JP2008000263A - Aroma generation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an aroma generation apparatus which generates which generates a suitable aroma without losing comfortableness to a user. <P>SOLUTION: The aroma generation apparatus 1 is provided with: a fan 15; an air duct 13 through which an air current generated by the fan 5 flows; and an aroma cartridge 3 arranged on the inner surface of the air duct 13 so as to expose its front surface 3a. The aroma cartridge 3 is provided with: a case 30; an aromatic oil impregnation layer 31 which is layered in the case 30 and which is impregnated with an aromatic oil; and a volatile component impregnation layer 33 which is impregnated with a volatile liquid. The aromatic oil impregnation layer 31 is on the side of the front surface 3a compared with the volatile component impregnation layer 33. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an aroma device that generates aroma.

  There are fragrance devices that artificially generate fragrances in order to eliminate bad odors in a space where bad odors are generated, such as toilets, and to improve comfort in ordinary living spaces. For example, the fragrance device described in Patent Document 1 houses the fragrance device in the air duct of a warm water washing toilet seat.

As another fragrance device, there is one in which an oil impregnated layer containing a fragrance is detachably provided in a blower duct. In such a configuration, since the oil-impregnated layer is relatively small, the oil in the oil-impregnated layer evaporates in a short time. As a result, the replacement period of the fragrance oil is shortened, and the user can spend comfortably by selecting a suitable fragrance for each season. (This applicant has filed this as Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-329571)
JP-A-4-261828

  By the way, a predetermined fragrance oil is immersed in the oil impregnated layer, and the fragrance component diffuses in the air by gradually evaporating it. Here, if the oil impregnated layer is impregnated with high-concentration fragrance oil, the fragrance becomes too strong and the user may feel uncomfortable. On the other hand, even when impregnated with a suitable concentration of fragrance oil, even if the scent is initially felt, it becomes immediately accustomed to it and the scent is not felt, and comfort is impaired.

  Then, the objective of this invention is providing the fragrance apparatus which emits a moderate fragrance, without impairing the comfort for a user.

  The fragrance device according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a fan, a blower duct through which an air flow created by the fan flows, and a fragrance cartridge arranged to expose the surface on the inner surface of the blower duct. . The fragrance cartridge includes a case, an fragrance oil-impregnated layer impregnated with fragrance oil, and a volatile component-impregnated layer impregnated with a volatile liquid. The aromatic oil-impregnated layer is disposed on the surface side that is laminated in the case and exposed to the inner surface of the air duct.

  According to this fragrance device, when the volatile liquid is vaporized and emitted outside the fragrance cartridge, the vaporization of the fragrance oil is also promoted, thereby promoting the divergence of the fragrance component. A strong fragrance can be continuously emitted even when a concentration of aromatic oil is used.

  The fragrance device according to claim 2 is characterized in that the surface of the fragrance cartridge exposed on the inner surface of the air duct is covered with a breathable film that allows only a gas component to pass through.

  By covering the surface of the fragrance cartridge with a breathable film, the vaporized fragrance oil and volatile components can be diffused while preventing liquid fragrance oil or volatile liquid from leaking from the fragrance cartridge.

  The fragrance device according to claim 3 is characterized in that the volatile liquid impregnated in the volatile component impregnated layer is water.

  If the volatile liquid is water, the maintenance of the volatile component impregnated layer is easy.

  The fragrance device according to claim 4 further includes a toilet device, and when the toilet device is cleaned, the amount of air blown by the fan is larger than that before the cleaning is performed.

  If the user stays in the toilet to some extent, it becomes odorous and does not feel fragrance. Therefore, by rotating the fan or speeding up the rotation of the toilet, the fragrance component is promoted. Can give off a stronger fragrance.

  The fragrance device according to claim 5 further includes a toilet device including a seating sensor, and when the seating sensor detects that a user has been seated on the toilet device or has risen from the toilet device. The amount of air blown by the fan is larger than before the detection of the seating or rising.

  By rotating the fan when the user is seated or standing on the toilet seat, or by increasing the rotation speed, it is possible to promote the divergence of fragrance components before and after defecation and release a stronger fragrance, The odor associated with defecation can be avoided.

  The fragrance device according to claim 6 further includes a toilet device provided with a human body sensor, and when the human body sensor detects that a user has approached the toilet device, before the detection of the proximity, The amount of air blown by the fan is increased.

  By rotating the fan or increasing the rotation speed when the user approaches the toilet device, it is possible to promote the release of fragrance components and release a stronger fragrance just before the user uses the toilet. It is possible to prevent the user from feeling the remaining odor of the previous user.

  The fragrance device according to claim 7 further includes a toilet device and a sanitary washing device for performing local washing, and when the local washing by the sanitary washing device is performed, than before the local washing is performed. The amount of air blown by the fan is increased.

  By rotating the fan or increasing the rotation speed when performing local cleaning with a sanitary cleaning device, it is possible to promote the divergence of fragrance components after defecation and release a stronger fragrance. The accompanying bad odor can be avoided.

  Hereinafter, an aroma apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In the present specification, an embodiment of the fragrance device according to the present invention will be described as an example of a fragrance device integrated with a toilet device and installed in a toilet. However, besides this, the fragrance device according to the present invention may be of a type that can be attached to the toilet device, or may be a fragrance device that is used independently of the toilet device.

  FIG. 1 shows an appearance of a toilet device 5 provided with a fragrance device 1 according to the present embodiment.

  The toilet device 5 includes a toilet device body 51, a toilet seat, a toilet lid 52, and a sanitary washing device 53 for local washing incorporated therein. The side surface of the sanitary washing device 53 is provided with the exhaust port 10 of the fragrance device 1 and the insertion port 11 of the fragrance cartridge. When the fragrance cartridge 3 is inserted into the insertion port 11, the air containing the fragrance component is discharged from the exhaust port 10.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of the fragrance device 1.

  The fragrance device 1 includes a blower duct 13, a fan 15 disposed in the blower duct 13, and a fan motor 16 for rotating the fan 15, and an air flow generated by the fan 15 is discharged from the exhaust port 10. Is done.

  In the air duct 13, an accommodating portion 12 that accommodates the aroma cartridge 3 is provided. And in the same figure, the fragrance cartridge 3 is inserted from the insertion port 11 of the fragrance cartridge. When the aroma cartridge 3 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 12, the surface 3 a of the aroma cartridge 3 is exposed on the inner surface of the blower duct 13.

  FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the aroma cartridge 3. The aroma cartridge 3 will be described with reference to a cross-sectional view of the aroma cartridge 3 shown in FIG. 2 and FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the aroma cartridge 3 includes a case 30, an aromatic oil impregnated layer 31 accommodated in the case 30, a volatile component impregnated layer 33, an aromatic oil impregnated layer 31, and a volatile component impregnated layer 33. A separation layer 35 or a separation member 36.

  Each of the aromatic oil impregnated layer 31 and the volatile component impregnated layer 33 is made of, for example, a nonwoven fabric. Each of the nonwoven fabrics is impregnated with aromatic oil and volatile liquid (for example, water or odorless alcohol).

  The partition layer 35 is, for example, a film having air permeability.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the case 30, the volatile component impregnated layer 33, the partition layer 35 or the partition member 36, and the fragrance component impregnated layer 31 are accommodated in a stacked state in this order from the lower layer to the upper layer. ing.

  Thereby, the volatile liquid of the volatile component impregnated layer 33 is vaporized, passes through the partition layer 35 or the partition member 36, and passes through the fragrance component impregnated layer 31. Then, when passing through the fragrance component impregnated layer 31, the volatilization of the fragrance oil impregnated in the fragrance component impregnated layer 31 is promoted by the vaporized volatile component, and an aroma with a strong fragrance can be obtained.

  A breathable film 37 that allows only a gas component to pass through is stretched in the opening of the case 30 above the uppermost fragrance component impregnated layer 31. Thereby, the aromatic oil and volatile liquid in the case 30 can be prevented from spilling from the case 30 as a liquid, and the evaporated aromatic oil and volatile components can be diffused.

  The partition layer 35, the partition member 36, and the air permeable film 37 may be omitted.

  In FIG. 2, when the fan 15 is stopped, there is no air flow in the blower duct 13, so that the evaporation of the fragrance oil from the fragrance cartridge 3 is suppressed. On the other hand, when the fan 15 rotates, the air containing the fragrant oil component evaporated by the air flow passing through the fragrance cartridge surface 3a in the air duct 13 is discharged from the exhaust port 10, and the scent drifts in the toilet. Further, along with this, the air flow passing through the fragrance cartridge surface 3a in the air duct 13 promotes the vaporization of the fragrance oil from the fragrance cartridge 3, and the fragrance becomes stronger.

  In the fragrance device 1 according to the present embodiment, the fragrance cartridge 3 is a consumable item, and when the fragrance becomes weak, the user can replace it as appropriate. Therefore, the replenishing fragrance cartridge 3 is distributed alone.

  4 and 5 show a package when the aroma cartridge 3 is distributed.

  First, as shown in FIG. 4, a protective film 38 made of a material having a high gas barrier property is stretched on the air permeable film 37 on the surface of the cartridge 3 to prevent volatilization of aromatic oil and volatile liquid. The method for attaching the protective film 38 may be, for example, heat welding.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the cartridge 3 on which the protective film 38 is stretched is further wrapped in a distribution package 8. The distribution package 8 is applied in close contact with the cartridge 3.

  At the time of use, the user takes out the cartridge 3 with the protective film 38 from the distribution package 8, peels off the protective film 38 and inserts it into the cartridge insertion slot 11. At this time, the entire protective film 38 may be peeled off so that the air permeable film 37 is completely exposed, or a part of the protective film 38 may be peeled off and a part of the air permeable film 37 may be exposed.

  For example, FIG. 6 shows a front view of the cartridge when a part of the protective film 38 is peeled off. As shown in the figure, by partially peeling off the protective film 38, openings 38a, 38b, 38c from which the air permeable film 37 is exposed are formed. The openings 38a, 38b, and 38c may be perforated in the protective film 38 in advance, and the user may select a favorite one. Thereby, according to the magnitude | size of an opening part, the quantity of the aromatic oil to evaporate is adjusted, As a result, it is possible to adjust the intensity | strength of a fragrance.

  In addition, in order to adjust the area where this air permeable film 37 is exposed, a hole previously formed in the protective film 38 may be closed with a seal.

  Next, FIG. 7 is a functional configuration diagram relating to control of the fragrance device 1 according to the present embodiment.

  The toilet device 5 further includes a human body sensor 55 and a seating sensor 56 in addition to the toilet device body 51 and the sanitary washing device 53.

  The human body sensor 55 is a sensor for detecting a user present in the toilet where the toilet device 5 is installed.

  The seating sensor 56 is a sensor that detects whether or not a user is seated on the toilet seat of the toilet device 5.

  The fragrance device 1 includes a control unit 18 that controls the fan motor 16. The fan motor 16 rotates and stops the fan 15 based on an instruction from the control unit 18. The fan 15 rotates at a rotation speed designated by the control unit 18 from a plurality of different rotation speeds such as low speed, medium speed, and high speed.

  Further, the control unit 18 controls the fan motor 16 based on signals from the toilet device main body 51, the sanitary washing device 53, the human body sensor 55, and the seating sensor 56.

  For example, when the output of the human body sensor 55 is not detected (no person is present in the toilet), the control unit 18 may stop the rotation of the fan motor 16 or may intermittently rotate at a low speed. Good. On the other hand, while the output of the human body sensor 55 is detected (there is a person in the toilet), the fan motor 16 is continuously rotated. In particular, when the output of the human body sensor 55 changes from non-detection to detection (that is, when a user enters the toilet), the control unit 18 causes the fan motor to increase the amount of air blown before the change. 16 may be controlled so as to eliminate the remaining odor of the previous user. Here, “the amount of air blown more than before the change” means, for example, that the fan is rotated when the fan has stopped rotating before the change, and the fan is rotated when the fan is rotating before the change. For example, to increase the rotation speed.

  Further, when the output of the seating sensor 56 is changed, for example, when the output of the seating sensor 56 is changed from non-detection to detection (that is, the user is seated), or conversely, from detection to non-detection ( In other words, when the user changes from sitting up), the control unit 18 may perform control so that the amount of blown air is larger than before the change.

  Furthermore, when the sanitary washing device 53 performs local cleaning and when the toilet device body 51 performs toilet cleaning, the control unit 18 has a fan so that the amount of air blown is larger than before each cleaning. The motor 16 may be controlled.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of rotation control of the fan 15 by the control unit 18.

  In the example of the figure, first, when there is no user in the toilet, the rotation of the fan is stopped. When the user enters the toilet (A in the figure), the control unit 18 rotates the fan at a low speed (rotational speed R1). Thereby, the user feels a scent when entering the room.

  Thereafter, when the user is seated (B in the figure), or when toilet flushing is performed (C in the figure), or when local cleaning is performed (D in the figure), the control unit 18 causes the fan to run at high speed (D in the figure). Rotate at rotational speeds R2, R2> R1). As a result, when the user gets used to the scent and feels less, the scent can be made stronger and the user feels the scent again.

  Finally, when the user leaves the toilet (E in the figure), the control unit 18 stops the rotation of the fan.

  The above-described embodiments of the present invention are examples for explaining the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those embodiments. Those skilled in the art can implement the present invention in various other modes without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  For example, instead of using the entire fragrance cartridge 3 as a consumable item, only the fragrance component impregnated layer 31 of the fragrance cartridge 3 may be used as a consumable item, and the case 30 or the volatile component impregnated layer 33 may be used as a durable item.

An appearance of toilet device 5 provided with fragrance device 1 concerning one embodiment of the present invention is shown. It is a figure which shows the outline of the fragrance apparatus. The structure of the aroma cartridge 3 is shown. The protective film of the aroma cartridge 3 is shown. The package at the time of distribution of the fragrance cartridge 3 will be described. The example of the opening part which the air permeable film 37 exposes is shown. 2 is a functional configuration diagram relating to control of the fragrance device 1. FIG. An example of rotation control of the fan 15 is shown.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fragrance device 3 Fragrance cartridge 5 Toilet device 10 Exhaust port 11 Cartridge insertion port 12 Accommodating part 13 Air duct 13 Inside air duct 15 Fan 16 Fan motor 18 Control part 30 Case 31 Fragrance oil impregnation layer 31 Fragrance component impregnation layer 33 Volatile component impregnation Layer 51 Toilet device body 52 Toilet lid 53 Sanitary washing device

Claims (7)

With fans,
An air duct through which an air flow created by the fan flows;
A fragrance cartridge disposed on the inner surface of the air duct to expose the surface;
The fragrance cartridge is
A case, an aromatic oil impregnated layer impregnated with aromatic oil, and a volatile component impregnated layer impregnated with a volatile liquid,
The aromatic oil impregnated layer and the volatile component impregnated layer are laminated in the case, and the aromatic oil impregnated layer is disposed on the surface side exposed to the inner surface of the air duct. A fragrance device.   The fragrance device according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the fragrance cartridge that is exposed to an inner surface of the air duct is covered with a breathable film that allows only a gas component to pass therethrough.   2. The fragrance device according to claim 1, wherein the volatile liquid impregnated in the volatile component impregnated layer is water. Further comprising a toilet device,
The fragrance device according to claim 1, wherein when the toilet device is washed, the amount of air blown by the fan is made larger than before the washing is performed. And further comprising a toilet device with a seating sensor,
When the seating sensor detects that a user has been seated on the toilet device or has risen from the toilet device, the amount of air blown by the fan is increased more than before the detection of the seating or rising. The fragrance device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Further comprising a toilet device equipped with a human body sensor,
2. The fragrance device according to claim 1, wherein when the human body sensor detects that a user has approached the toilet device, the amount of air blown by the fan is larger than that before the proximity is detected. It further comprises a toilet device and a sanitary washing device for performing local washing,
The fragrance device according to claim 1, wherein when the local cleaning by the sanitary cleaning device is executed, the amount of air blown by the fan is made larger than before the local cleaning is executed.

Images