JP2007187437A - Filter cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a filter cleaning device and an air conditioner equipped with the cleaning device capable of removing dust of a filter in a wide range at a time and preventing oil stains and tobacco tar from sticking to the filter. <P>SOLUTION: Dust sticking to the surface of the filter 4 is forcibly detached by rotationally driving a cleaning brush while relatively moving the filter 4 along the openings of dust removing boxes 10, 11, and the detached and separated dust is discharged to the outside from the dust removing boxes by air flow generated by an air flow generating means. Even tough stains clinging to the surface of the filter can thereby be forcibly separated and removed. <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 conditioner such as an air conditioner equipped with the filter cleaning device.

  Conventionally, as an air conditioner of this type, Patent Document 1 discloses a filter cleaning device in which a dust box having a brush for removing dust is disposed so as to contact a filter and the filter is moved to remove dust from the entire filter. Is disclosed.

Further, Patent Document 2 is provided with a movable suction nozzle for sucking dust adhering to a filter, and a suction duct is connected to the suction nozzle, and the sucked dust is exhausted to the outside by a suction exhaust device through the duct. A filter device adapted to do so is disclosed.
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 due to contact with the brush, and dust attached to the brush may reattach to the filter. There is. Furthermore, the filter cleaning device described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that dust must be discarded every time dust accumulates in the dust box.

  On the other hand, the filter cleaning device described in Patent Document 2 is a method in which dust attached to the filter is not removed by a brush, but is removed by air suction, so that the filter is damaged or dust accumulates in the cleaning device. There is no fear. However, since the filter cleaning device described in Patent Document 2 sucks dust by bringing the suction port formed in the suction nozzle into contact with the filter surface, the suction force is weakened if the area of the suction port is increased to widen the dust suction range. Become.

  In order to increase the dust removal 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.

  In view of the above, the present invention adopts a method of removing dust by a fluid such as air, and enables dust removal of the filter over a wide range at a time, and prevents oil stains and tobacco dust from adhering to the filter. An object of the present invention is to provide a filter cleaning device that can be used and an air conditioning device equipped with the filter cleaning device.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a filter cleaning device for cleaning a filter that removes dust in the air, and includes a dust removal box having a guide path for guiding the filter and generating an air flow path therein. A cleaning brush arranged along the length direction in the dust removal box, an air flow generating means for generating an air flow in the dust removal box, and a direction perpendicular to the length direction of the filter with respect to the dust removal box A moving means for moving the filter relatively to the filter, and while moving the filter relatively in the direction perpendicular to the length direction of the dust removal box, the cleaning brush is rotated to forcibly remove the dust adhering to the surface of the filter. It is characterized by removing the dust that has been lifted and lifted up from the dust removal box by the air flow generating means.

  According to the above configuration, while relatively moving the filter along the guide path of the dust removal box, the cleaning brush is driven to rotate to forcibly remove the dust adhering to the surface of the filter, and the air flow generating means removes the dust. The dust that has been lifted is discharged from the dust removal box to the outside by the air flow generated by the air flow generating means, so that stubborn dirt stuck to the surface of the filter can also be lifted up and removed.

  In this case, the dust removal box is arranged so as to cross the filter, and as an air flow generating means, an intake port formed on one end side in the filter transverse direction of the dust removal box, and a suction means connected to the other end side for sucking air It can consist of

  According to the above configuration, the dust removal box is arranged so as to cross the filter, and air is sucked in from the suction port on one end side of the dust removal box and discharged to the outside from the other end side. Therefore, it is not necessary to suck in air, and a device having a large air volume is not required as the air flow generating means, and the apparatus can be downsized.

  Furthermore, the dust removal boxes can be arranged on both the front and back sides of the filter, and the gap formed between the dust removal boxes can be used as a guide path for the filter. According to this structure, the front and back surfaces of the filter can be simultaneously sucked and cleaned, and the cleaning efficiency is improved. In that case, since the cleaning brush was provided, the dust adhering to both front and back surfaces of the filter can be reliably removed.

  The shape of the cleaning brush is not particularly limited, but an example is one having a plurality of elastic blades arranged in a spiral with respect to the periphery of the rotation shaft. According to this configuration, dust can be reliably removed from the filter surface without damaging the filter with a plurality of elastic blades.

  In addition, an elastic blade formed on the other end side of the rotating shaft extends in the axial direction of the rotating shaft, and the extending portion is disposed around the bearing portion of the rotating shaft. According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent air containing sucked dust from entering the bearing portion from the end portion of the blade.

  This type of filter cleaning device is installed in an air conditioner that is interposed in an air passage extending from the suction port to the air outlet and removes dust in the air, thereby increasing the size of the air conditioner. A filter cleaning function can be added without doing so.

  The air conditioner is not particularly limited as long as it includes a filter that removes dust in the air. Examples thereof include an air conditioner, a humidifier, a dehumidifier, an air purifier, and a heater. Can do.

  As described above, according to the present invention, while the filter is relatively moved along the opening of the dust removal box, the cleaning brush is rotationally driven to forcibly remove the dust adhering to the surface of the filter and generate an air flow. By the means, the separated and lifted dust is discharged from the dust removal box to the outside by the air flow generated by the air flow generation means, so that the stubborn dirt stuck to the surface of the filter can be lifted and removed forcibly.

  Hereinafter, a filter cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, an example will be described in which an indoor unit of a separate type air conditioner having an air conditioning 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 sectional view thereof.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the air conditioner of the present embodiment has an inlet 2 and an outlet 3 formed at the upper and lower portions of the indoor unit body 1, respectively. Is a ventilation path extending from the suction port 2 to the blowout port 3, the filter 4, the indoor heat exchanger 5, and the blower fan 6 are arranged in this order with the suction port 2 side as the upstream side. A cleaning device 40 is provided.

  A louver 9 for changing the direction of the air flow in the vertical direction is swingably attached to the air outlet 3. The louver 9 operates quickly when the air-conditioning air flow is turned off, and closes the air outlet 3 as shown.

  Then, when the operation of the indoor unit is started, the blower fan 6 is operated and the indoor air is sucked from the suction port 2, the indoor air passes through the filter 4 and comes into contact with the indoor heat exchanger 5, and heat exchange is performed. Harmonized room air is discharged into the room from the air outlet 3.

  The front portion of the indoor unit body 1 is formed to be openable and closable by a front panel 7. A filter guide 8 is formed inside the front panel 7, and as shown in FIG. 3, when the front panel 7 is pulled upward and opened, the tip of the filter guide 8 rotates in conjunction with this. The filter 4 can be removably inserted by facing forward. When the front panel 7 is closed, the tip of the filter guide 8 is also rotated downward, and the filter 4 is set in the indoor unit body 1 as shown in FIG.

  The suction ports 2 are formed at two locations on the left and right sides of the upper surface of the main body 1, and in the lower part (near the downstream side), as shown in FIG. Two filters 4 are arranged side by side. The length of the filter 4 in the horizontal direction is substantially the same as that of each suction port 2. The vertical length of the filter 4 is longer than the vertical length of the suction port 2, and the lower portion of the filter 4 is bent and held along the filter guide 8 with the front panel 7 closed.

  The filter cleaning device 40 that cleans the filter 4 includes a front dust removal box 10 that covers the surface of the filter 4 (hereinafter referred to as the front box 10) and a back dust removal box 11 that covers the back surface of the filter 4 (hereinafter referred to as the back box 11). ), The cleaning brush 41 arranged along the length direction in the front and back boxes 10 and 11, the air flow generating means 42 for generating an air flow in the front and back boxes 10 and 11, and the filter 4. And a moving means 43 that moves relative to the longitudinal direction perpendicular to the length direction of the boxes 10 and 11.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the dust removal boxes 10 and 11 are slightly ahead of the suction port 2, that is, sandwiching the filter 4 portion near the boundary between the front panel 7 and the top panel 13 where the suction port 2 is formed. The air is sucked from the suction port 2 so as not to prevent the air from passing through the filter 4.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the front side box 10 and the back side box 11 are composed of long and narrow halved cylinders, and the longitudinal direction is oriented in the horizontal direction of the filter so as to cross the two filters 4 arranged side by side on the left and right. In addition, the filter 4 is disposed with an interval X so that the opening end faces 10 a and 11 a thereof face each other across the filter 4, and the gap 18 serves as a guide path for the filter 4.

  In addition, an intake port 15 is formed on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the front side box 10 and the back side box 11, and the other end side is fitted and held in the suction pipe 14 with a gap X between them. The other end of 14 is connected to a suction fan 12 as a suction means, and these constitute an air flow generation means 42.

  That is, the front and back boxes 10 and 11 are arranged to face each other, thereby forming a box body 16 in which an intake port 15 is formed on one end side and a suction fan 12 is connected on the other end side, and the internal space is air. The flow path 17 is used. The air flow path 17 has an intake port 15 of the box body 16 as an inlet, and is configured to generate an air flow by sucking air from the inlet to the suction fan 12.

  In addition, an elastic sealing material 46 having a semi-cylindrical cross section is attached to the opening edge of the dust removal box 10 so that the filter 4 can be smoothly guided in the vertical direction by elastically contacting the filter 4.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, an example in which the cleaning brush 41 is disposed on both the front side box 10 and the back side box 11 facing each other up and down has been described. The cleaning brush 41 may be disposed only on the front side box 10 that is in contact with the filter surface side that is easily contaminated.

  Moreover, the box body 16 forms the front side box 10 and the back side box 11 as separate bodies, and these are arranged to face each other. However, by providing two slits in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body, It is also possible to integrally form the box and the back side box.

  The cleaning brush 41 is composed of a rotating shaft 41a and a plurality of (two in this embodiment) elastic blades 41b arranged in a spiral around the rotating shaft 41a, and an electric motor 47 provided on the suction pipe 14 side. Driven by rotation.

  The rotary shaft 41a is rotatably supported by bearings 44 and 45 on the suction port 15 side at one end and the suction pipe 14 side at the other end, but the bearing 45 portion on the suction side communicates with the suction pipe 14 to remove dust. The dust sucked together with air from the boxes 10 and 11 is set so as to flow out to the suction pipe 14 through the periphery of the bearing 45 at the other end.

  On the other hand, the elastic blade 41b is disposed so as to elastically contact the surface of the filter 4, and acts to scoop up and float dust adhering to the surface of the filter 4. As shown in FIG. 6, the elastic blade 41b is formed in a spiral winding of about two turns along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 41a from the one end inlet 15 side of the rotating shaft 41a to the other end side. At the other end on the suction pipe 14 side, the elastic blade 41b extends to the outer end side in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 41a, and the extended portion 41c is positioned around the bearing portion 45 of the rotary shaft 41a. It is set so that dust that tends to accumulate on the bearing portion 45 flows out to the suction pipe 14 side.

  The dust removal boxes 10 and 11 are formed to extend in the left-right direction across the suction ports 2 on both the left and right sides. However, as shown in FIG. It may be a structure. In this case, in order to prevent the elastic blade 41b of the cleaning brush 41 from rubbing against the reinforcing material 48 and generating noise, the central portion is cut out in the axial direction of the elastic blade 41b to form a recess 49, which is reinforced during rotation. The material 48 may be avoided.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the filter 4 includes a mesh filter 19 and a synthetic resin frame 31 provided around the mesh filter 19 to reinforce the mesh filter 19. The vertical frame 32 and the horizontal frame 33 are included. 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 19 at equal intervals. The horizontal frames 33 and the horizontal ribs 21 are formed in a protruding shape, that is, thick in order to prevent warping and undulation of the filter 4, whereas the vertical frames 32 and the vertical ribs 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 43 described later to reciprocate 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 supposed to be.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the rack portion 22 is formed separately from the adjacent lateral ribs 21. In this way, the rack portion 22 is formed in a corrugated shape and separated from the adjacent lateral ribs 21 to maintain the flexibility of the filter 4 in the vertical direction.

  As described above, the mesh filter 19 that allows the air sucked from the suction port 2 to pass therethrough is stretched on the upper portion of the filter 4, and a thin resin sheet 23 is used instead of the mesh filter 19 at the lower portion of the filter 4. The lower part of the filter is structured such that air does not pass through. In addition, the resin-made sheet | seat 23 is formed thinly like the vertical rib 20, and, thereby, the flexibility of the vertical direction is ensured over the filter 4 whole.

  The moving means 43 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 FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the filter holding means 24 is composed of a pair of left and right guide paths into which the left and right ends of the filter 4 can be inserted. As shown in FIG. 2, the guide path is formed in a substantially U shape in a side view. In FIG. 2, black portions and shaded portions are guide paths.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the filter holding means 24 is provided along the suction port 2, and gently inclines downward on the front side of the suction port 2, while the front side box 10 and the back side box 11. A U-shaped path 24a is formed that passes between the two and then descends substantially vertically along the front panel 7 and then U-turns inward and rises toward the suction port. The filter guide 8 described above constitutes a part of the filter holding means 24 with the front panel 7 closed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the drive means 26 includes a motor 25, a drive gear 27 coupled to the motor 25, a pinion 28 that meshes with the drive gear 27, and a rubber roller 29. 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 be partially exposed from the filter holding means 24 near the box body 16 and mesh with the back surface side of the rack portion 22 provided in the filter 4. The rubber roller 29 is arranged so as to be partly exposed in the U-shaped guide path 24a, and rotates while contacting the back surface side of the filter 4 in the U-shaped guide path 24a, so that the frictional force of the filter 4 is bent. It is configured so that it can move smoothly.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the motor 25 is one for the two sets of driving means 26, and the driving gears 27 arranged on the left and right are fixed to the same rotating shaft 30 connected to the motor 25. Rotating drive in sync with left and right.

  When the filter 4 is set in the indoor unit main body 1, the filter upper part is inserted into the filter holding means 24 from the filter guide 8, and the filter 4 is disposed below the suction port 2. At this time, the distance X between the gaps 18 between the boxes 10 and 11 is set to be slightly larger than the thickness Y of the thickness of the lateral rib 21 and the thickness of the filter, so It is possible to set the filter 4 smoothly without causing a large friction between the boxes 10 and 11.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a relationship between the boxes 10 and 11 and the filter 4 when the filter 4 is set in the indoor unit main body 1. In the filter 4, horizontal ribs 21 are formed at substantially the same interval as the width of the boxes 10 and 11 (the distance between the opening end faces 10a and 11a of the dust removal box). Accordingly, the lateral ribs 21 are positioned in the two gaps 18 formed in the box body 16 so as to close the gaps 18. Thus, it becomes possible to form the cylindrical box body 16 without a gap with the front side box 10, the back side box 11, and the horizontal rib 21 interposed therebetween.

  In the present embodiment, the interval 18 is set to be slightly larger than the combined 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. When the suction fan 12 is operated, the inside of the flow path 17 becomes negative pressure and the dust removal boxes are in close contact with each other, so that X and Y are set substantially the same. The same suction force as the case can be obtained.

  In the above configuration, when the air conditioner is operated, air is sucked from the suction port 2 of the indoor unit body 1, and dust A in the air adheres to the surface of the mesh filter 19. The indoor unit 1 is provided with control means including an input circuit, a CPU, a memory, and an output circuit. For example, when it is determined that the operation time of the air conditioner has reached a predetermined time, an optical sensor When it is determined that the surface of the filter 4 is dirty based on the detection result of the dirt detection means, etc., the filter 4 is cleaned by controlling the operation of the suction fan 12 and the moving means.

  First, the moving means 43 is operated, and the filter 4 is moved in the vertical direction by the distance z between the horizontal ribs 21 and stopped. In this state, the suction fan 12 is operated, and air is sucked from the suction port 15 that is the inlet of the flow path 17 to the suction fan 12. At the same time, the cleaning brush 41 is rotated, the dust adhering to the surface of the filter 4 is lifted and lifted by the elastic blade 41 b, and the dust is blown off by the air flow by the suction fan 12 to remove the dust.

  The dust removed by the suction fan 12 can be collected by installing a dust collection pack between the flow path 17 and the suction fan 12 or exhausted to the outside from the suction fan 12. Thereafter, the filter 4 can be cleaned by repeating the above operation.

  Further, when the filter 4 is moved to the end by moving the filter 4 in the vertical direction, the filter 4 is bent and held in the filter holding means 24, so that the filter 4 is not exposed to the outside of the indoor unit, so There is no risk of damage. When the cleaning is completed, the filter 4 is moved to the original position by the moving means 43.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, while moving the filter 4 along the guide path 18 of the dust removal boxes 10 and 11, the cleaning brush 41 is rotationally driven to forcibly remove the dust attached to the surface of the filter 4. In addition, since the dust that has separated and floated is discharged from the dust removal boxes 10 and 11 to the suction fan 12 side by the air flow generated by the air flow generation means, stubborn dirt stuck to the surface of the filter 4 is also forcibly lifted up. Can be removed. In addition, since the extending portion 41c of the elastic blade 41b formed on the suction fan side of the rotating shaft is disposed around the bearing portion 45 of the rotating shaft 41a, the air containing the sucked dust becomes the end of the elastic blade 41b. Intrusion into the bearing portion 45 from the portion can be prevented.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that many modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the present embodiment, one end side in the longitudinal direction of the box body 16 constituted by the front side box 10 and the back side box 11 is the intake port 15 that is open to the entire surface, but the opening area of the intake port 15 is reduced. It is also possible. In this case, the flow velocity of the air flowing through the flow path 17 can be increased, and dust attached to the filter surface can be efficiently removed. Furthermore, although the horizontal ribs 21 formed on the surface of the filter 4 are formed at substantially the same intervals as the widths of both boxes 10 and 11, they can be formed at intervals that equally divide the interval Z. Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the filter is moved to the vertical direction, the system which moves a dust removal box and a cleaning brush with respect to a filter instead may be sufficient.

The perspective view of the indoor unit of the air conditioner which shows embodiment of this invention Cross section of indoor unit Partial sectional view showing the front panel open state of the indoor unit The perspective view which shows the state which removed the panel of the indoor unit Side sectional view showing a dust removal box in a filter cleaning device Exploded perspective view of dust removal box Cross section of dust removal box Perspective view showing cleaning brush of dust removal box (A) is a plan view of a filter used in an indoor unit, (b) is an AA cross-sectional view, and (c) is a BB cross-sectional view. Perspective view of filter Partially enlarged perspective view of FIG. The perspective view which shows the state which removed the filter of the indoor unit

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Indoor unit body 2 Air inlet 3 Air outlet 4 Filter 5 Indoor heat exchanger 6 Blower fan 7 Front panel 8 Filter guide 9 Louver 10 Front side dust removal box 11 Back side dust removal box 12 Suction fan 13 Upper surface panel 14 Piping 15 Ventilation hole 16 Box body 17 Flow path 18 Slit 19 Mesh filter 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 41 Cleaning brush 41a Rotating shaft 41b Elastic blade 41c Extension portion 44, 45 Bearing 47 Electric motor

Claims (7)

  A filter cleaning device for cleaning a filter that removes dust in the air, having a guide path for guiding the filter and generating an air flow path therein, along the length direction in the dust removal box A cleaning brush, an air flow generating means for generating an air flow in the dust removal box, and a moving means for moving the filter relative to the dust removal box in a direction perpendicular to its length direction. , While moving the filter relatively in the direction perpendicular to the length direction of the dust removal box, the cleaning brush is rotated to forcibly remove the dust adhering to the surface of the filter, and the air flow generating means lifts the dust. A filter cleaning device, wherein the removed dust is removed from the dust removal box.   The dust removal box is arranged so as to cross the filter, and the air flow generating means is composed of an intake port formed on one end side in the filter transverse direction of the dust removal box and a suction means connected to the other end side for sucking air. The filter cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein   The filter cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein an elastic member is disposed on a contact surface of the dust removal box with the filter.   The filter cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein dust removal boxes are arranged on both sides of the front and back sides of the filter, and a gap formed between the dust removal boxes serves as a guide path for the filter.   The filter cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning brush includes a plurality of elastic blades arranged in a spiral shape with respect to the periphery of the rotation shaft.   The elastic blade formed on the other end side of the rotating shaft extends in the axial direction of the rotating shaft, and the extending portion is disposed around the bearing portion of the rotating shaft. The filter cleaning apparatus as described. In the air conditioner provided with the filter which removes the dust in the air in the air passage from the suction inlet of a device main part to a blower outlet, the cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 which cleans the filter is mounted. An air conditioner characterized by that.

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