object is to provide an air conditioner.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the present invention, a pair of halved dust-removing boxes are arranged opposite to each other with a predetermined interval across a filter that removes dust in the air, and the dust-removing box and the filter are vertically arranged. A filter cleaning device for removing dust adhering to a filter by circulating air in a dust removal box while relatively moving, wherein a plurality of protruding horizontal ribs are formed in a vertical direction on the surface of the filter, and the dust removal The box includes a box main body in which an air flow path is formed, and guide walls formed in the vertical direction at both longitudinal ends of the box main body, and the vertical lengths of the guide walls are adjacent to each other. It is characterized by being formed to be longer than the inner dimension of the lateral rib.

  In the above configuration, the guide walls are formed at both longitudinal ends of the box bodies of both dust removal boxes, and the length of the guide walls in the vertical direction is longer than the inner dimension of the adjacent horizontal rib. In the space between the walls, there will always be horizontal ribs. That is, while using the gap between the dust removal boxes as a filter guide path through which the filter passes, it is possible to block the gap with a horizontal rib having a projecting cross section and restrict the air from entering and exiting. More specifically, the dust removal box is preferably arranged so that the length direction of both longitudinal ends of the box body is parallel to the length direction of the lateral rib.

  Thereby, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the flow velocity of the air flowing through the space surrounded by the box body of the pair of dust removal boxes, and the dust attached to the filter accommodated in the dust removal box is efficiently blown away by this air flow. Can be removed. Here, the half-shaped dust removal box need only be formed so that the end faces can be brought into contact with each other, and does not have to be formed in a symmetrical shape.

  As a means for circulating air in the dust removal box, for example, a fan, an intake port for taking air into the fan, and a discharge port for releasing air from the fan can be used. By connecting the intake port and the discharge port to the box, air can be circulated in the dust removal box.

  Further, as other air circulation means, an air sending means for sending air or an air suction means for sucking air can be used. In this case, air can be circulated between the vent and the air sending means or the air suction means by forming the vent in the dust removal box.

  However, it is preferable to use an air suction means from the viewpoint that there is no risk of dust scattering around the gap between the dust removal boxes. Specifically, a configuration may be adopted in which an intake port is formed on one side in the lateral direction of the pair of dust removal boxes, and suction means for sucking air is connected to the other end.

  In the present invention, it is possible to use moving means for relatively moving the dust removal box and the filter in the vertical direction of the filter. In this case, since the gap between the dust removal boxes is always closed while the moving means is in operation, the suction means is operated simultaneously with the operation of the moving means, thereby being surrounded by the dust removal box. Therefore, it is possible to move the filter without reducing the flow velocity of the air flowing through the space, and it is possible to automatically and efficiently remove dust attached to the filter.

  To move the dust removal box and the filter relatively in the vertical direction, the filter may be moved in the vertical direction with respect to the fixed dust removal box, or the dust removal box with respect to the fixed filter. Can be moved vertically.

  The filter cleaning device described above is mounted on an air conditioner that includes a suction port and an air outlet, and a filter that is interposed between the filter and removes dust in the air, without increasing the size of the air conditioner. It becomes possible to add a filter cleaning function. The air conditioner is not particularly limited as long as it includes a filter that removes dust in the air, and examples thereof include an air conditioner, a humidifier, a dehumidifier, an air purifier, and a heater. .

  In addition, the filter used in the filter cleaning device according to the present invention has a plurality of horizontal ribs formed on the filter surface, so that even if the filter is formed to be able to bend in the vertical direction by reducing the strength in the vertical direction of the filter, the filter is warped. It is possible to maintain the shape retention enough to prevent the wave and the wave.

  Therefore, the filter that has moved in the vertical direction is provided with a moving means that can move the filter in the vertical direction of the filter and a filter holding means that bends and holds the filter that has been moved in the vertical direction by the moving means. Can be bent and held.

  The air conditioner equipped with the filter cleaning device having the above configuration can accommodate the moved filter in a bent state in the device main body, and has an effect that the aesthetics are not impaired.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a halved dust removal box is disposed oppositely across a filter in which a plurality of lateral ribs are formed, and a box body in which an air flow path is formed, and the box body Guide walls formed in the vertical direction at both ends in the vertical direction, and the vertical length of the guide walls is longer than the inner dimensions of the adjacent horizontal ribs. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the flow velocity of the air flowing through the space, and it is possible to efficiently blow away and remove dust attached to the filter accommodated in the dust removal box.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a description will be given of a case where a separate type air conditioner indoor unit having a cooling / heating function as a main function is used as an air conditioner, and the filter cleaning device according to the present invention is mounted on the indoor unit. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an indoor unit of an air conditioner, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view thereof.

  In FIG.1 and FIG.2, the suction inlet 2 and the blower outlet 3 are each formed in the upper part and the lower part of the indoor unit main body 1 of an air conditioner, and the blower outlet 3 from the suction inlet 2 is formed in the inside of the main body 1. FIG. A ventilation path is formed between the filter 4, the filter 4, the indoor heat exchanger 5, and the blower fan 6 in this order, with the suction port 2 side as the upstream side. The suction ports 2 are formed at two places on the left and right of the upper surface of the main body 1.

  As shown in FIG. 3, two filters 4 formed in a vertically long rectangle are arranged side by side in the vicinity of the downstream side of the suction port 2 for sucking air at a position corresponding to each suction port 2. The indoor unit is provided with a filter cleaning device for cleaning the filter 4.

  When the air conditioning operation is performed in the indoor unit configured as described above, first, the blower fan 6 is operated to suck indoor air from the suction port 2, and the indoor air passes through the filter 4 and comes into contact with the indoor heat exchanger 5. . The indoor air conditioned by being warmed or cooled by the indoor heat exchanger 5 is discharged into the room through the outlet 3.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the filter cleaning device includes a dust removal box (referred to as a front side box) 10 that covers the surface of the filter 4, a dust removal box (referred to as a back side box) 11 that covers the back surface of the filter 4, and a suction means. A suction fan 12 and moving means for reciprocating the filter 4 in the vertical direction are provided.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the filter 4, its AA sectional view and BB sectional view, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the filter 4. The filter 4 includes a mesh filter portion 19 and a synthetic resin frame 31 provided around the mesh filter portion 19 to reinforce the mesh filter portion 19. The frame 31 includes a vertical frame 32 and a horizontal frame 33. It is composed of Further, the filter 4 is reinforced with vertical ribs 20 and horizontal ribs 21.

  A plurality of the vertical ribs 20 and the horizontal ribs 21 are made of synthetic resin and formed on the surface of the mesh filter portion 19 at equal intervals. The horizontal frame 33 and the horizontal rib 21 are formed in a protruding shape to prevent the filter 4 from warping or wavy, that is, thick, whereas the vertical frame 32 and the vertical rib 20 are formed in the horizontal frame 33. And it is formed thinner than the lateral rib 21. Thereby, the filter 4 can be easily bent in the vertical direction while maintaining the rigidity in the horizontal direction.

  A rack portion 22 is provided in the vertical direction on the outer edge portion of the vertical frame 2. The rack portion 22 meshes with a pinion 28 which is a moving means described later, and reciprocates the filter 4 in the vertical direction. The rack portion 22 has a shape obtained by forming a strip-like material into a corrugated shape, and this peak portion functions as a rack. It is like that.

  As described above, a mesh filter portion 19 that allows air sucked from the suction port 2 to pass therethrough is formed on the upper portion of the filter 4, and a thin resin sheet 23 is used instead of the mesh filter portion 19 on the lower portion of the filter 4. The lower part of the filter is designed to prevent air from passing through.

  The moving means for reciprocating the filter 4 in the vertical direction includes a filter holding means 24 for holding the filter 4 and a driving means 26 for moving the filter 4 by the motor 25 as shown in FIGS. . The filter holding means 24 is composed of a pair of left and right guide paths. The guide path is formed in a substantially U-shaped cross section, and the right and left ends of the filter 4 can be inserted. By passing the rigid horizontal frame 33 and the lateral rib 21 between the pair of left and right guide paths, the filter 4 is held in the guide path without being deformed.

  The cross-sectional shape of the filter holding means 24 is represented as a black portion in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the filter holding means 24 is provided along the suction port 2, and is gently inclined downwardly on the front side of the suction port 2, and between the front side box 10 and the back side box 11. A U-shaped path 24a is formed that passes through and descends substantially vertically along the front panel 7 and then U-turns inward toward the suction port.

  The drive means 26 includes a motor 25, a drive gear 27 connected to the motor 25, a pinion 28 and a rubber roller 29 that mesh with the drive gear 27. A gear having the same shape as a pinion (not shown) is attached to the rotation shaft of the rubber roller 29, so that the pinion 28 and the rubber roller 29 rotate in the same direction.

  The pinion 28 is disposed so as to mesh with the back surface side of the rack portion 22 provided in the filter 4. The rubber roller 29 is disposed so as to be partly exposed in the U-shaped path 24a, and rotates while contacting the back side of the filter 4 in the U-shaped path 24a, so that the frictional force causes the movement of the bent filter 4 to move. It is configured to perform smoothly.

  One set of driving means 26 is attached to each of the left and right guide paths of the filter holding means. However, as shown in FIG. 9, one motor 25 is provided for each of the two sets of driving means 26. Each drive gear 27 is fixed to the same rotary shaft 30 connected to the motor 25, and is driven to rotate in the same way on the left and right.

  Next, the front side box 10 and the back side box 11 will be described. The front-side box 10 and the back-side box 11 are each substantially U-shaped in cross section and formed in a horizontally long rectangle in plan view, and are installed across two filters 4 arranged side by side. The front-side box 10 and the back-side box 11 are arranged so that the vertical and horizontal directions coincide with the filter 4. As shown in FIG. 4, the front box 10 and the back box 11 are formed in a half shape, and are opposed to each other with an interval X across the filter 4.

  That is, the gap 18 (interval X) between the front box 10 and the back box 11 serves as a filter guide path for guiding the filter and is connected to the filter holding means 24. The filter 4 is movable in the vertical direction in the filter guide path and the filter holding means 24.

  The front-side box 10 and the back-side box 11 are arranged along the filter 4 in the vertical direction A at the box main bodies 35 and 36 in which air flow paths are formed, and the longitudinal ends 35a and 36a of the box main bodies 35 and 36. And a flange-shaped guide wall 34 formed.

  The front-side box 10 and the back-side box 11 are arranged such that the length direction of the longitudinal end portions 35a and 36a of the box main bodies 35 and 36 and the length direction of the lateral rib 21 are parallel to each other. The length in the vertical direction A is longer than the inner dimension of the adjacent lateral ribs 21, 21.

  As a result, the lateral rib 21 is always present in the space between the guide walls 34. That is, by closing the gap 18 (interval X) between the opposing guide walls 34 and 34 with the lateral ribs, it is possible to restrict the entry and exit of air from there.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a vent 15 is formed at one end in the lateral direction of the front box 10 and the back box 11, and the other end is fitted and held by a pipe 14. The other end side of the pipe 14 is connected to the suction fan 12. That is, a box body 16 having an air flow path 17 therein is formed by both boxes 10 and 11.

  In the present invention, an air flow is generated in the air flow path 17, and dust attached to the filter 4 is removed by flowing air in a direction substantially parallel to the filter 4 from the side of the filter 4 accommodated in the box body 16. It is like that.

  In the present embodiment, the box body 16 is formed such that the front side box 10 and the back side box 11 are formed as separate bodies and are arranged to face each other, but two slits are provided in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body. Thus, the front side box and the back side box can be integrally formed.

  The distance X between the boxes 10 and 11 is set to be slightly larger than the thickness Y, which is the sum of the thickness of the lateral rib 21 and the thickness of the mesh filter portion 19, so that the filter 4 and the boxes 10 and It is possible to move the filter 4 smoothly without causing large friction with the filter 11. The filter 4 is set on the filter holding means 24 so that the surface on which the lateral ribs 21 are formed in the air flow direction of the ventilation path is on the windward side. The surface on which the lateral ribs 21 are formed may be on the leeward side.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the state of both the boxes and the filter when the filter 4 is set in the indoor unit body 1, and FIG. 9 is a state where the filter 4 in FIG. FIG.

  A plurality of horizontal ribs 21 are formed in the filter 4 in the vertical direction, and the inner dimension of the adjacent horizontal ribs 21 is set to Z. Further, as described above, the guide walls 34 are connected to the longitudinal ends 35a and 36a of the box bodies 35 and 36, respectively, and the interval between the opposing guide walls 34 and 34 is the distance between the box bodies 35 and 36. The same X as the gap 18 therebetween. The opposing guide walls 34, 34 formed in this way function as an inlet of a filter guide path formed by the gap 18 between the dust removal boxes 10 and 11.

  The longitudinal length L of the guide wall 34 is set to be larger than the inner dimension Z of the adjacent horizontal ribs 21. Therefore, even when the filter 4 is moved from the state shown in FIG. 8, the lateral ribs 21 always exist in the space between the guide walls 34 and 34 as shown in FIG. 18 is always blocked.

  Thus, it becomes possible to form the cylindrical box body 16 with no gap between the front side box 10, the back side box 11, and the lateral ribs 21 interposed therebetween, and the flow velocity of the air flowing through the air flow path 17 is reduced. The dust B adhering to the filter 4 can be efficiently removed without causing it.

  In this embodiment, the interval X is set to be slightly larger than the thickness Y of the thickness of the lateral rib 21 and the thickness of the filter, but this takes into account the warp of the filter and the like. This is for smooth insertion of the filter 4, and when the suction fan 12 is operated, the air passage 17 becomes negative pressure and the dust removal boxes are in close contact with each other, so that X and Y are substantially the same. It is possible to obtain the same suction force as when set to. It is also possible to provide an elastic body or the like inside the guide walls 34 and 34 so as to be in close contact with the lateral rib 21 so as not to reduce the suction force.

  When the filter 4 is cleaned with the filter cleaning device having the above configuration, the suction fan 12 may be driven together with the moving means. At this time, since the gap of the interval X is provided between the front side box 10 and the back side box 11, the front side box 10 can move the filter 4 without contacting the dust B adhering to the surface of the filter 4. it can. Since the gap 18 of the box body 16 is always closed during the movement of the filter 4, the suction fan 12 is operated while moving the filter 4 at a constant speed. It becomes possible to automatically and efficiently remove the dust B adhering to the surface of the accommodated filter 4.

Indoor unit perspective view of an air conditioner showing an embodiment of the present invention Cross section of indoor unit in FIG. The perspective view which shows the state which removed the panel of the indoor unit of FIG. Plan view of the filter used in the indoor unit of FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the filter of FIG. The perspective view which shows a part of indoor unit of FIG. One end view of the front box and the back box used in the indoor unit of FIG. Schematic sectional view showing a state in which a filter is set in the front side box and the back side box of FIG. Schematic sectional view showing a state where the filter of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Indoor unit main body 2 Suction port 3 Outlet 4 Filter 5 Indoor heat exchanger 6 Blower fan 7 Front panel 8 Filter guide 9 Louver 10 Front side box 11 Back side box 12 Suction fan 13 Top panel 14 Piping 15 Ventilation port 16 Box body 17 Air Channel 18 Clearance 19 Mesh filter portion 20 Vertical rib 21 Horizontal rib 22 Rack portion 23 Resin sheet 24 Filter holding means 25 Motor 26 Drive means 27 Drive gear 28 Pinion 29 Rubber roller 30 Rotating shaft 31 Frame body 32 Vertical frame 33 Horizontal frame 34 Guide wall 35, 36 Box body

Claims (5)

A pair of halved dust removal boxes are placed facing each other at regular intervals across a filter that removes dust in the air, and air is moved into the dust removal box while relatively moving the dust removal box and the filter in the vertical direction. A filter cleaning device for removing dust adhering to a filter through circulation, wherein a plurality of rows of protruding horizontal ribs are formed in a vertical direction on the surface of the filter, and an air flow path is formed inside the dust removal box And a guide wall formed in the longitudinal direction at both longitudinal ends of the box body, and the longitudinal length of the guide wall is longer than the inner dimension of the adjacent lateral rib. A filter cleaning device formed. 2. The filter cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the dust box is disposed so that a length direction of both longitudinal end portions of the box body is parallel to a length direction of the horizontal rib. The filter cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an air inlet is formed on one side in the lateral direction of the pair of dust removal boxes, and suction means for sucking air is connected to the other end. 4. The filter cleaning apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a moving means for moving the dust removal box and the filter relative to each other in the vertical direction of the filter is provided, and the moving means and the suction means are operated simultaneously. An air conditioner equipped with the filter cleaning device according to claim 1.

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